UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-05398
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES 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
Alliance Bernstein 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: December 31, 2010
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2010
ITEM 1. | REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS. |
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
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BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 951.98 | | $ | 3.24 | | 0.67 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,021.47 | | $ | 3.36 | | 0.67 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 951.76 | | $ | 4.45 | | 0.92 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.23 | | $ | 4.61 | | 0.92 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
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BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds & Notes | | $ | 52,346,209 | | 10.3 | % |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | 29,646,958 | | 5.9 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 7,033,404 | | 1.4 | |
Apple, Inc. | | | 6,812,690 | | 1.3 | |
Alcon, Inc. | | | 5,330,542 | | 1.1 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 4,833,280 | | 1.0 | |
Google, Inc.—Class A | | | 4,776,538 | | 0.9 | |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | | 4,379,936 | | 0.8 | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | | | 4,242,150 | | 0.8 | |
Comcast Corp. | | | 3,918,672 | | 0.8 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 123,320,379 | | 24.3 | % |
SECURITY TYPE BREAKDOWN
June��30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECURITY TYPE | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 311,458,189 | | 60.4 | % |
Corporates—Investment Grades | | | 55,348,244 | | 10.7 | |
Governments—Treasuries | | | 52,346,209 | | 10.2 | |
Mortgage Pass-Thru’s | | | 28,933,507 | | 5.6 | |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | 17,010,703 | | 3.3 | |
Corporates—Non-Investment Grades | | | 7,778,405 | | 1.5 | |
Agencies | | | 6,052,534 | | 1.2 | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | 3,026,243 | | 0.6 | |
Governments—Sovereign Bonds | | | 2,595,968 | | 0.5 | |
CMOs | | | 2,558,772 | | 0.5 | |
Governments—Sovereign Agencies | | | 2,051,370 | | 0.4 | |
Inflation-Linked Securities | | | 1,844,453 | | 0.4 | |
Quasi-Sovereigns | | | 1,254,407 | | 0.3 | |
Preferred Stocks | | | 906,970 | | 0.2 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 20,525,000 | | 4.0 | |
Other** | | | 872,884 | | 0.2 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 514,563,858 | | 100.0 | % |
** | | “Other” represents less than 0.2% weightings in the following security types: Local Governments - Municipal Bonds, Warrants and Emerging Markets - Corporate Bonds. |
2
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BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–61.4% | | | | | |
| | | | | |
FINANCIALS–18.1% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–1.5% | | | | | |
Blackstone Group LP | | 124,775 | | $ | 1,192,849 |
Credit Suisse Group AG | | 20,628 | | | 775,556 |
Deutsche Bank AG | | 8,500 | | | 477,438 |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | | 8,045 | | | 693,399 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | 14,600 | | | 1,916,542 |
Julius Baer Group Ltd. | | 18,515 | | | 527,910 |
Macquarie Group Ltd. | | 9,135 | | | 280,778 |
Man Group PLC | | 140,433 | | | 465,522 |
Morgan Stanley | | 41,000 | | | 951,610 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 7,281,604 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–3.0% | | | | | |
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. | | 10,635 | | | 191,019 |
Banco do Brasil SA | | 25,500 | | | 348,241 |
Banco Santander SA | | 48,300 | | | 506,482 |
Bank of China Ltd. | | 401,000 | | | 202,305 |
Barclays PLC | | 120,000 | | | 478,981 |
BB&T Corp. | | 31,600 | | | 831,396 |
BNP Paribas | | 10,853 | | | 583,899 |
Comerica, Inc. | | 15,600 | | | 574,548 |
Danske Bank A/S(a) | | 16,200 | | | 311,727 |
DnB NOR ASA | | 11,500 | | | 110,609 |
Fifth Third Bancorp | | 70,600 | | | 867,674 |
Hana Financial Group, Inc. | | 10,900 | | | 289,019 |
HSBC Holdings PLC | | 42,553 | | | 388,752 |
KB Financial Group, Inc. | | 10,345 | | | 396,532 |
KBC Groep NV(a) | | 7,100 | | | 272,145 |
National Australia Bank Ltd. | | 31,200 | | | 603,228 |
National Bank of Canada | | 5,100 | | | 260,857 |
Societe Generale | | 8,229 | | | 338,614 |
Standard Chartered PLC | | 41,559 | | | 1,011,979 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | | 13,300 | | | 376,421 |
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS | | 37,300 | | | 155,229 |
Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi Tao–Class D | | 61,400 | | | 139,617 |
UniCredit Italiano SpA | | 231,195 | | | 511,411 |
United Overseas Bank Ltd. | | 28,000 | | | 389,532 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | 188,800 | | | 4,833,280 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,973,497 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER FINANCE–0.2% | | | | | |
Capital One Financial Corp. | | 18,400 | | | 741,520 |
ORIX Corp. | | 5,540 | | | 401,344 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,142,864 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–2.6% | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | 250,150 | | | 3,594,656 |
CBOE Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 2,200 | | | 71,610 |
Challenger Financial Services Group Ltd. | | 33,100 | | | 96,514 |
Citigroup, Inc.(a) | | 187,900 | | | 706,504 |
CME Group, Inc.–Class A | | 4,595 | | | 1,293,722 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. | | 20,100 | | $ | 314,001 |
IG Group Holdings PLC | | 40,591 | | | 253,596 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 192,117 | | | 7,033,403 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,364,006 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–1.2% | | | | | |
ACE Ltd. | | 5,000 | | | 257,400 |
Admiral Group PLC | | 30,198 | | | 632,415 |
Allianz SE | | 7,800 | | | 771,992 |
Allstate Corp. (The) | | 17,300 | | | 497,029 |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.(a) | | 12,100 | | | 964,249 |
Chubb Corp. | | 6,400 | | | 320,064 |
Industrial Alliance Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. | | 700 | | | 22,949 |
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG (MunichRe) | | 1,400 | | | 175,788 |
Old Mutual PLC | | 176,800 | | | 270,689 |
Prudential PLC | | 51,800 | | | 390,707 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | | 23,300 | | | 1,147,525 |
XL Group PLC | | 33,400 | | | 534,734 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,985,541 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)–6.3% | | | | | |
Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust | | 21,000 | | | 386,840 |
American Campus Communities, Inc. | | 14,300 | | | 390,247 |
Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust | | 492,000 | | | 635,381 |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | | 1,400 | | | 130,718 |
Big Yellow Group PLC | | 59,980 | | | 263,432 |
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. | | 30,900 | | | 497,181 |
Boston Properties, Inc. | | 2,800 | | | 199,752 |
Brandywine Realty Trust | | 44,350 | | | 476,763 |
BRE Properties, Inc. | | 12,900 | | | 476,397 |
British Land Co. PLC | | 78,918 | | | 509,766 |
Camden Property Trust | | 19,500 | | | 796,575 |
Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust | | 14,670 | | | 382,821 |
CapitaMall Trust | | 293,940 | | | 383,215 |
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | | 39,950 | | | 496,978 |
Charter Hall Retail REIT | | 123,911 | | | 56,879 |
Chartwell Seniors Housing Real Estate Investment Trust | | 48,900 | | | 329,353 |
Corporate Office Properties Trust | | 10,200 | | | 385,152 |
Dexus Property Group | | 375,800 | | | 241,143 |
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.(a) | | 75,556 | | | 621,070 |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | | 13,400 | | | 772,912 |
Duke Realty Corp. | | 7,000 | | | 79,450 |
DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. | | 17,350 | | | 426,116 |
Entertainment Properties Trust | | 11,450 | | | 435,902 |
Equity Residential | | 23,700 | | | 986,868 |
Essex Property Trust, Inc. | | 5,000 | | | 487,700 |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. | | 28,200 | | | 391,980 |
First Potomac Realty Trust | | 17,500 | | | 251,475 |
Fonciere Des Regions | | 4,700 | | | 387,444 |
3
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BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
GPT Group | | 217,820 | | $ | 508,576 |
Great Portland Estates PLC | | 81,800 | | | 353,308 |
H&R Real Estate Investment Trust | | 16,600 | | | 265,089 |
Health Care REIT, Inc. | | 21,600 | | | 909,792 |
Hersha Hospitality Trust | | 44,600 | | | 201,592 |
Home Properties, Inc. | | 5,400 | | | 243,378 |
ING Office Fund | | 862,000 | | | 416,139 |
InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust | | 73,000 | | | 405,270 |
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. | | 44 | | | 358,406 |
Kilroy Realty Corp. | | 11,400 | | | 338,922 |
Kimco Realty Corp. | | 45,200 | | | 607,488 |
Klepierre | | 36,052 | | | 996,081 |
LaSalle Hotel Properties | | 4,600 | | | 94,622 |
Link REIT (The) | | 143,500 | | | 356,076 |
Macerich Co. (The) | | 8,516 | | | 317,817 |
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. | | 12,550 | | | 645,948 |
Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust | | 23,300 | | | 288,911 |
Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. | | 11,100 | | | 397,047 |
Orix JREIT, Inc. | | 55 | | | 228,395 |
Primaris Retail Real Estate Investment Trust | | 20,183 | | | 331,027 |
ProLogis | | 50,625 | | | 512,831 |
PS Business Parks, Inc. | | 2,400 | | | 133,872 |
Public Storage | | 15,600 | | | 1,371,396 |
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (New York)(b) | | 1,400 | | | 25,040 |
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (Toronto) | | 21,700 | | | 388,115 |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | | 29,515 | | | 2,383,336 |
Stockland | | 219,280 | | | 680,561 |
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(a) | | 45,213 | | | 448,965 |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers | | 9,600 | | | 397,248 |
Unibail-Rodamco SE | | 10,278 | | | 1,675,130 |
Ventas, Inc. | | 19,100 | | | 896,745 |
Vornado Realty Trust | | 10,547 | | | 769,404 |
Weingarten Realty Investors | | 20,000 | | | 381,000 |
Westfield Group | | 177,949 | | | 1,808,275 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 32,015,312 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–3.3% | | | | | |
Beni Stabili SpA(a) | | 28,200 | | | 21,380 |
BR Malls Participacoes SA | | 28,050 | | | 365,194 |
Brookfield Properties Corp. | | 26,925 | | | 378,027 |
Castellum AB | | 44,900 | | | 406,859 |
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 24,800 | | | 337,528 |
Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. | | 4,100 | | | 232,177 |
First Capital Realty, Inc. | | 11,300 | | | 144,468 |
Forest City Enterprises, Inc.(a) | | 4,000 | | | 45,280 |
Great Eagle Holdings Ltd. | | 123,000 | | | 312,992 |
Hang Lung Group Ltd. | | 23,000 | | | 122,486 |
Hang Lung Properties Ltd. | | 158,000 | | | 607,348 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd. | | 202,000 | | $ | 998,490 |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 4,100 | | | 269,124 |
Kerry Properties Ltd. | | 185,631 | | | 800,922 |
KWG Property Holding Ltd. | | 674,500 | | | 414,801 |
Lend Lease Group | | 123,192 | | | 750,199 |
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. | | 14,000 | | | 194,903 |
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. | | 150,100 | | | 2,089,162 |
Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios SA | | 48,687 | | | 890,392 |
New World Development Ltd. | | 675,972 | | | 1,097,406 |
PSP Swiss Property AG(a) | | 4,600 | | | 275,151 |
Savills PLC | | 85,200 | | | 350,068 |
Shimao Property Holdings Ltd. | | 369,000 | | | 572,447 |
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd. | | 52,000 | | | 883,580 |
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. | | 183,700 | | | 2,514,615 |
Swire Pacific Ltd. | | 22,500 | | | 255,403 |
UOL Group Ltd. | | 120,000 | | | 323,205 |
Wing Tai Holdings Ltd. | | 439,000 | | | 490,977 |
Yanlord Land Group Ltd. | | 487,000 | | | 596,293 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,740,877 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 91,503,701 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–8.5% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–0.4% | | | | | |
Johnson Controls, Inc. | | 45,700 | | | 1,227,959 |
Lear Corp.(a) | | 7,400 | | | 489,880 |
NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. | | 11,000 | | | 136,563 |
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.(a) | | 15,000 | | | 413,550 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,267,952 |
| | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–0.9% | | | | | |
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG | | 13,200 | | | 641,210 |
Ford Motor Co.(a) | | 226,400 | | | 2,282,112 |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | | 19,000 | | | 558,084 |
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.(a) | | 70,900 | | | 494,065 |
Renault SA(a) | | 3,300 | | | 122,322 |
Volkswagen AG (Preference Shares) | | 2,836 | | | 248,861 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,346,654 |
| | | | | |
DISTRIBUTORS–0.2% | | | | | |
Inchcape PLC(a) | | 23,660 | | | 86,454 |
Li & Fung Ltd. | | 216,000 | | | 969,128 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,055,582 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–0.6% | | | | | |
Carnival PLC | | 6,970 | | | 225,768 |
Hyatt Hotels Corp.(a) | | 21,570 | | | 800,031 |
Mitchells & Butlers PLC(a) | | 94,400 | | | 383,714 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a) | | 17,900 | | | 407,583 |
Thomas Cook Group PLC | | 43,000 | | | 113,816 |
TUI Travel PLC | | 28,600 | | | 88,980 |
Whitbread PLC | | 30,700 | | | 641,109 |
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. | | 18,300 | | | 368,562 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,029,563 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–1.0% | | | | | |
DR Horton, Inc. | | 28,900 | | $ | 284,087 |
Electrolux AB | | 6,900 | | | 157,740 |
Fortune Brands, Inc. | | 4,100 | | | 160,638 |
Garmin Ltd. | | 30,300 | | | 884,154 |
MRV Engenharia e Participacoes SA | | 38,600 | | | 271,804 |
NVR, Inc.(a) | | 1,750 | | | 1,146,302 |
Pulte Group, Inc.(a) | | 53,500 | | | 442,980 |
Rossi Residencial SA | | 35,800 | | | 258,038 |
Sharp Corp. | | 37,000 | | | 390,300 |
Sony Corp. | | 15,800 | | | 421,433 |
Whirlpool Corp. | | 8,000 | | | 702,560 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,120,036 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET & CATALOG RETAIL–0.1% | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(a) | | 5,375 | | | 587,272 |
| | | | | |
LEISURE EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS–0.0% | | | | | |
Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc. | | 6,300 | | | 55,398 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–2.9% | | | | | |
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC | | 48,400 | | | 505,382 |
Cablevision Systems Corp. | | 23,900 | | | 573,839 |
CBS Corp.–Class B | | 54,500 | | | 704,685 |
Comcast Corp.–Class A | | 225,600 | | | 3,918,672 |
DIRECTV(a) | | 22,900 | | | 776,768 |
Informa PLC | | 22,900 | | | 120,989 |
Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. | | 160 | | | 153,185 |
Lagardere SCA | | 2,900 | | | 90,449 |
News Corp.–Class A | | 191,100 | | | 2,285,556 |
SES SA (FDR) | | 12,999 | | | 270,334 |
Time Warner Cable, Inc.–Class A | | 33,300 | | | 1,734,264 |
Time Warner, Inc. | | 50,300 | | | 1,454,173 |
Vivendi SA | | 22,210 | | | 451,353 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | 48,532 | | | 1,528,758 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,568,407 |
| | | | | |
MULTILINE RETAIL–1.0% | | | | | |
Kohl’s Corp.(a) | | 54,540 | | | 2,590,650 |
Marks & Spencer Group PLC | | 70,800 | | | 348,790 |
PPR | | 1,000 | | | 124,223 |
Target Corp. | | 43,860 | | | 2,156,596 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,220,259 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–1.2% | | | | | |
Esprit Holdings Ltd. | | 59,100 | | | 318,195 |
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. | | 3,500 | | | 529,601 |
Foot Locker, Inc. | | 22,300 | | | 281,426 |
Gap, Inc. (The) | | 45,900 | | | 893,214 |
Hennes & Mauritz AB–Class B | | 7,200 | | | 197,873 |
Inditex SA | | 10,370 | | | 591,311 |
Lowe’s Cos., Inc. | | 61,800 | | | 1,261,956 |
Office Depot, Inc.(a) | | 83,900 | | | 338,956 |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 14,100 | | | 751,389 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
TJX Cos., Inc. | | 10,600 | | $ | 444,670 |
Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. | | 4,660 | | | 304,483 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,913,074 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.2% | | | | | |
Cie Financiere Richemont SA | | 6,000 | | | 209,474 |
Jones Apparel Group, Inc. | | 12,600 | | | 199,710 |
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.–Class A | | 8,900 | | | 649,344 |
Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd. | | 9,000 | | | 27,877 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,086,405 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 43,250,602 |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–7.9% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.1% | | | | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc.(a) | | 112,050 | | | 2,387,785 |
JDS Uniphase Corp.(a) | | 33,000 | | | 324,720 |
Motorola, Inc.(a) | | 189,600 | | | 1,236,192 |
Nokia Oyj | | 58,800 | | | 479,267 |
Research In Motion Ltd.(a) | | 10,400 | | | 512,304 |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson–Class B | | 43,340 | | | 480,737 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,421,005 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–3.0% | | | | | |
Apple, Inc.(a) | | 27,085 | | | 6,812,690 |
Compal Electronics, Inc. | | 843 | | | 1,004 |
Dell, Inc.(a) | | 47,600 | | | 574,056 |
EMC Corp.(a) | | 144,700 | | | 2,648,010 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | 101,200 | | | 4,379,936 |
Logitech International SA(a) | | 13,900 | | | 188,156 |
Seagate Technology(a) | | 32,800 | | | 427,712 |
Toshiba Corp.(a) | | 104,000 | | | 515,171 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,546,735 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–0.4% | | | | | |
AU Optronics Corp. | | 182,310 | | | 161,425 |
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd. | | 2,300 | | | 210,642 |
Hitachi High-Technologies Corp. | | 4,000 | | | 73,483 |
Keyence Corp. | | 900 | | | 208,118 |
Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. | | 28,000 | | | 320,727 |
Tyco Electronics Ltd. | | 40,400 | | | 1,025,352 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,999,747 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–1.1% | | | | | |
AOL, Inc.(a) | | 5,084 | | | 105,697 |
Google, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 10,735 | | | 4,776,538 |
Telecity Group PLC(a) | | 67,200 | | | 400,366 |
Yahoo! Japan Corp. | | 840 | | | 334,803 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,617,404 |
| | | | | |
5
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–0.3% | | | | | |
Cap Gemini SA | | 8,100 | | $ | 355,991 |
Visa, Inc.–Class A | | 14,600 | | | 1,032,950 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,388,941 |
| | | | | |
OFFICE ELECTRONICS–0.1% | | | | | |
Canon, Inc. | | 12,400 | | | 462,141 |
Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. | | 11,500 | | | 110,633 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 572,774 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.3% | | | | | |
ASML Holding NV | | 14,000 | | | 385,278 |
Broadcom Corp.–Class A | | 35,300 | | | 1,163,841 |
Intel Corp. | | 138,200 | | | 2,687,990 |
KLA-Tencor Corp. | | 38,900 | | | 1,084,532 |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | 1,040 | | | 652,303 |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Preference Shares) | | 200 | | | 85,259 |
Teradyne, Inc.(a) | | 48,500 | | | 472,875 |
United Microelectronics Corp.(a) | | 345,000 | | | 151,842 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,683,920 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–0.6% | | | | | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 109,600 | | | 2,521,896 |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. | | 1,400 | | | 411,053 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,932,949 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 40,163,475 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–6.2% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.3% | | | | | |
Celgene Corp.(a) | | 24,800 | | | 1,260,336 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 123,750 | | | 4,242,150 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 32,200 | | | 1,059,380 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,561,866 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–1.3% | | | | | |
Alcon, Inc. | | 35,971 | | | 5,330,543 |
Covidien PLC | | 32,900 | | | 1,321,922 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,652,465 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–0.5% | | | | | |
Celesio AG | | 3,800 | | | 82,861 |
Community Health Systems, Inc.(a) | | 20,300 | | | 686,343 |
Express Scripts, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 24,500 | | | 1,151,990 |
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA | | 7,500 | | | 404,659 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 13,000 | | | 369,200 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,695,053 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–3.1% | | | | | |
AstraZeneca PLC | | 19,700 | | | 928,773 |
AstraZeneca PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 22,300 | | | 1,050,999 |
Bayer AG | | 9,200 | | | 514,109 |
Johnson & Johnson | | 49,200 | | | 2,905,752 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 30,800 | | $ | 1,077,076 |
Mylan, Inc.(a) | | 23,200 | | | 395,328 |
Novartis AG | | 25,894 | | | 1,254,903 |
Pfizer, Inc. | | 185,900 | | | 2,650,934 |
Roche Holding AG | | 5,838 | | | 803,552 |
Sanofi-Aventis SA | | 17,792 | | | 1,071,563 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 53,073 | | | 2,759,265 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,412,254 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 31,321,638 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–5.9% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–1.7% | | | | | |
AMEC PLC | | 49,400 | | | 605,217 |
Cameron International Corp.(a) | | 29,050 | | | 944,706 |
Cie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas(a) | | 8,000 | | | 142,319 |
Ensco PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 26,600 | | | 1,044,848 |
Petrofac Ltd. | | 18,100 | | | 318,433 |
Petroleum Geo-Services ASA(a) | | 14,750 | | | 122,947 |
Rowan Cos., Inc.(a) | | 19,700 | | | 432,218 |
Saipem SpA | | 20,300 | | | 618,301 |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 68,930 | | | 3,814,586 |
Technip SA | | 8,900 | | | 510,467 |
Transocean Ltd.(a) | | 5,200 | | | 240,916 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,794,958 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–4.2% | | | | | |
Afren PLC(a) | | 159,400 | | | 201,295 |
Apache Corp. | | 5,200 | | | 437,788 |
BG Group PLC | | 37,535 | | | 558,252 |
BP PLC | | 104,000 | | | 497,865 |
Chevron Corp. | | 24,000 | | | 1,628,640 |
Cimarex Energy Co. | | 12,300 | | | 880,434 |
ConocoPhillips | | 29,800 | | | 1,462,882 |
Devon Energy Corp. | | 22,900 | | | 1,395,068 |
EnCana Corp. | | 8,800 | | | 266,509 |
ENI SpA | | 20,300 | | | 372,628 |
EOG Resources, Inc. | | 7,900 | | | 777,123 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | 24,900 | | | 1,421,043 |
Forest Oil Corp.(a) | | 28,300 | | | 774,288 |
Gazprom OAO (Sponsored ADR) | | 12,200 | | | 229,482 |
JX Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 35,000 | | | 172,991 |
KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (GDR)(b) | | 7,350 | | | 136,710 |
LUKOIL OAO (London) (Sponsored ADR) | | 3,900 | | | 200,850 |
Marathon Oil Corp. | | 28,800 | | | 895,392 |
Newfield Exploration Co.(a) | | 13,200 | | | 644,952 |
Nexen, Inc. (New York) | | 46,200 | | | 908,754 |
Nexen, Inc. (Toronto) | | 20,293 | | | 399,169 |
Noble Energy, Inc. | | 24,400 | | | 1,472,052 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | 10,600 | | | 817,790 |
Penn West Energy Trust | | 19,094 | | | 364,105 |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Sponsored ADR) | | 12,900 | | | 384,420 |
6
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (Euronext Amsterdam)–Class A | | 42,600 | | $ | 1,070,864 |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (New York) | | 24,900 | | | 733,056 |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (Toronto) | | 27,836 | | | 819,221 |
Valero Energy Corp. | | 52,100 | | | 936,758 |
Yanzhou Coal Mining Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 80,000 | | | 154,028 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,014,409 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 29,809,367 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–5.0% | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–0.8% | | | | | |
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV | | 21,274 | | | 1,022,880 |
Asahi Breweries Ltd. | | 16,500 | | | 279,527 |
Carlsberg A/S | | 3,600 | | | 274,352 |
Constellation Brands, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 34,300 | | | 535,766 |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 36,750 | | | 2,239,913 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,352,438 |
| | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–1.1% | | | | | |
Aeon Co., Ltd. | | 35,600 | | | 376,695 |
Casino Guichard Perrachon SA | | 3,100 | | | 235,243 |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 38,850 | | | 2,130,145 |
CVS Caremark Corp. | | 15,400 | | | 451,528 |
Koninklijke Ahold NV | | 11,700 | | | 144,728 |
Olam International Ltd. | | 147,000 | | | 269,813 |
Safeway, Inc. | | 38,600 | | | 758,876 |
SUPERVALU, Inc. | | 32,500 | | | 352,300 |
Tesco PLC | | 144,217 | | | 813,588 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,532,916 |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–1.1% | | | | | |
Bunge Ltd. | | 10,600 | | | 521,414 |
Chaoda Modern Agriculture Holdings Ltd. | | 200,000 | | | 193,524 |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | 30,200 | | | 704,264 |
Dean Foods Co.(a) | | 26,200 | | | 263,834 |
Kraft Foods, Inc.–Class A | | 25,800 | | | 722,400 |
Nestle SA | | 8,679 | | | 418,491 |
Nutreco Holding NV | | 1,900 | | | 102,025 |
Sara Lee Corp. | | 76,900 | | | 1,084,290 |
Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a) | | 45,000 | | | 670,500 |
Tyson Foods, Inc.–Class A | | 44,500 | | | 729,355 |
Unilever NV | | 14,400 | | | 393,253 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,803,350 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–0.9% | | | | | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | 59,100 | | | 3,544,818 |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | | 18,100 | | | 841,910 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,386,728 |
| | | | | |
TOBACCO–1.1% | | | | | |
Altria Group, Inc. | | 52,600 | | | 1,054,104 |
British American Tobacco PLC | | 48,252 | | | 1,531,316 |
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC | | 30,100 | | | 841,015 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Japan Tobacco, Inc. | | 502 | | $ | 1,561,769 |
Reynolds American, Inc. | | 10,000 | | | 521,200 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,509,404 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,584,836 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–5.0% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–0.7% | | | | | |
BAE Systems PLC | | 77,700 | | | 361,633 |
Bombardier, Inc.–Class B | | 32,400 | | | 147,307 |
Goodrich Corp. | | 9,800 | | | 649,250 |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | 18,600 | | | 725,958 |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | | 13,800 | | | 751,272 |
Raytheon Co. | | 10,100 | | | 488,739 |
Rolls-Royce Group–C Shares | | 4,923,000 | | | 7,356 |
Rolls-Royce Group PLC(a) | | 54,700 | | | 456,569 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,588,084 |
| | | | | |
AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–0.1% | | | | | |
FedEx Corp. | | 4,600 | | | 322,506 |
| | | | | |
AIRLINES–0.2% | | | | | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc.(a) | | 65,900 | | | 774,325 |
Qantas Airways Ltd.(a) | | 65,664 | | | 120,372 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 894,697 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.4% | | | | | |
Aggreko PLC | | 15,360 | | | 322,449 |
Capita Group PLC (The) | | 91,100 | | | 1,003,670 |
G4S PLC | | 50,800 | | | 201,409 |
Rentokil Initial PLC(a) | | 97,600 | | | 156,412 |
Serco Group PLC | | 51,394 | | | 448,824 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,132,764 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–0.1% | | | | | |
Bouygues SA | | 10,500 | | | 405,315 |
Vinci SA | | 1,845 | | | 76,608 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 481,923 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–0.6% | | | | | |
Cooper Industries PLC | | 40,200 | | | 1,768,800 |
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | | 5,000 | | | 21,814 |
SMA Solar Technology AG | | 2,961 | | | 303,277 |
Vestas Wind Systems A/S(a) | | 7,095 | | | 295,266 |
Vestas Wind Systems A/S (ADR)(a) | | 26,500 | | | 365,965 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,755,122 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–0.4% | | | | | |
Bidvest Group Ltd. | | 15,756 | | | 249,358 |
General Electric Co. | | 110,200 | | | 1,589,084 |
Textron, Inc. | | 17,300 | | | 293,581 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,132,023 |
| | | | | |
7
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–1.8% | | | | | |
Danaher Corp. | | 64,800 | | $ | 2,405,376 |
Dover Corp. | | 33,900 | | | 1,416,681 |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 52,900 | | | 2,183,712 |
Ingersoll-Rand PLC | | 40,600 | | | 1,400,294 |
NGK Insulators Ltd. | | 12,000 | | | 186,900 |
SPX Corp. | | 1,900 | | | 100,339 |
Terex Corp.(a) | | 17,300 | | | 324,202 |
Vallourec SA | | 5,399 | | | 930,854 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,948,358 |
| | | | | |
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.2% | | | | | |
Bureau Veritas SA | | 3,800 | | | 205,811 |
Intertek Group PLC | | 19,640 | | | 421,031 |
Randstad Holding NV(a) | | 9,800 | | | 385,093 |
SGS SA | | 164 | | | 221,343 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,233,278 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–0.1% | | | | | |
East Japan Railway Co. | | 3,400 | | | 226,391 |
Firstgroup PLC | | 29,300 | | | 159,045 |
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 32,100 | | | 303,666 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 689,102 |
| | | | | |
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–0.4% | | | | | |
ITOCHU Corp. | | 37,000 | | | 289,246 |
Mitsubishi Corp. | | 50,100 | | | 1,036,490 |
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. | | 69,200 | | | 807,272 |
Travis Perkins PLC(a) | | 7,300 | | | 79,410 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,212,418 |
| | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE–0.0% | | | | | |
China Merchants Holdings International Co., Ltd. | | 52,000 | | | 171,004 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,561,279 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–2.3% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–0.7% | | | | | |
Air Water, Inc. | | 14,000 | | | 152,856 |
Dow Chemical Co. (The) | | 49,000 | | | 1,162,280 |
Huabao International Holdings Ltd. | | 85,000 | | | 108,432 |
Huntsman Corp. | | 25,900 | | | 224,553 |
Israel Chemicals Ltd. | | 36,500 | | | 380,245 |
K+S AG | | 12,900 | | | 592,836 |
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. | | 10,440 | | | 900,346 |
Umicore | | 2,235 | | | 64,482 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,586,030 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–1.5% | | | | | |
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. | | 3,400 | | | 206,652 |
ArcelorMittal (New York) | | 10,300 | | | 275,628 |
BHP Billiton Ltd. | | 6,400 | | | 199,101 |
BHP Billiton PLC | | 27,356 | | | 709,301 |
Commercial Metals Co. | | 32,200 | | | 425,684 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. PLC | | 10,800 | | $ | 137,429 |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | 22,480 | | | 1,329,242 |
Hindalco Industries Ltd. | | 42,500 | | | 130,733 |
JFE Holdings, Inc. | | 10,000 | | | 309,370 |
Kazakhmys PLC | | 10,700 | | | 157,065 |
Lundin Mining Corp.(a) | | 45,000 | | | 127,237 |
Mitsubishi Materials Corp.(a) | | 92,000 | | | 244,537 |
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | 10,400 | | | 375,960 |
Rio Tinto PLC | | 15,700 | | | 689,456 |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | 21,500 | | | 283,585 |
Tata Steel Ltd. | | 29,200 | | | 302,796 |
ThyssenKrupp AG | | 10,900 | | | 268,610 |
Vale SA (Sponsored ADR) (Local Preference Shares) | | 19,100 | | | 401,482 |
Vale SA (Sponsored ADR)–Class B | | 7,900 | | | 192,365 |
Xstrata PLC | | 72,270 | | | 946,351 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 7,712,584 |
| | | | | |
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS–0.1% | | | | | |
Fibria Celulose SA (Sponsored ADR)(a) | | 12,200 | | | 180,560 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,479,174 |
| | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.6% | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–0.9% | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | 107,000 | | | 2,588,330 |
France Telecom SA | | 24,400 | | | 423,216 |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | 12,400 | | | 505,125 |
Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd. | | 86,358 | | | 110,807 |
Telecom Italia SpA (ordinary shares) | | 291,200 | | | 321,587 |
Telecom Italia SpA (savings shares) | | 148,800 | | | 135,923 |
Telefonica SA | | 19,660 | | | 364,195 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | 5,200 | | | 145,704 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,594,887 |
| | | | | |
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–0.7% | | | | | |
Crown Castle International Corp.(a) | | 7,000 | | | 260,820 |
KDDI Corp. | | 49 | | | 233,567 |
Softbank Corp. | | 2,800 | | | 74,265 |
Sprint Nextel Corp.(a) | | 255,200 | | | 1,082,048 |
Vodafone Group PLC | | 520,553 | | | 1,072,595 |
Vodafone Group PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 36,000 | | | 744,120 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,467,415 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,062,302 |
| | | | | |
8
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
UTILITIES–0.9% | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC UTILITIES–0.6% | | | | | | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 15,000 | | $ | 484,500 |
E.ON AG | | | 22,526 | | | 605,684 |
EDF SA | | | 7,900 | | | 300,568 |
Edison International | | | 17,600 | | | 558,272 |
Pepco Holdings, Inc. | | | 32,400 | | | 508,032 |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | | | 5,700 | | | 207,252 |
Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (The) | | | 14,600 | | | 397,170 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,061,478 |
| | | | | | |
GAS UTILITIES–0.0% | | | | | | |
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. | | | 33,000 | | | 150,649 |
| | | | | | |
INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS & ENERGY TRADERS–0.1% | | | | | | |
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 15,800 | | | 509,550 |
| | | | | | |
MULTI-UTILITIES–0.2% | | | | | | |
Ameren Corp. | | | 4,100 | | | 97,457 |
CMS Energy Corp. | | | 11,900 | | | 174,335 |
NiSource, Inc. | | | 39,400 | | | 571,300 |
RWE AG | | | 2,400 | | | 157,046 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,000,138 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4,721,815 |
| | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $305,730,505) | | | | | | 311,458,189 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
CORPORATES–INVESTMENT GRADES–10.9% | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–5.7% | | | | | | |
BASIC–0.8% | | | | | | |
Alcoa, Inc. 6.75%, 7/15/18 | | $ | 145 | | | 146,335 |
AngloGold Ashanti Holdings PLC 5.375%, 4/15/20 | | | 290 | | | 294,426 |
ArcelorMittal 6.125%, 6/01/18 | | | 330 | | | 345,141 |
ArcelorMittal USA, Inc. 6.50%, 4/15/14 | | | 105 | | | 112,378 |
BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd. 7.25%, 3/01/16 | | | 203 | | | 241,711 |
Dow Chemical Co. (The) 7.375%, 11/01/29 | | | 15 | | | 16,607 |
7.60%, 5/15/14 | | | 195 | | | 225,198 |
8.55%, 5/15/19 | | | 549 | | | 672,038 |
Eastman Chemical Co. 5.50%, 11/15/19 | | | 95 | | | 102,260 |
EI du Pont de Nemours & Co. 5.875%, 1/15/14 | | | 90 | | | 102,525 |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. 8.25%, 4/01/15 | | | 160 | | | 173,600 |
8.375%, 4/01/17 | | | 185 | | | 203,500 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
International Paper Co. 5.30%, 4/01/15 | | $ | 219 | | $ | 234,180 |
7.50%, 8/15/21 | | | 150 | | | 175,634 |
7.95%, 6/15/18 | | | 190 | | | 226,212 |
Packaging Corp. of America 5.75%, 8/01/13 | | | 30 | | | 32,341 |
PPG Industries, Inc. 5.75%, 3/15/13 | | | 250 | | | 273,506 |
Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. 6.50%, 7/15/18 | | | 345 | | | 393,210 |
Vale Inco Ltd. 7.75%, 5/15/12 | | | 80 | | | 87,065 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4,057,867 |
| | | | | | |
CAPITAL GOODS–0.3% | | | | | | |
Boeing Co. (The) 6.00%, 3/15/19 | | | 295 | | | 347,420 |
Holcim US Finance Sarl & Cie SCS 6.00%, 12/30/19(b) | | | 40 | | | 42,670 |
Lafarge SA 6.15%, 7/15/11 | | | 172 | | | 176,271 |
Owens Corning 6.50%, 12/01/16 | | | 178 | | | 189,390 |
Republic Services, Inc. 5.25%, 11/15/21(b) | | | 165 | | | 173,605 |
5.50%, 9/15/19(b) | | | 233 | | | 252,134 |
Tyco International Finance SA 8.50%, 1/15/19 | | | 140 | | | 180,979 |
Vulcan Materials Co. 5.60%, 11/30/12 | | | 90 | | | 96,360 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,458,829 |
| | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS– MEDIA–0.7% | | | |
BSKYB Finance UK PLC 5.625%, 10/15/15(b) | | | 175 | | | 195,124 |
CBS Corp. 8.875%, 5/15/19 | | | 330 | | | 415,179 |
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc. 9.455%, 11/15/22 | | | 180 | | | 248,303 |
Comcast Corp. 5.30%, 1/15/14 | | | 230 | | | 252,455 |
5.50%, 3/15/11 | | | 275 | | | 283,249 |
DirecTV Holdings LLC / DirecTV Financing Co., Inc. 4.75%, 10/01/14 | | | 155 | | | 164,156 |
6.375%, 6/15/15 | | | 40 | | | 41,400 |
News America Holdings, Inc. 9.25%, 2/01/13 | | | 144 | | | 169,560 |
News America, Inc. 6.55%, 3/15/33 | | | 250 | | | 268,067 |
Reed Elsevier Capital, Inc. 8.625%, 1/15/19 | | | 140 | | | 178,230 |
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. 4.95%, 4/01/14 | | | 25 | | | 25,477 |
5.50%, 5/15/15 | | | 120 | | | 122,500 |
11.25%, 2/01/19 | | | 190 | | | 242,072 |
9
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Time Warner Cable, Inc. 7.50%, 4/01/14 | | $ | 145 | | $ | 168,475 |
Time Warner Entertainment Co. LP 8.375%, 3/15/23 | | | 311 | | | 398,736 |
WPP Finance UK 5.875%, 6/15/14 | | | 150 | | | 162,748 |
8.00%, 9/15/14 | | | 350 | | | 410,361 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,746,092 |
| | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS– TELECOMMUNICATIONS–0.9% |
America Movil SAB de CV 5.00%, 3/30/20(b) | | | 475 | | | 490,757 |
AT&T Corp. 8.00%, 11/15/31(c) | | | 15 | | | 19,308 |
BellSouth Corp. 5.20%, 9/15/14 | | | 94 | | | 104,453 |
British Telecommunications PLC 5.15%, 1/15/13 | | | 720 | | | 755,076 |
9.375%, 12/15/10(c) | | | 240 | | | 248,214 |
Embarq Corp. 7.082%, 6/01/16 | | | 658 | | | 701,467 |
Qwest Corp. 7.50%, 10/01/14 | | | 295 | | | 313,806 |
7.875%, 9/01/11 | | | 265 | | | 275,600 |
Telecom Italia Capital SA 6.00%, 9/30/34 | | | 65 | | | 55,688 |
6.175%, 6/18/14 | | | 305 | | | 318,858 |
6.375%, 11/15/33 | | | 60 | | | 53,729 |
7.175%, 6/18/19 | | | 170 | | | 183,024 |
Telus Corp. 8.00%, 6/01/11 | | | 46 | | | 48,764 |
United States Cellular Corp. 6.70%, 12/15/33 | | | 250 | | | 257,059 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. 4.90%, 9/15/15 | | | 168 | | | 184,547 |
Verizon New Jersey, Inc. Series A 5.875%, 1/17/12 | | | 154 | | | 163,260 |
Vodafone Group PLC | | | | | | |
5.50%, 6/15/11 | | | 220 | | | 228,468 |
7.875%, 2/15/30 | | | 100 | | | 120,599 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4,522,677 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL– AUTOMOTIVE–0.3% |
Daimler Finance North America LLC | | | | | | |
5.75%, 9/08/11 | | | 135 | | | 140,581 |
7.30%, 1/15/12 | | | 166 | | | 178,933 |
7.75%, 1/18/11 | | | 62 | | | 64,056 |
Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. 5.75%, 12/15/14(b) | | | 341 | | | 351,815 |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. 4.50%, 1/30/15(b) | | | 346 | | | 357,010 |
Volvo Treasury AB 5.95%, 4/01/15(b) | | | 305 | | | 318,822 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,411,217 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL– ENTERTAINMENT–0.3% |
Time Warner, Inc. | | | | | | |
6.875%, 5/01/12 | | $ | 25 | | $ | 27,236 |
7.625%, 4/15/31 | | | 345 | | | 415,026 |
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. 8.375%, 7/01/13 | | | 225 | | | 262,962 |
Viacom, Inc. 5.625%, 9/15/19 | | | 390 | | | 427,224 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) 5.50%, 3/15/19 | | | 240 | | | 276,606 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,409,054 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL–OTHER–0.1% | | | | | | |
Marriott International, Inc. Series J 5.625%, 2/15/13 | | | 216 | | | 230,124 |
MDC Holdings, Inc. 5.50%, 5/15/13 | | | 140 | | | 145,104 |
Toll Brothers Finance Corp. 6.875%, 11/15/12 | | | 11 | | | 11,661 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 386,889 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL–RETAILERS–0.1% | | | | | | |
CVS Caremark Corp. | | | | | | |
6.125%, 8/15/16 | | | 100 | | | 114,389 |
6.60%, 3/15/19 | | | 195 | | | 226,918 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 341,307 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER NON-CYCLICAL–1.1% | | | | | | |
Ahold Finance USA LLC 6.875%, 5/01/29 | | | 420 | | | 481,227 |
Altria Group, Inc. 9.70%, 11/10/18 | | | 210 | | | 265,940 |
Avon Products, Inc. 6.50%, 3/01/19 | | | 305 | | | 362,746 |
Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp. | | | | | | |
5.10%, 7/15/15 | | | 69 | | | 72,256 |
5.875%, 5/15/13 | | | 180 | | | 193,211 |
8.50%, 6/15/19 | | | 153 | | | 182,709 |
Cadbury Schweppes US Finance LLC 5.125%, 10/01/13(b) | | | 260 | | | 283,002 |
Campbell Soup Co. 6.75%, 2/15/11 | | | 260 | | | 269,793 |
Coca-Cola Co. (The) 5.35%, 11/15/17 | | | 280 | | | 320,207 |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 7.875%, 9/15/10 | | | 3 | | | 3,038 |
Delhaize Group SA 5.875%, 2/01/14 | | | 105 | | | 117,185 |
Diageo Capital PLC 7.375%, 1/15/14 | | | 265 | | | 310,953 |
Fisher Scientific International, Inc. 6.125%, 7/01/15 | | | 196 | | | 201,880 |
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Fortune Brands, Inc. | | | | | | |
3.00%, 6/01/12 | | $ | 280 | | $ | 283,373 |
4.875%, 12/01/13 | | | 201 | | | 213,036 |
Johnson & Johnson 5.55%, 8/15/17 | | | 270 | | | 315,285 |
Kraft Foods, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.25%, 10/01/13 | | | 179 | | | 196,000 |
6.25%, 6/01/12 | | | 335 | | | 365,144 |
Kroger Co. (The) 6.80%, 12/15/18 | | | 79 | | | 93,100 |
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. 5.50%, 4/15/13 | | | 175 | | | 187,524 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) 4.70%, 2/15/19 | | | 294 | | | 322,162 |
Reynolds American, Inc. | | | | | | |
7.25%, 6/01/13 | | | 150 | | | 165,017 |
7.625%, 6/01/16 | | | 250 | | | 283,532 |
Safeway, Inc. | | | | | | |
4.95%, 8/16/10 | | | 90 | | | 90,334 |
6.50%, 3/01/11 | | | 15 | | | 15,485 |
Whirlpool Corp. 8.60%, 5/01/14 | | | 45 | | | 53,055 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5,647,194 |
| | | | | | |
ENERGY–0.6% | | | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. | | | | | | |
5.95%, 9/15/16 | | | 417 | | | 358,911 |
6.45%, 9/15/36 | | | 109 | | | 86,707 |
Apache Corp. 5.25%, 4/15/13 | | | 151 | | | 164,930 |
Baker Hughes, Inc. 6.50%, 11/15/13 | | | 150 | | | 171,358 |
BP Capital Markets PLC 4.75%, 3/10/19 | | | 71 | | | 58,978 |
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. 5.15%, 2/01/13 | | | 100 | | | 107,803 |
ConocoPhillips Holding Co. 6.95%, 4/15/29 | | | 66 | | | 80,998 |
Hess Corp. | | | | | | |
7.875%, 10/01/29 | | | 80 | | | 98,441 |
8.125%, 2/15/19 | | | 100 | | | 124,656 |
Marathon Oil Corp. 7.50%, 2/15/19 | | | 136 | | | 163,079 |
Nabors Industries, Inc. 9.25%, 1/15/19 | | | 315 | | | 387,275 |
Noble Energy, Inc. 8.25%, 3/01/19 | | | 303 | | | 366,707 |
Valero Energy Corp. | | | | | | |
4.75%, 6/15/13 | | | 80 | | | 83,673 |
6.125%, 2/01/20 | | | 125 | | | 128,449 |
6.875%, 4/15/12 | | | 290 | | | 312,221 |
Weatherford International Ltd. | | | | | | |
5.15%, 3/15/13 | | | 125 | | | 130,951 |
9.625%, 3/01/19 | | | 285 | | | 343,194 |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) 7.875%, 9/01/21 | | | 159 | | | 182,229 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,350,560 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
OTHER INDUSTRIAL–0.1% | | | | | | |
Noble Group Ltd. 6.75%, 1/29/20(b) | | $ | 445 | | $ | 431,650 |
| | | | | | |
SERVICES–0.0% | | | | | | |
Western Union Co. (The) 5.93%, 10/01/16 | | | 90 | | | 100,990 |
| | | | | | |
TECHNOLOGY–0.2% | | | | | | |
Computer Sciences Corp. 5.50%, 3/15/13 | | | 180 | | | 193,500 |
Dell, Inc. 5.625%, 4/15/14 | | | 185 | | | 207,437 |
HP Enterprise Services LLC Series B 6.00%, 8/01/13(c) | | | 149 | | | 168,005 |
Motorola, Inc. | | | | | | |
6.50%, 9/01/25 | | | 175 | | | 174,247 |
7.50%, 5/15/25 | | | 35 | | | 38,602 |
7.625%, 11/15/10 | | | 49 | | | 50,260 |
Xerox Corp. | | | | | | |
7.625%, 6/15/13 | | | 55 | | | 55,964 |
8.25%, 5/15/14 | | | 280 | | | 328,201 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,216,216 |
| | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION– AIRLINES–0.1% |
Southwest Airlines Co. | | | | | | |
5.25%, 10/01/14 | | | 307 | | | 323,143 |
5.75%, 12/15/16 | | | 155 | | | 163,829 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 486,972 |
| | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION– RAILROADS–0.0% | | | | | | |
Canadian Pacific Railway Co. 6.50%, 5/15/18 | | | 58 | | | 66,002 |
CSX Corp. 5.50%, 8/01/13 | | | 35 | | | 38,261 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 104,263 |
| | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION– SERVICES–0.1% | | | | | | |
Con-way, Inc. 6.70%, 5/01/34 | | | 309 | | | 308,596 |
Ryder System, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.85%, 11/01/16 | | | 127 | | | 140,126 |
7.20%, 9/01/15 | | | 127 | | | 147,296 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 596,018 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 29,267,795 |
| | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–3.9% | | | | | | |
BANKING–2.0% | | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | | | | | |
7.25%, 5/20/14 | | | 310 | | | 352,355 |
8.125%, 5/20/19 | | | 325 | | | 403,518 |
Anz National International Ltd. 6.20%, 7/19/13(b) | | | 335 | | | 368,902 |
Bank of America Corp. | | | | | | |
4.50%, 8/01/10 | | | 260 | | | 260,535 |
4.875%, 1/15/13 | | | 285 | | | 297,838 |
11
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
7.375%, 5/15/14 | | $ | 340 | | $ | 381,059 |
Barclays Bank PLC | | | | | | |
5.45%, 9/12/12 | | | 620 | | | 658,885 |
8.55%, 6/15/11(b) | | | 50 | | | 48,250 |
Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The) | | | | | | |
5.55%, 1/22/17 | | | 290 | | | 303,806 |
5.70%, 11/15/14 | | | 190 | | | 210,446 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.50%, 4/11/13 | | | 230 | | | 239,086 |
6.50%, 8/19/13 | | | 260 | | | 276,946 |
8.50%, 5/22/19 | | | 475 | | | 566,259 |
Compass Bank 5.50%, 4/01/20 | | | 215 | | | 198,396 |
Countrywide Financial Corp. | | | | | | |
5.80%, 6/07/12 | | | 96 | | | 100,948 |
6.25%, 5/15/16 | | | 92 | | | 95,909 |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. Series L 4.00%, 3/22/11 | | | 59 | | | 60,076 |
Credit Suisse USA, Inc. 5.50%, 8/15/13 | | | 120 | | | 131,525 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) 7.50%, 2/15/19 | | | 335 | | | 374,456 |
JP Morgan Chase Capital XXV Series Y 6.80%, 10/01/37 | | | 51 | | | 50,407 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 6.75%, 2/01/11 | | | 160 | | | 165,203 |
M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank | | | | | | |
4.85%, 6/16/15 | | | 250 | | | 232,499 |
5.00%, 1/17/17 | | | 205 | | | 187,999 |
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 6.05%, 5/16/16 | | | 245 | | | 253,169 |
Morgan Stanley 6.625%, 4/01/18 | | | 345 | | | 361,606 |
National Australia Bank Ltd. 3.75%, 3/02/15(b) | | | 355 | | | 363,449 |
National Capital Trust II 5.486%, 3/23/15(b) | | | 91 | | | 79,177 |
National City Bank/Cleveland OH 6.25%, 3/15/11 | | | 250 | | | 258,075 |
Nationwide Building Society 6.25%, 2/25/20(b) | | | 465 | | | 490,672 |
North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 5.875%, 8/15/12 | | | 100 | | | 103,733 |
PNC Funding Corp. 5.125%, 2/08/20 | | | 355 | | | 369,135 |
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC 5.00%, 10/01/14 | | | 205 | | | 192,345 |
Santander Holdings USA, Inc. 4.80%, 9/01/10 | | | 155 | | | 155,906 |
SouthTrust Corp. 5.80%, 6/15/14 | | | 225 | | | 241,787 |
Union Bank NA 5.95%, 5/11/16 | | | 250 | | | 268,103 |
Wachovia Corp. 5.50%, 5/01/13 | | | 320 | | | 347,309 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Wells Fargo & Co. 5.625%, 12/11/17 | | $ | 565 | | $ | 617,654 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 10,067,423 |
| | | | | | |
BROKERAGE–0.0% | | | | | | |
Lazard Group LLC 6.85%, 6/15/17 | | | 160 | | | 162,031 |
| | | | | | |
FINANCE–0.3% | | | | | | |
General Electric Capital Corp. | | | | | | |
4.80%, 5/01/13 | | | 315 | | | 335,815 |
5.625%, 5/01/18 | | | 480 | | | 510,103 |
Series A 4.375%, 11/21/11 | | | 25 | | | 26,002 |
HSBC Finance Corp. 7.00%, 5/15/12 | | | 125 | | | 134,595 |
SLM Corp. Series A 5.375%, 1/15/13–5/15/14 | | | 650 | | | 615,366 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,621,881 |
| | | | | | |
INSURANCE–1.2% | | | | | | |
Aetna, Inc. 6.00%, 6/15/16 | | | 140 | | | 159,637 |
Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings Ltd. 7.50%, 8/01/16 | | | 160 | | | 176,211 |
Allstate Corp. (The) 6.125%, 5/15/37 | | | 235 | | | 207,094 |
Allstate Life Global Funding Trusts 5.375%, 4/30/13 | | | 155 | | | 169,953 |
Assurant, Inc. 5.625%, 2/15/14 | | | 135 | | | 142,649 |
CIGNA Corp. 5.125%, 6/15/20 | | | 190 | | | 197,756 |
Coventry Health Care, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.95%, 3/15/17 | | | 90 | | | 85,967 |
6.125%, 1/15/15 | | | 40 | | | 40,844 |
6.30%, 8/15/14 | | | 275 | | | 290,303 |
Genworth Financial, Inc. 6.515%, 5/22/18 | | | 315 | | | 303,243 |
Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America 7.375%, 9/30/39(b) | | | 210 | | | 232,324 |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | | | | | | |
4.00%, 3/30/15 | | | 95 | | | 93,269 |
5.50%, 3/30/20 | | | 435 | | | 422,207 |
Humana, Inc. | | | | | | |
6.30%, 8/01/18 | | | 55 | | | 58,757 |
6.45%, 6/01/16 | | | 40 | | | 43,455 |
7.20%, 6/15/18 | | | 285 | | | 318,140 |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. 5.75%, 3/15/14(b) | | | 165 | | | 171,565 |
Lincoln National Corp. 8.75%, 7/01/19 | | | 98 | | | 120,108 |
Markel Corp. 7.125%, 9/30/19 | | | 230 | | | 252,333 |
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. 8.875%, 6/01/39(b) | | | 185 | | | 246,159 |
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
MetLife, Inc. | | | | | | |
7.717%, 2/15/19 | | $ | 112 | | $ | 133,305 |
10.75%, 8/01/39 | | | 140 | | | 166,394 |
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. 9.375%, 8/15/39(b) | | | 335 | | | 392,673 |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. 7.875%, 5/15/14 | | | 260 | | | 300,665 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.15%, 1/15/13 | | | 205 | | | 216,958 |
6.20%, 1/15/15 | | | 45 | | | 49,524 |
8.875%, 6/15/38 | | | 170 | | | 179,350 |
Series D 7.375%, 6/15/19 | | | 35 | | | 40,528 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.25%, 3/15/11 | | | 280 | | | 287,303 |
6.00%, 2/15/18 | | | 270 | | | 301,055 |
WellPoint, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.25%, 1/15/16 | | | 50 | | | 54,742 |
5.875%, 6/15/17 | | | 40 | | | 44,562 |
7.00%, 2/15/19 | | | 80 | | | 94,893 |
XL Capital Ltd. 5.25%, 9/15/14 | | | 135 | | | 138,135 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6,132,061 |
| | | | | | |
OTHER FINANCE–0.1% | | | | | | |
ORIX Corp. 4.71%, 4/27/15 | | | 458 | | | 455,345 |
| | | | | | |
REITS–0.3% | | | | | | |
ERP Operating LP 5.25%, 9/15/14 | | | 105 | | | 112,341 |
HCP, Inc. 5.95%, 9/15/11 | | | 340 | | | 352,459 |
Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. | | | | | | |
5.125%, 4/01/14 | | | 131 | | | 136,152 |
8.125%, 5/01/11 | | | 225 | | | 235,128 |
Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. 6.50%, 7/15/11 | | | 180 | | | 187,496 |
Simon Property Group LP 5.625%, 8/15/14 | | | 179 | | | 193,859 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,217,435 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 19,656,176 |
| | | | | | |
UTILITY–0.9% | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC–0.5% | | | | | | |
Allegheny Energy Supply Co. LLC 5.75%, 10/15/19(b) | | | 420 | | | 416,894 |
Ameren Corp. 8.875%, 5/15/14 | | | 240 | | | 278,217 |
FirstEnergy Corp. | | | | | | |
Series B 6.45%, 11/15/11 | | | 13 | | | 13,731 |
Series C 7.375%, 11/15/31 | | | 275 | | | 289,958 |
FPL Group Capital, Inc. | | | | | | |
6.35%, 10/01/66 | | | 55 | | | 49,500 |
6.65%, 6/15/67 | | | 170 | | | 155,550 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Nisource Finance Corp. | | | | | | |
6.80%, 1/15/19 | | $ | 330 | | $ | 367,381 |
7.875%, 11/15/10 | | | 40 | | | 40,879 |
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. 6.05%, 3/01/34 | | | 38 | | | 42,397 |
Progress Energy, Inc. 7.10%, 3/01/11 | | | 19 | | | 19,756 |
SPI Electricity & Gas Australia Holdings Pty Ltd. 6.15%, 11/15/13(b) | | | 488 | | | 516,891 |
Teco Finance, Inc. | | | | | | |
4.00%, 3/15/16 | | | 100 | | | 101,548 |
5.15%, 3/15/20 | | | 125 | | | 130,289 |
Union Electric Co. 6.70%, 2/01/19 | | | 45 | | | 52,310 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2,475,301 |
| | | | | | |
NATURAL GAS–0.3% | | | | | | |
DCP Midstream LLC | | | | | | |
5.35%, 3/15/20(b) | | | 137 | | | 140,077 |
7.875%, 8/16/10 | | | 15 | | | 15,110 |
Energy Transfer Partners LP | | | | | | |
6.70%, 7/01/18 | | | 127 | | | 136,572 |
7.50%, 7/01/38 | | | 410 | | | 419,221 |
EQT Corp. 8.125%, 6/01/19 | | | 234 | | | 275,266 |
Texas Eastern Transmission LP 7.30%, 12/01/10 | | | 160 | | | 163,798 |
TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. 6.35%, 5/15/67 | | | 120 | | | 106,950 |
Williams Partners LP 5.25%, 3/15/20(b) | | | 298 | | | 304,725 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,561,719 |
| | | | | | |
OTHER UTILITY–0.1% | | | | | | |
Veolia Environnement 6.00%, 6/01/18 | | | 210 | | | 231,585 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4,268,605 |
| | | | | | |
NON CORPORATE SECTORS–0.4% | | | | | | |
AGENCIES–NOT GOVERNMENT GUARANTEED–0.4% | | | | | | |
Gaz Capital SA for Gazprom 6.212%, 11/22/16(b) | | | 920 | | | 929,200 |
Petrobras International Finance Co. 5.75%, 1/20/20 | | | 680 | | | 684,793 |
TransCapitalInvest Ltd. for OJSC AK Transneft 8.70%, 8/07/18(b) | | | 470 | | | 541,675 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2,155,668 |
| | | | | | |
Total Corporates–Investment Grades (cost $51,662,294) | | | | | | 55,348,244 |
| | | | | | |
13
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS– TREASURIES–10.3% | | | | | | |
UNITED STATES–10.3% | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds 4.50%, 2/15/36 | | $ | 3,945 | | $ | 4,357,994 |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | | | | |
0.75%, 5/31/12 | | | 2,890 | | | 2,898,352 |
1.75%, 11/15/11–1/31/14 | | | 3,985 | | | 4,050,127 |
2.25%, 1/31/15 | | | 8,495 | | | 8,706,713 |
2.375%, 8/31/14 | | | 7,130 | | | 7,371,194 |
2.50%, 3/31/15 | | | 9,260 | | | 9,595,675 |
3.375%, 11/15/19 | | | 9,740 | | | 10,087,747 |
3.625%, 2/15/20 | | | 3,440 | | | 3,634,573 |
3.75%, 11/15/18 | | | 1,526 | | | 1,643,834 |
| | | | | | |
Total Governments–Treasuries (cost $50,149,535) | | | | | | 52,346,209 |
| | | | | | |
MORTGAGE PASS-THRU’S–5.7% | | | | | | |
AGENCY FIXED RATE 30-YEAR–5.4% | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Gold | | | | | | |
Series 2005 4.50%, 8/01/35–10/01/35 | | | 1,483 | | | 1,549,437 |
5.50%, 1/01/35 | | | 1,518 | | | 1,637,386 |
Series 2007 5.50%, 7/01/35 | | | 160 | | | 173,051 |
Series 2008 6.50%, 5/01/35 | | | 58 | | | 64,835 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | | |
5.50%, 1/01/35–8/01/40 | | | 4,866 | | | 5,215,963 |
6.00%, TBA | | | 4,470 | | | 4,847,854 |
6.50%, TBA | | | 850 | | | 928,492 |
Series 2003 5.00%, 11/01/33 | | | 487 | | | 517,848 |
Series 2004 5.50%, 2/01/34–11/01/34 | | | 654 | | | 704,669 |
6.00%, 9/01/34–11/01/34 | | | 550 | | | 603,636 |
Series 2005 4.50%, 8/01/35 | | | 539 | | | 563,384 |
Series 2006 5.00%, 2/01/36 | | | 1,747 | | | 1,854,711 |
6.00%, 3/01/36 | | | 221 | | | 241,215 |
Series 2007 4.50%, 9/01/35–1/01/36 | | | 1,597 | | | 1,672,267 |
5.00%, 11/01/35–7/01/36 | | | 505 | | | 536,687 |
5.50%, 1/01/37–8/01/37 | | | 2,436 | | | 2,625,086 |
Series 2008 5.50%, 8/01/37 | | | 1,101 | | | 1,184,968 |
6.00%, 3/01/37 | | | 2,061 | | | 2,246,754 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 27,168,243 |
| | | | | | |
AGENCY ARMS–0.3% | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Series 2008 5.575%, 11/01/37(d) | | | 188 | | | 199,164 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | | |
4.627%, 8/01/37(e) | | $ | 675 | | $ | 713,127 |
Series 2006 5.419%, 2/01/36(d) | | | 220 | | | 231,345 |
5.651%, 11/01/36(e) | | | 45 | | | 47,802 |
6.099%, 3/01/36(d) | | | 141 | | | 146,597 |
Series 2007 4.651%, 3/01/34(d) | | | 408 | | | 427,229 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,765,264 |
| | | | | | |
Total Mortgage Pass-Thru’s (cost $27,687,482) | | | | | | 28,933,507 |
| | | | | | |
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES–3.4% | | | |
NON-AGENCY FIXED RATE CMBS–3.4% | | | | | | |
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage, Inc. | | | | | | |
Series 2005-6, Class A4 5.35%, 9/10/47 | | | 315 | | | 337,276 |
Series 2006-5, Class A4 5.414%, 9/10/47 | | | 355 | | | 371,480 |
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities | | | | | | |
Series 2006-PW12, Class A4 5.907%, 9/11/38 | | | 250 | | | 268,249 |
Series 2007-PW18, Class A4 5.70%, 6/11/50 | | | 280 | | | 283,186 |
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2004-C1, Class A4 5.546%, 4/15/40 | | | 110 | | | 116,957 |
Series 2008-C7, Class A4 6.297%, 12/10/49 | | | 440 | | | 451,948 |
Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates | | | | | | |
Series 2006-C8, Class A4 5.306%, 12/10/46 | | | 130 | | | 126,813 |
Series 2007-C9, Class A4 6.01%, 12/10/49 | | | 650 | | | 671,834 |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. | | | | | | |
Series 2004-C1, Class A4 4.75%, 1/15/37 | | | 70 | | | 72,325 |
Series 2005-C1, Class A4 5.014%, 2/15/38 | | | 260 | | | 270,957 |
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates | | | | | | |
Series 2006-C3, Class A3 6.019%, 6/15/38 | | | 620 | | | 655,614 |
Series 2006-C4, Class A3 5.467%, 9/15/39 | | | 235 | | | 230,952 |
Series 2006-C5, Class A3 5.311%, 12/15/39 | | | 345 | | | 341,382 |
Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp. | | | | | | |
Series 2005-GG3, Class A4 4.799%, 8/10/42 | | | 85 | | | 88,278 |
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Series 2005-GG5, Class AJ 5.478%, 4/10/37 | | $ | 215 | | $ | 170,577 |
Series 2007-GG9, Class A2 5.381%, 3/10/39 | | | 345 | | | 357,629 |
Series 2007-GG9, Class A4 5.444%, 3/10/39 | | | 410 | | | 410,749 |
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II Series 2004-GG2, Class A6 5.396%, 8/10/38 | | | 80 | | | 84,386 |
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. | | | | | | |
Series 2005-CB11, Class A4 5.335%, 8/12/37 | | | 170 | | | 182,268 |
Series 2006-CB14, Class A4 5.481%, 12/12/44(d) | | | 315 | | | 333,345 |
Series 2006-CB15, Class A4 5.814%, 6/12/43 | | | 595 | | | 617,407 |
Series 2006-CB16, Class A4 5.552%, 5/12/45 | | | 335 | | | 351,179 |
Series 2006-CB17, Class A4 5.429%, 12/12/43 | | | 350 | | | 360,358 |
Series 2007-CB18, Class A4 5.44%, 6/12/47 | | | 445 | | | 444,430 |
Series 2007-LD11, Class A4 5.983%, 6/15/49 | | | 770 | | | 753,343 |
Series 2007-LDPX, Class A3 5.42%, 1/15/49 | | | 475 | | | 464,201 |
LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2004-C4, Class A4 5.437%, 6/15/29 | | | 40 | | | 42,307 |
Series 2006-C1, Class A4 5.156%, 2/15/31 | | | 1,095 | | | 1,139,073 |
Series 2006-C3, Class A4 5.661%, 3/15/39 | | | 285 | | | 294,647 |
Series 2006-C4, Class A4 6.08%, 6/15/38 | | | 275 | | | 295,317 |
Series 2006-C6, Class A4 5.372%, 9/15/39 | | | 660 | | | 682,546 |
Series 2006-C7, Class A3 5.347%, 11/15/38 | | | 195 | | | 201,211 |
Series 2007-C1, Class A4 5.424%, 2/15/40 | | | 210 | | | 209,070 |
Series 2008-C1, Class A2 6.324%, 4/15/41 | | | 650 | | | 689,769 |
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust Series 2005-CKI1, Class A6 5.405%, 11/12/37 | | | 40 | | | 42,815 |
Merrill Lynch/Countrywide Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2006-2, Class A4 6.104%, 6/12/46 | | | 110 | | | 117,028 |
Series 2006-3, Class A4 5.414%, 7/12/46 | | | 480 | | | 493,504 |
Series 2006-4, Class AM 5.204%, 12/12/49 | | | 265 | | | 219,779 |
Series 2007-9, Class A4 5.70%, 9/12/49 | | | 440 | | | 438,111 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Morgan Stanley Capital I | | | | | | |
Series 2004-HQ4, Class A5 4.59%, 4/14/40 | | $ | 190 | | $ | 192,114 |
Series 2005-HQ5, Class A4 5.168%, 1/14/42 | | | 495 | | | 524,206 |
Series 2006-IQ12, Class A4 5.332%, 12/15/43 | | | 780 | | | 798,393 |
Series 2007-IQ13, Class A4 5.364%, 3/15/44 | | | 90 | | | 88,593 |
Series 2007-T27, Class A4 5.802%, 6/11/42 | | | 210 | | | 219,994 |
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2006-C27, Class A3 5.765%, 7/15/45 | | | 630 | | | 660,553 |
Series 2007-C31, Class A4 5.509%, 4/15/47 | | | 190 | | | 177,991 |
Series 2007-C32, Class A3 5.929%, 6/15/49 | | | 625 | | | 600,692 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 16,944,836 |
| | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY FLOATING RATE CMBS–0.0% | | | | | | |
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II Series 2007-EOP, Class E 0.791%, 3/06/20(b)(e) | | | 75 | | | 65,867 |
| | | | | | |
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $16,162,198) | | | | | | 17,010,703 |
| | | | | | |
CORPORATES–NON-INVESTMENT GRADES–1.6% | | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–1.0% | | | | | | |
BASIC–0.2% | | | | | | |
Ineos Group Holdings PLC 8.50%, 2/15/16(b) | | | 75 | | | 58,500 |
Steel Capital SA for OAO Severstal 9.75%, 7/29/13(b) | | | 100 | | | 107,250 |
Stora Enso Oyj 7.375%, 5/15/11 | | | 175 | | | 182,438 |
United States Steel Corp. | | | | | | |
5.65%, 6/01/13 | | | 426 | | | 430,260 |
6.05%, 6/01/17 | | | 10 | | | 9,500 |
Westvaco Corp. 8.20%, 1/15/30 | | | 15 | | | 15,827 |
Weyerhaeuser Co. 7.375%, 3/15/32 | | | 110 | | | 108,670 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 912,445 |
| | | | | | |
CAPITAL GOODS–0.2% | | | | | | |
Case New Holland, Inc. | | | | | | |
7.125%, 3/01/14 | | | 85 | | | 87,975 |
7.875%, 12/01/17(b) | | | 146 | | | 147,095 |
Hanson Australia Funding Ltd. 5.25%, 3/15/13 | | | 120 | | | 118,200 |
Masco Corp. 6.125%, 10/03/16 | | | 530 | | | 512,803 |
15
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Mohawk Industries, Inc. 6.875%, 1/15/16(c) | | $ | 245 | | $ | 249,288 |
Textron Financial Corp. 5.40%, 4/28/13 | | | 53 | | | 55,111 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,170,472 |
| | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS– MEDIA–0.1% |
CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp. | | | | | | |
7.875%, 4/30/18(b) | | | 63 | | | 63,315 |
8.125%, 4/30/20(b) | | | 22 | | | 22,495 |
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 5.50%, 9/15/14 | | | 185 | | | 101,750 |
CSC Holdings LLC 8.50%, 4/15/14 | | | 110 | | | 114,675 |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) 6.25%, 11/15/14 | | | 189 | | | 189,945 |
Univision Communications, Inc. 12.00%, 7/01/14(b) | | | 36 | | | 38,610 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 530,790 |
| | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS– TELECOMMUNICATIONS–0.0% |
Qwest Communications International, Inc. | | | | | | |
7.50%, 2/15/14(c) | | | 25 | | | 25,062 |
Series B 7.50%, 2/15/14 | | | 15 | | | 15,038 |
Windstream Corp. 7.875%, 11/01/17 | | | 120 | | | 117,150 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 157,250 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL– AUTOMOTIVE–0.0% |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) 9.00%, 7/01/15 | | | 160 | | | 164,400 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL–OTHER–0.1% | | | | | | |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | | | | | | |
6.25%, 2/15/13 | | | 250 | | | 259,375 |
7.875%, 5/01/12(c) | | | 212 | | | 227,900 |
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. 6.00%, 12/01/16 | | | 70 | | | 67,912 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 555,187 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL–RETAILERS–0.1% | | | | | | |
JC Penney Co., Inc. 5.65%, 6/01/20 | | | 385 | | | 376,337 |
Limited Brands, Inc. 6.90%, 7/15/17 | | | 25 | | | 25,063 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 401,400 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER NON-CYCLICAL–0.2% | | | |
Bausch & Lomb, Inc. 9.875%, 11/01/15 | | $ | | | 130 | | $ | 133,575 |
HCA, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 2/15/20 | | | | | 115 | | | 118,306 |
8.50%, 4/15/19 | | | | | 35 | | | 37,100 |
Mylan, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 7/15/17(b) | | | | | 30 | | | 30,600 |
7.875%, 7/15/20(b) | | | | | 165 | | | 168,300 |
Universal Health Services, Inc. 7.125%, 6/30/16 | | | | | 320 | | | 324,717 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 812,598 |
| | | | | | | | |
ENERGY–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Tesoro Corp. 6.50%, 6/01/17 | | | | | 185 | | | 169,275 |
| | | | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION– AIRLINES–0.0% | | | |
UAL 2007-1 Pass Through Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 071A 6.636%, 7/02/22 | | | | | 76 | | | 69,183 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 4,943,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–0.4% | | | |
BANKING–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
ABN Amro Bank NV 4.31%, 3/10/16 | | | EUR | | 90 | | | 69,336 |
BankAmerica Capital II | | | | | | | | |
Series 2 8.00%, 12/15/26 | | $ | | | 94 | | | 91,180 |
Commerzbank Capital Funding Trust I 5.012%, 4/12/16(f) | | | EUR | | 200 | | | 127,176 |
LBG Capital No.1 PLC 8.00%, 6/15/20(b) | | $ | | | 615 | | | 476,625 |
RBS Capital Trust III 5.512%, 9/30/14 | | | | | 125 | | | 61,875 |
Regions Financial Corp. 6.375%, 5/15/12 | | | | | 275 | | | 271,484 |
Union Planters Corp. 7.75%, 3/01/11 | | | | | 183 | | | 185,536 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,283,212 |
| | | | | | | | |
BROKERAGE–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.00%, 1/14/11(f) | | | | | 80 | | | 15,800 |
6.20%, 9/26/14(f) | | | | | 33 | | | 6,517 |
7.875%, 11/01/09–8/15/10(f) | | | | | 370 | | | 73,075 |
Series G 4.80%, 3/13/14(f) | | | | | 42 | | | 8,295 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 103,687 |
| | | | | | | | |
FINANCE–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
American General Finance Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.85%, 6/01/13 | | | | | 100 | | | 88,000 |
16
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Series I 4.875%, 7/15/12 | | $ | 45 | | $ | 40,725 |
International Lease Finance Corp. 5.65%, 6/01/14 | | | 28 | | | 24,850 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 153,575 |
| | | | | | |
INSURANCE–0.1% | | | | | | |
ING Capital Funding TR III 8.439%, 12/31/10 | | | 200 | | | 174,000 |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. 7.80%, 3/15/37(b) | | | 65 | | | 53,300 |
XL Capital Ltd. Series E 6.50%, 4/15/17 | | | 245 | | | 169,050 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 396,350 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,936,824 |
| | | | | | |
UTILITY–0.2% | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC–0.2% | | | | | | |
AES Corp. (The) 7.75%, 3/01/14–10/15/15 | | | 160 | | | 162,500 |
CMS Energy Corp. 8.75%, 6/15/19 | | | 165 | | | 182,175 |
Dynegy Holdings, Inc. 8.375%, 5/01/16 | | | 115 | | | 90,994 |
Edison Mission Energy 7.00%, 5/15/17 | | | 95 | | | 60,800 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | | | | | | |
7.25%, 2/01/14 | | | 270 | | | 273,712 |
7.375%, 2/01/16 | | | 35 | | | 34,825 |
RRI Energy, Inc. 7.625%, 6/15/14 | | | 95 | | | 93,575 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 898,581 |
| | | | | | |
Total Corporates–Non-Investment Grades (cost $7,939,021) | | | | | | 7,778,405 |
| | | | | | |
AGENCIES–1.2% | | | | | | |
AGENCY DEBENTURES–1.2% | | | | | | |
Citigroup Funding, Inc.–FDIC Insured 0.267%, 5/05/11(e) | | | 2,175 | | | 2,175,790 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | | |
6.25%, 5/15/29 | | | 740 | | | 915,603 |
6.625%, 11/15/30 | | | 2,277 | | | 2,961,141 |
| | | | | | |
Total Agencies (cost $5,835,995) | | | | | | 6,052,534 |
| | | | | | |
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES–0.6% | | | | | | |
CREDIT CARDS–FLOATING RATE–0.4% | | | | | | |
Chase Issuance Trust Series 2007-A1, Class A1 0.37%, 3/15/13(e) | | | 640 | | | 639,548 |
Discover Card Master Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2010-A1, Class A1 1.00%, 9/15/15(e) | | | 184 | | | 184,986 |
Series 2009-A1, Class A1 1.65%, 12/15/14(e) | | | 190 | | | 193,178 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Series 2009-A2, Class A 1.65%, 2/17/15(e) | | $ | 200 | | $ | 203,587 |
MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2005-A9, Class A9 0.39%, 4/15/13(e) | | | 660 | | | 659,613 |
Series 2006-A2, Class A2 0.41%, 6/15/15(e) | | | 170 | | | 168,589 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2,049,501 |
| | | | | | |
HOME EQUITY LOANS– FLOATING RATE–0.1% |
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust Series 2007-HE3, Class M1 0.797%, 4/25/37(e)(g) | | | 100 | | | 2,174 |
Home Equity Asset Trust Series 2007-3, Class M1 0.697%, 8/25/37(e)(g) | | | 275 | | | 11,274 |
HSBC Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2007-1, Class M1 0.728%, 3/20/36(e) | | | 365 | | | 161,755 |
Indymac Residential Asset Backed Trust Series 2006-D, Class 2A2 0.457%, 11/25/36(e) | | | 217 | | | 153,976 |
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2007-1, Class 2A1 0.477%, 4/25/37(e) | | | 178 | | | 125,699 |
Option One Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2007-2, Class M1 0.707%, 3/25/37(e)(g) | | | 125 | | | 1,394 |
Residential Asset Securities Corp. Series 2003-KS3, Class A2 0.947%, 5/25/33(e) | | | 1 | | | 876 |
Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2007-OPT2, Class 2A2 0.477%, 7/25/37(e) | | | 300 | | | 161,038 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 618,186 |
| | | | | | |
HOME EQUITY LOANS– FIXED RATE–0.1% |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2007-S1, Class A3 5.81%, 11/25/36 | | | 445 | | | 204,832 |
Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC Series 2003-CB1, Class AF 3.95%, 1/25/33 | | | 179 | | | 153,724 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 358,556 |
| | | | | | |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $4,166,267) | | | | | | 3,026,243 |
| | | | | | |
17
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS–SOVEREIGN BONDS–0.5% |
BRAZIL–0.1% | | | | | | |
Republic of Brazil 8.25%, 1/20/34 | | $ | 555 | | $ | 732,600 |
| | | | | | |
CROATIA–0.1% | | | | | | |
Republic of Croatia 6.75%, 11/05/19(b) | | | 450 | | | 471,082 |
| | | | | | |
LITHUANIA–0.1% | | | | | | |
Republic of Lithuania 6.75%, 1/15/15(b) | | | 435 | | | 455,893 |
| | | | | | |
PERU–0.1% | | | | | | |
Republic of Peru 8.75%, 11/21/33 | | | 405 | | | 549,787 |
| | | | | | |
POLAND–0.0% | | | | | | |
Republic of Poland 6.375%, 7/15/19 | | | 60 | | | 65,100 |
| | | | | | |
RUSSIA–0.1% | | | | | | |
Russian Federation 7.50%, 3/31/30(b)(c) | | | 285 | | | 321,506 |
| | | | | | |
Total Governments–Sovereign Bonds (cost $2,445,562) | | | | | | 2,595,968 |
| | | | | | |
CMOS–0.5% | | | | | | |
AGENCY FLOATING RATE–0.4% | | | | | | |
Fannie Mae REMICS | | | | | | |
Series 2005-83, Class KT 0.647%, 10/25/35(e) | | | 520 | | | 517,043 |
Series 2005-99, Class AF 0.697%, 12/25/35(e) | | | 511 | | | 509,344 |
Series 2006-46, Class CF 0.767%, 6/25/36(e) | | | 510 | | | 509,997 |
Series 2006-20, Class BF 0.757%, 4/25/36(e) | | | 459 | | | 458,625 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,995,009 |
| | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY ARMS–0.0% | | | | | | |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. | | | | | | |
Series 2006-AR1, Class 3A1 5.50%, 3/25/36(e) | | | 101 | | | 67,160 |
| | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY FLOATING RATE–0.0% | | | | | | |
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2005-62, Class 2A1 1.413%, 12/25/35(e) | | | 44 | | | 24,263 |
Series 2006-OA14, Class 3A1 1.271%, 11/25/46(e) | | | 167 | | | 71,826 |
Series 2007-OA3, Class M1 0.657%, 4/25/47(e)(g) | | | 185 | | | 753 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 96,842 |
NON-AGENCY FIXED RATE–0.1% | | | | | | |
Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust | | | | | | |
Series 2006-1, Class 22A1 5.09%, 2/25/36 | | | 159 | | | 99,536 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Series 2006-3, Class 22A1 5.638%, 5/25/36 | | $ | 215 | | $ | 102,599 |
Series 2007-1, Class 21A1 5.453%, 1/25/47 | | | 54 | | | 32,459 |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. | | | | | | |
Series 2005-2, Class 1A4 5.135%, 5/25/35 | | | 81 | | | 70,436 |
Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2006-AR7, Class 4A1 5.724%, 5/25/36 | | | 67 | | | 40,970 |
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. Series 2005-A8, Class A1C1 5.25%, 8/25/36 | | | 60 | | | 53,761 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 399,761 |
| | | | | | |
Total CMOs (cost $3,116,413) | | | | | | 2,558,772 |
| | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS–SOVEREIGN AGENCIES–0.4% |
UNITED KINGDOM–0.4% | | | | | | |
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) | | | | | | |
1.45%, 10/20/11(b) | | | 1,338 | | | 1,340,533 |
2.625%, 5/11/12(b) | | | 695 | | | 710,837 |
| | | | | | |
Total Governments–Sovereign Agencies (cost $2,032,260) | | | | | | 2,051,370 |
| | | | | | |
INFLATION-LINKED SECURITIES–0.4% |
UNITED STATES–0.4% | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index 3.00%, 7/15/12 (TIPS) (cost $1,799,566) | | | 1,734 | | | 1,844,453 |
| | | | | | |
QUASI-SOVEREIGNS–0.2% | | | | | | |
RUSSIA–0.1% | | | | | | |
RSHB Capital SA for OJSC Russian Agricultural Bank 7.75%, 5/29/18(b) | | | 486 | | | 518,805 |
| | | | | | |
MALAYSIA–0.1% | | | | | | |
Petronas Capital Ltd. 5.25%, 8/12/19(b) | | | 460 | | | 483,648 |
| | | | | | |
KAZAKHSTAN–0.0% | | | | | | |
KazMunaiGaz Finance Sub BV 7.00%, 5/05/20(b) | | | 251 | | | 251,954 |
| | | | | | |
Total Quasi-Sovereigns (cost $1,196,260) | | | | | | 1,254,407 |
| | | | | | |
PREFERRED STOCKS–0.2% |
UTILITY–0.1% | | | | | | |
OTHER UTILITY–0.1% | | | | | | |
DTE Energy Trust I 7.80% | | | 20,000 | | | 520,400 |
| | | | | | |
18
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–0.1% | | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS– TELECOMMUNICATIONS–0.1% |
Centaur Funding Corp. 9.08%(b) | | $ | 200 | | $ | 208,000 |
| | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–0.0% |
FINANCE–0.0% | | | | | | |
Citigroup Capital XII 8.50% | | | 7,000 | | | 175,000 |
| | | | | | |
NON CORPORATE SECTORS–0.0% |
AGENCIES–GOVERNMENT SPONSORED–0.0% | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Series Z 8.375% | | | 4,750 | | | 1,615 |
Federal National Mortgage Association 8.25% | | | 5,750 | | | 1,955 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,570 |
| | | | | | |
Total Preferred Stocks (cost $1,170,116) | | | | | | 906,970 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS– MUNICIPAL BONDS–0.1% |
UNITED STATES–0.1% | | | | | | |
State of California 7.625%, 3/01/40 (cost $464,647) | | $ | 455 | | | 491,614 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | |
WARRANTS–0.0% | | | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–0.0% | | | | | | | |
Aldar Properties, Merrill Lynch, expiring 10/22/12(a) | | | 319,700 | | $ | 236,418 | |
Henderson Land Development, expiring 6/01/11(a) | | | 19,400 | | | 3,289 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Warrants (cost $382,980) | | | | | | 239,707 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | | |
EMERGING MARKETS–CORPORATE BONDS–0.0% | | | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–0.0% | | | | | | | |
ENERGY–0.0% | | | | | | | |
Ecopetrol SA 7.625%, 7/23/19 (cost $124,582) | | $ | 125 | | | 141,563 | |
| | | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–4.1% | |
TIME DEPOSIT–4.1% | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $20,525,000) | | | 20,525 | | | 20,525,000 | |
| | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.5% (cost $502,590,683) | | | | | | 514,563,858 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(1.5)% | | | | | | (7,598,657 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 506,965,201 | |
| | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Type | | Number of Contracts | | Expiration Month | | Original Value | | Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Purchased Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EURO STOXX 50 | | 5 | | September 2010 | | $ | 153,476 | | $ | 157,014 | | $ | 3,538 | |
TOPIX INDEX | | 3 | | September 2010 | | | 289,285 | | | 284,510 | | | (4,775 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (1,237 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 217 | | $ | 190,131 | | $ | 181,713 | | $ | (8,418 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 328 | | | 295,922 | | | 274,662 | | | (21,260 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 490 | | | 435,012 | | | 410,319 | | | (24,693 | ) |
19
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 309 | | $ | 283,677 | | $ | 258,752 | | $ | (24,925 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,249 | | | 1,073,978 | | | 1,045,894 | | | (28,084 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 571 | | | 525,531 | | | 478,147 | | | (47,384 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,983 | | | 1,764,751 | | | 1,660,534 | | | (104,217) | |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 725 | | | 1,073,471 | | | 1,083,190 | | | 9,719 | |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 266 | | | 394,568 | | | 397,419 | | | 2,851 | |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 378 | | | 565,480 | | | 564,753 | | | (727 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 819 | | | 1,225,208 | | | 1,223,632 | | | (1,576 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 1,179 | | | 1,780,302 | | | 1,761,492 | | | (18,810 | ) |
British Pound settling 9/15/10 | | 377 | | | 564,829 | | | 563,254 | | | (1,575 | ) |
British Pound settling 9/15/10 | | 900 | | | 1,348,398 | | | 1,344,638 | | | (3,760 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 96 | | | 90,799 | | | 90,155 | | | (644 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 168 | | | 158,898 | | | 157,770 | | | (1,128 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 224 | | | 214,969 | | | 210,361 | | | (4,608 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 635 | | | 608,494 | | | 596,206 | | | (12,288 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 1,123 | | | 1,379,347 | | | 1,373,569 | | | (5,778 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 2,187 | | | 2,681,415 | | | 2,674,973 | | | (6,442 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 489 | | | 605,988 | | | 598,108 | | | (7,880 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 1,008 | | | 1,249,154 | | | 1,232,910 | | | (16,244 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 285,045 | | | 3,076,346 | | | 3,226,254 | | | 149,908 | |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 242,049 | | | 2,612,115 | | | 2,739,608 | | | 127,493 | |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 113,554 | | | 1,255,781 | | | 1,285,250 | | | 29,469 | |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 74,568 | | | 817,775 | | | 843,991 | | | 26,216 | |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 5,918 | | | 65,447 | | | 66,982 | | | 1,535 | |
Japanese Yen settling 9/15/10 | | 74,431 | | | 803,608 | | | 842,877 | | | 39,269 | |
Japanese Yen settling 9/15/10 | | 53,189 | | | 584,501 | | | 602,327 | | | 17,826 | |
Japanese Yen settling 9/15/10 | | 33,719 | | | 373,154 | | | 381,843 | | | 8,689 | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 959 | | | 677,418 | | | 655,666 | | | (21,752 | ) |
New Zealand Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 1,935 | | | 1,359,880 | | | 1,319,955 | | | (39,925 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 6,919 | | | 1,064,820 | | | 1,060,766 | | | (4,054 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 2,819 | | | 442,793 | | | 432,186 | | | (10,607 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 5,963 | | | 926,047 | | | 914,200 | | | (11,847 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 946 | | | 159,814 | | | 145,033 | | | (14,781 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 11,228 | | | 1,814,333 | | | 1,721,388 | | | (92,945 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 12,667 | | | 2,046,378 | | | 1,942,004 | | | (104,374 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 9/15/10 | | 3,638 | | | 538,668 | | | 556,926 | | | 18,258 | |
Norwegian Krone settling 9/15/10 | | 3,952 | | | 605,882 | | | 604,995 | | | (887 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 8,745 | | | 1,125,342 | | | 1,121,517 | | | (3,825 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 6,612 | | | 853,179 | | | 847,967 | | | (5,212 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 2,065 | | | 288,200 | | | 264,829 | | | (23,371 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 2,518 | | | 352,245 | | | 322,925 | | | (29,320 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 12,837 | | | 1,691,324 | | | 1,646,302 | | | (45,022 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 13,657 | | | 1,797,272 | | | 1,751,465 | | | (45,807 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 509 | | | 457,154 | | | 472,593 | | | 15,439 | |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 1,145 | | | 1,080,128 | | | 1,063,102 | | | (17,026 | ) |
| | | | |
Sale Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 733 | | | 636,427 | | | 613,803 | | | 22,624 | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 689 | | | 593,236 | | | 576,958 | | | 16,278 | |
20
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Sale Contracts: (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 249 | | $ | 207,158 | | $ | 208,509 | | $ | (1,351 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 776 | | | 646,664 | | | 649,811 | | | (3,147 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 636 | | | 520,617 | | | 532,577 | | | (11,960 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 407 | | | 337,989 | | | 339,613 | | | (1,624 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 258 | | | 388,553 | | | 385,466 | | | 3,087 | |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 145 | | | 213,137 | | | 216,638 | | | (3,501 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 481 | | | 712,039 | | | 718,641 | | | (6,602 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 622 | | | 899,636 | | | 929,303 | | | (29,667 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 2,775 | | | 4,067,651 | | | 4,146,005 | | | (78,354 | ) |
British Pound settling 9/15/10 | | 177 | | | 261,999 | | | 264,446 | | | (2,447 | ) |
British Pound settling 9/15/10 | | 723 | | | 1,045,791 | | | 1,080,193 | | | (34,402 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,672 | | | 1,640,116 | | | 1,570,194 | | | 69,922 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,395 | | | 1,370,267 | | | 1,310,060 | | | 60,207 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 655 | | | 645,085 | | | 615,118 | | | 29,967 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 260 | | | 259,849 | | | 244,169 | | | 15,680 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 178 | | | 177,263 | | | 167,162 | | | 10,101 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 146 | | | 145,388 | | | 137,110 | | | 8,278 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 314 | | | 302,068 | | | 294,881 | | | 7,187 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 848 | | | 828,311 | | | 796,193 | | | 32,118 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 1,831 | | | 1,734,411 | | | 1,719,139 | | | 15,272 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 519 | | | 502,556 | | | 487,293 | | | 15,263 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 9/15/10 | | 268 | | | 253,776 | | | 251,627 | | | 2,149 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 3,056 | | | 3,840,109 | | | 3,737,869 | | | 102,240 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 1,741 | | | 2,191,362 | | | 2,129,460 | | | 61,902 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 1,548 | | | 1,918,746 | | | 1,893,397 | | | 25,349 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 390 | | | 496,155 | | | 477,019 | | | 19,136 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 800 | | | 984,248 | | | 978,500 | | | 5,748 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 336 | | | 414,725 | | | 410,970 | | | 3,755 | |
Euro settling 8/25/10 | | 164 | | | 201,074 | | | 200,095 | | | 979 | |
Euro settling 9/15/10 | | 514 | | | 633,114 | | | 628,797 | | | 4,317 | |
Euro settling 9/15/10 | | 187 | | | 223,486 | | | 228,765 | | | (5,279 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 19,440 | | | 217,413 | | | 220,030 | | | (2,617 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 45,948 | | | 515,314 | | | 520,058 | | | (4,744 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 21,521 | | | 236,877 | | | 243,583 | | | (6,706 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 92,033 | | | 1,029,279 | | | 1,041,666 | | | (12,387 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 96,455 | | | 1,058,178 | | | 1,091,717 | | | (33,539 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 247,967 | | | 2,682,087 | | | 2,806,590 | | | (124,503) | |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 8,181 | | | 1,263,893 | | | 1,254,247 | | | 9,646 | |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 5,528 | | | 845,641 | | | 847,509 | | | (1,868 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 1,419 | | | 184,851 | | | 181,982 | | | 2,869 | |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 10,755 | | | 1,379,009 | | | 1,379,293 | | | (284 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 7,815 | | | 988,890 | | | 1,002,248 | | | (13,358 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 491 | | | 453,529 | | | 455,880 | | | (2,351 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 190 | | | 165,570 | | | 176,410 | | | (10,840 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 2,189 | | | 1,968,171 | | | 2,032,427 | | | (64,256 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 1,135 | | | 980,494 | | | 1,053,817 | | | (73,323 | ) |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $14,295,187 or 2.8% of net assets. |
21
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
(c) | | Coupon rate adjusts periodically based upon a predetermined schedule. Stated interest rate in effect at June 30, 2010. |
(d) | | Variable rate coupon, rate shown as of June 30, 2010. |
(e) | | Floating Rate Security. Stated interest rate was in effect at June 30, 2010. |
(f) | | Security is in default and is non-income producing. |
The fund currently owns investments collateralized by subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans are offered to homeowners who do not have a history of debt or who have had problems meeting their debt obligations. Because repayment is less certain, subprime borrowers pay a higher rate of interest than prime borrowers. As of June 30, 2010, the fund’s total exposure to subprime investments was 0.30% of net assets. These investments are valued in accordance with the fund’s Valuation Policies (see Note A for additional details).
Currency Abbreviations:
EUR—Euro
HKD—Hong Kong Dollar
JPY—Japanese Yen
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
ARMs—Adjustable Rate Mortgages
CMBS—Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
CMOs—Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
FDIC—Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDR—Fiduciary Depositary Receipt
GDR—Global Depository Receipt
LP—Limited Partnership
OJSC—Open Joint Stock Company
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust
TIPS—Treasury Inflation Protected Security
See notes to financial statements.
22
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $502,590,683) | | $ | 514,563,858 | |
Cash | | | 25,681 | (a) |
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $1,257,038) | | | 1,255,508 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign currency transactions | | | 8,059,327 | |
Interest and dividends receivable | | | 2,285,904 | |
Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 990,746 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 162,231 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 527,343,255 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions | | | 18,309,468 | |
Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 1,340,306 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 234,755 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 188,193 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 93,075 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 19,665 | |
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 3,684 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 188,751 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 20,378,054 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 506,965,201 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 51,604 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 561,512,110 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 1,239,611 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (67,465,712 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | 11,627,588 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 506,965,201 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 64,054,418 | | 6,480,134 | | $ | 9.88 |
B | | $ | 442,910,783 | | 45,124,295 | | $ | 9.82 |
(a) | | An amount of $24,123 has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open futures contracts outstanding at June 30, 2010. |
See notes to financial statements.
23
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $236,696) | | $ | 4,045,234 | |
Interest (net of foreign taxes withheld of $440) | | | 3,753,386 | |
| | | | |
| | | 7,798,620 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 1,462,460 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 576,763 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 325 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 2,127 | |
Custodian | | | 137,300 | |
Printing | | | 93,575 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Audit | | | 17,740 | |
Legal | | | 16,050 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 18,720 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 2,366,728 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 5,431,892 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 13,296,141 | |
Futures contracts | | | (28,529 | ) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 1,206,654 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (45,569,707 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (11,503 | ) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (604,902 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (31,711,846 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (26,279,954 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
24
| | |
|
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 5,431,892 | | | $ | 10,269,511 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 14,474,266 | | | | (41,276,067 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (46,186,112 | ) | | | 131,058,481 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (26,279,954 | ) | | | 100,051,925 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,880,068 | ) | | | (716,042 | ) |
Class B | | | (11,886,233 | ) | | | (3,162,663 | ) |
Capital Stock Transactions | | | | | | | | |
Net increase | | | 15,222,121 | | | | 82,128,184 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (24,824,134 | ) | | | 178,301,404 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 531,789,335 | | | | 353,487,931 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $1,239,611 and $9,574,020, respectively) | | $ | 506,965,201 | | | $ | 531,789,335 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
25
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is to maximize total return consistent with the Adviser’s determination of reasonable risk. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
26
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financials | | $ | 54,264,259 | | | $ | 37,239,441 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 91,503,700 |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 33,830,222 | | | | 9,420,380 | | | | –0 | – | | | 43,250,602 |
Information Technology | | | 34,175,076 | | | | 5,988,399 | | | | –0 | – | | | 40,163,475 |
Health Care | | | 26,261,218 | | | | 5,060,420 | | | | –0 | – | | | 31,321,638 |
Energy | | | 24,206,419 | | | | 5,602,948 | | | | –0 | – | | | 29,809,367 |
Consumer Staples | | | 16,284,707 | | | | 9,300,129 | | | | –0 | – | | | 25,584,836 |
Industrials | | | 16,011,057 | | | | 9,542,866 | | | | 7,356 | | | | 25,561,279 |
Materials | | | 6,085,574 | | | | 5,393,600 | | | | –0 | – | | | 11,479,174 |
Telecommunication Services | | | 4,821,022 | | | | 3,241,280 | | | | –0 | – | | | 8,062,302 |
Utilities | | | 3,110,698 | | | | 1,611,117 | | | | –0 | – | | | 4,721,815 |
Corporates—Investment Grades | | | –0 | – | | | 55,304,059 | | | | 368,902 | | | | 55,672,961 |
Governments—Treasuries | | | –0 | – | | | 52,346,209 | | | | –0 | – | | | 52,346,209 |
Mortgage Pass-Thru’s | | | –0 | – | | | 28,933,507 | | | | –0 | – | | | 28,933,507 |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | –0 | – | | | 14,181,485 | | | | 2,829,218 | | | | 17,010,703 |
Corporates—Non-Investment Grades | | | –0 | – | | | 7,384,505 | | | | 69,183 | | | | 7,453,688 |
Agencies | | | –0 | – | | | 6,052,534 | | | | –0 | – | | | 6,052,534 |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | –0 | – | | | 2,049,501 | | | | 976,742 | | | | 3,026,243 |
Governments—Sovereign Bonds | | | –0 | – | | | 2,595,968 | | | | –0 | – | | | 2,595,968 |
CMOs | | | –0 | – | | | 1,995,009 | | | | 563,763 | | | | 2,558,772 |
Governments—Sovereign Agencies | | | –0 | – | | | 2,051,370 | | | | –0 | – | | | 2,051,370 |
Inflation-Linked Securities | | | –0 | – | | | 1,844,454 | | | | –0 | – | | | 1,844,454 |
Quasi-Sovereigns | | | –0 | – | | | 1,254,407 | | | | –0 | – | | | 1,254,407 |
Preferred Stocks | | | 698,970 | | | | 208,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 906,970 |
Local Governments—Municipal Bonds | | | –0 | – | | | 491,614 | | | | –0 | – | | | 491,614 |
Warrants | | | 3,289 | | | | –0 | – | | | 236,418 | | | | 239,707 |
Emerging Markets—Corporate Bonds | | | –0 | – | | | 141,563 | | | | –0 | – | | | 141,563 |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 20,525,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 20,525,000 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 219,752,511 | | | | 289,759,765 | + | | | 5,051,582 | | | | 514,563,858 |
27
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Other Financial Instruments*: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | 3,538 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 3,538 | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | 990,746 | | | | –0 | – | | | 990,746 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | (4,775 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | (4,775 | ) |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | (1,340,306 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | (1,340,306 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 219,751,274 | | | $ | 289,410,205 | | | $ | 5,051,582 | | | $ | 514,213,061 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
+ | | The earlier close of the foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred between the close of the foreign markets and the time at which the Portfolio values its securities which may materially affect the value of securities trading in such markets. To account for this, the Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Portfolio’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments. |
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Industrials | | | Corporates - - Investment Grades | | | Commercial Mortgage- Backed Securities | | | Corporates - Non-Investment Grades | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 368,661 | | | $ | 871,864 | | | $ | 65,766 | |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | –0 | – | | | (74 | ) | | | 8,341 | | | | 53 | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 11 | | | | 35 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | (227 | ) | | | 315 | | | | 377,442 | | | | 5,091 | |
Net purchases (sales) | | | 7,583 | | | | –0 | – | | | (1,618 | ) | | | (1,762 | ) |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 1,573,178 | | | | –0 | – |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 7,356 | | | $ | 368,902 | | | $ | 2,829,218 | | | $ | 69,183 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 06/30/10* | | $ | (227 | ) | | $ | 316 | | | $ | 373,134 | | | $ | 5,091 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Asset- Backed Securities | | | CMOs | | | Warrants | | | Total | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | 982,613 | | | $ | 623,013 | | | $ | 426,096 | | | $ | 3,338,013 | |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | 782 | | | | (10 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | 9,092 | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | 4,163 | | | | (6,320 | ) | | | (141,943 | ) | | | (144,054 | ) |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | 146,835 | | | | 276,535 | | | | (47,735 | ) | | | 758,256 | |
Net purchases (sales) | | | (157,651 | ) | | | (329,455 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | (482,903 | ) |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 1,573,178 | |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 976,742 | | | $ | 563,763 | | | $ | 236,418 | | | $ | 5,051,582 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 06/30/10* | | $ | 147,400 | | | $ | 5,991 | | | $ | (121,280 | ) | | $ | 410,425 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
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 asked prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar.
28
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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.
8. Repurchase Agreements
It is the Portfolio’s policy that its custodian or designated subcustodian take control of securities as collateral under repurchase agreements and to determine on a daily basis that the value of such securities are sufficient to cover the value of the repurchase agreements. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of collateral by the Portfolio may be delayed or limited.
NOTE B: Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’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 to .75% and 1.00% of the daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. Prior to February 12, 2007, the Portfolio’s total operating expenses on an annual basis were limited to 1.20% and 1.45% of the daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, there were no expenses waived by the Adviser.
29
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $241,204, of which $0 and $79, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | Sales |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 183,094,249 | | $ | 175,499,359 |
U.S. government securities | | | 92,813,969 | | | 91,688,679 |
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 (excluding futures and foreign currency transactions) are as follows:
| | | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 35,496,592 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (23,523,417 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 11,973,175 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
The Portfolio may buy or sell futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of anticipated movements in the market or for investment purposes. The Portfolio bears the market risk that arises from
30
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contracts and movements in the price of the securities hedged or used for cover. The Portfolio may also purchase or sell futures contracts for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
At the time the Portfolio enters into a futures contract, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 contracts is generally less than privately negotiated futures contracts, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, provides a guarantee of performance. This guarantee is supported by a daily payment system (i.e., margin requirements). When the contract is closed, the Portfolio 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 contracts subjects the Portfolio 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 contracts. Use of short futures contracts subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
31
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
At June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives | |
Derivative Type | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 990,746 | | Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 1,340,306 | |
Equity contracts | | | | | | | Payable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 1,237 | * |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 990,746 | | | | $ | 1,341,543 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) of futures contracts is reported in the portfolio of investments. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | $ | 1,266,651 | | | $ | (609,895 | ) |
Equity contracts | | Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts | | | (28,529 | ) | | | (11,503 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 1,238,122 | | | $ | (621,398 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average monthly principal amount of foreign currency exchange contracts was $74,477,761 and average monthly original value of futures contracts was $472,472.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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. Dollar Rolls
The Portfolio may enter into dollar rolls. Dollar rolls involve sales by the Portfolio of securities for delivery in the current month and the Portfolio’s simultaneously contracting to repurchase substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Portfolio forgoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase
32
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
(often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Portfolio is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase price. Dollar rolls are speculative techniques and may be considered to be borrowings by the Portfolio. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio earned drop income of $100,860 which is included in interest income in the accompanying statement of operations.
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
| | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 102,525 | | | 487,229 | | | | | $ | 1,097,174 | | | $ | 4,520,608 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 175,872 | | | 79,384 | | | | | | 1,880,068 | | | | 716,042 | |
Shares redeemed | | (655,371 | ) | | (1,532,263 | ) | | | | | (6,982,845 | ) | | | (13,836,172 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (376,974 | ) | | (965,650 | ) | | | | $ | (4,005,603 | ) | | $ | (8,599,522 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 3,604,114 | | | 14,055,879 | | | | | $ | 38,116,037 | | | $ | 127,281,365 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 1,119,231 | | | 352,582 | | | | | | 11,886,233 | | | | 3,162,663 | |
Shares redeemed | | (2,934,614 | ) | | (4,410,508 | ) | | | | | (30,774,546 | ) | | | (39,716,322 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase | | 1,788,731 | | | 9,997,953 | | | | | $ | 19,227,724 | | | $ | 90,727,706 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in fixed-income debt securities such as bonds or notes. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of the Portfolio’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 risk 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.
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
33
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 3,878,705 | | | $ | 7,609,285 |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | 5,290,837 |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 3,878,705 | | | $ | 12,900,122 |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 13,550,294 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (71,259,080 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 43,138,847 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (14,569,939 | )(c) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $71,142,562 of which $2,981,323 expires in the year 2015, $17,895,700 expires in the year 2016 and $50,265,539 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. As a result of the merger with AllianceBernstein Balanced Shares Portfolio into the Portfolio, various limitations and reductions regarding the future utilization of certain capital loss carryforwards were applied, based on certain provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had deferred straddle losses of $116,518. |
(b) | | The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the realization for tax purposes of gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies, and the tax treatment of partnerships. |
(c) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable to deferred income from an underlying security. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and
34
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
35
| | |
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $10.66 | | | $8.63 | | | $13.05 | | | $12.87 | | | $11.39 | | | $10.69 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .12 | | | .24 | | | .22 | (b) | | .31 | (b) | | .25 | (b) | | .18 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (.61 | ) | | 1.89 | | | (3.97 | ) | | .41 | | | 1.32 | | | .60 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (c) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.49 | ) | | 2.13 | | | (3.75 | ) | | .72 | | | 1.57 | | | .78 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.29 | ) | | (.10 | ) | | (.39 | ) | | (.32 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.05 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.28 | ) | | (.22 | ) | | –0 | – | | (.03 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.29 | ) | | (.10 | ) | | (.67 | ) | | (.54 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.08 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $9.88 | | | $10.66 | | | $8.63 | | | $13.05 | | | $12.87 | | | $11.39 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (d) | | (4.80 | )%* | | 24.88 | %* | | (30.01 | )%* | | 5.55 | % | | 13.92 | % | | 7.30 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $64,054 | | | $73,120 | | | $67,526 | | | $10 | | | $11,111 | | | $9,746 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .67 | %(e)(f) | | .69 | % | | .75 | %(f) | | .76 | % | | .99 | %(f) | | 1.20 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .67 | %(e)(f) | | .69 | % | | .78 | %(f) | | .85 | % | | 1.07 | %(f) | | 1.54 | % |
Net investment income | | 2.25 | %(e)(f) | | 2.66 | % | | 3.08 | %(b)(f) | | 2.33 | %(b) | | 2.08 | %(b)(f) | | 1.64 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 51 | % | | 85 | % | | 93 | % | | 77 | % | | 203 | % | | 139 | % |
See footnote summary on page 38.
36
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $10.58 | | | $8.58 | | | $12.97 | | | $12.81 | | | $11.34 | | | $10.67 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .11 | | | .22 | | | .26 | (b) | | .27 | (b) | | .22 | (b) | | .15 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (.60 | ) | | 1.86 | | | (4.02 | ) | | .41 | | | 1.33 | | | .60 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (c) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.49 | ) | | 2.08 | | | (3.76 | ) | | .68 | | | 1.55 | | | .75 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.27 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.35 | ) | | (.30 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.05 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.28 | ) | | (.22 | ) | | –0 | – | | (.03 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.27 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.63 | ) | | (.52 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.08 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $9.82 | | | $10.58 | | | $8.58 | | | $12.97 | | | $12.81 | | | $11.34 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (d) | | (4.82 | )%* | | 24.45 | %* | | (30.20 | )%* | | 5.26 | % | | 13.75 | % | | 7.01 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $442,911 | | | $458,669 | | | $285,962 | | | $211,440 | | | $124,992 | | | $64,325 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .92 | %(e)(f) | | .95 | % | | 1.00 | %(f) | | 1.01 | % | | 1.23 | %(f) | | 1.45 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .92 | %(e)(f) | | .95 | % | | 1.02 | %(f) | | 1.07 | % | | 1.31 | %(f) | | 1.77 | % |
Net investment income | | 2.01 | %(e)(f) | | 2.36 | % | | 2.48 | %(b)(f) | | 2.11 | %(b) | | 1.84 | %(b)(f) | | 1.31 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 51 | % | | 85 | % | | 93 | % | | 77 | % | | 203 | % | | 139 | % |
See footnote summary on page 38.
37
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Net of expenses waived or 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(f) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.02%, 0.06% and 0.10%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
38
| | |
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR SHAREHOLDER REPORT
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio2 (the “Portfolio”).3 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by the August 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Management fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Management fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES, EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS & CAPS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories 4 of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.5
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 06/30/09 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Balanced | | 55 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 45 bp on next $2.5 billion 40 bp on the balance | | $ | 413.2 | | Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on July 23, 2009 and presented to the Board of Directors on August 4-6, 2009. |
2 | | The Portfolio merged with AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund – Balanced Shares Portfolio (“Balanced Shares Portfolio”) on September 26, 2008. Therefore, the Portfolio’s expenses for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 is not inclusive of Balanced Shares Portfolio’s expenses from January 1, 2008 through September 25, 2008. |
3 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratios refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
4 | | The seven other categories that do not apply to any of the Portfolios listed and are not shown in the table below are Blend, Growth, Value, International, High Income, Low Risk Income and Specialty. |
5 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. AllianceBernstein Balanced Shares, Inc., which the Adviser also manages, has lower breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule compared to the Balanced category: 60 bp on the first $200 million, 50 bp on the next $200 million, 40 bp on the balance. |
39
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser was entitled to receive $92,750 (0.04% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services but waived $22,000 (0.01%) of the expense reimbursement.
The Adviser agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Portfolio’s total operating expense to the degree necessary to limit the Portfolio’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Portfolio’s current fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser on May 1st of each year upon at least 60 days of written notice. Also set forth below are the Portfolio’s gross expense ratios as of December 31, 2008:
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Cap Pursuant to Expense Limitation Undertaking | | Gross Expense Ratio (12/31/08) | | Fiscal Year End |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | Class A 0.75% Class B 1.00% | | 0.78%
1.02% | | December 31 |
I. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different and legal and reputational risks are greater, it is worth considering information regarding the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.6 With respect to the Portfolio, the Adviser represented that there is no category in the Form ADV for institutional products that has a similar investment style as the Portfolio.
6 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
40
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Balanced Wealth Strategy, a retail mutual fund, which has a similar investment style as the Portfolio. It should be noted that AllianceBernstein Balanced Shares, Inc., a retail mutual fund that is substantially similar as Balanced Shares Portfolio, which Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio acquired in September 2008, has an advisory fee schedule with breakpoints lower than the category fee schedule contemplated by the Adviser’s agreement with the NYAG.7 Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Balanced Wealth Strategy:8
| | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | Balanced Wealth Strategy | | 0.55% on first $2.5 billion
0.45% on next $2.5 billion 0.40% on the balance |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the following fees for Global Balanced Portfolio, which is a Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Luxembourg Fund | | Fee |
Balanced Wealth Strategy | | Global Balanced Portfolio | | |
| | Class A9 | | 1.40% |
| | Class I (Institutional) | | 0.70% |
The AllianceBernstein Investment Trust Management mutual funds (“ITM”), which are offered to investors in Japan, have an “all-in” fee to compensate the Adviser for investment advisory as well as fund accounting and administrative services. The fee schedule of the ITM mutual fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio is as follows:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | ITM Mutual Fund | | Fee |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | Alliance Global Balance Neutral10 | | 0.70% |
The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers. Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)11 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.12
7 | | There was no change to the advisory fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Balanced Shares, Inc. since the retail mutual fund had already lower breakpoints than that of the NYAG related category: 60 bp on first $200 million, 50 bp on the next $200 million, 40 bp on the balance. |
8 | | It should be noted that the ABMF was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the ABMF. |
9 | | Class A shares of the Luxembourg funds are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory and distribution-related services, unlike Class I shares, whose fee is for only investment advisory services. |
10 | | This ITM fund is privately placed or institutional. |
11 | | Note that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively large average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
12 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
41
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee13 | | Lipper Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | 0.550 | | 0.650 | | 5/11 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU14 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio. Supplemental pro-forma information (shown in bold and italicized) is also provided to illustrate the effect of the Portfolio’s merger with Balanced Shares Portfolio on the Balanced Wealth Strategy’s Portfolio’s total expense ratio.15
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper utilizes but given bear market conditions during 2008, especially the last three months of 2008, the effects on the Portfolio’s total expense ratios caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.16
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)17 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | 0.750 | | 0.720 | | 6/11 | | 0.713 | | 14/25 |
pro-forma | | 0.690 | | 0.720 | | 6/11 | | 0.713 | | 12/25 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a pro forma total expense ratio basis. In addition to Lipper’s expense comparisons, the fee evaluation presented the Portfolio’s monthly net assets and unaudited advisory fee and total expense ratio run rates from December 31, 2007 through April 30, 2009. 18
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
At the May 5, 2009 Board meeting, members of the Adviser’s Controller’s Office presented the Adviser’s revenue and expenses associated with providing services to the Portfolios. See discussion below in Section IV.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2008, relative to 2007.
13 | | The contractual management fee would not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. As previously noted, the Adviser waived part of such reimbursements during the most recently completed fiscal year. In addition, the contractual management fee does not reflect any advisory fee waivers or expense caps that would effectively reduce the actual management fee. |
14 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
15 | | The pro-forma expense ratio shows what would have been the total expense ratio of the Portfolio had the Portfolio’s merger been in effect for the full fiscal year (from January 31, 2008 through December 31, 2008). |
16 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. |
17 | | Most recently completed fiscal year Class A total expense ratio. |
18 | | Unaudited information on the Portfolio’s advisory fee and total expense ratio monthly run rates was provided by the Adviser. |
42
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments, and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset research expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter and distributor, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, ABI received $611,940 in Rule 12b-1 fees from the Portfolio.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $240,744 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”)19. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, the Portfolio paid ABIS a fee of approximately $969.20
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions during the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s research expenses and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,21 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
19 | | It should be noted that the insurance companies, linked to the variable products, provide additional shareholder services for the Portfolios, including record keeping, administration and customer service for contract holders. |
20 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2008. |
21 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
43
| | |
BALANCED WEALTH STRATEGY PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli22 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics. The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.23 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $447 billion as of June 30, 2009, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1 and 3 year net performance rankings of the Portfolio24 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)25 for the periods ended April 30, 2009.26
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Portfolio Return (%) | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio |
1 year | | –28.55 | | –21.92 | | –21.86 | | 9/11 | | 78/84 |
3 year | | –7.48 | | –4.37 | | –4.52 | | 9/11 | | 55/58 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)27 versus its benchmark.
| | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending April 30, 2009 Annualized Net Performance (%) |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%)28 |
Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio | | –28.55 | | –7.48 | | –0.92 |
60% S&P 500 Stock Index / 40% Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | | –21.05 | | –3.99 | | 0.22 |
S&P 500 Stock Index | | –35.31 | | –10.76 | | –3.24 |
Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index | | 3.84 | | 6.01 | | 4.84 |
Inception Date: July 1, 2004 | | | | | | |
22 | | The Deli study, which was based on 1997 SEC reported filings, was published in 2002 by Daniel N. Deli. The results of the study with respect to fund size and family size were consistent with economies of scale being shared with shareholders, suggesting a competitive environment. |
23 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
24 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
25 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including or excluding a fund in a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
26 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
27 | | The performance returns shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
28 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through April 30, 2009. |
44
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: August 31, 2009
45
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Growth Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Growth Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 922.75 | | $ | 4.86 | | 1.02 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,019.74 | | $ | 5.11 | | 1.02 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 921.53 | | $ | 6.05 | | 1.27 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,018.50 | | $ | 6.36 | | 1.27 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Apple, Inc. | | $ | 6,590,086 | | 7.7 | % |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | | 2,342,746 | | 2.7 | |
McDonald’s Corp. | | | 2,115,086 | | 2.5 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | | 2,105,823 | | 2.5 | |
Oracle Corp. | | | 2,103,939 | | 2.5 | |
Intel Corp. | | | 2,065,590 | | 2.4 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | | 2,005,697 | | 2.3 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | | 1,921,335 | | 2.2 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | | 1,918,760 | | 2.2 | |
Target Corp. | | | 1,828,632 | | 2.1 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 24,997,694 | | 29.1 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Information Technology | | $ | 28,915,998 | | 33.8 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 14,122,583 | | 16.5 | |
Industrials | | | 11,098,696 | | 13.0 | |
Healthcare | | | 10,572,668 | | 12.3 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 8,844,914 | | 10.3 | |
Energy | | | 6,686,422 | | 7.8 | |
Financials | | | 3,268,853 | | 3.8 | |
Materials | | | 1,828,572 | | 2.1 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 355,000 | | 0.4 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 85,693,706 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–99.5% | | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–33.7% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–3.6% | | | | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc.(a) | | 94,120 | | $ | 2,005,697 |
Juniper Networks, Inc.(a) | | 47,700 | | | 1,088,514 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,094,211 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–12.9% | | | | | |
Apple, Inc.(a) | | 26,200 | | | 6,590,086 |
EMC Corp.(a) | | 60,100 | | | 1,099,830 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | 54,130 | | | 2,342,746 |
NetApp, Inc.(a) | | 27,570 | | | 1,028,637 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,061,299 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–2.8% | | | | | |
Google, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 3,960 | | | 1,762,002 |
Yahoo!, Inc.(a) | | 45,200 | | | 625,116 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,387,118 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–2.7% | | | | | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.–Class A(a) | | 24,050 | | | 1,203,943 |
Visa, Inc.–Class A | | 15,960 | | | 1,129,170 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,333,113 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–5.8% | | | | | |
Broadcom Corp.–Class A | | 21,400 | | | 705,558 |
Intel Corp. | | 106,200 | | | 2,065,590 |
KLA-Tencor Corp. | | 32,800 | | | 914,464 |
Linear Technology Corp. | | 47,300 | | | 1,315,413 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,001,025 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–5.9% | | | | | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 83,500 | | | 1,921,335 |
Oracle Corp. | | 98,040 | | | 2,103,939 |
VMware, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 16,200 | | | 1,013,958 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,039,232 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 28,915,998 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–16.5% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–0.5% | | | | | |
Johnson Controls, Inc. | | 16,700 | | | 448,729 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–4.6% | | | | | |
McDonald’s Corp. | | 32,110 | | | 2,115,086 |
Starbucks Corp. | | 34,700 | | | 843,210 |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | | 24,570 | | | 959,213 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,917,509 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET & CATALOG RETAIL–0.9% | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(a) | | 6,900 | | | 753,894 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–3.0% | | | | | |
Comcast Corp.–Class A | | 68,650 | | $ | 1,192,450 |
News Corp.–Class A | | 62,210 | | | 744,032 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | 19,570 | | | 616,455 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,552,937 |
| | | | | |
MULTILINE RETAIL–4.2% | | | | | |
Dollar General Corp.(a) | | 19,800 | | | 545,490 |
Kohl’s Corp.(a) | | 26,370 | | | 1,252,575 |
Target Corp. | | 37,190 | | | 1,828,632 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,626,697 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–2.1% | | | | | |
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.(a) | | 20,600 | | | 763,848 |
Lowe’s Cos., Inc. | | 9,770 | | | 199,503 |
Urban Outfitters, Inc.(a) | | 24,960 | | | 858,375 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,821,726 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–1.2% | | | | | |
NIKE, Inc.–Class B | | 14,820 | | | 1,001,091 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,122,583 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–13.0% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–3.0% | | | | | |
Boeing Co. (The) | | 20,360 | | | 1,277,590 |
United Technologies Corp. | | 19,260 | | | 1,250,167 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,527,757 |
| | | | | |
AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–1.7% | | | | | |
FedEx Corp. | | 21,100 | | | 1,479,321 |
| | | | | |
AIRLINES–1.3% | | | | | |
Continental Airlines, Inc.–Class B(a) | | 50,600 | | | 1,113,200 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–0.7% | | | | | |
Fluor Corp. | | 14,510 | | | 616,675 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–1.9% | | | | | |
Cooper Industries PLC | | 12,600 | | | 554,400 |
Emerson Electric Co. | | 23,380 | | | 1,021,472 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,575,872 |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–2.3% | | | | | |
Danaher Corp. | | 20,020 | | | 743,142 |
Dover Corp. | | 18,410 | | | 769,354 |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 11,140 | | | 459,859 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,972,355 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–2.1% | | | | | |
Union Pacific Corp. | | 26,090 | | | 1,813,516 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,098,696 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–12.3% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–4.9% | | | | | |
Amgen, Inc.(a) | | 27,440 | | | 1,443,344 |
Celgene Corp.(a) | | 13,870 | | | 704,873 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 44,180 | | | 1,514,491 |
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 12,300 | | | 278,718 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 8,500 | | | 279,650 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,221,076 |
| | | | | |
3
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–1.4% | | | | | |
Alcon, Inc. | | 2,885 | | $ | 427,528 |
Covidien PLC | | 18,640 | | | 748,955 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,176,483 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–2.0% | | | | | |
Express Scripts, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 21,600 | | | 1,015,632 |
McKesson Corp. | | 10,800 | | | 725,328 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,740,960 |
| | | | | |
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.3% | | | | | |
QIAGEN NV(a) | | 13,500 | | | 259,470 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–3.7% | | | | | |
Abbott Laboratories | | 15,300 | | | 715,734 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 29,610 | | | 1,035,462 |
Pfizer, Inc. | | 23,340 | | | 332,828 |
Shire PLC (ADR) | | 6,800 | | | 417,384 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 12,950 | | | 673,271 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,174,679 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,572,668 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–10.3% | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–3.0% | | | | | |
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. | | 18,000 | | | 465,480 |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 34,550 | | | 2,105,823 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,571,303 |
| | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–2.4% | | | | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 14,400 | | | 789,552 |
Kroger Co. (The) | | 27,500 | | | 541,475 |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | | 14,700 | | | 706,629 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,037,656 |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–1.7% | | | | | |
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | | 16,300 | | | 420,866 |
Bunge Ltd. | | 8,800 | | | 432,872 |
Kellogg Co. | | 11,670 | | | 587,001 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,440,739 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–3.2% | | | | | |
Clorox Co. | | 14,100 | | | 876,456 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | 31,990 | | | 1,918,760 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,795,216 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,844,914 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–7.8% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–1.9% | | | | | |
Cameron International Corp.(a) | | 19,740 | | | 641,944 |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 17,185 | | | 951,018 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,592,962 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–5.9% | | | | | |
Chevron Corp. | | 5,100 | | | 346,086 |
Devon Energy Corp. | | 6,500 | | | 395,980 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Noble Energy, Inc. | | | 22,210 | | $ | 1,339,929 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | 13,300 | | | 1,026,095 |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (ADR) | | | 24,480 | | | 840,154 |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (New York) | | | 38,900 | | | 1,145,216 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5,093,460 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6,686,422 |
| | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–3.8% | | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–0.4% | | | | | | |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | | | 4,290 | | | 369,755 |
| | | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–1.0% | | | | | | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 34,610 | | | 886,016 |
| | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–1.2% | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | | 11,800 | | | 169,566 |
CME Group, Inc.–Class A | | | 1,740 | | | 489,897 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 9,360 | | | 342,670 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,002,133 |
| | | | | | |
INSURANCE–1.2% | | | | | | |
Aflac, Inc. | | | 10,600 | | | 452,302 |
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. | | | 6,730 | | | 200,015 |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | | | 15,300 | | | 358,632 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,010,949 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,268,853 |
| | | | | | |
MATERIALS–2.1% | | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–1.4% | | | | | | |
Dow Chemical Co. (The) | | | 28,800 | | | 683,136 |
Praxair, Inc. | | | 7,300 | | | 554,727 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,237,863 |
| | | | | | |
METALS & MINING–0.7% | | | | | | |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | | 9,990 | | | 590,709 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,828,572 |
| | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $81,361,967) | | | | | | 85,338,706 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS –0.4% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–0.4% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $355,000) | | $ | 355 | | | 355,000 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.9% (cost $81,716,967) | | | | | | 85,693,706 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.1% | | | | | | 101,540 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 85,795,246 |
| | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
4
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $81,716,967) | | $ | 85,693,706 | |
Cash | | | 28 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 1,692,712 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 63,657 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 59,124 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 87,509,227 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 1,480,443 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 56,520 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 43,622 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 23,269 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 11,736 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 98,234 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 1,713,981 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 85,795,246 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 5,395 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 141,397,439 | |
Distributions in excess of net investment income | | | (32,964 | ) |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (59,551,363 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 3,976,739 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 85,795,246 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 32,317,989 | | 2,000,082 | | $ | 16.16 |
B | | $ | 53,477,257 | | 3,394,937 | | $ | 15.75 |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $4,370) | | $ | 550,889 | |
Interest | | | 18 | |
| | | | |
| | | 550,907 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 365,025 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 75,985 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 929 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 1,545 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Custodian | | | 38,207 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 15,110 | |
Printing | | | 14,016 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 2,254 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 572,839 | |
| | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (21,932 | ) |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 7,108,924 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (469 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (14,267,670 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (7,159,215 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (7,181,147 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | (21,932 | ) | | $ | 120,859 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 7,108,455 | | | | (201,790 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (14,267,670 | ) | | | 26,308,819 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (7,181,147 | ) | | | 26,227,888 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (100,364 | ) | | | –0 | – |
Class B | | | (31,535 | ) | | | –0 | – |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (8,207,452 | ) | | | (12,151,870 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (15,520,498 | ) | | | 14,076,018 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 101,315,744 | | | | 87,239,726 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed/(distributions in excess of) net investment income of ($32,964) and $120,867, respectively) | | $ | 85,795,246 | | | $ | 101,315,744 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value 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 Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
8
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 85,338,706 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 85,338,706 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 355,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 355,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 85,338,706 | | | | 355,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 85,693,706 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 85,338,706 | | | $ | 355,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 85,693,706 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
9
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $79,661, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 70,251,758 | | | $ | 78,502,777 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 8,225,028 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (4,248,289 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 3,976,739 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
11
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 11,350 | | | 68,790 | | | | | $ | 202,137 | | | $ | 967,991 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 5,493 | | | –0 | – | | | | | 100,364 | | | | –0 | – |
Shares redeemed | | (178,182 | ) | | (484,909 | ) | | | | | (3,161,592 | ) | | | (6,961,806 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (161,339 | ) | | (416,119 | ) | | | | $ | (2,859,091 | ) | | $ | (5,993,815 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 35,056 | | | 327,465 | | | | | $ | 598,608 | | | $ | 4,584,978 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 1,770 | | | –0 | – | | | | | 31,535 | | | | –0 | – |
Shares redeemed | | (347,777 | ) | | (756,810 | ) | | | | | (5,978,504 | ) | | | (10,743,033 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (310,951 | ) | | (429,345 | ) | | | | $ | (5,348,361 | ) | | $ | (6,158,055 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Components of Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 101,097 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (65,046,233 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 16,650,595 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (48,294,541 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward of $65,046,233 of which $33,056,736 expires in the year 2010, $14,915,472 expires in the year 2011, $4,526,627 expires in the year 2016 and $12,547,398 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and the tax treatment of partnerships. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
13
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
14
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| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $17.56 | | | $13.19 | | | $22.91 | | | $20.27 | | | $20.49 | | | $18.30 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | .01 | | | .04 | | | (.04 | ) | | (.05 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.08 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (1.36 | ) | | 4.33 | | | (9.68 | ) | | 2.69 | | | (.18 | ) | | 2.27 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.35 | ) | | 4.37 | | | (9.72 | ) | | 2.64 | | | (.22 | ) | | 2.19 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.05 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $16.16 | | | $17.56 | | | $13.19 | | | $22.91 | | | $20.27 | | | $20.49 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | (7.72 | )%* | | 33.13 | %* | | (42.43 | )%* | | 13.02 | % | | (1.07 | )% | | 11.97 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $32,318 | | | $37,948 | | | $33,992 | | | $75,834 | | | $93,459 | | | $123,535 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.02 | %(c)(d) | | 1.06 | % | | .94 | % | | .90 | % | | .90 | %(d) | | .88 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | .11 | %(c)(d) | | .28 | % | | (.22 | )% | | (.23 | )% | | (.22 | )%(d) | | (.43 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 73 | % | | 197 | % | | 103 | % | | 60 | % | | 55 | % | | 49 | % |
See footnote summary on page 16.
15
| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $17.10 | | | $12.88 | | | $22.42 | | | $19.90 | | | $20.15 | | | $18.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | (.01 | ) | | .01 | | | (.08 | ) | | (.10 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.12 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (1.33 | ) | | 4.21 | | | (9.46 | ) | | 2.62 | | | (.16 | ) | | 2.22 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.34 | ) | | 4.22 | | | (9.54 | ) | | 2.52 | | | (.25 | ) | | 2.10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.01 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $15.75 | | | $17.10 | | | $12.88 | | | $22.42 | | | $19.90 | | | $20.15 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | (7.85 | )%* | | 32.76 | %* | | (42.55 | )%* | | 12.66 | % | | (1.24 | )% | | 11.64 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $53,477 | | | $63,368 | | | $53,248 | | | $121,521 | | | $131,337 | | | $167,595 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.27 | %(c)(d) | | 1.31 | % | | 1.19 | % | | 1.15 | % | | 1.15 | %(d) | | 1.13 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | (.14 | )%(c)(d) | | .04 | % | | (.47 | )% | | (.49 | )% | | (.47 | )%(d) | | (.68 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 73 | % | | 197 | % | | 103 | % | | 60 | % | | 55 | % | | 49 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(d) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.17%, 0.41% and 0.03%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
16
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s
17
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 3000 Growth Index and the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Portfolio’s benchmark since May 1, 2009), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the indices) the since inception period (September 1994 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1- and 5-year periods, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 3-year period and in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and 4th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio underperformed the Russell 1000 Growth Index in the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods but outperformed that index in the 10-year and since inception periods, and underperformed the Russell 3000 Growth Index in the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods but outperformed that index in the since inception period. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Portfolio’s performance, the directors retained confidence in the Adviser’s ability to advise the Portfolio. The directors also noted that at their February 2009 meetings they had approved a broadening of the number of stocks in the Portfolio’s portfolio, a new benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index, and that the Adviser expected that the Portfolio’s more diversified investment approach would result in improved risk adjusted performance. The directors determined to continue to closely monitor the Portfolio’s performance.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points was the same as the Expense Group median. The directors noted that the administrative expense reimbursement was 9 basis points in the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year, and that as a result the rate of total compensation received by the Adviser from the Portfolio pursuant to the Advisory Agreement was higher than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was higher than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors noted that the Portfolio’s small asset base impacted the expense ratio (the Expense Group median was approximately 25% larger than the Portfolio’s asset base), contributing to the Portfolio’s relatively high expense ratio as compared to such median. The directors also noted that the Adviser had reviewed with them steps being taken that are intended to reduce the expenses of the AllianceBernstein Funds generally. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
19
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| | |
GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Growth | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 101.7 | | Growth Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $80,399 (0.09% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Growth Portfolio | | Class A 1.06% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.31% | | |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Effective Adv. Fee (%) |
Growth Portfolio | | $101.7 | | U.S. Growth Schedule
80 bp on 1st $25m
50 bp on next $25m
40 bp on next $50m
30 bp on next $100m
25 bp on the balance
Minimum account size $25m | | 0.521 | | 0.750 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages The AllianceBernstein Portfolios—Growth Fund (“Growth Fund”), a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below are the fee schedule of Growth Fund and what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of Growth Fund been applicable to the Portfolio:6
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Effective Adv. Fee (%) |
Growth Portfolio | | Growth Fund | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion
0.65% on next $2.5 billion
0.60% on the balance | | 0.550 | | 0.550 |
The AllianceBernstein Investment Trust Management mutual funds (“ITM”), which are offered to investors in Japan, have an “all-in” fee to compensate the Adviser for investment advisory as well as fund accounting and administrative related services. The fee schedule of the ITM mutual fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio is as follows:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | ITM Mutual Fund | | Fee (%) |
Growth Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein U.S. Growth Stock Fund A, B-Hedged/Unhedged | | 0.750 |
The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.7 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)8 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.9
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee10 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
Growth Portfolio | | 0.750 | | 0.751 | | 4/11 |
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
7 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
8 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
9 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
10 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU11 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio. It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.12
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Growth Portfolio | | 1.059 | | 0.930 | | 8/11 | | 0.851 | | 27/32 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio increased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, ABI received $140,376 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $241,444 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
11 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
12 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
13 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
23
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.14
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions during the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Portfolio and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,15 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli16 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.17 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.18 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
14 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
15 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
16 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
17 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
18 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
24
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio19 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)20 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.21
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG
Median (%) | | PU
Median (%) | | PG
Rank | | PU
Rank |
1 year | | 30.93 | | 41.41 | | 42.55 | | 9/11 | | 39/46 |
3 year | | –7.08 | | –2.71 | | –2.99 | | 7/10 | | 28/39 |
5 year | | –1.03 | | 4.01 | | 2.83 | | 9/9 | | 30/36 |
10 year | | –3.88 | | –1.64 | | –1.64 | | 7/8 | | 22/30 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)22 versus its benchmark.23 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.24
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Growth Portfolio25 | | 30.93 | | – | 7.08 | | – | 1.03 | | – | 3.88 | | 6.53 | | 19.41 | | – | 0.25 | | 10 |
Russell 1000 Growth Index | | 37.85 | | – | 4.15 | | | 1.42 | | – | 3.95 | | 6.27 | | 18.97 | | – | 0.27 | | 10 |
Russell 3000 Growth Index26 | | 37.94 | | – | 4.30 | | | 1.38 | | – | 3.78 | | 6.14 | | N/A | | | N/A | | N/A |
Inception Date: September 15, 1994 | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
19 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
20 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including in or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
21 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time |
22 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
23 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
24 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
25 | | On May 1, 2009, the Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Russell 3000 Index to Russell 1000 Index. |
26 | | Benchmark since inception date is the nearest month end after the Portfolio’s inception date. |
25
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 921.70 | | $ | 3.00 | | 0.63 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,021.67 | | $ | 3.16 | | 0.63 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 921.09 | | $ | 4.19 | | 0.88 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.43 | | $ | 4.41 | | 0.88 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Chevron Corp. | | $ | 35,999,730 | | 4.0 | % |
Amgen, Inc. | | | 35,462,920 | | 4.0 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | | 35,337,744 | | 4.0 | |
Comcast Corp.—Class A | | | 25,889,290 | | 2.9 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 24,726,394 | | 2.8 | |
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. | | | 24,437,567 | | 2.7 | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | 22,523,309 | | 2.5 | |
Qwest Communications International, Inc. | | | 22,517,775 | | 2.5 | |
Dover Corp. | | | 21,446,628 | | 2.4 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | 20,891,040 | | 2.4 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 269,232,397 | | 30.2 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 167,437,103 | | 18.8 | % |
Health Care | | | 152,450,308 | | 17.1 | |
Information Technology | | | 122,890,996 | | 13.8 | |
Energy | | | 122,134,855 | | 13.7 | |
Industrials | | | 118,082,049 | | 13.2 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 93,180,105 | | 10.4 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 45,041,084 | | 5.0 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 42,148,756 | | 4.7 | |
Utilities | | | 16,894,397 | | 1.9 | |
Materials | | | 8,917,834 | | 1.0 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 3,696,000 | | 0.4 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 892,873,487 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–99.8% | | | | | |
| | | | | |
FINANCIALS–18.8% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–4.3% | | | | | |
BlackRock, Inc.–Class A | | 99,250 | | $ | 14,232,450 |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | | 76,100 | | | 6,559,059 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | 66,400 | | | 8,716,328 |
SEI Investments Co. | | 170,700 | | | 3,475,452 |
State Street Corp. | | 165,600 | | | 5,600,592 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 38,583,881 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–0.4% | | | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | 129,500 | | | 3,315,200 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–4.7% | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | 623,600 | | | 8,961,132 |
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc.(a) | | 71,700 | | | 8,104,251 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 675,400 | | | 24,726,394 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 41,791,777 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–9.4% | | | | | |
ACE Ltd. | | 321,790 | | | 16,565,749 |
Arch Capital Group Ltd.(a) | | 115,394 | | | 8,596,853 |
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. | | 822,260 | | | 24,437,567 |
Loews Corp. | | 244,470 | | | 8,143,296 |
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. | | 111,080 | | | 6,250,472 |
Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. | | 119,800 | | | 5,745,608 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | | 284,400 | | | 14,006,700 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 83,746,245 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 167,437,103 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–17.1% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–4.0% | | | | | |
Amgen, Inc.(a) | | 674,200 | | | 35,462,920 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–5.1% | | | | | |
AmerisourceBergen Corp.–Class A | | 168,800 | | | 5,359,400 |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | | 194,100 | | | 6,523,701 |
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.(a) | | 153,594 | | | 8,459,957 |
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | | 88,000 | | | 4,379,760 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 735,600 | | | 20,891,040 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 45,613,858 |
| | | | | |
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.8% | | | | | |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(a) | | 149,000 | | | 7,308,450 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–7.2% | | | | | |
Abbott Laboratories | | 190,800 | | | 8,925,624 |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | 249,400 | | | 8,354,900 |
Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 181,675 | | | 3,964,148 |
Forest Laboratories, Inc.(a) | | 515,920 | | | 14,151,686 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 358,979 | | | 12,553,496 |
Pfizer, Inc. | | 1,130,100 | | | 16,115,226 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 64,065,080 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 152,450,308 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–13.8% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–0.5% | | | | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc.(a) | | 230,500 | | $ | 4,911,955 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–4.3% | | | | | |
EMC Corp.(a) | | 739,900 | | | 13,540,170 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | 391,700 | | | 16,952,776 |
Teradata Corp.(a) | | 257,200 | | | 7,839,456 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 38,332,402 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–1.1% | | | | | |
Arrow Electronics, Inc.(a) | | 292,593 | | | 6,539,453 |
Avnet, Inc.(a) | | 123,600 | | | 2,979,996 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,519,449 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–2.3% | | | | | |
Accenture PLC | | 86,518 | | | 3,343,921 |
Amdocs Ltd.(a) | | 232,000 | | | 6,229,200 |
Computer Sciences Corp. | | 75,500 | | | 3,416,375 |
Hewitt Associates, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 123,800 | | | 4,266,148 |
SAIC, Inc.(a) | | 198,800 | | | 3,327,912 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 20,583,556 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–2.0% | | | | | |
KLA-Tencor Corp. | | 115,300 | | | 3,214,564 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | | 609,300 | | | 14,184,504 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 17,399,068 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–3.6% | | | | | |
Intuit, Inc.(a) | | 97,900 | | | 3,403,983 |
MICROS Systems, Inc.(a) | | 81,100 | | | 2,584,657 |
Microsoft Corp. | | 717,000 | | | 16,498,170 |
Oracle Corp. | | 297,200 | | | 6,377,912 |
Symantec Corp.(a) | | 236,300 | | | 3,279,844 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 32,144,566 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 122,890,996 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–13.7% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.3% | | | | | |
Cameron International Corp.(a) | | 88,355 | | | 2,873,305 |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 193,100 | | | 7,052,012 |
Noble Corp.(a) | | 228,140 | | | 7,051,807 |
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. | | 246,200 | | | 3,168,594 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 20,145,718 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–11.4% | | | |
BP PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 615,800 | | | 17,784,304 |
Chevron Corp. | | 530,500 | | | 35,999,730 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | 619,200 | | | 35,337,744 |
3
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | 101,140 | | $ | 7,802,951 |
Total SA (Sponsored ADR) | | | 113,450 | | | 5,064,408 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 101,989,137 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 122,134,855 |
| | | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–13.2% | | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–5.4% | | | | | | |
Goodrich Corp. | | | 67,000 | | | 4,438,750 |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 425,500 | | | 16,607,265 |
ITT Corp. | | | 109,200 | | | 4,905,264 |
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. | | | 45,660 | | | 3,234,554 |
Raytheon Co. | | | 267,510 | | | 12,944,809 |
United Technologies Corp. | | | 93,500 | | | 6,069,085 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 48,199,727 |
| | | | | | |
COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.3% | | | | | | |
Cintas Corp. | | | 95,700 | | | 2,293,929 |
| | | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–1.5% | | | | | | |
Foster Wheeler AG(a) | | | 125,000 | | | 2,632,500 |
URS Corp.(a) | | | 281,200 | | | 11,065,220 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 13,697,720 |
| | | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–3.2% | | | | | | |
AMETEK, Inc. | | | 133,100 | | | 5,343,965 |
Emerson Electric Co. | | | 386,200 | | | 16,873,078 |
Hubbell, Inc.–Class B | | | 170,920 | | | 6,783,815 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 29,000,858 |
| | | | | | |
MACHINERY–2.8% | | | | | | |
Dover Corp. | | | 513,200 | | | 21,446,628 |
Joy Global, Inc. | | | 68,740 | | | 3,443,187 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 24,889,815 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 118,082,049 |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–10.5% | | | | | | |
MEDIA–6.2% | | | | | | |
Comcast Corp.–Class A | | | 1,490,460 | | | 25,889,290 |
News Corp.–Class A | | | 577,300 | | | 6,904,508 |
Time Warner, Inc. | | | 551,406 | | | 15,941,148 |
Viacom, Inc.–Class B | | | 202,300 | | | 6,346,151 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 55,081,097 |
| | | | | | |
MULTILINE RETAIL–3.6% | | | | | | |
Dollar Tree, Inc.(a) | | | 82,250 | | | 3,424,067 |
Kohl’s Corp.(a) | | | 265,710 | | | 12,621,225 |
Target Corp. | | | 322,800 | | | 15,872,076 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 31,917,368 |
| | | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–0.7% | | | | | | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | | 116,000 | | | 6,181,640 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 93,180,105 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–5.1% | | | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–5.1% | | | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | 931,100 | | $ | 22,523,309 | |
Qwest Communications International, Inc. | | | 4,289,100 | | | 22,517,775 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 45,041,084 | |
| | | | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–4.7% | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–1.6% | | | | | | | |
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | | | 168,300 | | | 4,345,506 | |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | 277,055 | | | 6,460,923 | |
General Mills, Inc. | | | 92,100 | | | 3,271,392 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 14,077,821 | |
| | | | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–0.4% | | | | |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | 56,200 | | | 3,407,406 | |
| | | | | | | |
TOBACCO–2.7% | | | | | | | |
Lorillard, Inc. | | | 122,360 | | | 8,807,473 | |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | 345,900 | | | 15,856,056 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 24,663,529 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 42,148,756 | |
| | | | | | | |
UTILITIES–1.9% | | | | | | | |
GAS UTILITIES–0.9% | | | | | | | |
Energen Corp. | | | 188,500 | | | 8,356,205 | |
| | | | | | | |
MULTI-UTILITIES–1.0% | | | | | | | |
DTE Energy Co. | | | 187,200 | | | 8,538,192 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 16,894,397 | |
| | | | | | | |
MATERIALS–1.0% | | | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–1.0% | | | | | | | |
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | | | 140,549 | | | 8,917,834 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $899,217,365) | | | | | | 889,177,487 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–0.4% | | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–0.4% | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $3,696,000) | | $ | 3,696 | | | 3,696,000 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Investments–100.2% (cost $902,913,365) | | | | | | 892,873,487 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(0.2)% | | | | | | (1,358,134 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Net Assets–100.0% | | | | | $ | 891,515,353 | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
4
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $902,913,365) | | $ | 892,873,487 | |
Cash | | | 595 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 16,956,585 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 941,821 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 623,394 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 911,395,882 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 13,573,430 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 5,254,608 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 428,032 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 154,485 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 20,850 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 164 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 448,960 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 19,880,529 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 891,515,353 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 64,081 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 1,343,759,602 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 5,084,369 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions | | | (447,352,821 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | | | (10,039,878 | ) |
| | | | |
| | $ | 891,515,353 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 179,604,474 | | 12,816,666 | | $ | 14.01 |
B | | $ | 711,910,879 | | 51,264,413 | | $ | 13.89 |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $27,386) | | $ | 9,302,347 | |
Interest | | | 943 | |
| | | | |
| | | 9,303,290 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 2,789,293 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 1,008,406 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 889 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 3,466 | |
Printing | | | 242,800 | |
Custodian | | | 78,696 | |
Administrative | | | 39,680 | |
Legal | | | 19,419 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 16,324 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 4,218,921 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 5,084,369 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | 49,834,955 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (131,447,032 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment transactions | | | (81,612,077 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (76,527,708 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 5,084,369 | | | $ | 13,658,012 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | | 49,834,955 | | | | (115,067,526 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (131,447,032 | ) | | | 284,082,809 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (76,527,708 | ) | | | 182,673,295 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | –0 | – | | | (8,556,135 | ) |
Class B | | | –0 | – | | | (27,674,199 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (84,575,197 | ) | | | (125,738,477 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (161,102,905 | ) | | | 20,704,484 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 1,052,618,258 | | | | 1,031,913,774 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $5,084,369 and $0, respectively) | | $ | 891,515,353 | | | $ | 1,052,618,258 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements
7
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value 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 Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
8
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 889,177,487 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 889,177,487 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 3,696,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 3,696,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 889,177,487 | | | | 3,696,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 892,873,487 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 889,177,487 | | | $ | 3,696,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 892,873,487 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
9
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,680.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $538,100, of which $496 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
10
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 332,345,675 | | | $ | 404,541,297 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 59,818,997 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (69,858,875 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (10,039,878 | ) |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
11
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E : Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 376,197 | | | 2,316,617 | | | | | $ | 5,850,785 | | | $ | 30,462,102 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | –0 | – | | 608,547 | | | | | | –0 | – | | | 8,556,135 | |
Shares redeemed | | (1,708,438 | ) | | (4,947,858 | ) | | | | | (25,736,831 | ) | | | (66,046,095 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (1,332,241 | ) | | (2,022,694 | ) | | | | $ | (19,886,046 | ) | | $ | (27,027,858 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 691,894 | | | 2,377,398 | | | | | $ | 10,553,356 | | | $ | 31,795,717 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | –0 | – | | 1,981,677 | | | | | | –0 | – | | | 27,674,199 | |
Shares redeemed | | (4,954,641 | ) | | (12,060,791 | ) | | | | | (75,242,507 | ) | | | (158,180,535 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (4,262,747 | ) | | (7,701,716 | ) | | | | $ | (64,689,151 | ) | | $ | (98,710,619 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 36,230,334 | | | $ | 69,586,813 |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | 254,701,102 |
| | | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 36,230,334 | | | | 324,287,915 |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 36,230,334 | | | $ | 324,287,915 |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | $ | (479,897,866 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 104,117,244 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (375,780,622 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $479,897,866 of which $242,328,682 expires in the year 2016 and $237,569,184 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and
13
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
14
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $15.20 | | | $13.10 | | | $26.82 | | | $27.19 | | | $24.88 | | | $24.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .09 | | | .21 | | | .30 | | | .39 | | | .36 | | | .31 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (1.28 | ) | | 2.47 | | | (9.77 | ) | | .97 | | | 3.66 | | | .85 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | .06 | | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.19 | ) | | 2.68 | | | (9.47 | ) | | 1.42 | | | 4.02 | | | 1.16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | –0 | – | | (.58 | ) | | (.45 | ) | | (.41 | ) | | (.37 | ) | | (.36 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (3.80 | ) | | (1.38 | ) | | (1.34 | ) | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | –0 | – | | (.58 | ) | | (4.25 | ) | | (1.79 | ) | | (1.71 | ) | | (.36 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $14.01 | | | $15.20 | | | $13.10 | | | $26.82 | | | $27.19 | | | $24.88 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (7.83 | )%* | | 20.82 | %* | | (40.60 | )%* | | 5.12 | %** | | 17.29 | % | | 4.86 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $179,604 | | | $215,085 | | | $211,920 | | | $456,159 | | | $529,732 | | | $571,372 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .63 | %(d)(e) | | .63 | % | | .62 | % | | .59 | % | | .61 | %(d) | | .59 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.20 | %(d)(e) | | 1.58 | % | | 1.61 | % | | 1.43 | % | | 1.42 | %(d) | | 1.29 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 34 | % | | 125 | % | | 184 | % | | 74 | % | | 60 | % | | 72 | % |
See footnote summary on page 16.
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $15.08 | | | $12.97 | | | $26.55 | | | $26.93 | | | $24.65 | | | $23.87 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .07 | | | .18 | | | .25 | | | .32 | | | .29 | | | .25 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (1.26 | ) | | 2.42 | | | (9.66 | ) | | .96 | | | 3.63 | | | .83 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | .06 | | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.19 | ) | | 2.60 | | | (9.41 | ) | | 1.34 | | | 3.92 | | | 1.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | –0 | – | | (.49 | ) | | (.37 | ) | | (.34 | ) | | (.30 | ) | | (.30 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (3.80 | ) | | (1.38 | ) | | (1.34 | ) | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | –0 | – | | (.49 | ) | | (4.17 | ) | | (1.72 | ) | | (1.64 | ) | | (.30 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $13.89 | | | $15.08 | | | $12.97 | | | $26.55 | | | $26.93 | | | $24.65 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (7.89 | )%* | | 20.35 | %* | | (40.69 | )%* | | 4.86 | %** | | 16.98 | % | | 4.60 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $711,911 | | | $837,533 | | | $819,994 | | | $1,758,210 | | | $2,013,964 | | | $2,073,693 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .88 | %(d)(e) | | .88 | % | | .87 | % | | .84 | % | | .86 | %(d) | | .85 | % |
Net investment income | | .95 | %(d)(e) | | 1.33 | % | | 1.36 | % | | 1.18 | % | | 1.17 | %(d) | | 1.05 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 34 | % | | 125 | % | | 184 | % | | 74 | % | | 60 | % | | 72 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(d) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.12%, 0.54% and 0.46%, respectively. |
** | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio in connection with an error made by the Adviser in processing a class action settlement claim, which enhanced the performance of each share class for the year ended December 31, 2007 by 0.19%. |
See notes to financial statements.
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Growth and Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s
17
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 1000 Value Index (the “Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the Index) the since inception period (January 1991 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods and 3rd out of 3 of the Performance Group and in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio underperformed the Index in all periods reviewed. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Portfolio’s performance, the directors retained confidence in the Adviser’s ability to advise the Portfolio and concluded that the Portfolio’s performance was acceptable.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds
18
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The directors noted that because of the small number of funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category, at the request of the Adviser and the Fund’s Senior Officer, Lipper had expanded the Expense Group of the Fund to include peers that had a similar (but not the same) Lipper investment objective/classification. The Expense Universe for the Portfolio had also been expanded by Lipper pursuant to Lipper’s standard guidelines and not at the request of the Adviser or the Fund’s Senior Officer. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 55 basis points, plus the 1 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was satisfactory.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
19
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS, EXPENSE CAPS & RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Value | | 55 bp on 1st $2.5 billion
45 bp on next $2.5 billion 40 bp on the balance | | $ | 1,060.5 | | Growth & Income Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $79,420 (0.01% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | Class A 0.63% Class B 0.88% | | December 31 |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund, since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | $ | 1,060.5 | | Relative Value Schedule 65 bp on 1st $25m 50 bp on next $25m 40 bp on next $50m 30 bp on next $100m 25 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.277 | | 0.550 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
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GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, Inc., a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, Inc.6 and what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein retail mutual fund been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | Growth & Income Fund, Inc. | | 0.55% on first $2.5 billion 0.45% on next $2.5 billion 0.40% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the fees set forth for American Value Portfolio, which is a Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. It should be noted that Class A shares of the Luxembourg funds are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory services and distribution related services, unlike Class I shares, whose fee is for only investment advisory services.
| | | |
Fund | | Fee | |
American Value Portfolio Class A Class I (Institutional) | | 1.50
0.70 | %
% |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Sub-Advised Fund | | Sub-Advised Fund Fee Schedule | | Sub-advised Fund Effective Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | Client # 1 | | 0.30% on first $1 billion 0.25% on next $500 million 0.20% thereafter | | 0.297 | | 0.550 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 27 | | 0.30% of average daily net assets | | 0.300 | | 0.550 |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides, pursuant to the sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. In addition, to the extent that certain of these sub-advisory relationships are with affiliates of the Adviser, the fee schedules may not reflect arm’s-length bargaining or negotiations.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
7 | | The client is an affiliate of the Adviser. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.8 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)9 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.10
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
The Portfolio’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Senior Officer and the Adviser, Lipper expanded the Portfolio’s EG to include peers that have similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee11 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
Growth & Income Portfolio12 | | 0.550 | | 0.675 | | 2/11 |
However, because Lipper had expanded the EG of the Portfolio, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include the universes of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.13 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment classification/objective as the subject Portfolio.14
8 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
9 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
10 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
11 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
12 | | The Portfolio’s EG includes the Portfolio, five other VIP Multi-Cap Core funds (“MLCE”), four VIP Multi-Cap Growth funds (“MLGE”) and one VIP Mid-Cap Growth fund (“MCGE”). |
13 | | It should be noted that the expansion of the Portfolio’s EU was not requested by the Adviser or the Senior Officer. They requested that only the EG be expanded. |
14 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
23
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.15
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)16 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Growth & Income Portfolio17 | | 0.633 | | 0.732 | | 2/11 | | 0.832 | | 9/75 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has equally favorable rankings on a management fee basis and on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments, and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $1,966,477 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $456,899 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
15 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
16 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
17 | | The Portfolio’s EU includes the Portfolio, EG and all other VIP MLGE and MCGE funds, excluding outliers. |
24
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.18
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions during the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Portfolio and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,19 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli20 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.21 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.22 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
18 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
19 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
20 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
21 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
22 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
25
| | |
GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio20 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)21 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.22
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 21.93 | | 34.36 | | 35.80 | | 6/6 | | 103/104 |
3 year | | -10.39 | | -7.86 | | -6.88 | | 5/6 | | 79/85 |
5 year | | -1.96 | | -0.90 | | 1.10 | | 5/5 | | 45/48 |
10 year | | 2.09 | | 5.26 | | 1.31 | | 3/3 | | 13/32 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)23 versus its benchmark.24 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.25
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Growth & Income Portfolio | | 21.93 | | -10.39 | | -1.96 | | 2.09 | | 7.95 | | 16.92 | | 0.04 | | 10 |
Russell 1000 Value Index | | 31.44 | | -10.20 | | -0.46 | | 2.52 | | 9.85 | | 16.14 | | 0.06 | | 10 |
Inception Date: January 14, 1991 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
20 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
21 | | The Portfolio’s PG and PU are not identical to the Portfolio’s EG and EU. The criteria for including in or excluding a fund in/from a PG/PU is somewhat different from that of an EG/EU. |
22 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
23 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
24 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
25 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
26
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 897.35 | | $ | 4.42 | | 0.94 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.13 | | $ | 4.71 | | 0.94 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 896.09 | | $ | 5.59 | | 1.19 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,018.89 | | $ | 5.96 | | 1.19 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Linde AG | | $ | 3,133,459 | | 1.9 | % |
Volkswagen AG (Preference Shares) | | | 3,034,940 | | 1.8 | |
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. | | | 2,929,383 | | 1.7 | |
Monsanto Co. | | | 2,907,238 | | 1.7 | |
Barrick Gold Corp. | | | 2,865,371 | | 1.7 | |
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. | | | 2,819,326 | | 1.7 | |
Chaoda Modern Agriculture Holdings Ltd. | | | 2,786,753 | | 1.7 | |
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | | | 2,708,059 | | 1.6 | |
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR) | | | 2,674,272 | | 1.6 | |
NGK Insulators Ltd. | | | 2,647,754 | | 1.6 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 28,506,555 | | 17.0 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 33,072,436 | | 19.8 | % |
Information Technology | | | 28,106,473 | | 16.8 | |
Industrials | | | 24,056,170 | | 14.4 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 21,498,762 | | 12.9 | |
Materials | | | 18,116,796 | | 10.8 | |
Energy | | | 16,552,416 | | 9.9 | |
Healthcare | | | 14,821,217 | | 8.9 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 6,146,649 | | 3.7 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 3,238,349 | | 1.9 | |
Options Purchased—Calls | | | 1,021,910 | | 0.6 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 444,000 | | 0.3 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 167,075,178 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
COUNTRY DIVERSIFICATION* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COUNTRY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
United States | | $ | 72,853,771 | | 43.3 | % |
Japan | | | 14,788,789 | | 8.9 | |
China | | | 10,637,123 | | 6.4 | |
Brazil | | | 7,930,263 | | 4.7 | |
Hong Kong | | | 7,910,107 | | 4.7 | |
Canada | | | 7,730,867 | | 4.6 | |
Germany | | | 6,168,399 | | 3.7 | |
India | | | 6,096,047 | | 3.6 | |
South Korea | | | 3,706,438 | | 2.2 | |
United Kingdom | | | 3,590,878 | | 2.2 | |
Indonesia | | | 2,954,515 | | 1.8 | |
South Africa | | | 2,819,326 | | 1.7 | |
Netherlands | | | 2,550,494 | | 1.5 | |
Other | | | 16,894,161 | | 10.4 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 444,000 | | 0.3 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 167,075,178 | | 100.0 | % |
* | | All data are as of June 30, 2010. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent 1.5% or less in the following countries: France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. |
3
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–98.9% | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–19.7% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–2.9% | | | | | |
Credit Suisse Group AG (Sponsored ADR) | | 59,100 | | $ | 2,212,113 |
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | | 44,300 | | | 2,708,059 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,920,172 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–7.9% | | | |
Banco Santander SA | | 205,300 | | | 2,152,812 |
Bank of Montreal | | 15,200 | | | 825,056 |
Bank Rakyat Indonesia | | 1,686,000 | | | 1,711,726 |
Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ADR) | | 113,570 | | | 2,045,396 |
Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ADR)(a)(b) | | 21,600 | | | 389,016 |
Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. | | 51,740 | | | 1,904,503 |
Siam Commercial Bank PCL | | 892,200 | | | 2,238,075 |
Standard Chartered PLC | | 78,265 | | | 1,905,785 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,172,369 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–2.3% | | | | | |
China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 604,000 | | | 2,637,618 |
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA(b) | | 11,900 | | | 1,227,762 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,865,380 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–5.1% | | | | | |
CapitaMalls Asia Ltd. | | 1,505,000 | | | 2,250,169 |
Ciputra Development TBK PT(b) | | 33,952,000 | | | 1,242,789 |
Kerry Properties Ltd. | | 508,500 | | | 2,193,971 |
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. | | 214,000 | | | 2,929,383 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,616,312 |
| | | | | |
THRIFTS & MORTGAGE FINANCE–1.5% | | | | | |
Housing Development Finance Corp. | | 39,500 | | | 2,498,203 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 33,072,436 |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–16.8% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–2.5% | | | | | |
Juniper Networks, Inc.(b) | | 94,500 | | | 2,156,490 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | | 58,800 | | | 1,930,992 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,087,482 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–3.9% | | | | | |
Apple, Inc.(b) | | 9,850 | | | 2,477,570 |
Isilon Systems, Inc.(b) | | 118,500 | | | 1,521,540 |
Toshiba Corp.(b) | | 507,000 | | | 2,511,460 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,510,570 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–2.2% | | | | | |
Agilent Technologies, Inc.(b) | | 64,400 | | $ | 1,830,892 |
Byd Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 248,000 | | | 1,824,090 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,654,982 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–3.2% | | | | | |
Equinix, Inc.(b) | | 22,400 | | | 1,819,328 |
Rackspace Hosting, Inc.(b) | | 96,800 | | | 1,775,312 |
Tencent Holdings Ltd. | | 110,400 | | | 1,829,024 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,423,664 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.0% | | | | | |
Netlogic Microsystems, Inc.(b) | | 61,300 | | | 1,667,360 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–4.0% | | | | | |
Intuit, Inc.(b) | | 36,900 | | | 1,283,013 |
Red Hat, Inc.(b) | | 75,600 | | | 2,187,864 |
Salesforce.com, Inc.(b) | | 19,100 | | | 1,639,162 |
VMware, Inc.–Class A(b) | | 26,400 | | | 1,652,376 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,762,415 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 28,106,473 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–14.4% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–0.7% | | | | | |
Aerovironment, Inc.(b) | | 52,500 | | | 1,140,825 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–2.0% | | | | | |
IVRCL Infrastructures & Projects Ltd. | | 371,700 | | | 1,479,527 |
Shaw Group, Inc. (The)(b) | | 56,600 | | | 1,936,852 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,416,379 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–1.2% | | | | | |
A123 Systems, Inc.(b) | | 212,500 | | | 2,003,875 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–1.3% | | | | | |
Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. | | 773,800 | | | 2,118,317 |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–7.2% | | | | | |
Danaher Corp. | | 41,800 | | | 1,551,616 |
Deere & Co. | | 29,500 | | | 1,642,560 |
Fanuc Ltd. | | 18,300 | | | 2,066,483 |
Japan Steel Works Ltd. (The) | | 241,000 | | | 2,118,367 |
NGK Insulators Ltd. | | 170,000 | | | 2,647,754 |
Weg SA | | 214,200 | | | 1,981,795 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,008,575 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–1.0% | | | | | |
Canadian National Railway Co. | | 30,000 | | | 1,721,400 |
| | | | | |
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–1.0% | | | | | |
Mitsubishi Corp. | | 79,600 | | | 1,646,799 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 24,056,170 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–12.8% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–1.0% | | | | | |
Johnson Controls, Inc. | | 65,000 | | $ | 1,746,550 |
| | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–2.9% | | | | | |
Hyundai Motor Co. | | 15,400 | | | 1,801,935 |
Volkswagen AG (Preference Shares) | | 34,586 | | | 3,034,940 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,836,875 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–2.6% | | | | | |
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR)(b) | | 71,200 | | | 2,674,272 |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | | 39,800 | | | 1,648,914 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,323,186 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–0.5% | | | |
Rinnai Corp. | | 17,500 | | | 898,271 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET & CATALOG RETAIL–3.4% | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(b) | | 21,800 | | | 2,381,868 |
NetFlix, Inc.(b) | | 15,500 | | | 1,684,075 |
priceline.com, Inc.(b) | | 9,400 | | | 1,659,476 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,725,419 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–2.4% | | | | | |
Publicis Groupe SA | | 52,500 | | | 2,094,211 |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | 59,500 | | | 1,874,250 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,968,461 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,498,762 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–10.8% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–4.2% | | | | | |
Linde AG | | 29,800 | | | 3,133,459 |
Monsanto Co. | | 62,900 | | | 2,907,238 |
Stella Chemifa Corp. | | 33,000 | | | 1,072,202 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 7,112,899 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–5.6% | | | | | |
Barrick Gold Corp. | | 63,100 | | | 2,865,371 |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | 33,700 | | | 1,992,681 |
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. | | 121,136 | | | 2,819,326 |
Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. | | 2,238,000 | | | 1,672,119 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,349,497 |
| | | | | |
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS–1.0% | | | |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | | 47,000 | | | 1,654,400 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 18,116,796 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–9.9% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–3.4% | | | | | |
Nabors Industries Ltd.(b) | | 110,300 | | | 1,943,486 |
Saipem SpA | | 54,400 | | | 1,656,926 |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 38,600 | | | 2,136,124 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,736,536 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–6.5% | | | | | |
BG Group PLC | | 113,300 | | $ | 1,685,093 |
Cameco Corp. | | 109,043 | | | 2,319,040 |
Denbury Resources, Inc.(b) | | 171,400 | | | 2,509,296 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | 30,500 | | | 2,353,075 |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (ADR) | | 56,800 | | | 1,949,376 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,815,880 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,552,416 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–8.9% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–2.3% | | | | | |
Cepheid, Inc.(b) | | 101,800 | | | 1,630,836 |
Genomic Health, Inc.(b) | | 176,100 | | | 2,276,973 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,907,809 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–1.4% | | | | | |
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.(b) | | 41,400 | | | 2,280,312 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–1.2% | | | | | |
athenahealth, Inc.(b) | | 77,300 | | | 2,019,849 |
| | | | | |
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–2.7% | | | | | |
Illumina, Inc.(b) | | 45,200 | | | 1,967,556 |
QIAGEN NV(b) | | 132,700 | | | 2,550,494 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,518,050 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–1.3% | | | | | |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 40,300 | | | 2,095,197 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,821,217 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–3.7% | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–1.1% | | | | | |
Heckmann Corp.(b) | | 386,900 | | | 1,795,216 |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–2.6% | | | | | |
BRF–Brasil Foods SA (ADR) | | 118,000 | | | 1,564,680 |
Chaoda Modern Agriculture Holdings Ltd. | | 2,880,000 | | | 2,786,753 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,351,433 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,146,649 |
| | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.9% | | | | | |
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.9% | | | | | |
Softbank Corp. | | 68,900 | | | 1,827,453 |
VimpelCom Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(b) | | 87,200 | | | 1,410,896 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,238,349 |
| | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $159,225,384) | | | | | 165,609,268 |
| | | | | |
5
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Contracts(c) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
OPTIONS PURCHASED–CALLS–0.6% | | | | | |
Market Vectors Gold Miners Expiration: Jan `11, Exercise Price: $60.0 (b) | | 2,290 | | $ | 684,710 |
Market Vectors Gold Miners Expiration: Jan `12, Exercise Price: $65.0 (b) | | 350 | | | 203,000 |
SPDR S+P Homebuilders ETF Expiration: Jan `11, Exercise Price: $17.5 (b) | | 2,200 | | | 134,200 |
| | | | | |
Total Options Purchased–Calls (cost $1,059,574) | | | | | 1,021,910 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–0.3% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–0.3% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $444,000) | | $ | 444 | | $ | 444,000 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.8% (cost $160,728,958) | | | | | | 167,075,178 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.2% | | | | | | 401,306 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 167,476,484 |
| | | | | | |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 792 | | $ | 1,201,179 | | $ | 1,183,315 | | $ | (17,864 | ) |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 668 | | | 1,029,575 | | | 998,048 | | | (31,527 | ) |
Euro settling 7/15/10 | | 5,636 | | | 7,538,263 | | | 6,892,406 | | | (645,857 | ) |
(a) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the market value of this security amounted to $389,016 or 0.2% of net assets. |
(b) | | Non-income producing security. |
(c) | | One contract relates to 100 shares. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $160,728,958) | | $ | 167,075,178 | |
Cash | | | 46 | |
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $598,335) | | | 597,074 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign currency transactions | | | 8,035,023 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 246,450 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 32,853 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 175,986,624 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions | | | 7,363,577 | |
Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 695,248 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 166,359 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 108,784 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 24,804 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 21,820 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 129,391 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 8,510,140 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 167,476,484 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 11,587 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 394,992,737 | |
Distributions in excess of net investment income | | | (949,927 | ) |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (232,203,103 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | 5,625,190 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 167,476,484 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 52,739,797 | | 3,590,185 | | $ | 14.69 |
B | | $ | 114,736,687 | | 7,997,031 | | $ | 14.35 |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $94,655) | | $ | 1,043,871 | |
Interest | | | 31 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 1,043,902 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 725,712 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 166,116 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 769 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 1,685 | |
Custodian | | | 60,047 | |
Printing | | | 47,695 | |
Administrative | | | 38,580 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 15,042 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 4,720 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 1,080,314 | |
| | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (36,412 | ) |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 11,839,291 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 53,758 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (30,809,953 | )(a) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (1,317,503 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (20,234,407 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (20,270,819 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | Net of increase in accrued foreign capital gains taxes of $936. |
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | (36,412 | ) | | $ | 559,618 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 11,893,049 | | | | (1,125,042 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (32,127,456 | ) | | | 68,642,221 | |
Contributions from Adviser (see Note B) | | | –0 | – | | | 19,268 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (20,270,819 | ) | | | 68,096,065 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,299,617 | ) | | | –0 | – |
Class B | | | (2,657,482 | ) | | | –0 | – |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | (15,190,031 | ) | | | 13,985,231 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (39,417,949 | ) | | | 82,081,296 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 206,894,433 | | | | 124,813,137 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed/(distributions in excess of) net investment income of ($949,927) and $3,043,584, respectively) | | $ | 167,476,484 | | | $ | 206,894,433 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
9
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A : Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), formerly AllianceBernstein Global Technology Portfolio, is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (see Note A.2).
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. Inputs may be
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financials | | $ | 9,018,386 | | | $ | 21,815,975 | | | $ | 2,238,075 | | | $ | 33,072,436 | |
Information Technology | | | 21,941,899 | | | | 6,164,574 | | | | –0 | – | | | 28,106,473 | |
Industrials | | | 11,978,923 | | | | 12,077,247 | | | | –0 | – | | | 24,056,170 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 13,669,405 | | | | 7,829,357 | | | | –0 | – | | | 21,498,762 | |
Materials | | | 9,419,690 | | | | 8,697,106 | | | | –0 | – | | | 18,116,796 | |
Energy | | | 13,210,397 | | | | 3,342,019 | | | | –0 | – | | | 16,552,416 | |
Health Care | | | 14,821,217 | | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 14,821,217 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 3,359,896 | | | | 2,786,753 | | | | –0 | – | | | 6,146,649 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 1,410,896 | | | | 1,827,453 | | | | –0 | – | | | 3,238,349 | |
Options Purchased — Calls | | | –0 | – | | | 1,021,910 | | | | –0 | – | | | 1,021,910 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 444,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 444,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 98,830,709 | | | | 66,006,394 | + | | | 2,238,075 | | | | 167,075,178 | |
Other Financial Instruments* : | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | (695,248 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | (695,248 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 98,830,709 | | | $ | 65,311,146 | | | $ | 2,238,075 | | | $ | 166,379,930 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
+ | | The earlier close of the foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred between the close of the foreign markets and the time at which the Portfolio values its securities which may materially affect the value of securities trading in such markets. To account for this, the Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Portfolio’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments. |
11
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Financials | | | Total | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Realized gain (loss) | | | (4,882 | ) | | | (4,882 | ) |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | (139,427 | ) | | | (139,427 | ) |
Net purchases (sales) | | | 2,382,384 | | | | 2,382,384 | |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 2,238,075 | | | $ | 2,238,075 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 6/30/10* | | $ | (139,427 | ) | | $ | (139,427 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
* | | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
7. Dividends and Distributions
Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser reimbursed the Portfolio $19,268 for trading losses incurred due to a trade entry error.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $38,580.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $222,515, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C : Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
NOTE D : Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 106,770,230 | | | $ | 126,360,964 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
13
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 (excluding foreign currency transactions) are as follows:
| | | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 17,611,350 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (11,265,130 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 6,346,220 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
At June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives |
Derivative Type | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | | | Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 695,248 |
Equity contracts | | Investments, at value | | $ | 1,021,910 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 1,021,910 | | | | $ | 695,248 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | $ | 54,465 | | | | $(1,290,407) | |
Equity contracts | | Net realized gain on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investment transactions | | | (116,829 | ) | | | (37,664) | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | (62,364 | ) | | $ | (1,328,071 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average monthly principal amount of foreign currency exchange contracts was $19,114,617 and average monthly cost amount of options contracts was $177,571.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 223,833 | | | 982,698 | | | | | $ | 3,721,482 | | | $ | 13,729,875 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 79,731 | | | –0 | – | | | | | 1,299,618 | | | | –0 | – |
Shares redeemed | | (618,924 | ) | | (739,230 | ) | | | | | (9,987,650 | ) | | | (9,788,412 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | (315,360 | ) | | 243,468 | | | | | $ | (4,966,550 | ) | | $ | 3,941,463 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 554,490 | | | 2,920,800 | | | | | $ | 8,966,046 | | | $ | 39,132,269 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 166,823 | | | –0 | – | | | | | 2,657,481 | | | | –0 | – |
Shares redeemed | | (1,386,944 | ) | | (2,210,816 | ) | | | | | (21,847,008 | ) | | | (29,088,501 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | (665,631 | ) | | 709,984 | | | | | $ | (10,223,481 | ) | | $ | 10,043,768 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
15
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H : Components of Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 3,928,441 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (242,291,841 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 35,063,478 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (203,299,922 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward of $242,291,841 of which $172,308,210 expires in the year 2010, $21,233,397 expires in the year 2011, $29,949,674 expires in the year 2016, and $18,800,560 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. $15,961,952 of capital loss carryforward expired in the current fiscal year. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), and the tax treatment of derivatives. |
NOTE I : Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act,
16
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
17
| | |
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $16.73 | | | $10.90 | | | $20.71 | | | $17.23 | | | $15.86 | | | $15.27 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | .01 | | | .07 | | | .00 | (b) | | (.03 | ) | | (.05 | ) | | (.05 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (1.69 | ) | | 5.76 | | | (9.81 | ) | | 3.51 | | | 1.42 | | | .64 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.68 | ) | | 5.83 | | | (9.81 | ) | | 3.48 | | | 1.37 | | | .59 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.36 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $14.69 | | | $16.73 | | | $10.90 | | | $20.71 | | | $17.23 | | | $15.86 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (10.26 | )%* | | 53.49 | %*† | | (47.37 | )%* | | 20.20 | % | | 8.64 | % | | 3.86 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $52,740 | | | $65,358 | | | $39,933 | | | $93,919 | | | $86,819 | | | $99,781 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .94 | %(d)(e) | | 1.00 | % | | .93 | % | | .93 | % | | .92 | %(e) | | .92 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | .13 | %(d)(e) | | .52 | % | | .00 | %(b) | | (.15 | )% | | (.30 | )%(e) | | (.32 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 56 | % | | 215 | % | | 141 | % | | 132 | % | | 117 | % | | 98 | % |
See footnote summary on page 19.
18
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $16.34 | | | $10.67 | | | $20.31 | | | $16.94 | | | $15.63 | | | $15.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | (.01 | ) | | .04 | | | (.04 | ) | | (.07 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.08 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (1.66 | ) | | 5.63 | | | (9.60 | ) | | 3.44 | | | 1.40 | | | .63 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (1.67 | ) | | 5.67 | | | (9.64 | ) | | 3.37 | | | 1.31 | | | .55 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.32 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $14.35 | | | $16.34 | | | $10.67 | | | $20.31 | | | $16.94 | | | $15.63 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (10.39 | )%* | | 53.14 | %*† | | (47.46 | )%* | | 19.89 | % | | 8.38 | % | | 3.65 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $114,736 | | | $141,536 | | | $84,880 | | | $191,474 | | | $177,350 | | | $148,075 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.19 | %(d)(e) | | 1.25 | % | | 1.18 | % | | 1.17 | % | | 1.18 | %(e) | | 1.17 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | (.11 | )%(d)(e) | | .27 | % | | (.24 | )% | | (.40 | )% | | (.55 | )%(e) | | (.57 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 56 | % | | 215 | % | | 141 | % | | 132 | % | | 117 | % | | 98 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.04%, 0.15% and 0.03%, respectively. |
† | | Includes the impact of reimbursements from the Adviser, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2009 by 0.01%. |
See notes to financial statements.
19
| | |
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Portfolio (formerly named AllianceBernstein Global Technology Portfolio) (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s
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relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country (AC) World Index (Net) (the “MSCI AC World Index”) and the MSCI World Index (Net) (the “MSCI World Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the MSCI World Index) the since inception period (January 1996 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 2nd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-year period, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and 2nd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 3-year period, 4th out of 4 of the Performance Group and in the 4th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 5-year period and 3rd out of 3 of the Performance Group and in the 5th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio outperformed the MSCI AC World Index in the 1- and 3-year periods but underperformed that index in the 5- and 10-year periods, and outperformed the MSCI World Index in the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods but underperformed that index in the 10-year and the since inception periods. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance was satisfactory. The directors also noted that at the February 2009 meetings, they had approved modifications to the Portfolio’s investment strategy and policies, including a new benchmark, the MSCI AC World Index, and a name change to Global Thematic Growth Portfolio from Global Technology Portfolio effective May 1, 2009. As a result, the Portfolio’s investment performance prior to May 1, 2009 was not likely to be representative of performance under the new management strategy.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The Adviser informed the directors that there are no institutional products managed by it that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and noted that the Adviser charged institutional clients lower fees for advising comparably sized institutional accounts using strategies that differ from those of the Portfolio but which involved investments in securities of the same type that the Portfolio invests in (i.e., global equity securities). The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund except that the Portfolio’s fee rate is a monthly fee based on average daily net assets whereas the Corresponding Fund’s fee rate is a quarterly fee based on net asset value at the end of each quarter.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are
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GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points, plus the 5 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was the same as the Expense Group median and higher than the Expense Universe median. The directors also noted that the Adviser had reviewed with them steps being taken that are intended to reduce the expenses of the AllianceBernstein Funds generally. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
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GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 ,3 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.4
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Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Specialty | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 203.2 | | Global Thematic Growth Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $79,740 (0.05% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
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Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio | | Class A 1.00% Class B 1.25% | | December 31 |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | Prior to May 1, 2009, the Portfolio was known as AllianceBernstein Global Technology Portfolio. In addition, the Portfolio’s non-fundamental policy was changed on May 1, 2009 to allow the Portfolio to pursue a broader mandate across multiple sectors worldwide. |
4 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund, since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.5 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:6
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Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee7 | |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio | | $ | 203.2 | | Global Thematic Research Schedule 80 bp on 1st $25m 60 bp on next $25m 50 bp on next $50m 40 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.498 | % | | 0.750 | % |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Fund, Inc., a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Global Thematic
5 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
6 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
7 | | Portfolio advisory fee based on March, 2010 net assets. It should be noted that the advisory fees shown for the Portfolios exclude any expense reimbursements related to expense caps. |
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Growth Fund, Inc. and what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein retail mutual fund been applicable to the Portfolio:8
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Portfolio | | ABMF | | Fee Schedule | | ABMF Effective Fee | | Portfolio Advisory Fee |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio9 | | Global Thematic Growth Fund, Inc. | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the fees set forth for Global Thematic Research Growth Portfolio, which is a Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. It should be noted that Class A shares of the fund are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory services and distribution related services, unlike Class I shares, whose fee is for only investment advisory services.
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Fund | | Fee | |
Global Thematic Research Growth Portfolio | | | |
Class A | | 1.70 | % |
Class I (Institutional) | | 0.90 | % |
The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.10 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)11 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.12
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
8 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
9 | | The advisory fees of AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Fund, Inc. is based on the mutual fund’s net assets at the end of each quarter and is paid to the Adviser quarterly, in contrast to the Portfolio, whose advisory fees is based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets and is paid on a monthly basis. |
10 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
11 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
12 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
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GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Senior Officer and the Adviser, Lipper expanded the Portfolio’s EG to include peers that have similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.
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Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio14 | | 0.750 | | 0.810 | | 2/11 |
However, because Lipper had expanded the EG of the Portfolio, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include the universes of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.15 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment classification/objective as the subject Portfolio.16
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.17
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Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)18 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio19 | | 0.995 | | 0.995 | | 6/11 | | 0.869 | | 21/29 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
13 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
14 | | The Portfolio’s EG includes the Portfolio, four other variable insurance product (“VIP”) Global Growth funds (“GLGE”) and six VIP Global Core funds (“GLCE”). |
15 | | It should be noted that the expansion of the Portfolio’s EU was not requested by the Adviser or the Senior Officer. They requested that only the EG be expanded. |
16 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
17 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
18 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
19 | | The Portfolio’s EU includes the Portfolio, EG and all other VIP GLGE and GLCE funds, excluding outliers. |
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In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments, and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $275,358 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $258,612 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.20
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Portfolio and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures, 21 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli22 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.23 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two
20 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other Portfolios of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
21 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
22 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
23 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
27
| | |
GLOBAL THEMATIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.24 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio25 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)26 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.27
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 50.63 | | 46.66 | | 44.36 | | 2/5 | | 5/21 |
3 year | | –3.86 | | –3.22 | | –4.75 | | 4/5 | | 7/18 |
5 year | | 1.75 | | 4.18 | | 3.88 | | 4/4 | | 10/13 |
10 year | | –6.01 | | –0.18 | | 1.18 | | 3/3 | | 11/11 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)28 versus its benchmarks.29 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.30
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Global Thematic Growth Portfolio31 | | 50.63 | | –3.86 | | 1.75 | | –6.01 | | 4.26 | | 29.21 | | –0.16 | | 10 |
MSCI AC World Index (Net) | | 40.84 | | –6.28 | | 2.63 | | 0.54 | | N/A | | 16.96 | | –0.05 | | 10 |
MSCI World Index (Net)32 | | 36.58 | | –7.32 | | 1.61 | | -0.08 | | 4.59 | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
Inception Date: January 11, 1996 | | | | | | | | | | |
24 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
25 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
26 | | Portfolio’s PG and PU are not identical to the Portfolio’s EG and EU. The criteria for including in or excluding a fund in/from a PG/PU is somewhat different from that of an EG/EU. |
27 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
28 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
29 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
30 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
31 | | On May 1, 2009, the Portfolio’s benchmark changed from MSCI World (Net) Index to MSCI AC World Index. |
32 | | Benchmark since inception date is the nearest month end after the Portfolio’s inception date. |
28
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
29
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Intermediate Bond Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees of other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees of other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,060.26 | | $ | 3.47 | | 0.68 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,021.42 | | $ | 3.41 | | 0.68 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,059.04 | | $ | 4.75 | | 0.93 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.18 | | $ | 4.66 | | 0.93 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
SECURITY TYPE BREAKDOWN | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
SECURITY TYPE | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Corporates—Investment Grades | | $ | 55,669,626 | | 32.6 | % |
Governments—Treasuries | | | 35,891,339 | | 21.0 | |
Mortgage Pass-Thru’s | | | 28,294,504 | | 16.6 | |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | 17,175,524 | | 10.0 | |
Corporates—Non-Investment Grades | | | 7,919,206 | | 4.6 | |
CMOs | | | 3,747,994 | | 2.2 | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | 2,486,821 | | 1.5 | |
Governments—Sovereign Agencies | | | 2,304,158 | | 1.3 | |
Inflation-Linked Securities | | | 1,786,411 | | 1.0 | |
Governments—Sovereign Bonds | | | 1,321,377 | | 0.8 | |
Agencies | | | 1,262,048 | | 0.7 | |
Quasi-Sovereigns | | | 1,130,798 | | 0.7 | |
Supranationals | | | 748,124 | | 0.4 | |
Local Governments—Municipal Bonds | | | 437,590 | | 0.3 | |
Preferred Stocks | | | 275,399 | | 0.2 | |
Other* | | | 294,992 | | 0.1 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 10,196,000 | | 6.0 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 170,941,911 | | 100.0 | % |
* | | “Other” represents less than 0.1% weightings in the following security types: Emerging Markets—Corporate Bonds, Common Stocks and Warrants. |
2
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
CORPORATES—INVESTMENT GRADES–33.5% | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–18.0% | | | | | | | | |
BASIC–3.2% | | | | | | | | |
Alcoa, Inc. 6.75%, 7/15/18 | | U.S.$ | | | 178 | | $ | 179,638 |
AngloGold Ashanti Holdings PLC 5.375%, 4/15/20 | | | | | 250 | | | 253,815 |
ArcelorMittal 6.125%, 6/01/18 | | | | | 555 | | | 580,464 |
ArcelorMittal USA, Inc. 6.50%, 4/15/14 | | | | | 165 | | | 176,595 |
BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd. 7.25%, 3/01/16 | | | | | 407 | | | 484,613 |
Dow Chemical Co. (The) 7.375%, 11/01/29 | | | | | 15 | | | 16,607 |
7.60%, 5/15/14 | | | | | 241 | | | 278,322 |
8.55%, 5/15/19 | | | | | 313 | | | 383,148 |
Eastman Chemical Co. 5.50%, 11/15/19 | | | | | 93 | | | 100,107 |
EI du Pont de Nemours & Co. 5.875%, 1/15/14 | | | | | 123 | | | 140,118 |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. 8.25%, 4/01/15 | | | | | 235 | | | 254,975 |
8.375%, 4/01/17 | | | | | 195 | | | 214,500 |
International Paper Co. | | | | | | | | |
7.50%, 8/15/21 | | | | | 208 | | | 243,546 |
7.95%, 6/15/18 | | | | | 310 | | | 369,083 |
Packaging Corp. of America 5.75%, 8/01/13 | | | | | 155 | | | 167,095 |
PPG Industries, Inc. 5.75%, 3/15/13 | | | | | 455 | | | 497,780 |
Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. 6.50%, 7/15/18 | | | | | 460 | | | 524,281 |
Southern Copper Corp. 7.50%, 7/27/35 | | | | | 295 | | | 318,392 |
Usiminas Commercial Ltd. 7.25%, 1/18/18(a) | | | | | 124 | | | 133,300 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 5,316,379 |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL GOODS–0.6% | | | | | | | | |
Holcim US Finance Sarl & Cie SCS 6.00%, 12/30/19(a) | | | | | 41 | | | 43,737 |
Owens Corning 6.50%, 12/01/16 | | | | | 265 | | | 281,957 |
Republic Services, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.25%, 11/15/21(a) | | | | | 150 | | | 157,823 |
5.50%, 9/15/19(a) | | | | | 230 | | | 248,888 |
Tyco International Finance SA 8.50%, 1/15/19 | | | | | 195 | | | 252,078 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 984,483 |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS— MEDIA–2.9% | | | | | | | | |
BSKYB Finance UK PLC 5.625%, 10/15/15(a) | | | | | 170 | | | 189,549 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
CBS Corp. 8.875%, 5/15/19 | | U.S.$ | | | 420 | | $ | 528,410 |
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc. 9.455%, 11/15/22 | | | | | 280 | | | 386,248 |
Comcast Corp. 5.30%, 1/15/14 | | | | | 325 | | | 356,730 |
DirecTV Holdings LLC / DirecTV Financing Co., Inc. | | | | | | | | |
4.75%, 10/01/14 | | | | | 160 | | | 169,452 |
6.375%, 6/15/15 | | | | | 216 | | | 223,560 |
News America Holdings, Inc. 9.25%, 2/01/13 | | | | | 235 | | | 276,713 |
News America, Inc. 6.55%, 3/15/33 | | | | | 210 | | | 225,176 |
Reed Elsevier Capital, Inc. 8.625%, 1/15/19 | | | | | 185 | | | 235,518 |
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. | | | | | | | | |
4.95%, 4/01/14 | | | | | 65 | | | 66,239 |
5.50%, 5/15/15 | | | | | 185 | | | 188,854 |
11.25%, 2/01/19 | | | | | 255 | | | 324,887 |
TCI Communications, Inc. 7.875%, 2/15/26 | | | | | 210 | | | 252,499 |
Time Warner Cable, Inc. 7.50%, 4/01/14 | | | | | 145 | | | 168,475 |
Time Warner Entertainment Co. LP 8.375%, 3/15/23 | | | | | 550 | | | 705,160 |
WPP Finance UK | | | | | | | | |
5.875%, 6/15/14 | | | | | 120 | | | 130,198 |
8.00%, 9/15/14 | | | | | 415 | | | 486,570 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 4,914,238 |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS—TELECOMMUNICATIONS–2.0% | | | | | |
America Movil SAB de CV 5.00%, 3/30/20(a) | | | | | 425 | | | 439,099 |
AT&T Corp. 8.00%, 11/15/31 | | | | | 20 | | | 25,744 |
British Telecommunications PLC 9.375%, 12/15/10 | | | | | 310 | | | 320,610 |
Embarq Corp. 7.082%, 6/01/16 | | | | | 445 | | | 474,396 |
Qwest Corp. 7.50%, 10/01/14 | | | | | 400 | | | 425,500 |
Telecom Italia Capital SA | | | | | | | | |
6.175%, 6/18/14 | | | | | 355 | | | 371,130 |
6.375%, 11/15/33 | | | | | 40 | | | 35,819 |
United States Cellular Corp. 6.70%, 12/15/33 | | | | | 575 | | | 591,237 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. 4.90%, 9/15/15 | | | | | 240 | | | 263,639 |
Verizon New Jersey, Inc. Series A 5.875%, 1/17/12 | | | | | 179 | | | 189,763 |
Vodafone Group PLC 5.50%, 6/15/11 | | | | | 200 | | | 207,698 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3,344,635 |
| | | | | | | | |
3
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—AUTOMOTIVE–0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Daimler Finance North America LLC | | | | | | | | |
5.75%, 9/08/11 | | U.S.$ | | | 120 | | $ | 124,961 |
7.30%, 1/15/12 | | | | | 121 | | | 130,427 |
7.75%, 1/18/11 | | | | | 45 | | | 46,492 |
Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. 5.75%, 12/15/14(a) | | | | | 300 | | | 309,515 |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. 4.50%, 1/30/15(a) | | | | | 320 | | | 330,183 |
Volvo Treasury AB 5.95%, 4/01/15(a) | | | | | 305 | | | 318,822 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,260,400 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—ENTERTAINMENT–0.7% | | | | | | | | |
Time Warner, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.875%, 5/01/12 | | | | | 310 | | | 337,727 |
7.625%, 4/15/31 | | | | | 390 | | | 469,160 |
Viacom, Inc. 5.625%, 9/15/19 | | | | | 375 | | | 410,792 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,217,679 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—OTHER–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Marriott International, Inc. Series J 5.625%, 2/15/13 | | | | | 502 | | | 534,825 |
Toll Brothers Finance Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.15%, 5/15/15 | | | | | 40 | | | 39,207 |
6.875%, 11/15/12 | | | | | 7 | | | 7,421 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 581,453 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—RETAILERS–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
CVS Caremark Corp. 6.60%, 3/15/19 | | | | | 180 | | | 209,462 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER NON-CYCLICAL–3.3% | | | | | | | | |
Ahold Finance USA LLC 6.875%, 5/01/29 | | | | | 375 | | | 429,667 |
Altria Group, Inc. 9.70%, 11/10/18 | | | | | 230 | | | 291,267 |
Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.10%, 7/15/15 | | | | | 206 | | | 215,719 |
5.875%, 5/15/13 | | | | | 350 | | | 375,688 |
Cadbury Schweppes US Finance LLC 5.125%, 10/01/13(a) | | | | | 350 | | | 380,964 |
Campbell Soup Co. 6.75%, 2/15/11 | | | | | 335 | | | 347,617 |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 7.875%, 9/15/10 | | | | | 11 | | | 11,140 |
Delhaize Group SA 5.875%, 2/01/14 | | | | | 105 | | | 117,185 |
Diageo Capital PLC 7.375%, 1/15/14 | | | | | 360 | | | 422,427 |
Fisher Scientific International, Inc. 6.125%, 7/01/15 | | | | | 230 | | | 236,900 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Fortune Brands, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
4.875%, 12/01/13 | | U.S.$ | | | 374 | | $ | 396,394 |
5.125%, 1/15/11 | | | | | 115 | | | 117,210 |
Kraft Foods, Inc. 5.25%, 10/01/13 | | | | | 220 | | | 240,893 |
Kroger Co. (The) 6.80%, 12/15/18 | | | | | 229 | | | 269,874 |
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. 5.50%, 4/15/13 | | | | | 155 | | | 166,093 |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) 4.70%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 402 | | | 440,508 |
Reynolds American, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.25%, 6/01/13 | | | | | 105 | | | 115,512 |
7.625%, 6/01/16 | | | | | 395 | | | 447,981 |
Universal Health Services, Inc. 7.125%, 6/30/16 | | | | | 295 | | | 299,349 |
Ventas Realty LP / Ventas Capital Corp. 6.75%, 4/01/17 | | | | | 84 | | | 85,015 |
Whirlpool Corp. 8.60%, 5/01/14 | | | | | 55 | | | 64,845 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 5,472,248 |
| | | | | | | | |
ENERGY–2.4% | | | | | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.95%, 9/15/16 | | | | | 382 | | | 328,786 |
6.45%, 9/15/36 | | | | | 124 | | | 98,640 |
Apache Corp. 5.25%, 4/15/13 | | | | | 206 | | | 225,003 |
Baker Hughes, Inc. 6.50%, 11/15/13 | | | | | 205 | | | 234,189 |
BP Capital Markets PLC 4.75%, 3/10/19 | | | | | 63 | | | 52,332 |
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. 5.15%, 2/01/13 | | | | | 60 | | | 64,682 |
ConocoPhillips Holding Co. 6.95%, 4/15/29 | | | | | 155 | | | 190,222 |
Hess Corp. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 10/01/29 | | | | | 165 | | | 203,034 |
8.125%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 29 | | | 36,150 |
Marathon Oil Corp. 7.50%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 127 | | | 152,287 |
Nabors Industries, Inc. 9.25%, 1/15/19 | | | | | 425 | | | 522,515 |
Noble Energy, Inc. 8.25%, 3/01/19 | | | | | 406 | | | 491,364 |
TNK-BP Finance SA 7.50%, 7/18/16(a) | | | | | 100 | | | 103,500 |
Valero Energy Corp. 6.875%, 4/15/12 | | | | | 515 | | | 554,462 |
Weatherford International Ltd. | | | | | | | | |
5.15%, 3/15/13 | | | | | 195 | | | 204,283 |
6.00%, 3/15/18 | | | | | 35 | | | 36,011 |
9.625%, 3/01/19 | | | | | 190 | | | 228,796 |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) 7.875%, 9/01/21 | | | | | 214 | | | 245,264 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3,971,520 |
| | | | | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
OTHER INDUSTRIAL–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Noble Group Ltd. 6.75%, 1/29/20(a) | | U.S.$ | | | 440 | | $ | 426,800 |
| | | | | | | | |
TECHNOLOGY–0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Computer Sciences Corp. 5.50%, 3/15/13 | | | | | 280 | | | 300,999 |
Dell, Inc. 5.625%, 4/15/14 | | | | | 250 | | | 280,320 |
HP Enterprise Services LLC Series B 6.00%, 8/01/13 | | | | | 224 | | | 252,571 |
Motorola, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.50%, 9/01/25 | | | | | 125 | | | 124,462 |
7.50%, 5/15/25 | | | | | 25 | | | 27,573 |
7.625%, 11/15/10 | | | | | 22 | | | 22,566 |
Xerox Corp. | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 6/15/13 | | | | | 40 | | | 40,701 |
8.25%, 5/15/14 | | | | | 375 | | | 439,555 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,488,747 |
| | | | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION—AIRLINES–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Southwest Airlines Co. | | | | | | | | |
5.25%, 10/01/14 | | | | | 210 | | | 221,042 |
5.75%, 12/15/16 | | | | | 155 | | | 163,829 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 384,871 |
| | | | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION—SERVICES–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Con-way, Inc. 6.70%, 5/01/34 | | | | | 280 | | | 279,634 |
Ryder System, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.85%, 11/01/16 | | | | | 116 | | | 127,989 |
7.20%, 9/01/15 | | | | | 108 | | | 125,260 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 532,883 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 30,105,798 |
| | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–11.6% | | | |
BANKING–6.0% | | | | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | | | | | | | |
7.25%, 5/20/14 | | | | | 210 | | | 238,692 |
8.125%, 5/20/19 | | | | | 405 | | | 502,846 |
Anz National International Ltd. 6.20%, 7/19/13(a) | | | | | 240 | | | 264,288 |
Bank of America Corp. | | | | | | | | |
4.875%, 1/15/13 | | | | | 660 | | | 689,730 |
5.375%, 9/11/12 | | | | | 210 | | | 219,336 |
Barclays Bank PLC | | | | | | | | |
5.75%, 9/14/26 | | | GBP | | 75 | | | 106,848 |
8.55%, 6/15/11(a) | | U.S.$ | | | 365 | | | 352,225 |
Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The) 5.70%, 11/15/14 | | | | | 450 | | | 498,424 |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.50%, 4/11/13 | | | | | 195 | | | 202,703 |
6.50%, 8/19/13 | | | | | 355 | | | 378,138 |
8.50%, 5/22/19 | | | | | 505 | | | 602,023 |
Compass Bank 5.50%, 4/01/20 | | | | | 250 | | | 230,693 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. Series L 4.00%, 3/22/11 | | U.S.$ | | | 4 | | $ | 4,073 |
Credit Suisse USA, Inc. 5.50%, 8/15/13 | | | | | 159 | | | 174,271 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) 7.50%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 295 | | | 329,745 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 6.75%, 2/01/11 | | | | | 285 | | | 294,268 |
M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank 5.00%, 1/17/17 | | | | | 175 | | | 160,487 |
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 6.05%, 5/16/16 | | | | | 535 | | | 552,838 |
Morgan Stanley 6.625%, 4/01/18 | | | | | 295 | | | 309,200 |
National Australia Bank Ltd. 3.75%, 3/02/15(a) | | | | | 300 | | | 307,140 |
National Capital Trust II 5.486%, 3/23/15(a) | | | | | 122 | | | 106,149 |
National City Bank/Cleveland OH 6.25%, 3/15/11 | | | | | 250 | | | 258,075 |
National Westminster Bank PLC 6.50%, 9/07/21 | | | GBP | | 50 | | | 69,251 |
Nationwide Building Society 6.25%, 2/25/20(a) | | U.S.$ | | | 430 | | | 453,739 |
PNC Funding Corp. 5.125%, 2/08/20 | | | | | 300 | | | 311,945 |
Standard Chartered PLC 6.409%, 1/30/17(a) | | | | | 100 | | | 87,355 |
UFJ Finance Aruba AEC 6.75%, 7/15/13 | | | | | 240 | | | 268,793 |
Union Bank NA 5.95%, 5/11/16 | | | | | 660 | | | 707,792 |
VTB Capital SA 6.609%, 10/31/12(a) | | | | | 135 | | | 139,388 |
Wachovia Corp. 5.50%, 5/01/13 | | | | | 505 | | | 548,096 |
Wells Fargo & Co. 5.625%, 12/11/17 | | | | | 565 | | | 617,653 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 9,986,204 |
| | | | | | | | |
FINANCE–1.2% | | | | | | | | |
General Electric Capital Corp. | | | | | | | | |
4.80%, 5/01/13 | | | | | 435 | | | 463,744 |
5.625%, 5/01/18 | | | | | 455 | | | 483,535 |
Series A 4.375%, 11/21/11 | | | | | 155 | | | 161,214 |
HSBC Finance Corp. 7.00%, 5/15/12 | | | | | 280 | | | 301,493 |
SLM Corp. Series A 5.375%, 5/15/14 | | | | | 630 | | | 576,047 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,986,033 |
| | | | | | | | |
INSURANCE–3.8% | | | | | | | | |
Aetna, Inc. 6.00%, 6/15/16 | | | | | 135 | | | 153,935 |
Allstate Corp. (The) 6.125%, 5/15/37 | | | | | 530 | | | 467,062 |
CIGNA Corp. 5.125%, 6/15/20 | | | | | 165 | | | 171,735 |
5
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Coventry Health Care, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.95%, 3/15/17 | | U.S.$ | | | 90 | | $ | 85,967 |
6.125%, 1/15/15 | | | | | 35 | | | 35,739 |
6.30%, 8/15/14 | | | | | 280 | | | 295,582 |
Genworth Financial, Inc. 6.515%, 5/22/18 | | | | | 520 | | | 500,592 |
Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America 7.375%, 9/30/39(a) | | | | | 210 | | | 232,324 |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
4.00%, 3/30/15 | | | | | 85 | | | 83,452 |
5.50%, 3/30/20 | | | | | 390 | | | 378,530 |
Humana, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.30%, 8/01/18 | | | | | 275 | | | 293,783 |
6.45%, 6/01/16 | | | | | 40 | | | 43,455 |
7.20%, 6/15/18 | | | | | 85 | | | 94,884 |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. 5.75%, 3/15/14(a) | | | | | 145 | | | 150,769 |
Lincoln National Corp. 8.75%, 7/01/19 | | | | | 113 | | | 138,491 |
Markel Corp. 7.125%, 9/30/19 | | | | | 200 | | | 219,420 |
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. 8.875%, 6/01/39(a) | | | | | 225 | | | 299,383 |
MetLife, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.717%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 109 | | | 129,734 |
10.75%, 8/01/34 | | | | | 140 | | | 166,394 |
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. 9.375%, 8/15/39(a) | | | | | 360 | | | 421,977 |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. 7.875%, 5/15/14 | | | | | 325 | | | 375,832 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.15%, 1/15/13 | | | | | 325 | | | 343,958 |
6.20%, 1/15/15 | | | | | 45 | | | 49,524 |
8.875%, 6/15/38 | | | | | 170 | | | 179,350 |
Series D 7.375%, 6/15/19 | | | | | 35 | | | 40,528 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.25%, 3/15/11 | | | | | 95 | | | 97,478 |
6.00%, 2/15/18 | | | | | 430 | | | 479,458 |
WellPoint, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.875%, 6/15/17 | | | | | 45 | | | 50,133 |
7.00%, 2/15/19 | | | | | 95 | | | 112,685 |
XL Capital Ltd. | | | | | | | | |
5.25%, 9/15/14 | | | | | 110 | | | 112,555 |
6.25%, 5/15/27 | | | | | 200 | | | 189,617 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 6,394,326 |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER FINANCE–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
ORIX Corp. 4.71%, 4/27/15 | | | | | 397 | | | 394,699 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
REITS–0.4% | | | | | | | | |
HCP, Inc. 5.95%, 9/15/11 | | U.S.$ | | | 225 | | $ | 233,245 |
Simon Property Group LP 5.625%, 8/15/14 | | | | | 420 | | | 454,864 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 688,109 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 19,449,371 |
| | | | | | | | |
UTILITY–2.6% | | | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC–1.5% | | | | | | | | |
Allegheny Energy Supply Co. LLC 5.75%, 10/15/19(a) | | | | | 425 | | | 421,857 |
Ameren Corp. 8.875%, 5/15/14 | | | | | 235 | | | 272,421 |
FirstEnergy Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series B | | | | | | | | |
6.45%, 11/15/11 | | | | | 19 | | | 20,069 |
Series C | | | | | | | | |
7.375%, 11/15/31 | | | | | 420 | | | 442,845 |
Nisource Finance Corp. 6.80%, 1/15/19 | | | | | 450 | | | 500,974 |
Progress Energy, Inc. 7.10%, 3/01/11 | | | | | 73 | | | 75,903 |
SPI Electricity & Gas Australia Holdings Pty Ltd. 6.15%, 11/15/13(a) | | | | | 235 | | | 248,913 |
Teco Finance, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
4.00%, 3/15/16 | | | | | 95 | | | 96,471 |
5.15%, 3/15/20 | | | | | 120 | | | 125,077 |
Union Electric Co. 6.70%, 2/01/19 | | | | | 45 | | | 52,310 |
Wisconsin Energy Corp. 6.25%, 5/15/17 | | | | | 204 | | | 184,620 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,441,460 |
| | | | | | | | |
NATURAL GAS–0.9% | | | | | | | | |
DCP Midstream LLC | | | | | | | | |
5.35%, 3/15/20(a) | | | | | 108 | | | 110,426 |
7.875%, 8/16/10 | | | | | 70 | | | 70,513 |
Energy Transfer Partners LP | | | | | | | | |
6.70%, 7/01/18 | | | | | 279 | | | 300,029 |
7.50%, 7/01/38 | | | | | 336 | | | 343,556 |
EQT Corp. 8.125%, 6/01/19 | | | | | 205 | | | 241,152 |
TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. 6.35%, 5/15/17 | | | | | 235 | | | 209,444 |
Williams Partners LP 5.25%, 3/15/20(a) | | | | | 173 | | | 176,904 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,452,024 |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER UTILITY–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Veolia Environnement 6.00%, 6/01/18 | | | | | 350 | | | 385,975 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 4,279,459 |
| | | | | | | | |
6
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
NON CORPORATE SECTORS–1.3% | | | | | |
AGENCIES—NOT GOVERNMENT GUARANTEED–1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Gaz Capital SA for Gazprom | | | | | | | | |
6.212%, 11/22/16(a) | | U.S.$ | | | 460 | | $ | 464,600 |
6.51%, 3/07/22(a) | | | | | 477 | | | 459,113 |
Petrobras International Finance Co. | | | |
5.75%, 1/20/20 | | | | | 670 | | | 674,722 |
TransCapitalInvest Ltd. for OJSC AK Transneft 8.70%, 8/07/18(a) | | | | | 465 | | | 535,912 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,134,347 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Corporates—Investment Grades (cost $51,819,807) | | | | | 55,968,975 |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS—TREASURIES–21.5% | | | |
UNITED STATES–21.5% | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds 4.50%, 2/15/36 | | | | | 3,060 | | | 3,380,345 |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | | | | | | |
0.75%, 5/31/12 | | | | | 2,580 | | | 2,587,456 |
2.125%, 5/31/15 | | | | | 2,125 | | | 2,161,529 |
2.25%, 1/31/15 | | | | | 7,505 | | | 7,692,040 |
2.375%, 8/31/14 | | | | | 2,030 | | | 2,098,671 |
2.50%, 3/31/15 | | | | | 5,170 | | | 5,357,412 |
3.375%, 11/15/19 | | | | | 4,825 | | | 4,997,267 |
3.625%, 12/31/12-2/15/20 | | | | | 2,435 | | | 2,592,236 |
3.75%, 11/15/18 | | | | | 4,663 | | | 5,024,383 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Governments—Treasuries (cost $34,679,172) | | | | | 35,891,339 |
| | | | | | | | |
MORTGAGE PASS-THRU’S–16.9% | | | | | |
AGENCY FIXED RATE 30-YEAR–15.4% | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Gold | | | |
Series 2005 | | | | | | | | |
4.50%, 8/01/35-10/01/35 | | | | | 3,313 | | | 3,461,177 |
5.50%, 1/01/35 | | | | | 5,559 | | | 5,996,238 |
Series 2007 | | | | | | | | |
5.50%, 7/01/35 | | | | | 215 | | | 232,284 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | |
5.50%, TBA | | | | | 3,125 | | | 3,343,750 |
6.00%, TBA | | | | | 700 | | | 759,172 |
Series 2002 | | | | | | | | |
7.00%, 3/01/32 | | | | | 19 | | | 21,381 |
Series 2003 | | | | | | | | |
5.00%, 11/01/33 | | | | | 240 | | | 255,190 |
5.50%, 4/01/33-7/01/33 | | | | | 858 | | | 925,531 |
Series 2004 | | | | | | | | |
5.50%, 4/01/34 | | | | | 177 | | | 190,642 |
5.50%, 5/01/34-11/01/34 | | | | | 544 | | | 586,652 |
6.00%, 9/01/34 | | | | | 388 | | | 426,097 |
Series 2005 | | | | | | | | |
4.50%, 8/01/35 | | | | | 753 | | | 787,420 |
5.00%, 10/01/35 | | | | | 1,815 | | | 1,926,125 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
5.50%, 2/01/35 | | U.S.$ | | | 871 | | $ | 939,725 |
Series 2006 | | | | | | | | |
5.00%, 2/01/36 | | | | | 1,584 | | | 1,681,022 |
Series 2007 | | | | | | | | |
4.50%, 9/01/35-8/01/37 | | | | | 962 | | | 1,005,103 |
5.00%, 7/01/36 | | | | | 253 | | | 268,526 |
Series 2008 | | | | | | | | |
6.00%, 3/01/37 | | | | | 2,765 | | | 3,014,340 |
Government National Mortgage Association | | | | | | | | |
Series 1994 | | | | | | | | |
9.00%, 9/15/24 | | | | | 5 | | | 6,317 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 25,826,692 |
| | | | | | | | |
AGENCY ARMS–1.5% | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. | | | | | |
Series 2007 | | | | | | | | |
6.072%, 1/01/37(b) | | | | | 110 | | | 116,664 |
Series 2009 | | | | | | | | |
3.77%, 4/01/36(c) | | | | | 772 | | | 808,966 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | |
Series 2003 | | | | | | | | |
4.803%, 12/01/33(c) | | | | | 256 | | | 268,923 |
Series 2006 | | | | | | | | |
5.415%, 2/01/36(c) | | | | | 255 | | | 268,716 |
5.659%, 11/01/36(b) | | | | | 275 | | | 292,078 |
6.08%, 3/01/36(c) | | | | | 192 | | | 199,371 |
Series 2007 | | | | | | | | |
4.656%, 3/01/34(c) | | | | | 491 | | | 513,094 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,467,812 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mortgage Pass-Thru’s (cost $26,783,725) | | | | | | | | 28,294,504 |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES–10.3% | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY FIXED RATE CMBS–10.3% | | | |
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series 2005-6, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.35%, 9/10/47 | | | | | 470 | | | 503,237 |
Series 2006-5, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.414%, 9/10/47 | | | | | 455 | | | 476,123 |
Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates | | | | | | | | |
Series 2007-C9, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
6.01%, 12/10/49 | | | | | 1,085 | | | 1,121,446 |
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-C3, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
6.019%, 6/15/38 | | | | | 1,095 | | | 1,157,899 |
Series 2006-C5, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
5.311%, 12/15/39 | | | | | 225 | | | 222,640 |
Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series 2005-GG5, Class AJ | | | | | | | | |
5.478%, 4/10/37 | | | | | 235 | | | 186,444 |
7
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Series 2007-GG11, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.736%, 12/10/49 | | U.S.$ | | | 420 | | $ | 413,105 |
Series 2007-GG9, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.444%, 3/10/39 | | | | | 680 | | | 681,242 |
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II | | | | | | | | |
Series 2004-GG2, Class A6 | | | | | | | | |
5.396%, 8/10/38 | | | | | 300 | | | 316,447 |
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-CB14, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.481%, 12/12/44 | | | | | 545 | | | 576,740 |
Series 2006-CB15, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.814%, 6/12/43 | | | | | 1,035 | | | 1,073,977 |
Series 2006-CB17, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.429%, 12/12/43 | | | | | 420 | | | 432,430 |
Series 2007-C1, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.716%, 2/15/51 | | | | | 1,115 | | | 1,098,370 |
Series 2007-LD11, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.983%, 6/15/49 | | | | | 1,105 | | | 1,081,096 |
Series 2007-LDPX, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
5.42%, 1/15/49 | | | | | 1,110 | | | 1,084,765 |
LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2004-C4, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.437%, 6/15/29 | | | | | 830 | | | 877,872 |
Series 2006-C1, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.156%, 2/15/31 | | | | | 1,240 | | | 1,289,909 |
Series 2006-C6, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.372%, 9/15/39 | | | | | 475 | | | 491,226 |
Merrill Lynch/Countrywide Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-4, Class AM | | | | | | | | |
5.204%, 12/12/49 | | | | | 285 | | | 236,367 |
Series 2007-9, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.70%, 9/12/49 | | | | | 1,105 | | | 1,100,257 |
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-C27, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
5.765%, 7/15/45 | | | | | 1,080 | | | 1,132,377 |
Series 2007-C31, Class A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.509%, 4/15/47 | | | | | 1,100 | | | 1,030,474 |
Series 2007-C32, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
5.929%, 6/15/49 | | | | | 615 | | | 591,081 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $16,140,562) | | | | | | | | 17,175,524 |
| | | | | | | | |
CORPORATES—NON-INVESTMENT GRADES–4.5% | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–2.5% | | | | | | | | |
BASIC–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Ineos Group Holdings PLC | | | | | | | | |
8.50%, 2/15/16(a) | | | | | 179 | | | 139,620 |
Steel Capital SA for OAO Severstal | | | | | |
9.25%, 4/19/14(a) | | | | | 228 | | | 240,540 |
United States Steel Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.65%, 6/01/13 | | | | | 155 | | | 156,550 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Westvaco Corp. | | | | | | | | |
8.20%, 1/15/30 | | U.S.$ | | | 50 | | $ | 52,758 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 589,468 |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL GOODS–0.7% | | | | | | | | |
Bombardier, Inc. | | | | | 225 | | | 233,438 |
8.00%, 11/15/14(a) | | | | | | | | |
Case New Holland, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.125%, 3/01/14 | | | | | 175 | | | 181,125 |
Masco Corp. | | | | | | | | |
6.125%, 10/03/16 | | | | | 165 | | | 159,646 |
Mohawk Industries, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.875%, 1/15/16 | | | | | 355 | | | 361,212 |
Textron Financial Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.125%, 11/01/10 | | | | | 100 | | | 100,707 |
5.40%, 4/28/13 | | | | | 69 | | | 71,749 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,107,877 |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS—MEDIA–0.4% | | | | | |
CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 4/30/18(a) | | | | | 57 | | | 57,285 |
8.125%, 4/30/20(a) | | | | | 19 | | | 19,428 |
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. | | | | | |
5.50%, 9/15/14 | | | | | 238 | | | 130,900 |
CSC Holdings LLC | | | | | | | | |
8.50%, 4/15/14 | | | | | 160 | | | 166,800 |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) | | | | | |
6.25%, 11/15/14 | | | | | 170 | | | 170,850 |
Truvo Subsidiary Corp. | | | | | | | | |
8.375%, 12/01/14(a) (d) | | | | | 70 | | | 3,413 |
Univision Communications, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
12.00%, 7/01/14(a) | | | | | 41 | | | 43,972 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 592,648 |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS—TELECOMMUNICATIONS–0.1% | | | | | |
Windstream Corp. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 11/01/17 | | | | | 115 | | | 112,269 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—AUTOMOTIVE –0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | | | | | | | |
3.048%, 1/13/12(b) | | | | | 240 | | | 233,100 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—OTHER–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Broder Brothers Co. | | | | | | | | |
12.00%, 10/15/13(e) (f) | | | | | 40 | | | 30,451 |
Greektown Holdings LLC | | | | | | | | |
10.75%, 12/01/13(d) (e) | | | | | 55 | | | 3,506 |
Harrah’s Operating Co., Inc. | | | | | | | | |
10.00%, 12/15/18 | | | | | 135 | | | 110,700 |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 5/01/12 | | | | | 362 | | | 389,150 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 533,807 |
| | | | | | | | |
8
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
CONSUMER CYCLICAL—RETAILERS–0.2% | | | | | |
JC Penney Co., Inc. | | | | | | | | |
5.65%, 6/01/20 | | U.S.$ | | | 335 | | $ | 327,462 |
Limited Brands, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.90%, 7/15/17 | | | | | 45 | | | 45,113 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 372,575 |
| | | | | | | | |
CONSUMER NON-CYCLICAL–0.3% | | | | | |
Bausch & Lomb, Inc. 9.875%, 11/01/15 | | | | | 155 | | | 159,262 |
HCA, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 2/15/20 | | | | | 125 | | | 128,594 |
8.50%, 4/15/19 | | | | | 40 | | | 42,400 |
Mylan, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 7/15/17(a) | | | | | 25 | | | 25,500 |
7.875%, 7/15/20(a) | | | | | 140 | | | 142,800 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 498,556 |
| | | | | | | | |
ENERGY–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Tesoro Corp. | | | | | | | | |
6.50%, 6/01/17 | | | | | 190 | | | 173,850 |
| | | | | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION—AIRLINES–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Continental Airlines, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series 2003-ERJ1 | | | | | | | | |
7.875%, 1/02/20 | | | | | 36 | | | 31,878 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 4,246,028 |
| | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–1.2% | | | | | |
BANKING–0.9% | | | | | | | | |
ABN Amro Bank NV | | | | | | | | |
4.31%, 3/10/16 | | | EUR | | 125 | | | 96,299 |
BankAmerica Capital II | | | | | | | | |
Series 2 | | | | | | | | |
8.00%, 12/15/26 | | U.S.$ | | | 98 | | | 95,060 |
Commerzbank Capital Funding Trust I | | | | | | | | |
5.012%, 4/12/16(d) | | | EUR | | 200 | | | 127,176 |
LBG Capital No.1 PLC | | | | | | | | |
8.00%, 6/15/20(a) | | U.S.$ | | | 770 | | | 596,750 |
RBS Capital Trust III | | | | | | | | |
5.512%, 9/30/14 | | | | | 335 | | | 165,825 |
Regions Financial Corp. | | | | | | | | |
6.375%, 5/15/12 | | | | | 215 | | | 212,251 |
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC | | | | | |
7.648%, 9/30/31 | | | | | 115 | | | 86,250 |
Union Planters Corp. | | | | | | | | |
7.75%, 3/01/11 | | | | | 143 | | | 144,982 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,524,593 |
| | | | | | | | |
BROKERAGE–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
6.20%, 9/26/14(d) | | | | | 75 | | | 14,812 |
7.875%, 11/01/09(d) | | | | | 43 | | | 8,493 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 23,305 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
FINANCE–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
International Lease Finance Corp. | | | | | | | | |
5.65%, 6/01/14 | | U.S.$ | | | 65 | | $ | 57,688 |
| | | | | | | | |
INSURANCE–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
ING Capital Funding TR III | | | | | | | | |
8.439%, 12/31/10 | | | | | 270 | | | 234,900 |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.80%, 3/15/37(a) | | | | | 80 | | | 65,600 |
XL Capital Ltd. | | | | | | | | |
Series E | | | | | | | | |
6.50%, 4/15/17 | | | | | 240 | | | 165,600 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 466,100 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,071,686 |
| | | | | | | | |
UTILITY–0.8% | | | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC–0.6% | | | | | | | | |
CMS Energy Corp. | | | | | | | | |
8.75%, 6/15/19 | | | | | 145 | | | 160,093 |
Dynegy Holdings, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
8.375%, 5/01/16 | | | | | 205 | | | 162,206 |
Dynegy Roseton / Danskammer Pass Through Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series B | | | | | | | | |
7.67%, 11/08/16 | | | | | 195 | | | 171,600 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.25%, 2/01/14 | | | | | 260 | | | 263,575 |
RRI Energy, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 6/15/14 | | | | | 95 | | | 93,575 |
7.875%, 6/15/17 | | | | | 155 | | | 146,475 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 997,524 |
| | | | | | | | |
NATURAL GAS–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Enterprise Products Operating LLC | | | | | |
Series A | | | | | | | | |
8.375%, 8/01/66 | | | | | 305 | | | 304,619 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,302,143 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Corporates—Non-Investment Grades (cost $7,711,417) | | | | | | | | 7,619,857 |
| | | | | | | | |
CMOs–2.2% | | | | | | | | |
AGENCY FLOATING RATE–1.5% | | | | | |
Fannie Mae REMICs | | | | | | | | |
Series 2004-92, Class FD | | | | | | | | |
0.697%, 5/25/34(b) | | | | | 523 | | | 521,866 |
Series 2005-83, Class KT | | | | | | | | |
0.647%, 10/25/35(b) | | | | | 467 | | | 464,953 |
Series 2005-99, Class AF | | | | | | | | |
0.697%, 12/25/35(b) | | | | | 459 | | | 457,963 |
Freddie Mac REMICs | | | | | | | | |
Series 2920, Class F | | | | | | | | |
0.65%, 1/15/35(b) | | | | | 479 | | | 478,203 |
Series 3001, Class HN | | | | | | | | |
0.65%, 5/15/35(b) | | | | | 495 | | | 492,517 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,415,502 |
| | | | | | | | |
9
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY ARMS–0.5% | | | | | | | | |
Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-3, Class 22A1 | | | | | | | | |
5.638%, 5/25/36 | | U.S.$ | | | 132 | | $ | 63,043 |
Series 2007-1, Class 21A1 | | | | | | | | |
5.453%, 1/25/47 | | | | | 209 | | | 125,507 |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. | | | | | |
Series 2005-2, Class 1A4 | | | | | | | | |
5.135%, 5/25/35 | | | | | 288 | | | 251,559 |
Series 2006-AR1, Class 3A1 | | | | | | | | |
5.50%, 3/25/36(b) | | | | | 391 | | | 259,564 |
Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust | | | | | |
Series 2006-AR7, Class 4A1 | | | | | | | | |
5.724%, 5/25/36 | | | | | 187 | | | 113,599 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 813,272 |
| | | | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY FLOATING RATE–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2005-62, Class 2A1 | | | | | | | | |
1.413%, 12/25/35(b) | | | | | 118 | | | 65,024 |
Series 2007-OA3, Class M1 | | | | | | | | |
0.657%, 4/25/47(b) (g) | | | | | 145 | | | 590 |
WaMu Mortgage Pass Through Certificates | | | | | | | | |
Series 2007-OA1, Class A1A | | | | | | | | |
1.121%, 2/25/47(b) | | | | | 306 | | | 170,441 |
Series 2007-OA3, Class B1 | | | | | | | | |
0.797%, 4/25/47(b) (g) | | | | | 445 | | | 1,305 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 237,360 |
| | | | | | | | |
NON-AGENCY FIXED RATE–0.1% | | | | | |
JP Morgan Alternative Loan Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-A3, Class 2A1 | | | | | | | | |
6.048%, 7/25/36 | | | | | 380 | | | 234,608 |
| | | | | | | | |
AGENCY FIXED RATE–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Fannie Mae Grantor Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2004-T5, Class AB4 | | | | | | | | |
0.633%, 5/28/35 | | | | | 50 | | | 47,252 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total CMOs (cost $5,051,084) | | | | | | | | 3,747,994 |
| | | | | | | | |
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES–1.5% | | | | | |
CREDIT CARDS—FLOATING RATE–0.9% | | | |
Chase Issuance Trust Series | | | | | | | | |
2007-A1, Class A1 | | | | | | | | |
0.37%, 3/15/13(b) | | | | | 875 | | | 874,382 |
Discover Card Master Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2009-A1, Class A1 | | | | | | | | |
1.65%, 12/15/14(b) | | | | | 180 | | | 183,011 |
Series 2009-A2, Class A | | | | | | | | |
1.65%, 2/17/15(b) | | | | | 185 | | | 188,318 |
Series 2010-A1, Class A1 | | | | | | | | |
1.00%, 9/15/15(b) | | | | | 166 | | | 166,889 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust | | | | | |
Series 2006-A2, Class A2 | | | | | | | | |
0.41%, 6/15/15(b) | | U.S.$ | | | 160 | | $ | 158,672 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,571,272 |
| | | | | | | | |
HOME EQUITY LOANS—FIXED RATE–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Asset Backed Funding Certificates | | | | | | | | |
Series 2003-WF1, Class A2 | | | | | | | | |
1.468%, 12/25/32 | | | | | 92 | | | 66,989 |
Citifinancial Mortgage Securities, Inc. | | | | | |
Series 2003-1, Class AFPT | | | | | | | | |
3.36%, 1/25/33 | | | | | 76 | | | 65,601 |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates | | | | | | | | |
Series 2007-S1, Class A3 | | | | | | | | |
5.81%, 11/25/36 | | | | | 325 | | | 149,685 |
Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC | | | | | | | | |
Series 2003-CB1, Class AF | | | | | | | | |
3.95%, 1/25/33 | | | | | 206 | | | 176,797 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 459,072 |
| | | | | | | | |
HOME EQUITY LOANS—FLOATING RATE–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Home Equity Asset Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2007-2, Class M1 | | | | | | | | |
0.777%, 7/25/37(b) (g) | | | | | 67 | | | 662 |
HSBC Home Equity Loan Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2005-3, Class A1 | | | | | | | | |
0.608%, 1/20/35(b) | | | | | 120 | | | 101,648 |
Indymac Residential Asset Backed Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-D, Class 2A2 | | | | | | | | |
0.457%, 11/25/36(b) | | | | | 360 | | | 255,757 |
Option One Mortgage Loan Trust | | | | | | | | |
Series 2007-2, Class M1 | | | | | | | | |
0.707%, 3/25/37(b) (g) | | | | | 160 | | | 1,785 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 359,852 |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER ABS—FIXED RATE–0.1% | | | | | |
Dunkin Securitization | | | | | | | | |
Series 2006-1, Class A2 | | | | | | | | |
5.779%, 6/20/31(a) | | | | | 100 | | | 96,625 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $3,049,157) | | | | | | | | 2,486,821 |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS—SOVEREIGN AGENCIES–1.4% | | | | | |
GERMANY–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank | | | | | | | | |
5.125%, 2/01/17 | | | | | 70 | | | 79,290 |
| | | | | | | | |
UNITED KINGDOM–1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) | | | | | |
1.45%, 10/20/11(a) | | | | | 1,307 | | | 1,309,474 |
2.625%, 5/11/12(a) | | | | | 895 | | | 915,394 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2,224,868 |
| | | | | | | | |
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
Total Governments—Sovereign Agencies (cost $2,273,065) | | U.S.$ | | | | | $ | 2,304,158 |
| | | | | | | | |
INFLATION-LINKED SECURITIES–1.1% | | | | | | | | |
UNITED STATES–1.1% | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index 3.00%, 7/15/12 (TIPS) (cost $1,743,089) | | | | | 1,679 | | | 1,786,411 |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENTS—SOVEREIGN BONDS–0.8% | | | | | | | | |
CROATIA–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Croatia | | | | | | | | |
6.75%, 11/05/19(a) | | | | | 435 | | | 455,379 |
| | | | | | | | |
LITHUANIA–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Lithuania | | | | | | | | |
6.75%, 1/15/15(a) | | | | | 430 | | | 450,653 |
| | | | | | | | |
PERU–0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Peru | | | | | | | | |
8.75%, 11/21/33 | | | | | 266 | | | 361,095 |
| | | | | | | | |
POLAND–0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Poland | | | | | | | | |
6.375%, 7/15/19 | | | | | 50 | | | 54,250 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Governments—Sovereign Bonds (cost $1,257,335) | | | | | | | | 1,321,377 |
| | | | | | | | |
AGENCIES–0.7% | | | | | | | | |
AGENCY DEBENTURES–0.7% | | | | | | | | |
Federal National Mortgage Association 6.25%, 5/15/29 (cost $1,303,364) | | | | | 1,020 | | | 1,262,048 |
| | | | | | | | |
QUASI-SOVEREIGNS–0.7% | | | | | | | | |
QUASI-SOVEREIGN BONDS–0.7% | | | | | |
KAZAKHSTAN–0.1% | | | | | | | | |
KazMunaiGaz Finance Sub BV | | | | | | | | |
7.00%, 5/05/20(a) | | | | | 212 | | | 212,806 |
| | | | | | | | |
MALAYSIA–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Petronas Capital Ltd. | | | | | | | | |
5.25%, 8/12/19(a) | | | | | 420 | | | 441,592 |
| | | | | | | | |
RUSSIA–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
RSHB Capital SA for OJSC Russian Agricultural Bank | | | | | | | | |
6.299%, 5/15/17(a) | | | | | 480 | | | 476,400 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Quasi-Sovereigns (cost $1,105,299) | | | | | | | | 1,130,798 |
| | | | | | | | |
SUPRANATIONALS–0.4% | | | | | | | | |
European Bank for Reconstruction & Development | | | | | | | | |
Series G | | | | | | | | |
9.25%, 9/10/12(h) | | | BRL | | 1,150 | | | 632,137 |
European Investment Bank | | | | | | | | |
4.875%, 2/15/36 | | U.S.$ | | | 110 | | | 115,987 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Supranationals (cost $767,454) | | | | | | | | 748,124 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS—MUNICIPAL BONDS–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
UNITED STATES–0.3% | | | | | | | | |
State of California | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 3/01/40 | | | | | | | | |
(cost $413,582) | | U.S.$ | | | 405 | | $ | 437,590 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | |
| | | | | | | |
PREFERRED STOCKS–0.2% FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–0.2% | | | | | |
FINANCE–0.1% | | | | | | | |
Citigroup Capital XII | | | | | | | |
8.50% | | | | | 7,000 | | 175,000 |
| | | | | | | |
REITS–0.1% | | | | | | | |
Sovereign Real Estate Investment Trust | | | | | | | |
12.00% (a) | | | | | 93 | | 98,580 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 273,580 |
| | | | | | | |
NON CORPORATE SECTORS–0.0% | | | | | |
AGENCIES—GOVERNMENT SPONSORED–0.0% | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. | | | | | | | |
Series Z | | | | | | | |
8.375% | | | | | 2,400 | | 816 |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | | | |
8.25% | | | | | 2,950 | | 1,003 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1,819 |
| | | | | | | |
Total Preferred Stocks (cost $396,409) | | | | | | | 275,399 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
EMERGING MARKETS—CORPORATE BONDS–0.1% | | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL–0.1% | | | | | | | | | |
ENERGY–0.1% | | | | | | | | | |
Ecopetrol SA | | | | | | | | | |
7.625%, 7/23/19 | | U.S.$ | | | | 143 | | $ | 161,948 |
| | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS–0.0% | | | | | | |
OTHER FINANCE–0.0% | | | | | | | | | |
AES El Salvador Trust | | | | | | | | | |
6.75%, 2/01/16(a) | | | | | | 100 | | | 93,493 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total Emerging Markets—Corporate Bonds (cost $242,208) | | | | | | | | | 255,441 |
| | | | | | | | | |
11
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–0.0% | | | | | | | |
Broder Brothers Co. | | | | 3,463 | | $ | 0 |
Dex One Corp.(i) | | | | 1,786 | | | 33,934 |
| | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $368,283) | | | | | | | 33,934 |
| | | | | | | |
WARRANTS–0.0% | | | | | | | |
Charter Communications, Inc., expiring 11/30/14(i) (cost $2,140) | | | | 1,070 | | | 5,617 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–6.1% | | | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–6.1% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $10,196,000) | | U.S.$ | | 10,196 | | $ | 10,196,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–102.2% (cost $165,303,152) | | | | | | | 170,941,911 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(2.2)% | | | | | | | (3,731,246 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | | $ | 167,210,665 | |
| | | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Type | | Number of Contracts | | Expiration Month | | Original Value | | Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Purchased Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. T-Bond 30 Yr Futures | | 1 | | September 2010 | | $ | 124,525 | | $ | 127,500 | | $ | 2,975 |
U.S. T-Note 5 Yr Futures | | 49 | | September 2010 | | | 5,734,230 | | | 5,799,226 | | | 64,996 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 67,971 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/26/10 | | 3,031 | | $ | 2,590,246 | | $ | 2,535,020 | | $ | (55,226 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/22/10 | | 1,701 | | | 1,645,641 | | | 1,597,950 | | | (47,691 | ) |
Malaysian Ringgit settling 7/29/10 | | 2,700 | | | 839,988 | | | 832,990 | | | (6,998 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 9/02/10 | | 5,380 | | | 835,276 | | | 824,066 | | | (11,210 | ) |
South Korean Won settling 7/29/10 | | 3,760,856 | | | 3,372,512 | | | 3,074,863 | | | (297,649 | ) |
| | | | |
Sale Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
British Pound settling 7/26/10 | | 93 | | | 134,182 | | | 139,017 | | | (4,835 | ) |
Euro settling 8/25/10 | | 4,023 | | | 4,944,797 | | | 4,920,722 | | | 24,075 | |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 427,327 | | | 4,590,080 | | | 4,834,182 | | | (244,102 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/11/10 | | 1,859 | | | 1,605,074 | | | 1,725,631 | | | (120,557 | ) |
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | |
Broker | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 |
JP Morgan Chase | | (0.40 | )%* | | 12/31/10 | | $ | 657,973 |
* | | Interest payment due from counterparty. |
(a) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $14,433,384 or 8.6% of net assets. |
(b) | | Floating Rate Security. Stated interest rate was in effect at June 30, 2010. |
(c) | | Variable rate coupon, rate shown as of June 30, 2010. |
(d) | | Security is in default and is non-income producing. |
(e) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 0.02% of net assets as of June 30, 2010, are considered illiquid and restricted. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Restricted Securities | | Acquisition Date | | Cost | | Market Value | | Percentage of Net Assets | |
Broder Brothers Co. 12.00%, 10/15/13 | | 5/21/09 | | $ | 69,533 | | $ | 30,451 | | 0.02 | % |
Greektown Holdings LLC 10.75%, 12/01/13 | | 11/22/05 | | | 54,539 | | | 3,506 | | 0.00 | % |
(f) | | Pay-In-Kind Payments (PIK). |
(h) | | Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize reverse repurchase agreements. The aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $632,137. |
(i) | | Non-income producing security. |
The fund currently owns investments collateralized by subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans are offered to homeowners who do not have a history of debt or who have had problems meeting their debt obligations. Because repayment is less certain, subprime borrowers pay a higher rate of interest than prime borrowers. As of June 30, 2010, the fund’s total exposure to subprime investments was 1.26% of net assets. These investments are valued in accordance with the fund’s Valuation Policies (see Note A for additional details).
Currency Abbreviations
BRL—Brazilian Real
EUR—Euro
GBP—Pound Sterling
Glossary:
ABS—Asset-Backed Securities
ARMs—Adjustable Rate Mortgages
CMBS—Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
CMOs—Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
LP—Limited Partnership
OJSC—Open Joint Stock Company
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust
REMICs—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits
TBA—To Be Announced
TIPS—Treasury Inflation Protected Security
See notes to financial statements.
13
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $165,303,152) | | $ | 170,941,911 | |
Cash | | | 41,817 | (a) |
Interest receivable | | | 1,521,001 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 1,142,351 | |
Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 24,075 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 9,844 | |
Other assets | | | 309,159 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 173,990,158 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 4,252,913 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 881,054 | |
Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 788,268 | |
Payable for reverse repurchase agreements | | | 657,973 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 61,838 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 17,020 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 8,403 | |
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 3,453 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 108,414 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 6,779,493 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 167,210,665 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 13,933 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 158,929,081 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 2,641,111 | |
Accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 598,849 | |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | 5,027,691 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 167,210,665 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 126,277,231 | | 10,499,565 | | $ | 12.03 |
B | | $ | 40,933,434 | | 3,433,415 | | $ | 11.92 |
(a) | | An amount of $41,300 has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open futures contracts outstanding at June 30, 2010. |
See notes to financial statements.
14
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 3,640,074 | |
Dividends | | | 9,836 | |
| | | | |
| | | 3,649,910 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 378,302 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 50,996 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 1,503 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 481 | |
Custodian | | | 75,000 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Printing | | | 33,011 | |
Audit | | | 21,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,290 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 2,068 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 3,470 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 622,041 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 3,027,869 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 1,451,924 | |
Futures contracts | | | 105,166 | |
Swap contracts | | | 194,000 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 1,152,606 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | 4,978,402 | |
Futures contracts | | | 69,073 | |
Swap contracts | | | (186,653 | ) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (866,512 | ) |
| | | | |
Net gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 6,898,006 | |
| | | | |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | 9,925,875 | |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
15
| | |
|
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 3,027,869 | | | $ | 7,793,968 | |
Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 2,903,696 | | | | 3,021,971 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | 3,994,310 | | | | 17,458,738 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 9,925,875 | | | | 28,274,677 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (6,728,638 | ) | | | (4,631,069 | ) |
Class B | | | (2,087,519 | ) | | | (1,370,253 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (4,886,704 | ) | | | (21,325,314 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (3,776,986 | ) | | | 948,041 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 170,987,651 | | | | 170,039,610 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $2,641,111 and $8,429,399, respectively) | | $ | 167,210,665 | | | $ | 170,987,651 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
16
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Intermediate Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is to generate income and price appreciation without assuming what the Adviser considers undue risk. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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.
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
17
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporates—Investment Grades | | $ | — | | $ | 55,704,687 | | | $ | 264,288 | | $ | 55,968,975 | |
Governments—Treasuries | | | — | | | 35,891,339 | | | | — | | | 35,891,339 | |
Mortgage Pass-Thru’s | | | — | | | 28,294,504 | | | | — | | | 28,294,504 | |
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | — | | | 13,567,174 | | | | 3,608,350 | | | 17,175,524 | |
Corporates—Non-Investment Grades | | | — | | | 7,619,857 | | | | — | | | 7,619,857 | |
CMOs | | | — | | | 2,462,754 | | | | 1,285,240 | | | 3,747,994 | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | — | | | 1,571,272 | | | | 915,549 | | | 2,486,821 | |
Governments—Sovereign Agencies | | | — | | | 2,304,158 | | | | — | | | 2,304,158 | |
Inflation-Linked Securities | | | — | | | 1,786,411 | | | | — | | | 1,786,411 | |
Governments—Sovereign Bonds | | | — | | | 1,321,377 | | | | — | | | 1,321,377 | |
Agencies | | | — | | | 1,262,048 | | | | — | | | 1,262,048 | |
Quasi-Sovereigns | | | — | | | 1,130,798 | | | | — | | | 1,130,798 | |
Supranationals | | | — | | | 115,987 | | | | 632,137 | | | 748,124 | |
Local Governments—Municipal Bonds | | | — | | | 437,590 | | | | — | | | 437,590 | |
Preferred Stocks | | | 176,819 | | | 98,580 | | | | — | | | 275,399 | |
Emerging Markets—Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | 255,441 | | | | — | | | 255,441 | |
Common Stocks | | | 33,934 | | | — | | | | — | | | 33,934 | |
Warrants | | | — | | | — | | | | 5,617 | | | 5,617 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | — | | | 10,196,000 | | | | — | | | 10,196,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 210,753 | | | 164,019,977 | | | | 6,711,181 | | | 170,941,911 | |
Other Financial Instruments*: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | 67,971 | | | — | | | | — | | | 67,971 | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | 24,075 | | | | — | | | 24,075 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | (788,268 | ) | | | — | | | (788,268 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 278,724 | | $ | 163,255,784 | | | $ | 6,711,181 | | $ | 170,245,689 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
18
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Corporates- Investment Grades | | | Commercial Mortgage- Backed Securities | | | CMOs | | | Asset- Backed Securities | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | 264,115 | | | $ | 1,310,523 | | | $ | 1,328,791 | | | $ | 999,348 | |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | 21 | | | | 13,057 | | | | 13 | | | | 90 | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 530 | | | | 426 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | 152 | | | | 464,784 | | | | 87,297 | | | | 497,121 | |
Net purchases (sales) | | | — | | | | — | | | | (131,391 | ) | | | (581,436 | ) |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | — | | | | 1,819,986 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 264,288 | | | $ | 3,608,350 | | | $ | 1,285,240 | | | $ | 915,549 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 6/30/10* | | $ | 152 | | | $ | 464,784 | | | $ | 87,297 | | | $ | 496,806 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Supranationals | | | Warrants | | | Total | | | | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,902,777 | | | | | |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | 291 | | | | — | | | | 13,472 | | | | | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 956 | | | | | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | (25,524 | ) | | | (1,071 | ) | | | 1,022,759 | | | | | |
Net purchases (sales) | | | 657,370 | | | | — | | | | (55,457 | ) | | | | |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | — | | | | 6,688 | | | | 1,826,674 | | | | | |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 632,137 | | | $ | 5,617 | | | $ | 6,711,181 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 6/30/10* | | $ | (25,524 | ) | | $ | (1,071 | ) | | $ | 1,022,444 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
19
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .45% of the first $2.5 billion, .40% of the next $2.5 billion and .35% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
20
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | Sales |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 21,845,624 | | $ | 30,945,533 |
U.S. government securities | | | 43,214,582 | | | 42,701,150 |
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 (excluding futures, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions) are as follows:
| | | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 9,312,812 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (3,674,053 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 5,638,759 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
The Portfolio may buy or sell futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of anticipated movements in the market or for investment purposes. The Portfolio 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 contracts and movements in the price of the securities hedged or used for cover. The Portfolio may also purchase or sell futures contracts for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
At the time the Portfolio enters into a futures contract, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 contracts is generally less than privately negotiated futures contracts, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, provides a guarantee of performance. This guarantee is supported by a daily payment system (i.e., margin requirements). When the contract is closed, the Portfolio 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 contracts subjects the Portfolio 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 contracts. Use of short futures contracts subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
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INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk, or currencies. 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 Portfolio in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide value and recourse to the Portfolio or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap agreement.
Interest Rate Swaps:
The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap contracts. Interest rate swaps are agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional amount. The Portfolio 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.
A Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap transactions to reserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, or protecting against an increase in the price of securities the Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments).
Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap contract to comply with the terms of the swap contract. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Portfolio, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Portfolio considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap contract in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Portfolio to cover the Portfolio exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Portfolio accrues for the interim payments on swap contracts on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swap contracts on the statement of assets and liabilities. 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 swap contracts. Fluctuations in the value of swap contracts are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swap contracts on the statement of operations.
Documentation governing the Portfolio’s swap transactions may contain provisions for early termination of a swap in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels set forth in the documentation (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s counterparty has the right to terminate the swap and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated swap transaction.
At June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives |
Derivative Type | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 24,075 | | | Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 788,268 |
Interest rate contracts | | Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 67,971 | * | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 92,046 | | | | | $ | 788,268 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) of futures contracts is reported in the portfolio of investments. |
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INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | $ | 370,390 | | $ | (862,422 | ) |
Interest rate contracts | | Net realized gain on swap contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swap contracts | | | 194,000 | | | (186,653 | ) |
Interest rate contracts | | Net realized gain on futures contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts | | | 105,166 | | | 69,073 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 669,556 | | $ | (980,002 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average monthly principal amount of foreign currency exchange contracts was $32,807,449, average monthly original value of futures contracts was $2,511,157 and average monthly notional amount of interest rate swaps was $3,263,571.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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. Dollar Rolls
The Portfolio may enter into dollar rolls. Dollar rolls involve sales by the Portfolio of securities for delivery in the current month and the Portfolio’s simultaneously contracting to repurchase substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Portfolio forgoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Portfolio is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase price. Dollar rolls are speculative techniques and may be considered to be borrowings by the Portfolio. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio earned drop income of $26,893 which is included in interest income in the accompanying statement of operations.
4. Reverse Repurchase Agreements
Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio sells securities and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. At the time the Portfolio enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish a segregated account with the custodian containing liquid assets having a value at least equal to the repurchase price. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding was $416,327 and the daily weighted average interest rate was -0.45%. During the period, the Portfolio received net interest payment from counterparties.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 450,647 | | | 825,299 | | | | | $ | 5,447,272 | | | $ | 9,170,402 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 563,537 | | | 435,251 | | | | | | 6,728,638 | | | | 4,631,069 | |
Shares redeemed | | (1,341,039 | ) | | (2,731,935 | ) | | | | | (16,375,931 | ) | | | (30,260,650 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (326,855 | ) | | (1,471,385 | ) | | | | $ | (4,200,021 | ) | | $ | (16,459,179 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 198,791 | | | 554,181 | | | | | $ | 2,389,204 | | | $ | 6,108,982 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 176,311 | | | 129,882 | | | | | | 2,087,520 | | | | 1,370,253 | |
Shares redeemed | | (427,079 | ) | | (1,133,057 | ) | | | | | (5,163,407 | ) | | | (12,345,370 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (51,977 | ) | | (448,994 | ) | | | | $ | (686,683 | ) | | $ | (4,866,135 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in fixed-income debt securities such as bonds or notes. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of the Portfolio’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 risk 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.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Portfolio had swap counterparty exposure to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“Lehman Brothers”), as a guarantor for Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (“LBSF”), which filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008. As a result, on September 15, 2008, the Portfolio terminated all outstanding swap contracts with LBSF prior to their scheduled maturity dates in accordance with the terms of the swap agreements. Upon the termination of the swap contracts, Lehman Brothers’ obligations to the Portfolio amounted to $920,116. The Portfolio’s claim to these obligations subject to the pending bankruptcy proceeding against the Lehman Brothers estate (the “Bankruptcy Claim”). As of June 30, 2010, the Bankruptcy Claim, based upon the estimated recovery value, was being valued at $309,159 (33.60% of the Bankruptcy Claim). The estimated recovery value may change over time. The Adviser has agreed to make the Portfolio whole in respect of the amount of the recovery that would be paid on the Bankruptcy Claim in the event the Bankruptcy Claim is not honored by the Lehman Brothers estate, or with respect to any diminution in value upon the sale of the Bankruptcy Claim, in either case resulting from the manner in which the Bankruptcy Claim was processed by the Adviser.
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
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INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Leverage Risk—When the Portfolio borrows money or otherwise leverages its portfolio, it may be volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio may create leverage through the use of reverse repurchase arrangements, forward currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, dollar rolls or futures contracts or by borrowing money. The use of derivative instruments by the Portfolio, such as forwards, futures, options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage. Leverage may result in higher returns to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 6,001,322 | | | $ | 4,086,954 | |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | $ | 6,001,322 | | | $ | 4,086,954 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 6,001,322 | | | $ | 4,086,954 | |
| | | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 8,774,449 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (2,424,598 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 808,081 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | 7,157,932 | |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $2,235,491 (of which approximately $665,580 and $545,980, respectively, were attributable to the purchase of net assets of AllianceBernstein High Yield Portfolio and AllianceBernstein Global Bond Portfolio) of which $125,778 expires in the year 2012, $749,515 expires in the year 2013, $357,884 expires in the year 2014, $336,267 expires in the year 2015 and $666,047 expires in the year 2016. During the fiscal year, the Portfolio had capital loss carryforwards expire of $2,755,811 and utilized of $1,452,577. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. As a result of the merger with AllianceBernstein High Yield Portfolio and AllianceBernstein Global Bond Portfolio into the Portfolio, various limitations and reductions regarding the future utilization of certain capital loss carryforwards were applied, based on certain provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. As of December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had deferred straddle losses of $189,107. |
(b) | | The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the difference between book and tax treatment of swap income, and the realization for tax purposes of gains/losses on certain derivative instruments. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
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INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $11.98 | | | $10.50 | | | $11.78 | | | $11.78 | | | $11.82 | | | $12.28 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .22 | | | .52 | | | .51 | | | .54 | | | .50 | | | .41 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | .50 | | | 1.37 | | | (1.22 | ) | | .01 | | | (.06 | ) | | (.17 | ) |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | .72 | | | 1.89 | | | (.71 | ) | | .55 | | | .44 | | | .24 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.67 | ) | | (.41 | ) | | (.57 | ) | | (.55 | ) | | (.48 | ) | | (.36 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.34 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.67 | ) | | (.41 | ) | | (.57 | ) | | (.55 | ) | | (.48 | ) | | (.70 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $12.03 | | | $11.98 | | | $10.50 | | | $11.78 | | | $11.78 | | | $11.82 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | 6.03 | %* | | 18.51 | %* | | (6.38 | )%* | | 4.85 | % | | 3.93 | % | | 1.98 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $126,277 | | | $129,647 | | | $129,111 | | | $66,305 | | | $71,655 | | | $83,329 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .68 | %(d)(e) | | .69 | % | | .64 | % | | .78 | % | | .77 | %(e) | | .71 | % |
Net investment income | | 3.66 | %(d)(e) | | 4.69 | % | | 4.72 | % | | 4.58 | % | | 4.25 | %(e) | | 3.37 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 39 | % | | 102 | % | | 106 | % | | 90 | % | | 327 | % | | 529 | % |
See footnote summary on page 29.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $11.86 | | | $10.40 | | | $11.67 | | | $11.67 | | | $11.72 | | | $12.18 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .20 | | | .49 | | | .48 | | | .50 | | | .46 | | | .38 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | .50 | | | 1.36 | | | (1.21 | ) | | .02 | | | (.06 | ) | | (.17 | ) |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | .70 | | | 1.85 | | | (.73 | ) | | .52 | | | .40 | | | .21 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.64 | ) | | (.39 | ) | | (.54 | ) | | (.52 | ) | | (.45 | ) | | (.33 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.34 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.64 | ) | | (.39 | ) | | (.54 | ) | | (.52 | ) | | (.45 | ) | | (.67 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $11.92 | | | $11.86 | | | $10.40 | | | $11.67 | | | $11.67 | | | $11.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | 5.90 | %* | | 18.20 | %* | | (6.59 | )%* | | 4.60 | % | | 3.59 | % | | 1.75 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $40,934 | | | $41,341 | | | $40,929 | | | $20,289 | | | $22,340 | | | $24,716 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .93 | %(d)(e) | | .94 | % | | .89 | % | | 1.03 | % | | 1.02 | %(e) | | .96 | % |
Net investment income | | 3.41 | %(d)(e) | | 4.44 | % | | 4.47 | % | | 4.32 | % | | 4.01 | %(e) | | 3.14 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 39 | % | | 102 | % | | 106 | % | | 90 | % | | 327 | % | | 529 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.03%, 0.01% and 0.09%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
29
| | |
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR SHAREHOLDER REPORT
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), with respect to AllianceBernstein Intermediate Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 ,3 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by the September 1, 2004 Assurance of Discontinuance (“AoD”) between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS & RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.4
| | | | | | |
Category | | Net Assets 09/30/09 ($MIL) | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Portfolio |
Low Risk Income | | $171.7 | | 45 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 40 bp on next $2.5 billion 35 bp on the balance | | Intermediate Bond Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $88,250 (0.06 % of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Class A 0.64%
Class B 0.89% | | December 31 |
1 | | It should be noted that the Senior Officer’s fee evaluation was completed on October 21, 2009. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratios refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | It should be noted that on April 25, 2008, the Portfolio, formerly known as U.S. Government / High Grade Portfolio, broadened its investment guidelines and then acquired the assets of other fixed income series of the Fund, including Americas Government Income Portfolio, Global Bond Portfolio, Global Dollar Government Portfolio and High Yield Portfolio, and was renamed Intermediate Bond Portfolio. |
4 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
30
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional client assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although arguably still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Not withstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different and legal and reputational risks are greater, it is worth considering information regarding the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.5 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on September 30, 2009 net assets:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 09/30/09 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee | | | Fund Advisory Fee | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | $171.7 | | U.S. Strategic Core Plus
0.50% on the first $30 million
0.20% on the balance
Minimum Account Size: $25 million | | 0.252 | % | | 0.450 | % |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule, although it should be noted that there were no such institutional accounts that are similar in investment style to the Portfolio, which opened in the last three years ending September 30, 2009. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
31
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser manages Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc. (“SCB Fund”), an open-end management investment company. Intermediate Duration Portfolio of SCB Fund has a similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth in the table below is Intermediate Duration Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule on Intermediate Duration Portfolio been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fees based on September 30, 2009 net assets:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | SCB Fund Portfolio | | Fee Schedule | | SCB Fund Effective Fee | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Intermediate Duration Portfolio | | 50 bp on 1st $1 billion
45 bp on next $2 billion
40 bp on next $2 billion
35 bp on next $2 billion
30 on the balance | | 0.500 | % | | 0.450 | % |
Certain of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds (“ABMF”), which the Adviser manages, have a similar investment style as the Portfolio and their fee schedules are set forth below. ABMF was also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints as AllianceBernstein Bond Fund, Inc.—Intermediate Bond Portfolio. Sanford C. Bernstein Fund II, Inc.—Intermediate Duration Institutional Portfolio was not affected by the settlement since the fund has lower breakpoints than the NYAG related fee schedule. Also shown are what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the ABMF fee schedules been applicable to the Portfolio based on September 30, 2009 net assets and the Portfolio’s advisory fee:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | ABMF Fund | | Fee Schedule | | ABMF Effective Fee | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Bond Fund, Inc.—Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | 0.45% on first $2.5 billion
0.40% on next $2.5 billion
0.35% on the balance | | 0.450 | % | | 0.450 | % |
| | | | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Intermediate Duration Institutional Portfolio6 | | 0.50% on first $1 billion
0.45% on the balance | | 0.500 | % | | 0.450 | % |
6 | | Intermediate Duration Institutional Portfolio has an expense cap of 0.45%, which effectively reduces the advisory fee of the fund. |
32
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory investment services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families. The Adviser charges the fee set forth below for the sub-advisory relationship that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fees and the effective management fees7 of the sub-advisory relationships based on September 30, 2009 net assets:8
| | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Sub-advised Fund | | Sub-advised Fund Fee Schedule | | Sub-Advised Fund Management Effective Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | Client #1 | | AB Sub-Advisory Fee Schedule:
0.29% on first $100 million
0.20% thereafter | | 0.252 | | 0.450 |
| | | | |
| | | | Client #1 Advisory Fee Schedule:
0.40% on first $4 billion
0.38% on next $4 billion
0.36% thereafter | | 0.400 | | |
| | | | |
| | | | Client #1 Administrative Fee
The sub-advised fund is utilized as an underlying fund for funds-of-funds. There is no administration fee at the underlying fund level. | | | | |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolios by the Adviser. In addition to the extent that certain of these sub-advisory relationships are with affiliates of the Adviser, the fee schedules may not reflect arms-length bargaining or negotiations.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services by other investment advisers. Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)9 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.10
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, and expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
7 | | Management fees include advisory fees and administration fees. |
8 | | In all cases the sub-adviser, AllianceBernstein, is paid by the sub-advised funds’ advisers. |
9 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively large average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
10 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” means that the Portfolio has the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
33
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Adviser and the Senior Officer, Lipper expanded the Portfolio’s EG to include peers that have a similar but not the same Lipper classification/objective as the Portfolio.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee11 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio12 | | 0.450 | | 0.495 | | 6/18 |
However, because Lipper had expanded the Portfolio’s EG, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include universes of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment objective/classification.13 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment objective/classification as the subject portfolio.14 Set forth below is a comparison of the Portfolio’s total expense ratio and the medians of the Portfolio’s EG and EU. The Portfolio’s total expense ratio ranking is also shown:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)15 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | 0.638 | | 0.639 | | 9/18 | | 0.609 | | 22/35 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2008, relative to 2007.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent and distribution services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees and Rule 12b-1 payments.
11 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative, and other services. |
12 | | The Portfolio’s EG includes the Portfolio, eight other A-rated Corporate Debt Funds and nine BBB-rated Corporate Debt funds. |
13 | | The expansion of the Portfolio’s EU was not requested by the Adviser or the Senior Officer. They requested only that the EGs be expanded. |
14 | | Except for asset size comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
15 | | Most recently completed fiscal year Class A share total expense ratio. |
34
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter and distributor, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees it 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, ABI received $97,267 in Rule 12b-1 fees from the Portfolio.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $266,578 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Adviser and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”).16 During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $969 from the Portfolio.17
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,18 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems, can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms have made such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli 19 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics. The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.20 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund assets under management (“AUM”), family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of fund size and the large asset manager’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
16 | | It should be noted that the insurance companies, linked to the variable products, provide additional shareholder services for the Portfolios, including record keeping, administration and customer service for contract holders. |
17 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2008. |
18 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
19 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
20 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
35
| | |
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $498 billion as of September 30, 2009, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information below, prepared by Lipper, shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance returns and rankings of the Portfolio21 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”)22 and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”) for the periods ended July 31, 2009.23
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 5.94 | | 6.32 | | 5.94 | | 6/9 | | 10/19 |
3 year | | 4.31 | | 4.31 | | 4.21 | | 5/9 | | 9/19 |
5 year | | 3.66 | | 3.91 | | 3.79 | | 6/9 | | 10/18 |
10 year | | 5.02 | | 5.06 | | 5.04 | | 6/9 | | 10/18 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)24 versus its benchmark.25 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information for the Portfolio is also shown.26
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending July 31, 2009 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Intermediate Bond Portfolio | | 5.94 | | 4.31 | | 3.66 | | 5.02 | | 5.20 | | 4.58 | | 0.40 | | 10 |
Barclays Capital U.S. Government Bond Index | | 6.67 | | 7.02 | | 5.31 | | 6.13 | | 6.28 | | 4.53 | | 0.65 | | 10 |
Inception Date: September 17, 1992 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: November 25, 2009
21 | | The performance returns and rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio that is shown was provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. However, differences in the distribution price (ex-date versus payable date) and rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s own performance returns of the Portfolio to be one or two basis points different from Lipper. To maintain consistency in this evaluation, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
22 | | The Portfolio’s PG/PU are not identical to the Portfolio’s EG/EU, as the criteria for including/excluding a fund in/from a PG/PU are somewhat different from that of an EG/EU. |
23 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the Portfolio even if the Portfolio may have had a different investment classification/objective at different points in time. |
24 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
25 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for the periods through July 31, 2009. |
26 | | Portfolio volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
36
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein International Growth Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
International Growth Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 877.66 | | $ | 4.38 | | 0.94 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.13 | | $ | 4.71 | | 0.94 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 876.67 | | $ | 5.54 | | 1.19 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,018.89 | | $ | 5.96 | | 1.19 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Investimentos Itau SA (Preference Shares) | | $ | 5,091,635 | | 3.1 | % |
Nestle SA | | | 3,884,220 | | 2.4 | |
British American Tobacco PLC | | | 3,530,196 | | 2.2 | |
Tesco PLC | | | 3,447,315 | | 2.1 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC | | | 3,425,422 | | 2.1 | |
Partners Group Holding AG | | | 3,273,829 | | 2.0 | |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | | 3,126,710 | | 1.9 | |
Standard Chartered PLC | | | 3,102,413 | | 1.9 | |
Rio Tinto PLC | | | 2,825,496 | | 1.7 | |
Equinox Minerals Ltd. (Toronto) | | | 2,694,889 | | 1.6 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 34,402,125 | | 21.0 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 37,269,158 | | 22.8 | % |
Industrials | | | 21,122,575 | | 12.9 | |
Materials | | | 19,657,857 | | 12.1 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 17,758,428 | | 10.9 | |
Energy | | | 16,413,026 | | 10.1 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 15,955,547 | | 9.8 | |
Information Technology | | | 12,914,315 | | 7.9 | |
Health Care | | | 12,260,975 | | 7.5 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 8,224,196 | | 5.0 | |
Utilities | | | 1,298,016 | | 0.8 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 380,000 | | 0.2 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 163,254,093 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
COUNTRY DIVERSIFICATION* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COUNTRY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
United Kingdom | | $ | 37,023,276 | | 22.7 | % |
Switzerland | | | 18,549,163 | | 11.4 | |
Japan | | | 14,295,269 | | 8.8 | |
China | | | 12,614,350 | | 7.7 | |
Brazil | | | 12,262,784 | | 7.5 | |
France | | | 11,120,789 | | 6.8 | |
Germany | | | 7,917,575 | | 4.8 | |
South Africa | | | 5,421,394 | | 3.3 | |
Netherlands | | | 4,392,348 | | 2.7 | |
India | | | 4,026,914 | | 2.5 | |
Canada | | | 3,563,082 | | 2.2 | |
South Korea | | | 3,316,243 | | 2.0 | |
Italy | | | 3,215,727 | | 2.0 | |
Other | | | 25,155,179 | | 15.4 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 380,000 | | 0.2 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 163,254,093 | | 100.0 | % |
* | | All data are as of June 30, 2010. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent 1.5% or less in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey and United States. |
3
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–98.8% |
| | | | | |
FINANCIALS–22.0% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–5.6% | | | | | |
Azimut Holding SpA | | 61,305 | | $ | 506,041 |
Credit Suisse Group AG | | 38,755 | | | 1,457,081 |
GAM Holding Ltd.(a) | | 60,159 | | | 650,110 |
Julius Baer Group Ltd. | | 73,560 | | | 2,097,386 |
Man Group PLC | | 338,962 | | | 1,123,627 |
Partners Group Holding AG | | 27,133 | | | 3,273,829 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,108,074 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–13.2% | | | | | |
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT | | 1,831,500 | | | 1,191,666 |
BNP Paribas | | 25,230 | | | 1,357,393 |
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE | | 55,564 | | | 647,586 |
HSBC Holdings PLC | | 374,949 | | | 3,425,422 |
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China–Class H | | 3,611,000 | | | 2,629,261 |
Investimentos Itau SA (Preference Shares) | | 858,114 | | | 5,091,635 |
Standard Bank Group Ltd. | | 42,800 | | | 567,574 |
Standard Chartered PLC | | 127,407 | | | 3,102,413 |
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS | | 349,700 | | | 1,455,322 |
United Overseas Bank Ltd. | | 149,000 | | | 2,072,867 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,541,139 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–1.8% | | | | | |
FirstRand Ltd. | | 285,800 | | | 668,965 |
IG Group Holdings PLC | | 239,238 | | | 1,494,664 |
Singapore Exchange Ltd. | | 165,000 | | | 865,298 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,028,927 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–1.4% | | | | | |
China Life Insurance Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 539,000 | | | 2,353,768 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 36,031,908 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–12.9% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–0.8% | | | | | |
Safran SA | | 45,700 | | | 1,274,812 |
| | | | | |
AIRLINES–0.5% | | | | | |
British Airways PLC(a) | | 262,697 | | | 763,206 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.8% | | | | | |
Secom Co., Ltd. | | 29,600 | | | 1,314,419 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–1.6% | | | | | |
Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. | | 13,832 | | | 1,280,942 |
Vinci SA | | 32,100 | | | 1,332,844 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,613,786 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–1.8% | | | | | |
ABB Ltd. (REG)(a) | | 101,112 | | $ | 1,760,421 |
SMA Solar Technology AG | | 11,318 | | | 1,159,232 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,919,653 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–1.2% | | | | | |
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV | | 66,404 | | | 1,982,959 |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–2.9% | | | | | |
Komatsu Ltd. | | 87,500 | | | 1,575,536 |
MAN SE | | 18,851 | | | 1,554,113 |
SKF AB | | 86,692 | | | 1,555,878 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,685,527 |
| | | | | |
MARINE–1.4% | | | | | |
China Shipping Development Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 1,038,000 | | | 1,309,493 |
Orient Overseas International Ltd.(a) | | 151,000 | | | 1,069,796 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,379,289 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–1.0% | | | | | |
East Japan Railway Co. | | 24,900 | | | 1,657,980 |
| | | | | |
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–0.9% | | | | | |
Mitsubishi Corp. | | 74,000 | | | 1,530,944 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,122,575 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–12.0% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–0.3% | | | | | |
Lanxess AG | | 10,500 | | | 441,960 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS–0.6% | | | | | |
CRH PLC (London) | | 46,903 | | | 966,347 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–10.2% | | | | | |
ArcelorMittal (Euronext Amsterdam) | | 28,800 | | | 772,467 |
Centamin Egypt Ltd.(a) | | 181,700 | | | 443,040 |
Equinox Minerals Ltd. (Toronto)(a) | | 769,127 | | | 2,694,889 |
Evraz Group SA (GDR)(a)(b) | | 30,216 | | | 714,004 |
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. | | 47,900 | | | 1,114,827 |
MMX Mineracao e Metalicos SA(a) | | 124,176 | | | 723,729 |
Rio Tinto PLC | | 64,341 | | | 2,825,496 |
Sterlite Industries India Ltd. (ADR) | | 111,700 | | | 1,590,608 |
Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (Preference Shares)–Class A | | 75,700 | | | 2,017,688 |
Vale SA (Sponsored ADR) (Local Preference Shares) | | 70,850 | | | 1,489,267 |
Xstrata PLC | | 175,242 | | | 2,294,735 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,680,750 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS–0.9% | | | | | |
Fibria Celulose SA (Sponsored ADR)(a) | | 106,000 | | $ | 1,568,800 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 19,657,857 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–10.9% | | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–1.9% | | | | | |
Daimler AG(a) | | 37,508 | | | 1,897,359 |
Fiat SpA | | 111,741 | | | 1,147,759 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,045,118 |
| | | | | |
DISTRIBUTORS–0.8% | | | | | |
Imperial Holdings Ltd. | | 122,293 | | | 1,360,046 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–2.0% | | | | | |
Carnival PLC | | 41,425 | | | 1,341,813 |
Compass Group PLC | | 61,865 | | | 470,637 |
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR)(a) | | 19,700 | | | 739,932 |
Oriental Land Co., Ltd. | | 8,600 | | | 718,726 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,271,108 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–3.7% | | | | | |
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC | | 30,713 | | | 320,699 |
CTC Media, Inc. | | 18,900 | | | 272,916 |
Eutelsat Communications | | 67,630 | | | 2,264,089 |
Informa PLC | | 138,233 | | | 730,333 |
Naspers Ltd.–Class N | | 19,040 | | | 641,181 |
SES SA (FDR) | | 54,064 | | | 1,124,342 |
WPP PLC | | 67,019 | | | 631,351 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,984,911 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–1.7% | | | | | |
Belle International Holdings Ltd. | | 640,000 | | | 909,585 |
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. | | 6,500 | | | 983,544 |
Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd.(a) | | 785,500 | | | 968,396 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,861,525 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.8% | | | | | |
Cie Financiere Richemont SA | | 35,395 | | | 1,235,720 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 17,758,428 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–10.0% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.8% | | | | | |
Saipem SpA | | 51,281 | | | 1,561,927 |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 56,500 | | | 3,126,710 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,688,637 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–7.2% | | | | | |
Afren PLC(a) | | 1,526,975 | | | 1,928,310 |
BG Group PLC | | 100,869 | | | 1,500,209 |
China Coal Energy Co.–Class H | | 1,376,000 | | | 1,712,083 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd.–Class H | | 217,500 | | $ | 784,675 |
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.(a) | | 809,700 | | | 816,612 |
Heritage Oil PLC(a) | | 182,788 | | | 1,070,508 |
Karoon Gas Australia Ltd.(a) | | 113,698 | | | 564,007 |
Oando PLC | | 2,034,151 | | | 914,374 |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (Toronto) | | 29,500 | | | 868,193 |
Tullow Oil PLC | | 105,236 | | | 1,565,418 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,724,389 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,413,026 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–9.8% | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–1.4% | | | | | |
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV | | 31,892 | | | 1,533,406 |
Cia de Bebidas das Americas (Preference Shares) | | 7,000 | | | 697,712 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,231,118 |
| | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–3.2% | | | | | |
Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. | | 50,700 | | | 1,161,602 |
Tesco PLC | | 611,073 | | | 3,447,315 |
Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV | | 289,313 | | | 640,902 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,249,819 |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–3.0% | | | | | |
Danone | | 19,776 | | | 1,060,194 |
Nestle SA | | 80,554 | | | 3,884,220 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,944,414 |
| | | | | |
TOBACCO–2.2% | | | | | |
British American Tobacco PLC | | 111,237 | | | 3,530,196 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,955,547 |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–7.9% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.0% | | | | | |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson–Class B | | 114,392 | | | 1,268,860 |
ZTE Corp.–Class H | | 86,000 | | | 261,127 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,529,987 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–1.0% | | | | | |
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | | 8,000 | | | 1,000,398 |
Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. | | 51,000 | | | 684,887 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,685,285 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–0.5% | | | | | |
Yahoo! Japan Corp. | | 2,105 | | | 839,000 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–1.3% | | | | | |
Cap Gemini SA | | 21,242 | | | 933,577 |
5
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Infosys Technologies Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 19,000 | | $ | 1,138,290 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,071,867 |
| | | | | |
OFFICE ELECTRONICS–0.8% | | | | | |
Canon, Inc. | | 35,600 | | | 1,326,792 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–2.1% | | | | | |
Aixtron AG | | 28,187 | | | 666,376 |
ARM Holdings PLC | | 190,400 | | | 788,044 |
ASML Holding NV | | 35,367 | | | 973,295 |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | 1,650 | | | 1,034,903 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 1 | | | 10 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,462,628 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–1.2% | | | | | |
Autonomy Corp. PLC(a) | | 30,241 | | | 824,320 |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. | | 4,000 | | | 1,174,436 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,998,756 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,914,315 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–7.5% | | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–0.9% | | | | | |
Diagnosticos da America SA | | 71,600 | | | 673,953 |
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA | | 14,765 | | | 796,638 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,470,591 |
| | | | | |
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.4% | | | | | |
QIAGEN NV(a) | | 34,111 | | | 663,627 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–6.2% | | | | | |
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd.(a) | | 45,086 | | | 445,219 |
Bayer AG | | 25,087 | | | 1,401,897 |
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. | | 42,000 | | | 639,916 |
Novartis AG | | 43,290 | | | 2,097,968 |
Roche Holding AG | | 15,202 | | | 2,092,428 |
Sanofi-Aventis SA | | 20,569 | | | 1,238,814 |
Shire PLC | | 43,383 | | | 889,969 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 25,400 | | | 1,320,546 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,126,757 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,260,975 |
| | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–5.0% | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.4% | | | | | |
Iliad SA | | 6,886 | | | 534,724 |
Telefonica SA | | 84,068 | | | 1,557,333 |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
XL Axiata Tbk PT(a) | | | 314,000 | | $ | 140,420 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2,232,477 |
| | | | | | |
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–3.6% | | | | | | |
America Movil SAB de CV Series L (ADR) | | | 24,800 | | | 1,178,000 |
China Mobile Ltd. | | | 95,500 | | | 946,030 |
MTN Group Ltd. | | | 47,583 | | | 623,582 |
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. | | | 454 | | | 687,487 |
VimpelCom Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(a) | | | 25,874 | | | 418,641 |
Vodafone Group PLC | | | 1,037,606 | | | 2,137,979 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5,991,719 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8,224,196 |
| | | | | | |
UTILITIES–0.8% | | | | | | |
INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS & ENERGY TRADERS–0.8% | | | | | | |
NTPC Ltd. | | | 303,480 | | | 1,298,016 |
| | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $162,632,211) | | | | | | 161,636,843 |
| | | | | | |
WARRANTS–0.8% | | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–0.8% | | | | | | |
Sberbank of Russian Federation, Merrill Lynch, expiring 11/05/12(a) (cost $1,449,908) | | | 505,000 | | | 1,237,250 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–0.2% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–0.2% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $380,000) | | $ | 380 | | | 380,000 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.8% (cost $164,462,119) | | | | | | 163,254,093 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.2% | | | | | | 353,008 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 163,607,101 |
| | | | | | |
6
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 10,905 | | $ | 9,706,322 | | $ | 9,131,682 | | $ | (574,640 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 4,014 | | | 5,954,127 | | | 5,997,141 | | | 43,014 | |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 1,768 | | | 2,669,698 | | | 2,641,491 | | | (28,207 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 7,680 | | | 9,433,113 | | | 9,393,596 | | | (39,517 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 621,366 | | | 6,704,496 | | | 7,032,871 | | | 328,375 | |
Japanese Yen settling 8/16/10 | | 284,174 | | | 3,116,490 | | | 3,216,396 | | | 99,906 | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,764 | | | 1,245,561 | | | 1,206,043 | | | (39,518 | ) |
New Zealand Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 10,737 | | | 7,646,140 | | | 7,340,862 | | | (305,278 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 31,577 | | | 4,903,871 | | | 4,841,136 | | | (62,735 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 9,697 | | | 1,636,834 | | | 1,486,667 | | | (150,167 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 46,585 | | | 7,516,267 | | | 7,142,043 | | | (374,224 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 11,959 | | | 1,543,129 | | | 1,533,702 | | | (9,427 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 68,639 | | | 9,030,140 | | | 8,802,724 | | | (227,416 | ) |
| | | | |
Sale Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 2,273 | | | 1,991,557 | | | 1,903,376 | | | 88,181 | |
Australian Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,743 | | | 1,433,565 | | | 1,459,562 | | | (25,997 | ) |
British Pound settling 8/16/10 | | 11,753 | | | 17,252,464 | | | 17,559,641 | | | (307,177 | ) |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 8,362 | | | 10,514,379 | | | 10,227,767 | | | 286,612 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 3,722 | | | 4,612,451 | | | 4,552,469 | | | 59,982 | |
Euro settling 8/16/10 | | 4,198 | | | 5,181,592 | | | 5,134,677 | | | 46,915 | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 8/16/10 | | 1,964 | | | 1,332,476 | | | 1,342,782 | | | (10,306 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 8/16/10 | | 33,934 | | | 5,242,505 | | | 5,202,492 | | | 40,013 | |
Swedish Krona settling 8/16/10 | | 64,684 | | | 8,293,799 | | | 8,295,509 | | | (1,710 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 2,816 | | | 2,434,428 | | | 2,614,580 | | | (180,152 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 8/16/10 | | 10,847 | | | 9,743,369 | | | 10,071,145 | | | (327,776 | ) |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the market value of this security amounted to $714,004 or 0.4% of net assets. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
FDR—Fiduciary Depositary Receipt
GDR—Global Depository Receipt
REG—Registered Shares
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $164,462,119) | | $ | 163,254,093 | |
Cash | | | 936 | |
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $2,283,242) | | | 2,288,652 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign currency transactions | | | 1,214,502 | |
Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 992,998 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 713,961 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 140,379 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 168,605,521 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 2,664,247 | |
Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions | | | 1,990,715 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 105,151 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 96,253 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 22,440 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 13,052 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 140 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 106,422 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 4,998,420 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 163,607,101 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 11,462 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 226,224,267 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 52,891 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (59,815,577 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (2,865,942 | ) |
| | | | |
| | $ | 163,607,101 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 102,470,561 | | 7,156,404 | | $ | 14.32 |
B | | $ | 61,136,540 | | 4,305,843 | | $ | 14.20 |
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $248,871) | | $ | 2,494,062 | |
Interest | | | 873 | |
| | | | |
| | | 2,494,935 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 698,531 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 86,932 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 1,372 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 818 | |
Custodian | | | 66,216 | |
Administrative | | | 39,680 | |
Printing | | | 21,530 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,290 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 2,013 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 6,508 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 957,990 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 1,536,945 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 6,163,531 | (a) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 3,029,139 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (32,326,202 | )(b) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (2,000,534 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (25,134,066 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (23,597,121 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | Net of foreign capital gains taxes of $1,331. |
(b) | | Net of increase in accrued foreign capital gains taxes of $142,279. |
See notes to financial statements.
9
| | |
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,536,945 | | | $ | 2,055,227 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 9,192,670 | | | | (23,994,826 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (34,326,736 | ) | | | 69,860,367 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (23,597,121 | ) | | | 47,920,768 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (2,412,560 | ) | | | (3,925,111 | ) |
Class B | | | (1,333,956 | ) | | | (2,361,509 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | (5,988,680 | ) | | | 29,538,145 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (33,332,317 | ) | | | 71,172,293 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 196,939,418 | | | | 125,767,125 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $52,891 and $2,262,462, respectively) | | $ | 163,607,101 | | | $ | 196,939,418 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
10
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein International Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (see Note A.2).
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or
11
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financials | | $ | 5,091,635 | | | $ | 30,940,273 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 36,031,908 | |
Industrials | | | –0 | – | | | 21,122,575 | | | | –0 | – | | | 21,122,575 | |
Materials | | | 10,084,981 | | | | 9,572,876 | | | | –0 | – | | | 19,657,857 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 1,981,244 | | | | 15,777,184 | | | | –0 | – | | | 17,758,428 | |
Energy | | | 3,994,903 | | | | 12,418,123 | | | | –0 | – | | | 16,413,026 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 1,338,614 | | | | 14,616,933 | | | | –0 | – | | | 15,955,547 | |
Information Technology | | | 1,138,300 | | | | 11,776,015 | | | | –0 | – | | | 12,914,315 | |
Health Care | | | 1,994,499 | | | | 10,266,476 | | | | –0 | – | | | 12,260,975 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 1,596,641 | | | | 6,627,555 | | | | –0 | – | | | 8,224,196 | |
Utilities | | | –0 | – | | | 1,298,016 | | | | –0 | – | | | 1,298,016 | |
Warrants | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 1,237,250 | | | | 1,237,250 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 380,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 380,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 27,220,817 | | | | 134,796,026 | + | | | 1,237,250 | | | | 163,254,093 | |
Other Financial Instruments*: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | 992,998 | | | | –0 | – | | | 992,998 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | (2,664,247 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | (2,664,247 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 27,220,817 | | | $ | 133,124,777 | | | $ | 1,237,250 | | | $ | 161,582,844 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
+ | | The earlier close of the foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred between the close of the foreign markets and the time at which the Portfolio values its securities which may materially affect the value of securities trading in such markets. To account for this, the Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Portfolio’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments. |
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Warrants | | | Total | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Realized gain (loss) | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | (212,658 | ) | | | (212,658 | ) |
Net purchases (sales) | | | 1,449,908 | | | | 1,449,908 | |
Transfer into Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | 1,237,250 | | | $ | 1,237,250 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 6/30/10* | | $ | (212,658 | ) | | $ | (212,658 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
* | | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.
13
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
7. Dividends and Distributions
Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,680.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $264,729, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 117,271,289 | | | $ | 121,913,713 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 (excluding foreign currency transactions) are as follows:
| | | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 11,599,634 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (12,807,660 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (1,208,026 | ) |
| | | | |
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
At June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives |
Derivative Type | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 992,998 | | Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 2,664,247 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 992,998 | | | | $ | 2,664,247 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
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INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | $ | 3,197,310 | | $(2,009,096) |
| | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 3,197,310 | | $(2,009,096) |
| | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average monthly principal amount of foreign currency exchange contracts was $102,213,749.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 233,892 | | | 2,255,155 | | | | | $ | 3,760,841 | | | $ | 34,294,801 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 151,829 | | | 288,187 | | | | | | 2,412,560 | | | | 3,925,111 | |
Shares redeemed | | (691,567 | ) | | (1,509,475 | ) | | | | | (11,054,194 | ) | | | (19,928,866 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | (305,846 | ) | | 1,033,867 | | | | | $ | (4,880,793 | ) | | $ | 18,291,046 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 419,325 | | | 1,444,164 | | | | | $ | 6,835,806 | | | $ | 20,384,907 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 84,588 | | | 174,668 | | | | | | 1,333,956 | | | | 2,361,509 | |
Shares redeemed | | (594,755 | ) | | (873,820 | ) | | | | | (9,277,649 | ) | | | (11,499,317 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | (90,842 | ) | | 745,012 | | | | | $ | (1,107,887 | ) | | $ | 11,247,099 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 6,286,620 | | | $ | 1,401,613 |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | 2,164,129 |
| | | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 6,286,620 | | | | 3,565,742 |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 6,286,620 | | | $ | 3,565,742 |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 3,706,706 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (66,825,239 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 27,833,542 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (35,284,991 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $66,400,024 of which $23,898,949 expires in the year 2016 and $42,501,075 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. Net capital losses incurred after October 31, and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio defers to January 1, 2010, post October capital losses of $425,215. |
(b) | | The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the realization for tax purposes of gain/losses on certain derivative instruments and the tax treatment of Passive Foreign Investments Companies (“PFIC’s”). |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
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| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
18
| | |
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $16.66 | | | $12.52 | | | $24.89 | | | $30.37 | | | $24.27 | | | $20.18 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .14 | | | .22 | | | .38 | | | .20 | | | .30 | | | .25 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (2.14 | ) | | 4.59 | | | (12.35 | ) | | 5.16 | | | 6.18 | | | 3.94 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (2.00 | ) | | 4.81 | | | (11.97 | ) | | 5.36 | | | 6.48 | | | 4.19 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.34 | ) | | (.67 | ) | | –0 | – | | (.56 | ) | | (.23 | ) | | (.10 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.40 | ) | | (10.28 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.34 | ) | | (.67 | ) | | (.40 | ) | | (10.84 | ) | | (.38 | ) | | (.10 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $14.32 | | | $16.66 | | | $12.52 | | | $24.89 | | | $30.37 | | | $24.27 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (12.23 | )% | | 39.58 | % | | (48.85 | )%* | | 18.13 | % | | 27.04 | % | | 20.84 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $102,470 | | | $124,335 | | | $80,458 | | | $165,642 | | | $81,655 | | | $58,438 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .94 | %(d)(e) | | .99 | % | | .98 | % | | 1.21 | %(e) | | 1.23 | %(e) | | 1.41 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.74 | %(d)(e) | | 1.55 | % | | 1.93 | % | | .66 | %(e) | | 1.11 | %(e) | | 1.16 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 65 | % | | 118 | % | | 90 | % | | 126 | % | | 74 | % | | 43 | % |
See footnote summary on page 20.
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| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $16.51 | | | $12.41 | | | $24.73 | | | $30.20 | | | $24.16 | | | $20.11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .12 | | | .18 | | | .31 | | | .13 | | | .22 | | | .21 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (2.13 | ) | | 4.55 | | | (12.23 | ) | | 5.11 | | | 6.16 | | | 3.91 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (2.01 | ) | | 4.73 | | | (11.92 | ) | | 5.24 | | | 6.38 | | | 4.12 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.30 | ) | | (.63 | ) | | –0 | – | | (.43 | ) | | (.19 | ) | | (.07 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.40 | ) | | (10.28 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.30 | ) | | (.63 | ) | | (.40 | ) | | (10.71 | ) | | (.34 | ) | | (.07 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $14.20 | | | $16.51 | | | $12.41 | | | $24.73 | | | $30.20 | | | $24.16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (12.33 | )% | | 39.24 | % | | (48.96 | )%* | | 17.78 | % | | 26.70 | % | | 20.55 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $61,137 | | | $72,604 | | | $45,309 | | | $57,633 | | | $35,321 | | | $25,215 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.19 | %(d)(e) | | 1.24 | % | | 1.23 | % | | 1.45 | %(e) | | 1.48 | %(e) | | 1.66 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.50 | %(d)(e) | | 1.28 | % | | 1.63 | % | | .45 | %(e) | | .81 | %(e) | | .95 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 65 | % | | 118 | % | | 90 | % | | 126 | % | | 74 | % | | 43 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2008 by 0.01%. |
See notes to financial statements.
20
| | |
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein International Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s
21
| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers and dealers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country (AC) World (ex US) Index (Net) (the “MSCI AC World Index”) and the MSCI World (ex US) Index (Net) (the “MSCI World Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010, and (in the case of comparisons with the MSCI World Index) the since inception period (September 1994 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and 2nd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 1-year period, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 3-year period, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and 3rd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 5-year period and in the 2nd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio underperformed the MSCI AC World Index in the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods but outperformed that index in the 10-year period, and outperformed the MSCI World Index in the 1-, 5- and 10-year and the since inception periods but underperformed that index in the 3-year period. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance was satisfactory.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial
22
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points, plus the 6 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was satisfactory.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
23
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| | |
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein International Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
International | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 197.7 | | International Growth Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $79,010 (0.06% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
International Growth Portfolio | | Class A 0.99% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.24% | | |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets
03/31/10
($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”)
Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective
Portfolio
Adv. Fee (%) |
International Growth Portfolio6 | | $197.7 | | International Large Cap Growth Schedule 80 bp on 1st $25m 60 bp on next $25m 50 bp on next $50m 40 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.501 | | 0.750 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
6 | | Fees shown for the International Large Cap Growth Strategy are similar, but more concentrated than the Portfolio’s strategy. |
25
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INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc.7 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein
Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF
Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective
Portfolio
Adv. Fee (%) |
International Growth Portfolio | | International Growth Fund, Inc. | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.8 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)9 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.10
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee11 | | Lipper
Group
Median | | Rank |
International Growth Portfolio | | 0.750 | | 0.932 | | 1/13 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU12 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009,
7 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
8 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
9 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
10 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
11 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
12 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
26
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.13
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense
Ratio (%)14 | | Lipper Exp. Group
Median (%) | | Lipper
Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
International Growth Portfolio | | 0.988 | | 1.040 | | 3/13 | | 1.005 | | 9/23 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $135,618 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payment in the amount of $206,757 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
13 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
14 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
27
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INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.15
The Portfolio may affect brokerage transactions in the future through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio did not effect any brokerage transactions with and pay any commission to SCB. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any future business conducted with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,16 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli17 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.18 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.19 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
15 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
16 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
17 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
18 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
19 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
28
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio20 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)21 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.22
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | | 44.78 | | | 43.6 | | | 41.48 | | 6/13 | | 13/33 |
3 year | | – | 8.08 | | – | 6.30 | | – | 6.46 | | 8/11 | | 18/26 |
5 year | | | 4.17 | | | 4.99 | | | 4.00 | | 7/10 | | 11/23 |
10 year | | | 3.07 | | | 1.45 | | | 0.64 | | 3/9 | | 4/16 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)23 versus its benchmark.24 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.25
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
International Growth Portfolio | | 44.78 | | – | 8.08 | | 4.18 | | 3.08 | | 8.32 | | 20.19 | | 0.11 | | 10 |
MSCI AC World ex US Index (Net) | | 47.58 | | – | 5.20 | | 5.14 | | 2.78 | | N/A | | 18.62 | | 0.09 | | 10 |
MSCI World ex US Index (Net)26 | | 40.51 | | – | 7.03 | | 3.49 | | 1.77 | | 4.78 | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
Inception Date: September 23, 1994 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
20 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
21 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including in or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
22 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
23 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
24 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
25 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
26 | | Benchmark since inception date is the nearest month end after the Portfolio’s inception date. |
29
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein International Value Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
International Value Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 825.55 | | $ | 3.76 | | 0.83 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.68 | | $ | 4.16 | | 0.83 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 824.23 | | $ | 4.88 | | 1.08 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,019.44 | | $ | 5.41 | | 1.08 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Vodafone Group PLC | | $ | 39,012,885 | | 3.2 | % |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (Euronext Amsterdam)—Class A | | | 38,840,174 | | 3.2 | |
AstraZeneca PLC | | | 24,355,532 | | 2.0 | |
Allianz SE | | | 24,020,829 | | 2.0 | |
Rio Tinto PLC | | | 22,383,167 | | 1.9 | |
Sanofi-Aventis SA | | | 22,195,361 | | 1.8 | |
E.ON AG | | | 21,515,932 | | 1.8 | |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | | 20,637,153 | | 1.7 | |
Telecom Italia Spa | | | 20,493,184 | | 1.7 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | | 20,396,459 | | 1.7 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 253,850,676 | | 21.0 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 265,091,456 | | 22.1 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 140,510,478 | | 11.7 | |
Energy | | | 135,691,238 | | 11.3 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 116,491,318 | | 9.7 | |
Industrials | | | 108,579,288 | | 9.0 | |
Materials | | | 92,931,447 | | 7.7 | |
Information Technology | | | 87,572,086 | | 7.3 | |
Health Care | | | 84,790,651 | | 7.0 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 78,897,865 | | 6.6 | |
Utilities | | | 57,506,514 | | 4.8 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 33,292,500 | | 2.8 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 1,201,354,841 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE | | |
COUNTRY DIVERSIFICATION* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COUNTRY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Japan | | $ | 275,428,704 | | 22.9 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 227,893,611 | | 19.0 | |
France | | | 145,497,565 | | 12.1 | |
Germany | | | 112,984,248 | | 9.4 | |
Netherlands | | | 53,245,537 | | 4.4 | |
Italy | | | 51,888,302 | | 4.3 | |
South Korea | | | 46,375,233 | | 3.9 | |
Australia | | | 32,961,802 | | 2.8 | |
Canada | | | 30,500,151 | | 2.5 | |
Denmark | | | 23,660,438 | | 2.0 | |
Hong Kong | | | 23,070,138 | | 1.9 | |
Finland | | | 18,111,087 | | 1.5 | |
Switzerland | | | 17,971,573 | | 1.5 | |
Other | | | 108,473,952 | | 9.0 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 33,292,500 | | 2.8 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 1,201,354,841 | | 100.0 | % |
* | | All data are as of June 30, 2010. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent 1.5% or less in the following countries: Austria, Brazil, China, India, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey. |
3
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–96.7% | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–22.0% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–1.2% | | | | | |
Deutsche Bank AG | | 259,500 | | $ | 14,575,895 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–14.4% | | | |
Banco Bradesco SA (Preference Shares) | | 424,820 | | | 6,615,895 |
Banco do Brasil SA | | 670,000 | | | 9,149,861 |
Bank of China Ltd. | | 8,494,000 | | | 4,285,243 |
Barclays PLC | | 4,151,200 | | | 16,569,534 |
BNP Paribas | | 365,629 | | | 19,671,108 |
Danske Bank A/S(a) | | 678,400 | | | 13,054,055 |
Hana Financial Group, Inc. | | 374,500 | | | 9,930,053 |
KB Financial Group, Inc. | | 412,411 | | | 15,808,027 |
National Australia Bank Ltd. | | 1,024,300 | | | 19,804,061 |
Societe Generale | | 329,518 | | | 13,559,306 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | | 469,400 | | | 13,285,118 |
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS | | 1,152,700 | | | 4,797,112 |
Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi Tao–Class D | | 3,495,600 | | | 7,948,586 |
UniCredit Italiano SpA | | 8,900,240 | | | 19,687,630 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 174,165,589 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER FINANCE–1.1% | | | |
ORIX Corp. | | 173,100 | | | 12,540,189 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–3.0% | | | | | |
Allianz SE | | 242,700 | | | 24,020,829 |
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG (MunichRe) | | 61,700 | | | 7,747,226 |
Old Mutual PLC | | 3,066,100 | | | 4,694,342 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 36,462,397 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–2.3% | | | | | |
Lend Lease Group | | 686,200 | | | 4,178,735 |
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. | | 896,000 | | | 12,470,946 |
New World Development Ltd. | | 2,832,000 | | | 4,597,606 |
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd. | | 359,000 | | | 6,100,099 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 27,347,386 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 265,091,456 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–11.6% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–0.4% | | | | | |
NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. | | 414,000 | | | 5,139,724 |
| | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–2.7% | | | | | |
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG | | 401,200 | | | 19,488,907 |
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.(a) | | 1,966,800 | | | 13,705,602 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 33,194,509 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–1.2% | | | | | |
Thomas Cook Group PLC | | 2,017,000 | | $ | 5,338,748 |
TUI Travel PLC | | 2,775,200 | | | 8,634,177 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,972,925 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–1.9% | | | | | |
Sharp Corp. | | 940,000 | | | 9,915,717 |
Sony Corp. | | 501,000 | | | 13,363,172 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 23,278,889 |
| | | | | |
LEISURE EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS–0.4% | | | | | |
Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc. | | 556,500 | | | 4,893,456 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–2.2% | | | | | |
Lagardere SCA | | 408,000 | | | 12,725,221 |
Vivendi SA | | 674,510 | | | 13,707,440 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 26,432,661 |
| | | | | |
MULTILINE RETAIL–1.2% | | | | | |
Marks & Spencer Group PLC | | 2,144,500 | | | 10,564,688 |
PPR | | 36,717 | | | 4,561,094 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,125,782 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–1.0% | | | | | |
Esprit Holdings Ltd. | | 2,188,900 | | | 11,785,066 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.6% | | | | | |
Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd. | | 2,159,000 | | | 6,687,466 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 140,510,478 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–11.2% | | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–11.2% | | | | | |
BP PLC | | 3,190,200 | | | 15,272,015 |
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp.–Class H | | 5,438,000 | | | 4,393,357 |
ENI SpA | | 637,800 | | | 11,707,488 |
Gazprom OAO (Sponsored ADR) | | 534,100 | | | 10,046,421 |
JX Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 1,426,000 | | | 7,048,148 |
KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (GDR)(b) | | 320,750 | | | 5,965,950 |
LUKOIL OAO (London) (Sponsored ADR) | | 141,900 | | | 7,307,850 |
Nexen, Inc. (Toronto) | | 681,075 | | | 13,396,938 |
OMV AG | | 153,500 | | | 4,609,684 |
Penn West Energy Trust | | 389,800 | | | 7,433,131 |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (Euronext Amsterdam)–Class A | | 1,545,100 | | | 38,840,174 |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (Toronto) | | 328,576 | | | 9,670,082 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 135,691,238 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–9.6% | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–5.4% | | | | | |
France Telecom SA | | 651,300 | | $ | 11,296,737 |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | 500,700 | | | 20,396,459 |
Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd. | | 3,166,224 | | | 4,062,630 |
Telecom Italia SpA (ordinary shares) | | 11,258,700 | | | 12,433,553 |
Telecom Italia SpA (savings shares) | | 8,823,200 | | | 8,059,631 |
Telefonica SA | | 516,100 | | | 9,560,587 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 65,809,597 |
| | | | | |
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.2% | | | | | |
KDDI Corp. | | 2,448 | | | 11,668,836 |
Vodafone Group PLC | | 18,933,775 | | | 39,012,885 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 50,681,721 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 116,491,318 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–9.0% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–2.6% | | | | | |
BAE Systems PLC | | 3,380,600 | | | 15,734,052 |
Rolls-Royce Group–C Shares | | 185,409,000 | | | 277,020 |
Rolls-Royce Group PLC(a) | | 1,825,500 | | | 15,237,059 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 31,248,131 |
| | | | | |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–1.0% | | | | | |
Bouygues SA | | 326,300 | | | 12,595,654 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–0.5% | | | | | |
Bidvest Group Ltd. | | 417,700 | | | 6,610,603 |
| | | | | |
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.5% | | | | | |
Randstad Holding NV(a) | | 156,700 | | | 6,157,554 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–1.1% | | | | | |
East Japan Railway Co. | | 65,900 | | | 4,387,988 |
Firstgroup PLC | | 880,300 | | | 4,778,418 |
Nippon Express Co., Ltd. | | 875,000 | | | 3,942,811 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,109,217 |
| | | | | |
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–3.1% | | | | | |
ITOCHU Corp. | | 1,164,200 | | | 9,101,085 |
Mitsubishi Corp. | | 788,600 | | | 16,314,895 |
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. | | 981,000 | | | 11,444,127 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 36,860,107 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE–0.2% | | | | | |
Intoll Group | | 2,293,100 | | $ | 1,998,022 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 108,579,288 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–7.7% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–0.4% | | | | | |
Air Water, Inc. | | 14,000 | | | 152,855 |
Arkema SA | | 137,000 | | | 4,768,126 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,920,981 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–7.3% | | | | | |
BHP Billiton Ltd. | | 224,400 | | | 6,980,984 |
Hindalco Industries Ltd. | | 2,182,044 | | | 6,712,095 |
JFE Holdings, Inc. | | 232,900 | | | 7,205,227 |
Kazakhmys PLC | | 404,800 | | | 5,942,039 |
Mitsubishi Materials Corp.(a) | | 2,042,000 | | | 5,427,668 |
Rio Tinto PLC | | 509,700 | | | 22,383,167 |
Tata Steel Ltd. | | 902,200 | | | 9,355,558 |
ThyssenKrupp AG | | 217,800 | | | 5,367,274 |
Xstrata PLC | | 1,423,210 | | | 18,636,454 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 88,010,466 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 92,931,447 |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–7.3% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.5% | | | | | |
Nokia Oyj | | 2,222,000 | | | 18,111,087 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–1.4% | | | | | |
Toshiba Corp.(a) | | 3,452,000 | | | 17,099,724 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–1.0% | | | | | |
AU Optronics Corp. | | 7,964,990 | | | 7,052,520 |
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | | 110,400 | | | 5,264,760 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,317,280 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–1.0% | | | | | |
Cap Gemini SA | | 253,300 | | | 11,132,426 |
| | | | | |
OFFICE ELECTRONICS–0.4% | | | |
Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. | | 471,500 | | | 4,535,958 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.7% | | | | | |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | 30,660 | | | 19,230,377 |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Preference Shares) | | 3,300 | | | 1,406,776 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 20,637,153 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–0.3% | | | | | |
Konami Corp. | | 242,400 | | | 3,738,458 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 87,572,086 |
| | | | | |
5
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–7.0% | | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–7.0% | | | | | |
AstraZeneca PLC | | 516,600 | | $ | 24,355,532 |
Bayer AG | | 362,700 | | | 20,268,185 |
Novartis AG | | 370,830 | | | 17,971,573 |
Sanofi-Aventis SA | | 368,527 | | | 22,195,361 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 84,790,651 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–6.5% | | | |
BEVERAGES–1.5% | | | | | |
Asahi Breweries Ltd. | | 484,700 | | | 8,211,321 |
Carlsberg A/S | | 139,175 | | | 10,606,383 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 18,817,704 |
| | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–1.5% | | | | | |
Aeon Co., Ltd. | | 598,200 | | | 6,329,750 |
Casino Guichard Perrachon SA | | 94,800 | | | 7,193,884 |
Koninklijke Ahold NV | | 346,400 | | | 4,284,927 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 17,808,561 |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–0.3% | | | | | |
Nutreco Holding NV | | 73,800 | | | 3,962,882 |
| | | | | |
TOBACCO–3.2% | | | | | |
British American Tobacco PLC | | 391,600 | | | 12,427,740 |
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC | | 287,600 | | | 8,035,741 |
Japan Tobacco, Inc. | | 5,736 | | | 17,845,237 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 38,308,718 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 78,897,865 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
UTILITIES–4.8% | | | | | | |
ELECTRIC UTILITIES–3.8% | | | | | | |
E.ON AG | | | 800,200 | | $ | 21,515,932 |
EDF SA | | | 317,800 | | | 12,091,208 |
Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (The) | | | 438,700 | | | 11,934,148 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 45,541,288 |
| | | | | | |
GAS UTILITIES–1.0% | | | | | | |
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. | | | 2,621,000 | | | 11,965,226 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 57,506,514 |
| | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $1,321,122,482) | | | | | | 1,168,062,341 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–2.8% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–2.8% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $33,292,500) | | $ | 33,293 | | | 33,292,500 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.5% (cost $1,354,414,982) | | | | | | 1,201,354,841 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.5% | | | | | | 5,904,636 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 1,207,259,477 |
| | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Type | | Number of Contracts | | Expiration Month | | Original Value | | Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
Purchased Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EURO STOXX 50 | | 920 | | September 2010 | | $ | 28,239,518 | | $ | 28,890,557 | | $ | 651,039 |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 111,802 | | $ | 102,008,145 | | $ | 93,969,152 | | $ (8,038,993 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 25,735 | | | 23,714,288 | | | 21,630,169 | | (2,084,119 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 8,651 | | | 7,466,332 | | | 7,271,132 | | (195,200 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 10/15/10 | | 50,647 | | | 43,245,447 | | | 42,114,033 | | (1,131,414 | ) |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 12,905 | | | 19,890,218 | | | 19,281,151 | | (609,067 | ) |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 18,644 | | | 27,603,561 | | | 27,855,698 | | 252,137 | |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 8,780 | | | 13,134,661 | | | 13,118,056 | | (16,605 | ) |
British Pound settling 10/15/10 | | 23,830 | | | 35,648,965 | | | 35,602,520 | | (46,445 | ) |
6
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Buy Contracts: (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 7,032 | | $ | 6,995,762 | | $ | 6,605,104 | | $ | (390,658 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 8,615 | | | 8,531,139 | | | 8,092,004 | | | (439,135 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 4,233 | | | 4,101,466 | | | 3,976,025 | | | (125,441 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 17,674 | | | 17,393,272 | | | 16,601,052 | | | (792,220 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 3,591 | | | 3,396,773 | | | 3,372,999 | | | (23,774 | ) |
Euro settling 7/15/10 | | 8,926 | | | 12,055,099 | | | 10,915,830 | | | (1,139,269 | ) |
Euro settling 7/15/10 | | 68,272 | | | 86,852,224 | | | 83,491,546 | | | (3,360,678 | ) |
Euro settling 7/15/10 | | 68,461 | | | 83,905,117 | | | 83,722,679 | | | (182,438 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 896,069 | | | 9,549,208 | | | 10,136,870 | | | 587,662 | |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 8,646,253 | | | 93,266,307 | | | 97,811,600 | | | 4,545,293 | |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 1,502,817 | | | 16,609,934 | | | 17,000,767 | | | 390,833 | |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 1,933,090 | | | 21,365,540 | | | 21,868,274 | | | 502,734 | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 104,125 | | | 72,158,625 | | | 71,355,093 | | | (803,532 | ) |
New Zealand Dollar settling 10/15/10 | | 25,602 | | | 18,000,510 | | | 17,423,631 | | | (576,879 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 471,710 | | | 78,385,789 | | | 72,436,035 | | | (5,949,754 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 42,200 | | | 7,140,500 | | | 6,480,254 | | | (660,246 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 51,207 | | | 8,616,355 | | | 7,863,374 | | | (752,981 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 10/15/10 | | 32,806 | | | 5,138,141 | | | 5,015,106 | | | (123,035 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 10/15/10 | | 183,107 | | | 28,103,335 | | | 27,991,861 | | | (111,474 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 47,995 | | | 6,698,759 | | | 6,155,263 | | | (543,496 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 615,393 | | | 85,301,240 | | | 78,922,928 | | | (6,378,312 | ) |
Swedish Krona settling 10/15/10 | | 264,258 | | | 34,012,709 | | | 33,888,672 | | | (124,037 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 2,731 | | | 2,554,342 | | | 2,534,251 | | | (20,091 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 65,400 | | | 61,676,585 | | | 60,688,388 | | | (988,197 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 37,189 | | | 34,579,300 | | | 34,509,793 | | | (69,507 | ) |
| | | | |
Sale Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 8,682 | | | 7,911,386 | | | 7,297,188 | | | 614,198 | |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 84,636 | | | 75,277,797 | | | 71,136,233 | | | 4,141,564 | |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 8,206 | | | 7,174,424 | | | 6,897,111 | | | 277,313 | |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 36,013 | | | 30,120,193 | | | 30,268,788 | | | (148,595 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 8,651 | | | 7,235,437 | | | 7,271,132 | | | (35,695 | ) |
Australian Dollar settling 10/15/10 | | 24,447 | | | 20,899,496 | | | 20,328,189 | | | 571,307 | |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 20,395 | | | 30,644,915 | | | 30,471,839 | | | 173,076 | |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 5,336 | | | 8,092,791 | | | 7,972,431 | | | 120,360 | |
British Pound settling 7/15/10 | | 14,598 | | | 21,112,358 | | | 21,810,635 | | | (698,277 | ) |
Canadian Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 61,712 | | | 61,695,959 | | | 57,965,610 | | | 3,730,349 | |
Canadian Dollar settling 10/15/10 | | 7,483 | | | 7,259,692 | | | 7,023,951 | | | 235,741 | |
Euro settling 7/15/10 | | 198,777 | | | 265,868,213 | | | 243,089,394 | | | 22,778,819 | |
Euro settling 10/15/10 | | 33,794 | | | 41,907,939 | | | 41,349,060 | | | 558,879 | |
Euro settling 10/15/10 | | 26,008 | | | 32,009,866 | | | 31,822,405 | | | 187,461 | |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 10,149,070 | | | 109,746,964 | | | 114,812,368 | | | (5,065,404 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 896,069 | | | 9,689,642 | | | 10,136,870 | | | (447,228 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 1,251,694 | | | 13,770,465 | | | 14,159,914 | | | (389,449 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 7/15/10 | | 681,396 | | | 7,617,023 | | | 7,708,360 | | | (91,337 | ) |
Japanese Yen settling 10/15/10 | | 3,289,724 | | | 36,830,766 | | | 37,275,440 | | | (444,674 | ) |
New Zealand Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 17,393 | | | 12,339,464 | | | 11,919,127 | | | 420,337 | |
7
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contract Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value on Origination Date | | U.S. $ Value at June 30, 2010 | | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Sale Contracts: (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 6,557 | | $ | 4,636,455 | | $ | 4,493,401 | | $ | 143,054 | |
New Zealand Dollar settling 7/15/10 | | 80,175 | | | 57,416,364 | | | 54,942,565 | | | 2,473,799 | |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 68,336 | | | 11,063,423 | | | 10,493,712 | | | 569,711 | |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 22,618 | | | 3,620,786 | | | 3,473,232 | | | 147,554 | |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 246,967 | | | 37,836,881 | | | 37,924,382 | | | (87,501 | ) |
Norwegian Krone settling 7/15/10 | | 33,112 | | | 5,571,869 | | | 5,084,696 | | | 487,173 | |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 33,537 | | | 4,655,078 | | | 4,301,054 | | | 354,024 | |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 63,782 | | | 8,414,012 | | | 8,179,915 | | | 234,097 | |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 28,033 | | | 3,614,261 | | | 3,595,176 | | | 19,085 | |
Swedish Krona settling 7/15/10 | | 303,940 | | | 38,446,651 | | | 38,979,700 | | | (533,049 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 5,580 | | | 5,180,722 | | | 5,178,000 | | | 2,722 | |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 42,607 | | | 38,490,447 | | | 39,537,465 | | | (1,047,018 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 4,087 | | | 3,613,552 | | | 3,792,560 | | | (179,008 | ) |
Swiss Franc settling 7/15/10 | | 31,531 | | | 27,214,272 | | | 29,259,412 | | | (2,045,140 | ) |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the market value of this security amounted to $5,965,950 or 0.5% of net assets. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
GDR—Global Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $1,354,414,982) | | $ | 1,201,354,841 | |
Cash | | | 2,473,329 | (a) |
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $8,344,906) | | | 8,278,573 | |
Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 44,519,282 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 4,906,230 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 4,466,192 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 1,808,162 | |
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 102,645 | |
Other asset | | | 37,567 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 1,267,946,821 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | | 46,889,372 | |
Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions | | | 10,907,313 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 1,274,064 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 781,965 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 235,192 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 20,606 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 185 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 578,647 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 60,687,344 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 1,207,259,477 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 101,217 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 2,395,751,252 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 9,399,749 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (1,043,158,304 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (154,834,437 | ) |
| | | | |
| | $ | 1,207,259,477 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 117,696,130 | | 9,779,029 | | $ | 12.04 |
B | | $ | 1,089,563,347 | | 91,438,248 | | $ | 11.92 |
(a) | | An amount of $2,472,670 has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open futures contracts outstanding at June 30, 2010. |
See notes to financial statements.
9
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $3,783,445) | | $ | 31,716,123 | |
Interest | | | 3,568 | |
| | | | |
| | | 31,719,691 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 6,284,135 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 1,915,219 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 222 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 2,342 | |
Printing | | | 373,730 | |
Custodian | | | 167,413 | |
Administrative | | | 38,660 | |
Legal | | | 20,040 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 39,270 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 8,860,979 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 22,858,712 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | (39,198,539 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (12,360,717 | ) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 17,622,034 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (284,549,244 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | 213,366 | |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (13,155,341 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (331,428,441 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (308,569,729 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
10
| | |
|
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 22,858,712 | | | $ | 44,066,324 | |
Net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (33,937,222 | ) | | | (779,034,753 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (297,491,219 | ) | | | 1,295,176,771 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (308,569,729 | ) | | | 560,208,342 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,084,008 | ) | | | (2,172,110 | ) |
Class B | | | (8,611,462 | ) | | | (16,521,947 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (361,543,817 | ) | | | (469,073,106 | ) |
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from third party regulatory settlement (see Note E) | | | –0 | – | | | 37,567 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (679,809,016 | ) | | | 72,478,746 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 1,887,068,493 | | | | 1,814,589,747 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed/(distributions in excess of) net investment income of $9,399,749 and ($3,763,493), respectively) | | $ | 1,207,259,477 | | | $ | 1,887,068,493 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
11
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein International Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (see Note A.2).
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments in Securities | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financials | | $ | 15,765,756 | | | $ | 249,325,700 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 265,091,456 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | –0 | – | | | 140,510,478 | | | | –0 | – | | | 140,510,478 | |
Energy | | | 43,514,249 | | | | 92,176,989 | | | | –0 | – | | | 135,691,238 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | –0 | – | | | 116,491,318 | | | | –0 | – | | | 116,491,318 | |
Industrials | | | –0 | – | | | 108,302,268 | | | | 277,020 | | | | 108,579,288 | |
Materials | | | –0 | – | | | 92,931,447 | | | | –0 | – | | | 92,931,447 | |
Information Technology | | | –0 | – | | | 87,572,086 | | | | –0 | – | | | 87,572,086 | |
Health Care | | | –0 | – | | | 84,790,651 | | | | –0 | – | | | 84,790,651 | |
Consumer Staples | | | –0 | – | | | 78,897,865 | | | | –0 | – | | | 78,897,865 | |
Utilities | | | –0 | – | | | 57,506,514 | | | | –0 | – | | | 57,506,514 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 33,292,500 | | | | –0 | – | | | 33,292,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 59,280,005 | | | | 1,141,797,816 | + | | | 277,020 | | | | 1,201,354,841 | |
Other Financial Instruments*: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | 651,039 | | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | 651,039 | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | 44,519,282 | | | | –0 | – | | | 44,519,282 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | –0 | – | | | (46,889,372 | ) | | | –0 | – | | | (46,889,372 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 59,931,044 | | | $ | 1,139,427,726 | | | $ | 277,020 | | | $ | 1,199,635,790 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
+ | | The earlier close of the foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred between the close of the foreign markets and the time at which the Portfolio values its securities which may materially affect the value of securities trading in such markets. To account for this, the Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Portfolio’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments. |
13
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rights | | | Industrials | | | Total | |
Balance as of 12/31/09 | | $ | 3 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 3 | |
Accrued discounts /premiums | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Realized gain (loss) | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | | | (3 | ) | | | (8,547 | ) | | | (8,550 | ) |
Net purchases (sales) | | | –0 | – | | | 285,567 | | | | 285,567 | |
Transfer into Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 6/30/10 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 277,020 | | | $ | 277,020 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 6/30/10* | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | (8,547 | ) | | $ | (8,547 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
7. Dividends and Distributions
Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’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 to 1.20% and 1.45% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, there was no such reimbursement.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $38,660.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $1,188,318, of which $0 and $12,535, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 514,185,924 | | | $ | 852,971,597 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 (excluding futures and foreign currency transactions) are as follows:
| | | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 74,291,886 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (227,352,027 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (153,060,141 | ) |
| | | | |
15
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
The Portfolio may buy or sell futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of anticipated movements in the market. The Portfolio 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 contracts and movements in the price of the securities hedged or used for cover. The Portfolio may also purchase or sell futures contracts for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
At the time the Portfolio enters into a futures contract, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 contracts is generally less than privately negotiated futures contracts, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, provides a guarantee of performance. This guarantee is supported by a daily payment system (i.e., margin requirements). When the contract is closed, the Portfolio 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 contracts subjects the Portfolio 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 contracts. Use of short futures contracts subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the
16
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
At June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives |
Derivative Type | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 44,519,282 | | | Unrealized depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | $ | 46,889,372 |
Equity contracts | | Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts | | | 651,039 | * | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 45,170,321 | | | | | $ | 46,889,372 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) of futures contracts is reported in the portfolio of investments. |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | $ | 20,798,230 | | | | $(13,069,726) | |
Equity contracts | | Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts | | | (12,360,717 | ) | | | 213,366 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 8,437,513 | | | $ | (12,856,360 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average monthly principal amount of foreign currency exchange contracts was $1,290,400,285 and average monthly original value of futures contracts was $17,670,397.
17
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 1,579,431 | | | 4,516,357 | | | | | $ | 22,140,290 | | | $ | 52,692,835 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 78,155 | | | 151,261 | | | | | | 1,084,008 | | | | 2,172,110 | |
Shares redeemed | | (4,078,021 | ) | | (6,509,436 | ) | | | | | (57,748,028 | ) | | | (77,800,323 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (2,420,435 | ) | | (1,841,818 | ) | | | | $ | (34,523,730 | ) | | $ | (22,935,378 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 7,279,933 | | | 23,570,199 | | | | | $ | 100,449,606 | | | $ | 241,290,066 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 627,200 | | | 1,163,518 | | | | | | 8,611,463 | | | | 16,521,947 | |
Shares redeemed | | (33,952,150 | ) | | (59,100,246 | ) | | | | | (436,081,156 | ) | | | (703,949,741 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (26,045,017 | ) | | (34,366,529 | ) | | | | $ | (327,020,087 | ) | | $ | (446,137,728 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio received $37,567 related to a third-party’s settlement of regulatory proceedings involving allegations of improper trading. This amount is presented in the Portfolio’s statement of changes in net assets. Neither the Portfolio nor its affiliates were involved in the proceedings or the calculation of the payment.
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
18
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 18,694,057 | | | $ | 53,131,866 |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | 128,214,203 |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 18,694,057 | | | $ | 181,346,069 |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 9,229,469 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (966,720,613 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 87,163,351 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (870,327,793 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $958,465,566 of which $41,335,504 expires in the year 2016, and $917,130,062 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. Net capital loss incurred after October 31 and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio defers post October capital losses of $8,255,047 to January 1,2010. |
(b) | | The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the realization for tax purposes of gain/losses on certain derivative instruments and the tax treatment of Passive Foreign Investment Companies (“PFICs”). |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
19
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
20
| | |
|
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $14.70 | | | $11.05 | | | $25.14 | | | $24.96 | | | $19.07 | | | $16.70 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .20 | | | .29 | | | .54 | | | .43 | | | .38 | | | .26 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (2.75 | ) | | 3.54 | | | (13.15 | ) | | 1.07 | | | 6.21 | | | 2.49 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (2.55 | ) | | 3.83 | | | (12.61 | ) | | 1.50 | | | 6.59 | | | 2.75 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.11 | ) | | (.18 | ) | | (.23 | ) | | (.31 | ) | | (.30 | ) | | (.10 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (1.25 | ) | | (1.01 | ) | | (.40 | ) | | (.28 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.11 | ) | | (.18 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.32 | ) | | (.70 | ) | | (.38 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $12.04 | | | $14.70 | | | $11.05 | | | $25.14 | | | $24.96 | | | $19.07 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (17.45 | )% | | 34.68 | % | | (53.18 | )% | | 5.84 | % | | 35.36 | % | | 16.92 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $117,696 | | | $179,342 | | | $155,183 | | | $219,691 | | | $129,837 | | | $56,692 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .83 | %(d)(e) | | .83 | % | | .81 | % | | .81 | % | | .85 | %(e) | | .86 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .83 | %(d)(e) | | .83 | % | | .81 | % | | .81 | % | | .85 | %(e) | | .87 | % |
Net investment income | | 2.87 | %(d)(e) | | 2.40 | % | | 2.98 | % | | 1.68 | % | | 1.75 | %(e) | | 1.54 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 32 | % | | 52 | % | | 36 | % | | 23 | % | | 25 | % | | 18 | % |
See footnote summary on page 22.
21
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $14.54 | | | $10.93 | | | $24.88 | | | $24.74 | | | $18.93 | | | $16.61 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .19 | | | .28 | | | .50 | | | .36 | | | .33 | | | .19 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (2.74 | ) | | 3.47 | | | (13.02 | ) | | 1.06 | | | 6.16 | | | 2.50 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (2.55 | ) | | 3.75 | | | (12.52 | ) | | 1.42 | | | 6.49 | | | 2.69 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.07 | ) | | (.14 | ) | | (.18 | ) | | (.27 | ) | | (.28 | ) | | (.09 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | 0 | | | 0 | | | (1.25 | ) | | (1.01 | ) | | (.40 | ) | | (.28 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.07 | ) | | (.14 | ) | | (1.43 | ) | | (1.28 | ) | | (.68 | ) | | (.37 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $11.92 | | | $14.54 | | | $10.93 | | | $24.88 | | | $24.74 | | | $18.93 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (17.58 | )% | | 34.36 | % | | (53.28 | )% | | 5.58 | % | | 35.05 | % | | 16.58 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $1,089,563 | | | $1,707,726 | | | $1,659,407 | | | $2,818,307 | | | $1,888,710 | | | $840,572 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | 1.08 | %(d)(e) | | 1.08 | % | | 1.06 | % | | 1.06 | % | | 1.10 | %(e) | | 1.11 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | 1.08 | %(d)(e) | | 1.08 | % | | 1.06 | % | | 1.06 | % | | 1.10 | %(e) | | 1.12 | % |
Net investment income | | 2.72 | %(d)(e) | | 2.38 | % | | 2.77 | % | | 1.41 | % | | 1.53 | %(e) | | 1.08 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 32 | % | | 52 | % | | 36 | % | | 23 | % | | 25 | % | | 18 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Net of expenses reimbursed or waived by the Adviser. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
See notes to financial statements.
22
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INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein International Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts 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 Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
23
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INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index (Net) (the “Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the Index) the since inception period (May 2001 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and 2nd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 1-year period, in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 3-year period and 3rd out of 4 of the Performance Group and in the 5th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 5-year period, and that the Portfolio outperformed the Index in the 1-year and the since inception periods but underperformed the Index in the 3- and 5-year periods. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Portfolio’s performance, as well as the improvement in relative performance ranking in the 1-year period, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s performance was acceptable. The directors determined to continue to closely monitor the Portfolio’s performance.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
24
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The directors noted that because of the small number of funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category, at the request of the Adviser and the Fund’s Senior Officer, Lipper had expanded the Expense Group of the Fund to include peers that had a similar (but not the same) Lipper investment objective/classification. The Expense Universe for the Portfolio had also been expanded by Lipper pursuant to Lipper’s standard guidelines and not at the request of the Adviser or the Fund’s Senior Officer. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points, plus the less than 1 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio, which had been capped by the Adviser (although the expense ratio was currently lower than the cap), was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was satisfactory.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels and that, prior to the reduction in the Portfolio’s assets as a result of the steep market declines in 2008, net assets had been in excess of the first breakpoint level. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
25
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INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein International Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE CAPS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
International | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 1,858.6 | | International Value Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $80,696 (0.004% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
The Adviser has agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse the Portfolio for that portion of its total operating expenses to the degree necessary to limit the Portfolio’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Portfolio’s fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser on May 1st of each year upon at least 60 days written notice.
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
It should be noted that the Portfolio was operating below its expense caps for the most recent fiscal year; accordingly the expense limitation undertaking of the Portfolio was of no effect. In addition, set forth below are the gross expense ratios of the Portfolio for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Cap Pursuant to Expense Limitation Undertaking | | Gross Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year End |
International Value Portfolio | | Class A 1.20% | | 0.83% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.45% | | 1.08% | | |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
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INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
International Value Portfolio | | $ | 1,858.6 | | International Value Schedule6 80 bp on 1st $25m 60 bp on next $25m 50 bp on next $50m 40 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.411 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein International Value Fund, a retail mutual fund which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein International Value Fund.7 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein International Value Fund been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
International Value Portfolio | | International Value Fund | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The AllianceBernstein Investment Trust Management mutual funds (“ITM”), which are offered to investors in Japan, have an “all-in” fee to compensate the Adviser for investment advisory as well as fund accounting and administrative related services. The fee schedule of the ITM mutual fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio is as follows:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | ITM Mutual Fund | | Fee8 |
International Value Portfolio | | Bernstein Kokusai Strategic Value9 | | 0.95% on first ¥1 billion
0.85% on next ¥1.5 billion 0.75% on next ¥2.5 billion 0.60% on next ¥5 billion 0.50% thereafter |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
6 | | The Portfolio has a similar investment style as International Value Strategy, but the Portfolio has a higher exposure to emerging markets equity than its institutional counterpart. |
7 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
8 | | The Japanese Yen-U.S. dollar currency exchange rate quoted at 4 p.m. on March 31, 2010 by Reuters was ¥93.49 per $1. At that currency exchange rate, every ¥1 billion would be equivalent to approximately $10.7 million. |
9 | | This ITM Fund is privately placed or institutional. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
International Value Fund | | Client # 1 | | 0.65% on 1st $75 million 0.50% on next $25 million 0.40% on next $200 million 0.35% on next $450 million 0.30% on the balance | | 0.340 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 210 ,11 | | 0.60% on 1st $1 billion 0.55% on next $500 million 0.50% on next $500 million 0.45% on next $500 million 0.40% on the balance | | 0.567 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 310 ,11 | | 0.60% of average daily net assets | | 0.600 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 4 | | 0.765% on 1st $10 million 0.675% on next $15 million 0.54% on next $25 million 0.45% on next $50 million 0.36% on the balance | | 0.370 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 5 | | 0.50% of average daily net assets | | 0.500 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 6 | | 0.22% on 1st $1 billion 0.18% on next $1.5 billion 0.16% thereafter +/– Performance Fee12 | | 0.202 | 13 | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 7 | | 0.60% on 1st $50 million 0.40% on next $50 million 0.30% on next $300 million 0.25% on the balance | | 0.272 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 8 | | 0.50% on 1st $100 million 0.46% on next $300 million 0.41% thereafter | | 0.423 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 9 | | 0.72% on 1st $25 million 0.54% on next $25 million 0.45% on next $50 million 0.36% on the balance | | 0.370 | | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 10 | | 0.36% of average daily net assets | | 0.360 | | | 0.750 |
10 | | Assets are aggregated with other similar accounts managed by the client for purposes of calculating the investment advisory fee. |
11 | | The client is an affiliate of the Adviser. |
12 | | The performance fee is calculated by multiplying the Base Fee during the period by an adjustment factor that considers the excess or under performance of the fund versus its benchmark over a 60 month rolling period. The performance adjustment factor can range from -60% to +60 of the base fee. |
13 | | The calculation excludes the performance fee. |
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INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
| | Client # 11 | | 0.35% on 1st $1 billion 0.30% on next $1 billion 0.25% on the balance | | 0.327 | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 12 | | 0.35% on 1st $1 billion 0.325% on the balance | | 0.338 | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client # 13 | | 0.45% on 1st $200 million 0.36% on next $300 million 0.32% on the balance | | 0.340 | | 0.750 |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. In addition, to the extent that certain of these sub-advisory relationships are with affiliates of the Adviser, the fee schedules may not reflect arm’s-length bargaining or negotiations.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.14 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)15 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.16
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
The Portfolio’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Senior Officer and the Adviser, Lipper expanded the Portfolio’s EG to include peers that have similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee17 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
International Value Portfolio18 | | 0.750 | | 0.771 | | 5/15 |
14 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
15 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
16 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
17 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. In addition, the contractual management fee does not reflect any advisory fee waivers or expense caps that would effectively reduce the actual management fee. |
18 | | The Portfolio’s EG includes the Portfolio, six other VIP International Value funds (“IFVE”) and eight VIP International Core funds (“IFCE”). |
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| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
However, because Lipper had expanded the EG of the Portfolio, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include the universes of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.19 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment classification/objective as the subject Portfolio.20
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.21
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)22 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
International Value Portfolio23 | | 0.829 | | 0.877 | | 3/15 | | 0.945 | | 7/53 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a total expense ratio basis than it does on a management fee basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The
19 | | It should be noted that the expansion of the Portfolio’s EU was not requested by the Senior Officer or the Adviser. They requested that only the EG be expanded. |
20 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
21 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
22 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
23 | | The Portfolio’s EU includes the Portfolio, EG and all other VIP IFVE and IFCE funds, excluding outliers. |
31
| | |
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $4,222,056 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payment in the amount of $1,109,209 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.24
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions during the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Portfolio and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,25 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli26 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.27 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.28 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also
24 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2008. |
25 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
26 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
27 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
28 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
32
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3 and 5 year performance rankings of the Portfolio29 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)30 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.31
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | | 45.99 | | 45.99 | | 40.66 | | 4/7 | | 7/28 |
3 year | | – | 14.18 | | –6.54 | | –7.66 | | 7/7 | | 23/23 |
5 year | | | 0.17 | | 1.97 | | 2.53 | | 3/4 | | 17/19 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)32 versus its benchmark.33 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.34
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
International Value Portfolio | | 45.99 | | –14.18 | | 0.17 | | 6.21 | | 23.58 | | 0.01 | | 5 |
MSCI EAFE Index (Net) | | 39.68 | | –7.65 | | 2.99 | | 3.52 | | 19.56 | | 0.10 | | 5 |
Inception Date: May 10, 2001 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
29 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
30 | | The Portfolio’s PG and PU are not identical to the Portfolio’s EG and EU as the criteria for including/excluding a fund in/from a PG/PU is somewhat different from that of an EG/EU. |
31 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
32 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
33 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
34 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
33
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 878.73 | | $ | 4.05 | | 0.87 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.48 | | $ | 4.36 | | 0.87 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 878.08 | | $ | 5.22 | | 1.12 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,019.24 | | $ | 5.61 | | 1.12 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Apple, Inc. | | $ | 26,274,824 | | 7.2 | % |
Alcon, Inc. | | | 19,412,890 | | 5.4 | |
Google, Inc.—Class A | | | 18,545,516 | | 5.1 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 17,204,869 | | 4.7 | |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | | 14,866,538 | | 4.1 | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | | | 13,533,744 | | 3.7 | |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | | 13,427,620 | | 3.7 | |
EMC Corp. | | | 10,676,220 | | 2.9 | |
Intel Corp. | | | 10,471,880 | | 2.9 | |
Comcast Corp.—Class A | | | 10,173,609 | | 2.8 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 154,587,710 | | 42.5 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Technology | | $ | 103,087,987 | | 28.4 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 70,870,255 | | 19.5 | |
Health Care | | | 59,688,749 | | 16.4 | |
Financial Services | | | 41,214,109 | | 11.4 | |
Producer Durables | | | 36,642,838 | | 10.1 | |
Energy | | | 34,286,689 | | 9.5 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 10,205,306 | | 2.8 | |
Materials & Processing | | | 6,671,921 | | 1.8 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 415,000 | | 0.1 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 363,082,854 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–99.8% | | | | | |
TECHNOLOGY–28.4% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY–2.6% | | | | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc.(a) | | 436,500 | | $ | 9,301,815 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTER SERVICES, SOFTWARE & SYSTEMS–6.7% | | | |
Google, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 41,680 | | | 18,545,516 |
Microsoft Corp. | | 255,100 | | | 5,869,851 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 24,415,367 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY–13.9% | | | | | |
Apple, Inc.(a) | | 104,460 | | | 26,274,824 |
EMC Corp.(a) | | 583,400 | | | 10,676,220 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | 310,250 | | | 13,427,620 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 50,378,664 |
| | | | | |
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT–1.1% | | | |
KLA-Tencor Corp. | | 140,400 | | | 3,914,352 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & COMPONENT–4.1% | | | | | |
Broadcom Corp.—Class A | | 139,700 | | | 4,605,909 |
Intel Corp. | | 538,400 | | | 10,471,880 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,077,789 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 103,087,987 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–19.5% | | | | | |
AUTO PARTS–1.3% | | | | | |
Johnson Controls, Inc. | | 178,400 | | | 4,793,608 |
| | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–1.8% | | | | | |
Ford Motor Co.(a) | | 647,200 | | | 6,523,776 |
| | | | | |
CABLE TELEVISION SERVICES–2.8% | | | | | |
Comcast Corp.–Class A | | 585,700 | | | 10,173,609 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED MEDIA–1.2% | | | | | |
News Corp.–Class A | | 374,600 | | | 4,480,216 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED RETAIL–8.0% | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(a) | | 21,000 | | | 2,294,460 |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 151,200 | | | 8,290,296 |
Kohl’s Corp.(a) | | 212,600 | | | 10,098,500 |
Target Corp. | | 171,250 | | | 8,420,362 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 29,103,618 |
| | | | | |
ENTERTAINMENT–1.7% | | | | | |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | 195,800 | | | 6,167,700 |
| | | | | |
HOTEL/MOTEL–0.5% | | | | | |
Hyatt Hotels Corp.(a) | | 50,000 | | | 1,854,500 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–1.5% | | | | | |
Lowe’s Cos., Inc. | | 257,400 | | | 5,256,108 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & SHOES–0.7% | | | | | |
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.–Class A | | 34,500 | | | 2,517,120 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 70,870,255 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–16.4% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.3% | | | | | |
Celgene Corp.(a) | | 96,600 | | $ | 4,909,212 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE SERVICES–1.2% | | | | | |
Express Scripts, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 91,000 | | | 4,278,820 |
| | | | | |
MEDICAL SERVICES–6.8% | | | | | |
Alcon, Inc. | | 131,000 | | | 19,412,890 |
Covidien PLC | | 134,400 | | | 5,400,192 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 24,813,082 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–7.1% | | | | | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 394,800 | | | 13,533,744 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR) | | 152,900 | | | 7,949,271 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 127,800 | | | 4,204,620 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,687,635 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 59,688,749 |
| | | | | |
FINANCIAL SERVICES–11.4% | | | |
ASSET MANAGEMENT & CUSTODIAN–0.8% | | | | | |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | | 32,100 | | | 2,766,699 |
| | | | | |
BANKS: DIVERSIFIED–1.9% | | | | | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | 264,200 | | | 6,763,520 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–6.1% | | | | | |
Blackstone Group LP | | 527,700 | | | 5,044,812 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 469,950 | | | 17,204,869 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 22,249,681 |
| | | | | |
FINANCIAL DATA & SYSTEMS–1.1% | | | | | |
Visa, Inc.–Class A | | 54,700 | | | 3,870,025 |
| | | | | |
SECURITIES BROKERAGE & SERVICES–1.5% | | | | | |
CBOE Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 8,500 | | | 276,675 |
CME Group, Inc.–Class A | | 18,780 | | | 5,287,509 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,564,184 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 41,214,109 |
| | | | | |
PRODUCER DURABLES–10.1% | | | |
AEROSPACE–0.7% | | | | | |
Goodrich Corp. | | 40,200 | | | 2,663,250 |
| | | | | |
AIR TRANSPORT–0.4% | | | | | |
FedEx Corp. | | 18,100 | | | 1,268,991 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS–7.1% | | | | | |
Danaher Corp. | | 252,100 | | | 9,357,952 |
Dover Corp. | | 124,500 | | | 5,202,855 |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | 73,800 | | | 2,880,414 |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 201,700 | | | 8,326,176 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,767,397 |
| | | | | |
3
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS: ELECTRICAL–1.9% | | | | | |
Cooper Industries PLC | | 157,800 | | $ | 6,943,200 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 36,642,838 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–9.4% | | | | | |
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY–0.8% | | | | | |
Suncor Energy, Inc. (New York) | | 104,100 | | | 3,064,704 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT –0.4% | | | | | |
Vestas Wind Systems A/S (ADR)(a) | | 103,500 | | | 1,429,335 |
| | | | | |
OIL WELL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–5.1% | | | | | |
Cameron International Corp.(a) | | 108,700 | | | 3,534,924 |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 268,640 | | | 14,866,538 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 18,401,462 |
| | | | | |
OIL: CRUDE PRODUCERS–3.1% | | | | | |
EOG Resources, Inc. | | 30,400 | | | 2,990,448 |
Noble Energy, Inc. | | 95,000 | | | 5,731,350 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | 34,600 | | | 2,669,390 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,391,188 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 34,286,689 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–2.8% | | | | | |
BEVERAGE: SOFT DRINKS–2.4% | | | | | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 143,000 | | | 8,715,850 |
| | | | | |
DRUG & GROCERY STORE CHAINS–0.4% | | | | | |
CVS Caremark Corp. | | 50,800 | | | 1,489,456 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,205,306 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS & PROCESSING–1.8% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS: DIVERSIFIED–1.2% | | | | | |
Dow Chemical Co. (The) | | 194,500 | | | 4,613,540 |
| | | | | |
COPPER–0.4% | | | | | |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | 23,135 | | | 1,367,973 |
| | | | | |
STEEL–0.2% | | | | | |
ArcelorMittal (New York) | | 25,800 | | | 690,408 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,671,921 |
| | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $339,463,616) | | | | | 362,667,854 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–0.1% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–0.1% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $415,000) | | $ | 415 | | $ | 415,000 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.9% (cost $339,878,616) | | | | | | 363,082,854 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.1% | | | | | | 360,034 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 363,442,888 |
| | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
LP—Limited Partnership
See notes to financial statements.
4
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $339,878,616) | | $ | 363,082,854 | |
Cash | | | 187 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 3,573,551 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 413,048 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 384,935 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 367,454,575 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 3,185,567 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 264,479 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 239,531 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 41,976 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 20,938 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 259,039 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 4,011,687 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 363,442,888 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 16,596 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 872,054,200 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 256 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (531,832,402 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 23,204,238 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 363,442,888 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 172,188,167 | | 7,761,673 | | $ | 22.18 |
B | | $ | 191,254,721 | | 8,834,334 | | $ | 21.65 |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $82,904) | | $ | 2,374,442 | |
Interest | | | 79 | |
| | | | |
| | | 2,374,521 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 1,584,601 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 277,384 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 2,006 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 2,218 | |
Printing | | | 114,485 | |
Custodian | | | 53,975 | |
Administrative | | | 38,680 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,164 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 2,123 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 3,568 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 2,113,304 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 261,217 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 23,973,136 | |
Options written | | | 90,174 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (1,399 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (75,088,738 | ) |
Options written | | | 19,692 | |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (51,007,135 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (50,745,918 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 261,217 | | | $ | 1,319,760 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 24,061,911 | | | | (25,389,324 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (75,069,046 | ) | | | 149,210,712 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (50,745,918 | ) | | | 125,141,148 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (963,805 | ) | | | (288,603 | ) |
Class B | | | (588,097 | ) | | | –0– | |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (29,659,582 | ) | | | (53,880,424 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (81,957,402 | ) | | | 70,972,121 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 445,400,290 | | | | 374,428,169 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $256 and $1,290,941, respectively) | | $ | 363,442,888 | | | $ | 445,400,290 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. Prior to February 1, 2006, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek growth of capital by pursuing aggressive investment policies. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
8
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 362,667,854 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 362,667,854 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 415,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 415,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 362,667,854 | | | | 415,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 363,082,854 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 362,667,854 | | | $ | 415,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 363,082,854 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
9
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $38,680.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $208,623, of which $427 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C : Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D : Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 164,605,234 | | | $ | 191,355,548 | |
U.S. government securities | | | -0 | - | | | -0 | - |
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 | | $ | 44,812,064 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (21,607,826 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 23,204,238 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
11
| | |
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had the following transactions in written options:
| | | | | | | |
| | Number of Contracts | | | Premiums Received | |
Options written outstanding as of 12/31/09 | | 132 | | | $ | 14,628 | |
Options written | | 513 | | | | 154,244 | |
Options closed | | (645 | ) | | | (168,872 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Options written outstanding as of 6/30/10 | | -0 | - | | $ | -0 | - |
| | | | | | | |
The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | |
Derivative Type | | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) |
Equity contracts | | Net realized gain (loss) on options written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of options written | | $ 90,174 | | $ 19,692 |
| | | | | | |
Total | | | | $ 90,174 | | $ 19,692 |
| | | | | | |
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E : Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 99,398 | | | 265,026 | | | | | $ | 2,478,928 | | | $ | 5,799,157 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 37,546 | | | 13,976 | | | | | | 963,805 | | | | 288,603 | |
Shares redeemed | | (733,904 | ) | | (1,742,614 | ) | | | | | (18,310,258 | ) | | | (35,573,178 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (596,960 | ) | | (1,463,612 | ) | | | | $ | (14,867,525 | ) | | $ | (29,485,418 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 345,752 | | | 927,341 | | | | | $ | 8,441,041 | | | $ | 19,201,368 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 23,467 | | | -0 | - | | | | | 588,097 | | | | -0 | - |
Shares redeemed | | (978,139 | ) | | (2,187,819 | ) | | | | | (23,821,195 | ) | | | (43,596,374 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (608,920 | ) | | (1,260,478 | ) | | | | $ | (14,792,057 | ) | | $ | (24,395,006 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE F : Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G : Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 288,603 | | $ | -0 | - |
| | | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 288,603 | | | -0 | - |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 288,603 | | $ | -0 | - |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 973,931 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (541,989,410 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 84,685,391 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (456,330,088 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $541,977,622 of which $293,988,219 expires in the year 2010, $167,106,343 expires in the year 2011, $52,077,408 expires in the year 2016, and $28,805,652 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. The Portfolio defers $11,788 in straddle losses. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and the tax treatment of partnerships. |
13
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
14
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $25.36 | | | $18.47 | | | $30.61 | | | $26.87 | | | $26.99 | | | $23.44 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | .03 | | | .10 | | | .04 | | | (.01 | ) | | (.03 | ) | | (.07 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (3.09 | ) | | 6.82 | | | (12.18 | ) | | 3.75 | | | (.09 | ) | | 3.62 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (3.06 | ) | | 6.92 | | | (12.14 | ) | | 3.74 | | | (.12 | ) | | 3.55 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.12 | ) | | (.03 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $22.18 | | | $25.36 | | | $18.47 | | | $30.61 | | | $26.87 | | | $26.99 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | (12.13 | )%* | | 37.52 | %* | | (39.66 | )%* | | 13.92 | %* | | (.44 | )% | | 15.15 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $172,188 | | | $211,940 | | | $181,452 | | | $395,655 | | | $474,069 | | | $618,980 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .87 | %(c)(d) | | .88 | % | | .84 | % | | .82 | % | | .84 | %(d) | | .81 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | .25 | %(c)(d) | | .47 | % | | .17 | % | | (.03 | )% | | (.12 | )%(d) | | (.28 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 40 | % | | 97 | % | | 89 | % | | 92 | % | | 81 | % | | 54 | % |
See footnote summary on page 16.
15
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $24.72 | | | $18.03 | | | $29.96 | | | $26.37 | | | $26.55 | | | $23.11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | .00 | (e) | | .04 | | | (.02 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.12 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (3.00 | ) | | 6.65 | | | (11.91 | ) | | 3.67 | | | (.09 | ) | | 3.56 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (3.00 | ) | | 6.69 | | | (11.93 | ) | | 3.59 | | | (.18 | ) | | 3.44 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.07 | ) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $21.65 | | | $24.72 | | | $18.03 | | | $29.96 | | | $26.37 | | | $26.55 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | (12.19 | )%* | | 37.10 | %* | | (39.82 | )%* | | 13.61 | %* | | (.68 | )% | | 14.89 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $191,255 | | | $233,460 | | | $192,976 | | | $393,537 | | | $456,374 | | | $624,453 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.12 | %(c)(d) | | 1.13 | % | | 1.09 | % | | 1.07 | % | | 1.08 | %(d) | | 1.06 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | .01 | %(c)(d) | | .22 | % | | (.08 | )% | | (.27 | )% | | (.37 | )%(d) | | (.53 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 40 | % | | 97 | % | | 89 | % | | 92 | % | | 81 | % | | 54 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(d) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
(e) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 by 0.49%, 1.96%, 2.10% and 0.39%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
16
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not
17
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the “Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the Index) the since inception period (June 1992 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-year period, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group and 3rd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 3- and 5-year periods and in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and 4th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio underperformed the Index in the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods but outperformed the Index in the 10-year and the since inception periods. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance was acceptable.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and
18
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points was the same as the Expense Group median. The directors noted that the administrative expense reimbursement was 2 basis points in the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year, and that as a result the rate of the compensation received by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement was similar to the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was higher than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors noted that relatively higher printing and postage reimbursement requests from insurance company clients contributed to the Portfolio’s relatively high expense ratio as compared to the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Adviser had reviewed with them steps being taken that are intended to reduce the expenses of the AllianceBernstein Funds generally. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
19
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Growth | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 445.2 | | Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $79,258 (0.02% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | Class A Class B | | 0.88%
1.13% | | December 31 |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
20
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
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Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | $445.2 | | Large Cap Growth Schedule 80 bp on 1st $25m 50 bp on next $25m 40 bp on next $50m 30 bp on next $100m 25 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.323 | | 0.750 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc., a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc.6 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein retail mutual fund been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc. | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the following fees for American Growth Portfolio, which is a Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. It should be noted that Class A shares of the funds are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory services and distribution related services, unlike Class I shares, whose fee is for only investment advisory services.
| | |
Fund | | Fee |
American Growth Portfolio | | |
Class A | | 1.50% |
Class I (Institutional) | | 0.70% |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | Client #1 | | 0.60% on 1st billion 0.55% on the balance | | 0.600 | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client #2 | | 0.35% on 1st $50 million 0.30% on next $100 million 0.25% on the balance | | 0.272 | | 0.750 |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolios by the Adviser.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
22
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.7 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)8 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.9
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee10 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | 0.750 | | 0.750 | | 5/13 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU11 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.12
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | 0.883 | | 0.796 | | 13/13 | | 0.810 | | 55/76 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
7 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
8 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
9 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
10 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
11 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
12 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
13 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $506,526 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $384,191 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.14
The Portfolio may effect brokerage transactions in the future through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio did not effect any brokerage transactions with and pay any commission to SCB. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Adviser’s clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
14 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other Portfolios of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
24
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,15 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli16 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.17 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.18 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio19 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)20 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.21
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 34.64 | | 35.40 | | 36.65 | | 10/13 | | 68/99 |
3 year | | -4.53 | | -3.81 | | -4.53 | | 8/12 | | 45/89 |
5 year | | 1.10 | | 1.42 | | 1.10 | | 8/12 | | 41/81 |
10 year | | -3.70 | | -2.27 | | -2.79 | | 10/10 | | 34/48 |
15 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
16 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
17 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
18 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
19 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
20 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including in or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
21 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
25
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LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)22 versus its benchmark.23 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.24
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Large Cap Growth Portfolio | | 34.64 | | -4.53 | | 1.10 | | -3.70 | | 7.84 | | 18.66 | | -0.26 | | 10 |
Russell 1000 Growth Index | | 37.85 | | -4.15 | | 1.42 | | -3.95 | | 6.62 | | 18.91 | | -0.27 | | 10 |
Inception Date: June 26, 1992 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
22 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
23 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
24 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
26
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Money Market Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
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MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
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Money Market Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,000.05 | | $ | 1.19 | | 0.24 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,023.60 | | $ | 1.20 | | 0.24 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,000.05 | | $ | 1.19 | | 0.24 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,023.60 | | $ | 1.20 | | 0.24 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
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MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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| | Yield* | | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
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SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–100.3% | | | | | | | |
U.S. GOVERNMENT & GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AGENCY OBLIGATIONS–31.6% | | | | | | | |
Bank of America NA–FDIC Insured 7/29/10(a) | | 0.38 | % | | $ | 1,200 | | $ | 1,200,000 |
9/13/10(a) | | 0.57 | % | | | 1,300 | | | 1,300,000 |
Citigroup Funding, Inc.–FDIC Insured 7/30/10(a) | | 0.44 | % | | | 2,200 | | | 2,200,000 |
Federal Farm Credit Bank 7/08/10(a) | | 0.17 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,007 |
7/15/11(a) | | 0.26 | % | | | 500 | | | 499,947 |
Federal Home Loan Bank 7/27/10(a) | | 0.25 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 999,990 |
7/20/11(a) | | 0.25 | % | | | 500 | | | 499,656 |
7/28/10(a) | | 0.27 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 7/12/10(a) | | 0.19 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 999,994 |
7/14/10(a) | | 0.20 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
12/21/11(a) | | 0.30 | % | | | 500 | | | 499,702 |
8/24/10(a) | | 0.46 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
9/03/10(a) | | 0.52 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
Federal National Mortgage Association 7/13/10(a) | | 0.19 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
8/11/11(a) | | 0.26 | % | | | 500 | | | 499,748 |
8/05/10(a) | | 0.30 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 999,963 |
9/19/11(a) | | 0.31 | % | | | 500 | | | 499,757 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 17,198,764 |
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MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS–31.2% | | | | | | | |
California Infra & Eco Dev Bk (J Paul Getty Trust) Series 2010A-2 10/01/47(b) | | 0.10 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Connecticut Hlth & Ed Fac Auth (Yale Univ) Series 2001V-2 7/01/36(b) | | 0.08 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Dallas Forth Worth TX Intl Arpt (United Parcel Service) 5/01/32(b) | | 0.15 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Houston TX Hgr Ed Fin Corp. (Rice University) Series 2008 A 5/15/48(b) | | 0.12 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Jackson Cnty MS PCR (Chevron Corp.) 6/01/23(b) | | 0.13 | % | | | 2,400 | | | 2,400,000 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Yield* | | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loudoun Cnty VA IDA (Howard Hughes Med) 2/15/38(b) | | 0.17 | % | | $ | 2,300 | | $ | 2,300,000 |
Massachusetts Dev Fin Agy (Smith College) 7/01/24(b) | | 0.24 | % | | | 1,248 | | | 1,248,000 |
Massachusetts Hlth & Ed Facs Auth (Harvard Univ) Series 99R 11/01/49(b) | | 0.08 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Rhode Island Indl Fac Corp. (Exxon Mobil Corporation) 2/01/25(b) | | 0.09 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 16,948,000 |
| | | | | | | | | |
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT–19.3% | | | | | | | | | |
Bank of Montreal 7/16/10 | | 0.28 | % | | | 1,300 | | | 1,300,000 |
Bank of Nova Scotia 8/23/10 | | 0.29 | % | | | 1,200 | | | 1,200,017 |
Barclays Bank PLC NY 10/01/10(a) | | 0.60 | % | | | 2,000 | | | 2,000,000 |
Rabobank Nederland NV NY 9/20/10 | | 0.32 | % | | | 1,000 | | | 1,000,000 |
Royal Bank of Canada NY 12/09/10(a) | | 0.35 | % | | | 1,600 | | | 1,600,000 |
3/10/11(a) | | 0.35 | % | | | 400 | | | 400,000 |
Societe Generale NY 7/20/10 | | 0.29 | % | | | 800 | | | 799,996 |
Toronto Dominion Bank NY 2/04/11(a) | | 0.35 | % | | | 900 | | | 900,000 |
Westpac Banking Corp. NY 12/01/10(a) | | 0.38 | % | | | 1,300 | | | 1,300,000 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 10,500,013 |
| | | | | | | | | |
COMMERCIAL PAPER–8.6% | | | | | | | | | |
Banco Santander Central Hispano SA 10/12/10 | | 0.52 | % | | | 1,700 | | | 1,697,471 |
Commonwealth Bank of Australia 9/10/10(c) | | 0.47 | % | | | 1,500 | | | 1,498,610 |
Svenska Handelsbank, Inc. 9/10/10 | | 0.49 | % | | | 1,500 | | | 1,498,550 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 4,694,631 |
| | | | | | | | | |
2
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Yield* | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | | | |
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS–6.8% | | | | | | |
Greenwich Capital 0.01%, dated 6/30/10 due 7/01/10 in the amount of $1,800,001 (collateralized $1,740,000 U.S. Treasury Note, 2.625%, due 7/31/14, value $1,838,322) | | | | $ | 1,800 | | $ | 1,800,000 |
Mizuho Securities USA 0.01%, dated 6/30/10 due 7/01/10 in the amount of $1,900,001 (collateralized by $1,938,400 U.S. Treasury Bill, Zero Coupon, due 8/12/10, value $1,938,092) | | | | | 1,900 | | | 1,900,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3,700,000 |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Yield* | | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
CORPORATES– INVESTMENT GRADES–2.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
Pfizer, Inc. 3/15/11(a) | | 2.49 | % | | $ | 600 | | $ | 608,351 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. 8/20/10(a) | | 0.68 | % | | | 900 | | | 900,226 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 1,508,577 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.3% | | | | | | | | |
(cost $54,549,985) | | | | | | | | | 54,549,985 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(0.3)% | | | | | | | | | (180,344 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | | | | $ | 54,369,641 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(a) | | Floating Rate Security. Stated interest rate was in effect at June 30, 2010. |
(b) | | Variable Rate Demand Notes (VRDN) are instruments whose interest rates change on a specific date (such as coupon date or interest payment date) or whose interest rates vary with changes in a designated base rate (such as the prime interest rate). This instrument is payable on demand and is secured by letters of credit or other credit support agreements from major banks. |
(c) | | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the market value of this security amounted to $1,498,610 or 2.8% of net assets. |
* | | Represents annualized yield from date of purchase for discount securities, and stated interest rate for interest-bearing securities. |
Glossary:
FDIC—Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
IDA—Industrial Development Authority/Agency
PCR—Pollution Control Revenue Bond
See notes to financial statements.
3
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | |
ASSETS | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $54,549,985) | | $ | 54,549,985 |
Cash | | | 72,020 |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 52,000 |
Interest receivable | | | 16,832 |
Receivable due from Adviser and Distributor | | | 1,368 |
| | | |
Total assets | | | 54,692,205 |
| | | |
LIABILITIES | | | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 255,262 |
Audit fee payable | | | 19,496 |
Legal fee payable | | | 18,951 |
Administrative fee payable | | | 1,428 |
Dividends payable | | | 419 |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 162 |
Accrued expenses | | | 26,846 |
| | | |
Total liabilities | | | 322,564 |
| | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 54,369,641 |
| | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 54,385 |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 54,314,790 |
Accumulated net realized gain on investment transactions | | | 466 |
| | | |
| | $ | 54,369,641 |
| | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—2 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 21,816,878 | | 21,823,156 | | $ | 1.00 |
B | | $ | 32,552,763 | | 32,562,138 | | $ | 1.00 |
See notes to financial statements.
4
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 73,627 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 130,936 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 44,091 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 875 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 1,349 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Custodian | | | 32,790 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,080 | |
Printing | | | 7,568 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 2,175 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 295,632 | |
Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B) | | | (180,821 | ) |
Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Distributor (see Note C) | | | (44,091 | ) |
| | | | |
Net expenses | | | 70,720 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 2,907 | |
| | | | |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | 2,907 | |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 2,907 | | | $ | 79,241 | |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | –0 | – | | | 875 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 2,907 | | | | 80,116 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,145 | ) | | | (46,175 | ) |
Class B | | | (1,762 | ) | | | (33,040 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (10,053,120 | ) | | | (521,440 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total decrease | | | (10,053,120 | ) | | | (520,539 | ) |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 64,422,761 | | | | 64,943,300 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 54,369,641 | | | $ | 64,422,761 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A : Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Money Market Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is maximum current income to the extent consistent with safety of principal and liquidity. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
1. Security Valuation
Securities in which the Portfolio invests are traded primarily in the over-the-counter market and are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Under such method a portfolio instrument is valued at cost and any premium or discount is amortized or accreted, respectively, on a constant basis to maturity.
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | | Total |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Government & Government Sponsored Agency Obligations | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 17,198,764 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 17,198,764 |
Municipal Obligations | | | –0 | – | | | 16,948,000 | | | –0 | – | | | 16,948,000 |
Certificates of Deposit | | | –0 | – | | | 10,500,013 | | | –0 | – | | | 10,500,013 |
Commercial Paper | | | –0 | – | | | 4,694,631 | | | –0 | – | | | 4,694,631 |
Repurchase Agreements | | | –0 | – | | | 3,700,000 | | | –0 | – | | | 3,700,000 |
Corporates—Investment Grades | | | –0 | – | | | 1,508,577 | | | –0 | – | | | 1,508,577 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 54,549,985 | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 54,549,985 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
7
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
3. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
5. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.
6. Dividends and Distributions
The Portfolio declares dividends daily from net investment income. The dividends are paid monthly. Net realized gains distributions, if any, will be made at least annually. Income dividends and capital gains distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with the 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.
7. Repurchase Agreements
It is the Portfolio’s policy that its custodian or designated subcustodian take control of securities as collateral under repurchase agreements and to determine on a daily basis that the value of such securities are sufficient to cover the value of the repurchase agreements. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of collateral by the Portfolio may be delayed or limited.
NOTE B : Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .45% of the first $2.5 billion, ..40% of the next $2.5 billion and .35% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive the entire amount of such fees of $130,936. To prevent the Portfolio’s total expenses from exceeding its total income on a daily basis, the Adviser voluntarily reimbursed the Portfolio an additional amount of $11,493.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Adviser provides certain legal and accounting services for the Portfolio. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its fees in the amount of $38,392.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C : Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
8
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive all of the distribution fees in the amount of $44,091 for Class B shares, limiting the effective annual rate to .00%.
NOTE D : Investment Transactions, Income Taxes and Distributions to Shareholders
At June 30, 2010, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 79,215 | | $ | 910,943 |
| | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 79,215 | | $ | 910,943 |
| | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 466 | |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | 466 | (a) |
| | | | |
(a) | | The Portfolio utilized $409 of capital loss carryforwards in the current year ended December 31, 2009. |
NOTE E : Capital Stock
Each class consists of 1,000,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 2,307,462 | | | 13,513,829 | | | | | $ | 2,307,462 | | | $ | 13,513,829 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 1,183 | | | 46,175 | | | | | | 1,183 | | | | 46,175 | |
Shares redeemed | | (5,809,531 | ) | | (16,762,780 | ) | | | | | (5,809,531 | ) | | | (16,762,780 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (3,500,886 | ) | | (3,202,776 | ) | | | | $ | (3,500,886 | ) | | $ | (3,202,776 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 3,936,703 | | | 54,263,908 | | | | | $ | 3,936,703 | | | $ | 54,263,908 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 1,831 | | | 33,040 | | | | | | 1,831 | | | | 33,040 | |
Shares redeemed | | (10,490,768 | ) | | (51,615,612 | ) | | | | | (10,490,768 | ) | | | (51,615,612 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | (6,552,234 | ) | | 2,681,336 | | | | | $ | (6,552,234 | ) | | $ | 2,681,336 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F : Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Money Market Fund Risk—Money market funds are sometimes unable to maintain a net asset value (“NAV”) at $1.00 per share and, as it is generally referred to, “break the buck.” In that event, an investor in a money market fund would, upon redemption, receive less than $1.00 per share. The Portfolio’s shareholders should not rely on or expect an affiliate of the Portfolio to purchase distressed assets from the Portfolio, make capital infusions, enter into credit support agreements or take
9
| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
other actions to prevent the Portfolio from breaking the buck. In addition, significant redemptions by large investors in the Portfolio could have a material adverse effect on the Portfolio’s other shareholders. The Portfolio’s NAV could be affected by forced selling during periods of high redemption pressures and/or illiquid markets.
Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—The Portfolio’s primary risks are interest rate risk and credit risk. Because the Portfolio invests in short-term securities, a decline in interest rates will affect the Portfolio’s yield as the securities mature or are sold and the Portfolio purchases new short-term securities with a lower yield. Generally, an increase in interest rates causes the value of a debt instrument to decrease. The change in value for shorter-term securities is usually smaller than for securities with longer maturities. In addition, if interest rates remain low for an extended period of time, the Portfolio may have difficulties in maintaining a positive yield, paying expenses out of the Portfolio’s assets, or maintaining a stable $1.00 NAV.
Credit risk is the possibility that a security’s credit rating will be downgraded or that the issuer of the security will default (fail to make scheduled interest and principal payments). Credit quality can change rapidly in certain market environments and the default of a single holding could have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G : Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE H : Department of Treasury’s Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds
During the prior reporting period the Portfolio participated in the U.S. Treasury’s Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds (the “Program”). The initial term of the Program was from September 18, 2008 to December 18, 2008 and its term was then extended to September 18, 2009. The Program applied to shares of the Portfolio held by shareholders as of the close of business as of September 19, 2008 (the “Covered Shareholders”). Subject to the limitations discussed below, the Program protected Covered Shareholders if the Portfolio “broke the buck”, meaning that the stable NAV of $1.00 per share that the Portfolio seeks to maintain fell below $.995 per share (the “Guarantee Event”). In order to qualify for this protection, the Portfolio must have liquidated within approximately 30 days after the Guarantee Event. The Treasury would have covered any shortfall between the NAV at the time of liquidation and $1.00 per share.
Because payments under the Program continued to apply to Covered Shareholders based on the number of shares held on September 19, 2008, a shareholder would have received no payments for any increase in the number of the Portfolio’s shares held after that date. If a shareholder closed his or her account, the shareholder would not have been covered by the Program. If the number of shares held in an account fluctuated after September 19, 2008 due to purchases and sales of shares during the Program period, a shareholder would have been covered for the number of shares held in the account as of the close of business on September 19, 2008 or the number of shares held on the date of the Guarantee Event, whichever would have been less. Initial purchases of shares by new shareholders after September 19, 2008 were not eligible for coverage under the Program.
The Portfolio paid a fee to the Treasury for its participation in the Program based on the Portfolio’s aggregate NAV on September 19, 2008. The fee for the Portfolio’s participation in the Program from January 1, 2009 until September 18, 2009 was 0.015% of its aggregate NAV on September 19, 2008. This was in addition to the fee paid by the Portfolio for its initial participation in the Program of 0.01% and for its participation in the first extension of the Program until April 30, 2009 of 0.015%, both of which were based on the Portfolio’s aggregate NAV on September 19, 2008. The Program extension payment amounts, when combined with prior payment amounts, equated to 0.04% (on an annualized basis) of the Portfolio’s asset base over the entire extended program term. The Program ended on September 18, 2009.
NOTE I : Amendments to Rule 2a-7
As a money market fund, the Portfolio must meet the requirements of The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“Commission”) Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Rule imposes strict conditions on the investment quality, maturity, and diversification of the Portfolio’s investments. Effective May 5, 2010, the Commission adopted amendments to Rule 2a-7. Among other things, the amended Rule 2a-7 requires that the Portfolio’s investments have (i) a remaining maturity of no more than 397 days, (ii) a weighted average maturity that does not exceed 60 days, and (iii) a weighted average life that does not exceed 120 days. Rule 2a-7 imposes daily and weekly liquidity standards that require the Portfolio to hold investments of at least 10% and 30% of its total assets, respectively, in liquid assets. Rule 2a-7 also limits the Portfolio’s investments in illiquid securities to 5% of its total assets.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
11
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| | |
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | .00 | (a)(b) | | .00 | (a)(b) | | .02 | | | .04 | | | .04 | | | .02 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | .00 | (a) | | .00 | (a) | | (.02 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.02 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | 0.00 | % | | .17 | % | | 1.90 | % | | 4.35 | % | | 4.22 | % | | 2.35 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $21,817 | | | $25,318 | | | $28,520 | | | $23,610 | | | $27,087 | | | $30,370 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .24 | %(d)(e) | | .66 | % | | .96 | % | | .99 | % | | .93 | %(e) | | .93 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .86 | %(d)(e) | | .90 | % | | .96 | % | | .99 | % | | .93 | %(e) | | .93 | % |
Net investment income | | .01 | %((b)(d)(e) | | .18 | %(b) | | 1.85 | % | | 4.28 | % | | 4.13 | %(e) | | 2.30 | % |
See footnote summary on page 13.
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | .00 | (a)(b) | | .00 | (a)(b) | | .02 | | | .04 | | | .04 | | | .02 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | .00 | (a) | | .00 | (a) | | (.02 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.02 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | | | $1.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | 0.00 | % | | .09 | % | | 1.64 | % | | 4.08 | % | | 3.96 | % | | 2.10 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $32,553 | | | $39,105 | | | $36,423 | | | $23,846 | | | $24,537 | | | $25,778 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .24 | %(d)(e) | | .71 | % | | 1.20 | % | | 1.24 | % | | 1.19 | %(e) | | 1.19 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | 1.11 | %(d)(e) | | 1.15 | % | | 1.20 | % | | 1.24 | % | | 1.19 | %(e) | | 1.19 | % |
Net investment income | | .01 | %(b)(d)(e) | | .08 | %(b) | | 1.57 | % | | 4.00 | % | | 3.89 | %(e) | | 2.06 | % |
(a) | | Amount is less than $.01 per share. |
(b) | | Net of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser and/or the Distributor. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
See notes to financial statements.
13
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MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), with respect to AllianceBernstein Money Market Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by the September 1, 2004 Assurance of Discontinuance (“AoD”) between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS & RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 09/30/09 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Low Risk Income | | 45 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 40 bp on next $2.5 billion 35 bp on the balance | | $ | 87.2 | | Money Market Portfolio4 ,5 |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser was entitled to receive $91,190 (0.17% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
1 | | It should be noted that the Senior Officer’s fee evaluation was completed on October 21, 2009. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratios refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
4 | | The Adviser also advises AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves, an open-end retail money market mutual fund that has a similar investment style as the Portfolio. AllianceBernstein Exchanges Reserves’ investment advisory fee schedule, which is shown on page 5, was not affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG since the fund had lower breakpoints than the NYAG related fee schedule of Low Risk Income. |
5 | | The Adviser began to waive a portion of its advisory fee for each class A and Class B shares effective June 10, 2009, and as of August 31, 2009 such daily waiver amounted to 0.21%, annualized, for each Class. As of August 31, 2009, the Portfolio’s effective advisory fee was 0.08%, annualized. |
14
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Money Market Portfolio | | Class A 0.96% Class B 1.20% | | December 31 |
In response to low interest rates6 in the marketplace that have depressed money market yield, the Adviser or its affiliates, is waiving advisory fees and reimbursing additional expenses on its proprietary money market products, including Money Market Portfolio, in order for those products to achieve a target yield of 0.01%.
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional client assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different and legal and reputational risks are greater, it is worth considering information regarding the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts with substantially similar investment styles as the Portfolio.7 However, with respect to the Portfolio, the Adviser represented that there is no institutional product in the Adviser’s Form ADV that has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves, a retail mutual fund which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves. Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves been applicable to the Portfolio based on September 30, 2008 net assets and the Portfolio’s advisory fee:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | ABMF Fund | | Fee Schedule | | ABMF Effective Fee | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee | |
Money Market Portfolio | | Exchange Reserves | | 0.25% on first $1.25 billion 0.24% on next $0.25 billion 0.23% on next $0.25 billion 0.22% on next $0.25 billion 0.21% on next $1.0 billion 0.20% on the balance | | 0.250 | % | | 0.450 | % |
6 | | The Federal Reserve has kept the Federal Funds Rate between zero and 0.25% since December 2008. |
7 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
15
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MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the following fees for the Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as that of the Portfolio:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Luxembourg Fund | | Luxembourg Fee8 |
Money Market Portfolio | | Short Maturity Dollar Class A | | 1.05% on the 1st €100 million9 1.00% on the next €100 million 0.95% in excess of €200 million |
| | |
| | Class I (Institutional) | | 0.50% on the 1st €100 million 0.45% on the next €100 million 0.40% in excess of €200 million |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory investment services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families. The Adviser charges the fee set forth below for the sub-advisory relationship that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. Also shown are the Portfolio’s advisory fees and what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the sub-advisory relationship been applicable to the Portfolio based on September 30, 2009 net assets:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Sub-Advised Fund | | Sub-advised Fund Fee Schedule | | Sub-advised Fund Effective Fee | | Portfolio Advisory Fee |
Money Market Portfolio | | Client # 110 | | AB Sub-Advisory Fee Schedule: 0.125% on first $100 million 0.10% on next $150 million 0.05% thereafter | | 0.125% | | 0.450% |
| | | | |
| | | | Client #1 Advisory and Administration Combined Fee Schedule: 0.50% on first $250 million 0.475% on next $250 million 0.45% on next $250 million 0.425% on next 250 million 0.40% on next $2.5 billion 0.375% on next $2.5 billion 0.36% on next $2.5 billion 0.35% on next 2.5 billion 0.34% thereafter | | 0.500% | | |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers. Lipper’s
8 | | Class A shares of the Luxembourg funds are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory and distribution related services. |
9 | | The Euro-U.S. dollar currency exchange rate quoted at 4 p.m. on September 21, 2009 by Reuters was €1 per $1.4676. At that currency exchange rate, €100 million would be equivalent to approximately $146.8 million. €200 million would be equivalent to approximately $293.6 million. |
10 | | This sub-advised fund has a more restrictive investment style than the Money Market Portfolio; the fund invests primarily in high-quality municipal short-term securities and is a tax-exempt money market fund. |
16
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)11 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.12
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
Money Market Portfolio | | 0.450 | | 0.475 | | 6/14 |
Lipper also compared the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio to the medians of the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU14 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)15 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Money Market Portfolio | | 0.958 | | 0.565 | | 14/14 | | 0.496 | | 49/50 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2008, relative to 2007.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent and distribution to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees and Rule 12b-1 payments.
11 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively large average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
12 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
13 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
14 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
15 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
17
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MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter and distributor, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, ABI received $69,887 in Rule 12b-1 fees from the Portfolio.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $648 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Adviser and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”).16 During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $969 from the Portfolio.17
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,18 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems, can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms have made such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli 19 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics. The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.20 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund assets under management (“AUM”), family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of fund size and the large asset manager’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $498 billion as of September 30, 2009, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
16 | | It should be noted that the insurance companies, linked to the variable products, provide additional shareholder services for the Portfolio, including record keeping, administration and customer service for contract holders. |
17 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2008. |
18 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
19 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
20 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
18
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The information below, prepared by Lipper, shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year net and gross performance returns and rankings of the Portfolio21 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”)22 and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”) for the periods ended July 31, 2009.23
| | | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Portfolio | | Portfolio Return (%) | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
(Net) | | | | | | | | | | |
1 year | | 0.75 | | 0.78 | | 0.81 | | 8/14 | | 35/59 |
3 year | | 2.77 | | 3.06 | | 3.13 | | 13/14 | | 54/59 |
5 year | | 2.67 | | 2.94 | | 3.04 | | 14/14 | | 54/57 |
10 year | | 2.67 | | 2.87 | | 2.95 | | 12/13 | | 48/52 |
| | | | | |
(Gross) | | | | | | | | | | |
1 year | | 1.72 | | 1.45 | | 1.37 | | 5/14 | | 14/59 |
3 year | | 3.77 | | 3.71 | | 3.64 | | 5/14 | | 17/59 |
5 year | | 3.63 | | 3.62 | | 3.56 | | 6/14 | | 20/57 |
10 year | | 3.49 | | 3.48 | | 3.49 | | 6/13 | | 25/52 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception net performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)24 versus its benchmark.25 Portfolio volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.26
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending July 31, 2009 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Money Market Portfolio | | 0.75 | | 2.77 | | 2.67 | | 2.67 | | 3.29 | | 0.54 | | – | 2.86 | | 10 |
Lipper VA Money Market Fund Average27 | | 0.88 | | 3.05 | | 2.97 | | 2.90 | | 3.61 | | N/A | | | N/A | | N/A |
Inception Date: December 30, 1992 | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: November 25, 2009
21 | | The net performance returns and rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the net performance returns of the Portfolio that are shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. However, differences in the distribution price (ex-date versus payable date) and rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s own performance returns of the Portfolio to be one or two basis points different from Lipper. To maintain consistency in this evaluation, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
22 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including/excluding a fund in/from a PU are somewhat different from that of an EU. |
23 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the Portfolio even if the Portfolio may have had a different investment classification/objective at different points in time. |
24 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
25 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for the periods through July 31, 2009. |
26 | | Portfolio volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
27 | | It should be noted that the benchmark’s since inception performance return is from the nearest month-end after the Portfolio’s inception date. In contrast to the benchmark, the Portfolio’s since inception return is from the Portfolio’s actual inception date. |
19
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,044.78 | | $ | 4.61 | | 0.91 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.28 | | $ | 4.56 | | 0.91 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,042.91 | | $ | 5.93 | | 1.17 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,018.99 | | $ | 5.86 | | 1.17 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | | $ | 6,759,663 | | 10.6 | % |
Public Storage | | | 3,749,361 | | 5.9 | |
Vornado Realty Trust | | | 3,744,523 | | 5.9 | |
Equity Residential | | | 2,906,472 | | 4.6 | |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | | | 2,728,264 | | 4.3 | |
Ventas, Inc. | | | 2,636,947 | | 4.2 | |
Boston Properties, Inc. | | | 2,397,024 | | 3.8 | |
Health Care REIT, Inc. | | | 2,333,448 | | 3.7 | |
ProLogis | | | 1,554,448 | | 2.4 | |
Entertainment Properties Trust | | | 1,545,642 | | 2.4 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 30,355,792 | | 47.8 | % |
INDUSTRY DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
INDUSTRY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Diversified/Specialty | | $ | 14,389,435 | | 22.7 | % |
Multi-Family | | | 9,849,959 | | 15.5 | |
Office | | | 8,625,370 | | 13.6 | |
Regional Mall | | | 8,360,990 | | 13.2 | |
Health Care | | | 6,165,113 | | 9.7 | |
Self Storage | | | 4,715,411 | | 7.4 | |
Lodging | | | 4,100,468 | | 6.5 | |
Shopping Center/Other Retail | | | 3,595,882 | | 5.7 | |
Industrial Warehouse Distribution | | | 1,876,336 | | 2.9 | |
Student Housing | | | 473,355 | | 0.7 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 1,312,000 | | 2.1 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 63,464,319 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The industry classifications presented herein are based on the industry categorization methodology of the Adviser.
2
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–97.8% | | | | | |
EQUITY:OTHER–32.3% | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED/SPECIALTY–22.6% | | | | | |
American Campus Communities, Inc. | | 30,300 | | $ | 826,887 |
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. | | 88,500 | | | 1,423,965 |
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 63,600 | | | 865,596 |
Crown Castle International Corp.(a) | | 12,900 | | | 480,654 |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | | 47,300 | | | 2,728,264 |
DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. | | 46,600 | | | 1,144,496 |
Entertainment Properties Trust | | 40,600 | | | 1,545,642 |
Forest City Enterprises, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 64,500 | | | 730,140 |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 13,700 | | | 899,268 |
Vornado Realty Trust | | 51,330 | | | 3,744,523 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,389,435 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–9.7% | | | | | |
Health Care REIT, Inc. | | 55,400 | | | 2,333,448 |
Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. | | 33,400 | | | 1,194,718 |
Ventas, Inc. | | 56,165 | | | 2,636,947 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,165,113 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 20,554,548 |
| | | | | |
RESIDENTIAL–23.7% | | | | | |
MULTI-FAMILY–15.5% | | | | | |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | | 6,800 | | | 634,916 |
BRE Properties, Inc. | | 34,300 | | | 1,266,699 |
Camden Property Trust | | 36,200 | | | 1,478,770 |
Colonial Properties Trust | | 43,500 | | | 632,055 |
Equity Residential | | 69,800 | | | 2,906,472 |
Essex Property Trust, Inc. | | 11,400 | | | 1,111,956 |
Home Properties, Inc. | | 10,700 | | | 482,249 |
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. | | 19,610 | | | 1,009,327 |
NVR, Inc.(a) | | 500 | | | 327,515 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,849,959 |
| | | | | |
SELF STORAGE–7.4% | | | | | |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. | | 69,500 | | | 966,050 |
Public Storage | | 42,650 | | | 3,749,361 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,715,411 |
| | | | | |
STUDENT HOUSING–0.8% | | | | | |
Education Realty Trust, Inc. | | 78,500 | | | 473,355 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,038,725 |
| | | | | |
RETAIL–18.8% | | | | | |
REGIONAL MALL–13.1% | | | | | |
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | | 67,650 | | | 841,566 |
Macerich Co. (The) | | 20,358 | | | 759,761 |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | | 83,711 | | | 6,759,663 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,360,990 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | | |
SHOPPING CENTER/OTHER RETAIL–5.7% | | | | | | |
Federal Realty Investment Trust | | | 3,800 | | $ | 267,026 |
Kimco Realty Corp. | | | 93,600 | | | 1,257,984 |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers | | | 21,200 | | | 877,256 |
Weingarten Realty Investors | | | 62,657 | | | 1,193,616 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3,595,882 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 11,956,872 |
| | | | | | |
OFFICE–13.6% | | | | | | |
OFFICE–13.6% | | | | | | |
Boston Properties, Inc. | | | 33,600 | | | 2,397,024 |
Brandywine Realty Trust | | | 58,600 | | | 629,950 |
Brookfield Properties Corp. | | | 95,050 | | | 1,334,502 |
Corporate Office Properties Trust | | | 34,300 | | | 1,295,168 |
Douglas Emmett, Inc. | | | 54,400 | | | 773,568 |
Duke Realty Corp. | | | 24,600 | | | 279,210 |
Kilroy Realty Corp. | | | 31,600 | | | 939,468 |
Mack-Cali Realty Corp. | | | 21,400 | | | 636,222 |
PS Business Parks, Inc. | | | 6,100 | | | 340,258 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8,625,370 |
| | | | | | |
LODGING–6.4% | | | | | | |
LODGING–6.4% | | | | | | |
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.(a) | | | 135,755 | | | 1,115,906 |
Hersha Hospitality Trust | | | 103,000 | | | 465,560 |
Hyatt Hotels Corp.(a) | | | 31,000 | | | 1,149,790 |
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(a) | | | 76,432 | | | 758,970 |
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. | | | 30,300 | | | 610,242 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4,100,468 |
| | | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–3.0% | | | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION–3.0% | | | | | | |
First Potomac Realty Trust | | | 22,400 | | | 321,888 |
ProLogis | | | 153,450 | | | 1,554,448 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,876,336 |
| | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $54,327,670) | | | | | | 62,152,319 |
| | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS– 2.0% | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–2.0% | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $1,312,000) | | $ | 1,312 | | | 1,312,000 |
| | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.8% (cost $55,639,670) | | | | | | 63,464,319 |
Other assets less liabilities–0.2% | | | | | | 102,984 |
| | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 63,567,303 |
| | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust
See notes to financial statements.
3
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | |
ASSETS | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $55,639,670) | | $ | 63,464,319 |
Cash | | | 328 |
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $10,859) | | | 10,200 |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 775,845 |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 180,159 |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 27,396 |
| | | |
Total assets | | | 64,458,247 |
| | | |
LIABILITIES | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 668,973 |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 85,353 |
Advisory fee payable | | | 30,610 |
Administrative fee payable | | | 20,260 |
Distribution fee payable | | | 2,780 |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 |
Accrued expenses | | | 82,811 |
| | | |
Total liabilities | | | 890,944 |
| | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 63,567,303 |
| | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 6,392 |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 54,720,399 |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 419,617 |
Accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 596,905 |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | 7,823,990 |
| | | |
| | $ | 63,567,303 |
| | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 50,832,066 | | 5,115,281 | | $ | 9.94 |
B | | $ | 12,735,237 | | 1,277,046 | | $ | 9.97 |
See notes to financial statements.
4
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $3,076) | | $ | 689,147 | |
Interest | | | 127 | |
| | | | |
| | | 689,274 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 180,637 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 16,473 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 1,572 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 412 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Custodian | | | 32,616 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 15,975 | |
Printing | | | 5,870 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,758 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 1,378 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 314,611 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 374,663 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | 8,546,956 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 560 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (4,541,312 | ) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (659 | ) |
| | | | |
Net gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 4,005,545 | |
| | | | |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | 4,380,208 | |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 374,663 | | | $ | 935,138 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 8,547,516 | | | | (3,358,506 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (4,541,971 | ) | | | 13,611,411 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 4,380,208 | | | | 11,188,043 | |
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (763,869 | ) | | | (877,524 | ) |
Class B | | | (167,325 | ) | | | (243,734 | ) |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | –0 | – | | | (636,788 | ) |
Class B | | | –0 | – | | | (209,279 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net increase | | | 9,284,607 | | | | 6,426,615 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase | | | 12,733,621 | | | | 15,647,333 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 50,833,682 | | | | 35,186,349 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $419,617 and $976,148, respectively) | | $ | 63,567,303 | | | $ | 50,833,682 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is total return from long-term growth of capital and income. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value 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 Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
7
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 62,152,319 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 62,152,319 |
Short-Term Investments | | | — | | | 1,312,000 | | | — | | | 1,312,000 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 62,152,319 | | | 1,312,000 | | | — | | | 63,464,319 |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 62,152,319 | | $ | 1,312,000 | | $ | — | | $ | 63,464,319 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
8
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $53,290, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
9
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 49,019,919 | | | $ | 40,124,277 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 8,939,340 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (1,114,691 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 7,824,649 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 2,826,874 | | | 1,700,949 | | | | | $ | 28,028,190 | | | $ | 12,848,445 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | 67,960 | | | 215,714 | | | | | | 763,869 | | | | 1,514,312 | |
Shares redeemed | | (1,752,457 | ) | | (1,007,279 | ) | | | | | (19,335,276 | ) | | | (7,211,170 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase | | 1,142,377 | | | 909,384 | | | | | $ | 9,456,783 | | | $ | 7,151,587 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 92,294 | | | 254,991 | | | | | $ | 950,605 | | | $ | 1,982,458 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | 14,834 | | | 64,257 | | | | | | 167,325 | | | | 453,013 | |
Shares redeemed | | (124,095 | ) | | (437,864 | ) | | | | | (1,290,106 | ) | | | (3,160,443 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (16,967 | ) | | (118,616 | ) | | | | $ | (172,176 | ) | | $ | (724,972 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Concentration of Risk—Although the Portfolio does not invest directly in real estate, it invests primarily in real estate equity securities and has a policy of concentration of its investments in the real estate industry. Therefore, an investment in the Portfolio is subject to certain risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. To the extent that assets underlying the Portfolio’s investments are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, the Portfolio may be subject to additional risks.
In addition, investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) also are subject to interest rate risks.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not
11
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 1,138,748 | | $ | 1,057,062 |
Long-term capital gains | | | 828,577 | | | 15,457,115 |
| | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 1,967,325 | | | 16,514,177 |
| | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 1,967,325 | | $ | 16,514,177 |
| | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 926,743 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (6,947,453 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 11,362,803 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | 5,342,093 | (c) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $6,947,453 which expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
(c) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable to deferred income from an underlying security. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
13
| | |
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $9.64 | | | $7.86 | | | $16.23 | | | $22.83 | | | $19.98 | | | $20.66 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .06 | | | .19 | | | .26 | | | .22 | | | .29 | | | .32 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | .39 | | | 1.98 | | | (4.38 | ) | | (2.91 | ) | | 6.02 | | | 1.84 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | .45 | | | 2.17 | | | (4.12 | ) | | (2.69 | ) | | 6.31 | | | 2.16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.15 | ) | | (.23 | ) | | (.26 | ) | | (.30 | ) | | (.47 | ) | | (.68 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | (.16 | ) | | (3.99 | ) | | (3.61 | ) | | (2.99 | ) | | (2.16 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.15 | ) | | (.39 | ) | | (4.25 | ) | | (3.91 | ) | | (3.46 | ) | | (2.84 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $9.94 | | | $9.64 | | | $7.86 | | | $16.23 | | | $22.83 | | | $19.98 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | 4.48 | % | | 29.46 | % | | (35.68 | )% | | (14.53 | )% | | 35.22 | % | | 11.67 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $50,832 | | | $38,317 | | | $24,082 | | | $50,015 | | | $80,317 | | | $67,161 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | .91 | %(c)(d) | | 1.25 | % | | 1.01 | % | | .85 | % | | .83 | %(d) | | .83 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.19 | %(c)(d) | | 2.50 | % | | 2.13 | % | | 1.09 | % | | 1.33 | %(d) | | 1.64 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 66 | % | | 94 | % | | 46 | % | | 51 | % | | 47 | % | | 46 | % |
See footnote summary on page 15.
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $9.67 | | | $7.86 | | | $16.20 | | | $22.80 | | | $19.94 | | | $20.54 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .05 | | | .20 | | | .22 | | | .16 | | | .22 | | | .38 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | .38 | | | 1.97 | | | (4.37 | ) | | (2.90 | ) | | 6.03 | | | 1.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | .43 | | | 2.17 | | | (4.15 | ) | | (2.74 | ) | | 6.25 | | | 2.10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.13 | ) | | (.20 | ) | | (.20 | ) | | (.25 | ) | | (.40 | ) | | (.54 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | (.16 | ) | | (3.99 | ) | | (3.61 | ) | | (2.99 | ) | | (2.16 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.13 | ) | | (.36 | ) | | (4.19 | ) | | (3.86 | ) | | (3.39 | ) | | (2.70 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $9.97 | | | $9.67 | | | $7.86 | | | $16.20 | | | $22.80 | | | $19.94 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (b) | | 4.29 | % | | 29.22 | % | | (35.82 | )% | | (14.76 | )% | | 34.88 | % | | 11.40 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $12,735 | | | $12,517 | | | $11,104 | | | $22,281 | | | $33,461 | | | $24,875 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.17 | %(c)(d) | | 1.53 | % | | 1.26 | % | | 1.10 | % | | 1.08 | %(d) | | 1.06 | % |
Net investment income | | .94 | %(c)(d) | | 2.67 | % | | 1.83 | % | | .80 | % | | 1.04 | %(d) | | 2.11 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 66 | % | | 94 | % | | 46 | % | | 51 | % | | 47 | % | | 46 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(d) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
See notes to financial statements.
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts 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 Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Equity REIT Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (the “S&P 500 Stock Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the indices) the since inception period (January 1997 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-year period and in the 1st quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 3-, 5- and 10-year periods, and that the Portfolio outperformed both indices in all periods reviewed except that it underperformed the S&P 500 Stock Index in the 3-year period. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance over time had been satisfactory.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio although the initial fee rates in the institutional fee schedule were higher, and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate higher than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement (excluding the impact of the 23 basis point expense reimbursement to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement). 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 reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds comparable to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 55 basis points, plus the 23 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was higher than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors noted that the Portfolio’s small asset base impacted the expense ratio (the Expense Group median was approximately 25% larger than the Portfolio’s asset base), contributing to the Portfolio’s relatively high expense ratio as compared to such median. The directors also noted that the Adviser had reviewed with them steps being taken that are intended to reduce the expenses of the AllianceBernstein Funds generally. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Value | | 55 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 45 bp on next $2.5 billion 40 bp on the balance | | $ | 81.1 | | Real Estate Investment Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $82,940 (0.23% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | Class A 1.25% Class B 1.53% | | December 31 |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%)6 | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | $81.1 | | U.S. REIT Strategy Schedule 70 bp on 1st $25m 60 bp on next $25m 50 bp on next $25m negotiable on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 0.592 | | 0.550 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9,559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $75 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
6 | | Assumes 50 bp on the balance. |
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The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. a retail mutual fund, which has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc.7 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio8 | | Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. | | 0.55% on first $2.5 billion 0.45% on next $2.5 billion 0.40% on the balance | | 0.550 | | 0.550 |
The Adviser also manages and sponsors retail mutual funds, which are organized in jurisdictions outside the United States, generally Luxembourg and Japan, and sold to non-United States resident investors. The Adviser charges the following fees for the Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, which is a Luxembourg fund that has a somewhat similar investment style as the Portfolio.9 It should be noted that Class A shares of the funds are charged an “all-in” fee, which covers investment advisory services and distribution related services, unlike Class I shares, whose fee is for only investment advisory services.
| | | |
Fund | | Fee | |
Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio | | | |
Class A | | 1.75 | % |
Class I (Institutional) | | 0.95 | % |
The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.10 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)11 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.12
7 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
8 | | It should be noted that the Portfolio’s investment guidelines are more restrictive than that of AllianceBernstein Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. The Portfolio primarily invests in equity securities of U.S. real estate investment trusts (“REITS”) and other U.S. real estate industry companies, in contrast to the AllianceBernstein Global Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc., which may invest in equities of non-U.S. REITS and other non-U.S. real estate industry companies. |
9 | | It should be noted that the Portfolio’s investment guidelines are more restrictive than that of the Luxembourg fund. The Portfolio primarily invests in equity securities of U.S. real estate investment trusts (“REITS”) and other U.S. real estate industry companies, in contrast to the Luxembourg fund, which may invest in equities of non-U.S. REITS and other non-U.S. real estate industry companies. |
10 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
11 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
12 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | 0.550 | | 0.800 | | 1/12 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU14 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.15
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)16 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | 1.252 | | 0.948 | | 12/12 | | 0.892 | | 19/19 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’
13 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
14 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
15 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
16 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $24,600 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $32,826 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.17
The Portfolio may affect brokerage transactions in the future through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio did not effect any brokerage transactions with and pay any commission to SCB. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any future business conducted with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,18 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli19 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.20 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two
17 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
18 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
19 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
20 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
23
| | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.21 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio22 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)23 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.24
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 46.88 | | 46.92 | | 46.25 | | 7/12 | | 11/23 |
3 year | | –14.50 | | –16.74 | | –16.15 | | 2/10 | | 4/21 |
5 year | | 2.37 | | 0.48 | | 1.38 | | 2/10 | | 4/17 |
10 year | | 10.72 | | 9.60 | | 9.83 | | 1/7 | | 2/11 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)25 versus its benchmark.26 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.27
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Real Estate Investment Portfolio | | 46.88 | | –14.50 | | 2.37 | | 10.72 | | 7.70 | | 23.81 | | 0.43 | | 10 |
FTSE NAREIT Equity REIT Index28 | | 46.71 | | –16.25 | | 1.04 | | 10.00 | | 7.09 | | 24.63 | | 0.40 | | 10 |
S&P 500 Stock Index | | 33.14 | | –7.24 | | 0.18 | | –0.80 | | 4.52 | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
Inception Date: January 9, 1997 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
21 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
22 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
23 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
24 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
25 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
26 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
27 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
28 | | Benchmark since inception date is the nearest month end after the Portfolio’s inception date. |
24
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
25
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 989.96 | | $ | 6.86 | | 1.39 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,017.90 | | $ | 6.95 | | 1.39 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 989.72 | | $ | 8.04 | | 1.63 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,016.71 | | $ | 8.15 | | 1.63 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
VistaPrint NV | | $ | 565,843 | | 1.5 | % |
TIBCO Software, Inc. | | | 555,484 | | 1.5 | |
Baldor Electric Co. | | | 538,314 | | 1.5 | |
Aruba Networks, Inc. | | | 515,345 | | 1.4 | |
National CineMedia, Inc. | | | 506,131 | | 1.4 | |
HMS Holdings Corp. | | | 498,824 | | 1.4 | |
Tempur-Pedic International, Inc. | | | 475,702 | | 1.3 | |
Bucyrus International, Inc.—Class A | | | 473,551 | | 1.3 | |
Life Time Fitness, Inc. | | | 469,538 | | 1.3 | |
TrueBlue, Inc. | | | 467,854 | | 1.3 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 5,066,586 | | 13.9 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Information Technology | | $ | 10,304,112 | | 28.0 | % |
Health Care | | | 8,022,883 | | 21.8 | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 7,591,838 | | 20.6 | |
Industrials | | | 6,337,786 | | 17.2 | |
Financials | | | 1,633,639 | | 4.5 | |
Energy | | | 1,540,409 | | 4.2 | |
Materials | | | 524,256 | | 1.4 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 319,451 | | 0.9 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 515,000 | | 1.4 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 36,789,374 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–99.8% | | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–28.3% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–6.0% | | | | | |
Aruba Networks, Inc.(a) | | 36,190 | | $ | 515,345 |
Blue Coat Systems, Inc.(a) | | 12,490 | | | 255,171 |
F5 Networks, Inc.(a) | | 6,630 | | | 454,619 |
Finisar Corp.(a) | | 18,635 | | | 277,661 |
Netgear, Inc.(a) | | 18,490 | | | 329,862 |
Riverbed Technology, Inc.(a) | | 13,180 | | | 364,032 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,196,690 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–0.7% | | | | | |
Xyratex Ltd.(a) | | 18,870 | | | 267,010 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–2.8% | | | | | |
DealerTrack Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 27,750 | | | 456,488 |
VistaPrint NV(a) | | 11,915 | | | 565,843 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,022,331 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–1.9% | | | | | |
Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 37,860 | | | 272,971 |
VeriFone Systems, Inc.(a) | | 21,400 | | | 405,102 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 678,073 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–7.1% | | | | | |
Atheros Communications, Inc.(a) | | 9,760 | | | 268,790 |
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc.(a) | | 31,840 | | | 267,774 |
Hittite Microwave Corp.(a) | | 6,250 | | | 279,625 |
MaxLinear, Inc.(a) | | 5,010 | | | 70,040 |
Mellanox Technologies Ltd.(a) | | 16,800 | | | 367,920 |
Netlogic Microsystems, Inc.(a) | | 8,650 | | | 235,280 |
ON Semiconductor Corp.(a) | | 45,820 | | | 292,332 |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.(a) | | 24,300 | | | 407,997 |
Teradyne, Inc.(a) | | 40,870 | | | 398,483 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,588,241 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–9.8% | | | | | |
AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 8,530 | | | 186,466 |
Concur Technologies, Inc.(a) | | 7,890 | | | 336,745 |
Informatica Corp.(a) | | 18,830 | | | 449,660 |
MICROS Systems, Inc.(a) | | 14,450 | | | 460,521 |
SolarWinds, Inc.(a) | | 21,370 | | | 342,775 |
SuccessFactors, Inc.(a) | | 19,920 | | | 414,137 |
Taleo Corp.–Class A(a) | | 16,160 | | | 392,526 |
TIBCO Software, Inc.(a) | | 46,060 | | | 555,484 |
VanceInfo Technologies, Inc.(a) | | 17,760 | | | 413,453 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,551,767 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,304,112 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–22.1% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–4.5% | | | | | |
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 7,500 | | | 383,925 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Arqule, Inc.(a) | | 3,900 | | $ | 16,770 |
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 4,900 | | | 111,034 |
Incyte Corp. Ltd.(a) | | 14,990 | | | 165,939 |
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 11,900 | | | 141,848 |
Pharmasset, Inc.(a) | | 5,010 | | | 136,973 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.(a) | | 19,010 | | | 116,151 |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 9,670 | | | 215,835 |
United Therapeutics Corp.(a) | | 6,840 | | | 333,861 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,622,336 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–4.8% | | | | | |
Align Technology, Inc.(a) | | 23,310 | | | 346,620 |
NuVasive, Inc.(a) | | 7,780 | | | 275,879 |
ResMed, Inc.(a) | | 6,030 | | | 366,684 |
Sirona Dental Systems, Inc.(a) | | 10,740 | | | 374,182 |
Volcano Corp.(a) | | 17,510 | | | 382,068 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,745,433 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–6.0% | | | | | |
Centene Corp.(a) | | 15,870 | | | 341,205 |
Emergency Medical Services Corp.(a) | | 8,160 | | | 400,084 |
HMS Holdings Corp.(a) | | 9,200 | | | 498,824 |
IPC The Hospitalist Co., Inc.(a) | | 8,660 | | | 217,366 |
LHC Group, Inc.(a) | | 12,640 | | | 350,760 |
Magellan Health Services, Inc.(a) | | 10,240 | | | 371,917 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,180,156 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–2.1% | | | | | |
MedAssets, Inc.(a) | | 15,410 | | | 355,663 |
SXC Health Solutions Corp.(a) | | 5,660 | | | 414,595 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 770,258 |
| | | | | |
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–1.0% | | | | | |
QIAGEN NV(a) | | 18,550 | | | 356,531 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–3.7% | | | | | |
Ardea Biosciences, Inc.(a) | | 5,440 | | | 111,846 |
Impax Laboratories, Inc.(a) | | 18,760 | | | 357,566 |
MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a) | | 10,150 | | | 133,168 |
Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. | | 12,150 | | | 265,842 |
Nektar Therapeutics(a) | | 14,650 | | | 177,265 |
Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.(a) | | 7,750 | | | 302,482 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,348,169 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,022,883 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–20.9% | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTORS–1.2% | | | | | |
LKQ Corp.(a) | | 23,450 | | | 452,116 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–1.8% | | | | | |
K12, Inc.(a) | | 11,710 | | | 259,728 |
Strayer Education, Inc. | | 1,800 | | | 374,202 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 633,930 |
| | | | | |
3
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–5.9% | | | | | |
Gaylord Entertainment Co.(a) | | 20,070 | | $ | 443,346 |
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.(a) | | 66,210 | | | 137,717 |
Life Time Fitness, Inc.(a) | | 14,770 | | | 469,538 |
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.–Class A(a) | | 46,170 | | | 341,658 |
Panera Bread Co.–Class A(a) | | 4,180 | | | 314,712 |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.– Class A(a) | | 34,340 | | | 433,371 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,140,342 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–1.3% | | | | | |
Tempur-Pedic International, Inc.(a) | | 15,470 | | | 475,702 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET & CATALOG RETAIL–1.3% | | | | | |
NetFlix, Inc.(a) | | 4,260 | | | 462,849 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–2.4% | | | | | |
Lamar Advertising Co.–Class A(a) | | 14,900 | | | 365,348 |
National CineMedia, Inc. | | 30,380 | | | 506,131 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 871,479 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–6.0% | | | | | |
Citi Trends, Inc.(a) | | 1,600 | | | 52,704 |
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.(a) | | 18,060 | | | 449,513 |
J Crew Group, Inc.(a) | | 8,990 | | | 330,922 |
Kirkland’s, Inc.(a) | | 19,400 | | | 327,375 |
Select Comfort Corp.(a) | | 33,900 | | | 296,625 |
Tractor Supply Co. | | 7,670 | | | 467,640 |
Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.(a) | | 10,800 | | | 255,528 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,180,307 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–1.0% | | | | | |
Carter’s, Inc.(a) | | 14,290 | | | 375,113 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 7,591,838 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–17.4% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–1.2% | | | | | |
Hexcel Corp.(a) | | 29,320 | | | 454,753 |
| | | | | |
AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–0.5% | | | | | |
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 3,780 | | | 179,550 |
| | | | | |
BUILDING PRODUCTS–0.9% | | | | | |
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. | | 13,330 | | | 327,252 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–1.0% | | | | | |
Interface, Inc.–Class A | | 34,360 | | | 369,026 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–2.6% | | | | | |
AMETEK, Inc. | | 9,930 | | | 398,689 |
Baldor Electric Co. | | 14,920 | | | 538,314 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 937,003 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–6.2% | | | | | |
Actuant Corp.–Class A | | 21,670 | | $ | 408,046 |
Bucyrus International, Inc.– Class A | | 9,980 | | | 473,551 |
IDEX Corp. | | 12,815 | | | 366,125 |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 7,690 | | | 392,113 |
RBC Bearings, Inc.(a) | | 9,740 | | | 282,363 |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | 4,720 | | | 342,955 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,265,153 |
| | | | | |
MARINE–1.1% | | | | | |
Kirby Corp.(a) | | 10,140 | | | 387,855 |
| | | | | |
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–1.3% | | | | | |
TrueBlue, Inc.(a) | | 41,810 | | | 467,854 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–2.6% | | | | | |
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 10,330 | | | 385,412 |
Knight Transportation, Inc. | | 18,540 | | | 375,250 |
RailAmerica, Inc.(a) | | 19,020 | | | 188,678 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 949,340 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,337,786 |
| | | | | |
FINANCIALS–4.5% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–3.7% | | | | | |
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.(a) | | 5,220 | | | 317,219 |
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | | 5,580 | | | 341,106 |
KBW, Inc.(a) | | 14,690 | | | 314,954 |
Stifel Financial Corp.(a) | | 8,670 | | | 376,191 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,349,470 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–0.8% | | | | | |
Iberiabank Corp. | | 5,520 | | | 284,169 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,633,639 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–4.2% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.7% | | | | | |
Complete Production Services, Inc.(a) | | 24,660 | | | 352,638 |
Dril-Quip, Inc.(a) | | 6,750 | | | 297,135 |
Oceaneering International, Inc.(a) | | 7,160 | | | 321,484 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 971,257 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–1.5% | | | | | |
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. | | 9,330 | | | 292,216 |
Concho Resources Inc.(a) | | 4,860 | | | 268,904 |
SM Energy Co. | | 200 | | | 8,032 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 569,152 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,540,409 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–1.5% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–1.5% | | | | | |
Calgon Carbon Corp.(a) | | 13,060 | | | 172,914 |
Solutia, Inc.(a) | | 26,820 | | | 351,342 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 524,256 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–0.9% | | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–0.9% | | | | | |
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.(a) | | 12,430 | | $ | 319,451 |
| | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $32,094,456) | | | | | 36,274,374 |
| | | | | |
WARRANTS–0.0% | | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–0.0% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–0.0% | | | | | |
Lantronix, Inc., expiring 2/09/11(a) (cost $0) | | 2,486 | | | 0 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–1.4% | | | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–1.4% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $515,000) | | $ | | 515 | | $ | 515,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.2% (cost $32,609,456) | | | | | | | 36,789,374 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(1.2)% | | | | | | | (429,683 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | | $ | 36,359,691 | |
| | | | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $32,609,456) | | $ | 36,789,374 | |
Cash | | | 538 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 68,991 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 8,025 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 4,146 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 36,871,074 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 335,766 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 46,052 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 23,918 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 21,902 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 3,203 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 157 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 80,385 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 511,383 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 36,359,691 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 3,103 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 80,170,126 | |
Accumulated net investment loss | | | (225,450 | ) |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions | | | (47,768,006 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 4,179,918 | |
| | | | |
| | $ | 36,359,691 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 21,692,976 | | 1,832,981 | | $ | 11.83 |
B | | $ | 14,666,715 | | 1,270,193 | | $ | 11.55 |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $12) | | $ | 66,931 | |
Interest | | | 21 | |
| | | | |
| | | 66,952 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 147,665 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 19,795 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 1,390 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 931 | |
Custodian | | | 41,593 | |
Administrative | | | 38,680 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,200 | |
Printing | | | 4,340 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 1,860 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 292,402 | |
| | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (225,450 | ) |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | 2,785,563 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (3,049,518 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment transactions | | | (263,955 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (489,405 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (225,450 | ) | | $ | (454,105 | ) |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | | 2,785,563 | | | | (5,182,631 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (3,049,518 | ) | | | 16,946,484 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (489,405 | ) | | | 11,309,748 | |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (823,354 | ) | | | (2,751,075 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (1,312,759 | ) | | | 8,558,673 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 37,672,450 | | | | 29,113,777 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of ($225,450) and $0, respectively) | | $ | 36,359,691 | | | $ | 37,672,450 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
9
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 36,274,374 | | | | ��0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 36,274,374 | |
Warrants** | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 515,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 515,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 36,274,374 | | | | 515,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 36,789,374 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 36,274,374 | | | $ | 515,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 36,789,374 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
** | | The Portfolio held a level 3 security with zero market value at period end. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion, and .60% in excess of $5 billion of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $38,680.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $41,679, of which $1 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
11
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 18,511,616 | | | $ | 19,092,103 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 5,725,433 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (1,545,515 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 4,179,918 | |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 104,268 | | | 263,848 | | | | | $ | 1,343,630 | | | $ | 2,527,867 | |
Shares redeemed | | (185,722 | ) | | (483,772 | ) | | | | | (2,341,507 | ) | | | (4,597,586 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (81,454 | ) | | (219,924 | ) | | | | $ | (997,877 | ) | | $ | (2,069,719 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 335,858 | | | 383,986 | | | | | $ | 4,273,643 | | | $ | 3,793,386 | |
Shares redeemed | | (333,232 | ) | | (461,513 | ) | | | | | (4,099,120 | ) | | | (4,474,742 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | 2,626 | | | (77,527 | ) | | | | $ | 174,523 | | | $ | (681,356 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
13
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) (continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Components of Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | $ | (49,136,983 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 5,812,850 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (43,324,133 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward of $48,997,463 of which $41,226,800 expires in the year 2010, $1,108,672 expires in the year 2016, and $6,661,991 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. Net capital losses incurred after October 31, 2009 and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio defers post October capital losses of $139,520 to January 1, 2010. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
15
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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $11.95 | | | $8.43 | | | $15.48 | | | $13.57 | | | $12.26 | | | $11.65 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | �� | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss(a) | | (.07 | ) | | (.13 | ) | | (.13 | ) | | (.12 | ) | | (.12 | ) | | (.11 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (.05 | ) | | 3.65 | | | (6.92 | ) | | 2.03 | | | 1.43 | | | .72 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.12 | ) | | 3.52 | | | (7.05 | ) | | 1.91 | | | 1.31 | | | .61 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $11.83 | | | $11.95 | | | $8.43 | | | $15.48 | | | $13.57 | | | $12.26 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value(c) | | (1.00 | )% | | 41.76 | %* | | (45.54 | )%* | | 14.08 | % | | 10.69 | % | | 5.24 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $21,693 | | | $22,876 | | | $18,003 | | | $39,867 | | | $48,498 | | | $49,453 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.39 | %(d)(e) | | 1.62 | % | | 1.32 | % | | 1.20 | % | | 1.16 | %(e) | | 1.18 | % |
Net investment loss | | (1.04 | )%(d)(e) | | (1.33 | )% | | (1.02 | )% | | (.81 | )% | | (.90 | )%(e) | | (.93 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 48 | % | | 106 | % | | 129 | % | | 88 | % | | 76 | % | | 90 | % |
See footnote summary on page 17.
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $11.67 | | | $8.26 | | | $15.19 | | | $13.36 | | | $12.09 | | | $11.53 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss(a) | | (.08 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | (.15 | ) | | (.13 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (.04 | ) | | 3.56 | | | (6.78 | ) | | 1.98 | | | 1.42 | | | .69 | |
Contributions from Adviser | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | .00 | (b) | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.12 | ) | | 3.41 | | | (6.93 | ) | | 1.83 | | | 1.27 | | | .56 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $11.55 | | | $11.67 | | | $8.26 | | | $15.19 | | | $13.36 | | | $12.09 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value(c) | | (1.03 | )% | | 41.28 | %* | | (45.62 | )%* | | 13.70 | % | | 10.51 | % | | 4.86 | % |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $14,667 | | | $14,796 | | | $11,111 | | | $24,937 | | | $22,070 | | | $22,467 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | 1.63 | %(d)(e) | | 1.87 | % | | 1.60 | % | | 1.44 | % | | 1.41 | %(e) | | 1.43 | % |
Net investment loss | | (1.30 | )%(d)(e) | | (1.58 | )% | | (1.29 | )% | | (1.05 | )% | | (1.15 | )%(e) | | (1.18 | )% |
Portfolio turnover rate. | | 48 | % | | 106 | % | | 129 | % | | 88 | % | | 76 | % | | 90 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.28% and 0.40%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the “Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the Index) the since inception period (August 1996 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-year period, in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and 4th quintile of the Performance Universe for the 3- and 5-year periods and in the 2nd quintile of the Performance Group and 3rd quintile of the Performance Universe for the 10-year period, and that the Portfolio outperformed the Index in the 1- and 10-year periods but underperformed the Index in the 3- and 5-year and the since inception periods. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance over time had been satisfactory.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio although the institutional fee schedule provided for higher rates on the first $150 million of assets, and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate higher than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement (excluding the impact of the 25 basis point expense reimbursement to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement; including the impact would result in the same fee rate). 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund except that the Portfolio’s fee is a monthly fee based on average daily net assets and the Corresponding Fund’s fee is a quarterly fee based on net asset value at the end of each quarter.
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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors noted that the administrative expense reimbursement was 25 basis points in the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year, and that as a result the rate of total compensation received by the Adviser from the Portfolio pursuant to the Advisory Agreement was higher than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio was higher than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors noted that the Portfolio’s very small asset base of approximately $42 million significantly impacted the Portfolio’s expense ratio. The directors also noted that the Adviser had reviewed with them steps being taken that are intended to reduce the expenses of the AllianceBernstein Funds generally. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Growth | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 42.1 | | Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $80,222 (0.25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
Set forth below are the Portfolio’s total expense ratios for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | |
Portfolio | | Total Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | Class A 1.62% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.87% | | |
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | $42.1 | | Small Cap Growth Schedule 100 bp on 1st $50m 85 bp on next $50m 75 bp on the balance Minimum account size $25m | | 1.000 | | 0.750 |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9,559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Cap Fund, Inc.—Small Cap Growth Portfolio, a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Cap Fund, Inc.—Small Cap Growth Portfolio.6 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the AllianceBernstein Cap Fund, Inc.—Small Cap Growth Portfolio been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio7 | | Cap Fund, Inc—Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | Client #18 , 9 | | 0.60% on 1st $1 billion 0.55% on next $500 million 0.50% on next $500 million 0.45% on next $500 million 0.40% on the balance | | 0.600 | | 0.750 |
| | | | |
| | Client #2 | | 0.65% on 1st $25 million 0.60% on next $75 million 0.55% on the balance | | 0.630 | | 0.750 |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolios by the Adviser. In addition, to the extent that certain of these sub-advisory relationships are with affiliates of the Adviser, the fee schedules may not reflect arm’s-length bargaining or negotiations.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.10 Lipper’s
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
7 | | The advisory fee of AllianceBernstein Cap Fund, Inc. – Small Cap Growth Portfolio is based on the mutual fund’s net assets at the end of each quarter and is paid to the Adviser quarterly, in contrast to the Portfolio, whose advisory fee is based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets and is paid on a monthly basis. |
8 | | The client is an affiliate of the Adviser. |
9 | | Assets are aggregated with other similar managed accounts of the client for purposes of calculating the Investment advisory fee. |
10 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
23
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)11 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.12
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee13 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median | | Rank |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | 0.750 | | 0.875 | | 3/14 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU14 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.15
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)16 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | 1.618 | | 1.018 | | 14/14 | | 0.966 | | 38/38 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
11 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
12 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
13 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. |
14 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
15 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
16 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
24
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $30,711 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $182,623 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.17
The Portfolio effected brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and paid commissions for such transactions during the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from business conducted with the Portfolio is comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Portfolio. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Portfolio and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,18 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
17 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other Portfolios of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
18 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
25
| | |
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli19 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.20 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.21 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5 and 10 year performance rankings of the Portfolio22 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)23 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.24
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 40.54 | | 39.77 | | 40.43 | | 6/14 | | 23/48 |
3 year | | –6.39 | | –6.39 | | –6.02 | | 7/13 | | 26/42 |
5 year | | 0.14 | | –0.20 | | 1.23 | | 6/12 | | 25/38 |
10 year | | –0.22 | | –3.49 | | –0.12 | | 3/9 | | 16/29 |
19 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
20 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
21 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
22 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
23 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
24 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
26
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)25 versus its benchmark.26 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.27
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | 10 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Small Cap Growth Portfolio | | 40.54 | | – | 6.39 | | 0.14 | | – | 0.22 | | 2.04 | | 24.26 | | | 0.00 | | 10 |
Russell 2000 Growth Index | | 39.03 | | – | 6.03 | | 0.88 | | – | 1.73 | | 2.96 | | 25.41 | | – | 0.05 | | 10 |
Inception Date: August 5, 1996 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
25 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
26 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
27 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
27
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each class’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each class’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 980.81 | | $ | 4.13 | | 0.84 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.63 | | $ | 4.21 | | 0.84 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 979.23 | | $ | 5.35 | | 1.09 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,019.39 | | $ | 5.46 | | 1.09 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Pepco Holdings, Inc. | | $ | 6,281,408 | | 1.4 | % |
Portland General Electric Co. | | | 6,032,403 | | 1.4 | |
NiSource, Inc. | | | 5,863,800 | | 1.4 | |
CMS Energy Corp. | | | 5,860,000 | | 1.4 | |
Constellation Brands, Inc.—Class A | | | 5,597,037 | | 1.3 | |
Comerica, Inc. | | | 5,509,768 | | 1.3 | |
WESCO International, Inc. | | | 5,498,311 | | 1.3 | |
Community Health Systems, Inc. | | | 5,345,361 | | 1.2 | |
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.—Class A | | | 5,343,499 | | 1.2 | |
Commercial Metals Co. | | | 5,332,948 | | 1.2 | |
| | | | | | |
| | $ | 56,664,535 | | 13.1 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 98,455,167 | | 22.4 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 69,769,461 | | 15.9 | |
Industrials | | | 49,428,952 | | 11.2 | |
Information Technology | | | 43,633,178 | | 9.9 | |
Energy | | | 41,942,637 | | 9.5 | |
Utilities | | | 36,200,521 | | 8.2 | |
Materials | | | 34,544,259 | | 7.9 | |
Health Care | | | 28,233,039 | | 6.4 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 25,748,559 | | 5.9 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 11,797,000 | | 2.7 | |
| | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 439,752,773 | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–98.8% | | | | | |
FINANCIALS–22.7% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–0.5% | | | | | |
MF Global Holdings Ltd.(a) | | 387,600 | | $ | 2,213,196 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–7.7% | | | | | |
Associated Banc-Corp | | 315,100 | | | 3,863,126 |
City National Corp. | | 51,250 | | | 2,625,537 |
Comerica, Inc. | | 149,600 | | | 5,509,768 |
Marshall & Ilsley Corp. | | 515,500 | | | 3,701,290 |
Popular, Inc.(a) | | 1,331,457 | | | 3,568,305 |
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. | | 480,464 | | | 4,002,265 |
Umpqua Holdings Corp. | | 231,340 | | | 2,655,783 |
Webster Financial Corp. | | 215,700 | | | 3,869,658 |
Whitney Holding Corp. | | 386,100 | | | 3,571,425 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 33,367,157 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE – 5.3% | | | | | |
Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. | | 159,800 | | | 3,953,452 |
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. | | 124,400 | | | 4,668,732 |
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.–Class A | | 205,800 | | | 2,673,342 |
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.–Class A | | 116,900 | | | 5,343,499 |
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. | | 58,500 | | | 2,371,590 |
Unum Group | | 178,400 | | | 3,871,280 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 22,881,895 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–4.9% | | | | | |
Brandywine Realty Trust | | 260,500 | | | 2,800,375 |
Camden Property Trust | | 94,100 | | | 3,843,985 |
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | | 257,500 | | | 3,203,300 |
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.(a) | | 457,200 | | | 3,758,184 |
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(a) | | 381,830 | | | 3,791,572 |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers | | 89,500 | | | 3,703,510 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,100,926 |
| | | | | |
REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–1.5% | | | | | |
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 236,200 | | | 3,214,682 |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 49,600 | | | 3,255,744 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,470,426 |
| | | | | |
THRIFTS & MORTGAGE FINANCE–2.8% | | | | | |
Astoria Financial Corp. | | 227,100 | | | 3,124,896 |
First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. | | 399,500 | | | 5,005,735 |
Washington Federal, Inc. | | 265,200 | | | 4,290,936 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,421,567 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 98,455,167 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–16.1% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–3.9% | | | | | |
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. | | 206,900 | | $ | 4,034,550 |
Dana Holding Corp.(a) | | 489,900 | | | 4,899,000 |
Federal-Mogul Corp.(a) | | 323,900 | | | 4,217,178 |
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.(a) | | 143,100 | | | 3,945,267 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 17,095,995 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–2.5% | | | | | |
Boyd Gaming Corp.(a) | | 277,400 | | | 2,355,126 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a) | | 203,200 | | | 4,626,864 |
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. | | 189,800 | | | 3,822,572 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,804,562 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–2.3% | | | | | |
American Greetings Corp. | | 245,200 | | | 4,599,952 |
NVR, Inc.(a) | | 4,450 | | | 2,914,883 |
Pulte Group, Inc.(a) | | 283,700 | | | 2,349,036 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,863,871 |
| | | | | |
LEISURE EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS–0.5% | | | | | |
Callaway Golf Co. | | 344,900 | | | 2,083,196 |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–1.5% | | | | | |
CBS Corp.–Class B | | 190,200 | | | 2,459,286 |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)(a) | | 549,200 | | | 3,915,796 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,375,082 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–4.4% | | | | | |
AnnTaylor Stores Corp.(a) | | 255,700 | | | 4,160,239 |
Dress Barn, Inc. (The)(a) | | 109,600 | | | 2,609,576 |
Foot Locker, Inc. | | 216,950 | | | 2,737,909 |
Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The) | | 218,200 | | | 4,006,152 |
Office Depot, Inc.(a) | | 727,400 | | | 2,938,696 |
Signet Jewelers Ltd.(a) | | 94,600 | | | 2,601,500 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 19,054,072 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–1.0% | | | | | |
Jones Apparel Group, Inc. | | 283,450 | | | 4,492,683 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 69,769,461 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–11.4% | | | | | |
AIRLINES–0.6% | | | | | |
Alaska Air Group, Inc.(a) | | 57,400 | | | 2,580,130 |
| | | | | |
BUILDING PRODUCTS–1.2% | | | | | |
AO Smith Corp. | | 60,700 | | | 2,925,133 |
Masco Corp. | | 235,000 | | | 2,528,600 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,453,733 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–3.1% | | | | | |
EnerSys(a) | | 161,400 | | | 3,449,118 |
General Cable Corp.(a) | | 182,400 | | | 4,860,960 |
Thomas & Betts Corp.(a) | | 149,150 | | | 5,175,505 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,485,583 |
| | | | | |
3
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–3.0% | | | | | |
Briggs & Stratton Corp. | | 224,100 | | $ | 3,814,182 |
Mueller Industries, Inc. | | 185,300 | | | 4,558,380 |
Terex Corp.(a) | | 243,100 | | | 4,555,694 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,928,256 |
| | | | | |
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.9% | | | | | |
Kelly Services, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 258,200 | | | 3,839,434 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–1.3% | | | | | |
Con-way, Inc. | | 83,150 | | | 2,496,163 |
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 332,700 | | | 3,147,342 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,643,505 |
| | | | | |
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–1.3% | | | | | |
WESCO International, Inc.(a) | | 163,300 | | | 5,498,311 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 49,428,952 |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–10.1% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–0.9% | | | | | |
CommScope, Inc.(a) | | 161,500 | | | 3,838,855 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–0.6% | | | | | |
NCR Corp.(a) | | 226,000 | | | 2,739,120 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–4.7% | | | | | |
Anixter International, Inc.(a) | | 108,900 | | | 4,639,140 |
Arrow Electronics, Inc.(a) | | 111,600 | | | 2,494,260 |
AU Optronics Corp. (Sponsored ADR) | | 314,942 | | | 2,796,685 |
Avnet, Inc.(a) | | 106,600 | | | 2,570,126 |
Flextronics International Ltd.(a) | | 660,700 | | | 3,699,920 |
Insight Enterprises, Inc.(a) | | 299,900 | | | 3,946,684 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 20,146,815 |
| | | | | |
IT SERVICES–1.6% | | | | | |
Amdocs Ltd.(a) | | 85,600 | | | 2,298,360 |
Convergys Corp.(a) | | 475,200 | | | 4,661,712 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,960,072 |
| | | | | |
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–2.3% | | | | | |
Lam Research Corp.(a) | | 100,600 | | | 3,828,836 |
Siliconware Precision Industries Co. (Sponsored ADR) | | 546,800 | | | 2,925,380 |
Teradyne, Inc.(a) | | 327,600 | | | 3,194,100 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,948,316 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 43,633,178 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–9.7% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–3.9% | | | | | |
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.(a) | | 441,900 | | | 4,759,263 |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 119,800 | | $ | 4,375,096 |
Oil States International, Inc.(a) | | 63,700 | | | 2,521,246 |
Rowan Cos., Inc.(a) | | 228,900 | | | 5,022,066 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,677,671 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–5.8% | | | | | |
Cimarex Energy Co. | | 72,375 | | | 5,180,603 |
Forest Oil Corp.(a) | | 180,700 | | | 4,943,952 |
Patriot Coal Corp.(a) | | 176,500 | | | 2,073,875 |
Southern Union Co. | | 185,600 | | | 4,057,216 |
Teekay Corp. | | 179,900 | | | 4,707,983 |
Whiting Petroleum Corp.(a) | | 54,850 | | | 4,301,337 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,264,966 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 41,942,637 |
| | | | | |
UTILITIES–8.4% | | | | | |
ELECTRIC UTILITIES–4.9% | | | | | |
Northeast Utilities | | 187,500 | | | 4,777,500 |
NV Energy, Inc. | | 344,800 | | | 4,072,088 |
Pepco Holdings, Inc. | | 400,600 | | | 6,281,408 |
Portland General Electric Co. | | 329,100 | | | 6,032,403 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,163,399 |
| | | | | |
MULTI-UTILITIES–3.5% | | | | | |
CMS Energy Corp. | | 400,000 | | | 5,860,000 |
NiSource, Inc. | | 404,400 | | | 5,863,800 |
Wisconsin Energy Corp. | | 65,300 | | | 3,313,322 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 15,037,122 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 36,200,521 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–8.0% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–5.0% | | | | | |
Arch Chemicals, Inc. | | 141,500 | | | 4,349,710 |
Cytec Industries, Inc. | | 106,100 | | | 4,242,939 |
Huntsman Corp. | | 493,950 | | | 4,282,546 |
PolyOne Corp.(a) | | 452,600 | | | 3,810,892 |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 221,900 | | | 5,034,911 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 21,720,998 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–3.0% | | | | | |
AK Steel Holding Corp. | | 41,600 | | | 495,872 |
Commercial Metals Co. | | 403,400 | | | 5,332,948 |
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | 122,225 | | | 4,418,434 |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | 195,300 | | | 2,576,007 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 12,823,261 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 34,544,259 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–6.5% | | | | | |
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–2.1% | | | | | |
Kinetic Concepts, Inc.(a) | | 139,300 | | | 5,085,843 |
Teleflex, Inc. | | 78,450 | | | 4,258,266 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,344,109 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–3.7% | | | | | |
AMERIGROUP Corp.(a) | | 77,800 | | | 2,526,944 |
Community Health Systems, Inc.(a) | | 158,100 | | | 5,345,361 |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | |
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.(a) | | | 160,745 | | $ | 5,047,393 | |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.(a) | | | 103,425 | | | 2,978,640 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 15,898,338 | |
| | | | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–0.7% | | | | | | | |
Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.(a) | | | 115,200 | | | 2,990,592 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 28,233,039 | |
| | | | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–5.9% | | | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–1.3% | | | | | | | |
Constellation Brands, Inc.–Class A(a) | | | 358,325 | | | 5,597,037 | |
| | | | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–0.5% | | | | | | | |
SUPERVALU, Inc. | | | 215,300 | | | 2,333,852 | |
| | | | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–3.4% | | | | | | | |
Bunge Ltd. | | | 60,400 | | | 2,971,076 | |
Dean Foods Co.(a) | | | 414,400 | | | 4,173,008 | |
Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a) | | | 303,500 | | | 4,522,150 | |
Tyson Foods, Inc.–Class A | | | 200,400 | | | 3,284,556 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 14,950,790 | |
| | | | | | | |
TOBACCO–0.7% | | | | | | | |
Universal Corp. | | | 72,250 | | | 2,866,880 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 25,748,559 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $440,127,477) | | | | | | 427,955,773 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | Principal Amount (000) | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–2.7% | | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–2.7% | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $11,797,000) | | $ | 11,797 | | | 11,797,000 | |
| | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.5% (cost $451,924,477) | | | | | | 439,752,773 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(1.5)% | | | | | | (6,318,297 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 433,434,476 | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $451,924,477) | | $ | 439,752,773 | |
Cash | | | 65 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 975,703 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 323,225 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 301,771 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 441,353,537 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 6,725,930 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 652,303 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 290,265 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 65,463 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 21,561 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 160 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 163,379 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 7,919,061 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 433,434,476 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 33,176 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 491,791,563 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 208,127 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions | | | (46,426,686 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | | | (12,171,704 | ) |
| | | | |
| | $ | 433,434,476 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 138,726,129 | | 10,591,624 | | $ | 13.10 |
B | | $ | 294,708,347 | | 22,584,327 | | $ | 13.05 |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 2,516,059 | |
Interest | | | 849 | |
| | | | |
| | | 2,516,908 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 1,719,414 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 383,653 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 1,134 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 2,275 | |
Printing | | | 71,981 | |
Custodian | | | 56,110 | |
Administrative | | | 37,660 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,024 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,848 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 4,845 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 2,313,044 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 203,864 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | 22,941,700 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (39,388,979 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment transactions | | | (16,447,279 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (16,243,415 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENTOF CHANGESIN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 203,864 | | | $ | 1,681,790 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | | 22,941,700 | | | | (40,940,353 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | | (39,388,979 | ) | | | 158,134,663 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (16,243,415 | ) | | | 118,876,100 | |
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (697,881 | ) | | | (1,145,821 | ) |
Class B | | | (881,228 | ) | | | (1,833,370 | ) |
Net realized gain on investment transactions | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | –0 | – | | | (4,471,498 | ) |
Class B | | | –0 | – | | | (9,670,520 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | 52,331,356 | | | | (5,783,835 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase | | | 34,508,832 | | | | 95,971,056 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 398,925,644 | | | | 302,954,588 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $208,127 and $1,583,372, respectively) | | $ | 433,434,476 | | | $ | 398,925,644 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value 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 Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
9
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 427,955,773 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 427,955,773 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 11,797,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 11,797,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 427,955,773 | | | | 11,797,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 439,752,773 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 427,955,773 | | | $ | 11,797,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 439,752,773 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
10
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’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 to 1.20% and 1.45% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. This waiver extends through May 1, 2011 and may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, there were no expenses waived by the Adviser.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $37,660.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $312,068, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
11
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SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 165,318,808 | | | $ | 113,732,240 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 37,908,026 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (50,079,730 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (12,171,704 | ) |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
12
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 2,076,518 | | | 2,288,686 | | | | | $ | 31,110,350 | | | $ | 24,816,225 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | 44,622 | | | 528,938 | | | | | | 697,881 | | | | 5,617,319 | |
Shares redeemed | | (1,544,106 | ) | | (2,882,308 | ) | | | | | (22,291,136 | ) | | | (29,363,402 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | 577,034 | | | (64,684 | ) | | | | $ | 9,517,095 | | | $ | 1,070,142 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 4,938,175 | | | 4,320,379 | | | | | $ | 73,608,112 | | | $ | 46,039,668 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | 56,525 | | | 1,086,297 | | | | | | 881,228 | | | | 11,503,890 | |
Shares redeemed | | (2,223,720 | ) | | (6,161,732 | ) | | | | | (31,675,079 | ) | | | (64,397,535 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | 2,770,980 | | | (755,056 | ) | | | | $ | 42,814,261 | | | $ | (6,853,977 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F : Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
13
| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G : Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H : Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 3,067,524 | | $ | 9,900,980 |
Long-term capital gains | | | 14,053,685 | | | 31,359,292 |
| | | | | | |
Total taxable distributions | | | 17,121,209 | | | 41,260,272 |
| | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 17,121,209 | | $ | 41,260,272 |
| | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 1,568,490 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (67,504,121 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 25,353,010 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (40,582,621 | )(c) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $67,504,121 which expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
(c) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable to deferred income from an underlying security. |
NOTE I : Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
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| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
15
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| | |
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $13.41 | | | $9.92 | | | $17.11 | | | $18.08 | | | $17.06 | | | $16.84 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .02 | | | .08 | | | .13 | | | .11 | | | .20 | | | .09 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (.27 | ) | | 4.01 | | | (5.63 | ) | | .36 | | | 2.14 | | | 1.02 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.25 | ) | | 4.09 | | | (5.50 | ) | | .47 | | | 2.34 | | | 1.11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.06 | ) | | (.12 | ) | | (.11 | ) | | (.17 | ) | | (.08 | ) | | (.13 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0– | | | (.48 | ) | | (1.58 | ) | | (1.27 | ) | | (1.24 | ) | | (.76 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.06 | ) | | (.60 | ) | | (1.69 | ) | | (1.44 | ) | | (1.32 | ) | | (.89 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $13.10 | | | $13.41 | | | $9.92 | | | $17.11 | | | $18.08 | | | $17.06 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (1.92 | )% | | 42.86 | % | | (35.58 | )% | | 1.71 | % | | 14.42 | % | | 6.91 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $138,726 | | | $134,291 | | | $99,957 | | | $146,350 | | | $159,804 | | | $134,235 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .84 | %(d)(e) | | .87 | % | | .86 | % | | .83 | % | | .86 | %(e) | | .87 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .84 | %(d)(e) | | .87 | % | | .86 | % | | .83 | % | | .86 | %(e) | | .87 | % |
Net investment income | | .26 | %(d)(e) | | .70 | % | | .95 | % | | .59 | % | | 1.15 | %(e) | | .53 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 26 | % | | 58 | % | | 49 | % | | 32 | % | | 46 | % | | 33 | % |
See footnote summary on page 17.
16
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $13.36 | | | $9.87 | | | $17.03 | | | $18.00 | | | $16.99 | | | $16.79 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .00 | (f) | | .05 | | | .10 | | | .07 | | | .16 | | | .05 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | (.27 | ) | | 4.01 | | | (5.61 | ) | | .37 | | | 2.13 | | | 1.01 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.27 | ) | | 4.06 | | | (5.51 | ) | | .44 | | | 2.29 | | | 1.06 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.04 | ) | | (.09 | ) | | (.07 | ) | | (.14 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.10 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | (.48 | ) | | (1.58 | ) | | (1.27 | ) | | (1.24 | ) | | (.76 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.04 | ) | | (.57 | ) | | (1.65 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.28 | ) | | (.86 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $13.05 | | | $13.36 | | | $9.87 | | | $17.03 | | | $18.00 | | | $16.99 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (2.08 | )% | | 42.66 | % | | (35.75 | )% | | 1.53 | % | | 14.20 | % | | 6.63 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $294,708 | | | $264,635 | | | $202,997 | | | $294,664 | | | $251,412 | | | $186,415 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | 1.09 | %(d)(e) | | 1.12 | % | | 1.11 | % | | 1.08 | % | | 1.11 | %(e) | | 1.12 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | 1.09 | %(d)(e) | | 1.12 | % | | 1.11 | % | | 1.08 | % | | 1.11 | %(e) | | 1.12 | % |
Net investment income | | .00 | %(d)(e)(g) | | .42 | % | | .72 | % | | .35 | % | | .91 | %(e) | | .29 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 26 | % | | 58 | % | | 49 | % | | 32 | % | | 46 | % | | 33 | % |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Net of expenses reimbursed or waived by the Adviser. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
(f) | | Amount is less than $.005. |
(g) | Amount is less than .005%. |
See notes to financial statements.
17
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SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts 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 Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
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Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 2500 Value Index and the Russell 2500 Index, in each case for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the indices) the since inception period (May 2001 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 1st quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1- and 3-year periods and in the 2nd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 5-year period, and that the Portfolio outperformed both indices in all periods reviewed. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s relative performance over time had been satisfactory.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper
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SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year expense ratio. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 75 basis points, plus the 3 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio, which had been capped by the Adviser (although the expense ratio was currently lower than the cap), was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was satisfactory.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
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SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Specialty | | 75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 65 bp on next $2.5 billion 60 bp on the balance | | $ | 476.4 | | Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $82,401 (0.03% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
The Adviser has agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse the Portfolio for that portion of its total operating expenses to the degree necessary to limit the Portfolio’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Portfolio’s fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser on May 1st of each year upon at least 60 days written notice. It should be noted that the Portfolio was operating below its expense caps for the most recent fiscal year; accordingly the
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Fund and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
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SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
expense limitation undertaking of the Portfolio was of no effect. In addition, set forth below are the gross expense ratios of the Portfolio for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Cap Pursuant to Expense Limitation Undertaking | | Gross Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year End |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | Class A 1.20% | | 0.87% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.45% | | 1.12% | | |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
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fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | $ | 476.4 | | Small & Mid Cap Value Schedule | | 0.592 | | 0.750 |
| | | | | 95 bp on 1st $25m | | | | |
| | | | | 75 bp on next $25m | | | | |
| | | | | 65 bp on next $50m | | | | |
| | | | | 55 bp on the balance | | | | |
| | | | | Minimum account size $25m | | | | |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, a retail mutual fund, which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Small/Mid Cap Value Fund6. Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the Small Mid/Cap Value Fund been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | Small/Mid Cap Value Fund | | 0.75% on first $2.5 billion 0.65% on next $2.5 billion 0.60% on the balance | | 0.750 | | 0.750 |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | Client #1 | | 0.50% on 1st $250 million | | 0.476 | | 0.750 |
| | | | 0.45% on the balance | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Client #2 | | 0.95% on 1st $25 million | | 0.592 | | 0.750 |
| | | | 0.75% on next $25 million | | | | |
| | | | 0.65% on next $50 million | | | | |
| | | | 0.55% on the balance | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Client #3 | | 0.613% on 1st $150 million | | 0.532 | | 0.750 |
| | | | 0.495% on the balance | | | | |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Portfolios by the Adviser.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund. |
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SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.7 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)8 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.9
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
The Portfolio’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Senior Officer and the Adviser, Lipper expanded the Portfolio’s EG to include peers that have similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee10 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio11 | | 0.750 | | 0.815 | | 3/14 |
However, because Lipper had expanded the EG of the Portfolio, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include the universes of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.12 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment classification/objective as the subject Portfolio.13
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009,
7 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
8 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
9 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
10 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. In addition, the contractual management fee would not reflect any advisory fee waivers or expense reimbursements related to expense caps that would effectively reduce the actual management fee. |
11 | | The Portfolio’s EG includes the Portfolio, twelve other VIP Small-Cap Value funds (“SCVE”) and one VIP Small-Cap Core funds (“SCCE”). |
12 | | It should be noted that the expansion of the Portfolio’s EU was not requested by the Adviser or the Senior Officer. They requested that only the EG be expanded. |
13 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
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when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.14
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)15 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio16 | | 0.868 | | 0.903 | | 6/14 | | 0.884 | | 8/17 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $546,617 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payment in the amount of $299,714 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.17
14 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
15 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
16 | | The Portfolio’s EU includes the Portfolio, EG and all other VIP SCVE and SCCE funds, excluding outliers. |
17 | | The Fund (which includes the Portfolio and other Portfolios of the Fund) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
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SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Portfolio may effect brokerage transactions in the future through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio did not effect any brokerage transactions with and pay any commission to SCB. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any future business conducted with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,18 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli19 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.20 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.21 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
18 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
19 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
20 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
21 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
26
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, and 5 year performance rankings of the Portfolio22 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)23 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.24
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 57.31 | | 44.10 | | 44.17 | | 1/14 | | 2/24 |
3 year | | -3.75 | | -6.69 | | -7.13 | | 2/14 | | 3/20 |
5 year | | 2.85 | | 2.13 | | 2.10 | | 4/10 | | 5/15 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)25 versus its benchmark.26 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.27
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio | | 57.31 | | -3.75 | | 2.85 | | 8.07 | | 21.97 | | 0.11 | | 5 |
Russell 2500 Value Index | | 40.69 | | -8.48 | | 0.95 | | 6.23 | | 20.29 | | 0.01 | | 5 |
Russell 2500 Index | | 42.74 | | -6.76 | | 1.58 | | 4.65 | | N/A | | N/A | | 5 |
Inception Date: May 2, 2001 | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
22 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
23 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including in or excluding a fund from a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU. |
24 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
25 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
26 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
27 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
27
AllianceBernstein
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Value Portfolio |
Semi-Annual Report
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Investment Products Offered
| Ø | | Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
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 recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) web site at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein 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 on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q 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.
AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
| | |
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FUND EXPENSES (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
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 first line of each classes’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of each classes’ table below 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. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.
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 second line of each classes’ table 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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Value Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2010 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2010 | | Expenses Paid During Period* | | Annualized Expense Ratio* | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 927.22 | | $ | 3.30 | | 0.69 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,021.37 | | $ | 3.46 | | 0.69 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 925.64 | | $ | 4.49 | | 0.94 | % |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,020.13 | | $ | 4.71 | | 0.94 | % |
* | | Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
1
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS* | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | |
COMPANY | | U.S. $ VALUE | | | PERCENT OF NET ASSETS | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | $ | 6,909,696 | | | 3.8 | % |
Bank of America Corp. | | | 6,890,415 | | | 3.8 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 6,238,720 | | | 3.4 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | | | 5,799,542 | | | 3.2 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 5,425,602 | | | 3.0 | |
Johnson & Johnson | | | 5,321,306 | | | 2.9 | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | 5,140,375 | | | 2.8 | |
Chevron Corp. | | | 4,695,912 | | | 2.6 | |
Time Warner Cable, Inc.—Class A | | | 3,978,912 | | | 2.2 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | | 3,924,973 | | | 2.1 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | $ | 54,325,453 | | | 29.8 | % |
SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION
June 30, 2010 (unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
SECTOR | | U.S. $ VALUE | | | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |
Financials | | $ | 41,913,825 | | | 22.3 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 32,303,587 | | | 17.2 | |
Energy | | | 25,941,149 | | | 13.8 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 22,852,947 | | | 12.1 | |
Health Care | | | 17,466,682 | | | 9.3 | |
Industrials | | | 11,869,392 | | | 6.3 | |
Information Technology | | | 11,574,991 | | | 6.1 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 9,000,537 | | | 4.8 | |
Materials | | | 3,588,456 | | | 1.9 | |
Utilities | | | 2,887,246 | | | 1.5 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 8,938,000 | | | 4.7 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 188,336,812 | | | 100.0 | % |
Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The fund components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the Broad Market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus.
2
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS–98.5% | | | | | |
| | | | | |
FINANCIALS–23.0% | | | | | |
CAPITAL MARKETS–3.8% | | | | | |
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | | 20,500 | | $ | 740,665 |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | | 29,900 | | | 3,924,973 |
Morgan Stanley | | 94,700 | | | 2,197,987 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 6,863,625 |
| | | | | |
COMMERCIAL BANKS–5.9% | | | | | |
BB&T Corp. | | 67,100 | | | 1,765,401 |
Comerica, Inc. | | 29,500 | | | 1,086,485 |
Fifth Third Bancorp | | 137,300 | | | 1,687,417 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | 243,700 | | | 6,238,720 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 10,778,023 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER FINANCE–0.8% | | | | | |
Capital One Financial Corp. | | 37,300 | | | 1,503,190 |
| | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–7.5% | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | 479,500 | | | 6,890,415 |
Citigroup, Inc.(a) | | 365,900 | | | 1,375,784 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 148,200 | | | 5,425,602 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 13,691,801 |
| | | | | |
INSURANCE–5.0% | | | | | |
ACE Ltd. | | 16,400 | | | 844,272 |
Allstate Corp. (The) | | 37,300 | | | 1,071,629 |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.(a) | | 23,700 | | | 1,888,653 |
Chubb Corp. | | 15,500 | | | 775,155 |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | | 41,700 | | | 977,448 |
Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) | | 49,400 | | | 2,432,950 |
XL Group PLC | | 67,900 | | | 1,087,079 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,077,186 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 41,913,825 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–17.7% | | | | | |
AUTO COMPONENTS–0.8% | | | | | |
Lear Corp.(a) | | 13,600 | | | 900,320 |
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.(a) | | 19,600 | | | 540,372 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,440,692 |
| | | | | |
AUTOMOBILES–0.7% | | | | | |
Ford Motor Co.(a) | | 132,100 | | | 1,331,568 |
| | | | | |
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–0.4% | | | | | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a) | | 36,200 | | | 824,274 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–3.0% | | | | | |
DR Horton, Inc. | | 74,100 | | | 728,403 |
Fortune Brands, Inc. | | 10,300 | | | 403,554 |
Garmin Ltd. | | 63,200 | | | 1,844,176 |
NVR, Inc.(a) | | 2,400 | | | 1,572,072 |
Pulte Group, Inc.(a) | | 103,900 | | | 860,292 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,408,497 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
MEDIA–8.9% | | | | | |
Cablevision Systems Corp. | | 48,600 | | $ | 1,166,886 |
CBS Corp.–Class B | | 112,800 | | | 1,458,504 |
Comcast Corp.–Class A | | 152,800 | | | 2,654,136 |
DIRECTV(a) | | 48,500 | | | 1,645,120 |
News Corp.–Class A | | 192,200 | | | 2,298,712 |
Time Warner Cable, Inc.–Class A | | 76,400 | | | 3,978,912 |
Time Warner, Inc. | | 104,600 | | | 3,023,986 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 16,226,256 |
| | | | | |
SPECIALTY RETAIL–3.0% | | | | | |
Foot Locker, Inc. | | 40,400 | | | 509,848 |
Gap, Inc. (The) | | 90,200 | | | 1,755,292 |
Office Depot, Inc.(a) | | 180,800 | | | 730,432 |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 27,200 | | | 1,449,488 |
TJX Cos., Inc. | | 22,200 | | | 931,290 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,376,350 |
| | | | | |
TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.9% | | | | | |
Jones Apparel Group, Inc. | | 107,000 | | | 1,695,950 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 32,303,587 |
| | | | | |
ENERGY–14.2% | | | | | |
ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.0% | | | | | |
Ensco PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 58,000 | | | 2,278,240 |
Rowan Cos., Inc.(a) | | 46,300 | | | 1,015,822 |
Transocean Ltd.(a) | | 10,300 | | | 477,199 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,771,261 |
| | | | | |
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–12.2% | | | | | |
Apache Corp. | | 11,100 | | | 934,509 |
Chevron Corp. | | 69,200 | | | 4,695,912 |
Cimarex Energy Co. | | 24,800 | | | 1,775,184 |
ConocoPhillips | | 58,200 | | | 2,857,038 |
Devon Energy Corp. | | 48,700 | | | 2,966,804 |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | 7,500 | | | 428,025 |
Forest Oil Corp.(a) | | 50,600 | | | 1,384,416 |
Marathon Oil Corp. | | 58,700 | | | 1,824,983 |
Newfield Exploration Co.(a) | | 27,900 | | | 1,363,194 |
Nexen, Inc. (New York) | | 69,700 | | | 1,370,999 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | 5,200 | | | 401,180 |
Total SA (Sponsored ADR) | | 5,300 | | | 236,592 |
Valero Energy Corp. | | 107,400 | | | 1,931,052 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 22,169,888 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 25,941,149 |
| | | | | |
CONSUMER STAPLES–12.6% | | | | | |
BEVERAGES–0.6% | | | | | |
Constellation Brands, Inc.–Class A(a) | | 71,500 | | | 1,116,830 |
| | | | | |
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–1.3% | | | | | |
Safeway, Inc. | | 80,400 | | | 1,580,664 |
SUPERVALU, Inc. | | 67,000 | | | 726,280 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,306,944 |
| | | | | |
3
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
PORTFOLIOOF INVESTMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
FOOD PRODUCTS–4.6% | | | | | |
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | | 39,850 | | $ | 1,028,927 |
Bunge Ltd. | | 21,900 | | | 1,077,261 |
Kraft Foods, Inc.–Class A | | 65,900 | | | 1,845,200 |
Sara Lee Corp. | | 153,500 | | | 2,164,350 |
Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a) | | 91,200 | | | 1,358,880 |
Tyson Foods, Inc.–Class A | | 49,700 | | | 814,583 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 8,289,201 |
| | | | | |
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–3.8% | | | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | 115,200 | | | 6,909,696 |
| | | | | |
TOBACCO–2.3% | | | | | |
Altria Group, Inc. | | 108,100 | | | 2,166,324 |
Reynolds American, Inc. | | 39,600 | | | 2,063,952 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 4,230,276 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 22,852,947 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE–9.6% | | | | | |
BIOTECHNOLOGY–0.8% | | | | | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a) | | 42,100 | | | 1,443,188 |
| | | | | |
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–0.7% | | | | | |
Community Health Systems, Inc.(a) | | 39,900 | | | 1,349,019 |
| | | | | |
PHARMACEUTICALS–8.1% | | | | | |
AstraZeneca PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 24,500 | | | 1,154,685 |
Johnson & Johnson | | 90,100 | | | 5,321,306 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 68,600 | | | 2,398,942 |
Pfizer, Inc. | | 406,700 | | | 5,799,542 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 14,674,475 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 17,466,682 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIALS–6.5% | | | | | |
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–1.2% | | | | | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | | 28,400 | | | 1,546,096 |
Raytheon Co. | | 12,000 | | | 580,680 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,126,776 |
| | | | | |
AIRLINES–0.8% | | | | | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc.(a) | | 126,800 | | | 1,489,900 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–0.4% | | | |
Cooper Industries PLC | | 18,000 | | | 792,000 |
| | | | | |
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–2.0% | | | | | |
General Electric Co. | | 215,300 | | | 3,104,626 |
Textron, Inc. | | 37,300 | | | 632,981 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,737,607 |
| | | | | |
MACHINERY–2.0% | | | | | |
Ingersoll-Rand PLC | | 88,700 | | | 3,059,263 |
SPX Corp. | | 10,600 | | | 559,786 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,619,049 |
| | | | | |
ROAD & RAIL–0.1% | | | | | |
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.(a) | | 11,000 | | | 104,060 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,869,392 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–6.4% | | | | | |
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.8% | | | | | |
Motorola, Inc.(a) | | 383,100 | | $ | 2,497,812 |
Nokia Oyj (Sponsored ADR)–Class A | | 97,100 | | | 791,365 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,289,177 |
| | | | | |
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS–2.0% | | | | | |
Dell, Inc.(a) | | 90,800 | | | 1,095,048 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | | 40,500 | | | 1,752,840 |
Seagate Technology(a) | | 61,800 | | | 805,872 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,653,760 |
| | | | | |
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–1.2% | | | | | |
Tyco Electronics Ltd. | | 81,900 | | | 2,078,622 |
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.(a) | | 5,500 | | | 42,570 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,121,192 |
| | | | | |
INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES–0.3% | | | | | |
AOL, Inc.(a) | | 25,700 | | | 534,303 |
| | | | | |
SOFTWARE–1.1% | | | | | |
Microsoft Corp. | �� | 85,900 | | | 1,976,559 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 11,574,991 |
| | | | | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.9% | | | | | |
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–2.9% | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | 212,500 | | | 5,140,375 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | 8,900 | | | 249,378 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 5,389,753 |
| | | | | |
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–2.0% | | | | | |
Sprint Nextel Corp.(a) | | 485,000 | | | 2,056,400 |
Vodafone Group PLC (Sponsored ADR) | | 75,200 | | | 1,554,384 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,610,784 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 9,000,537 |
| | | | | |
MATERIALS–2.0% | | | | | |
CHEMICALS–0.2% | | | | | |
Huntsman Corp. | | 43,400 | | | 376,278 |
| | | | | |
METALS & MINING–1.8% | | | | | |
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | 29,400 | | | 1,738,422 |
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | 18,000 | | | 650,700 |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | 62,400 | | | 823,056 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,212,178 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 3,588,456 |
| | | | | |
4
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | |
Company | | Shares | | U.S. $ Value |
| | | | | |
UTILITIES–1.6% | | | | | |
ELECTRIC UTILITIES–0.9% | | | | | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | 18,900 | | $ | 610,470 |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | | 26,600 | | | 967,176 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 1,577,646 |
| | | | | |
INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS & ENERGY TRADERS–0.6% | | | | | |
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | 32,200 | | | 1,038,450 |
| | | | | |
MULTI-UTILITIES–0.1% | | | | | |
NiSource, Inc. | | 18,700 | | | 271,150 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2,887,246 |
| | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $184,136,721) | | | | | 179,398,812 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Company | | Principal Amount (000) | | U.S. $ Value | |
| | | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–4.9% | | | | | | | |
TIME DEPOSIT–4.9% | | | | | | | |
State Street Time Deposit 0.01%, 7/01/10 (cost $8,938,000) | | $ | 8,938 | | $ | 8,938,000 | |
| | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS–103.4% (cost $193,074,721) | | | | | | 188,336,812 | |
Other assets less liabilities–(3.4)% | | | | | | (6,262,688 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS–100.0% | | | | | $ | 182,074,124 | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) | | Non-income producing security. |
Glossary:
ADR—American Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
5
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF ASSETS & LIABILITIES |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $193,074,721) | | $ | 188,336,812 | |
Cash | | | 707 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 939,442 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 294,379 | |
Receivable for capital stock sold | | | 171,428 | |
Other assets | | | 70 | |
| | | | |
Total assets | | | 189,742,838 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 7,368,802 | |
Advisory fee payable | | | 88,041 | |
Payable for capital stock redeemed | | | 63,807 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 39,698 | |
Administrative fee payable | | | 19,448 | |
Transfer Agent fee payable | | | 158 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 88,760 | |
| | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 7,668,714 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 182,074,124 | |
| | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS | | | | |
Capital stock, at par | | $ | 22,489 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 284,219,198 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 1,206,910 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (98,636,542 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (4,737,931 | ) |
| | | | |
| | $ | 182,074,124 | |
| | | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Net Assets | | Shares Outstanding | | Net Asset Value |
A | | $ | 1,464,018 | | 179,439 | | $ | 8.16 |
B | | $ | 180,610,106 | | 22,309,723 | | $ | 8.10 |
See notes to financial statements.
6
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
STATEMENTOF OPERATIONS | | |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $11,799) | | $ | 2,254,704 | |
Interest | | | 205 | |
| | | | |
| | | 2,254,909 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Advisory fee (see Note B) | | | 576,421 | |
Distribution fee—Class B | | | 259,998 | |
Transfer agency—Class A | | | 17 | |
Transfer agency—Class B | | | 2,247 | |
Custodian | | | 42,018 | |
Administrative | | | 39,820 | |
Printing | | | 25,893 | |
Audit | | | 18,100 | |
Legal | | | 16,108 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 1,992 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 2,484 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 985,098 | |
| | | | |
Net investment income | | | 1,269,811 | |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | (1,694,142 | ) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 124 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | | | | |
Investments | | | (13,481,049 | ) |
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (67 | ) |
| | | | |
Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (15,175,134 | ) |
| | | | |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | (13,905,323 | ) |
| | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
7
| | |
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,269,811 | | | $ | 3,632,795 | |
Net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (1,694,018 | ) | | | (66,021,212 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | | | (13,481,116 | ) | | | 101,244,336 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | (13,905,323 | ) | | | 38,855,919 | |
DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (31,891 | ) | | | (49,401 | ) |
Class B | | | (3,592,985 | ) | | | (6,182,378 | ) |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | | (15,816,827 | ) | | | (15,773,366 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (33,347,026 | ) | | | 16,850,774 | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 215,421,150 | | | | 198,570,376 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $1,206,910 and $3,561,975, respectively) | | $ | 182,074,124 | | | $ | 215,421,150 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See notes to financial statements.
8
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies
The AllianceBernstein Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers thirteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.
The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.
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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.
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 Fund’s Board of Directors.
In general, the market value 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 mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such 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 put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon 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; securities traded in the over-the-counter market (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; 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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may frequently value 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 Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
9
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish 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. 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2010:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 179,398,812 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 179,398,812 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | –0 | – | | | 8,938,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 8,938,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments in Securities | | | 179,398,812 | | | | 8,938,000 | | | | –0 | – | | | 188,336,812 | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 179,398,812 | | | $ | 8,938,000 | | | $ | –0 | – | | $ | 188,336,812 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. |
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 asked 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, foreign currency exchange contracts, 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 Portfolio’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 investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Portfolio’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 Portfolio 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.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions 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 Portfolio’s financial statements.
10
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged to each Portfolio in proportion to net assets. 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 the ex-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 Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’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 to 1.20% and 1.45% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, there was no such reimbursement.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, such fee amounted to $39,820.
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $140,491, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $692 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE C: Distribution Plan
The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.
The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.
In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution and servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.
The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.
11
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
NOTE D: Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases | | | Sales | |
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | | $ | 77,372,474 | | | $ | 92,164,297 | |
U.S. government securities | | | –0 | – | | | –0 | – |
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 | | $ | 12,747,001 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (17,484,910 | ) |
| | | | |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (4,737,909 | ) |
| | | | |
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Portfolio may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Portfolio may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
| • | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Portfolio 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 for non-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 foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. 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. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars reflects the total exposure the Portfolio has in that particular currency contract.
For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The Portfolio may also use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. 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 Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio 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
12
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Portfolio had no transactions in written options.
The Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
2. Currency Transactions
The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio 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 options. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio 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).
NOTE E: Capital Stock
Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SHARES | | | | | AMOUNT | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | | | | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2009 | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 26,729 | | | 28,509 | | | | | $ | 239,360 | | | $ | 213,867 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 3,375 | | | 6,552 | | | | | | 31,891 | | | | 49,401 | |
Shares redeemed | | (28,341 | ) | | (51,699 | ) | | | | | (251,072 | ) | | | (399,358 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) | | 1,763 | | | (16,638 | ) | | | | $ | 20,179 | | | $ | (136,090 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 199,126 | | | 2,330,509 | | | | | $ | 1,804,471 | | | $ | 16,830,821 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | | 383,047 | | | 826,521 | | | | | | 3,592,985 | | | | 6,182,378 | |
Shares redeemed | | (2,310,113 | ) | | (5,072,303 | ) | | | | | (21,234,462 | ) | | | (38,650,475 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease | | (1,727,940 | ) | | (1,915,273 | ) | | | | $ | (15,837,006 | ) | | $ | (15,637,276 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NOTE F : Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio
Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.
Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Portfolio to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.
Derivatives Risk—The Portfolio may invest in derivatives such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. These investments may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
13
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. As such, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
NOTE G: Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $140 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 Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2010.
NOTE H: Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2010 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 6,231,779 | | | $ | 10,155,739 |
Long-term capital gains | | | –0 | – | | | 11,474,397 |
| | | | | | | |
Total distributions paid | | $ | 6,231,779 | | | $ | 21,630,136 |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | |
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 3,561,975 | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | (95,591,437 | )(a) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 7,392,098 | (b) |
| | | | |
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | | $ | (84,637,364 | ) |
| | | | |
(a) | | On December 31, 2009, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $95,445,615 of which $14,448,964 expires in the year 2016 and $80,996,651 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. Net capital and foreign currency losses incurred after October 31, and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio defers post-October capital losses of $145,822 to January 1, 2010. |
(b) | | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
NOTE I: Legal Proceedings
On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.
Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical fac-
14
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
tual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).
On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement has been documented by a stipulation of settlement, which has been approved by the court. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.
It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.
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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.
15
| | |
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS A | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $8.97 | | | $7.67 | | | $13.92 | | | $15.08 | | | $12.94 | | | $12.63 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .07 | | | .16 | | | .27 | | | .32 | | | .26 | | | .22 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (.70 | ) | | 1.41 | | | (5.62 | ) | | (.85 | ) | | 2.42 | | | .49 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.63 | ) | | 1.57 | | | (5.35 | ) | | (.53 | ) | | 2.68 | | | .71 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.18 | ) | | (.27 | ) | | (.28 | ) | | (.21 | ) | | (.16 | ) | | (.18 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.62 | ) | | (.42 | ) | | (.38 | ) | | (.22 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.18 | ) | | (.27 | ) | | (.90 | ) | | (.63 | ) | | (.54 | ) | | (.40 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $8.16 | | | $8.97 | | | $7.67 | | | $13.92 | | | $15.08 | | | $12.94 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (7.28 | )%* | | 21.12 | %* | | (40.83 | )%* | | (3.95 | )% | | 21.32 | % | | 5.74 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $1,464 | | | $1,594 | | | $1,490 | | | $3,305,460 | | | $1,043,677 | | | $290,673 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .69 | %(d)(e) | | .70 | % | | .67 | % | | .65 | % | | .69 | %(e) | | .73 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .69 | %(d)(e) | | .70 | % | | .67 | % | | .65 | % | | .69 | %(e) | | .74 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.46 | %(d)(e) | | 2.09 | % | | 2.46 | % | | 2.17 | % | | 1.89 | %(e) | | 1.74 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 38 | % | | 64 | % | | 33 | % | | 20 | % | | 17 | % | | 21 | % |
See footnote summary on page 18.
16
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | CLASS B | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 (unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $8.90 | | | $7.59 | | | $13.79 | | | $14.95 | | | $12.84 | | | $12.54 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (a) | | .05 | | | .14 | | | .24 | | | .27 | | | .22 | | | .17 | (b) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | (.69 | ) | | 1.41 | | | (5.58 | ) | | (.83 | ) | | 2.40 | | | .50 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | | (.64 | ) | | 1.55 | | | (5.34 | ) | | (.56 | ) | | 2.62 | | | .67 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | (.16 | ) | | (.24 | ) | | (.24 | ) | | (.18 | ) | | (.13 | ) | | (.15 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | | –0 | – | | –0 | – | | (.62 | ) | | (.42 | ) | | (.38 | ) | | (.22 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | (.16 | ) | | (.24 | ) | | (.86 | ) | | (.60 | ) | | (.51 | ) | | (.37 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $8.10 | | | $8.90 | | | $7.59 | | | $13.79 | | | $14.95 | | | $12.84 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total investment return based on net asset value (c) | | (7.44 | )%* | | 21.04 | %* | | (41.01 | )%* | | (4.16 | )% | | 21.03 | % | | 5.48 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $180,610 | | | $213,827 | | | $197,080 | | | $329,217 | | | $308,635 | | | $191,583 | |
Ratio to average net assets of: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements | | .94 | %(d)(e) | | .95 | % | | .92 | % | | .90 | % | | .94 | %(e) | | .98 | % |
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements | | .94 | %(d)(e) | | .95 | % | | .92 | % | | .90 | % | | .94 | %(e) | | .99 | % |
Net investment income | | 1.21 | %(d)(e) | | 1.84 | % | | 2.24 | % | | 1.82 | % | | 1.64 | %(e) | | 1.38 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 38 | % | | 64 | % | | 33 | % | | 20 | % | | 17 | % | | 21 | % |
See footnote summary on page 18.
17
| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
(a) | | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | | Net of expenses waived or reimbursed by the Adviser. |
(c) | | 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. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | | The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation. |
* | | Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 by 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.02%, respectively. |
See notes to financial statements.
18
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| | |
VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PORTFOLIO’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AllianceBernstein Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) at a meeting held on May 4-6, 2010.
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 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 an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Portfolio was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio 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 AllianceBernstein Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Portfolio and review extensive materials and information presented by the Adviser.
The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-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 Portfolio and the overall arrangements between the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Portfolio’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Portfolio will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Portfolio’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Portfolio to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Portfolio’s 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 Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Portfolio’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Portfolio to the Adviser for calendar years 2008 and 2009 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted 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 Portfolio, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Portfolio. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s
19
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VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
relationship with the Portfolio before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Portfolio was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Portfolio other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Portfolio’s Class B shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Portfolio to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors also understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Portfolio.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Portfolio at each regular Board meeting during the year. The directors noted that the Portfolio is a clone of another fund managed by the Adviser (the “Corresponding Fund”) and is managed to track the investment performance of its Corresponding Fund, although investment results may differ between the Portfolio and its Corresponding Fund due to differences in their expense ratios and other factors. At the May 2010 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Portfolio as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared with that of a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared with the Russell 1000 Value Index (the “Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended January 31, 2010 and (in the case of comparisons with the Index) the since inception period (July 2002 inception). The directors noted that the Portfolio was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 1-year period and in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group and the Performance Universe for the 3- and 5-year periods, and that the Portfolio outperformed the Index in the 1-year period but underperformed the Index in the 3- and 5-year and the since inception periods. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Portfolio’s performance, as well as the improvement in the Portfolio’s relative performance in the 1-year period, the directors concluded that the Portfolio’s performance was acceptable. The directors determined to continue to closely monitor the Portfolio’s performance.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Portfolio to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning advisory fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Portfolio at a common asset level. 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 paid by other funds.
The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients pursuing an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have an investment style substantially similar to that of the Portfolio. The directors noted that the institutional fee schedule had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Portfolio and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Portfolio would result in a fee rate lower than that in the Portfolio’s Advisory Agreement. 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 reviewed information that indicated that the Portfolio pays a higher fee rate than certain registered investment companies with an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio that are sub-advised by the Adviser. The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio is the same as that for its Corresponding Fund.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Portfolio relative to institutional clients and sub-advised funds. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and
20
| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Portfolio, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Portfolio in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds similar to the Portfolio and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Portfolio. The Class A expense ratio of the Portfolio was based on the Portfolio’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Portfolio’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary. The directors view the expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Portfolio by others.
The directors noted that, at the Portfolio’s current size, its contractual effective advisory fee rate of 55 basis points, plus the 4 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the Portfolio’s total expense ratio, which had been capped by the Adviser (although the expense ratio was currently lower than the cap), was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Portfolio’s expense ratio was satisfactory.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Portfolio contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. 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 establishing breakpoints that give effect to 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio’s breakpoint arrangements would result in a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Portfolio’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
21
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VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1
The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund (the “Fund”), in respect of AllianceBernstein Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Portfolio which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:
| 1. | Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services; |
| 2. | Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services; |
| 3. | Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit; |
| 4. | Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services; |
| 5. | Possible economies of scale as the Portfolio grows larger; and |
| 6. | Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Portfolio. |
PORTFOLIO ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE CAPS
The Adviser proposed that the Portfolio pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Advisory Fee Based on % of Average Daily Net Assets | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | Portfolio |
Value | | 55 bp on 1st $2.5 billion 45 bp on next $2.5 billion 40 bp on the balance | | $ | 221.9 | | Value Portfolio |
The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Portfolio. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $77,878 (0.04% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets) for such services.
1 | | It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2010 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 4-6, 2010. |
2 | | Future references to the Portfolio and the Portfolio do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
3 | | The AllianceBernstein Mutual Portfolios, which the Adviser manages, were also affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG. |
22
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser has agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse the Portfolio for that portion of its total operating expenses to the degree necessary to limit the Portfolio’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Portfolio’s fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser on May 1st of each year upon at least 60 days written notice. It should be noted that the Portfolio was operating below its expense caps for the most recent fiscal year; accordingly the expense limitation undertaking of the Portfolio was of no effect. In addition, set forth below are the gross expense ratios of the Portfolio for the most recently completed fiscal year:
| | | | | | |
Fund | | Expense Cap Pursuant to Expense Limitation Undertaking | | Gross Expense Ratio | | Fiscal Year End |
Value Portfolio | | Class A 1.20% | | 0.70% | | December 31 |
| | Class B 1.45% | | 0.95% | | |
I. ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS
The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolio that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Portfolio’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Portfolio are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Portfolio to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Portfolio’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment, and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.
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VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts that have a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio.4 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Portfolio versus the Portfolio’s advisory fee based on March 31, 2010 net assets:5
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Net Assets 03/31/10 ($MIL) | | AllianceBernstein (“AB”) Institutional (“Inst.”) Fee Schedule | | Effective AB Inst. Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Value Portfolio | | $221.9 | | Diversified Value Schedule | | 0.380 | | 0.550 |
| | | | 65 bp on 1st $25m | | | | |
| | | | 50 bp on next $25m | | | | |
| | | | 40 bp on next $50m | | | | |
| | | | 30 bp on next $100m | | | | |
| | | | 25 bp on the balance | | | | |
| | | | Minimum account size $25m | | | | |
The Adviser also manages AllianceBernstein Value Fund, a retail mutual fund which has a substantially similar investment style as the Portfolio. Set forth below is the fee schedule of AllianceBernstein Value Fund6. Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Portfolio had the fee schedule of the Value Fund been applicable to the Portfolio:
| | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund (“ABMF”) | | Fee Schedule | | Effective ABMF Adv. Fee (%) | | Effective Portfolio Adv. Fee (%) |
Value Portfolio | | Value Fund | | 0.55% on first $2.5 billion | | 0.550 | | 0.550 |
| | | | 0.45% on next $2.5 billion | | | | |
| | | | 0.40% on the balance | | | | |
4 | | The Supreme Court recently held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), slip op. at 9, 559 U.S. 2010. In the Jones v. Harris decision, the Supreme Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.” Jones v. Harris at 11. |
5 | | The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship. |
6 | | It should be noted that the AllianceBernstein Mutual Portfolio was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Portfolio has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AllianceBernstein Mutual Portfolio. |
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| | |
| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The Adviser provides sub-advisory services to certain other investment companies managed by other fund families that have an investment style similar to that of the Portfolio. The Adviser charges the fees set forth below for the sub-advisory relationships. Also shown is the Portfolio’s advisory fee and what would have been the effective advisory fees of the Portfolio had the fee schedules of the sub-advisory relationships been applicable to the Portfolio based on March 31, 2010 net assets:
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | | | Fee Schedule | | Effective Sub-Adv. Fee (%) | | | Portfolio Advisory Fee (%) |
Value Portfolio | | Client #1 | | 0.25% on 1st $500 million 0.20% on the balance | | 0.250 | | | 0.550 |
| | | | |
| | Client #27 ,8 | | 0.49% on 1st $100 million 0.30% on next $100 million 0.25% on the balance | | 0.381 | | | 0.550 |
| | | | |
| | Client #38 | | 0.23% on 1st $300 million 0.20% on the balance | | 0.230 | | | 0.550 |
| | | | |
| | Client #48 | | 0.23% on 1st $300 million 0.20% on the balance | | 0.230 | | | 0.550 |
| | | | |
| | Client #5 | | 0.15% on 1st $1 billion 0.14% on next $2 billion 0.12% on next $2 billion 0.10% thereafter +/- Performance Fee9 | | 0.150 | 10 | | 0.550 |
It is fair to note that the services the Adviser provides pursuant to sub-advisory agreements are generally confined to the services related to the investment process; in other words, they are not as comprehensive as the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser. In addition, to the extent that certain of these sub-advisory relationships are with affiliates of the Adviser, the fee schedules may not reflect arm’s-length bargaining or negotiations.
While it appears that certain sub-advisory relationships are paying a lower fee than the Portfolio, its is difficult to evaluate the relevance of such lower fees due to differences in terms of the service provided, risks involved and other competitive factors between the Portfolio and sub-advisory relationships. There could be various business reasons why an investment adviser would be willing to manage a sub-advisory relationship for a different fee level than it would be willing to managed investment company assets.
7 | | The client is an affiliate of the Adviser. |
8 | | Assets are aggregated with other similar accounts managed by the client for purposes of calculating the investment advisory fee. |
9 | | The performance fee is calculated by multiplying the Base Fee during the period by an adjustment factor that considers the excess or under performance of the fund versus its benchmark over a cumulative 36-month period. The performance adjustment factor can range from -50% to +50% of the base fee. |
10 | | This calculation excludes the performance fee. |
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VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.
Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Portfolio with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.11 Lipper’s analysis included the Portfolio’s ranking with respect to the proposed management fee relative to the median of the Portfolio’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)12 at the approximate current asset level of the Portfolio.13
Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.
| | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Contractual Management Fee14 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median (%) | | Rank |
Value Portfolio | | 0.550 | | 0.748 | | 1/16 |
Lipper also analyzed the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year total expense ratio in comparison to the Portfolio’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”). The EU15 is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Portfolio.
It should be noted that Lipper uses expense ratio data from financial statements of the most current fiscal year in their database. This has several implications: the total expense ratio of each fund that Lipper uses in their report is based on each fund’s average net assets during its fiscal year. Since funds have different fiscal year ends, the total expense ratios of the funds may cover different twelve month periods, depending on the funds’ fiscal year ends. This is the process that Lipper always follows but given the volatile market conditions during 2008 and 2009, notably the last three months of 2008 through the first three months of 2009, when equity markets declined substantially, and conversely through the remainder of 2009, when equity markets rallied the effects on the funds’ total expense ratio caused by the differences in fiscal year ends may be more pronounced in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years under more normal market conditions.16
| | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio | | Expense Ratio (%)17 | | Lipper Exp. Group Median(%) | | Lipper Group Rank | | Lipper Exp. Universe Median (%) | | Lipper Universe Rank |
Value Portfolio | | 0.703 | | 0.800 | | 1/16 | | 0.800 | | 10/34 |
Based on this analysis, the Portfolio has equally favorable rankings on a management fee basis and a total expense ratio basis.
11 | | In considering this section, it should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 14. |
12 | | It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratios than comparable sized funds that have relatively small average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently. |
13 | | The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Portfolio’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Portfolio, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Portfolio had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group. |
14 | | The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Portfolio to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. In addition, the contractual management fee would not reflect any advisory fee waivers or expense reimbursements related to expense caps that would effectively reduce the actual management fee. |
15 | | Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund. |
16 | | To cite an example, the average net assets and total expense ratio of a fund with a fiscal year end of March 31, 2008 will not be reflective of the market declines that occurred in the second half of 2008, in contrast to a fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, 2008. Likewise, the same fund’s net assets for fiscal year 2009 will not reflect the post March 2009 market rally. |
17 | | Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.
The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Portfolio. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.
IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.
The Portfolio’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio decreased during calendar year 2009, relative to 2008.
In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Portfolio, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Portfolio and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Portfolio. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Portfolio and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Portfolio and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.
The Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 40 Act. Under the distribution plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to its principal underwriter, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The current annual rate that the Portfolio pays to ABI for 12b-1 fees is 0.25%. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), the Portfolio’s distributor and an affiliate of the Adviser, received $489,588 in Rule 12b-1 fees.
The Adviser may compensate ABI for payments made by ABI to brokers for registration fees and services related to printing, distribution and advertising in connection with Class B shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Adviser determined that it made payments in the amount of $358,073 on behalf of the Portfolio to ABI.
Financial intermediaries, such as insurers, market and sell shares of the Portfolio and typically receive compensation from ABI, the Advisers and/or the Portfolio for selling shares of the Portfolio. These financial intermediaries receive compensation in any or all of the following forms: 12b-1 fees, defrayal of costs for educational seminars and training, additional distribution support, recordkeeping and/or administrative services. Payments related to providing contract-holder recordkeeping and/or administrative services will generally not exceed 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to the relevant intermediary over the year.
The transfer agent of the Portfolio is AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”). During the most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received a fee of $1,250 from the Portfolio.18
The Portfolio may affect brokerage transactions in the future through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. During the Portfolio’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio did not effect any brokerage transactions with and pay any commission to SCB. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any future business conducted with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.
18 | | The Portfolio (which includes the Portfolio and other series of the Portfolio) paid ABIS a flat fee of $18,000 in 2009. |
27
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VALUE PORTFOLIO | | |
SENIOR OFFICER FEE EVALUATION | | |
(continued) | | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE
The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,19 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.
An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli20 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.21 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.22 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.
VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO
With assets under management of approximately $501 billion as of March 31, 2010, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Portfolio.
19 | | Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules. |
20 | | The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data. |
21 | | As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones v. Harris at 14. |
22 | | The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets. |
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| | AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund |
The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3 and 5 year performance rankings of the Portfolio23 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)24 for the periods ended January 31, 2010.25
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portfolio Return | | PG Median (%) | | PU Median (%) | | PG Rank | | PU Rank |
1 year | | 32.62 | | 33.16 | | 31.18 | | 7/16 | | 27/51 |
3 year | | -12.71 | | -9.24 | | -9.12 | | 15/16 | | 38/46 |
5 year | | -2.63 | | -0.27 | | 0.10 | | 14/15 | | 36/43 |
Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5 year and since inception performance returns of the Portfolio (in bold)26 versus its benchmark.27 Portfolio and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.28
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Periods Ending January 31, 2010 Annualized Performance |
| | 1 Year (%) | | 3 Year (%) | | 5 Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) | | Annualized | | Risk Period (Year) |
| | | | | | Volatility (%) | | Sharpe (%) | |
Value Portfolio | | 32.62 | | -12.71 | | -2.63 | | 4.24 | | 18.03 | | -0.22 | | 5 |
Russell 1000 Value Index | | 31.44 | | -10.20 | | -0.46 | | 6.18 | | 17.15 | | -0.11 | | 5 |
Inception Date: July 22, 2002 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CONCLUSION:
Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Portfolio is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Portfolio is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.
Dated: June 2, 2010
23 | | The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Portfolio shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Portfolio’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Portfolio returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Portfolio returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Portfolio, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper. |
24 | | The Portfolio’s PG is identical to the Portfolio’s EG. The Portfolio’s PU is not identical to the Portfolio’s EU as the criteria for including or excluding a Portfolio from a PG/PU is somewhat different from that of an EG/EU. |
25 | | Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the Portfolio even if a Portfolio had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time. |
26 | | The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Portfolio. |
27 | | The Adviser provided Portfolio and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2010. |
28 | | Portfolio and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a portfolio’s return in excess of the riskless return by the portfolio’s standard deviation. A portfolio with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a portfolio with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky portfolio. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a portfolio with a lower Sharpe Ratio. |
29
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 Form N-CSR.
ITEM 7. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 8. | PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 9. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-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 Rule 30a-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.
The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:
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EXHIBIT NO. | | DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT |
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12 (b) (1) | | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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12 (b) (2) | | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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12 (c) | | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-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): AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
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By: | | /s/ ROBERT M. KEITH |
| | Robert M. Keith President |
Date: August 12, 2010
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.
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By: | | /s/ ROBERT M. KEITH |
| | Robert M. Keith President |
Date: August 12, 2010
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By: | | /s/ JOSEPH J. MANTINEO |
| | Joseph J. Mantineo |
| | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: August 12, 2010