AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

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: 811-07732

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL

HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Joseph J. Mantineo

AllianceBernstein L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 221-5672

Date of fiscal year end: March 31, 2015

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2015

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


MAR    03.31.15

LOGO

 

ANNUAL REPORT

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN

GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

(NYSE: AWF)

 


 

Investment Products Offered

 

•  Are Not FDIC Insured

•  May Lose Value

•  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 AB’s website at www.abglobal.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website 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 Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the Adviser of the funds.

The [A/B] logo is service mark of AllianceBernstein and AllianceBernstein® is a registered trademark used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.


May 13, 2015

 

Annual Report

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund (the “Fund”) for the annual reporting period ended March 31, 2015. The Fund is a closed-end fund and its shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Investment Objective and Policies

The Fund seeks high current income, and secondarily, capital appreciation. The Fund invests without limit in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies as well as those denominated in the U.S. dollar. The Fund may also invest, without limit, in sovereign debt securities issued by emerging and developed nations and in debt securities of U.S. and non-U.S. corporate issuers. For more information regarding the Fund’s risks, please see “Disclosures and Risks” on pages 3-4 and “Note E—Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund” of the Notes to Financial Statements on pages 98-100.

Investment Results

The table on page 5 shows the Fund’s performance compared with its blended benchmark and its components for the six- and 12-month periods ended March 31, 2015. The blended benchmark is composed of equal weightings of the JPMorgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (“JPM GBI-EM”, local currency-denominated), the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (“JPM EMBI Global”), and the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield (“HY”) 2% Issuer Capped Index.

The Fund outperformed the blended benchmark for both periods. Sector

selection contributed for both periods, specifically an overweight to collateralized mortgage obligations and emerging-market corporate bonds, and an underweight to quasi-sovereigns and emerging-market sovereigns. Currency selection contributed to returns, mainly from an overweight to the U.S. dollar and underweights to the Brazilian real, Australian dollar and euro. Underweights to Russia and the Dominican Republic contributed to returns for both periods, while underweights to Brazil, Mexico and Hungary detracted from returns. Yield curve positioning detracted for both periods, mainly from an underweight to the long end of the U.S. yield curve. Security selection within emerging-market sovereigns and commercial mortgage-backed securities contributed for both periods, yet security selection within non-investment grade corporates detracted from returns.

The Fund utilized derivatives including currency forwards and credit default swaps for hedging and investment purposes, which had a positive impact on performance for both periods. Purchased options for hedging and investment purposes and interest rate swaps for hedging purposes detracted during both periods. Treasury futures for hedging purposes and written options for hedging and investment purposes had an immaterial impact during the six-month period and added to returns for the 12-month period. Total return swaps for hedging purposes had an immaterial impact during both periods. The Fund utilized leverage through reverse repurchase agreements at favorable rates, and was able to reinvest the proceeds into higher-yielding securities; leverage contributed positively for both periods.

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       1   


Market Review and Investment Strategy

Bond markets were volatile for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2015, as growth trends and monetary policies in the world’s biggest economies headed in different directions. Despite the best efforts of policymakers, inflation continued to fall throughout the developed world, reaching especially worrisome levels in Europe and Japan. In the fourth quarter of 2014, a sharp decline in oil prices put pressure on credit and emerging-market debt, and complicated efforts to boost inflation in Europe and Japan. Oil prices stabilized later in the first quarter of 2015, but remained well below where they were a year ago.

These dynamics helped push developed-market government bond yields lower. Even the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield approached a two-year low, despite expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would begin raising official rates later this year. In other markets, including many in Europe where the European Central Bank has implemented its quantitative easing program, some yields are in negative territory. After struggling late last year, credit markets rebounded modestly in the first quarter of 2015, and most credit sectors outperformed government debt.

 

 

2     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND


DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund Shareholder Information Weekly comparative net asset value (“NAV”) and market price information about the Fund is published each Saturday in Barron’s and in other newspapers in a table called “Closed End Funds”. Daily NAV and market price information, and additional information regarding the Fund, is available at www.abglobal.com and www.nyse.com. For additional shareholder information regarding this Fund, please see page 120.

Benchmark Disclosure

The unmanaged JPM® GBI-EM (local currency-denominated), the JPM® EMBI Global, and the Barclays U.S. Corporate HY 2% Issuer Capped Index do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a fund portfolio. The JPM GBI-EM represents the performance of local currency government bonds issued by emerging markets. The JPM EMBI Global (market-capitalization weighted) represents the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated Brady bonds, Eurobonds, and trade loans issued by sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities. The Barclays U.S. Corporate HY 2% Issuer Capped Index is the 2% Issuer Capped component of the U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, which represents the performance of fixed income securities having a maximum quality rating of Ba1, a minimum amount outstanding of $150 million, and at least one year to maturity. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance of any specific investment, including the Fund.

A Word About Risk

Market Risk: The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the stock or bond market fluctuates. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events that affect large portions of the market.

Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations.

Credit Risk: An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer or guarantor may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security.

Below Investment Grade Securities: Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) tend to have a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and less secondary market liquidity.

Inflation Risk: This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater if the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in fixed-income securities with longer maturities.

 

(Disclosures, Risks and Note about Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       3   

Disclosures and Risks


DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

(continued from previous page)

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be less liquid due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

Emerging Market Risk: Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties.

Currency Risk: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.

Leverage Risk: To the extent the Fund uses leveraging techniques, its NAV may be more volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of changes in interest rates and any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s investments.

Diversification Risk: The Fund may have more risk because it is “non-diversified”, meaning that it can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers and that adverse changes in the value of one security could have a more significant effect on the Fund’s NAV.

Derivatives Risk: Investments in derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and may be subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.

Management Risk: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed and/or other asset-backed securities, including securities backed by mortgages and assets with an international or emerging markets origination and securities backed by non-performing loans at the time of investment. Investments in mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities are subject to certain additional risks. The value of these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates. These risks include “extension risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may delay the payment of principal, and “prepayment risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of falling interest rates, issuers may pay principal sooner than expected, exposing the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Mortgage-backed securities offered by nongovernmental issuers and other asset-backed securities may be subject to other risks, such as higher rates of default in the mortgages or assets backing the securities or risks associated with the nature and servicing of mortgages or assets backing the securities.

These risks are fully discussed in the Fund’s prospectus. As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

An Important Note About Historical Performance

The performance on the following page represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. All fees and expenses related to the operation of the Fund have been deducted. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.

 

4     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Disclosures and Risks


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

 

 

        
THE FUND VS. ITS BENCHMARKS
PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
  Returns      
  6 Months        12 Months       
AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund (NAV)     0.92%           2.68%     

 

Blended Benchmark: 33% JPM GBI-EM /33% JPM EMBI Global/33% Barclays U.S. Corporate HY 2% Issuer Capped Index     -3.57%           -2.78%     

 

JPM GBI-EM (local currency-denominated)     -12.16%           -13.67%     

 

JPM EMBI Global     0.38%           4.08%     

 

Barclays U.S. Corporate HY
2% Issuer Capped Index
    1.50%           2.00%     

 

The Fund’s market price per share on March 31, 2015 was $12.57. The Fund’s NAV per share on March 31, 2015 was $14.01. For additional financial highlights, please see pages 102-103.
        

 

 

See Disclosures, Risks and Note about Historical Performance on pages 3-4.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       5   

Historical Performance


PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

March 31, 2015 (unaudited)

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): $1,208.0

 

LOGO

 

*   All data are as of March 31, 2015. The Fund’s security type is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Fund also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). “Other” securities type weightings represent 0.7% or less in the following security types: Agencies, Asset-Backed Securities, Common Stocks, Emerging Markets-Treasuries, Inflation-Linked Securities, Investment Companies, Options Purchased-Puts, Quasi-Sovereigns and Warrants.

 

6     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio Summary


PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

March 31, 2015 (unaudited)

 

 

LOGO

 

*   All data are as of March 31, 2015. The Fund’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent 0.6% or less in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Macau, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       7   

Portfolio Summary


PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2015

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

CORPORATES – NON-INVESTMENT GRADE – 59.9%

      

Industrial – 49.6%

      

Basic – 3.9%

      

Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd.
7.50%, 12/15/17(a)

  U.S.$     506       $ 525,608   

AK Steel Corp.
8.75%, 12/01/18

      868         924,420   

Aleris International, Inc.
7.625%, 2/15/18

      932         948,310   

7.875%, 11/01/20

      795         808,913   

ArcelorMittal
7.50%, 3/01/41

      1,268         1,318,720   

7.75%, 10/15/39

      2,638         2,769,900   

Arch Coal, Inc.
7.00%, 6/15/19

      693         162,855   

7.25%, 6/15/21

      1,156         265,880   

Ashland, Inc.
4.75%, 8/15/22

      501         508,515   

Axalta Coating Systems US Holdings, Inc./Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holding B
7.375%, 5/01/21(a)

      656         705,200   

Axiall Corp.
4.875%, 5/15/23

      194         192,545   

Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.
7.75%, 3/31/20(a)

      1,101         787,215   

8.25%, 3/31/20(a)

      1,111         1,041,562   

Commercial Metals Co.
6.50%, 7/15/17

      1,927         2,042,620   

Consolidated Energy Finance SA
6.75%, 10/15/19(a)

      1,636         1,648,270   

Constellium NV
8.00%, 1/15/23(a)

      362         379,195   

Eagle Spinco, Inc.
4.625%, 2/15/21

      139         137,436   

Emeco Pty Ltd.
9.875%, 3/15/19(a)

      2,421         1,791,540   

Hexion US Finance Corp./Hexion Nova Scotia Finance ULC
8.875%, 2/01/18

      239         210,918   

Huntsman International LLC
8.625%, 3/15/21

      2,060         2,204,200   

INEOS Group Holdings SA
5.75%, 2/15/19(a)

  EUR     322         348,768   

5.875%, 2/15/19(a)(b)

  U.S.$     1,538         1,520,697   

James River Coal Co.
7.875%, 4/01/19(b)(c)

      251         628   

JMC Steel Group, Inc.
8.25%, 3/15/18(a)

      810         680,400   

 

8     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Lundin Mining Corp.
7.50%, 11/01/20(a)

  U.S.$     965       $ 1,001,187   

7.875%, 11/01/22(a)

      965         1,006,012   

Magnetation LLC/Mag Finance Corp.
11.00%, 5/15/18(a)

      4,306         2,206,825   

Molycorp, Inc.
3.25%, 6/15/16(d)

      525         68,250   

10.00%, 6/01/20

      561         287,513   

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.
3.88%, 10/24/21

      1,772         1,568,220   

8.875%, 10/15/20(e)(f)

      1,772         – 0  – 

Novacap International SAS
5.052%, 5/01/19(a)(g)

  EUR     329         355,526   

Novelis, Inc.
8.75%, 12/15/20(b)

  U.S.$     3,098         3,318,732   

Peabody Energy Corp.
6.00%, 11/15/18

      1,889         1,492,310   

PQ Corp.
8.75%, 11/01/18(a)

      1,792         1,854,720   

Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp.
8.00%, 12/01/18(a)

      907         859,383   

Ryerson, Inc./Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc.
9.00%, 10/15/17

      1,660         1,676,600   

11.25%, 10/15/18

      662         671,930   

Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions
4.125%, 1/30/20(a)

  EUR     282         334,680   

4.875%, 9/15/18(a)

  U.S.$     2,064         2,162,040   

Smurfit Kappa Treasury Funding Ltd.
7.50%, 11/20/25

      238         287,980   

SPCM SA
6.00%, 1/15/22(a)

      400         414,000   

Steel Dynamics, Inc.
6.125%, 8/15/19

      225         239,625   

6.375%, 8/15/22

      1,266         1,351,455   

Thompson Creek Metals Co., Inc.
7.375%, 6/01/18

      1,919         1,520,807   

9.75%, 12/01/17

      964         992,920   

TPC Group, Inc.
8.75%, 12/15/20(a)

      1,237         1,131,855   

W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn
5.625%, 10/01/24(a)

      386         412,055   
      

 

 

 
         47,138,940   
      

 

 

 

Capital Goods – 4.8%

      

Accudyne Industries Borrower/Accudyne Industries LLC
7.75%, 12/15/20(a)

      1,194         1,065,645   

Apex Tool Group LLC
7.00%, 2/01/21(a)

      3,075         2,890,500   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       9   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Ardagh Finance Holdings SA
8.625%, 6/15/19(a)(b)(h)

  U.S.$     372       $ 387,448   

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC
9.25%, 10/15/20(a)

  EUR     827         951,478   

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.
6.00%, 6/30/21(a)(b)

  U.S.$     2,680         2,633,100   

Ashtead Capital, Inc.
5.625%, 10/01/24(a)

      456         474,240   

Berry Plastics Corp.
5.50%, 5/15/22(b)

      1,381         1,418,977   

9.75%, 1/15/21

      1,384         1,524,130   

Beverage Packaging Holdings
Luxembourg II SA/Beverage Packaging Holdings II Issuer
6.00%, 6/15/17(a)

      593         594,483   

Bombardier, Inc.
5.75%, 3/15/22(a)

      1,250         1,178,125   

6.00%, 10/15/22(a)(b)

      1,300         1,220,375   

6.125%, 1/15/23(a)

      472         446,040   

7.45%, 5/01/34(a)

      920         878,600   

7.50%, 3/15/25(a)

      838         827,001   

7.75%, 3/15/20(a)

      1,266         1,324,869   

EnPro Industries, Inc.
5.875%, 9/15/22(a)

      970         1,011,225   

GenCorp, Inc.
7.125%, 3/15/21

      603         645,210   

HD Supply, Inc.
7.50%, 7/15/20

      1,814         1,940,980   

11.50%, 7/15/20

      400         462,500   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
7.125%, 3/15/21

      632         679,400   

KLX, Inc.
5.875%, 12/01/22(a)

      861         858,848   

KraussMaffei Group GmbH
8.75%, 12/15/20(a)

  EUR     205         242,044   

Lafarge SA
7.125%, 7/15/36

  U.S.$     800         1,040,000   

Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)
5.875%, 10/15/22

      309         332,175   

8.50%, 11/01/20

      2,168         2,319,760   

Masco Corp.
5.95%, 3/15/22

      405         454,613   

6.125%, 10/03/16

      1,825         1,944,720   

Milacron LLC/Mcron Finance Corp.
7.75%, 2/15/21(a)

      794         821,790   

Moog, Inc.
5.25%, 12/01/22(a)

      396         407,880   

 

10     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Nortek, Inc.
8.50%, 4/15/21

  U.S.$     1,924       $ 2,058,680   

Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc.
9.875%, 4/15/18

      253         171,408   

Oshkosh Corp.
5.375%, 3/01/22

      210         217,875   

5.375%, 3/01/25(a)

      441         454,230   

Plastipak Holdings, Inc.
6.50%, 10/01/21(a)

      846         860,805   

Rexam PLC
6.75%, 6/29/67(a)

  EUR     2,020         2,229,563   

Rexel SA
5.25%, 6/15/20(a)(b)

  U.S.$     1,137         1,192,429   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group
Issuer Lu
7.875%, 8/15/19

      2,080         2,197,000   

8.50%, 5/15/18

      850         872,312   

9.00%, 4/15/19

      1,153         1,207,767   

9.875%, 8/15/19

      1,762         1,885,340   

Sealed Air Corp.
4.875%, 12/01/22(a)

      492         501,840   

5.125%, 12/01/24(a)

      489         506,115   

6.875%, 7/15/33(a)

      1,295         1,362,987   

8.375%, 9/15/21(a)

      478         537,750   

SIG Combibloc Holdings SCA
7.75%, 2/15/23(a)

  EUR     682         775,193   

SRA International, Inc.
11.00%, 10/01/19

  U.S.$     600         636,000   

Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials
Finance Corp.
10.50%, 1/31/20

      1,350         1,498,500   

Terex Corp.
6.00%, 5/15/21

      639         654,975   

Textron Financial Corp.
6.00%, 2/15/67(a)

      575         514,625   

TransDigm, Inc.
6.00%, 7/15/22

      1,400         1,400,000   

6.50%, 7/15/24

      2,315         2,326,575   

United Rentals North America, Inc.
5.50%, 7/15/25

      789         803,794   

8.375%, 9/15/20(b)

      2,587         2,781,801   
      

 

 

 
         58,623,720   
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 6.4%

      

Altice Financing SA
6.625%, 2/15/23(a)

      1,187         1,221,126   

Arqiva Broadcast Finance PLC
9.50%, 3/31/20(a)

  GBP     1,550         2,540,233   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       11   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings
Capital Corp.
5.75%, 1/15/24

  U.S.$     1,360       $ 1,412,700   

6.50%, 4/30/21

      195         204,750   

7.375%, 6/01/20

      720         769,500   

Cequel Communications Holdings I
LLC/Cequel Capital Corp.
5.125%, 12/15/21(a)

      2,946         2,942,317   

6.375%, 9/15/20(a)

      851         896,741   

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
6.50%, 11/15/22

      555         575,813   

Series A
7.625%, 3/15/20

      300         310,500   

Series B
6.50%, 11/15/22

      1,560         1,641,900   

7.625%, 3/15/20

      1,600         1,684,000   

Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
10.50%, 7/15/19

      2,256         2,413,920   

CSC Holdings LLC
5.25%, 6/01/24(a)

      2,467         2,516,340   

Cumulus Media Holdings, Inc.
7.75%, 5/01/19(b)

      929         910,420   

DISH DBS Corp.
5.875%, 11/15/24

      2,493         2,496,116   

Gannett Co., Inc.
4.875%, 9/15/21(a)

      284         289,680   

5.50%, 9/15/24(a)

      332         347,355   

6.375%, 10/15/23

      1,871         2,030,035   

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.
7.625%, 6/15/21

      2,323         2,555,300   

iHeartCommunications, Inc.
6.875%, 6/15/18

      2,299         2,069,100   

9.00%, 12/15/19

      407         402,930   

10.00%, 1/15/18

      1,884         1,601,400   

14.00% (12.00% Cash and 2.00% PIK),
2/01/21(h)

      1,173         932,626   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA
5.50%, 8/01/23

      2,670         2,519,813   

LGE HoldCo VI BV
7.125%, 5/15/24(a)

  EUR     968         1,180,159   

Liberty Interactive LLC
3.75%, 2/15/30(d)

  U.S.$     886         555,711   

LIN Television Corp.
5.875%, 11/15/22(a)

      400         408,000   

6.375%, 1/15/21

      640         661,600   

McClatchy Co. (The)
9.00%, 12/15/22

      1,677         1,618,305   

Mediacom Broadband LLC/Mediacom
Broadband Corp.
6.375%, 4/01/23

      1,845         1,937,250   

 

12     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
6.875%, 11/15/20(b)

  U.S.$     1,099       $ 1,159,445   

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co.
5.00%, 4/15/22(a)

      883         888,519   

Outfront Media Capital LLC/Outfront
Media Capital Corp.
5.25%, 2/15/22

      648         678,780   

5.875%, 3/15/25

      557         589,028   

Radio One, Inc.
9.25%, 2/15/20(a)

      1,368         1,306,440   

RR Donnelley & Sons Co.
7.25%, 5/15/18

      1,268         1,401,140   

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
5.375%, 4/01/21

      750         769,688   

5.625%, 8/01/24(a)

      1,500         1,526,250   

6.125%, 10/01/22(b)

      2,187         2,291,320   

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.
5.375%, 4/15/25(a)

      561         563,805   

6.00%, 7/15/24(a)

      2,291         2,405,550   

Time, Inc.
5.75%, 4/15/22(a)(b)

      1,486         1,452,565   

Townsquare Media, Inc.
6.50%, 4/01/23(a)

      1,199         1,204,995   

Townsquare Radio LLC/Townsquare
Radio, Inc.
9.00%, 4/01/19(a)

      3,634         3,873,335   

Unitymedia Hessen GmbH & Co. KG/
Unitymedia NRW GmbH
6.25%, 1/15/29(a)

  EUR     496         602,656   

Unitymedia KabelBW GmbH
6.125%, 1/15/25(a)

  U.S.$     1,758         1,859,085   

Univision Communications, Inc.
5.125%, 5/15/23-2/15/25(a)

      1,649         1,680,385   

6.75%, 9/15/22(a)

      1,561         1,674,173   

8.50%, 5/15/21(a)

      700         748,125   

UPCB Finance III Ltd.
6.625%, 7/01/20(a)

      772         805,775   

UPCB Finance V Ltd.
7.25%, 11/15/21(a)

      480         516,600   

UPCB Finance VI Ltd.
6.875%, 1/15/22(a)

      620         661,850   

Virgin Media Finance PLC
4.875%, 2/15/22

      642         613,110   

5.25%, 2/15/22

      900         873,000   

5.75%, 1/15/25(a)

      318         330,020   

6.00%, 10/15/24(a)

      1,177         1,235,850   

6.375%, 4/15/23(a)

      350         372,750   

Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC
5.50%, 1/15/25(a)

  GBP     423         651,836   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       13   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Wave Holdco LLC/Wave Holdco Corp.
8.25% (8.25% Cash or 9.00% PIK), 7/15/19(a)(h)

  U.S.$     240       $ 245,700   

WideOpenWest Finance LLC/WideOpenWest Capital Corp.
10.25%, 7/15/19

      1,444         1,552,300   

13.375%, 10/15/19

      426         455,820   

Ziggo Bond Finance BV
5.875%, 1/15/25(a)

      634         664,115   
      

 

 

 
         77,299,650   
      

 

 

 

Communications -
Telecommunications – 3.5%

      

Altice SA
7.25%, 5/15/22(a)

  EUR     1,332         1,492,387   

7.625%, 2/15/25(a)

  U.S.$     250         251,250   

7.75%, 5/15/22(a)

      1,720         1,749,025   

CenturyLink, Inc.
Series U
7.65%, 3/15/42

      275         281,188   

Series W
6.75%, 12/01/23

      437         481,246   

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
8.375%, 10/15/20

      223         237,216   

Columbus International, Inc.
7.375%, 3/30/21(a)

      2,342         2,459,100   

CommScope, Inc.
5.50%, 6/15/24(a)

      646         646,000   

Data & Audio Visual Enterprises
Wireless, Inc.
9.50%, 4/29/18(e)(i)

  CAD     1,175         872,240   

Frontier Communications Corp.
6.25%, 9/15/21

  U.S.$     373         373,933   

7.625%, 4/15/24

      2,523         2,627,074   

7.875%, 1/15/27

      834         848,595   

9.00%, 8/15/31

      450         481,500   

InterXion Holding NV
6.00%, 7/15/20(a)

  EUR     2,601         3,007,430   

Level 3 Communications, Inc.
8.875%, 6/01/19

  U.S.$     781         822,002   

Level 3 Financing, Inc.
6.125%, 1/15/21

      596         625,055   

7.00%, 6/01/20

      1,930         2,060,275   

8.625%, 7/15/20

      923         1,000,301   

Numericable-SFR SAS
5.375%, 5/15/22(a)

  EUR     264         296,668   

5.625%, 5/15/24(a)

      386         437,916   

6.00%, 5/15/22(a)(b)

  U.S.$     1,610         1,630,125   

6.25%, 5/15/24(a)

      658         666,225   

 

14     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

SBA Telecommunications, Inc.
5.75%, 7/15/20

  U.S.$     626       $ 658,082   

Sprint Capital Corp.
6.875%, 11/15/28

      92         84,410   

8.75%, 3/15/32

      375         387,188   

Sprint Communications, Inc.
6.00%, 11/15/22

      700         665,000   

Sprint Corp.
7.125%, 6/15/24

      520         507,000   

7.25%, 9/15/21

      833         837,165   

7.625%, 2/15/25

      226         224,870   

7.875%, 9/15/23

      1,320         1,346,400   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.
6.00%, 3/01/23

      743         761,345   

6.375%, 3/01/25

      655         675,894   

6.542%, 4/28/20

      183         192,608   

6.625%, 11/15/20

      311         324,995   

6.731%, 4/28/22

      128         134,720   

6.836%, 4/28/23

      774         814,635   

Telecom Italia SpA
5.303%, 5/30/24(a)

      1,002         1,049,595   

WaveDivision Escrow LLC/WaveDivision Escrow Corp.
8.125%, 9/01/20(a)

      1,084         1,172,075   

Wind Acquisition Finance SA
4.75%, 7/15/20(a)

      1,029         1,031,572   

7.375%, 4/23/21(a)

      1,812         1,879,950   

Windstream Corp.
6.375%, 8/01/23

      840         753,900   

7.75%, 10/01/21

      1,715         1,710,712   

8.125%, 9/01/18

      610         638,213   

Ymobile Corp.
8.25%, 4/01/18(a)

      1,626         1,695,105   

Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc.
6.00%, 4/01/23(a)

      1,830         1,839,150   
      

 

 

 
         42,731,335   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 1.5%

      

Affinia Group, Inc.
7.75%, 5/01/21

      1,672         1,730,520   

Allison Transmission, Inc.
7.125%, 5/15/19(a)

      1,836         1,913,112   

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.
7.875%, 4/15/19

      1,084         1,124,650   

Dana Holding Corp.
6.00%, 9/15/23

      833         887,145   

6.75%, 2/15/21

      326         343,930   

Exide Technologies
8.625%, 2/01/18(c)(e)

      2,574         25,740   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       15   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Gates Global LLC/Gates Global Co.
5.75%, 7/15/22(a)

  EUR     125       $ 123,990   

6.00%, 7/15/22(a)(b)

  U.S.$     2,467         2,328,231   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)
7.00%, 3/15/28

      400         432,000   

8.75%, 8/15/20

      343         413,315   

Meritor, Inc.
6.25%, 2/15/24

      446         449,345   

6.75%, 6/15/21

      925         957,375   

Navistar International Corp.
8.25%, 11/01/21

      1,481         1,440,273   

Rhino Bondco S.P.A
7.25%, 11/15/20(a)

  EUR     506         580,530   

Schaeffler Holding Finance BV
6.75%, 11/15/22(a)(h)

  U.S.$     1,019         1,100,520   

6.875%, 8/15/18(a)(h)

  EUR     711         799,141   

Servus Luxembourg Holding SCA
7.75%, 6/15/18(a)

      1,091         1,230,472   

Tenneco, Inc.
5.375%, 12/15/24

  U.S.$     403         419,120   

Titan International, Inc.
6.875%, 10/01/20

      1,926         1,668,397   
      

 

 

 
         17,967,806   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical -
Entertainment – 0.7%

      

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
5.625%, 9/15/21(a)

      636         677,340   

AMC Entertainment, Inc.
9.75%, 12/01/20

      780         854,100   

Carlson Travel Holdings, Inc.
7.50% (7.50% Cash or 8.25% PIK),
8/15/19(a)(h)

      1,387         1,404,337   

Carlson Wagonlit BV
6.875%, 6/15/19(a)

      1,026         1,074,735   

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp.
5.375%, 6/01/24(a)

      582         595,095   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
7.00%, 9/01/20(a)

      740         788,100   

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
7.50%, 4/15/21

      1,345         1,418,975   

8.75%, 5/15/20

      271         284,889   

Regal Entertainment Group
5.75%, 6/15/23-2/01/25

      1,624         1,634,640   
      

 

 

 
         8,732,211   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 3.6%

      

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
7.50%, 9/15/21

      761         743,878   

 

16     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Boyd Gaming Corp.
9.00%, 7/01/20

  U.S.$     1,970       $ 2,125,137   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.
10.00%, 12/15/18(c)

      700         148,750   

11.25%, 6/01/17(c)

      435         315,375   

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC/Caesars Entertainment Resort Prope
8.00%, 10/01/20

      1,260         1,250,550   

Caesars Growth Properties Holdings LLC/Caesars Growth Properties Finance, Inc.
9.375%, 5/01/22(a)

      2,035         1,561,862   

Choice Hotels International, Inc.
5.75%, 7/01/22

      154         167,090   

Cleopatra Finance Ltd.
6.25%, 2/15/22(a)

      2,050         2,003,875   

6.50%, 2/15/25(a)

      350         337,750   

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
7.75%, 3/15/19

      1,335         1,385,897   

8.875%, 6/15/20(b)

      1,277         1,379,160   

K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
7.25%, 10/15/20(a)

      1,200         1,260,000   

KB Home
4.75%, 5/15/19

      1,121         1,095,777   

7.00%, 12/15/21

      200         203,500   

7.50%, 9/15/22

      223         228,575   

9.10%, 9/15/17

      700         784,000   

Lennar Corp.
Series B
6.50%, 4/15/16

      2,600         2,710,500   

M/I Homes, Inc.
8.625%, 11/15/18

      2,360         2,448,500   

Marina District Finance Co., Inc.
9.875%, 8/15/18

      1,980         2,074,050   

MCE Finance Ltd.
5.00%, 2/15/21(a)

      2,440         2,281,400   

MGM Resorts International
6.625%, 7/15/15

      1,480         1,494,800   

New Cotai LLC/New Cotai Capital Corp.
10.625%, 5/01/19(a)(h)

      2,088         2,076,904   

Penn National Gaming, Inc.
5.875%, 11/01/21(b)

      1,310         1,300,175   

PulteGroup, Inc.
7.875%, 6/15/32

      1,400         1,631,000   

Ryland Group, Inc. (The)
6.625%, 5/01/20

      1,800         1,944,000   

Safari Holding Verwaltungs GmbH
8.25%, 2/15/21(a)

  EUR     368         410,887   

Scientific Games International, Inc.
7.00%, 1/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     2,340         2,392,650   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       17   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp.
5.875%, 4/01/23(a)

  U.S.$     420       $ 427,350   

6.125%, 4/01/25(a)

      644         648,830   

Standard Pacific Corp.
8.375%, 5/15/18

      500         571,250   

10.75%, 9/15/16

      528         590,040   

Studio City Finance Ltd.
8.50%, 12/01/20(a)

      1,150         1,161,500   

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Monarch Communities, Inc.
5.625%, 3/01/24(a)

      680         664,700   

7.75%, 4/15/20(a)

      841         891,460   

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.
5.50%, 3/01/25(a)

      785         794,813   

Wynn Macau Ltd.
5.25%, 10/15/21(a)

      1,595         1,511,262   
      

 

 

 
         43,017,247   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants – 0.3%

      

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc.
6.00%, 4/01/22(a)

      1,991         2,060,685   

Pizzaexpress Financing 1 PLC
8.625%, 8/01/22(a)

  GBP     198         310,834   

Twinkle Pizza PLC
6.625%, 8/01/21(a)

      692         1,080,277   
      

 

 

 
         3,451,796   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 2.5%

      

American Tire Distributors, Inc.
10.25%, 3/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     2,435         2,532,400   

Brighthouse Group PLC
7.875%, 5/15/18(a)(b)

  GBP     1,703         2,298,870   

Cash America International, Inc.
5.75%, 5/15/18

  U.S.$     1,651         1,717,040   

Chinos Intermediate Holdings A, Inc.
7.75% (7.75% Cash or 8.50% PIK),
5/01/19(a)(h)

      2,303         2,020,882   

Family Tree Escrow LLC
5.75%, 3/01/23(a)

      1,886         1,985,015   

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
5.00%, 6/01/22(a)

      372         372,930   

JC Penney Corp., Inc.
6.375%, 10/15/36

      421         305,225   

7.40%, 4/01/37

      600         447,000   

L Brands, Inc.
6.90%, 7/15/17

      893         982,300   

6.95%, 3/01/33

      500         538,750   

7.60%, 7/15/37

      1,000         1,137,500   

 

18     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)
7.00%, 7/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     1,175       $ 1,236,688   

Murphy Oil USA, Inc.
6.00%, 8/15/23

      716         767,910   

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC
8.75% (8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK),
10/15/21(a)(h)

      1,866         1,977,960   

New Look Bondco I PLC
8.375%, 5/14/18(a)(b)

      2,480         2,585,400   

Rite Aid Corp.
6.125%, 4/01/23(a)

      2,785         2,854,625   

Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc.
5.75%, 6/01/22

      1,779         1,892,411   

Serta Simmons Holdings LLC
8.125%, 10/01/20(a)

      1,999         2,103,947   

Sonic Automotive, Inc.
5.00%, 5/15/23

      2,015         1,994,850   

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
6.125%, 10/15/20

      501         534,818   
      

 

 

 
         30,286,521   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 7.1%

      

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.
5.625%, 2/15/23(a)

      401         408,018   

Acosta, Inc.
7.75%, 10/01/22(a)

      650         671,938   

Alere, Inc.
6.50%, 6/15/20

      445         459,463   

7.25%, 7/01/18

      765         811,856   

8.625%, 10/01/18

      2,190         2,277,600   

Amsurg Corp.
5.625%, 7/15/22

      728         744,380   

Biomet, Inc.
6.50%, 8/01/20-10/01/20

      999         1,052,640   

Boparan Finance PLC
5.25%, 7/15/19(a)

  GBP     588         803,550   

5.50%, 7/15/21(a)

      775         1,014,553   

Capsugel SA
7.00% (7.00% Cash or
7.75% PIK), 5/15/19(a)(h)

  U.S.$     3,018         3,067,042   

Care UK Health & Social Care PLC
5.56%, 7/15/19(a)(g)

  GBP     395         553,716   

8.06%, 1/15/20(a)(g)

      400         541,441   

Cerba European Lab SAS
7.00%, 2/01/20(a)

  EUR     959         1,092,622   

Cerberus Nightingale
8.25%, 2/01/20

      200         223,383   

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
6.875%, 2/01/22

  U.S.$     2,744         2,932,650   

7.125%, 7/15/20

      2,647         2,805,820   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       19   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

ConvaTec Finance International SA
8.25%, 1/15/19(a)(h)

  U.S.$     590       $ 597,375   

Crimson Merger Sub, Inc.
6.625%, 5/15/22(a)

      715         634,563   

Elior Finance & Co. SCA
6.50%, 5/01/20(a)

  EUR     176         205,358   

Endo Finance LLC
5.75%, 1/15/22(a)

  U.S.$     126         129,150   

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc.
7.00%, 7/15/19(a)

      530         552,525   

7.25%, 1/15/22(a)

      332         352,335   

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Ltd./Endo Finco, Inc.
6.00%, 2/01/25(a)

      1,459         1,502,770   

Envision Healthcare Corp.
5.125%, 7/01/22(a)

      1,387         1,418,207   

First Quality Finance Co., Inc.
4.625%, 5/15/21(a)

      3,247         3,060,297   

Galaxy Bidco Ltd.
6.375%, 11/15/20(a)

  GBP     133         198,294   

Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd.
5.25%, 4/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     545         553,856   

HCA, Inc.
4.25%, 10/15/19

      1,475         1,515,562   

5.375%, 2/01/25

      209         219,189   

6.50%, 2/15/16

      290         300,542   

Holding Medi-Partenaires SAS
7.00%, 5/15/20(a)

  EUR     1,401         1,603,687   

HRG Group, Inc.
7.75%, 1/15/22

  U.S.$     645         641,775   

7.875%, 7/15/19

      1,155         1,215,638   

IASIS Healthcare LLC/IASIS Capital Corp.
8.375%, 5/15/19

      4,262         4,432,480   

IDH Finance PLC
6.00%, 12/01/18(a)

  GBP     355         531,215   

Jaguar Holding Co. I
9.375% (9.375% Cash or
10.125% PIK), 10/15/17(a)(h)

  U.S.$     2,268         2,319,030   

Jaguar Holding Co. II/Jaguar Merger
Sub, Inc.
9.50%, 12/01/19(a)

      1,699         1,826,425   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
8.00%, 1/15/20(a)

      1,280         1,373,600   

Kinetic Concepts, Inc./KCI USA, Inc.
10.50%, 11/01/18

      1,500         1,623,750   

Labco SA
8.50%, 1/15/18(a)

  EUR     900         1,011,273   

 

20     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC
5.75%, 8/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     1,181       $ 1,219,383   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC
6.625%, 4/01/22(a)

      653         676,671   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.
7.375%, 10/15/20

      2,307         2,433,885   

Party City Holdings, Inc.
8.875%, 8/01/20(b)

      2,023         2,179,782   

PC Nextco Holdings LLC/PC Nextco
Finance, Inc.
8.75%, 8/15/19

      570         579,975   

Pinnacle Merger Sub, Inc.
9.50%, 10/01/23(a)

      1,545         1,714,950   

Post Holdings, Inc.
7.375%, 2/15/22

      1,107         1,145,745   

Priory Group No. 3 PLC
7.00%, 2/15/18(a)

  GBP     612         942,469   

R&R Ice Cream PLC
8.25%, 5/15/20(a)

  AUD     720         538,888   

R&R PIK PLC
9.25%, 5/15/18(a)(h)

  EUR     1,668         1,816,026   

Rivers Pittsburgh Borrower LP/
Rivers Pittsburgh Finance Corp.
9.50%, 6/15/19(a)

  U.S.$     533         560,983   

RSI Home Products, Inc.
6.50%, 3/15/23(a)

      1,785         1,816,237   

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
6.50%, 1/15/21(a)(j)

      616         682,990   

Smithfield Foods, Inc.
5.25%, 8/01/18(a)

      814         832,315   

5.875%, 8/01/21(a)(b)

      1,318         1,382,253   

6.625%, 8/15/22

      346         370,220   

Spectrum Brands, Inc.
6.125%, 12/15/24(a)

      437         466,498   

6.375%, 11/15/20

      338         358,280   

6.625%, 11/15/22

      560         599,200   

6.75%, 3/15/20

      1,150         1,213,250   

Sun Products Corp. (The)
7.75%, 3/15/21(a)

      1,415         1,238,125   

Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc.
6.00%, 4/01/23(a)

      480         484,800   

TeamSystem Holding SpA
7.375%, 5/15/20(a)

  EUR     1,330         1,509,609   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.
6.00%, 10/01/20

  U.S.$     95         100,700   

6.25%, 11/01/18

      195         211,331   

6.875%, 11/15/31

      4,291         3,969,175   

8.125%, 4/01/22

      752         829,080   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       21   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

United Surgical Partners International, Inc.
9.00%, 4/01/20

  U.S.$     1,119       $ 1,201,526   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
5.50%, 3/01/23(a)

      230         231,725   

6.375%, 10/15/20(a)(b)

      1,325         1,376,344   

7.25%, 7/15/22(a)

      635         671,513   

7.50%, 7/15/21(a)

      490         529,964   

Visant Corp.
10.00%, 10/01/17

      1,385         1,239,575   

Voyage Care Bondco PLC
6.50%, 8/01/18(a)

  GBP     1,200         1,833,482   

VRX Escrow Corp.
5.875%, 5/15/23(a)

  U.S.$     396         405,900   

6.125%, 4/15/25(a)

      661         684,135   
      

 

 

 
         85,326,552   
      

 

 

 

Energy – 6.9%

      

Antero Resources Corp.
5.125%, 12/01/22

      457         438,720   

5.375%, 11/01/21

      2,000         1,940,000   

5.625%, 6/01/23(a)

      231         228,690   

Basic Energy Services, Inc.
7.75%, 2/15/19

      610         469,700   

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.
5.75%, 2/01/23

      1,408         1,295,360   

6.75%, 4/15/21

      545         530,013   

Bristow Group, Inc.
6.25%, 10/15/22

      729         692,550   

California Resources Corp.
6.00%, 11/15/24(a)

      2,064         1,811,160   

Canbriam Energy, Inc.
9.75%, 11/15/19(a)

      871         862,290   

Chaparral Energy, Inc.
7.625%, 11/15/22

      2,278         1,526,260   

CHC Helicopter SA
9.25%, 10/15/20(b)

      2,017         1,704,280   

9.375%, 6/01/21

      553         331,890   

Cimarex Energy Co.
5.875%, 5/01/22

      833         887,145   

Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
2.625%, 12/01/19(d)

      796         578,593   

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp.
6.25%, 4/01/23(a)

      1,008         1,018,080   

Denbury Resources, Inc.
4.625%, 7/15/23

      1,705         1,462,037   

5.50%, 5/01/22

      184         165,140   

Diamondback Energy, Inc.
7.625%, 10/01/21

      609         640,973   

 

22     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Energy Transfer Equity LP
5.875%, 1/15/24

  U.S.$     1,420       $ 1,498,100   

Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc.
7.75%, 6/15/19

      1,100         445,500   

11.00%, 3/15/20(a)

      840         800,100   

EP Energy LLC/Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc.
6.875%, 5/01/19

      971         995,275   

Era Group, Inc.
7.75%, 12/15/22

      950         916,750   

EXCO Resources, Inc.
8.50%, 4/15/22

      2,855         1,588,094   

Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp.
6.25%, 7/15/22(a)

      3,026         2,980,610   

Golden Energy Offshore Services AS
8.60%, 5/28/17(g)(k)

  NOK     4,450         519,260   

Halcon Resources Corp.
8.875%, 5/15/21

  U.S.$     872         606,040   

9.75%, 7/15/20

      1,319         929,895   

Holly Energy Partners LP/Holly Energy Finance Corp.
6.50%, 3/01/20

      1,317         1,297,245   

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.
5.875%, 4/01/20

      1,570         1,350,200   

Jones Energy Holdings LLC/Jones Energy Finance Corp.
6.75%, 4/01/22

      2,211         2,067,285   

Jupiter Resources, Inc.
8.50%, 10/01/22(a)

      2,792         2,289,440   

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
7.375%, 5/01/22

      1,099         1,133,344   

Legacy Reserves LP/Legacy Reserves Finance Corp.
6.625%, 12/01/21

      1,200         948,000   

8.00%, 12/01/20

      711         583,020   

Linn Energy LLC/Linn Energy Finance Corp.
6.25%, 11/01/19

      766         605,140   

8.625%, 4/15/20

      802         683,705   

MarkWest Energy Partners LP/MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.
6.50%, 8/15/21

      1,308         1,370,130   

Memorial Resource Development Corp.
5.875%, 7/01/22(a)

      2,634         2,475,960   

Northern Blizzard Resources, Inc.
7.25%, 2/01/22(a)

      844         772,260   

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.
8.00%, 6/01/20(b)

      819         726,863   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc.
6.875%, 3/15/22(b)

      1,169         1,139,775   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       23   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Offshore Group Investment Ltd.
7.125%, 4/01/23

  U.S.$     1,283       $ 728,102   

7.50%, 11/01/19

      2,176         1,240,320   

Pacific Drilling SA
5.375%, 6/01/20(a)

      3,612         2,889,600   

Paragon Offshore PLC
6.75%, 7/15/22(a)

      933         307,890   

7.25%, 8/15/24(a)

      3,719         1,236,567   

PDC Energy, Inc.
7.75%, 10/15/22

      1,032         1,083,600   

Petroleum Geo-Services ASA
7.375%, 12/15/18(a)

      1,074         963,915   

PHI, Inc.
5.25%, 3/15/19

      1,567         1,418,135   

Precision Drilling Corp.
6.50%, 12/15/21

      738         684,495   

QEP Resources, Inc.
5.25%, 5/01/23

      909         890,820   

Regency Energy Partners LP/Regency Energy Finance Corp.
4.50%, 11/01/23

      2,106         2,116,530   

5.00%, 10/01/22

      557         579,280   

5.50%, 4/15/23

      1,373         1,417,622   

Rosetta Resources, Inc.
5.875%, 6/01/24

      2,489         2,314,770   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC
5.75%, 5/15/24

      1,528         1,535,640   

6.25%, 3/15/22

      675         697,781   

Sabine Pass LNG LP
6.50%, 11/01/20

      757         783,495   

Sanchez Energy Corp.
6.125%, 1/15/23

      1,020         916,725   

7.75%, 6/15/21

      2,435         2,361,950   

Seitel, Inc.
9.50%, 4/15/19(b)

      905         787,350   

Seven Generations Energy Ltd.
8.25%, 5/15/20(a)

      2,400         2,448,000   

Southern Star Central Corp.
5.125%, 7/15/22(a)

      1,200         1,233,000   

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.
6.875%, 2/01/21

      960         1,005,600   

Tervita Corp.
8.00%, 11/15/18(a)

      946         839,575   

9.75%, 11/01/19(a)

      1,039         571,450   

10.875%, 2/15/18(a)

      591         328,005   

Transocean, Inc.
2.50%, 10/15/17

      650         596,375   

6.80%, 3/15/38

      1,700         1,219,750   

 

24     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Triangle USA Petroleum Corp.
6.75%, 7/15/22(a)

  U.S.$     3,333       $ 2,691,397   

Whiting Petroleum Corp.
5.75%, 3/15/21

      495         491,288   

6.25%, 4/01/23(a)

      1,450         1,444,635   
      

 

 

 
         83,128,534   
      

 

 

 

Other Industrial – 1.7%

      

Algeco Scotsman Global Finance PLC
8.50%, 10/15/18(a)

      315         312,244   

9.00%, 10/15/18(a)

  EUR     633         673,827   

10.75%, 10/15/19(a)

  U.S.$     2,172         1,781,040   

B456 Systems, Inc.
3.75%, 4/15/16(d)(f)(l)

      955         40,587   

Belden, Inc.
5.25%, 7/15/24(a)

      793         798,947   

Briggs & Stratton Corp.
6.875%, 12/15/20

      398         435,957   

General Cable Corp.
4.50%, 11/15/29(d)(m)

      1,158         918,439   

5.75%, 10/01/22

      477         443,610   

Interline Brands, Inc.
10.00%, 11/15/18(h)

      1,296         1,360,800   

Laureate Education, Inc.
10.00%, 9/01/19(a)

      4,233         4,000,185   

Liberty Tire Recycling LLC
11.00%, 3/31/21(a)(h)(l)(n)

      1,594         1,346,611   

Modular Space Corp.
10.25%, 1/31/19(a)

      2,141         1,702,095   

NANA Development Corp.
9.50%, 3/15/19(a)

      520         481,000   

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.
11.00%, 9/01/18

      1,358         1,215,410   

13.00%, 3/15/18(h)

      1,294         1,390,602   

Safway Group Holding LLC/Safway Finance Corp.
7.00%, 5/15/18(a)

      2,063         2,042,370   

Xella Holdco Finance SA
9.125%, 9/15/18(a)(b)(h)

  EUR     860         961,704   

Zachry Holdings, Inc.
7.50%, 2/01/20(a)

  U.S.$     530         503,500   
      

 

 

 
         20,408,928   
      

 

 

 

Services – 1.1%

      

ADT Corp. (The)
4.125%, 4/15/19(b)

      1,544         1,572,950   

6.25%, 10/15/21(b)

      477         508,005   

Cerved Group SpA
8.00%, 1/15/21(a)

  EUR     555         650,473   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       25   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Geo Debt Finance SCA
7.50%, 8/01/18(a)(b)

  EUR     416       $ 424,939   

IHS, Inc.
5.00%, 11/01/22(a)

  U.S.$     687         690,023   

Mobile Mini, Inc.
7.875%, 12/01/20

      1,175         1,239,625   

Monitronics International, Inc.
9.125%, 4/01/20

      850         831,937   

Sabre GLBL, Inc.
8.50%, 5/15/19(a)

      1,542         1,647,550   

Sabre Holdings Corp.
8.35%, 3/15/16(j)

      906         958,095   

Service Corp. International/US
6.75%, 4/01/16(g)

      1,485         1,551,825   

7.50%, 4/01/27

      1,500         1,755,000   

ServiceMaster Co. LLC (The)
7.00%, 8/15/20

      747         793,687   

8.00%, 2/15/20

      283         299,980   
      

 

 

 
         12,924,089   
      

 

 

 

Technology – 4.4%

      

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.
8.875%, 1/01/20(a)

      601         655,090   

Amkor Technology, Inc.
6.375%, 10/01/22

      2,681         2,761,430   

Aspect Software, Inc.
10.625%, 5/15/17

      2,126         1,849,620   

Audatex North America, Inc.
6.00%, 6/15/21(a)

      689         728,617   

6.125%, 11/01/23(a)

      1,172         1,239,390   

Avaya, Inc.
7.00%, 4/01/19(a)

      904         897,220   

10.50%, 3/01/21(a)

      2,676         2,281,290   

Blackboard, Inc.
7.75%, 11/15/19(a)

      864         829,440   

BMC Software Finance, Inc.
8.125%, 7/15/21(a)

      4,194         3,837,510   

Brightstar Corp.
9.50%, 12/01/16(a)

      1,833         1,920,067   

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.
5.00%, 9/01/23

      740         751,100   

5.50%, 12/01/24

      816         854,760   

6.00%, 8/15/22

      876         940,342   

8.50%, 4/01/19

      932         971,610   

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.
11.00%, 3/15/21(a)

      1,165         1,205,775   

Compiler Finance Sub, Inc.
7.00%, 5/01/21(a)

      411         316,470   

CoreLogic, Inc./United States
7.25%, 6/01/21

      260         276,900   

 

26     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

CPI International, Inc.
8.75%, 2/15/18

  U.S.$     1,768       $ 1,809,990   

Dell, Inc.
6.50%, 4/15/38

      581         591,168   

Eagle Midco, Inc.
9.00%, 6/15/18(a)

      1,919         1,954,981   

Epicor Software Corp.
8.625%, 5/01/19

      1,804         1,885,180   

First Data Corp.
6.75%, 11/01/20(a)

      273         290,063   

11.75%, 8/15/21

      1,601         1,851,156   

12.625%, 1/15/21

      2,250         2,666,250   

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
5.00%, 5/15/21(a)

      747         788,085   

6.00%, 1/15/22(a)

      776         844,870   

Goodman Networks, Inc.
12.125%, 7/01/18

      2,020         1,878,600   

Infor Software Parent LLC/Infor Software Parent, Inc.
7.125% (7.125% Cash or 7.875% PIK),
5/01/21(a)(b)(h)

      1,126         1,115,089   

Infor US, Inc.
6.50%, 5/15/22(a)

      1,200         1,230,000   

9.375%, 4/01/19

      2,190         2,348,337   

10.00%, 4/01/19

  EUR     793         927,282   

Micron Technology, Inc.
5.25%, 8/01/23(a)

  U.S.$     487         495,523   

5.50%, 2/01/25(a)

      2,446         2,464,345   

MSCI, Inc.
5.25%, 11/15/24(a)

      554         572,698   

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC
5.75%, 2/15/21-3/15/23(a)

      1,592         1,688,160   

Open Text Corp.
5.625%, 1/15/23(a)

      957         992,887   

SITEL LLC/Sitel Finance Corp.
11.00%, 8/01/17(a)

      1,000         1,035,000   

Sophia LP/Sophia Finance, Inc.
9.75%, 1/15/19(a)

      490         525,525   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.
7.625%, 11/15/20

      1,600         1,692,000   

Syniverse Holdings, Inc.
9.125%, 1/15/19

      813         800,805   
      

 

 

 
         52,764,625   
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.4%

      

Air Canada
6.75%, 10/01/19(a)

      1,300         1,387,750   

8.75%, 4/01/20(a)

      1,654         1,836,271   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       27   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Northwest Airlines Pass-Through Trust
Series 2000-1, Class G
7.15%, 10/01/19(j)

  U.S.$     533       $ 562,736   

UAL Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-1A
6.636%, 7/02/22

      1,332         1,443,425   
      

 

 

 
         5,230,182   
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Services – 0.8%

      

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc.
5.50%, 4/01/23

      297         306,652   

Avis Budget Finance PLC
6.00%, 3/01/21(a)

  EUR     530         605,215   

CEVA Group PLC
9.00%, 9/01/21(a)

  U.S.$     883         847,680   

EC Finance PLC
5.125%, 7/15/21(a)

  EUR     836         947,037   

Europcar Groupe SA
11.50%, 5/15/17(a)

      775         937,239   

Hapag-Lloyd AG
9.75%, 10/15/17(a)

  U.S.$     1,005         1,045,200   

Hertz Corp. (The)
5.875%, 10/15/20

      2,890         2,969,475   

LBC Tank Terminals Holding Netherlands BV
6.875%, 5/15/23(a)(b)

      1,147         1,172,807   

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
8.125%, 3/30/18

      1,200         1,189,500   
      

 

 

 
         10,020,805   
      

 

 

 
         599,052,941   
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 7.9%

      

Banking – 3.8%

      

ABN AMRO Bank NV
4.31%, 3/10/16(o)

  EUR     2,295         2,508,169   

Ally Financial, Inc.
8.00%, 11/01/31(b)

  U.S.$     1,151         1,496,300   

Baggot Securities Ltd.
10.24%, 4/30/15(a)(o)

  EUR     495         559,606   

Bank of America Corp.
Series AA
6.10%, 3/17/25(o)

  U.S.$     2,200         2,226,180   

Series X
6.25%, 9/05/24(o)

      98         99,838   

Series Z
6.50%, 10/23/24(o)

      2,420         2,559,150   

Bank of Ireland
1.781%, 9/22/15(g)(l)

  CAD     1,645         1,259,840   

10.00%, 7/30/16(a)

  EUR     349         405,471   

10.00%, 2/12/20

      1,130         1,547,593   

 

28     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Barclays Bank PLC
6.86%, 6/15/32(a)(o)

  U.S.$     166       $ 185,140   

7.625%, 11/21/22

      1,479         1,731,354   

7.70%, 4/25/18(a)(o)

      974         1,086,055   

7.75%, 4/10/23

      1,437         1,593,274   

Barclays PLC
8.00%, 12/15/20(o)

  EUR     263         314,410   

BBVA International Preferred SAU
3.798%, 9/22/15(o)

      609         647,297   

4.952%, 9/20/16(a)(o)

      1,650         1,800,775   

Citigroup, Inc.
5.95%, 1/30/23(o)

  U.S.$     588         595,350   

Commerzbank AG
8.125%, 9/19/23(a)

      1,052         1,251,880   

Credit Agricole SA
6.625%, 9/23/19(a)(o)

      843         845,107   

7.589%, 1/30/20(o)

  GBP     1,000         1,662,150   

7.875%, 1/23/24(a)(b)(o)

  U.S.$     549         581,254   

Credit Suisse Group AG
7.50%, 12/11/23(a)(o)

      3,647         3,915,966   

Danske Bank A/S
5.684%, 2/15/17(o)

  GBP     720         1,105,430   

HBOS Capital Funding LP
4.939%, 5/23/16(o)

  EUR     418         447,902   

HT1 Funding GmbH
6.352%, 6/30/17(o)

      1,550         1,699,970   

LBG Capital No.1 PLC
8.00%, 6/15/20(a)(o)

  U.S.$     1,860         2,018,100   

Lloyds Banking Group PLC
6.413%, 10/01/35(a)(o)

      235         267,312   

6.657%, 5/21/37(a)(o)

      98         111,720   

7.50%, 6/27/24(o)

      2,950         3,134,375   

Macquarie Capital Funding LP/Jersey
6.177%, 4/15/20(o)

  GBP     1,300         1,947,754   

Novo Banco SA
2.625%, 5/08/17(a)

  EUR     500         520,152   

RBS Capital Trust C
4.243%, 1/12/16(o)

      1,250         1,344,062   

SNS Bank NV
11.25%, 12/31/49(f)(l)(n)

      620         – 0  – 

Societe Generale SA
7.875%, 12/18/23(a)(o)

  U.S.$     1,308         1,347,240   

UT2 Funding PLC
5.321%, 6/30/16

  EUR     1,293         1,414,628   

Zions Bancorporation
5.65%, 11/15/23

  U.S.$     508         527,748   

5.80%, 6/15/23(o)

      1,800         1,721,700   
      

 

 

 
         46,480,252   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       29   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Brokerage – 0.4%

      

E*TRADE Financial Corp.
4.625%, 9/15/23

  U.S.$     1,835       $ 1,867,113   

5.375%, 11/15/22

      810         854,550   

GFI Group, Inc.
10.375%, 7/19/18

      1,300         1,382,875   

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.
Zero Coupon, 5/02/18(f)

      1,690         245,050   
      

 

 

 
         4,349,588   
      

 

 

 

Finance – 1.5%

      

Artsonig Pty Ltd.
11.50% (11.50% Cash or 12.00% PIK), 4/01/19(a)(h)

      1,256         1,042,572   

Creditcorp
12.00%, 7/15/18(a)

      1,300         1,157,000   

Enova International, Inc.
9.75%, 6/01/21(a)(b)

      2,216         2,105,200   

ILFC E-Capital Trust II
6.25%, 12/21/65(a)

      2,000         1,880,000   

International Lease Finance Corp.
8.25%, 12/15/20

      2,170         2,641,975   

8.75%, 3/15/17

      282         311,610   

8.875%, 9/01/17

      280         316,400   

Navient Corp.
5.50%, 1/15/19

      2,496         2,545,920   

5.625%, 8/01/33

      862         705,763   

7.25%, 1/25/22

      377         397,735   

8.00%, 3/25/20

      233         258,653   

Oxford Finance LLC/Oxford Finance Co-Issuer, Inc.
7.25%, 1/15/18(a)

      759         781,770   

Peninsula Gaming LLC/Peninsula Gaming Corp.
8.375%, 2/15/18(a)

      996         1,048,290   

TMX Finance LLC/TitleMax Finance Corp.
8.50%, 9/15/18(a)

      3,646         2,588,660   
      

 

 

 
         17,781,548   
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 1.1%

      

A-S Co-Issuer Subsidiary, Inc./A-S Merger
Sub LLC
7.875%, 12/15/20(a)

      1,819         1,873,570   

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.
6.625%, 7/15/21

      1,946         2,087,085   

Genworth Holdings, Inc.
6.15%, 11/15/66

      750         442,500   

7.625%, 9/24/21

      1,216         1,264,640   

 

30     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)
8.125%, 6/15/38

  U.S.$     631       $ 718,551   

HUB International Ltd.
7.875%, 10/01/21(a)

      1,300         1,332,500   

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
7.80%, 3/15/37(a)

      1,250         1,528,125   

USI, Inc./NY
7.75%, 1/15/21(a)

      2,421         2,481,525   

WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
5.75%, 11/15/20

      1,256         1,318,800   
      

 

 

 
         13,047,296   
      

 

 

 

Other Finance – 1.0%

      

ACE Cash Express, Inc.
11.00%, 2/01/19(a)

      850         474,938   

Argos Merger Sub, Inc.
7.125%, 3/15/23(a)

      2,889         2,993,726   

CNG Holdings, Inc./OH
9.375%, 5/15/20(a)

      2,615         1,876,263   

Gardner Denver, Inc.
6.875%, 8/15/21(a)

      346         311,400   

iPayment, Inc.
9.50%, 12/15/19(a)

      56         52,118   

Series AI
9.50%, 12/15/19

      2,259         2,112,089   

Lock AS
7.00%, 8/15/21(a)

  EUR     823         953,433   

Lock Lower Holding AS
9.50%, 8/15/22(a)

      500         580,635   

Speedy Cash Intermediate Holdings Corp.
10.75%, 5/15/18(a)(b)

  U.S.$     1,166         1,131,020   

Speedy Group Holdings Corp.
12.00%, 11/15/17(a)(b)

      1,711         1,582,675   
      

 

 

 
         12,068,297   
      

 

 

 

REITS – 0.1%

      

Felcor Lodging LP
5.625%, 3/01/23

      1,802         1,860,565   
      

 

 

 
         95,587,546   
      

 

 

 

Utility – 2.4%

      

Electric – 2.4%

      

AES Corp./VA
4.875%, 5/15/23

      1,840         1,794,000   

7.375%, 7/01/21

      1,280         1,420,800   

Calpine Corp.
5.75%, 1/15/25

      2,000         2,015,000   

5.875%, 1/15/24(a)

      898         970,289   

6.00%, 1/15/22(a)

      1,261         1,349,270   

7.875%, 1/15/23(a)

      460         508,392   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       31   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

DPL, Inc.
6.75%, 10/01/19(a)

  U.S.$     465       $ 490,575   

Dynegy Finance I, Inc./Dynegy Finance II, Inc.
7.375%, 11/01/22(a)

      2,555         2,685,944   

7.625%, 11/01/24(a)

      1,690         1,770,275   

FirstEnergy Corp.
Series C
7.375%, 11/15/31

      857         1,088,326   

GenOn Energy, Inc.
9.50%, 10/15/18(b)

      1,450         1,479,000   

9.875%, 10/15/20

      1,200         1,215,000   

NRG Energy, Inc.
6.25%, 7/15/22

      319         327,772   

6.625%, 3/15/23

      2,133         2,207,655   

Series WI
6.25%, 5/01/24(b)

      2,193         2,209,447   

NRG Yield Operating LLC
5.375%, 8/15/24(a)

      843         876,720   

PPL Capital Funding, Inc.
Series A
6.70%, 3/30/67

      2,405         2,325,635   

PPL Energy Supply LLC
4.60%, 12/15/21

      1,150         1,055,004   

RJS Power Holdings LLC
5.125%, 7/15/19(a)

      1,714         1,688,290   

Texas Competitive/TCEH
11.50%, 10/01/20(i)

      626         391,250   

Viridian Group FundCo II Ltd.
7.50%, 3/01/20(a)

  EUR     1,311         1,444,542   
      

 

 

 
         29,313,186   
      

 

 

 

Total Corporates – Non-Investment Grade
(cost $740,376,372)

         723,953,673   
      

 

 

 
      

GOVERNMENTS – TREASURIES – 16.4%

      

Brazil – 1.1%

      

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional
Series F
10.00%, 1/01/17

  BRL     44,075         13,095,501   
      

 

 

 

Colombia – 0.4%

      

Colombia Government International Bond
12.00%, 10/22/15

  COP     1,015,000         403,868   

Colombian TES
Series B
10.00%, 7/24/24

      8,000,000         3,695,742   
      

 

 

 
         4,099,610   
      

 

 

 

 

32     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Indonesia – 0.3%

      

Indonesia – Recap Linked Note (JPMC)
10.00%, 7/18/17

  IDR     47,971,000       $ 3,878,038   
      

 

 

 

Philippines – 0.3%

      

Philippine Government International Bond
6.25%, 1/14/36(l)

  PHP     143,000         3,686,969   
      

 

 

 

South Africa – 0.5%

      

South Africa Government Bond
Series R204
8.00%, 12/21/18

  ZAR     10,750         913,038   

Series R207
7.25%, 1/15/20

      60,872         5,012,693   

Series R208
6.75%, 3/31/21

      490         39,179   
      

 

 

 
         5,964,910   
      

 

 

 

United States – 13.8%

      

U.S. Treasury Bonds
2.75%, 11/15/42

  U.S.$     4,000         4,157,188   

3.125%, 2/15/42

      4,000         4,471,248   

3.50%, 2/15/39

      2,000         2,368,124   

4.50%, 2/15/36(p)(q)

      2,400         3,269,439   

5.00%, 5/15/37(p)

      3,500         5,087,033   

5.25%, 2/15/29(q)

      5,750         7,865,373   

6.125%, 11/15/27(p)(q)

      2,200         3,185,532   

U.S. Treasury Notes
1.25%, 1/31/20(b)

      137,000         136,293,628   
      

 

 

 
         166,697,565   
      

 

 

 

Total Governments – Treasuries
(cost $202,621,343)

         197,422,593   
      

 

 

 
      

CORPORATES – INVESTMENT GRADE – 7.4%

      

Financial Institutions – 3.9%

      

Banking – 1.2%

      

BPCE SA
5.70%, 10/22/23(a)

      208         230,036   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA/Netherlands
8.375%, 7/26/16(a)(o)

      2,750         2,932,229   

HSBC Holdings PLC
6.375%, 3/30/25(o)

      1,617         1,649,340   

ICICI Bank Ltd./Dubai
4.80%, 5/22/19(a)(b)

      1,337         1,441,866   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Series Q
5.15%, 5/01/23(o)

      1,357         1,324,771   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       33   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Series R
6.00%, 8/01/23(o)

  U.S.$     865       $ 875,813   

Series S
6.75%, 2/01/24(o)

      460         500,848   

Nordea Bank AB
6.125%, 9/23/24(a)(o)

      1,226         1,265,085   

Regions Bank/Birmingham AL
6.45%, 6/26/37

      1,500         1,886,387   

Standard Chartered PLC
5.20%, 1/26/24(a)(b)

      1,301         1,411,317   

Wells Fargo & Co.
Series S
5.90%, 6/15/24(o)

      435         452,400   
      

 

 

 
         13,970,092   
      

 

 

 

Finance – 0.7%

      

Aviation Capital Group Corp.
6.75%, 4/06/21(a)

      650         739,727   

7.125%, 10/15/20(a)

      2,489         2,903,090   

GE Capital Trust III
6.50%, 9/15/67(a)

  GBP     700         1,121,445   

General Electric Capital Corp.
Series A
7.125%, 6/15/22(o)

  U.S.$     600         704,250   

Series B
6.25%, 12/15/22(o)

      600         675,000   

HSBC Finance Capital Trust IX
5.911%, 11/30/35

      1,905         1,936,432   
      

 

 

 
         8,079,944   
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 1.5%

      

AAI Ltd.
6.15%, 9/07/25

  AUD     990         759,802   

American International Group, Inc.
6.82%, 11/15/37

  U.S.$     1,425         1,961,768   

Aon Corp.
8.205%, 1/01/27

      690         898,923   

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, Inc.
6.40%, 12/15/66(a)

      656         557,600   

Lincoln National Corp.
8.75%, 7/01/19

      604         760,005   

MetLife, Inc.
10.75%, 8/01/39

      2,350         3,946,825   

Pacific Life Insurance Co.
9.25%, 6/15/39(a)

      475         757,528   

Swiss Re Capital I LP
6.854%, 5/25/16(a)(o)

      2,809         2,949,450   

Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.
8.00%, 11/30/39

      1,261         1,782,426   

 

34     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

XLIT Ltd.
Series E
6.50%, 4/15/17(o)

  U.S.$     3,322       $ 2,939,970   

ZFS Finance USA Trust V
6.50%, 5/09/37(a)

      1,240         1,305,100   
      

 

 

 
         18,619,397   
      

 

 

 

REITS – 0.5%

      

DDR Corp.
7.875%, 9/01/20

      746         929,744   

EPR Properties
5.75%, 8/15/22

      915         1,007,324   

7.75%, 7/15/20

      1,722         2,081,356   

Senior Housing Properties Trust
6.75%, 12/15/21

      1,350         1,570,231   
      

 

 

 
         5,588,655   
      

 

 

 
         46,258,088   
      

 

 

 

Industrial – 3.2%

      

Basic – 1.8%

      

Braskem Finance Ltd.
6.45%, 2/03/24

      2,254         2,175,110   

7.00%, 5/07/20(a)

      191         190,656   

CF Industries, Inc.
7.125%, 5/01/20

      900         1,084,448   

Freeport-McMoran Oil & Gas LLC/FCX Oil & Gas, Inc.
6.50%, 11/15/20

      867         920,104   

6.75%, 2/01/22

      1,197         1,268,820   

Georgia-Pacific LLC
8.875%, 5/15/31

      1         1,510   

GTL Trade Finance, Inc.
5.893%, 4/29/24(a)

      1,363         1,310,184   

7.25%, 4/16/44(a)

      234         214,110   

Minsur SA
6.25%, 2/07/24(a)

      891         988,907   

Samarco Mineracao SA
4.125%, 11/01/22(a)

      651         585,900   

5.75%, 10/24/23(a)(b)

      810         789,750   

Southern Copper Corp.
7.50%, 7/27/35

      3,300         3,763,782   

Vale Overseas Ltd.
6.875%, 11/21/36

      4,756         4,600,003   

Westvaco Corp.
7.95%, 2/15/31

      1,000         1,348,419   

Weyerhaeuser Co.
7.375%, 3/15/32

      1,790         2,404,861   
      

 

 

 
         21,646,564   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       35   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Capital Goods – 0.1%

      

Odebrecht Finance Ltd.
8.25%, 4/25/18(a)

  BRL     1,332       $ 308,841   

Owens Corning
7.00%, 12/01/36(g)

  U.S.$     1,340         1,641,437   
      

 

 

 
         1,950,278   
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 0.2%

      

NBCUniversal Enterprise, Inc.
5.25%, 3/19/21(a)(o)

      1,401         1,485,340   

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.
5.25%, 8/15/22(a)

      286         301,730   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.
6.75%, 6/15/39

      660         845,942   
      

 

 

 
         2,633,012   
      

 

 

 

Communications - Telecommunications – 0.3%

      

Embarq Corp.
7.995%, 6/01/36

      932         1,108,241   

Qwest Corp.
6.50%, 6/01/17

      610         664,855   

6.875%, 9/15/33

      1,570         1,575,547   
      

 

 

 
         3,348,643   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.0%

      

Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc.
6.535%, 10/01/20(a)

      215         231,125   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 0.1%

      

BRF SA
4.75%, 5/22/24(a)

      659         640,878   

Forest Laboratories, Inc.
5.00%, 12/15/21(a)

      803         892,899   
      

 

 

 
         1,533,777   
      

 

 

 

Energy – 0.3%

      

Enterprise Products Operating LLC
Series A
8.375%, 8/01/66

      1,760         1,854,600   

Kinder Morgan, Inc./DE
Series G
7.80%, 8/01/31

      1,066         1,305,736   
      

 

 

 
         3,160,336   
      

 

 

 

Other Industrial – 0.2%

      

Fresnillo PLC
5.50%, 11/13/23(a)

      2,181         2,279,145   
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.2%

      

America West Airlines Pass-Through Trust
Series 1999-1, Class G
7.93%, 1/02/19

      1,006         1,113,835   

 

36     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Delta Air Lines Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-1A
6.821%, 8/10/22

  U.S.$     779       $ 914,859   
      

 

 

 
         2,028,694   
      

 

 

 
         38,811,574   
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.3%

      

Electric – 0.2%

      

EDP Finance BV
4.90%, 10/01/19(a)

      148         157,333   

6.00%, 2/02/18(a)

      2,055         2,234,854   
      

 

 

 
         2,392,187   
      

 

 

 

Natural Gas – 0.1%

      

Empresa de Energia de Bogota SA ESP
6.125%, 11/10/21(a)

      1,235         1,284,328   
      

 

 

 
         3,676,515   
      

 

 

 

Total Corporates – Investment Grade
(cost $76,605,393)

         88,746,177   
      

 

 

 
      

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS – 7.2%

      

Non-Agency Fixed Rate – 3.3%

      

Bear Stearns ARM Trust
Series 2007-3, Class 1A1
2.731%, 5/25/47

      477         411,533   

Series 2007-4, Class 22A1
4.879%, 6/25/47

      1,800         1,613,737   

ChaseFlex Trust
Series 2007-1, Class 1A3
6.50%, 2/25/37

      877         664,569   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2006-4, Class 2A1A
6.00%, 12/25/35

      2,744         2,533,950   

Series 2006-AR3, Class 1A2A
5.266%, 6/25/36

      1,748         1,671,905   

Series 2007-AR4, Class 1A1A
5.392%, 3/25/37

      407         388,147   

CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2007-A3, Class 1A4
5.75%, 3/25/37

      1,881         1,648,859   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2006-24CB, Class A15
5.75%, 6/25/36

      1,474         1,329,111   

Series 2006-41CB, Class 2A13
5.75%, 1/25/37

      1,231         1,094,272   

Series 2006-42, Class 1A6
6.00%, 1/25/47

      1,089         960,448   

Series 2006-HY12, Class A5
3.565%, 8/25/36

      2,632         2,506,448   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       37   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Series 2006-J1, Class 1A10
5.50%, 2/25/36

  U.S.$     2,402       $ 2,163,840   

Series 2006-J5, Class 1A1
6.50%, 9/25/36

      1,442         1,299,616   

Series 2007-13, Class A2
6.00%, 6/25/47

      1,795         1,526,009   

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage
Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-HY4, Class 1A1
2.55%, 9/25/47

      534         476,417   

CSMC Mortgage-Backed Trust
Series 2006-7, Class 3A12
6.25%, 8/25/36

      1,017         889,180   

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
Series 2006-AA5, Class A1
2.275%, 9/25/36

      1,086         850,910   

Series 2006-FA1, Class 1A3
5.75%, 4/25/36

      1,020         832,788   

IndyMac Index Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2005-AR15, Class A1
4.544%, 9/25/35

      1,231         1,057,903   

Series 2006-AR37, Class 2A1
4.478%, 2/25/37

      801         651,908   

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2005-10, Class 4A1
5.50%, 12/25/35

      665         616,534   

Series 2007-12, Class 3A22
6.00%, 8/25/37

      185         168,275   

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
Series 2005-QS14, Class 3A1
6.00%, 9/25/35

      1,002         917,893   

Residential Asset Securitization Trust
Series 2006-A8, Class 3A4
6.00%, 8/25/36

      323         270,053   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Loan Trust
Series 2005-18, Class 8A1
5.194%, 9/25/35

      1,388         1,298,470   

Series 2006-9, Class 4A1
5.283%, 10/25/36

      976         844,045   

Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage
Pass-Through Certificates
Series 2006-7, Class A3
4.677%, 9/25/36

      2,001         1,128,353   

Series 2006-7, Class A4
4.677%, 9/25/36

      2,106         1,187,189   

Series 2006-9, Class A4
5.132%, 10/25/36

      2,100         1,246,989   

 

38     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Washington Mutual Mortgage
Pass-Through Certificates Trust
Series 2007-HY3, Class 4A1
2.356%, 3/25/37

  U.S.$     2,218       $ 2,093,074   

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2007-PA3, Class 3A1
6.25%, 7/25/37

      2,052         1,859,252   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed
Securities Trust
Series 2007-AR7, Class A1
2.574%, 12/28/37

      2,674         2,460,103   

Series 2007-AR8, Class A1
2.61%, 11/25/37

      1,052         921,504   
      

 

 

 
         39,583,284   
      

 

 

 

Non-Agency Floating Rate – 2.0%

      

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.
Series 2005-8, Class 2A2
4.626%, 9/25/35(g)(r)

      1,096         115,902   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2007-7T2, Class A3
0.774%, 4/25/37(g)

      4,044         2,186,265   

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage
Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-13, Class A7
0.774%, 8/25/37(g)

      1,300         1,011,294   

Deutsche Alt-A Securities
Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2007-OA3, Class A1
0.314%, 7/25/47(g)

      832         700,226   

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
Series 2007-FA2, Class 1A10
0.424%, 4/25/37(g)

      642         351,915   

Series 2007-FA2, Class 1A5
0.474%, 4/25/37(g)

      727         401,187   

Series 2007-FA2, Class 1A6
5.376%, 4/25/37(g)(r)

      217         47,579   

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2007-4, Class 2A1
0.398%, 7/19/47(g)

      3,384         2,822,346   

Series 2007-7, Class 2A1A
1.174%, 10/25/37(g)

      704         607,016   

Lehman XS Trust
Series 2007-10H, Class 2AIO
6.829%, 7/25/37(g)(r)

      764         195,506   

Series 2007-15N, Class 4A1
1.074%, 8/25/47(g)

      817         562,815   

Series 2007-4N, Class 3A2A
0.871%, 3/25/47(g)

      2,282         1,896,354   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       39   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
Series 2006-QS18, Class 2A2
6.376%, 12/25/36(g)(r)

  U.S.$     7,288       $ 1,770,878   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust
Series 2007-AR6, Class A1
1.628%, 8/25/47(g)

      2,271         1,994,233   

Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage
Pass-Through Certificates
Series 2007-OA4, Class A1A
0.888%, 4/25/47(g)

      3,363         2,469,422   

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-
Through Certificates
Series 2007-OA1, Class A1A
0.828%, 2/25/47(g)

      2,736         2,192,897   

Washington Mutual Mortgage
Pass-Through Certificates Trust
Series 2006-AR5, Class A1A
1.118%, 6/25/46(g)

      809         706,129   

Series 2007-OA3, Class 2A1A
0.888%, 4/25/47(g)

      894         778,422   

Series 2007-OA5, Class 1A
0.878%, 6/25/47(g)

      4,688         4,025,127   
      

 

 

 
         24,835,513   
      

 

 

 

GSE Risk Share Floating Rate – 1.9%

      

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes
Series 2013-DN1, Class M2
7.324%, 7/25/23(g)

      2,350         2,815,706   

Series 2013-DN2, Class M2
4.424%, 11/25/23(g)

      1,925         1,978,694   

Series 2014-DN1, Class M3
4.674%, 2/25/24(g)

      1,380         1,429,681   

Series 2014-DN2, Class M3
3.774%, 4/25/24(g)

      1,044         1,015,601   

Series 2014-HQ2, Class M3
3.924%, 9/25/24(g)

      710         685,501   

Federal National Mortgage Association Connecticut Avenue Securities
Series 2013-C01, Class M2
5.424%, 10/25/23(g)

      1,451         1,586,135   

Series 2014-C01, Class M2
4.574%, 1/25/24(g)

      1,991         2,064,526   

Series 2014-C02, Class 1M2
2.774%, 5/25/24(g)

      490         446,373   

Series 2014-C03, Class 1M2
3.174%, 7/25/24(g)

      1,147         1,078,815   

 

40     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Series 2014-C04, Class 1M2
5.074%, 11/25/24(g)

  U.S.$     3,900       $ 4,121,357   

Series 2015-C01, Class 1M2
4.474%, 2/25/25(g)

      3,035         3,070,427   

Freddie Mac Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes
Series 2014-HQ3, Class M3
4.924%, 10/25/24(g)

      1,655         1,717,970   

Series 2015-HQ1, Class M3
3.973%, 3/25/25(g)

      815         821,122   
      

 

 

 
         22,831,908   
      

 

 

 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
(cost $82,802,907)

         87,250,705   
      

 

 

 
      

BANK LOANS – 4.1%

      

Industrial – 3.8%

      

Basic – 0.1%

      

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd.
(FMG America Finance, Inc.)
3.75%, 6/30/19(g)

      1,877         1,692,226   
      

 

 

 

Capital Goods – 0.2%

      

ClubCorp Club Operations, Inc.
4.50%, 7/24/20(g)

      1,291         1,297,652   

Serta Simmons Holdings LLC
4.25%, 10/01/19(g)

      1,283         1,284,502   
      

 

 

 
         2,582,154   
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 0.2%

      

Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.
7.50%, 7/25/22(g)

      1,167         1,166,422   

TWCC Holding Corp.
7.00%, 6/26/20(g)

      1,050         922,687   
      

 

 

 
         2,089,109   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 0.6%

      

Exide Technologies
9.00%, 4/30/15(e)

      5,973         4,703,351   

Navistar, Inc.
5.75%, 8/17/17(g)

      875         878,281   

TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
4.25%, 7/02/21(g)

      1,466         1,464,232   
      

 

 

 
         7,045,864   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical -
Entertainment – 0.2%

      

Kasima LLC (Digital Cinema Implementation Partners LLC)
3.25%, 5/17/21(g)

      662         659,283   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       41   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

NCL Corp., Ltd. (aka Norwegian Cruise Lines)
4.00%, 11/19/21(g)

  U.S.$     252       $ 253,722   

Station Casinos LLC
4.25%, 3/02/20(g)

      1,823         1,825,932   
      

 

 

 
         2,738,937   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.4%

      

CityCenter Holdings LLC
4.25%, 10/16/20(g)

      2,273         2,279,981   

La Quinta Intermediate Holdings LLC
4.00%, 4/14/21(g)

      643         644,790   

New HB Acquisition LLC
6.75%, 4/09/20(g)

      1,980         2,012,175   
      

 

 

 
         4,936,946   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.4%

      

Dollar Tree, Inc.
4.25%, 3/09/22(h)

      38         38,029   

Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc.
4.75%, 7/26/19(g)

      1,229         1,236,128   

J.C. Penney Corp., Inc.
6.00%, 5/22/18(g)

      1,425         1,420,294   

Michaels Stores, Inc.
4.00%, 1/28/20(g)

      632         633,518   

PetSmart, Inc.
3/11/22(s)

      810         815,856   

Rite Aid Corp.
5.75%, 8/21/20(g)

      500         505,000   
      

 

 

 
         4,648,825   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 0.8%

      

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.
4.25%, 2/11/22(g)

      94         94,373   

Air Medical Group Holdings, Inc.
5.00%, 6/30/18(g)

      1,348         1,347,120   

Air Medical Holding LLC
7.63%, 5/31/18

      4,000         4,020,000   

Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd.
3.18%, 2/27/21(g)

      703         701,789   

H. J. Heinz Co.
3.25%, 6/05/20(g)

      459         459,157   

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Holdings
Luxembourg S.Ã.r.l.
6/30/21(s)

      628         621,838   

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc.
(Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
4.00%, 9/30/19(g)

      585         584,000   

Pharmedium Healthcare Corp.
7.75%, 1/28/22(g)

      1,173         1,169,724   
      

 

 

 
         8,998,001   
      

 

 

 

 

42     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Energy – 0.2%

      

Atlas Ltd.
1/15/21(n)(s)

  U.S.$     1,500       $ 1,503,750   

Seadrill Operating LP (Seadrill Partners Finco LLC)
4.00%, 2/21/21(g)

      1,126         891,155   
      

 

 

 
         2,394,905   
      

 

 

 

Other Industrial – 0.5%

      

Accudyne Industries Borrower
S.C.A./Accudyne Industries LLC
(fka Silver II US Holdings LLC)
4.00%, 12/13/19(g)

      1,030         974,876   

Atkore International, Inc.
7.75%, 10/09/21(g)

      1,690         1,630,850   

Education Management II LLC
5.50%-8.50%, 7/02/20(g)

      645         539,447   

Gardner Denver, Inc.
4.25%, 7/30/20(g)

      1,182         1,119,827   

Laureate Education, Inc.
5.00%, 6/15/18(g)

      737         687,568   

Liberty Tire Recycling Group
4/01/16(h)(l)(n)

      208         205,444   

Unifrax Holding Co.
5.25%, 11/28/18(g)

  EUR     729         787,663   
      

 

 

 
         5,945,675   
      

 

 

 

Technology – 0.2%

      

Avaya, Inc.
10/26/17-3/31/18(s)

  U.S.$     1,009         994,331   

Riverbed Technology, Inc.
4/24/22(s)

      445         448,941   

Smart Modular Technologies (Global), Inc.
8.25%, 8/26/17(g)

      1,016         1,010,427   
      

 

 

 
         2,453,699   
      

 

 

 
         45,526,341   
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 0.2%

      

Insurance – 0.1%

      

Hub International Ltd.
4.00%, 10/02/20(g)

      493         488,127   
      

 

 

 

Other Finance – 0.1%

      

Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.Ã.r.l.
5.75%, 9/02/21(g)

      1,527         1,539,962   
      

 

 

 
         2,028,089   
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.1%

      

Electric – 0.1%

      

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co. LLC (EFIH Finance, Inc.)
4.25%, 6/19/16(g)

      2,010         2,016,181   
      

 

 

 

Total Bank Loans
(cost $51,517,012)

         49,570,611   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       43   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

EMERGING MARKETS – SOVEREIGNS – 3.9%

      

Argentina – 0.5%

      

Argentina Boden Bonds
7.00%, 10/03/15

  U.S.$     6,411       $ 6,234,963   
      

 

 

 

Dominican Republic – 0.9%

      

Dominican Republic International Bond
7.45%, 4/30/44(a)

      1,283         1,446,583   

8.625%, 4/20/27(a)

      8,385         9,957,187   
      

 

 

 
         11,403,770   
      

 

 

 

El Salvador – 0.7%

      

El Salvador Government International Bond
7.625%, 9/21/34(a)

      762         792,480   

7.65%, 6/15/35(a)

      6,996         7,328,310   
      

 

 

 
         8,120,790   
      

 

 

 

Ghana – 0.1%

      

Republic of Ghana
7.875%, 8/07/23(a)(b)

      1,198         1,136,072   

8.50%, 10/04/17(a)

      606         621,059   
      

 

 

 
         1,757,131   
      

 

 

 

Ivory Coast – 0.7%

      

Ivory Coast Government International Bond
5.75%, 12/31/32(a)

      7,583         7,204,457   

6.375%, 3/03/28(a)

      1,269         1,272,172   
      

 

 

 
         8,476,629   
      

 

 

 

Jamaica – 0.1%

      

Jamaica Government International Bond
7.625%, 7/09/25

      506         561,028   
      

 

 

 

Kenya – 0.1%

      

Kenya Government International Bond
5.875%, 6/24/19(a)

      702         722,533   
      

 

 

 

Lebanon – 0.1%

      

Lebanon Government International Bond
6.00%, 1/27/23(a)

      796         799,144   

Series E
6.10%, 10/04/22(a)

      665         671,650   
      

 

 

 
         1,470,794   
      

 

 

 

Pakistan – 0.1%

      

Pakistan Government International Bond
7.25%, 4/15/19(a)

      1,498         1,542,184   
      

 

 

 

Serbia – 0.0%

      

Republic of Serbia
6.75%, 11/01/24(a)

      383         389,341   
      

 

 

 

 

44     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Sri Lanka – 0.1%

      

Sri Lanka Government International Bond
6.00%, 1/14/19(a)

  U.S.$     799       $ 818,975   
      

 

 

 

Venezuela – 0.3%

      

Venezuela Government International Bond
9.00%, 5/07/23(a)

      824         294,401   

9.25%, 9/15/27

      8,383         3,344,817   

9.25%, 5/07/28(a)

      300         107,250   

11.75%, 10/21/26(a)

      486         195,615   

11.95%, 8/05/31(a)

      355         144,526   
      

 

 

 
         4,086,609   
      

 

 

 

Zambia – 0.2%

      

Zambia Government International Bond
8.50%, 4/14/24(a)

      1,846         1,956,760   
      

 

 

 

Total Emerging Markets – Sovereigns
(cost $44,891,844)

         47,541,507   
      

 

 

 
      

EMERGING MARKETS –
CORPORATE BONDS – 3.3%

      

Industrial – 3.0%

      

Basic – 0.5%

      

Elementia SAB de CV
5.50%, 1/15/25(a)

      469         466,186   

Gold Fields Orogen Holdings BVI Ltd.
4.875%, 10/07/20(a)

      1,650         1,463,344   

Sappi Papier Holding GmbH
7.75%, 7/15/17(a)

      1,278         1,386,630   

Tupy Overseas SA
6.625%, 7/17/24(a)

      601         576,960   

Vedanta Resources PLC
6.00%, 1/31/19(a)

      600         537,000   

8.25%, 6/07/21(a)(b)

      1,812         1,644,390   

9.50%, 7/18/18(a)

      420         424,200   
      

 

 

 
         6,498,710   
      

 

 

 

Capital Goods – 0.6%

      

CEMEX Espana SA/Luxembourg
9.875%, 4/30/19(a)

      3,299         3,670,138   

Cemex Finance LLC
9.375%, 10/12/22(a)

      587         665,335   

Grupo KUO SAB De CV
6.25%, 12/04/22(a)

      200         206,980   

Servicios Corporativos Javer SAPI de CV
9.875%, 4/06/21(a)

      1,211         1,277,605   

Zoomlion Hk Spv Co., Ltd.
6.875%, 4/05/17(a)(b)

      1,250         1,275,000   
      

 

 

 
         7,095,058   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       45   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Communications - Media – 0.1%

      

Myriad International Holdings BV
6.00%, 7/18/20(a)

  U.S.$     1,519       $ 1,671,015   
      

 

 

 

Communications -
Telecommunications – 0.2%

      

Comcel Trust via Comunicaciones Celulares SA
6.875%, 2/06/24(a)

      986         1,050,583   

Digicel Ltd.
6.00%, 4/15/21(a)

      750         712,500   

6.75%, 3/01/23(a)

      485         469,844   
      

 

 

 
         2,232,927   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.2%

      

Theta Capital Pte Ltd.
6.125%, 11/14/20(a)

      200         201,285   

7.00%, 5/16/19-4/11/22(a)

      1,901         1,961,043   
      

 

 

 
         2,162,328   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.3%

      

Edcon Ltd.
9.50%, 3/01/18(a)

      420         322,392   

9.50%, 3/01/18(a)

  EUR     526         433,106   

9.50%, 3/01/18(a)(b)

      625         517,464   

Office Depot de Mexico SA de CV
6.875%, 9/20/20(a)

  U.S.$     2,500         2,637,500   
      

 

 

 
         3,910,462   
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 0.8%

      

Cosan Luxembourg SA
9.50%, 3/14/18(a)

  BRL     2,042         531,193   

Marfrig Holding Europe BV
8.375%, 5/09/18(a)

  U.S.$     3,116         2,944,620   

Marfrig Overseas Ltd.
9.50%, 5/04/20(a)

      2,187         2,066,715   

Minerva Luxembourg SA
7.75%, 1/31/23(a)

      2,866         2,823,010   

Tonon Bioenergia SA
9.25%, 1/24/20(a)

      1,620         453,600   

USJ Acucar e Alcool SA
9.875%, 11/09/19(a)

      600         270,000   

Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA
10.50%, 1/28/18(c)(k)

      4,090         163,600   

10.875%, 1/13/20(c)(k)

      480         85,440   

11.75%, 2/09/22(c)(k)

      1,620         64,800   
      

 

 

 
         9,402,978   
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.3%

      

Guanay Finance Ltd.
6.00%, 12/15/20(a)

      675         707,062   

 

46     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

TAM Capital 3, Inc.
8.375%, 6/03/21(a)

  U.S.$          2,505       $ 2,520,030   
      

 

 

 
         3,227,092   
      

 

 

 
         36,200,570   
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.2%

      

Electric – 0.2%

      

ContourGlobal Power Holdings SA
7.125%, 6/01/19(a)(b)

      1,703         1,737,060   
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 0.1%

      

Finance – 0.1%

      

CIMPOR Financial Operations BV
5.75%, 7/17/24(a)

      1,491         1,237,530   
      

 

 

 

Total Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds
(cost $44,147,628)

         39,175,160   
      

 

 

 
          Shares         

PREFERRED STOCKS – 2.6%

      

Financial Institutions – 2.6%

      

Banking – 0.9%

      

GMAC Capital Trust I
8.125%

      98,050         2,573,812   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
Series J
5.50%

      65,775         1,656,215   

Morgan Stanley
6.875%

      38,650         1,063,262   

State Street Corp.
Series D
5.90%

      25,800         704,082   

US Bancorp/MN
Series F
6.50%

      100,000         2,971,000   

Wells Fargo & Co.
5.85%

      6,050         160,446   

Wells Fargo & Co.
6.625%

      65,275         1,842,713   
      

 

 

 
         10,971,530   
      

 

 

 

Finance – 0.2%

      

RBS Capital Funding Trust V
Series E
5.90%

      111,000         2,725,050   
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 0.3%

      

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)
7.875%

      75,000         2,304,000   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       47   

Portfolio of Investments


 

Company           
    
Shares
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

XLIT Ltd.
Series D
3.373%(g)

      1,600       $ 1,317,500   
      

 

 

 
         3,621,500   
      

 

 

 

REITS – 1.2%

      

Apartment Investment & Management Co.
6.875%

      130,000         3,461,250   

Brandywine Realty Trust
Series E
6.90%

      30,425         798,656   

Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.
Series B
7.25%

      24,651         631,805   

Health Care REIT, Inc.
Series J
6.50%

      23,650         638,077   

Hersha Hospitality Trust
Series C
6.875%

      31,800         821,833   

Kilroy Realty Corp.
Series H
6.375%

      2,000         51,060   

Kimco Realty Corp.
Series I
6.00%

      19,850         514,115   

Kimco Realty Corp.
Series K
5.625%

      12,000         298,080   

National Retail Properties, Inc.
Series D
6.625%

      21,000         551,460   

National Retail Properties, Inc.
Series E
5.70%

      44,975         1,122,126   

Public Storage
Series W
5.20%

      18,400         445,648   

Public Storage
Series X
5.20%

      1,000         24,290   

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.
Series A
7.125%

      145,600         3,919,552   

Sovereign Real Estate Investment Trust
12.00%(a)

      185         248,825   

Vornado Realty Trust
Series K
5.70%

      10,800         269,028   
      

 

 

 
         13,795,805   
      

 

 

 
         31,113,885   
      

 

 

 

 

48     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

Company           
    
Shares
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Industrial – 0.0%

      

Services – 0.0%

      

Education Management LLC
0.00%

      9,146       $ 91,460   

Education Management Corp.
0.00%

      3,225         209,625   
      

 

 

 
         301,085   
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.0%

      

Electric – 0.0%

      

SCE Trust III
5.75%

      12,025         330,086   
      

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(cost $28,434,722)

         31,745,056   
      

 

 

 
        Principal
Amount
(000)
        

COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 2.2%

      

Non-Agency Fixed Rate CMBS – 2.2%

      

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2007-3, Class AJ
5.575%, 6/10/49

  U.S.$     1,973         2,029,591   

Series 2007-5, Class AM
5.772%, 2/10/51

      2,877         3,068,338   

Banc of America Re-REMIC Trust
Series 2009-UB1, Class A4B
5.592%, 6/24/50(k)(n)

      3,500         3,732,750   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2013-GC11, Class XA
1.887%, 4/10/46

      2,319         194,165   

Series 2014-GC23, Class D
4.508%, 7/10/47(a)

      856         817,742   

Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates
Series 2012-CR3, Class XA
2.166%, 10/15/45

      9,689         1,047,578   

Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2012-CR1, Class XA
2.109%, 5/15/45(r)

      2,322         234,062   

Series 2012-CR5, Class XA
1.89%, 12/10/45

      2,479         228,047   

Series 2012-LC4, Class XA
2.418%, 12/10/44(a)

      6,554         734,463   

Series 2014-CR15, Class XA
1.345%, 2/10/47

      2,586         175,007   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       49   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Series 2014-LC15, Class D
4.944%, 4/10/47(a)

  U.S.$     1,500       $ 1,463,757   

Series 2014-UBS5, Class D
3.495%, 9/10/47(a)

      669         566,610   

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II
Series 2012-GCJ9, Class XA
2.354%, 11/10/45

      1,937         222,572   

Series 2013-GC10, Class XA
1.724%, 2/10/46

      1,022         96,953   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust
Series 2006-GG6, Class AJ
5.522%, 4/10/38

      1,484         1,516,727   

Series 2011-GC5, Class C
5.31%, 8/10/44(a)

      3,152         3,537,735   

Series 2012-GCJ7, Class XA
2.551%, 5/10/45

      7,006         755,111   

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2007-C2, Class AM
5.493%, 2/15/40

      1,254         1,325,701   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust
Series 2005-CIP1, Class AJ
5.137%, 7/12/38

      2,000         2,018,500   

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust
Series 2012-C6, Class XA
2.131%, 11/15/45(a)

      11,582         1,054,721   

UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2012-C4, Class XA
1.844%, 12/10/45(a)

      971         96,482   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2007-C34, Class AM
5.818%, 5/15/46

      400         433,496   

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2010-C1, Class XA
1.405%, 11/15/43(a)

      2,128         121,858   

WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2011-C4, Class D
5.246%, 6/15/44(a)(j)

      1,022         1,113,839   

Series 2012-C7, Class XA
1.568%, 6/15/45(a)

      1,576         132,815   
      

 

 

 

Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
(cost $22,940,304)

         26,718,620   
      

 

 

 
      

 

50     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

GOVERNMENTS – SOVEREIGN BONDS – 1.2%

      

Bahrain – 0.2%

      

Bahrain Government International Bond
6.00%, 9/19/44(a)

  U.S.$     2,100       $ 2,026,500   
      

 

 

 

Croatia – 0.4%

      

Croatia Government International Bond
6.625%, 7/14/20(a)

      4,000         4,435,000   
      

 

 

 

Romania – 0.1%

      

Romanian Government International Bond
4.875%, 1/22/24(a)

      1,360         1,504,500   
      

 

 

 

Turkey – 0.2%

      

Turkey Government International Bond
5.625%, 3/30/21

      2,600         2,843,750   
      

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates – 0.3%

      

Emirate of Dubai Government International Bonds
7.75%, 10/05/20(a)(b)

      3,310         4,106,220   
      

 

 

 

Total Governments - Sovereign Bonds
(cost $13,480,414)

         14,915,970   
      

 

 

 
      

GOVERNMENTS – SOVEREIGN AGENCIES – 1.2%

      

Brazil – 0.4%

      

Banco do Brasil SA/Cayman
9.00%, 6/18/24(a)(o)

      2,000         1,723,660   

Petrobras Global Finance BV
4.875%, 3/17/20

      1,395         1,252,710   

5.375%, 1/27/21

      1,655         1,501,333   

5.75%, 1/20/20

      190         176,240   
      

 

 

 
         4,653,943   
      

 

 

 

Colombia – 0.1%

      

Ecopetrol SA
5.875%, 5/28/45

      1,271         1,182,030   
      

 

 

 

Dominican Republic – 0.1%

      

Banco de Reservas de la Republica Dominicana
7.00%, 2/01/23(a)

      1,280         1,280,525   
      

 

 

 

Morocco – 0.1%

      

OCP SA
5.625%, 4/25/24(a)

      650         706,875   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       51   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Norway – 0.1%

      

Eksportfinans ASA
2.00%, 9/15/15

  U.S.$     133       $ 133,221   

2.375%, 5/25/16

      1,551         1,556,537   
      

 

 

 
         1,689,758   
      

 

 

 

Spain – 0.1%

      

Instituto de Credito Oficial
4.53%, 3/17/16

  CAD     1,300         1,049,884   
      

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates – 0.3%

      

Dubai Holding Commercial Operations MTN Ltd.
6.00%, 2/01/17

  GBP     2,300         3,464,021   
      

 

 

 

Total Governments – Sovereign Agencies
(cost $14,679,323)

         14,027,036   
      

 

 

 
      

WHOLE LOAN TRUSTS – 1.0%

      

Performing Asset – 1.0%

      

Aeroservicios Especializado SA
10.75%, 3/19/18(l)(n)

  U.S.$     2,579         2,487,600   

AlphaCredit Capital, SA de CV
17.25%, 8/06/19(n)

  MXN     9,897         648,842   

Alpha Credit Debt Fund LLC
15.00%, 12/31/17(l)(n)

  U.S.$     1,912         1,912,380   

Cara Aircraft Leasing 28548, Inc.
8.00%, 12/02/19(l)(n)

      270         269,907   

Cara Aircraft Leasing 28868, Inc.
8.00%, 12/02/19(l)(n)

      313         313,125   

Deutsche Bank Mexico SA
8.00%, 10/31/34(j)(l)(n)

  MXN     48,970         2,309,592   

8.00%, 10/31/34(l)(n)

      19,805         934,041   

Ede Del Este SA (DPP)
12.00%, 3/31/16(l)(n)

  U.S.$     675         688,055   

Ede Del Este SA (ITABO)
12.00%, 3/31/16(l)(n)

      312         318,000   

Recife Funding
Zero Coupon, 11/05/29(l)(n)

      1,811         1,811,112   

Sheridan Auto Loan Holdings I LLC
10.00%, 12/31/20(l)(n)

      384         384,391   
      

 

 

 

Total Whole Loan Trusts
(cost $12,728,616)

         12,077,045   
      

 

 

 
      

 

52     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – MUNICIPAL BONDS – 1.0%

      

United States – 1.0%

      

Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority

      

Series 2007A-2
5.875%, 6/01/47

  U.S.$     1,700       $ 1,393,932   

Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corp.
Series 2007A-1
5.125%, 6/01/47

      1,400         1,077,440   

Iowa Tobacco Settlement Authority
Series 2005C
5.625%, 6/01/46

      1,020         915,001   

Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority
Series 2007A
6.00%, 6/01/48

      1,630         1,385,973   

State of California
Series 2010
7.60%, 11/01/40

      750         1,180,845   

7.95%, 3/01/36

      1,915         2,359,318   

State of Illinois
Series 2010
7.35%, 7/01/35

      1,915         2,287,697   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp./NJ
Series 20071A
5.00%, 6/01/41

      475         363,527   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp./VA
Series 2007B1
5.00%, 6/01/47

      1,095         780,166   
      

 

 

 

Total Local Governments – Municipal Bonds
(cost $10,849,207)

         11,743,899   
      

 

 

 
      

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.8%

      

Home Equity Loans - Fixed
Rate – 0.6%

      

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates Trust
Series 2005-7, Class AF5W
5.054%, 10/25/35

      895         884,290   

CSAB Mortgage-Backed Trust
Series 2006-2, Class A6A
5.72%, 9/25/36

      1,107         834,493   

GSAA Home Equity Trust
Series 2005-12, Class AF5
5.659%, 9/25/35

      1,800         1,632,404   

Series 2006-10, Class AF3
5.985%, 6/25/36

      1,470         858,325   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       53   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Lehman XS Trust
Series 2006-17, Class WF32
5.55%, 11/25/36

  U.S.$     1,429       $ 1,298,585   

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2006-15XS, Class A3
5.988%, 11/25/36

      1,469         974,491   

Series 2007-8XS, Class A2
6.00%, 4/25/37

      1,401         903,790   
      

 

 

 
         7,386,378   
      

 

 

 

Home Equity Loans - Floating
Rate – 0.2%

      

GSAA Home Equity Trust
Series 2006-6, Class AF4
6.121%, 3/25/36(g)

      2,059         1,215,077   

Series 2006-6, Class AF5
6.241%, 3/25/36(g)

      763         450,129   

Lehman XS Trust
Series 2007-6, Class 3A5
5.146%, 5/25/37(j)

      512         568,654   
      

 

 

 
         2,233,860   
      

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(cost $9,195,919)

         9,620,238   
      

 

 

 
      

EMERGING MARKETS –
TREASURIES – 0.8%

      

Dominican Republic – 0.6%

      

Dominican Republic International Bond
16.00%, 7/10/20(k)

  DOP     229,800         6,463,416   
      

 

 

 

Indonesia – 0.2%

      

Indonesia – Recap Linked Note (JPMC)
9.50%, 5/17/41

  IDR     27,844,000         2,464,966   
      

 

 

 

Total Emerging Markets – Treasuries
(cost $9,823,230)

         8,928,382   
      

 

 

 
        Shares         

COMMON STOCKS – 0.7%

      

iPayment, Inc.(f)

      180,130         630,454   

Keystone Automotive Operations(f)(l)(n)

      106,736         266,841   

Liberty Tire Recycling LLC(f)(l)(n)

      81,827         – 0  – 

Mt. Logan Re Ltd. (Preference
Shares)(e)^

      5,669         5,721,130   

Neenah Enterprises, Inc.(f)(l)(n)

      58,200         465,600   

New Cotai LLC/New Cotai Capital Corp.(f)(l)(n)

      3         60,189   

Travelport LLC(f)

      80,347         1,341,795   
      

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $8,667,543)

         8,486,009   
      

 

 

 

 

54     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

QUASI-SOVEREIGNS – 0.4%

      

Quasi-Sovereign Bonds – 0.4%

      

Indonesia – 0.1%

      

Majapahit Holding BV
7.875%, 6/29/37(a)

  U.S.$     699       $ 893,846   

8.00%, 8/07/19(a)

      330         388,575   
      

 

 

 
         1,282,421   
      

 

 

 

Kazakhstan – 0.1%

      

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC
7.00%, 5/05/20(a)

      2,358         2,394,927   
      

 

 

 

South Africa – 0.1%

      

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
7.125%, 2/11/25(a)(b)

      670         675,025   
      

 

 

 

Venezuela – 0.1%

      

Petroleos de Venezuela SA
6.00%, 11/15/26(a)

      2,700         841,050   
      

 

 

 

Total Quasi-Sovereigns
(cost $5,704,583)

         5,193,423   
      

 

 

 
        Shares         

INVESTMENT COMPANIES – 0.2%

      

Funds and Investment Trusts – 0.2%

      

OCL Opportunities Fund I(l)(n)

      10,445         1,116,263   

OCL Opportunities Fund II(l)(n)

      11,474         1,439,511   
      

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies
(cost $2,825,901)

         2,555,774   
      

 

 

 
        Principal
Amount
(000)
        

AGENCIES – 0.1%

      

United States – 0.1%

      

CITGO Petroleum Corp.
6.25%, 8/15/22(a)
(cost $1,680,160)

  U.S.$     1,678         1,627,660   
      

 

 

 
      

INFLATION-LINKED
SECURITIES – 0.1%

      

Uruguay – 0.1%

      

Uruguay Government International Bond
5.00%, 9/14/18
(cost $986,866)

  UYU     23,504         933,926   
      

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       55   

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Notional
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
     

OPTIONS PURCHASED – PUTS – 0.0%

     

Swaptions – 0.0%

     

CDX-NAHY.23 RTP JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA (Buy Protection)
Expiration: Apr 2015,
Exercise Rate: 1.03%(f)

      40,680      $ 11,416   

CDX-NAHY.23 RTP JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA (Buy Protection)
Expiration: Apr 2015,
Exercise Rate: 1.07%(f)

      40,680        56,280   
     

 

 

 

Total Options Purchased – Puts
(premiums paid $279,065)

        67,696   
     

 

 

 
        Shares        
WARRANTS – 0.0%      

Alion Science and Technology Corp.,
expiring 3/15/17(f)(k)(n)

      900        – 0  – 

FairPoint Communications, Inc.,
expiring 1/24/18(f)(l)

      9,725        681   

iPayment Holdings, Inc.,
expiring 11/15/18(f)(l)

      1,142        3,997   

iPayment Holdings, Inc.,
expiring 12/29/22(f)(l)(n)

      12,250        3,675   

Talon Equity Co. NV,
expiring 11/24/15(f)(l)(n)

      1,059        – 0  – 
     

 

 

 

Total Warrants
(cost $0)

        8,353   
     

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.0%

     

Investment Companies – 0.9%

     

AB Fixed-Income Shares, Inc. – Government STIF Portfolio,
0.10%(t)(u)
(cost $11,049,513)

      11,049,513        11,049,513   
     

 

 

 
        Principal
Amount
(000)
       

Time Deposits – 0.1%

     

ANZ, London
0.074%, 4/01/15

  GBP     510        756,795   

BBH, Grand Cayman
0.005%, 4/01/15

  JPY     683        5,698   

1.212%, 4/01/15

  AUD     – 0  –**      – 0  – 

4.80%, 4/01/15

  ZAR     19        1,593   

 

56     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 
      

Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto
0.10%, 4/01/15

  CAD     46       $ 36,591   

Sumitomo, Tokyo
0.03%, 4/01/15

  U.S.$     546         546,498   

Wells Fargo, Grand Cayman
(0.198)%, 4/01/15

  EUR     80         86,050   
      

 

 

 

Total Time Deposits
(cost $1,437,741)

         1,433,225   
      

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(cost $12,487,254)

         12,482,738   
      

 

 

 

Total Investments – 115.5%
(cost $1,397,725,606)

         1,394,792,251   

Other assets less liabilities – (15.5)%

         (186,815,152
      

 

 

 

Net Assets – 100.0%

       $ 1,207,977,099   
      

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note C)

 

Counterparty   Contracts to
Deliver (000)
   

In Exchange

For

(000)

    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Barclays Bank PLC

    USD        17,664        IDR        229,949,686        4/17/15      $     (165,856

Barclays Bank PLC

    GBP        16,000        USD        24,616        4/23/15        884,752   

Barclays Bank PLC

    USD        1,852        HUF        531,235        4/28/15        47,796   

BNP Paribas SA

    USD        3,153        INR        198,564        4/10/15        33,034   

BNP Paribas SA

    MXN        176,132        USD        11,667        4/16/15        131,208   

BNP Paribas SA

    USD        3,553        ZAR        41,305        4/17/15        (156,702

BNP Paribas SA

    SGD        8,280        USD        6,046        4/24/15        15,464   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

    USD        2,346        GBP        1,576        4/23/15        (8,229

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

    EUR        211        USD        229        4/30/15        2,006   

Citibank, NA

    USD        8,675        TRY        22,026        4/15/15        (230,888

Credit Suisse International

    MXN        121,171        USD        7,819        4/16/15        (117,510

Credit Suisse International

    MXN        62,750        USD        4,119        4/16/15        9,202   

Deutsche Bank AG

    NOK        4,145        USD        524        4/24/15        9,585   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

    USD        20,880        MXN        312,668        4/16/15        (401,387

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

    USD        1,077        COP        2,890,006        4/20/15        31,772   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

    CHF        11,169        USD        11,681        5/13/15        167,900   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

    CAD        34,462        USD        27,355        4/10/15        148,306   

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

    AUD        48,558        USD        37,096        5/15/15        205,355   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    USD        1,295        BRL        3,925        4/02/15        (65,575

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    USD        11,628        CAD        14,858        4/10/15        102,844   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    USD        11,730        PEN        36,686        4/15/15        87,664   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    MXN        9,897        USD        661        4/16/15        12,904   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    GBP        24,904        USD        36,637        4/23/15        (300,763

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    TWD        192,651        USD        6,179        4/28/15        11,365   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    EUR        49,107        USD        53,591        4/30/15        768,066   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       57   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Counterparty   Contracts to
Deliver (000)
   

In Exchange

For

(000)

    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Standard Chartered Bank

    IDR        153,064,406        USD        11,541        4/17/15      $ (107,214

UBS AG

    USD        1,570        BRL        5,128        4/02/15        37,106   

UBS AG

    USD        8,131        BRL        23,522        4/02/15        (760,858

UBS AG

    USD        744        GBP        488        4/23/15        (19,370

UBS AG

    USD        10,153        BRL        32,575        5/05/15        (36,275
           

 

 

 
            $     335,702   
           

 

 

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPTIONS WRITTEN (see Note C)

 

Description   Counter-
party
    Buy/Sell
Protection
    Strike
Rate
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
 

Put – CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index

   
 
 
JPMorgan
Chase
Bank, NA
  
  
  
    Sell        105.00     4/15/15      $     81,360      $     167,439      $     (28,140

CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note C)

 

Clearing Broker/

(Exchange) &

Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Buy Contracts

         

Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC/(INTRCONX):

         

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00 )%      3.03     USD    44      $     (3,674   $     (100

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        40        (3,348     (91

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,674     (100

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,674     (100

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,675     (193

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        40        (3,348     (176

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,675     (193

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,675     (193

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,674     (228

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,674     (228

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        40        (3,348     (207

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        44        (3,674     (228

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        65        (5,389     (327

 

58     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Clearing Broker/

(Exchange) &

Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
   

Market

Value

    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00 )%      3.03     USD    59      $ (4,899   $ (297

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        65        (5,389     (327

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        65        (5,389     (327

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        72        (5,961     (326

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        72        (5,961     (326

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        65        (5,390     (295

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        72        (5,961     (326

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        75        (6,288     (344

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        36        (3,021     (165

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        32        (2,695     (164

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        66        (5,471     (332

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        45        (3,757     (233

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        23        (1,878     (116

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        45        (3,756     (197

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        23        (1,879     (99

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        23        (1,878     (51

CDX-NAHY Series 23,
5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    (5.00     3.03        45        (3,757     (103

iTraxx-Europe Crossover Series 21,
5 Year Index, 6/20/19*

    (5.00     1.73        EUR  15,133            (2,166,403         (209,534

Sale Contracts

         

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc./(INTRCONX):

         

CDX-NAHY Series 21, 5 Year Index, 12/20/18*

    5.00        2.48        USD  7,024        618,707        226,539   

CDX-NAIG Series 20,
5 Year Index, 6/20/18*

    1.00        0.40        10,730        207,330        106,947   

Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC/(INTRCONX):

         

CDX-NAHY Series 22, 5 Year Index, 6/20/19*

    5.00        2.75        3,989        347,236        179,140   

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00        3.03        1,069        89,092        37,306   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       59   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Clearing Broker/

(Exchange) &

Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
   

Market

Value

    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00     3.03     USD   534      $ 44,505      $ 18,123   

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00        3.03        1,056        87,691        31,504   

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00        3.03        1,056        87,691        39,197   

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00        3.03        960        79,760        19,541   

CDX-NAHY Series 23, 5 Year Index, 12/20/19*

    5.00        3.03        1,056        87,737        20,235   

CDX-NAHY Series 24,
5 Year Index, 6/20/20*

    5.00        3.40        231        16,824        570   

CDX-NAHY Series 24,
5 Year Index, 6/20/20*

    5.00        3.40        231        16,824        1,101   

CDX-NAHY Series 24,
5 Year Index, 6/20/20*

    5.00        3.40        231        16,824        1,264   

CDX-NAHY Series 24,
5 Year Index, 6/20/20*

    5.00        3.40        340        24,762        1,860   

CDX-NAHY Series 24,
5 Year Index, 6/20/20*

    5.00        3.40        373        27,165        1,854   
       

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $     (536,087   $     469,255   
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Termination date

CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAPS (see Note C)

 

                Rate Type      
Clearing Broker /
(Exchange)
  Notional
Amount
(000)
    Termination
Date
    Payments
made
by the
Fund
 

Payments
received
by the

Fund

  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC/(CME)

  $     126,120        2/27/20      1.63%   3 Month LIBOR   $     (843,288

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note C)

 

Swap

Counterparty &
Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Buy Contracts

           

Barclays Bank PLC:

           

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,
9.125%, 6/15/18, 3/20/17*

    5.00     1.46   USD     3,739      $     (257,335   $     (213,499   $     (43,836

K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.,
8.625%, 1/15/17, 3/20/17*

    5.00        3.06        3,505        (124,002     (143,045     19,043   

 

60     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Swap

Counterparty &
Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Tenet Healthcare Corporation,
6.875%, 11/15/31, 6/20/17*

    5.00     0.91     USD    3,870      $     (356,454   $     (287,815   $     (68,639

Citibank, NA:

           

Bombardier Inc.,
7.450%, 5/1/34, 3/20/17*

    5.00        1.72        1,971        (121,961     (134,806     12,845   

Bombardier Inc.,
7.450%, 5/1/34, 3/20/17*

    5.00        1.72        1,959        (121,218     (138,347     17,129   

United States Steel Corp.,
6.650%, 6/1/37, 3/20/17*

    5.00        1.49        3,643        (246,336     (193,692     (52,644

Credit Suisse International:

           

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.,
6.500%, 1/15/28, 12/20/18*

    5.00        1.77        150        (17,229     (5,783     (11,446

Western Union Co.,
3.650%, 8/22/18, 3/20/17*

    1.00        0.30        1,965        (26,669     (4,948     (21,721

Western Union Co.,
3.650%, 8/22/18, 9/20/17*

    1.00        0.42        1,970        (27,189     (21,639     (5,550

Deutsche Bank AG:

           

iHeart Communications, Inc.,
6.875%, 6/15/18, 6/20/18*

    5.00        13.95        420        99,774        37,574        62,200   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA:

           

Community Health Systems, Inc.,
8.000%, 11/15/19, 3/20/17*

    5.00        0.68        3,895        (336,091     (247,859     (88,232

Dell, Inc.,
7.100%, 4/15/28, 3/20/17*

    1.00        0.58        3,540        (28,734     55,563        (84,297

First Data Corp.,
12.625%, 1/15/21, 3/20/17*

    5.00        0.79        3,664        (306,707     (181,264     (125,443

Newmont Mining Corp.,
5.875%, 4/1/35, 3/20/17*

    1.00        0.31        3,930        (52,921     (14,485     (38,436

Nine West Holdings, Inc.,
6.875%, 3/15/19, 3/20/17*

    5.00        7.36        3,634        177,547        (208,240     385,787   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       61   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Swap

Counterparty &
Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC:

           

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.,
5.625%, 6/12/17, 3/20/19*

    5.00     1.42   EUR  1,412      $     (212,105   $     (116,051   $     (96,054

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.,
5.625%, 6/12/17, 3/20/19*

    5.00        1.42        1,498        (225,024     (109,553     (115,471

UBS AG:

           

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.,
6.500%, 1/15/28, 9/20/18*

    5.00        1.62      USD    200        (22,669     4,733        (27,402

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.,
6.500%, 1/15/28, 9/20/18*

    5.00        1.62        130        (14,735     3,078        (17,813

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.,
6.375%, 10/15/36, 6/20/16*

    5.00        3.59        670        (12,489     18,669        (31,158

Sale Contracts

           

Barclays Bank PLC:

           

AK Steel Corp.,
7.625%, 5/15/20, 6/20/17*

    5.00        5.46        1,270        (9,989     (70,969     60,980   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,
9.125%, 6/15/18, 3/20/19*

    5.00        3.27        2,546        160,199        107,057        53,142   

CCO Holdings, LLC,
7.250%, 10/30/17, 6/20/19*

    5.00        2.34        828        89,091        78,526        10,565   

K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., 8.625%, 1/15/17, 12/20/18*

    5.00        4.78        2,547        16,793        47,522        (30,729

MGM Resorts International,
7.625%, 1/15/17, 6/20/18*

    5.00        2.06        246        22,822        10,238        12,584   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation,
6.875%, 11/15/31, 6/20/19*

    5.00        2.81        2,620        231,034        188,941        42,093   

 

62     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Swap

Counterparty &
Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Citibank, NA:

           

Bombardier Inc.,
7.450%, 5/1/34, 3/20/19*

    5.00     3.84     USD    1,311      $ 54,973      $ 105,751      $ (50,778

Bombardier Inc.,
7.450%, 5/1/34, 3/20/19*

    5.00        3.84        1,309            54,889            107,818            (52,929

MGM Resorts International,
7.625%, 1/15/17, 6/20/18*

    5.00        2.06        325        30,151        13,910        16,241   

United States Steel Corp.,
6.650%, 6/1/37, 3/20/19*

    5.00        3.81        2,620        108,293        69,273        39,020   

Credit Suisse International:

           

MGM Resorts International,
7.625%, 1/15/17, 6/20/18*

    5.00        2.06        119        11,040        5,303        5,737   

Western Union Co.,
3.650%, 8/22/18, 3/20/19*

    1.00        0.86        1,309        6,157        (35,775     41,932   

Western Union Co.,
3.650%, 8/22/18, 9/20/19*

    1.00        1.04        1,320        (4,092     (16,445     12,353   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA:

           

CDX-NAIG Series 9, 10 Year Index, 12/20/17*

    5.00        2.39        300        21,459        (24,875     46,334   

Community Health Systems, Inc., 8.000%, 11/15/19, 3/20/19*

    5.00        2.21        2,620        273,520        173,769        99,751   

ConvaTec Healthcare E S.A.,
10.875%, 12/15/18, 6/20/17*

    5.00        0.53        EUR    1,440        157,648        (130,452     288,100   

Dell, Inc.,
7.100%, 4/15/28, 3/20/19*

    1.00        1.27        USD    2,620        (30,091     (234,481     204,390   

First Data Corp., 12.625%, 1/15/21, 3/20/19*

    5.00        1.79        2,620        317,974        51,550        266,424   

Newmont Mining Corp.,
5.875%, 4/1/35, 3/20/19*

    1.00        0.90        2,620        7,775        (78,985     86,760   

Nine West Holdings, Inc.,
6.875%, 3/15/19, 3/20/19*

    5.00        10.78        2,620        (452,784     69,273        (522,057

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       63   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Swap

Counterparty &
Referenced

Obligation

  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2015
    Notional
Amount
(000)
   

Market

Value

    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC:

           

AK Steel Corp., 7.625%, 5/15/20, 3/20/16*

    5.00     3.20     USD    1,350      $ 24,996      $ 8,943      $ 16,053   

United States Steel Corp., 6.650%, 6/1/37, 9/20/19*

    5.00        4.41        491        10,623        23,602        (12,979

United States Steel Corp., 6.650%, 6/1/37, 9/20/19*

    5.00        4.41        743        16,060        37,723        (21,663
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $     (1,114,006   $     (1,394,192   $     280,186   
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Termination date

TOTAL RETURN SWAPS (see Note C)

 

Counterparty &

Referenced Obligation

   # of
Shares
or Units
     Rate
Paid/
Received
    

Notional

Amount

(000)

     Maturity
Date
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive Total Return on Reference Obligation

  

     

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC:

                 

iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

     25,043         LIBOR         USD         5,863         6/22/15       $ 76,589   

iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

     16,555         LIBOR            3,880         6/22/15         45,995   
                 

 

 

 
                  $     122,584   
                 

 

 

 

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (see Note C)

 

Broker   

Principal
Amount

(000)

     Currency      Interest Rate     Maturity     

U.S. $

Value at
March 31,

2015

 

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     945         USD         (2.00 )%*            $ 944,890   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,544         USD         (1.75 )%*              1,536,269   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     411         USD         (1.50 )%*              410,197   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     810         USD         (1.50 )%*              808,828   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,000         USD         (1.00 )%*              999,611   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     403         USD         (1.00 )%*              402,559   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,311         USD         (0.50 )%*              1,310,409   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     517         USD         (0.50 )%*              516,136   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     900         EUR         (0.50 )%*              965,225   

 

64     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Broker   

Principal
Amount

(000)

     Currency      Interest Rate     Maturity     

U.S. $

Value at
March 31,

2015

 

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     481         USD         (0.38 )%*            $ 480,856   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     409         GBP         (0.25 )%*              605,988   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     770         USD         (0.25 )%*              769,099   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,115         USD         (0.25 )%*                  1,114,785   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     597         USD         (0.15 )%*              596,719   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,157         USD         (0.05 )%*              1,156,910   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,386         USD         (0.05 )%*              1,385,481   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,105         USD         0.00             1,105,230   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     888         USD         0.05             888,449   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,281         USD         0.05             1,280,689   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,400         USD         0.05             1,399,731   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     1,753         USD         0.05             1,753,069   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     4,090         USD         0.05             4,090,853   

Barclays Capital, Inc.†

     249         USD         1.00             249,010   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,196         GBP         (4.00 )%*              1,771,077   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     348         EUR         (3.25 )%*              372,299   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,184         USD         (2.00 )%*              1,181,706   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     495         EUR         (0.88 )%*              530,916   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     364         USD         (0.75 )%*              364,009   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     4,195         USD         (0.75 )%*              4,190,356   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     965         USD         (0.50 )%*              963,681   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,133         USD         (0.25 )%*              1,132,696   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     2,169         USD         (0.25 )%*              2,168,910   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     2,927         USD         (0.05 )%*              2,926,992   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,876         USD         0.00             1,875,575   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,150         USD         0.00             1,149,868   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     1,447         USD         0.00             1,446,993   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     2,248         USD         0.00             2,247,500   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     2,291         USD         0.00             2,290,883   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC†

     2,359         USD         0.00             2,359,175   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.†

     762         USD         (2.00 )%*              761,078   

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     67,301         USD         (0.25 )%*      4/07/15             67,281,620   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       65   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Broker  

Principal
Amount

(000)

    Currency     Interest Rate     Maturity     

U.S. $

Value at
March 31,

2015

 

ING Financial Markets LLC†

    505        USD        (2.00 )%*            $ 502,892   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

    67,473        USD        0.09     4/09/15         67,475,874   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA†

    611        USD        (0.25 )%*              611,161   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA†

    688        USD        (0.25 )%*              688,425   

RBC Capital Markets†

    2,794        USD        (0.50 )%*              2,790,079   

RBC Capital Markets†

    1,412        USD        (0.25 )%*              1,410,830   

RBC Capital Markets†

    1,746        USD        (0.25 )%*              1,743,635   

RBC Capital Markets†

    1,395        USD        (0.10 )%*              1,394,182   

RBC Capital Markets†

    1,207        USD        0.00             1,207,218   

RBC Capital Markets†

    1,515        USD        0.00             1,515,250   
          

 

 

 
           $     199,125,873   
          

 

 

 

 

  The reverse repurchase agreement matures on demand. Interest rate resets daily and the rate shown is the rate in effect on March 31, 2015.

 

*   Interest payment due from counterparty.

 

  Amount less than $0.50.

 

**   Principal amount less than 500.

 

(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 March 31, 2015, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $486,948,931 or 40.3% of net assets.

 

(b)   Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize reverse repurchase agreements.

 

(c)   Security is in default and is non-income producing.

 

(d)   Convertible security.

 

(e)   Restricted and illiquid security.

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
     Cost      Market
Value
    Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless, Inc. 9.50%, 4/29/18

     4/26/11       $     1,235,996       $ 872,240        0.07

Exide Technologies
8.625%, 2/01/18

     1/13/11         1,925,812         25,740        0.00

Exide Technologies
9.00%, 4/30/15

     6/10/13         5,900,486             4,703,351        0.39

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.
8.875%, 10/15/20

     10/11/12         1,772,000         – 0  –      0.00

Mt. Logan Re Ltd.(Preference Shares)

     12/30/14         5,669,000         5,721,130        0.47

 

(f)   Non-income producing security.

 

(g)   Floating Rate Security. Stated interest rate was in effect at March 31, 2015.

 

(h)   Pay-In-Kind Payments (PIK). The issuer may pay cash interest and/or interest in additional debt securities. Rates shown are the rates in effect at March 31, 2015.

 

(i)   Defaulted.

 

(j)   Variable rate coupon, rate shown as of March 31, 2015.

 

66     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

 

(k)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 0.91% of net assets as of March 31, 2015, are considered illiquid and restricted.

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
     Cost     Market
Value
    Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Alion Science and Technology Corp.
0.00%, 3/15/17

     6/20/10       $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –      0.00

Banc of America Re-REMIC Trust Series 2009-UB1, Class A4B
5.592%, 6/24/50

     10/06/09             2,710,571            3,732,750        0.31

Dominican Republic International Bond
16.00%, 7/10/20

     12/08/10         6,426,590        6,463,416        0.54

Golden Energy Offshore Services AS
8.60%, 5/28/17

     5/14/14         724,925        519,260        0.04

Virgolino de Oliveira
Finance SA
10.50%, 1/28/18

     1/23/14         1,408,980        95,400        0.01

Virgolino de Oliveira
Finance SA
10.50%, 1/28/18

     2/12/14         992,874        68,200        0.01

Virgolino de Oliveira
Finance SA
10.875%, 1/13/20

     6/09/14         477,418        85,440        0.01

Virgolino de Oliveira
Finance SA
11.75%, 2/09/22

     1/29/14         838,866        64,800        0.01

 

(l)   Illiquid security.

 

(m)   Coupon rate adjusts periodically based upon a predetermined schedule. Stated interest rate in effect at March 31, 2015.

 

(n)   Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(o)   Securities are perpetual and, thus, do not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date.

 

(p)   Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize OTC derivatives outstanding.

 

(q)   Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open exchange-traded derivatives.

 

(r)   IO - Interest Only

 

(s)   This position or a portion of this position represents an unsettled loan purchase. The coupon rate will be determined at the time of settlement and will be based upon the London-Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a premium which was determined at the time of purchase.

 

(t)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s financial statements, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein at (800) 227-4618.

 

(u)   Investment in affiliated money market mutual fund. The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

^   The security is subject to a 12 month lock-up period, after which semi-annual redemptions are permitted.

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 March 31, 2015, the fund’s total exposure to subprime investments was 6.13% of net assets. These investments are valued in accordance with the fund’s Valuation Policies (see Note A.1 for additional details).

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       67   

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD Australian Dollar

BRL Brazilian Real

CAD Canadian Dollar

CHF Swiss Franc

COP Colombian Peso

DOP Dominican Peso

EUR Euro

GBP Great British Pound

HUF Hungarian Forint

IDR Indonesian Rupiah

INR Indian Rupee

JPY Japanese Yen

MXN Mexican Peso

NOK Norwegian Krone

PEN Peruvian Nuevo Sol

PHP Philippine Peso

SGD Singapore Dollar

TRY Turkish Lira

TWD New Taiwan Dollar

USD United States Dollar

UYU Uruguayan Peso

ZAR South African Rand

Glossary:

CDX-NAHY North American High Yield Credit Default Swap Index

CDX-NAIG North American Investment Grade Credit Default Swap Index

CMBS Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

CME Chicago Mercantile Exchange

ETF Exchange Traded Fund

GSE Government-Sponsored Enterprise

INTRCONX Inter-Continental Exchange

JSC Joint Stock Company

LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rates

MSCI Morgan Stanley Capital International

MTN Medium Term Note

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

RTP Right to Pay

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

68     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

March 31, 2015

 

Assets   

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $1,386,676,093)

   $ 1,383,742,738   

Affiliated issuers (cost $11,049,513)

     11,049,513   

Cash

     10,218   

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $41,964)

     41,495   

Cash collateral due from broker

     2,503,937   

Dividends and interest receivable

     22,388,690   

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     2,706,329   

Receivable for unsettled reverse repurchase agreements

     2,168,910   

Receivable for investment securities sold

     1,860,115   

Unrealized appreciation on credit default swaps

     1,799,463   

Upfront premiums paid on credit default swaps

     1,218,816   

Unrealized appreciation on total return swaps

     122,584   

Receivable for terminated total return swaps

     5,952   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,429,618,760   
  

 

 

 
Liabilities   

Payable for reverse repurchase agreements

     199,125,873   

Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions

     13,419,007   

Upfront premiums received on credit default swaps

     2,613,008   

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     2,370,627   

Unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps

     1,519,277   

Advisory fee payable

     1,013,586   

Cash collateral due to broker

     660,000   

Payable for variation margin on exchange-traded derivatives

     189,357   

Options written, at value (premiums received $167,439)

     28,140   

Administrative fee payable

     14,488   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     688,298   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     221,641,661   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,207,977,099   
  

 

 

 
Composition of Net Assets   

Capital stock, at par

   $ 862,297   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,195,922,732   

Undistributed net investment income

     14,746,020   

Accumulated net realized loss on investment
and foreign currency transactions

     (1,291,066

Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (2,262,884
  

 

 

 
   $     1,207,977,099   
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—100 million shares of capital stock authorized, $0.01 par value (based on 86,229,677 shares outstanding)

   $ 14.01   
  

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       69   

Statement of Assets & Liabilities


STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended March 31, 2015

 

Investment Income      

Interest (net of foreign taxes withheld of $16,448)

   $ 96,464,174      

Dividends

     

Unaffiliated issuers

     2,533,956      

Affiliated issuers

     13,937      

Other income

     97,205       $ 99,109,272   
  

 

 

    
Expenses      

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     11,476,862      

Printing

     438,720      

Custodian

     269,700      

Audit and tax

     191,228      

Registration fees

     81,918      

Administrative

     62,956      

Legal

     53,254      

Directors’ fees

     49,397      

Transfer agency

     44,337      

Miscellaneous

     78,553      
  

 

 

    

Total expenses before interest expense

     12,746,925      

Interest expense

     104,411      
  

 

 

    

Total expenses

        12,851,336   
     

 

 

 

Net investment income

        86,257,936   
     

 

 

 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment and Foreign Currency Transactions      

Net realized gain on:

     

Investment transactions

        1,877,073   

Swaps

        1,096,077   

Futures

        34,152   

Options written

        1,449,894   

Foreign currency transactions

        29,377,168   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:

     

Investments

        (93,128,098

Swaps

        (3,434,494

Futures

        639,664   

Options written

        (156,408

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

        (1,210,847
     

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

        (63,455,819
     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

      $     22,802,117   
     

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

70     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Statement of Operations


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

     Year Ended
March 31, 2015
    Year Ended
March 31, 2014
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
from Operations
    

Net investment income

   $ 86,257,936      $ 97,966,498   

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     33,834,364        32,797,495   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (97,290,183     (38,212,482
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

     22,802,117        92,551,511   
Dividends and Distributions
to Shareholders from
    

Net investment income

     (104,217,188     (111,966,291

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (20,126,007     (24,549,589
Capital Stock Transactions     

Net increase

     – 0  –      1,240,125   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (101,541,078     (42,724,244
Net Assets     

Beginning of period

     1,309,518,177        1,352,242,421   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $14,746,020 and $1,748,970, respectively)

   $     1,207,977,099      $     1,309,518,177   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       71   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets


STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Year Ended March 31, 2015

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

     $ 22,802,117   
Reconciliation of Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations to Net Decrease in Cash from Operating Activities:     

Decrease in interest and dividends receivable.

   $ 2,081,674     

Net accretion of bond discount and amortization of bond premium.

    
(2,209,275

 

Inflation index adjustment

     (21,104  

Increase in accrued expenses

     414,529     

Decrease in due from broker

     2,446,856     

Increase in cash collateral due from broker

     (2,503,937  

Decrease receivable for investment securities sold.

     10,494,531     

Increase in payable for investment securities purchased.

     1,927,373     

Purchases of long-term investments

     (804,767,486  

Proceeds from disposition of long-term investments

     676,964,869     

Proceeds from disposition of short-term investments

     7,348,712     

Payments on swap contracts, net

     (310,664  

Proceeds from written options, net

     1,128,355     

Proceeds from futures settlements

     34,152     

Variation margin received on exchange-traded derivatives

     69,275     

Increase in cash collateral due to broker

     360,000     

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (33,834,364  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     97,290,183     
  

 

 

   

Total adjustments

           (43,086,321
    

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash from operating activities

     $ (20,284,204
    

 

 

 
Financing Activities:     

Cash dividends paid

     (124,343,195  

Increase in reverse repurchase agreements

         110,531,266     
  

 

 

   

Net decrease in cash from financing activities

       (13,811,929

Effect of exchange rate on cash.

       33,094,578   
    

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

       (1,001,555

Cash at beginning of period

       1,053,268   
    

 

 

 

Cash at end of period.

     $ 51,713   
    

 

 

 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:     

Interest expense paid during the year.

     $ 104,411   

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Fund has included a Statement of Cash Flows as a result of its significant investments in Level 3 securities throughout the period.

See notes to financial statements.

 

72     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Statement of Cash Flows


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on May 20, 1993 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. 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. The Fund is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.

1. Security Valuation

Portfolio securities are valued at their current market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

In general, the market values of securities which are readily available and deemed reliable are determined as follows: securities listed on a national securities exchange (other than securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”)) or on a foreign securities exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange or foreign securities exchange. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at last traded price from the previous day. Securities listed on more than one exchange are valued by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded; securities listed only on NASDAQ are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price; listed or over the counter (“OTC”) market put or call options are valued at the mid level between the current bid and ask prices. If either a current bid or current ask price is unavailable, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) will have discretion to determine the best valuation (e.g. last trade price in the case of listed options); open futures are valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the most recent quoted bid price. If there are no quotations available for the day of valuation, the last available closing settlement price is used; U.S. Government securities and any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short-term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short-term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       73   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Such factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Investment companies are valued at their net asset value each day.

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 Fund may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability (including those valued based on their market values as described in Note A.1 above). Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

74     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which is then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3. In addition, non-agency rated investments are classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange-traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.

Valuations of mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities, by pricing vendors, are based on both proprietary and industry recognized models and discounted cash flow techniques. Significant inputs to the valuation of these instruments are value of the collateral, the rates and timing of delinquencies, the rates and timing of prepayments, and default and loss expectations, which are

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       75   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

driven in part by housing prices for residential mortgages. Significant inputs are determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, including relevant indices. Mortgage and asset-backed securities for which management has collected current observable data through pricing services are generally categorized within Level 2. Those investments for which current observable data has not been provided are classified as Level 3.

Bank loan prices are provided by third party pricing services and consist of a composite of the quotes received by the vendor into a consensus price. Bank loans are classified as Level 3, as significant input used in the fair value measurement of these instruments is the market quotes that are received by the vendor and these inputs are not observable.

Other fixed income investments, including non-U.S. government and corporate debt, are generally valued using quoted market prices, if available, which are typically impacted by current interest rates, maturity dates and any perceived credit risk of the issuer. Additionally, in the absence of quoted market prices, these inputs are used by pricing vendors to derive a valuation based upon industry or proprietary models which incorporate issuer specific data with relevant yield/spread comparisons with more widely quoted bonds with similar key characteristics. Those investments for which there are observable inputs are classified as Level 2. Where the inputs are not observable, the investments are classified as Level 3.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of March 31, 2015:

 

Investments in

Securities

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

       

Corporates – Non-Investment Grade

  $ – 0  –    $   714,924,189      $   9,029,484   $   723,953,673   

Governments – Treasuries

    – 0  –      197,422,593        – 0  –      197,422,593   

Corporates – Investment Grade

    – 0  –      88,746,177        – 0  –      88,746,177   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

    – 0  –      – 0  –      87,250,705        87,250,705   

Bank Loans

    – 0  –      – 0  –      49,570,611        49,570,611   

Emerging Markets – Sovereigns

    – 0  –      47,541,507        – 0  –      47,541,507   

Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds

    – 0  –      39,175,160        – 0  –      39,175,160   

Preferred Stocks

      29,877,646        1,867,410        – 0  –      31,745,056   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

    – 0  –      5,093,834        21,624,786        26,718,620   

Governments – Sovereign Bonds

    – 0  –      14,915,970        – 0  –      14,915,970   

Governments – Sovereign Agencies

    – 0  –      14,027,036        – 0  –      14,027,036   

 

76     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

Investments in

Securities

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Whole Loan Trusts

  $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 12,077,045      $ 12,077,045   

Local Governments – Municipal Bonds

    – 0  –      11,743,899        – 0  –      11,743,899   

Asset-Backed Securities

    – 0  –      – 0  –      9,620,238        9,620,238   

Emerging Markets – Treasuries

    – 0  –      2,464,966        6,463,416        8,928,382   

Common Stocks

    465,600        1,341,795        6,678,614     8,486,009   

Quasi-Sovereigns

    – 0  –      5,193,423        – 0  –      5,193,423   

Investment Companies

    – 0  –      – 0  –      2,555,774        2,555,774   

Agencies

    – 0  –      1,627,660        – 0  –      1,627,660   

Inflation-Linked Securities

    – 0  –      933,926        – 0  –      933,926   

Options Purchased – Puts

    – 0  –      67,696        – 0  –      67,696   

Warrants

    681        – 0  –      7,672     8,353   

Short-Term Investments:

       

Investment Companies

    11,049,513        – 0  –      – 0  –      11,049,513   

Time Deposits

    – 0  –      1,433,225        – 0  –      1,433,225   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

    41,393,440        1,148,520,466        204,878,345        1,394,792,251   

Other Financial Instruments*:

       

Assets

       

Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      1,799,463        – 0  –      1,799,463   

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      685,181        – 0  –      685,181 † 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

    – 0  –      2,706,329        – 0  –      2,706,329   

Total Return Swaps

    – 0  –      122,584        – 0  –      122,584   

Liabilities

       

Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      (1,519,277     – 0  –      (1,519,277

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      (215,926     – 0  –      (215,926 )† 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps

    – 0  –      (843,288     – 0  –      (843,288 )† 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

    – 0  –      (2,370,627     – 0  –      (2,370,627

Credit Default Swaptions Written

    – 0  –      (28,140     – 0  –      (28,140
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total^

  $   41,393,440      $   1,148,856,765      $   204,878,345      $   1,395,128,550   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

#   The Fund held securities with zero market value at period end.

 

*   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include options written and swaptions which are valued at market value.

 

  Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) on exchange-traded derivatives as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

^   There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the reporting period.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       77   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

The Fund recognizes all transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy assuming the financial instrument was transferred at the beginning of the reporting period.

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

     Corporates -
Non-Investment
Grade#
    Corporates -
Investment
Grade
    Collateralized
Mortgage
Obligations
    Bank Loans  

Balance as of 3/31/14

  $ 9,271,368      $ 742,459      $ 87,760,684      $ 62,922,237   

Accrued discounts/ (premiums)

    (6,173     – 0  –      768,983        291,996   

Realized gain (loss)

    (745,976     – 0  –      1,799,965        (1,037,414

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

    (1,392,048     – 0  –      (2,905,598     (2,700,576

Purchases/Payups

    6,036,698        – 0  –      16,868,613        14,651,700   

Sales/Paydowns

    (3,986,310     – 0  –      (17,041,942     (24,557,332

Reclassification

    742,459          (742,459     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers into Level 3

    525,466        – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers out of Level 3

      (1,416,000     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 3/31/15

  $ 9,029,484      $ – 0  –    $   87,250,705      $   49,570,611   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/15**

  $ (2,190,479   $ – 0  –    $ (2,223,096   $ (2,384,205
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Emerging
Markets -
Corporate
Bonds
    Commercial
Mortgage-
Backed
Securities
    Whole Loan
Trusts
    Asset-
Backed
Securities
 

Balance as of 3/31/14

  $ 1,574,225      $ 16,845,856      $ 7,175,881      $ 10,151,825   

Accrued discounts/ (premiums)

    – 0  –      89,608        (4,421     185,685   

Realized gain (loss)

    – 0  –      16,714        15,316        296,539   

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

    – 0  –      221,343        (673,352     (35,100

Purchases/Payups

    – 0  –      4,785,141        9,980,912        – 0  – 

Sales/Paydowns

      (1,574,225     (333,876     (4,417,291     (978,711

Reclassification

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers into Level 3

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers out of Level 3

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 3/31/15

  $ – 0  –    $   21,624,786      $   12,077,045      $   9,620,238   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/15**

  $ – 0  –    $ 231,029      $ (673,352   $ (35,100
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

78     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

 

     Emerging
Markets -
Treasuries
    Common
Stocks#
    Investments
Companies
    Warrants#  

Balance as of 3/31/14

  $   9,397,127      $   11,803,388      $ – 0  –    $ – 0  – 

Accrued discounts/ (premiums)

    (55,961     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Realized gain (loss)

    (235,756     (562,898     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

    588,064        (635,261     (270,127     7,672   

Purchases/Payups

    – 0  –      6,546,437        2,825,901        – 0  – 

Sales/Paydowns

    (3,230,058     (8,432,633     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Reclassification

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers into Level 3

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers out of Level 3

    – 0  –      (2,040,419     – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 3/31/15

  $ 6,463,416      $ 6,678,614      $   2,555,774      $   7,672   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/15**

  $ 327,859      $ 50,237      $ (270,127   $ 7,672   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Total                    

Balance as of 3/31/14

  $ 217,645,050         

Accrued discounts/ (premiums)

    1,269,717         

Realized gain (loss)

    (453,510      

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

    (7,794,983      

Purchases/Payups

    61,695,402         

Sales/Paydowns

    (64,552,378      

Reclassification

    – 0  –       

Transfers into Level 3

    525,466         

Transfers out of Level 3

    (3,456,419      
 

 

 

       

Balance as of 3/31/15

  $   204,878,345  +       
 

 

 

       

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/15**

  $ (7,159,562      
 

 

 

       

 

#   

The Fund held securities with zero market value during the reporting period.

 

**   The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and other financial instruments in the accompanying statement of operations.

 

+   There were de minimis transfers under 1% of net assets during the reporting period.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       79   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

The following presents information about significant unobservable inputs related to the Fund’s Level 3 investments at March 31, 2015. Securities priced by third party vendors or using prior transaction, which approximates fair value, are excluded from the following table.

 

     Quantitative Information about Level 3
Fair Value Measurements
     
     Fair Value at
3/31/15
    Valuation
Technique
   Unobservable
Input
  Range/Weighted
Average
 

Corporates –
Non-
Investment Grade

       
    
    
$
 
 
 
1,346,611
 
 
 
  
      
    
    
Market
Approach
   EBITDA
Projection*
   
 
$35mm/
N/A
 
  
   $ – 0  –    Qualitative
Assessment
      
 
$0.00/
N/A
 
  

Whole Loan Trusts

       
$
 
3,243,633
 
  
      
Projected
Cashflow
   Level
Yield
   
 
13.45%/
N/A
 
  
       
$
 
2,487,600
 
  
      
Market
Approach
   Comparable
Company Data
   
 
$86.10-$97.38/
N/A
 
  
       
$
 
1,811,112
 
  
      
Market
Approach
   Underlying NAV of

the Collateral

   
 
$99.98/
N/A
 
  
       
$
 
1,006,055
 
  
      
Projected
Cashflow
   Internal Rate
of Return
   
 
8.658%/
N/A
 
  

Common Stocks

       
$
 
266,841
 
  
      
Projected
Cashflow
   Estimated Remaining
Payment
   
 
$2.50/
N/A
 
  
   $ 60,189      Market
Approach
   EBITDA
Projection*
   
 
$414mm/
N/A
 
  

 

*   Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization.

The Adviser established the Committee to oversee the pricing and valuation of all securities held in the Fund. The Committee operates under pricing and valuation policies and procedures established by the Adviser and approved by the Board, including pricing policies which set forth the mechanisms and processes to be employed on a daily basis to implement these policies and procedures. In particular, the pricing policies describe how to determine market quotations for securities and other instruments. The Committee’s responsibilities include: 1) fair value and liquidity determinations (and oversight of any third parties to whom any responsibility for fair value and liquidity determinations is delegated), and 2) regular monitoring of the Adviser’s pricing and valuation policies and procedures and modification or enhancement of these policies and procedures (or recommendation of the modification of these policies and procedures) as the Committee believes appropriate.

The Committee is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the pricing policies by the Adviser’s Pricing Group (the “Pricing Group”) and a

 

80     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

third party which performs certain pricing functions in accordance with the pricing policies. The Pricing Group is responsible for the oversight of the third party on a day-to-day basis. The Committee and the Pricing Group perform a series of activities to provide reasonable assurance of the accuracy of prices including: 1) periodic vendor due diligence meetings, review of methodologies, new developments, and process at vendors, 2) daily comparisons of security valuation versus prior day for all securities that exceeded established thresholds, and 3) daily review of unpriced, stale, and variance reports with exceptions reviewed by senior management and the Committee.

In addition, several processes outside of the pricing process are used to monitor valuation issues including: 1) performance and performance attribution reports are monitored for anomalous impacts based upon benchmark performance, and 2) portfolio managers review all portfolios for performance and analytics (which are generated using the Adviser’s prices).

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the 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 Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       81   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken or expected to be taken on federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years (the current and the prior three tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Fund is informed of the dividend. Interest income is accrued daily. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.

6. 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 Fund pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .90% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Such fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

Pursuant to the amended administration agreement, the Fund may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser, provided, however, that the reimbursement may not exceed .15% annualized of average weekly net assets. For the year ended March 31, 2015, such fee amounted to $62,956.

Under the terms of a Shareholder Inquiry Agency Agreement with AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, the Fund reimburses ABIS for costs relating to servicing phone inquiries on behalf of the Fund. During the year ended March 31, 2015, there was no such reimbursement paid to ABIS.

The Fund may invest in the AB Fixed-Income Shares, Inc.- Government STIF Portfolio (“Government STIF Portfolio”), an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser. The Government STIF Portfolio is offered as a cash management option to mutual funds and other institutional accounts of the Adviser, and is not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The Government STIF Portfolio pays no investment management fees but does

 

82     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

bear its own expenses. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in shares of the Government STIF Portfolio for the year ended March 31, 2015, is as follows:

 

Market Value
March 31, 2014
(000)

  Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
March 31, 2015
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 
$    18,398   $     465,375      $     472,723      $     11,050      $     14   

Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the year ended March 31, 2015 amounted to $104,211, none of which was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC or Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.

NOTE C

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

   $     456,957,402       $     464,832,502   

U.S. government securities

     339,045,137         210,864,643   

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation (excluding foreign currency exchange contracts, written options, futures and swaps) are as follows:

 

Cost

   $      1,398,061,328   
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 71,407,072   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (74,676,149
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (3,269,077
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Fund, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sales 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”.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       83   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

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 Fund. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Futures

The Fund may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Fund bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Fund may purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

At the time the Fund enters into a future, the Fund deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Use of long futures subjects the Fund to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Fund to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may

 

84     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a future can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held futures for hedging purposes.

 

   

Option Transactions

For hedging and investment purposes, the Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Fund may use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.

The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

When the Fund writes an option, the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerages, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Fund. In writing an option, the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Fund could result in the Fund’s selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.

The Fund may also invest in options on swaps, also called “swaptions”. A swaption is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation,

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       85   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based “premium”. A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held purchased options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held written options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

For the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund had the following transactions in written options:

 

      Number of
Contracts
    Premiums
Received
 

Options written outstanding as of 3/31/14

     5,515      $ 261,583   

Options written

     16,973        610,206   

Options expired

     (17,916     (695,046

Options bought back

     (4,572     (176,743

Options exercised

     – 0  –      – 0  – 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options written outstanding as of 3/31/15

     – 0  –    $ – 0  – 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund had the following transactions in written swaptions:

 

      Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
 

Swaptions written outstanding as of 3/31/14

   $ 212,950,000      $ 227,395   

Swaptions written

     468,991,350        1,487,587   

Swaptions expired

     (320,714,350     (652,135

Swaptions bought back

     (279,867,000     (895,408

Swaptions exercised

     – 0  –     – 0  –
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Swaptions written outstanding as of 3/31/15

   $ 81,360,000      $ 167,439   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

Swaps

The Fund may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk, or currencies. The Fund may also enter into swaps for non-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures including by making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Fund in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and

 

86     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

recourse to the Fund or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.

Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Fund, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Fund accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received are recognized as cost or proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.

Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on a phased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

At the time the Fund enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Fund deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract.

Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       87   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for swaps cleared through a central clearinghouse’s exchange is generally less than privately negotiated swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Interest Rate Swaps:

The Fund is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Fund holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Fund may enter into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional amount. The Fund may elect to pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate, or, receive a fixed rate and pay a floating rate on a notional amount.

In addition, the Fund may also enter into interest rate swap transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, or protecting against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments) computed based on a contractually-based principal (or “notional”) amount. Interest rate swaps are entered into on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments).

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held interest rate swaps for hedging purposes.

Credit Default Swaps:

The Fund may enter into credit default swaps, including to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults by corporate and sovereign issuers held by the Fund, or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. The Fund may purchase credit protection (“Buy Contract”) or provide credit protection (“Sale Contract”) on the referenced obligation of the credit default swap. During the term of the swap agreement, the Fund receives/(pays) fixed payments from/(to) the respective counterparty, calculated at the agreed upon interest rate applied to the notional amount. If the Fund is a buyer/(seller) of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the swap agreement, the

 

88     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

Fund will either (i) receive from the seller/(pay to the buyer) of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap (the “Maximum Payout Amount”) and deliver/(take delivery of) the referenced obligation or (ii) receive/(pay) a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation.

In certain circumstances, Maximum Payout Amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront premium received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Fund for the same reference obligation with the same counterparty. As of March 31, 2015, the Fund had Buy Contracts outstanding with respect to the same referenced obligation and counterparty as certain Sale Contracts which may partially offset the Maximum Payout Amount in the amount of $24,904,160.

Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the referenced obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Fund is a buyer of protection and no credit event occurs, it will lose its investment. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Fund coupled with the periodic payments previously received may be less than the Maximum Payout Amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

Implied credit spreads over Treasuries of comparable maturity utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on issuers as of period end are disclosed in the portfolio of investments. The implied spreads serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and typically reflect the market’s assessment of the likelihood of default by the issuer of the referenced obligation. The implied credit spread of a particular reference entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Widening credit spreads typically represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and greater likelihood of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held credit default swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Total Return Swaps:

The Fund may enter into total return swaps in order take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset. The Fund is subject to market price volatility of the underlying referenced asset. A

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       89   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

total return swap involves commitments to pay interest in exchange for a market linked return based on a notional amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, group of securities or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest obligation, the Fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund held total return swaps for hedging purposes.

The Fund typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreements (collectively, “Master Agreements”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund typically may offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instrument’s payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination.

Various Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions with counterparties, including transactions such as exchange-traded derivative transactions, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements. These Master Agreements typically attempt to reduce the counterparty risk associated with such transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Cross-termination provisions under Master Agreements typically provide that a default in connection with one transaction between the Fund and a counterparty gives the non-defaulting party the right to terminate any other transactions in place with the defaulting party to create one single net payment due to/due from the defaulting party. In the event of a default by a Master Agreements counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Fund’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

 

90     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

The Fund’s Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Fund decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Fund’s counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Fund to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. For additional details, please refer to netting arrangements by counterparty tables below.

At March 31, 2015 the Fund 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  

Interest rate
contracts

          
Receivable/Payable for variation margin on exchange-traded derivatives
      
$
 
843,288
 

Interest rate
contracts

      
Unrealized appreciation on total return swaps
      
$
 
122,584
 
  
   

Foreign exchange contracts

      
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts
   
 
    
2,706,329
 
  
      
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts
   
 
    
2,370,627
 
  

Credit
contracts

      
Unrealized appreciation on credit default swaps
   
 
    
1,799,463
 
  
      
Unrealized depreciation on credit default swaps
   
 
    
1,519,277
 
  

Credit
contracts

      
Receivable/Payable for variation margin on exchange-traded derivatives
   
 
    
685,181
 
      
Receivable/Payable for variation margin on exchange-traded derivatives
   
 
    
215,926
 

Credit
contracts

      
Investments in securities, at value
 

 

67,696

  

      
Options written,
at value
   
 
    
28,140
 
  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 5,381,253        $ 4,977,258   
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*   Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) on exchange-traded derivatives as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       91   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the year ended March 31, 2015:

 

Derivative Type

 

Location of Gain
or (Loss)
on Derivatives

  Realized Gain
or (Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Interest rate contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation on swaps   $     (3,756,492   $ (834,193

Interest rate contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation on futures     34,152        639,664   

Interest rate contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment transactions     (62,969     – 0  – 

Foreign exchange contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on foreign currency transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities     33,179,402        (1,397,994

Foreign exchange contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment transactions     (253,439     12,303   

Credit contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment transactions     (1,458,313     (52,251

Credit contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation on swaps     4,852,569            (2,600,301

 

92     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

Derivative Type

 

Location of Gain
or (Loss)
on Derivatives

  Realized Gain
or (Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Credit Contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on options written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on options written   $ 1,275,832      $ 11,907   

Equity contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investment transactions     (2,622,573     420,385   

Equity contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on options written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on options written     174,062        (168,315
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $     31,362,231      $     (3,968,795
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Fund’s derivative transactions during the year ended March 31, 2015:

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 26,149,533 (a) 

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 40,571,525   
  

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps:

  

Average notional amount.

   $ 152,075,385   
  

Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 57,073,127   

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 49,209,021   
  

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 104,199,679   

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $     250,802,626   
  

Futures:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 141,272,156 (b) 
  

Total Return Swaps:

  

Average notional amount.

   $ 10,827,714 (c) 
  

Purchased Options Contracts:

  

Average cost.

   $ 1,031,060 (d) 

 

(a)   Positions were open for ten months during the reporting period.

 

(b)   Positions were open for five months during the reporting period.

 

(c)   Positions were open for seven months during the reporting period.

 

(d)   Positions were open for nine months during the reporting period.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       93   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All derivatives held at year end were subject to netting arrangements. The following tables present the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Fund as of March 31, 2015:

 

Counterparty   

Derivative

Assets

Subject to a
MA

     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash
Collateral
Received*
    Security
Collateral
Received*
   

Net Amount

of Derivatives
Assets

 

Exchange-Traded Derivatives:

           

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.**

   $ 3,057       $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $   – 0  –    $ 3,057   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,057       $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 3,057   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTC Derivatives:

           

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 1,452,487       $ (913,636   $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 538,851   

BNP Paribas SA

     179,706         (156,702     – 0  –      – 0  –      23,004   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

     2,006         (2,006     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Citibank, N.A.

     248,306         (248,306     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Credit Suisse International

     26,399         (26,399     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Deutsche Bank AG

     109,359         – 0  –      (109,359     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     1,155,595         (1,155,595     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

     216,002         (28,140     (187,862     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC.

     379,618         (379,618     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

     982,843         (366,338     – 0  –      – 0  –      616,505   

UBS AG

     37,106         (37,106     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $     4,789,427       $     (3,313,846   $     (297,221   $ – 0  –    $     1,178,360
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

94     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

Counterparty    Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to a
MA
     Derivatives
Available
for Offset
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
    Security
Collateral
Pledged*
    Net
Amount of
Derivatives
Liabilities
 

Exchange-Traded Derivatives:

           

Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC**

   $ 192,414       $ – 0  –    $   – 0  –    $ (192,414   $ – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 192,414       $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ (192,414   $ – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTC Derivatives:

           

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 913,636       $ (913,636     – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ – 0  – 

BNP Paribas SA

     156,702         (156,702     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

     8,229         (2,006     – 0  –      – 0  –      6,223   

Citibank, N.A.

     720,403         (248,306     – 0  –      – 0  –      472,097   

Credit Suisse International

     192,689         (26,399     – 0  –      – 0  –      166,290   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     1,608,715         (1,155,595     – 0  –      (453,120     – 0  – 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

     28,140         (28,140     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC.

     437,129         (379,618     – 0  –      (57,511     – 0  – 

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC.

     366,338         (366,338     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Standard Chartered Bank

     107,214         – 0  –   

 

– 0

 – 

    – 0  –      107,214   

UBS AG

     866,396         (37,106     – 0  –      – 0  –      829,290   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $   5,405,591       $   (3,313,846   $ – 0  –    $   (510,631   $   1,581,114
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to overcollateralization.

 

**   Cash and securities have been posted for initial margin requirements on exchange-traded derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2015.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

 

     See Note D.3 for additional disclosure of netting arrangements regarding reverse repurchase agreements.

2. Currency Transactions

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Fund may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Fund may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Fund and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       95   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Fund may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

3. Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase transactions (“RVP”) in accordance with the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), under which the Fund sells securities and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish a segregated account with the custodian containing liquid assets having a value comparable to the repurchase price. Under the MRA and other Master Agreements, the Fund is permitted to offset payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from the Fund in the event of a default. In the event of a default by a MRA counterparty, the Fund may be considered an unsecured creditor with respect to any excess collateral (collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price) held by and/or posted to the counterparty, and as such the return of such excess collateral may be delayed or denied. For the year ended March 31, 2015, the average amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding was $159,848,037 and the daily weighted average interest rate was (0.21)%. During the period, the Fund received net interest payments from counterparties. At March 31, 2015, the Fund had reverse repurchase agreements outstanding in the amount of $199,125,873 as reported in the statement of assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Fund’s RVP liabilities by counterparty net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund as of March 31, 2015:

 

Counterparty   

RVP Liabilities
Subject to

a MRA

     Securities
Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
RVP Liabilities
 

Barclays Capital, Inc.

   $ 24,770,993       $ (24,770,993   $ – 0  – 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

     26,972,636         (26,972,636     – 0  – 

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc

     761,078         (748,703     12,375   

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc

     67,281,620         (67,281,620     – 0  – 

ING Financial Markets LLC

     502,892         (502,892     – 0  – 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

     68,775,460         (68,775,460     – 0  – 

RBC Capital Markets

     10,061,194         (10,061,194     – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $     199,125,873       $     (199,113,498   $     12,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

Including accrued interest.

 

*   The actual collateral pledged may be more than the amount reported due to overcollateralization.

4. Loan Participations and Assignments

The Fund may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed to lenders or lending syndicates by corporate, governmental, or other

 

96     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

borrowers, either in the form of participations at the time the loan is originated (“Participations”) or by buying an interest in the loan in the secondary market from a financial institution or institutional investor (“Assignments”). A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution (the “Lender”) that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan as specified in the loan agreement. When investing in Participations, the Fund generally has no right to enforce compliance with the terms of the loan agreement with the borrower. In addition, when investing in Participations, the Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender and only upon receipt of payments by the Lender from the borrower. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the Lender. When the Fund purchases Assignments from Lenders, it will typically acquire direct rights against the borrower on the loan. These loans may include participations in “bridge loans”, which are loans taken out by borrowers for a short period (typically less than six months) pending arrangement of more permanent financing through, for example, the issuance of bonds, frequently high-yield bonds issued for the purpose of acquisitions. The Fund may also participate in unfunded loan commitments, which are contractual obligations for investing in future Participations, and may receive a commitment fee based on the amount of the commitment. Under these arrangements, the Fund may receive a fixed rate commitment fee and, if and to the extent the borrower borrows under the facility, the Fund may receive an additional funding fee.

Unfunded loan commitments and funded loans are marked to market daily.

As of March 31, 2015, the Fund had the following unfunded loan commitment which could be extended at the option of the borrower pursuant to the following loan agreement.

 

Borrower    Unfunded Loan
Commitment
 

Sheridan Auto Loan Holdings I LLC, 10.00%, 6/30/15

   $  437,291   

As of March 31, 2015, the Fund had the following bridge loan commitments outstanding:

 

Loan    Unfunded Loan
Participation
Commitments
     Funded  

Air Medical, LIBOR + 7.00%, 3/17/16

   $     2,454,545       $     – 0  – 

Rite Aid Corp ., LIBOR, 2/23/16

   $ 2,727,273       $ – 0  – 

During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund received commitment fees or additional funding fees in the amount of $60,125.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       97   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

NOTE D

Capital Stock

During the year ended March 31, 2015 the Fund issued no shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. During the year ended March 31, 2014 the Fund issued 77,899 shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

NOTE E

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income debt securities such as bonds or notes. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty to a derivative contract, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. Credit risk is greater for medium quality and lower-rated securities. Lower-rated debt securities and similar unrated securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) have speculative elements or are predominantly speculative risks.

Duration Risk—Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a fixed-income security. Fixed-income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise. For example, a fixed-income security with a duration of three years will decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%.

Liquidity Risk—Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling out of these illiquid or relatively less liquid securities at an advantageous price. Causes of liquidity risk may include low trading volume, lack of a market maker, a large position, or legal restrictions that limit or prevent a Fund from selling securities or closing derivative positions at desirable prices or opportune times. Over recent years, the capacity of dealers to make markets in fixed income securities has been outpaced by the growth in the size of the fixed income markets. Liquidity risk may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment, where the value and liquidity of fixed income securities generally go down. Derivatives and securities involving substantial market and credit risk tend to involve greater liquidity risk. Illiquid securities and relatively less liquid securities may also be difficult to value.

Mortgage-Backed and/or Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk—Investments in mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities are subject to certain additional risks. The value of these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes

 

98     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

in interest rates. These risks include “extension risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may delay the payment of principal, and “prepayment risk”, which is the risk that in periods of falling interest rates, issuers may pay principal sooner than expected, exposing the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers and other asset-backed securities may be subject to other risks, such as higher rates of default in the mortgages or assets backing the securities or risks associated with the nature and servicing of mortgages or assets backing the securities.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk—Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be less liquid due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors. Risks relating to investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may be heightened with respect to investments in emerging-market countries, where there may be: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed. Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain foreign countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude investment in certain securities and may increase the costs and expenses of the Fund.

Currency Risk—Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.

Derivatives Risk—The Fund may enter into derivative transactions such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. Derivatives may result in significant losses, including losses that are far greater than the value of the derivatives reflected in the statement of assets and liabilities.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Fund has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

Leverage Risk—The Fund may utilize leverage through borrowings or the investment techniques of reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls are speculative techniques and the proceeds

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       99   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

from these transactions may be used, similar to borrowings by the Fund, for investment purposes.

Leverage may result in higher returns to the Fund than if the Fund were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining. The risks of leverage also include potentially a higher volatility of the NAV of the Common Stock, potentially more volatility in the market value of the Common Stock and the relatively greater effect on the NAV of the Common Stock caused by the favorable or adverse changes in portfolio security values or currency exchange rates. In addition, changes in the interest rate environment can increase or decrease shareholder returns. The Fund maintains asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to borrowings.

To the extent that the current interest rate on the Fund’s indebtedness approaches the net return on the leveraged portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio, then the benefit to the shareholders will be reduced. If the rate on indebtedness were to exceed the net return on the same portion of the portfolio, then this would result in a lower rate of return for the shareholders. Similarly, the use of leverage in a declining market can advance the decrease of the Fund’s NAV more so than if the Fund were not leveraged, which would likely be reflected in a greater decline in the market price for shares of Common Stock than if the Fund were not leveraged. In extreme cases, if the Fund’s current investment income were not sufficient to meet interest payments on indebtedness or if the Fund failed to maintain the asset coverage required by the 1940 Act, then it could be necessary for the Fund to liquidate certain investments at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The use of derivative instruments by the Fund, such as forwards, futures, options and swaps, may result in a form of leverage.

NOTE F

Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     2015      2014  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $     106,028,011       $     111,966,291   

Long-term capital gains

     18,315,184         24,549,589   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions

     124,343,195         136,515,880   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 124,343,195       $ 136,515,880   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

100     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

As of March 31, 2015, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 17,829,522   

Accumulated capital and other losses

     (1,005,360 )(a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     (4,815,517 )(b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $  12,008,645 (c) 
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   At March 31, 2015, the Fund had a post-October long-term capital loss deferral of $1,005,360 which is deemed to arise on April 1, 2015.

 

(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 tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), swaps and partnerships, and the realization for tax purposes of gains/losses on certain derivative instruments.

 

(c)   The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable primarily to the tax treatment of defaulted securities.

For tax purposes, net capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of March 31, 2015, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

During the current fiscal year, permanent differences primarily due to the tax treatment of swaps, foreign currency reclassifications, the tax treatment of clearing fees, reclassifications of paydown gain/loss and consent fees, and the redesignation of dividends resulted in a net decrease in distributions in excess of net investment income and a net decrease in accumulated net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions. These reclassifications had no effect on net assets.

NOTE G

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the date the financial statements are issued. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements through this date.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       101   

Notes to Financial Statements


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Selected Data For A Share of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Year Ended March 31,  
    2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  15.19        $  15.70        $  14.81        $  15.48        $  14.47   
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment income(a)

    1.00        1.14        1.21        1.23        1.30   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (.74     (.07     1.12        (.38     .91   

Contributions from Affiliates

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      .00 (b)      .00 (b) 
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net asset value from operations

    .26        1.07        2.33        .85        2.21   
 

 

 

 

Less: Dividends and Distributions

         

Dividends from net investment income

    (1.21     (1.30     (1.37     (1.52     (1.20

Distributions from net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (.23     (.28     (.07     – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    (1.44     (1.58     (1.44     (1.52     (1.20
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  14.01        $  15.19        $  15.70        $  14.81        $  15.48   
 

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

    $  12.57        $  14.76        $  16.33        $  15.02        $  14.90   
 

 

 

 

Premium/(Discount), end of period

    (10.28 )%      (2.83 )%      4.01  %      1.42  %      (3.75 )% 

Total Return

         

Total investment return based on:(c)

         

Market value

    (5.20 )%      0.37  %      19.40  %      11.88  %      13.83  %* 

Net asset value

    2.68  %      7.44  %      16.42  %      6.18  %      16.30  %* 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $1,207,977        $1,309,518        $1,352,232        $1,267,204        $1,318,652   

Ratio to average net assets of:

         

Expenses

    1.01  %      .98  %      .98  %      .98  %      1.01  % 

Expenses, excluding interest expense

    1.00  %      .97  %      .97  %      .96  %      .97  % 

Net investment income

    6.76  %      7.43  %      8.00  %      8.33  %      8.76  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

    48  %      36  %      38  %      26  %      52  % 

See footnote summary on page 103.

 

102     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Financial Highlights


(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Amount is less than $0.005.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock on the opening of the first day and a sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Generally, total investment return based on net asset value will be higher than total investment return based on market value in periods where there is an increase in the discount or a decrease in the premium of the market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Conversely, total investment return based on net asset value will be lower than total investment return based on market value in periods where there is a decrease in the discount or an increase in the premium of the market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Fund resulting from class actions settlements, which enhanced the Fund’s performance for the year ended March 31, 2011 by 0.01%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       103   

Financial Highlights


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of March 31, 2015, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian and others, or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. at March 31, 2015, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

May 29, 2015

 

104     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


2015 FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

(unaudited)

For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions paid by the Fund during the taxable year ended March 31, 2015. For corporate shareholders, 1.10% of dividends paid qualify for the dividends received deduction. For foreign shareholders, 47.22% of ordinary dividends paid may be considered to be qualifying to be taxed as interest-related dividends.

For the taxable year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund designates $1,131,679 as the maximum amount that may be considered qualified dividend income for individual shareholders.

Shareholders should not use the above information to prepare their income tax returns. The information necessary to complete your income tax returns will be included with your Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to you separately in January 2016.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       105   


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(unaudited)

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

Shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will automatically be participants in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which distributions to shareholders will be paid in or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, unless they elect to receive cash. Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the “Agent”) will act as agent for participants under the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether or how they may participate in the Plan.

If the Board declares a distribution payable either in shares or in cash, as holders of the Common Stock may have elected, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in shares of Common Stock of the Fund valued as follows:

 

  (i) If the shares of Common Stock are trading at net asset value or at a premium above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of net asset value or 95% of the then current market price.

 

  (ii) If the shares of Common Stock are trading at a discount from net asset value at the time of valuation, the Agent will receive the distribution in cash and apply it to the purchase of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock in the open market on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. Such purchases will be made on or shortly after the payment date for such distribution and in no event more than 30 days after such date except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary to comply with Federal securities laws. If, before the Agent has completed its purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of a share of Common Stock, the average purchase price per share paid by the Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund.

The Agent will maintain all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnish written confirmation of all transactions in the account, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Agent in non-certificate form in the name of the participant, and each shareholder’s proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan.

There will be no charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund to satisfy the dividend reinvestment requirements. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Agent’s open market purchases of shares.

 

106     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Additional Information


The automatic reinvestment of distributions will not relieve participants of any income taxes that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on distributions.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to participants in the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan may also be amended or terminated by the Agent on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Agent at Computershare Trust Company N.A., P.O. Box 30170 College Point, TX 77842-3170.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       107   

Additional Information


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1), Chairman

John H. Dobkin(1)

Michael J. Downey(1)

William H. Foulk, Jr.(1)

D. James Guzy(1)

Nancy P. Jacklin(1)

Robert M. Keith, President and Chief Executive Officer

Garry L. Moody(1)

Earl D. Weiner(1)

OFFICERS

Philip L. Kirstein, Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer

Paul J. DeNoon(2), Vice President

Marco G. Santamaria(2), Vice President

Emilie D. Wrapp, Secretary

Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Stephen M. Woetzel, Controller

Vincent S. Noto, Chief Compliance Officer

 

Administrator

AllianceBernstein, L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

50 Post Office Square

Boston, MA 02110

 

Dividend Paying Agent,

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 30170

College Point, TX 77842-3170

  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

5 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

 

Legal Counsel

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

 

(1) Member of the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Independent Directors Committee.

 

(2) The day-to-day management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by the Global Fixed-Income: Emerging Market Investment Team. While all members of the team work jointly to determine the majority of the investment strategy including stock selection for the Fund, Messrs. Paul J. DeNoon, Douglas J. Peebles, Marco G. Santamaria and Matthew S. Sheridan, members of the Global Fixed-Income: Emerging Market Investment Team, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

   Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase from time to time at market prices shares of its Common Stock in the open market.

 

   This report, including the financial statements herein, is transmitted to the shareholders of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund for their information. The financial information included herein is taken from the records of the Fund. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

 

   Annual Certifications—As required, on April 29, 2015, the Fund submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) the annual certification of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer certifying that he is not aware of any violation of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards. The Fund also has included the certifications of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the reporting period.

 

108     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Board of Directors


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Board of Directors Information

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Certain information concerning the Fund’s Directors is set forth below.

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR
INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert M. Keith, #

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

55

(2009)

  Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the head of AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”) since July 2008; Director of ABI and President of the AB Mutual Funds. Previously, he served as Executive Managing Director of ABI from December 2006 to June 2008. Prior to joining ABI in 2006, Executive Managing Director of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, and prior thereto, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Client Service and Sales of the Adviser’s institutional investment management business since 2004. Prior thereto, he was Managing Director and Head of North American Client Service and Sales in the Adviser’s institutional investment management business, with which he had been associated since prior to 2004.     120      None
     

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       109   

Management of the Fund


 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS    

Marshall C. Turner, Jr., ##

Chairman of the Board

73

(2006)

  Private Investor since prior to 2010. Former CEO of Dupont Photomasks, Inc. (components of semi-conductor manufacturing), 2003-2006, and interim CEO 1999-2000. He has extensive operating and early-stage investment experience, including prior service as general partner of institutional venture capital partnerships, and serves on the boards of three education and science-related non-profit organizations. He has served as a director of one AB Fund since 1992, and director or trustee of multiple AB Funds since 2005. He has been Chairman of the AB Funds since January 2014, and Chairman of the Independent Directors Committee of such Funds since February 2014.     120      Xilinx, Inc. (programmable logic semi-conductors) since 2007.
     

John H. Dobkin, ##

73

(1993)

  Independent Consultant since prior to 2010. Formerly, President of Save Venice, Inc. (preservation organization) from 2001–2002; Senior Advisor from June 1999-June 2000 and President of Historic Hudson Valley (historic preservation) from December 1989-May 1999. Previously, Director of the National Academy of Design. He has served as a director or trustee of various AB Funds since 1992, and as Chairman of the Audit Committees of a number of such Funds from 2001-2008.     120      None
     

 

110     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Michael J. Downey, ##

71

(2005)

  Private Investor since prior to 2010. Formerly, managing partner of Lexington Capital, LLC (investment advisory firm) from December 1997 until December 2003. He served as a Director of Prospect Acquisition Corp. (financial services) from 2007 until 2009. From 1987 until 1993, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Mutual Fund Management, director of the Prudential mutual funds, and member of the Executive Committee of Prudential Securities Inc. He has served as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since 2005 and is a director and Chairman of one other registered investment company.     120      Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. (registered investment company) since prior to 2010
     

William H. Foulk, Jr., ##

82

(1993)

  Investment Adviser and an Independent Consultant since prior to 2010. Previously, he was Senior Manager of Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser. He was formerly Deputy Comptroller and Chief Investment Officer of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings. He has served as a director or trustee of various AB Funds since 1983, and was Chairman of the Independent Directors Committee of the AB Funds from 2003 until early February 2014. He served as Chairman of such Funds from 2003 through December 2013. He is also active in a number of mutual fund related organizations and committees.     120      None
     

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       111   

Management of the Fund


 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

D. James Guzy, ##

79

(2006)

  Chairman of the Board of SRC Computers Inc. (semi-conductors), with which he has been associated since prior to 2010. He served as Chairman of the Board of PLX Technology (semi-conductors) since prior to 2010 until November 2013. He was a director of Intel Corporation (semi-conductors) from 1969 until 2008, and served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of such company for several years until May 2008. He was a Director of Cirrus Logic Corporation (semi-conductors) from 1984 until July 2011. He has served as a director or trustee of one or more of the AB Funds since 1982.     120     

None

     

Nancy P. Jacklin, ##

67

(2006)

  Professorial Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies since 2008. Formerly, U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (which is responsible for ensuring the stability of the international monetary system), (December 2002-May 2006); Partner, Clifford Chance (1992-2002); Sector Counsel, International Banking and Finance, and Associate General Counsel, Citicorp (1985-1992); Assistant General Counsel (International), Federal Reserve Board of Governors (1982-1985); and Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury (1973-1982). Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and of New York; and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has served as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since 2006 and has been Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the Funds since August 2014.     120      None

 

112     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Garry L. Moody, ##

63

(2008)

  Independent Consultant. Formerly, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1995-2008) where he held a number of senior positions, including Vice Chairman, and U.S. and Global Investment Management Practice Managing Partner; President, Fidelity Accounting and Custody Services Company (1993-1995); and Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (1975-1993), where he served as the National Director of Mutual Fund Tax Services and Managing Partner of its Chicago Office Tax department. He is a member of both the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC), an organization of independent directors of mutual funds, and the Trustee Advisory Board of BoardIQ, a biweekly publication focused on issues and news affecting directors of mutual funds. He has served as a director or trustee, and as Chairman of the Audit Committee, of the AB Funds since 2008.     120     

None

     

Earl D. Weiner, ##

75

(2007)

  Of Counsel, and Partner prior to January 2007, of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and is a former member of ABA Federal Regulation of Securities Committee Task Force to draft editions of the Fund Director’s Guidebook. He also serves as a director or trustee of various non-profit organizations and has served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of a number of them. He has served as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since 2007 and served as Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the AB Funds from 2007 until August 2014.     120      None
     

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       113   

Management of the Fund


 

 

*   The address for each of the Fund’s disinterested Directors is c/o AllianceBernstein L.P., Attention: Philip L. Kirstein, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

**   There is no stated term of office for the Fund’s Directors.

 

***   The information above includes each Director’s principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes and skills relevant to each Director’s qualifications to serve as a Director, which lead to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director for the Fund.

 

#   Mr. Keith is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, due to his position as a Senior Vice President of the Adviser.

 

##   Member of the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Independent Directors Committee.

 

 

114     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

Officer Information

Certain information concerning the Fund’s Officers is listed below.

 

NAME, ADDRESS*

AND AGE

  

POSITION(S)

HELD WITH FUND

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

Robert M. Keith,

55

   President and Chief Executive Officer    See biography above.
     

Philip L. Kirstein,

70

   Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer of the AB Mutual Funds, with which he has been associated since October 2004. Prior thereto, he was Of Counsel to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP from October 2003 to October 2004, and General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. since prior to March 2003.
     

Paul J. DeNoon,

53

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2010.
     

Marco G. Santamaria,

49

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since June 2010. Prior thereto, he was a founding partner at Global Securities Advisors, an emerging-markets oriented fixed-income hedge fund since prior to 2010.
     

Emilie D. Wrapp,

59

   Secretary    Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2010.
     

Joseph J. Mantineo,

56

   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”)**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2010.
     

Stephen M. Woetzel,

43

   Controller    Vice President of ABIS**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2010.
     

Vincent S. Noto

50

   Chief Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President and Mutual Fund Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser** since 2014. Prior thereto, he was Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Compliance of the Adviser** prior to 2010.

 

*   The address for each of the Fund’s Officers is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

**   The Adviser, ABI and ABIS are affiliates of the Fund.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       115   

Management of the Fund


 

 

Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Advisory and Administration Agreements

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the continuance of the Fund’s Administration Agreement with the Adviser (in such capacity, the “Administrator”) at a meeting held on November 3-6, 2014.

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also discussed the proposed continuances in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer).

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they receive presentations from the Adviser on the investment results of the Fund 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 Fund and the Administrator to provide administrative services to the Fund and the overall arrangements (i) between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee and (ii) between the Fund and the Administrator, as provided in the Administration Agreement, including the administration 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:

 

116     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND


 

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund and the resources the Administrator has devoted to providing services to the Fund. They noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’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 Fund under the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser (including in its capacity as Administrator) for calendar years 2012 and 2013 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 noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiary that provides shareholder services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes. The directors were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including but not limited to benefits relating to shareholder servicing fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       117   


 

 

each regular Board meeting during the year. At the November 2014 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Fund as compared with that of a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing the Fund’s performance as compared with its composite index (composed of equal weightings of the JPMorgan Government Bond Index—Emerging Markets, the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (“JPM EMBI Global”) and the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index) and its individual index, the JPM EMBI Global, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended July 31, 2014. The directors noted that the Fund was in the 5th quintile of the Performance Group for the 1-year period, in the 4th quintile of the Performance Group for the 3- and 5-year periods, and in the 2nd quintile of the Performance Group for the 10-year period. The directors recognized that the small number of other funds in the Fund’s Lipper category made performance comparisons of limited utility. The Fund outperformed both indices (which, they noted, are not leveraged) in all periods except in the 1-year period when it lagged its individual index. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Fund’s recent performance, the directors concluded that the Fund’s performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the latest fiscal year actual management fee rate paid by the Fund (combined advisory fee paid to the Adviser and administration fee paid to the Administrator) and information prepared by Lipper concerning fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Fund. They compared the combined advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund to the advisory fees of other funds where there is no separate administrator. 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 noted that the Fund’s latest fiscal year total management fee rate of 90.7 basis points (combined advisory fee paid to the Adviser plus the administration fee paid to the Administrator) was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors noted that the total management fee rate would have been lower if expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average weekly total assets (i.e., net assets plus assets supported by leverage).

The directors noted that the Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate was higher than the fee rate charged by the Adviser for advising an open-end high income fund that also invested globally, and that the Fund’s fee rate exceeded the rate paid by the open-end fund’s predecessor prior to the settlement related reduction. The directors further noted that in 2005 the directors considered and approved the Adviser’s proposal, in response to the directors’ request for advisory and administration fee reductions, to amend the Advisory Agreement to reduce the fee rate by 10 basis points (from 1.00% to 0.90%) and the Administrator’s proposal to replace the 15 basis points fee in the Administration Agreement with an amount

 

118     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND


 

 

equal to no more than the cost to the Administrator of providing administrative services subject to a maximum of 15 basis points.

The Adviser informed the directors that there were no institutional products managed by it that have a substantially similar investment style. The directors reviewed the relevant advisory 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 Fund but which invest in various types of fixed income securities. The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional clients. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to funds such as the Fund, 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 Fund 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 Fund and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the Fund’s investment classification/objective. The expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or 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 Fund by others.

The directors noted that the Fund’s total expense ratio was lower than the Expense Group and the Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was satisfactory.

Economies of Scale

The advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors considered that the Fund is a closed-end fixed-income fund and that it was not expected to have meaningful asset growth (absent a rights offering or an acquisition). In such circumstances, the directors did not view the potential for realization of economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow to be a material factor in their deliberations. They noted that, if the Fund’s net assets were to increase materially, they would review whether potential economies of scale were being realized.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       119   


SUMMARY OF GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Shareholder Information

The Fund distributes its daily net asset value (NAV) to various financial publications or independent organizations such as Lipper, Inc., Morningstar, Inc. and Bloomberg.

Weekly comparative net asset value and market price information about the Fund is published each Monday in The Wall Street Journal, each Saturday in Barron’s and other newspapers in a table called “Closed-End Funds.” Daily net asset value information and market price information and additional information regarding the Fund is available at www.alliancebernstein.com and at www.nyse.com.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

If your shares are held in your own name, you will automatically be a participant in the Plan unless you elect to receive cash. If your shares are held in nominee or street name through a broker or nominee who provides this service, you will also automatically be a participant in the Plan. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee who does not provide this service, you will need to instruct them to participate in the Plan on your behalf or your distributions will not be reinvested. In such case, you will receive your distributions in cash.

For questions concerning shareholder account information, or if you would like a brochure describing the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, please call Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at (800) 219-4218.

 

 

120     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

Summary of General Information


THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AB FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

US EQUITY

 

US Core

Core Opportunities Fund

Select US Equity Portfolio

US Growth

Concentrated Growth Fund

Discovery Growth Fund

Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

US Value

Discovery Value Fund

Equity Income Fund

Growth & Income Fund

Small Cap Value Portfolio

Value Fund

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL EQUITY

 

International/Global Core

Global Core Equity Portfolio

Global Equity & Covered Call Strategy Fund

Global Thematic Growth Fund

International Portfolio

Tax-Managed International Portfolio

International/Global Growth

International Growth Fund

International/Global Value

International Value Fund

FIXED INCOME

 

Municipal

High Income Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate California Portfolio

Intermediate Diversified Portfolio

Intermediate New York Portfolio

Municipal Bond Inflation Strategy

Tax-Aware Fixed Income Portfolio

National Portfolio

Arizona Portfolio

California Portfolio

FIXED INCOME (continued)

 

Massachusetts Portfolio

Michigan Portfolio

Minnesota Portfolio

New Jersey Portfolio

New York Portfolio

Ohio Portfolio

Pennsylvania Portfolio

Virginia Portfolio

Taxable

Bond Inflation Strategy

Global Bond Fund

High Income Fund

High Yield Portfolio

Intermediate Bond Portfolio

Limited Duration High Income Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

ALTERNATIVES

 

All Market Real Return Portfolio*

Credit Long/Short Portfolio

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Long/Short Multi-Manager Fund

Market Neutral Strategy-U.S.

Multi-Manager Alternative Strategies Fund

Select US Long/Short Portfolio

Unconstrained Bond Fund

MULTI-ASSET

 

All Market Growth Portfolio*

Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Portfolio

Global Risk Allocation Fund

Target-Date

Multi-Manager Select Retirement Allocation Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2010 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2015 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2020 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2025 Fund

MULTI-ASSET (continued)

 

Multi-Manager Select 2030 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2035 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2040 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2045 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2050 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2055 Fund

2000 Retirement Strategy

2005 Retirement Strategy

2010 Retirement Strategy

2015 Retirement Strategy

2020 Retirement Strategy

2025 Retirement Strategy

2030 Retirement Strategy

2035 Retirement Strategy

2040 Retirement Strategy

2045 Retirement Strategy

2050 Retirement Strategy

2055 Retirement Strategy

Wealth Strategies

Balanced Wealth Strategy

Conservative Wealth Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Tax-Managed Balanced Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Conservative Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

CLOSED-END FUNDS

 

AB Multi-Manager Alternative Fund

Alliance California Municipal Income Fund

Alliance New York Municipal Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Income Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund

 

We also offer Exchange Reserves, which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AB mutual funds. An investment in Exchange Reserves is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abglobal.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

* Prior to December 15, 2014, All Market Growth Portfolio was named Dynamic All Market Fund; All Market Real Return Portfolio was named Real Asset Strategy.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       121   

AB Family of Funds


NOTES

 

 

122     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND


NOTES

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND       123   


NOTES

 

 

124     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND


Privacy Policy Statement

AllianceBernstein and its affiliates (collectively “AllianceBernstein”) understand the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of their clients’ nonpublic personal information. Nonpublic personal information is personally identifiable financial information about our clients who are natural persons. To provide financial products and services to our clients, we may collect information about clients from a variety of sources, including: (1) account documentation, including applications or other forms, which may include information such as a client’s name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and other household information, (2) client transactions with us and others, such as account balances and transactions history, and (3) information from visitors to our websites provided through online forms, site visitorship data and online information-collecting devices known as “cookies.”

It is our policy not to disclose nonpublic personal information about our clients or former clients (collectively “clients”), except to our affiliates, or to others as permitted or required by law. From time to time, we may disclose nonpublic personal information that we collect about our clients to non-affiliated third parties, including those that perform transaction processing or servicing functions, those that provide marketing services for us or on our behalf pursuant to a joint marketing agreement or those that provide professional services to us under a professional services agreement, all of which require the third party provider to adhere to our privacy policy. We have policies and procedures to safeguard nonpublic personal information about our clients that include restricting access to nonpublic personal information and maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards which comply with applicable standards.

It is also our policy to prohibit the sharing of our clients’ personal information among our affiliated group of investment, brokerage, service and insurance companies for the purpose of marketing their products or services to clients, except as permitted by law. This information includes, but is not limited to, a client’s income and account history.

We have policies and procedures to ensure that certain conditions are met before an AllianceBernstein affiliated company may use information obtained from another affiliate to solicit clients for marketing purposes.


LOGO

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800.221.5672

 

 

 

 

 

GHI-0151-0315

  LOGO
 


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A copy of the registrant’s code of ethics is filed herewith as Exhibit 12(a)(1).

(b) During the period covered by this report, no material amendments were made to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in
2(a) above.

(c) During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above were granted.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that independent directors William H. Foulk, Jr., Garry L. Moody and Marshall C. Turner, Jr. qualify as audit committee financial experts.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) - (c) The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP, for the Fund’s last two fiscal years for professional services rendered for: (i) the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements included in the Fund’s annual report to stockholders; (ii) assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under (i), which include advice and education related to accounting and auditing issues and quarterly press release review (for those Funds that issue quarterly press releases), and preferred stock maintenance testing (for those Funds that issue preferred stock); and (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation.

 

            Audit Fees      Audit-Related
Fees
     Tax Fees  

AB Global High Income Fund

     2014       $ 57,500       $ 8,000       $ 22,062   
     2015       $ 145,923       $ 10,000       $ 35,140   

(d) Not applicable.

(e) (1) Beginning with audit and non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures require the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures also require pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Adviser and Service Affiliates to the extent that these services are directly related to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund.

(e) (2) All of the amounts for Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees in the table under Item 4 (a) – (c) are for services pre-approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee.

(f) Not applicable.


(g) The following table sets forth the aggregate non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Fund’s Adviser and entities that control, are controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund:

 

            All Fees for
Non-Audit Services
Provided to the
Portfolio, the Adviser
and Service Affiliates
     Total Amount of
Foregoing Column Pre-
approved by the Audit
Committee
(Portion Comprised of
Audit Related Fees)
(Portion Comprised of
Tax Fees)
 

AB Global High Income Fund

     2014       $ 323,592       $ 30,062   
         $ (8,000
         $ (22,062
     2015       $ 499,693       $ 45,140   
         $ (10,000
         $ (35,140

(h) The Audit Committee of the Fund has considered whether the provision of any non-audit services not pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser and Service Affiliates is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee members are as follows:

 

   John H. Dobkin    D. James Guzy
   Michael J. Downey    Gary. L Moody
   William H. Foulk, Jr.    Marshall C. Turner, Jr.
   Nancy P. Jacklin    Earl D. Weiner

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.


Statement of Policies and Procedures for

Proxy Voting

 

1. Introduction

As an investment adviser, we are shareholder advocates and have a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions that are in our clients’ best interests by maximizing the value of their shares. Proxy voting is an integral part of this process, through which we support strong corporate governance structures, shareholder rights, and transparency.

We have an obligation to vote proxies in a timely manner and we apply the principles in this policy to our proxy decisions. We believe a company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices may have a significant effect on the value of the company, and we take these factors into consideration when voting. For additional information regarding our ESG policies and practices, please refer to our firm’s Statement of Policy Regarding Responsible Investment (“RI Policy”).

This Proxy Voting Policy (“Proxy Voting Policy” or “Policy”), which outlines our policies for proxy voting and includes a wide range of issues that often appear on proxies, applies to all of AllianceBernstein’s investment management subsidiaries and investment services groups investing on behalf of clients globally. It is intended for use by those involved in the proxy voting decision-making process and those responsible for the administration of proxy voting (“Proxy Managers”), in order to ensure that our proxy voting policies and procedures are implemented consistently.

We sometimes manage accounts where proxy voting is directed by clients or newly-acquired subsidiary companies. In these cases, voting decisions may deviate from this Policy.

 

2. Research Underpins Decision Making

As a research-driven firm, we approach our proxy voting responsibilities with the same commitment to rigorous research and engagement that we apply to all of our investment activities. The different investment philosophies utilized by our investment teams may occasionally result in different conclusions being drawn regarding certain proposals and, in turn, may result in the Proxy Manager making different voting decisions on the same proposal. Nevertheless, the Proxy Manager votes proxies with the goal of maximizing the value of the securities in client portfolios.

In addition to our firm-wide proxy voting policies, we have a Proxy Committee, which provides oversight and includes senior investment professionals from Equities, Legal personnel and Operations personnel. It is the responsibility of the Proxy Committee to evaluate and maintain proxy voting procedures and guidelines, to evaluate proposals and issues not covered by these guidelines, to consider changes in policy, and to review the Proxy Voting Policy no less frequently than annually. In addition, the Proxy Committee meets as necessary to address special situations.

Research Services

We subscribe to the corporate governance and proxy research services of Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). All our investment professionals can access these materials via the Proxy Manager and/or Proxy Committee.

Engagement

In evaluating proxy issues and determining our votes, we welcome and seek out the points of view of various parties. Internally, the Proxy Manager may consult the Proxy Committee, Chief Investment Officers, Directors of Research, and/or Research Analysts across our equities platforms, and Portfolio Managers in whose managed accounts a stock is held. Externally, the Proxy Manager may engage with company management, company directors, interest groups, shareholder activists, other shareholders and research providers.


3. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Our proxy voting guidelines are principles-based rather than rules-based. We adhere to a core set of principles that are described in this Proxy Voting Policy. We assess each proxy proposal in light of these principles. Our proxy voting “litmus test” will always be what we view as most likely to maximize long-term shareholder value. We believe that authority and accountability for setting and executing corporate policies, goals and compensation generally should rest with the board of directors and senior management. In return, we support strong investor rights that allow shareholders to hold directors and management accountable if they fail to act in the best interests of shareholders.

With this as a backdrop, our proxy voting guidelines pertaining to specific issues are set forth below. We generally vote proposals in accordance with these guidelines but, consistent with our “principles-based” approach to proxy voting, we may deviate from the guidelines if warranted by the specific facts and circumstances of the situation (i.e., if, under the circumstances, we believe that deviating from our stated policy is necessary to help maximize long-term shareholder value). In addition, these guidelines are not intended to address all issues that may appear on all proxy ballots. Proposals not specifically addressed by these guidelines, whether submitted by management or shareholders, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, always keeping in mind our fiduciary duty to make voting decisions that, by maximizing long-term shareholder value, are in our clients’ best interests.

4.    Board and Director Proposals

 

 

5.

 

 

    Changes in Board Structure and Amending the Articles of Incorporation

 

For    

 

Companies may propose various provisions with respect to the structure of the board of directors, including changing the manner in which board vacancies are filled, directors are nominated and the number of directors. Such proposals may require amending the charter or by-laws or may otherwise require shareholder approval. When these proposals are not controversial or meant as an anti-takeover device, which is generally the case, we vote in their favor. However, if we believe a proposal is intended as an anti-takeover device, we generally vote against.

Other changes in a company’s charter, articles of incorporation or by-laws are usually technical or administrative in nature. Absent a compelling reason to the contrary, we will support such proposals. However, we may oppose proposals that would permit management to establish the size of the board outside a specified range without shareholder approval.

 

 

6.

 

    Classified Boards

 

Against    

 

A classified board typically is divided into three separate classes. Each class holds office for a term of two or three years. Only a portion of the board can be elected or replaced each year. Because this type of proposal has fundamental anti-takeover implications, we oppose the adoption of classified boards unless there is a justifiable financial reason or an adequate sunset provision exists. However, where a classified board already exists, we will not oppose directors who sit on such boards for that reason. We will vote against directors that fail to implement shareholder approved proposals to declassify boards.


 

7.

 

 

    Director Liability and Indemnification

 

Case-by-case    

 

Some companies argue that increased indemnification and decreased liability for directors are important to ensure the continued availability of competent directors. However, others argue that the risk of such personal liability minimizes the propensity for corruption and recklessness.

We generally support indemnification provisions that are consistent with the local jurisdiction in which the company has been formed. We vote in favor of proposals adopting indemnification for directors with respect to acts conducted in the normal course of business. We also vote in favor of proposals that expand coverage for directors and officers where, despite an unsuccessful legal defense, we believe the director or officer acted in good faith and in the best interests of the company. We oppose indemnification for gross negligence.

 

 

8.

 

 

    Disclose CEO Succession Plan (SHP)

 

For    

 

Proposals like these are often suggested by shareholders of companies with long-tenured CEOs and/or high employee turnover rates. Even though some markets might not require the disclosure of a CEO succession plan, we do think it is good business practice and will support these proposals.

 

 

9.

 

 

    Election of Directors

 

For    

 

We generally vote in favor of the management-proposed slate of directors. However, we may not do so if we determine that there are compelling reasons to oppose directors (see below) or there is a proxy contest for seats on the board.

We believe that directors have a duty to respond to shareholder actions that have received significant shareholder support. We may vote against directors (or withhold votes for directors if plurality voting applies) who fail to act on key issues, such as failure to implement proposals to declassify boards, failure to implement a majority vote requirement, failure to submit a rights plan to a shareholder vote and failure to act on tender offers where a majority of shareholders have tendered their shares (provided we supported, or would have supported, the original proposal). In addition, we oppose directors who fail to attend at least 75% of board meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse. Also, we may consider the number of boards on which a director sits and/or their length of service on a particular board. Finally, we may abstain or vote against (depending on a company’s history of disclosure in this regard) directors of issuers where there is insufficient information about the nominees disclosed in the proxy statement.

We believe companies should have a majority of independent directors and independent key committees. However, we will consider local market regulation as part of our decision. We will generally regard a director as independent if the director satisfies the criteria for independence (i) espoused by the primary exchange on which the company’s shares are traded, or (ii) set forth in the code we determine to be best practice in the country where the subject company is domiciled. We generally vote against directors who, during the previous fiscal year, failed to act on a majority supported shareholder proposal or engaged in what we believe to be a poor governance practice. We may also consider engaging company management (by phone, in writing and in person), until any issues have been satisfactorily resolved.

We may vote against directors for poor compensation practices. In our view, poor compensation practices include, for example, permitting option re-pricing without prior shareholder approval, providing continuous perquisites to an executive officer and his or her dependents after the officer is no longer employed by the company, adjusting performance-based diminished payouts with supplemental cash payments, eliminating performance goals for executive officers and crediting additional years of service to current executives for the purpose of enhancing the


executive’s pension benefit. However, because we do not believe that permitting executive officers to receive dividends on unearned performance shares is a poor compensation practice, we will not oppose directors who permit this practice.

We consider the election of directors who are “bundled” on a single slate on a case-by-case basis considering the amount of information available and an assessment of the group’s qualifications.

 

a. Controlled Company Exemption Case-by-case

Companies where more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, need not comply with the requirement to have a majority of independent directors and independent key committees. Conversely, we will vote against directors for failure to adhere to such independence standards where shareholders with a majority voting interest have a minority economic interest.

Exchanges in certain jurisdictions do not have a controlled company exemption (or something similar). In such a jurisdiction, if a company has a majority shareholder or group of related majority shareholders with a majority economic interest, we generally will not oppose that company’s directors simply because the board does not include a majority of independent members. We will, however, consider these directors in a negative light if the company has a history of violating the rights of minority shareholders.

 

b. Voting for Director Nominees in a Contested Election Case-by-case

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the goal of maximizing shareholder value.

 

 

10.

 

 

    Establish Additional Board Committees (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

We believe that establishing committees should be the prerogative of a well-functioning board of directors. However, we may support shareholder proposals to establish additional board committees to address specific shareholder issues, including ESG issues.

 

 

11.

 

 

    Independent Lead Director (SHP)

 

For    

 

We support shareholder proposals that request a company to amend its by-laws to establish an independent lead director, if the positions of chairman and CEO are not separated. We view the existence of an independent lead director as a good example of the sufficient counter-balancing governance. If a company has an independent lead director in place, we will generally oppose a proposal to separate the positions of chairman and CEO.

 

 

12.

 

 

    Limit Term of Directorship; Establish Mandatory Retirement Age (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

These proposals seek to limit the term during which a director may serve on a board to a set number of years and/or establish an age at which a director is no longer eligible to serve on the board. Proponents believe term limits and forced retirement help ensure that new ideas are introduced to the company. Opponents argue that director turnover decreases board stability.


Taking into consideration local market practice, we generally believe that a director’s qualifications, not length of service, should be the primary factor considered. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals that seek to either limit the term during which a director may serve on a company’s board or force a director’s retirement at a certain age.

 

 

13.

 

 

    Majority of Independent1 Directors (SHP)

 

For    

 

Each company’s board of directors has a duty to act in the best interest of the company’s shareholders at all times. We believe that these interests are best served by having directors who bring objectivity to the company and are free from potential conflicts of interests. Accordingly, we support proposals seeking a majority of independent directors on the board. While we are aware of the listing requirements of the NYSE and NASDAQ (which require companies to have a majority of independent directors on their board), we will support such proposals regardless of where the company is listed.

 

 

14.

 

 

    Majority of Independent Directors on Key Committees (SHP)

 

For    

 

In order to ensure that those who evaluate management’s performance, recruit directors and set management’s compensation are free from conflicts of interests, we believe that the audit2, nominating/governance, and compensation committees should be composed of a majority of independent directors. While we are aware of the listing requirements of the NYSE and NASDAQ (that generally require fully independent nominating and compensation committees), we will support such proposals regardless of where the company is listed. However, in order to allow companies an opportunity to select qualified candidates for these important board positions, at this time we will not oppose inside directors that sit on these committees.

 

 

15.

 

 

    Majority Votes for Directors (SHP)

 

For    

 

We believe that good corporate governance requires shareholders to have a meaningful voice in the affairs of the company. This objective is strengthened if directors are elected by a majority of votes cast at an annual meeting rather than by the plurality method commonly used. With plurality voting a director could be elected by a single affirmative vote even if the rest of the votes were withheld.

We further believe that majority voting provisions will lead to greater director accountability. Therefore, we support shareholder proposals that companies amend their by-laws to provide that director nominees be elected by an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, provided the proposal includes a carve-out to provide for plurality voting in contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected.

 

 

16.

 

 

    Prohibit CEOs from Serving on Compensation Committees (SHP)

 

Against    

 

These proposals seek to require a board of directors to adopt a policy prohibiting current and former chief executive officers of other public companies from serving on that company’s compensation committee. Proponents argue that having a current or former CEO serving on a compensation committee presents an inherent conflict of interest because the CEO is likely to support inflated compensation for his or her peers. Opponents argue, and we agree, that permitting CEOs to serve on compensation committees has merit because their experience with compensation matters (including oversight of executive pay) may be invaluable to a board. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals seeking to prohibit CEOs from serving on compensation committees.

 

1  For purposes of this Policy, an independent director is one that meets the requirements of independence pursuant to the listing standards of the exchange on which the common stock is listed.
2  Pursuant to the SEC rules, adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as of October 31, 2004, each U.S. listed issuer must have a fully independent audit committee.


 

17.

 

    Removal of Directors Without Cause (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

Company by-laws sometimes define cause very narrowly, including only conditions of criminal indictment, final adverse adjudication that fiduciary duties were breached or incapacitation, while also providing shareholders with the right to remove directors only upon “cause”.

We believe that the circumstances under which shareholders have the right to remove directors should not be limited to those traditionally defined by companies as “cause”. We also believe that shareholders should have the right to conduct a vote to remove directors who fail to perform in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties or representative of shareholders’ best interests. And, while we would prefer shareholder proposals that seek to broaden the definition of “cause” to include situations like these, we generally support proposals that would provide shareholders with the right to remove directors without cause.

 

 

18.

 

      Require Independent Board Chairman (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

We believe there can be benefits to having the positions of chairman and CEO combined as well as split. When the position is combined the company must have sufficient counter-balancing governance in place, generally through a strong lead director. Also, for companies with smaller market capitalizations, separate chairman and CEO positions may not be practical.

 

 

19.

 

Require Two Candidates for Each Board Seat (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

We believe that proposals like these are detrimental to a company’s ability to attract highly qualified candidates. Accordingly, we oppose them.

 

 

20.

 

Stock Ownership Requirement (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

These proposals require directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board. We do not believe stock ownership is necessary to align the interests of directors and shareholders. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

21.    Compensation Proposals

 

 

22.

 

      Accelerated Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change of Control (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

We examine proposals to prohibit accelerated vesting of equity awards in the event of a change in control on a case-by-case basis. If a change in control is triggered at or above a 50% ownership level, we generally support accelerated vesting. If, however, a change in control is triggered at less than 50% ownership, we generally oppose accelerated vesting.

 

 

23.

 

      Adopt Form of Employment Contract (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These proposals ask companies to adhere to certain principles when drafting employment contracts for executives. We will review the criteria requested and consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis.


 

24.

 

Adopt Policies to Prohibit any Death Benefits to Senior Executives (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

We view these bundled proposals as too restrictive and conclude that blanket restrictions on any and all such benefits, including the payment of life insurance premiums for senior executives, could put a company at a competitive disadvantage.

 

 

25.

 

      Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

Similar to advisory votes on executive compensation, shareholders may request a non-binding advisory vote to approve compensation given to board members which we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

26.

 

Amend Executive Compensation Plan tied to Performance (Bonus Banking) (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

These proposals seek to force a company to amend executive compensation plans such that compensation awards tied to performance are deferred for shareholder specified and extended periods of time. As a result, awards may be adjusted downward if performance goals achieved during the vesting period are not sustained during the added deferral period.

We believe that most companies have adequate vesting schedules and clawbacks in place. Under such circumstances, we will oppose these proposals. However, if a company does not have what we believe to be adequate vesting and/or clawback requirements, we decide these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

27.

 

      Approve Remuneration for Directors and Auditors

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

We will vote on a case-by-case basis where we are asked to approve remuneration for directors or auditors. However, where disclosure relating to the details of such remuneration is inadequate or provided without sufficient time for us to consider our vote, we may abstain or vote against, depending on the adequacy of the company’s prior disclosures in this regard. Where appropriate, we engage the company directly.

 

 

28.

 

      Approve Remuneration Reports

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

In certain markets, (e.g., Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States), publicly traded issuers are required by law to submit their company’s remuneration report to a non-binding shareholder vote. The report contains, among other things, the nature and amount of the compensation of the directors and certain executive officers as well as a discussion of the company’s performance.

We evaluate remuneration reports on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the reasonableness of the company’s compensation structure and the adequacy of the disclosure. Where a compensation plan permits retesting of performance-based awards, we will consider the specific terms of the plan, including the volatility of the industry and the number and duration of the retests. We may abstain or vote against a plan if disclosure of the remuneration details is inadequate or the report is not provided to shareholders with sufficient time prior to the meeting to consider its terms.

In markets where remuneration reports are not required for all companies, we will support shareholder proposals asking the board to adopt a policy (i.e., “say on pay”) that the company’s shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on an advisory resolution to approve the compensation committee’s report. Although say on pay votes are by nature only broad indications of shareholder views, they do lead to more compensation-related dialogue between management and shareholders and help ensure that management and shareholders meet their common objective: maximizing the value of the company.


 

29.

 

      Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

Retirement bonuses are normal practice in Japan and South Korea. Companies seek approval to give the board authority to grant retirement bonuses for directors and/or auditors and to leave the exact amount of bonuses to the board’s discretion. We will analyze such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering management’s commitment to maximizing long-term shareholder value.

 

 

30.

 

      Approve Special Payments to Continuing Directors and Auditors (Japan)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

In conjunction with the abolition of a company’s retirement allowance system, we will generally support special payment allowances for continuing directors and auditors if there is no evidence of their independence becoming impaired.

 

 

31.

 

      Disclose Executive and Director Pay (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

In December 2006 and again in February 2010, the SEC adopted rules requiring increased and/or enhanced compensation-related and corporate governance-related disclosure in proxy statements and Forms 10-K. Similar steps have been taken by regulators in foreign jurisdictions. We believe the rules enacted by the SEC and various foreign regulators generally ensure more complete and transparent disclosure. Therefore, while we will consider them on a case-by-case basis (analyzing whether there are any relevant disclosure concerns), we generally vote against shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director compensation, including proposals that seek to specify the measurement of performance-based compensation, if the company is subject to SEC rules or similar rules espoused by a regulator in a foreign jurisdiction. Similarly, we generally support proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director compensation if the company is not subject to any such rules.

 

 

32.

 

    Exclude Pension Income from Performance-based Compensation (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

We are aware that companies may seek to artificially inflate earnings based on questionable assumptions about pension income. Even though these practices are acceptable under the relevant accounting rules, we believe that pension income is not an acceptable way to increase executive pay and that management’s discretion in estimating pension income is a potential conflict of interest. Accordingly, we support such proposals.

 

 

33.

 

      Executive and Employee Compensation Plans

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

Executive and employee compensation plans (“Compensation Plans”) usually are complex and are a major corporate expense, so we evaluate them carefully and on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, however, we assess each proposed Compensation Plan within the framework of four guiding principles, each of which ensures a company’s Compensation Plan helps to align the long-term interests of management with shareholders:

 

    Valid measures of business performance tied to the firm’s strategy and shareholder value creation, which are clearly articulated and incorporate appropriate time periods, should be utilized;

 

    Compensation costs should be managed in the same way as any other expense;


    Compensation should reflect management’s handling, or failure to handle, any recent social, environmental, governance, ethical or legal issue that had a significant adverse financial or reputational effect on the company; and

 

    In granting compensatory awards, management should exhibit a history of integrity and decision-making based on logic and well thought out processes.

Where disclosure relating to the details of Compensation Plans is inadequate or provided without sufficient time for us to consider our vote, we may abstain or vote against, depending on the adequacy of the company’s prior disclosures in this regard. Where appropriate, we may raise the issue with the company directly or take other steps.

 

 

34.

 

Limit Dividend Payments to Executives (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

We believe that management, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards offered to executive officers. Therefore, we oppose withholding the dividend payment on restricted stock awards, even if the stock is unvested, when these awards are used as part of incentive compensation; we believe these awards serve as an effective means of executive reward and retention. We do, however, believe that it is acceptable for a company to accumulate dividends and tie their payment to the achievement of performance goals and to stipulate that the dividends are forfeited if the employee does not achieve his or her goal.

 

 

35.

 

      Limit Executive Pay (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

We believe that management and directors, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards offered to executive officers. We vote against shareholder proposals seeking to limit executive pay if we deem them too restrictive. Depending on our analysis of the specific circumstances, we are generally against requiring a company to adopt a policy prohibiting tax gross up payments to senior executives.

 

 

36.

 

Mandatory Holding Periods (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

We generally vote against shareholder proposals asking companies to require a company’s executives to hold stock for a specified period of time after acquiring that stock by exercising company-issued stock options (i.e., precluding “cashless” option exercises), unless we believe implementing a mandatory holding period is necessary to help resolve underlying problems at a company that have hurt, and may continue to hurt, shareholder value.

 

 

37.

 

Pay Directors Only in Stock (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

As noted immediately above, we do not believe that stock ownership is necessary to align the interests of directors and shareholders. Further, we believe that the board should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of compensation offered to its members. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

 

 

38.

 

      Performance-based Stock Option Plans (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These shareholder proposals require a company to adopt a policy that all or a portion of future stock options granted to executives be performance-based. Performance-based options usually take the form of indexed options (where the option sale price is linked to the company’s stock performance versus an industry index), premium priced options (where the strike price is significantly above the market price at the time of the grant) or performance vesting options


(where options vest when the company’s stock price exceeds a specific target). Proponents argue that performance-based options provide an incentive for executives to outperform the market as a whole and prevent management from being rewarded for average performance. We believe that management, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards it offers. However, we recognize the benefit of linking a portion of executive compensation to certain types of performance benchmarks. While we will not support proposals that require all options to be performance-based, we will generally support proposals that require a portion of options granted to senior executives be performance-based. However, because performance-based options can also result in unfavorable tax treatment and the company may already have in place an option plan that sufficiently ties executive stock option plans to the company’s performance, we will consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

39.

 

  Prohibit Relocation Benefits to Senior Executives (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

We do not consider such perquisites to be problematic pay practices as long as they are properly disclosed. Therefore we will vote against shareholder proposals asking to prohibit relocation benefits.

 

 

40.

 

      Recovery of Performance-based Compensation (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

We generally support shareholder proposals requiring the board to seek recovery of performance-based compensation awards to senior management and directors in the event of a financial restatement (whether for fraud or other reasons) that resulted in their failure to achieve past performance targets. In deciding how to vote, we consider the adequacy of existing company clawback policy, if any.

 

 

41.

 

        Single Trigger Change-in-Control Agreements (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

Companies often include single trigger change-in-control provisions (e.g., a provision stipulating that an employee’s unvested equity awards become fully vested upon a change-in-control of the company without any additional requirement) in employment agreements and compensation plans.

We will not oppose directors who establish these provisions, nor will we oppose compensation plans that include them. However, we will examine on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals calling for future employment agreements and compensation plans to include double trigger change-in-control provisions (e.g., a provision stipulating that an employee’s unvested equity awards become fully vested only after a change-in-control of the company and termination of employment).

 

 

42.

 

        Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

Golden Parachutes assure key officers of a company lucrative compensation packages if the company is acquired and/or if the new owners terminate such officers. We recognize that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by a change in control may help attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders or make the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism. Accordingly, we support proposals to submit severance plans (including supplemental retirement plans) that exceed 2.99 times the sum of an executive officer’s base salary plus bonus, and that are triggered by a change in control, to a shareholder vote, but we review proposals to ratify or redeem such plans on a case-by-case basis.


 

43.

 

 

    Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote prior to their being Negotiated     by Management (SHP)

 

 

Case-by-case    

We believe that in order to attract qualified employees, companies must be free to negotiate compensation packages without shareholder interference. Shareholders must then be given an opportunity to analyze a compensation plan’s final, material terms in order to ensure it is within acceptable limits. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals that require submitting severance plans and/or employment contracts for a shareholder vote prior to being negotiated by management.

 

 

44.

 

 

    Submit Option Re-pricing to a Shareholder Vote (SHP)

 

For    

 

Re-pricing underwater options reduces the incentive value of stock compensation plans and dilutes shareholder value. Consequently, we support shareholder proposals that seek to require a company to submit option re-pricing to a shareholder vote.

 

 

45.

 

 

    Submit Survivor Benefit Compensation Plan to Shareholder Vote (SHP)

 

For    

 

Survivor benefit compensation plans, or “golden coffins”, can require a company to make substantial payments or awards to a senior executive’s beneficiaries following the death of the senior executive. The compensation can take the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards. This compensation would not include compensation that the senior executive chooses to defer during his or her lifetime.

We recognize that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by the passing of senior executives may help attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders or make the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism.

46.    Capital Changes and Anti-Takeover Proposals

 

 

47.

 

 

    Amend Exclusive Forum Bylaw (SHP)

 

Against    

 

We will generally oppose proposals that ask the board to repeal the company’s exclusive forum bylaw. Such bylaws require certain legal action against the company to take place in the state of the company’s incorporation. The courts within the state of incorporation are considered best suited to interpret that state’s laws.

 

 

48.

 

 

    Amend Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) Rights Plans

 

For    

 

NOL Rights Plans are established to protect a company’s net operating loss carry forwards and tax credits, which can be used to offset future income. We believe this is a reasonable strategy for a company to employ. Accordingly, we will vote in favor of NOL Rights Plans unless we believe the terms of the NOL Rights Plan may provide for a long-term anti-takeover device.

 

 

49.

 

 

    Authorize Share Repurchase

 

For    

 

We generally support share repurchase proposals that are part of a well-articulated and well-conceived capital strategy. We assess proposals to give the board unlimited authorization to repurchase shares on a case-by-case basis.


Furthermore, we would generally support the use of derivative instruments (e.g., put options and call options) as part of a share repurchase plan absent a compelling reason to the contrary. Also, absent a specific concern at the company, we will generally support a repurchase plan that could be continued during a takeover period.

 

 

50.

 

 

    Blank Check Preferred Stock

 

Against    

 

Blank check preferred stock proposals authorize the issuance of certain preferred stock at some future point in time and allow the board to establish voting, dividend, conversion and other rights at the time of issuance. While blank check preferred stock can provide a corporation with the flexibility needed to meet changing financial conditions, it also may be used as the vehicle for implementing a “poison pill” defense or some other entrenchment device.

We are concerned that, once this stock has been authorized, shareholders have no further power to determine how or when it will be allocated. Accordingly, we generally oppose this type of proposal.

 

 

51.

 

 

    Corporate Restructurings, Merger Proposals and Spin-Offs

 

Case-by-case    

 

Proposals requesting shareholder approval of corporate restructurings, merger proposals and spin-offs are determined on a case-by-case basis. In evaluating these proposals and determining our votes, we are singularly focused on meeting our goal of maximizing long-term shareholder value.

 

 

52.

 

 

    Elimination of Preemptive Rights

 

Case-by-case    

 

Preemptive rights allow the shareholders of the company to buy newly-issued shares before they are offered to the public in order to maintain their percentage ownership. AllianceBernstein believes that, because preemptive rights are an important shareholder right, careful scrutiny must be given to management’s attempts to eliminate them. However, because preemptive rights can be prohibitively expensive to widely-held companies, the benefit of such rights will be weighed against the economic effect of maintaining them.

 

 

53.

 

 

    Expensing Stock Options (SHP)

 

For    

 

U.S. generally-accepted accounting principles require companies to expense stock options, as do the accounting rules in many other jurisdictions (including those jurisdictions that have adopted IFRS — international financial reporting standards). If a company is domiciled in a jurisdiction where the accounting rules do not already require the expensing of stock options, we will support shareholder proposals requiring this practice and disclosing information about it.

 

 

54.

 

 

    Fair Price Provisions

 

Case-by-case    

 

A fair price provision in the company’s charter or by laws is designed to ensure that each shareholder’s securities will be purchased at the same price if the corporation is acquired under a plan not agreed to by the board. In most instances, the provision requires that any tender offer made by a third party must be made to all shareholders at the same price.

Fair pricing provisions attempt to prevent the “two tiered front loaded offer” where the acquirer of a company initially offers a premium for a sufficient percentage of shares of the company to gain control and subsequently makes an offer for the remaining shares at a much lower price. The remaining shareholders have no choice but to accept the offer. The two tiered approach is coercive as it compels a shareholder to sell his or her shares immediately in order to receive the higher price per share. This type of tactic has caused many states to adopt fair price provision statutes to restrict this practice.


We consider fair price provisions on a case-by-case basis. We oppose any provision where there is evidence that management intends to use the provision as an anti-takeover device as well as any provision where the shareholder vote requirement is greater than a majority of disinterested shares (i.e., shares beneficially owned by individuals other than the acquiring party).

 

 

55.

 

 

    Increase Authorized Common Stock

 

Case-by-case    

 

In general we regard increases in authorized common stock as serving a legitimate corporate purpose when used to: implement a stock split, aid in a recapitalization or acquisition, raise needed capital for the firm, or provide for employee savings plans, stock option plans or executive compensation plans. That said, we may oppose a particular proposed increase if we consider the authorization likely to lower the share price (this would happen, for example, if the firm were proposing to use the proceeds to overpay for an acquisition, to invest in a project unlikely to earn the firm’s cost of capital, or to compensate employees well above market rates). . We oppose increases in authorized common stock where there is evidence that the shares are to be used to implement a “poison pill” or another form of anti-takeover device, or if the issuance of new shares would, in our judgment, excessively dilute the value of the outstanding shares upon issuance. In addition, a satisfactory explanation of a company’s intentions – going beyond the standard “general corporate purposes” – must be disclosed in the proxy statement for proposals requesting an increase of greater than 100% of the shares outstanding. We view the use of derivatives, particularly warrants, as legitimate capital-raising instruments and apply these same principles to their use as we do to the authorization of common stock. Under certain circumstances where we believe it is important for shareholders to have an opportunity to maintain their proportional ownership, we may oppose proposals requesting shareholders approve the issuance of additional shares if those shares do not include preemptive rights.

In Hong Kong, it is common for companies to request board authority to issue new shares up to 20% of outstanding share capital. The authority typically lapses after one year. We may vote against plans that do not prohibit issuing shares at a discount, taking into account whether a company has a history of doing so.

 

 

56.

 

 

    Issuance of Equity without Preemptive Rights

 

For    

 

We are generally in favor of issuances of equity without preemptive rights of up to 30% of a company’s outstanding shares unless there is concern that the issuance will be used in a manner that could hurt shareholder value (e.g., issuing the equity at a discount from the current market price or using the equity to help create a “poison pill” mechanism).

 

 

57.

 

 

    Issuance of Stock with Unequal Voting Rights

 

Case-by-case    

 

Unequal voting rights plans are designed to reduce the voting power of existing shareholders and concentrate a significant amount of voting power in the hands of management. In the majority of instances, they serve as an effective deterrent to takeover attempts. These structures, however, may be beneficial, allowing management to focus on longer-term value creation, which benefits all shareholders. AllianceBernstein evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis and takes into consideration the alignment of management incentives with appropriate performance, metrics, and the effectiveness of the company’s strategy.

 

 

58.

 

 

    Net Long Position Requirement

 

For    

 

We support proposals that require the ownership level needed to call a special meeting to be based on the net long position of a shareholder or shareholder group. This standard ensures that a significant economic interest accompanies the voting power.


 

59.

 

 

    Opt Out of State Anti-takeover Law (US) (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Many states have enacted anti-takeover laws requiring an acquirer to obtain a supermajority of a company’s stock in order to exercise control. For example, under Delaware law, absent board approval, a bidder must acquire at least 85% of a company’s stock before the bidder can exercise control. Such laws represent a formidable takeover defense for companies because by simply placing 15% of the stock in “friendly” hands, a company can block an otherwise successful takeover attempt that may be in the best interests of the shareholders. These statutes often allow companies to opt-out of this law with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares.

Shareholders proposing opt out resolutions argue that these anti-takeover laws grant the board too much power to determine a matter that should be left to the shareholders. Critics of such proposals argue that opt-out provisions do not prevent takeovers but, rather, provide the board with an opportunity to negotiate a better deal for all shareholders. Because each state’s anti-takeover laws are different and must be considered in the totality of all of a company’s takeover defenses, we review these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

60.

 

 

    Reincorporation

 

Case-by-case    

 

There are many valid business reasons a corporation may choose to reincorporate in another jurisdiction. We perform a case-by-case review of such proposals, taking into consideration management’s stated reasons for the proposed move.

Careful scrutiny also will be given to proposals that seek approval to reincorporate in countries that serve as tax havens. We recognize that such provisions can help facilitate the growth of a company’s business and potentially can benefit shareholders when a company lowers its tax liability. When evaluating such proposals, we consider factors such as the location of the company’s business, the statutory protections available in the country to enforce shareholder rights and the tax consequences of the reincorporation to shareholders.

 

 

61.

 

 

    Reincorporation to Another jurisdiction to Permit Majority Voting

    or Other Changes in Corporate Governance (SHP)

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

If a shareholder proposes that a company move to a jurisdiction where majority voting (among other shareholder-friendly conditions) is permitted, we will generally oppose the move notwithstanding the fact that we favor majority voting for directors. Our rationale is that the legal costs, taxes, other expenses and other factors, such as business disruption, in almost all cases would be material and outweigh the benefit of majority voting. If, however, we should find that these costs are not material and/or do not outweigh the benefit of majority voting, we may vote in favor of this kind of proposal. We will evaluate similarly proposals that would require reincorporation in another state to accomplish other changes in corporate governance.

 

 

62.

 

 

    Stock Splits

 

For    

 

Stock splits are intended to increase the liquidity of a company’s common stock by lowering the price, thereby making the stock seem more attractive to small investors. We generally vote in favor of stock split proposals.

 

 

63.

 

 

    Submit Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan to Shareholder Vote (SHP)

 

For    

 

Most shareholder rights plans (also known as “poison pills”) permit the shareholders of a target company involved in a hostile takeover to acquire shares of the target company, the acquiring company, or both, at a substantial discount once a “triggering event” occurs. A triggering event is usually a hostile tender offer or the acquisition by an outside


party of a certain percentage of the target company’s stock. Because most plans exclude the hostile bidder from the purchase, the effect in most instances is to dilute the equity interest and the voting rights of the potential acquirer once the plan is triggered. A shareholder rights plan is designed to discourage potential acquirers from acquiring shares to make a bid for the issuer. We believe that measures that impede takeovers or entrench management not only infringe on the rights of shareholders but also may have a detrimental effect on the value of the company.

We support shareholder proposals that seek to require the company to submit a shareholder rights plan to a shareholder vote. We evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals to implement or eliminate a shareholder rights plan.

 

 

64.

 

 

    Transferrable Stock Options

 

Case-by-case    

 

In cases where a compensation plan includes a transferable stock option program, we will consider the plan on a case-by-case basis.

These programs allow stock options to be transferred to third parties in exchange for cash or stock. In effect, management becomes insulated from the downside risk of holding a stock option, while the ordinary shareholder remains exposed to downside risk. This insulation may unacceptably remove management’s exposure to downside risk, which significantly misaligns management and shareholder interests. Accordingly, we generally vote against these programs if the transfer can be executed without shareholder approval, is available to executive officers or non-employee directors, or we consider the available disclosure relating to the mechanics and structure of the program to be insufficient to determine the costs, benefits and key terms of the program.

65.    Auditor Proposals

 

 

66.

 

 

    Appointment of Auditors

 

For    

 

We believe that the company is in the best position to choose its accounting firm, and we generally support management’s recommendation.

We recognize that there may be inherent conflicts when a company’s independent auditors perform substantial non-audit related services for the company. Therefore, in reviewing a proposed auditor, we will consider the amount of fees paid for non-audit related services performed compared to the total audit fees paid by the company to the auditing firm, and whether there are any other reasons for us to question the independence or performance of the firm’s auditor. We generally will deem as excessive the non-audit fees paid by a company to its auditor if those fees account for 50% or more of total fees paid. The UK market is an exception where 100% is the threshold due to market demanded auditing. Under these circumstances, we generally vote against the auditor and the directors, in particular the members of the company’s audit committee. In addition, we generally vote against authorizing the audit committee to set the remuneration of such auditors. We exclude from this analysis non-audit fees related to IPOs, bankruptcy emergence, and spin-offs and other extraordinary events. We may abstain due to a lack of disclosure of who the auditor is.

 

 

67.

 

 

    Approval of Financial Statements

 

For    

 

In some markets, companies are required to submit their financial statements for shareholder approval. This is generally a routine item and, as such, we will vote for the approval of financial statements unless there are appropriate reasons to vote otherwise. We may abstain if the information is not available in advance of the meeting.


 

68.

 

 

    Approval of Internal Statutory Auditors

 

For    

 

Some markets (e.g., Japan) require the annual election of internal statutory auditors. Internal statutory auditors have a number of duties, including supervising management, ensuring compliance with the articles of association and reporting to a company’s board on certain financial issues. In most cases, the election of internal statutory auditors is a routine item and we will support management’s nominee provided that the nominee meets the regulatory requirements for serving as internal statutory auditors. However, we may vote against nominees who are designated independent statutory auditors who serve as executives of a subsidiary or affiliate of the issuer or if there are other reasons to question the independence of the nominees.

 

 

69.

 

 

    Limit Compensation Consultant Services (SHP)

 

Against    

 

These proposals seek to restrict a company from engaging a consultant retained to advise the board on compensation matters to provide the company with other services other than compensation consulting if such consultant already has been engaged to provide compensation consulting.

In February 2010, the SEC adopted final rules regarding disclosure enhancements in proxy statements and Forms 10-K. One such rule requires disclosure of the fees paid to compensation consultants and their affiliates if they provide consulting services relating to executive officer compensation and additional services, if the cost of such additional services exceeds $120,000. The rule does not, however, restrict a company from acquiring both kinds of services from a compensation consultant.

We agree with the SEC that companies should be required to disclose payments exceeding $120,000 to compensation consultants for services other than executive compensation consulting services, and we do not believe company boards should be subject to any additional restrictions or requirements. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

We generally apply these principles for non-US companies as well.

 

 

70.

 

 

    Limitation of Liability of External Statutory Auditors (Japan)

 

Case-by-case    

 

In Japan, companies may limit the liability of external statutory auditors in the event of a shareholder lawsuit through any of three mechanisms: (i) submitting the proposed limits to shareholder vote; (ii) setting limits by modifying the company’s articles of incorporation; and (iii) setting limits in contracts with outside directors, outside statutory auditors and external audit firms (requires a modification to the company’s articles of incorporation). A vote by 3% or more of shareholders can nullify a limit set through the second mechanism. The third mechanism has historically been the most prevalent.

We review proposals to set limits on auditor liability on a case-by-case basis, considering whether such a provision is necessary to secure appointment and whether it helps to maximize long-term shareholder value.

 

 

71.

 

 

    Separating Auditors and Consultants (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

We believe that a company serves its shareholders’ interests by avoiding potential conflicts of interest that might interfere with an auditor’s independent judgment. SEC rules adopted as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attempted to address these concerns by prohibiting certain services by a company’s independent auditors and requiring additional disclosure of others services.


We evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals that go beyond the SEC rules or other local market standards by prohibiting auditors from performing other non-audit services or calling for the board to adopt a policy to ensure auditor independence.

We take into consideration the policies and procedures the company already has in place to ensure auditor independence and non-audit fees as a percentage of total fees paid to the auditor are not excessive.

72.    Shareholder Access and Voting Proposals

 

 

73.

 

 

    A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Most state corporation statutes (though not Delaware, where many U.S. issuers are domiciled) allow shareholders to call a special meeting when they want to take action on certain matters that arise between regularly-scheduled annual meetings. This right may apply only if a shareholder, or a group of shareholders, owns a specified percentage of the outstanding shares. (Ten percent is common among states, although one state sets the threshold as high as forty percent.)

We recognize the importance of the right of shareholders to remove poorly-performing directors, respond to takeover offers and take other actions without having to wait for the next annual meeting. However, we also believe it is important to protect companies and shareholders from nuisance proposals. We further believe that striking a balance between these competing interests will maximize shareholder value. Accordingly, we will generally support a proposal to call a special meeting if the proposing shareholder owns, or the proposing shareholders as a group own, 10% or more of the outstanding voting equity of the company.

From time to time we may receive requests to join with other shareholders for purposes of meeting an ownership requirement necessary to call a special meeting. Similarly, we may receive other requests to join a voting block for purposes of influencing management. If the third parties requesting our participation are not affiliated with us and have no business relationships with us, we will consider the request on a case-by-case basis. However, where the requesting party has a business relationship with us (e.g., the requesting party is a client or a significant service provider), agreeing to such a request may pose a potential conflict of interest. As a fiduciary we have an obligation to vote proxies in the best interest of our clients (without regard to our own interests in generating and maintaining business with our other clients) and given our desire to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, we will generally decline such a request.

 

 

74.

 

 

    Adopt Cumulative Voting (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Cumulative voting is a method of electing directors that enables each shareholder to multiply the number of his or her shares by the number of directors being considered. A shareholder may then cast the total votes for any one director or a selected group of directors. For example, a holder of 10 shares normally casts 10 votes for each of 12 nominees to the board thus giving the shareholder 120 (10 x 12) votes. Under cumulative voting, the shareholder may cast all 120 votes for a single nominee, 60 for two, 40 for three, or any other combination that the shareholder may choose.

We believe that encouraging activism among shareholders generally is beneficial to shareholders and helps maximize shareholder value. Cumulative voting supports the interests of minority shareholders in contested elections by enabling them to concentrate their votes and dramatically increase their chances of electing a dissident director to a board. Accordingly, we generally will support shareholder proposals to restore or provide for cumulative voting and we generally will oppose management proposals to eliminate cumulative voting. However, we may oppose cumulative voting if a company has in place both proxy access, which allows shareholders to nominate directors to the company’s ballot, and majority voting (with a carve-out for plurality voting in situations where there are more nominees than seats), which requires each director to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast and, we believe, leads to greater director accountability to shareholders.


Also, we support cumulative voting at controlled companies regardless of any other shareholder protections that may be in place.

 

 

75.

 

 

    Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures (SHP)

 

For    

 

In dual class structures (such as A&B shares) where the shareholders with a majority economic interest have a minority voting interest, we generally vote in favor of cumulative voting for those shareholders.

 

 

76.

 

 

    Early Disclosure of Voting Results (SHP)

 

Against    

 

These proposals seek to require a company to disclose votes sooner than is required by the local market. In the US, the SEC requires disclosure in the first periodic report filed after the company’s annual meeting which we believe is reasonable. We do not support requests that require disclosure earlier than the time required by the local regulator.

 

 

77.

 

 

    Implement Confidential Voting (SHP)

 

For    

 

Proponents of confidential voting argue that proxy voting should be conducted under the same rules of confidentiality as voting in political and other elections (by secret ballot), with an independent party verifying the results. They also argue that open balloting allows management to re-solicit shareholders and to urge—or sometimes coerce—them into changing their votes. Opponents argue that confidential voting makes it more difficult for a company to garner the necessary votes to conduct business (especially where a supermajority vote is required) because proxy solicitors cannot determine how individual shareholders voted.

We support confidential voting before the actual vote has been cast, because we believe that voting on shareholder matters should be free of any potential for coercion or undue influence from the company or other interested parties.

 

 

78.

 

 

    Limiting a Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings

 

Against    

 

Companies contend that limitations on shareholders’ rights to call special meetings are needed to prevent minority shareholders from taking control of the company’s agenda. However, such limits also have anti-takeover implications because they prevent a shareholder or a group of shareholders who have acquired a significant stake in the company from forcing management to address urgent issues, such as the potential sale of the company. Because most states prohibit shareholders from abusing this right, we see no justifiable reason for management to eliminate this fundamental shareholder right. Accordingly, we generally will vote against such proposals.

In addition, if the board of directors, without shareholder consent, raises the ownership threshold a shareholder must reach before the shareholder can call a special meeting, we will vote against those directors.

 

 

79.

 

 

    Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent (SHP)

 

For    

 

Action by written consent enables a large shareholder or group of shareholders to initiate votes on corporate matters prior to the annual meeting. We believe this is a fundamental shareholder right and, accordingly, will support shareholder proposals seeking to restore this right. However, in cases where a company has a majority shareholder or group of related majority shareholders with majority economic interest, we will oppose proposals seeking to restore this right as there is a potential risk of abuse by the majority shareholder or group of majority shareholders.


 

80.

 

 

    Proxy Access for Annual Meetings (SHP)

 

For    

 

These proposals ask companies to give shareholders equal access to proxy materials in order to express their views on various proxy issues.

Management often argues that shareholders already have significant access to the proxy as provided by law (i.e., the right to have shareholder proposals included in the proxy statement and the right to suggest director candidates to the nominating committee). Management also argues that it would be unworkable to open the proxy process because of the large number of shareholders who might wish to comment and because it would be impossible to screen out “nuisance” proposals.

We have voted in favor of certain resolutions calling for enhancement of shareholders’ ability to access proxy materials to increase corporate boards’ attention to shareholder concerns. While we recognize that access must be limited in order to discourage frivolous proposals and those put forward by shareholders who may not have the best interests of all shareholders in mind, we believe that shareholders should have a meaningful ability to exercise their rights to vote for and nominate directors of the companies in which they invest.

To this end, in the United States we supported SEC proxy reform in 2003 and 2007, and we supported the SEC’s proposed proxy reform in 2009 intended to solve the problem of shareholders’ limited ability to exercise their rights to nominate directors and have the nominations disclosed to and considered by shareholders. In 2010, the SEC adopted new rules requiring companies to include the nominees of “significant, long-term shareholders” in their proxy materials, alongside the nominees of management. Under the rules, shareholders are deemed “significant and long-term” if they own at least three percent of the company’s shares continuously for at least the prior three years. However, in July 2011, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the SEC’s 2010 rules (Exchange Act Rule 14a-11), finding that, in adopting the rule, the SEC violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to adequately consider the rule’s effect on efficiency, competition and capital formation. We continue to monitor the situation.

From time to time we may receive requests to join with other shareholders to support a shareholder action. We may, for example, receive requests to join a voting block for purposes of influencing management. If the third parties requesting our participation are not affiliated with us and have no business relationships with us, we will consider the request on a case-by-case basis. However, where the requesting party has a business relationship with us (e.g., the requesting party is a client or a significant service provider), agreeing to such a request may pose a potential conflict of interest. As a fiduciary we have an obligation to vote proxies in the best interest of our clients (without regard to our own interests in generating and maintaining business with our other clients) and given our desire to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, we will generally decline such a request.

 

 

81.

 

 

    Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (U.K.)

 

For    

 

Companies in the United Kingdom may, with shareholder approval, reduce the notice period for extraordinary general meetings from 21 days to 14 days.

A reduced notice period expedites the process of obtaining shareholder approval of additional financing needs and other important matters. Accordingly, we support these proposals.

 

 

82.

 

 

    Rotation of Locale for Annual Meeting (SHP)

 

Against    

 

Proponents contend that the site of the annual meeting should be moved each year to a different locale in order to allow as many shareholders as possible to attend the annual meeting. Conversely, we believe the location of a company’s annual meeting is best left to the discretion of management, unless there is evidence that the location of previous meetings was specifically chosen with the intention of making it more difficult for shareholders to participate in the meeting. Consequently, we generally oppose proposals calling for the locale of the annual meeting to rotate.


 

83.

 

 

    Shareholder Proponent Engagement Process (SHP)

 

For    

 

We believe that proper corporate governance requires that proposals receiving support from a majority of shareholders be considered and implemented by the company. Accordingly, we support establishing an engagement process between shareholders and management to ensure proponents of majority-supported proposals, have an established means of communicating with management.

 

 

84.

 

 

    Supermajority Vote Requirements

 

Against    

 

A supermajority vote requirement is a charter or by-law requirement that, when implemented, raises the percentage (higher than the customary simple majority) of shareholder votes needed to approve certain proposals, such as mergers, changes of control, or proposals to amend or repeal a portion of the Articles of Incorporation.

In most instances, we oppose these proposals and support shareholder proposals that seek to reinstate the simple majority vote requirement.

85.    Environmental, Social and Disclosure Proposals

 

 

86.

 

 

    Adopt a Special Corporate Policy for SEC Rule 10b5-1 and Other Trading Plans (US) (SHP)

 

Against    

 

These shareholder proposals ask a company to adopt a special policy for trading by senior executives in addition to the requirements of SEC Rule 10b5-1 and other trading plans that govern their trading. Subject to the history of the company and any record of abuses, we are generally against requiring a company to adopt additional requirements.

 

 

87.

 

 

    Adopt Guidelines for Country Selection (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

These proposals seek to require a company to prepare a special report on how it selects the countries in which it operates. We will evaluate whether sufficient information about why a company operates in various jurisdictions is provided in annual reports and other company documents.

 

 

88.

 

 

    Amend EEO Statement to Include a Reference to Sexual Orientation (US) (SHP)

 

For    

 

We support proposals requiring a company to amend its Equal Employment Opportunity policies to specifically reference sexual orientation.

 

 

89.

 

 

    Animal Testing (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Proposals requiring companies to reduce reliance on animals for consumer product safety testing will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account practicality and business impact. Proposals requiring increased disclosure on the numbers of animals tested, the types of animals used and the types of tests performed will be generally voted in favor, while carefully considering any policies that are already in place at the company, and to what extent such policies meet the national standards.


 

90.

 

 

    Anti-Greenmail Proposal (SHP)

 

For    

 

Greenmails, commonly referred to as “legal corporate blackmail,” are payments made to a potential hostile acquirer who has accumulated a significant percentage of a company’s stock. The company acquires the raider’s stock at a premium in exchange for an agreement that the raider will not attempt to acquire control for a certain number of years. This practice discriminates against all other shareholders as only the hostile party receives payment, which is usually at a substantial premium over the market value of its shares. Anti-greenmail proposals seek to prevent greenmail by adopting amendments to the company’s charter or by-laws that limit the ability of that company’s board to acquire blocks of another company’s stock at above-market prices.

We vote in favor of an anti-greenmail proposal, provided the proposal has no other management initiated anti-takeover features.

 

 

91.

 

 

    Charitable Contributions (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

We generally support shareholder proposals relating to reporting charitable contributions. We will evaluate proposals seeking to restrict charitable contributions on a case-by-case basis. Proponents of such proposals argue that charitable contributions are an inappropriate use of company assets because the purpose of any corporation is to make a profit. Opponents argue that charitable contributions are a useful means for a company to create goodwill.

 

 

92.

 

 

    Genetically Altered or Engineered Food (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

These proposals seek to require companies to label genetically modified organisms in a company’s products or in some cases completely eliminate their use. Proponents argue that such measures should be required due to the possible health and safety issues surrounding the use of such products. Opponents point out that the use of such products helps improve crop yield, and implementing such proposals could have immediate negative economic effects on the company.

 

 

93.

 

 

    Global Labor Standards (SHP)

 

For    

 

These proposals ask companies to issue reports on their corporate standards for doing business abroad and to adopt mechanisms for ensuring vendor compliance with these standards. The standards include policies to ensure that workers are paid sustainable living wages and children are not used as forced labor. Generally, we vote in favor, but we carefully consider any policies that are already in place at the company, to what extent such policies meet the standards espoused by the International Labor Organization’s Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (and other relevant ILO conventions), and any evidence of prior abuse by the company. We will also ensure the practicality of such proposals.

 

 

94.

 

 

    Global Warming; Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Proposals addressing environmental and energy concerns are plentiful. We will generally support proposals requesting greater disclosure, but proposals seeking to adopt specific emissions or environmental goals or metrics will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Topics can range from general environmental reports to more specific reports on topics such as greenhouse gas emissions, the release of radioactive materials, and the generation or use of nuclear energy. The scope of the requested reports or policies can also vary. Proponents of these proposals may seek information on the steps the company has taken to address the environmental concern in question, or they may also ask the company to detail any financial risk associated with environmental issues. Opponents of these proposals claim that complying with proponents’ requests would be overly costly for, or unduly burdensome on, the company.


 

95.

 

      Implement the MacBride Principles (Northern Ireland) (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

The MacBride Principles aim to fight discriminatory anti Catholic employment practices in the British state of Northern Ireland. The Principles encourage U.S. companies to actively recruit Catholic employees and, where possible, groom them for management responsibilities. Companies are also asked to ensure job security for their Catholic employees and to abolish the use of inflammatory religious emblems.

Supporters argue that the MacBride Principles effectively address Northern Ireland’s inequalities in employment (in Northern Ireland, unemployment among Catholic men is twice as high as among Protestant men). Opponents contend that the adoption of the MacBride Principles is itself a form of reverse discrimination, which may violate British law. The British government is concerned that adoption of the MacBride Principles may increase the “hassle factor” of doing business in the economically troubled area and reduce the attractiveness of investments.

 

 

96.

 

      Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

We believe management and directors should be given latitude in determining appropriate performance measurements. Therefore, we will evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals requesting companies to consider incorporating specific, measurable, practical goals consisting of sustainability principles and environmental impacts as metrics for incentive compensation.

 

 

97.

 

      Military Issues (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These proposals ask companies involved in military production to report on future plans and to diversify or convert to the production of civilian goods and services. Opponents of these resolutions are concerned that conversion is not economically rational, and view the proposals as intrusions into management’s decision making prerogative. Opponents also point to the imperative of a strong defense as reason enough to continue military production.

 

 

98.

 

      Nuclear Waste Disposal (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These resolutions ask companies to allocate a portion of the cost of building nuclear power plants for research into nuclear waste disposal. Proponents argue that, because the life span of certain waste byproducts exceeds current containment capabilities, the industry should concentrate more on waste management and disposal. While opponents acknowledge the need for research, they contend that the problem is overstated, and that some suggested containment programs are unnecessarily expensive.

 

 

99.

 

Other Business

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

In certain jurisdictions, these proposals allow management to act on issues that shareholders may raise at the annual meeting. Because it is impossible to know what issues may be raised, we will vote against these proposals.

 

 

100.

 

      Pharmaceutical Pricing (US) (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These proposals seek to require a company to implement pricing restraints to make prescription drugs more affordable, both domestically and in third-world countries. Proponents argue that drug prices in the United States,


considered to be among the highest in the world, make adequate medical care inaccessible to those other than the most affluent. Critics of such proposals argue that artificial price controls would reduce revenues, deter investors and ultimately reduce funds available for future research and development.

 

 

101.

 

      Plant Closings (US) (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

These proposals ask companies to create or expand programs to relocate workers displaced by a plant closing. Supporters of plant closing resolutions argue management should be more sensitive to employees both during the decision on closing a plant and in efforts at relocation. Companies generally respond that they already have programs to accommodate displaced workers. In addition, federal law now requires 60 days’ advance notice of a major plant closing or layoff and a number of states also have applicable regulations.

 

 

102.

 

Reimbursement of Shareholder Proposal Expenses (SHP)

 

 

 

Against    

 

  

 

These shareholder proposals would require companies to reimburse the expenses of shareholders who submit proposals that receive a majority of votes cast. We generally vote against these proposals.

 

 

103.

 

      Report on Pay Disparity (SHP)

 

 

 

Case-by-case    

 

  

 

A report on pay disparity compares the total compensation of a company’s executive officers with that of the company’s lowest paid workers, including statistics and rationale pertaining to changes in the size of the gap, information on whether executive compensation is “excessive”, and information on whether greater oversight is needed over certain aspects of the company’s compensation policies.

Proponents may note that executive compensation, in general, and the gap between executive compensation and the pay of a company’s lowest paid employees, has grown significantly in recent years. They may also note that the gap between executive salary and the wage of the average employee at the company is significantly higher.

 

 

104.

 

    Report on Water Pollution Prevention Measures (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

We will generally support proposals requesting a company report to shareholders on measures taken by the company to prevent runoff, wastewater and other forms of water pollution from the company’s own (and its contractors’) facilities, taking into account national legislation and practicality.

 

 

105.

 

    Report on Workplace Diversity and/or Employment Policies (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

Equal employment may refer to the right to be free from discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in the work force. Resolutions generally ask companies to report progress in complying with affirmative action laws. In assessing these proposals, we carefully consider any policies that are already in place at the company. However, we will also assure the practicality of such proposals.

 

 

106.

 

    Reporting Political Contributions; Lobbying Expenses (SHP)

 

 

 

For    

 

  

 

We generally vote in favor of proposals requesting increased disclosure of political contributions and lobbying expenses. By requiring reports to shareholders, proponents of these shareholder resolutions contend investors can help police wrongdoings in the political system and better evaluate the use of company resources. Critics of these proposals contend that reformers overstate the problem and that a company should play an active role in expressing its opinion about relevant legislation.


 

107.

 

 

    Submit Political Spending Program to Shareholder Advisory Vote (SHP)

 

Against    

 

We generally vote against shareholder proposals requiring the board of directors to adopt a policy to provide shareholders with the opportunity to ratify a company’s political spending program. We believe such proposals are overly intrusive on management’s discretion.

 

 

108.

 

 

    Sustainability Report (SHP)

 

For    

 

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for a sustainability report while taking into account the current reporting policies of the company as they relate to sustainability and whether having a report provides added benefits to shareholders.

Sustainability is a business model that requires companies to balance the needs and interests of various stakeholders while concurrently sustaining their business, communities and the environment for future generations. Although many argue that the sustainable development concept is constantly evolving, core issues continue to revolve around ensuring the rights of future generations, adopting a long-term approach to business problems and strengthening the connections between the environment, society and the economy. This “triple bottom line” can be used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters. However, the term can also encompass a set of values, issues and practices that companies must address in order to minimize harm, while simultaneously creating economic, social and environmental value. We evaluate these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

Proponents of these proposals argue that investors are justified in seeking additional disclosure on companies’ social and environmental performance because they affect shareholder value. Opponents argue that companies already include much of the information contained in a sustainability report in workplace policies and/or codes of ethics and post this information on their websites; supporting these proposals would therefore be unduly burdensome.

 

 

109.

 

 

    The CERES Principles (SHP)

 

Case-by-case    

 

Many environmental proposals include a recommendation that companies adopt and report their compliance with the Coalition of Environmentally Responsible Economies (the “CERES” Principles). The CERES Principles are a set of ten principles committing the company to environmental improvement. Proponents argue that endorsement of the CERES principles gives a company greater public credibility than standards created by industry or government regulation alone. Companies argue that implementing the CERES Principles only duplicates their current environmental policies and is unduly burdensome

 

 

110.

 

 

    Tobacco (SHP)

 

 

Proposals relating to tobacco issues are wide-ranging. They include proposals to have a company issue warnings on the environmental risks of tobacco smoke and the risks of smoking-related diseases, as well as proposals to link executive compensation with reductions in teen smoking.

 

a. End Production of Tobacco Products   Against       

These proposals seek to phase-out all production, promotion and marketing of tobacco products by a specified date. Proponents argue that tobacco companies have acknowledged the serious health risks related to smoking cigarettes yet


they continue to distribute them. When evaluating these resolutions, we must consider the company’s risks and liabilities associated with those lines of business, and evaluate the overall strategic business plans and how those plans will serve to maximize long-term shareholder value.

Because phasing out all tobacco-related operations by a tobacco company is very likely to result in the end of the company, which clearly is not in the best interests of shareholders, we will generally oppose these proposals.

 

b. Spin-off Tobacco-related Business   Case-by-case       

The motivation for these proposals is generally in line with what we have described immediately above — proponents seek for the subject company to phase-out all production, promotion and marketing of tobacco products by a specified date, citing health risks and tobacco companies’ systemic failure to honestly inform the public about these health risks until recently. The key difference is that, unlike the above type of proposal, which would be put to a company that derives most, if not all, of its revenues from tobacco-related operations, a spin-off proposal would request that a company that derives only a portion (often a substantial portion) of its revenues from tobacco-related operations spin-off its tobacco-related operating segment / subsidiary.

When evaluating resolutions requesting a company divest itself from one or more lines of business, we must consider the company’s risks and liabilities associated with those lines of business, evaluate the overall strategic business plans and determine how those plans will serve to maximize long-term shareholder value

 

111.     Conflicts of Interest

 

112.     Introduction

As a fiduciary, we always must act in our clients’ best interests. We strive to avoid even the appearance of a conflict that may compromise the trust our clients have placed in us, and we insist on strict adherence to fiduciary standards and compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. We have adopted a comprehensive Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) to help us meet these obligations. As part of this responsibility and as expressed throughout the Code, we place the interests of our clients first and attempt to avoid any perceived or actual conflicts of interest.

We recognize that there may be a potential material conflict of interest when we vote a proxy solicited by an issuer whose retirement plan we manage, or we administer, who distributes AllianceBernstein-sponsored mutual funds, or with whom we or an employee has another business or personal relationship that may affect how we vote on the issuer’s proxy. Similarly, we may have a potential material conflict of interest when deciding how to vote on a proposal sponsored or supported by a shareholder group that is a client. In order to avoid any perceived or actual conflict of interest, the procedures set forth below in sections 3.2 through 3.7 have been established for use when we encounter a potential conflict to ensure that our voting decisions are based on our clients’ best interests and are not the product of a conflict.

 

113.     Adherence to Stated Proxy Voting Policies

Votes generally are cast in accordance with this policy3. In situations where our policy is case-by-case, this Manual often provides criteria that will guide our decision. In situations where our policy on a particular issue is case-by-case and the vote cannot be clearly decided by an application of our stated policy, a member of the Proxy Committee or his/her designee will make the voting decision in accordance with the basic principle of our policy

 

3 

From time to time a client may request that we vote their proxies consistent with AFL-CIO guidelines or the policy of the National Association of Pension Funds. In those situations, AllianceBernstein reserves the right to depart from those policies if we believe it to be in the client’s best interests.


to vote proxies with the intention of maximizing the value of the securities in our client accounts. In these situations, the voting rationale must be documented either on the voting platform of ISS, by retaining relevant emails or another appropriate method. Where appropriate, the views of investment professionals are considered. All votes cast contrary to our stated voting policy on specific issues must be documented. On an annual basis, the Proxy Committee will receive a report of all such votes so as to confirm adherence of the policy.

 

114. Disclosure of Conflicts

When considering a proxy proposal, members of the Proxy Committee or investment professionals involved in the decision-making process must disclose to the Proxy Committee any potential conflict (including personal relationships) of which they are aware and any substantive contact that they have had with any interested outside party (including the issuer or shareholder group sponsoring a proposal) regarding the proposal. Any previously unknown conflict will be recorded on the Potential Conflicts List (discussed below). If a member of the Proxy Committee has a conflict of interest, he or she must also remove himself or herself from the decision-making process.

 

115. Potential Conflicts List

No less frequently than annually, a list of companies and organizations whose proxies may pose potential conflicts of interest is compiled by the Legal and Compliance Department (the “Potential Conflicts List”). The Potential Conflicts List includes:

Publicly-traded Clients from the Russell 3000 Index, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe Australia Far East Index (MSCI EAFE), the MSCI Canada Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index;

Publicly-traded companies that distribute AllianceBernstein mutual funds;

Bernstein private clients who are directors, officers or 10% shareholders of publicly traded companies;

Clients who sponsor, publicly support or have material interest in a proposal upon which we will be eligible to vote; Publicly-traded affiliated companies; Companies where an employee of AllianceBernstein or AXA Financial has identified an interest; Any other conflict of which a Proxy Committee member becomes aware4.

We determine our votes for all meetings of companies on the Potential Conflicts List by applying the tests described in Section 3.6 below. We document all instances when the independent compliance officer determines our vote.

 

116. Determine Existence of Conflict of Interest

When we encounter a potential conflict of interest, we review our proposed vote using the following analysis to ensure our voting decision does not generate a conflict of interest:

If our proposed vote is consistent with our Proxy Voting Policy, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy and our client’s position on the proposal, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy or is not covered herein, is consistent with our client’s position, and is also consistent with the views of ISS, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy or is not covered herein, is consistent with our client’s position and is contrary to the views of ISS, the vote will be presented to an independent compliance officer (“ICO”). The ICO will determine whether the proposed vote is reasonable. If the ICO cannot determine that the proposed vote is reasonable, the ICO may instruct AllianceBernstein to refer the votes back to the client(s) or take other actions as the ICO deems appropriate. The ICO’s review will be documented using a Proxy Voting Conflict of Interest Form (a copy of which is attached hereto).

 

4  The Proxy Committee must notify the Legal and Compliance Department promptly of any previously unknown conflict.


117. Review of Third Party Research Service Conflicts of Interest

We consider the research of ISS, so the Proxy Committee takes reasonable steps to verify that ISS is, in fact, independent based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances. This includes reviewing ISS’s conflict management procedures on an annual basis. When reviewing these conflict management procedures, we will consider, among other things, whether ISS (i) has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues; and (ii) can offer research in an impartial manner and in the best interests of our clients.

 

118. Confidential Voting

It is AllianceBernstein’s policy to support confidentiality before the actual vote has been cast. Employees are prohibited from revealing how we intend to vote except to (i) members of the Proxy Committee; (ii) Portfolio managers that hold the security in their managed accounts; (iii) the Research Analyst(s) who cover(s) the security; and (iv) clients, upon request, for the securities held in their portfolio. Once the votes have been cast, they are made public in accordance with mutual fund proxy vote disclosures required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and we generally post all votes to our public website the quarter after the vote has been cast.

We may participate in proxy surveys conducted by shareholder groups or consultants so long as such participation does not compromise our confidential voting policy. Specifically, prior to our required SEC disclosures each year, we may respond to surveys asking about our proxy voting policies, but not any specific votes. After our mutual fund proxy vote disclosures required by the SEC each year have been made public and/or votes have been posted to our public website, we may respond to surveys that cover specific votes in addition to our voting policies.

On occasion, clients for whom we do not have proxy voting authority may ask us for advice on proxy votes that they cast. A member of the Proxy Committee or a Proxy Manager may offer such advice subject to an understanding with the client that the advice shall remain confidential.

Any substantive contact regarding proxy issues from the issuer, the issuer’s agent or a shareholder group sponsoring a proposal must be reported to the Proxy Committee if such contact was material to a decision to vote contrary to this Policy. Routine administrative inquiries from proxy solicitors need not be reported.

 

119. A Note Regarding AllianceBernstein’s Structure

AllianceBernstein and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (“AB Holding”) are Delaware limited partnerships. As limited partnerships, neither company is required to produce an annual proxy statement or hold an annual shareholder meeting. In addition, the general partner of AllianceBernstein and AB Holding, AllianceBernstein Corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and related financial services companies.

As a result, most of the positions we express in this Proxy Voting Policy are inapplicable to our business. For example, although units in AB Holding are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the NYSE Listed Company Manual exempts limited partnerships and controlled companies from compliance with various listing requirements, including the requirement that our board have a majority of independent directors.


120. Voting Transparency

We publish our voting records on our website quarterly, 30 days after the end of the previous quarter. Many clients have requested that we provide them with periodic reports on how we voted their proxies. Clients may obtain information about how we voted proxies on their behalf by contacting their Advisor. Alternatively, clients may make a written request to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

121. Recordkeeping

All of the records referenced below will be kept in an easily accessible place for at least the length of time required by local regulation and custom, and, if such local regulation requires that records are kept for less than five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, we will follow the U.S. rule of five years. We maintain the vast majority of these records electronically. We will keep paper records, if any, in one of our offices for at least two years.

 

122. Proxy Voting Policy

The Proxy Voting Policy shall be maintained in the Legal and Compliance Department and posted on our company intranet and the AllianceBernstein website.

 

123. Proxy Statements Received Regarding Client Securities

For U.S. Securities5, AllianceBernstein relies on the SEC to maintain copies of each proxy statement we receive regarding client securities. For Non-U.S. Securities, we rely on ISS, our proxy voting agent, to retain such proxy statements.

 

124. Records of Votes Cast on Behalf of Clients

Records of votes cast by AllianceBernstein are retained electronically by our proxy voting agent, ISS.

 

125. Records of Clients Requests for Proxy Voting Information

Copies of written requests from clients for information on how AllianceBernstein voted their proxies shall be maintained by the Legal and Compliance Department. Responses to written and oral requests for information on how we voted clients’ proxies will be kept in the Client Group.

 

126. Documents Prepared by AllianceBernstein that are Material to Voting Decisions

The Proxy Committee is responsible for maintaining documents prepared by the Committee or any AllianceBernstein employee that were material to a voting decision. Therefore, where an investment professional’s opinion is essential to the voting decision, the recommendation from investment professionals must be made in writing to the Proxy Manager.

 

5  U.S. securities are defined as securities of issuers required to make reports pursuant to §12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Non-U.S. securities are defined as all other securities.


127. Proxy Voting Procedures

 

128. Vote Administration

In an effort to increase the efficiency of voting proxies, AllianceBernstein uses ISS to act as its voting agent for our clients’ holdings globally.

Issuers initially send proxy information to the custodians of our client accounts. We instruct these custodian banks to direct proxy related materials to ISS’s offices. ISS provides us with research related to each resolution. A Proxy Manager reviews the ballots via ISS’s web platform, ProxyExchange (For separately managed account programs, Proxy Managers use Broadridge’s ProxyEdge platform.). Using ProxyExchange (or ProxyEdge), the Proxy Manager submits our voting decision. ISS (or Broadridge) then returns the proxy ballot forms to the designated returnee for tabulation. Clients may request that, when voting their proxies, we utilize an ISS recommendation or ISS’s Taft-Hartley Voting Policy.

If necessary, any paper ballots we receive will be voted online using ProxyVote or via mail or fax.

 

129. Share blocking

Proxy voting in certain countries requires “share blocking.” Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting (usually one week) with a designated depositary. During this blocking period, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the clients’ custodian banks. We may determine that the value of exercising the vote is outweighed by the detriment of not being able to sell the shares during this period. In cases where we want to retain the ability to trade shares, we may abstain from voting those shares.

We seek to vote all proxies for securities held in client accounts for which we have proxy voting authority. However, in some markets administrative issues beyond our control may sometimes prevent us from voting such proxies. For example, we may receive meeting notices after the cut-off date for voting or without enough time to fully consider the proxy. Similarly, proxy materials for some issuers may not contain disclosure sufficient to arrive at a voting decision, in which cases we may abstain from voting. Some markets outside the U.S. require periodic renewals of powers of attorney that local agents must have from our clients prior to implementing our voting instructions.

 

130. Loaned Securities

Many of our clients have entered into securities lending arrangements with agent lenders to generate additional revenue. We will not be able to vote securities that are on loan under these types of arrangements. However, under rare circumstances, for voting issues that may have a significant impact on the investment, we may request that clients or custodians recall securities that are on loan if we determine that the benefit of voting outweighs the costs and lost revenue to the client or fund and the administrative burden of retrieving the securities.


PROXY COMMITTEE MEMBERS


PROXY VOTING GUIDELINE SUMMARY

 

Shareholder
Proposal
               For          Against         

Case-by-

Case

     

 

Board and Director Proposals

 

    
          Changes in Board Structure and Amending the Articles of Incorporation    ü                         
          Classified Boards              ü               
         

Director Liability and Indemnification

                       ü     

ü

        Disclose CEO Succession Plan    ü                         
          Election of Directors    ü                         
         

Controlled Company Exemption

                       ü     
         

Voting for Director Nominees in a Contested Election

                       ü     

ü

        Establish Additional Board Committees                        ü     

ü

        Independent Lead Director    ü                         

ü

        Limit Term of Directorship; Establish Mandatory Retirement Age                        ü     

ü

        Majority of Independent Directors    ü                         

ü

        Majority of Independent Directors on Key Committees    ü                         

ü

        Majority Votes for Directors    ü                         

ü

        Prohibit CEOs from Serving on Compensation Committees              ü               

ü

        Removal of Directors Without Cause    ü                         

ü

        Require Independent Board Chairman                        ü     

ü

        Require Two Candidates for Each Board Seat              ü               

ü

        Stock Ownership Requirement              ü               

 

Compensation Proposals

 

    

ü

        Accelerated Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change of Control                        ü     

ü

        Adopt Form of Employment Contract                        ü     

ü

        Adopt Policies to Prohibit any Death Benefits to Senior Executives              ü               

ü

        Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation                        ü     


Shareholder
Proposal
               For          Against         

Case-by-

Case

     

ü

        Amend Executive Compensation Plan tied to Performance (Bonus Banking)              ü               
          Approve Remuneration for Directors and Auditors                        ü     
          Approve Remuneration Reports                        ü     
          Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)                        ü     
          Approve Special Payments to Continuing Directors and Auditors (Japan)                        ü     

ü

        Disclose Executive and Director Pay                        ü     

ü

        Exclude Pension Income from Performance-based Compensation    ü                         
          Executive and Employee Compensation Plans                        ü     

ü

        Limit Dividend Payments to Executives              ü               

ü

        Limit Executive Pay                        ü     

ü

        Mandatory Holding Periods              ü               

ü

        Pay Directors Only in Stock              ü               

ü

        Performance-based Stock Option Plans                        ü     

ü

        Prohibit Relocation Benefits to Senior Executives              ü               

ü

        Recovery of Performance-based Compensation    ü                         

ü

        Single Trigger Change-in-Control Agreements                        ü     

ü

        Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote                        ü     

ü

        Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote prior to their being Negotiated by Management                        ü     

ü

        Submit Option Re-pricing to a Shareholder Vote    ü                         

ü

        Submit Survivor Benefit Compensation Plans to a Shareholder Vote    ü                         

 

Capital Changes and Anti-Take Over Proposals

 

    

ü

        Amend Exclusive Forum Bylaw              ü               
          Amend Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) Rights Plans    ü                         
          Authorize Share Repurchase    ü                         
          Blank Check Preferred Stock              ü               
          Corporate Restructurings, Merger Proposals and Spin-offs                        ü     


Shareholder
Proposal
               For          Against         

Case-by-

Case

     
          Elimination of Preemptive Rights                        ü     

ü

        Expensing Stock Options    ü                         
          Fair Price Provisions                        ü     
          Increase Authorized Common Stock                        ü     
          Issuance of Equity without Preemptive Rights    ü                         
          Issuance of Stock with Unequal Voting Rights                        ü     
          Net Long Position Requirement    ü                         

ü

        Opt Out of State Anti-takeover Law (US)                        ü     
          Reincorporation                        ü     

ü

        Reincorporation to Another jurisdiction to Permit Majority Voting or Other Changes in Corporate Governance                        ü     
          Stock Splits    ü                         

ü

        Submit Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan to a Shareholder Vote    ü                         
          Transferrable Stock Options                        ü     

 

Auditor Proposals

 

    
          Appointment of Auditors    ü                         
          Approval of Financial Statements    ü                         
          Approval of Internal Statutory Auditors    ü                         

ü

        Limit Compensation Consultant Services              ü               
          Limitation of Liability of External Statutory Auditors (Japan)                        ü     

ü

        Separating Auditors and Consultants                        ü     

 

Shareholder Access & Voting Proposals

 

    

ü

        A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings                        ü     

ü

        Adopt Cumulative Voting                        ü     

ü

        Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures    ü                         

ü

        Early Disclosure of Voting Results              ü               

ü

        Implement Confidential Voting    ü                         


Shareholder
Proposal
               For          Against         

Case-by-

Case

     
          Limiting a Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings              ü               

ü

        Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent    ü                     

ü

        Proxy Access for Annual Meetings    ü                         
          Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (U.K.)    ü                     

ü

        Rotation of Locale for Annual Meeting              ü               

ü

        Shareholder Proponent Engagement Process    ü                     
          Supermajority Vote Requirements              ü               

 

Environmental & Social, Disclosure Proposals

 

    

ü

        Adopt a Special Corporate Policy for SEC Rule 1b5-1 and Other Trading Plans            ü             

ü

        Adopt Guidelines for Country Selection                        ü     

ü

        Amend EEO Statement to Include a Reference to Sexual Orientation    ü                     

ü

        Animal Testing                        ü     

ü

        Anti-Greenmail Proposal    ü                     

ü

        Charitable Contributions                        ü     

ü

        Genetically Altered or Engineered Food                    ü     

ü

        Global Labor Standards    ü                         

ü

        Global Warming; Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions                    ü     

ü

        Implement the MacBride Principles (Northern Ireland)                        ü     

ü

        Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure                    ü     

ü

        Military Issues                        ü     

ü

        Nuclear Waste Disposal                        ü     
          Other Business            ü             

ü

        Pharmaceutical Pricing                        ü     

ü

        Plant Closings                    ü     

ü

        Reimbursement of Shareholder Proposal Expenses              ü               

ü

        Report on Collateral in Derivatives Trading              ü               


Shareholder
Proposal
              For          Against         

Case-by-

Case

     
ü      Report on Pay Disparity                ü     
ü        Report on Water Pollution Prevention Measures    ü                         
ü      Report on Workplace Diversity and/or Employment Policies    ü                 
ü        Reporting Political Contributions; Lobbying Expenses    ü                         
ü      Submit Political Spending Program to Shareholder Advisory Vote          ü           
ü        Sustainability Report    ü                         
ü      The CERES Principles                ü     
         Tobacco                              
ü      End Production of Tobacco Products          ü           
ü        Spin-off Tobacco-related Business                        ü     


PROXY VOTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM

 

    Name of

    Security

 

    Date of

    Shareholder

    Meeting

 

 

    Short description of the conflict (client, mutual fund distributor, etc.):

 

 
      
   

    1.    Is our proposed vote on all issues consistent with our stated proxy voting policy?

 

¨  Yes ¨  No If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

    2.    Is our proposed vote contrary to our client’s position?

 

¨  Yes ¨  No If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

    3.    Is our proposed vote consistent with the views of Institutional Shareholder Services?

 

¨  Yes ¨  No If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

Please attach a memo containing the following information and documentation supporting the proxy voting decision:

 

  ¨ A list of the issue(s) where our proposed vote is contrary to our stated policy (director election, cumulative voting, equity compensation plan, etc.

 

  ¨ A description of any substantive contact with any interested outside party and a proxy voting committee or an AllianceBernstein investment professional that was material to our voting decision. Please include date, attendees, titles, organization they represent and topics discussed. If there was no such contact, please note as such.

 

  ¨ If the Independent Compliance Officer has NOT determined that the proposed vote is reasonable, please explain and indicate what action has been, or will be taken.

 

Independent Compliance Officer Approval

(if necessary. Email approval is acceptable.):

Prepared by:

 

I hereby confirm that the proxy voting decision

referenced on this form is reasonable.

 

 

     

Print Name: (                    )

 

Phillip Kirstein

 

Date:                                    

 

Date:                                     

Please return this completed form and all supporting documentation to the Conflicts Officer in the Legal and Compliance Department and keep a copy for your records.


STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

Principles for Responsible Investment,

ESG, and Socially Responsible Investment

 

1. Introduction

AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AllianceBernstein” or “we”) is appointed by our clients as an investment manager with a fiduciary responsibility to help them achieve their investment objectives over the long term. Generally, our clients’ objective is to maximize the financial return of their portfolios within appropriate risk parameters. AllianceBernstein has long recognized that environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues can impact the performance of investment portfolios. Accordingly, we have sought to integrate ESG factors into our investment process to the extent that the integration of such factors is consistent with our fiduciary duty to help our clients achieve their investment objectives and protect their economic interests.

Our policy draws a distinction between how the Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI” or “Principles”), and Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) incorporate ESG factors. PRI is based on the premise that, because ESG issues can affect investment performance, appropriate consideration of ESG issues and engagement regarding them is firmly within the bounds of a mainstream investment manager’s fiduciary duties to its clients. Furthermore, PRI is intended to be applied only in ways that are consistent with those mainstream fiduciary duties.

SRI, which refers to a spectrum of investment strategies that seek to integrate ethical, moral, sustainability and other non-financial factors into the investment process, generally involves exclusion and/or divestment, as well as investment guidelines that restrict investments. AllianceBernstein may accept such guideline restrictions upon client request.


2. Approach to ESG

Our long-standing policy has been to include ESG factors in our extensive fundamental research and consider them carefully when we believe they are material to our forecasts and investment decisions. If we determine that these aspects of an issuer’s past, current or anticipated behavior are material to its future expected returns, we address these concerns in our forecasts, research reviews, investment decisions and engagement. In addition, we have well-developed proxy voting policies that incorporate ESG issues and engagement.

 

3. Commitment to the PRI

In recent years, we have gained greater clarity on how the PRI initiative, based on information from PRI Advisory Council members and from other signatories, provides a framework for incorporating ESG factors into investment research and decision-making. Furthermore, our industry has become, over time, more aware of the importance of ESG factors. We acknowledge these developments and seek to refine what has been our process in this area.

After careful consideration, we determined that becoming a PRI signatory would enhance our current ESG practices and align with our fiduciary duties to our clients as a mainstream investment manager. Accordingly, we became a signatory, effective November 1, 2011.

In signing the PRI, AllianceBernstein as an investment manager publicly commits to adopt and implement all six Principles, where consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities, and to make progress over time on implementation of the Principles.

The six Principles are:

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment research and decision-making processes.

AllianceBernstein Examples: ESG issues are included in the research analysis process. In some cases, external service providers of ESG-related tools are utilized; we have conducted proxy voting training and


will have continued and expanded training for investment professionals to incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes across our firm.

2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We are active owners through our proxy voting process (for additional information, please refer to our Statement of Policies and Procedures for Proxy Voting Manual); we engage issuers on ESG matters in our investment research process (we define “engagement” as discussions with management about ESG issues when they are, or we believe they are reasonably likely to become, material).

3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

AllianceBernstein Examples: Generally, we support transparency regarding ESG issues when we conclude the disclosure is reasonable. Similarly, in proxy voting, we will support shareholder initiatives and resolutions promoting ESG disclosure when we conclude the disclosure is reasonable.

4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.

AllianceBernstein Examples: By signing the PRI, we have taken an important first step in promoting acceptance and implementation of the six Principles within our industry.

5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We will engage with clients and participate in forums with other PRI signatories to better understand how the PRI are applied in our respective businesses. As a PRI signatory, we have access to information, tools and other signatories to help ensure that we are effective in our endeavors to implement the PRI.


6. We will report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We will respond to the 2012 PRI questionnaire and disclose PRI scores from the questionnaire in response to inquiries from clients and in requests for proposals; we will provide examples as requested concerning active ownership activities (voting, engagement or policy dialogue).

 

4. RI Committee

Our firm’s RI Committee provides AllianceBernstein stakeholders, including employees, clients, prospects, consultants and service providers alike, with a resource within our firm on which they can rely for information regarding our approach to ESG issues and how those issues are incorporated in different ways by the PRI and SRI. Additionally, the RI Committee is responsible for assisting AllianceBernstein personnel to further implement our firm’s RI policies and practices, and, over time, to make progress on implementing all six Principles.

The RI Committee has a diverse membership, including senior representatives from investments, distribution/sales and legal. The Committee is chaired by Linda Giuliano, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer-Equities.


If you have questions or desire additional information about this Policy, we encourage you to contact the RI Committee at RIinquiries@alliancebernstein.com or reach out to a Committee member:

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

(a) (1) The management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by the Global Fixed Income: Emerging Markets Investment Team.

The following table lists the five members of the team with the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, the length of time that each person has been involved in the management of the Fund, and each person’s principal occupation during the past five years:

 

Employee; Year; Title

  

Principal Occupation During the Past Five (5) Years

Paul DeNoon; since August 2002;

Senior Vice President of AllianceBerntein L.P. (“AB”) and Director of Emerging Market Debt

   Senior Vice President of AB, with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2006, and Director of Emerging Market Debt.
Douglas J. Peebles; since August 2002; Senior Vice President of AB, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of Fixed Income    Senior Vice President of AB, with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2006, and Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of Fixed Income.


Marco Santamaria, since September 2010; Vice President of AB    Vice President of AB, with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since June 2010. Prior thereto, he was a founding partner at Global Securities Advisors, an emerging-markets oriented fixed-income hedge fund since prior to 2006.
Matthew S. Sheridan; since October 2005; Vice President of AB    Vice President of AB, with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2006,

(a) (2) The following tables provide information regarding registered investment companies other than the Fund, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts over which the Fund’s portfolio managers also have day-to-day management responsibilities. The tables provide the numbers of such accounts, the total assets in such accounts and the number of accounts and total assets whose fees are based on performance. The information is provided as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES

(excluding the Fund)

 

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed
     Total Assets of
Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed
     Number of
Registered
Investment
Companies Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
     Total Assets of
Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed with
Performance-based
Fees
 

Paul DeNoon

     15       $ 9,138,000,000         None         None   

Douglas J. Peebles

     62       $ 10,413,000,000         None         None   

Marco Santamaria

     3       $ 478,000,000         None         None   

Matthew S. Sheridan

     69       $ 15,517,000,000         None         None   


POOLED INVESTMENT VEHICLES

 

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
Managed
     Total Assets of
Pooled Investment
Vehicles Managed
     Number of Pooled
Investment Vehicles
Managed with
Performance-based
Fees
     Total Assets of
Pooled Investment
Vehicles Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
 

Paul DeNoon

     62       $ 33,318,000,000         None         None   

Douglas J. Peebles

     72       $ 7,040,000,000         None         None   

Marco Santamaria

     40       $ 4,032,000,000         None         None   

Matthew S. Sheridan

     76       $ 31,782,000,000         None         None   

OTHER ACCOUNTS

 

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Other
Accounts
Managed
     Total Assets of
Other Accounts
Managed
     Number of Other
Accounts Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
     Total Assets of
Other Accounts
with Performance-
based Fees
 

Paul DeNoon

     26       $ 11,108,000,000         1       $ 1,238,000,000   

Douglas J. Peebles

     87       $ 36,525,000,000         6       $ 2,601,000,000   

Marco Santamaria

     23       $ 10,606,000,000         1       $ 1,238,000,000   

Matthew S. Sheridan

     59       $ 30,126,000,000         6       $ 2,601,000,000   

Investment Professional Conflict of Interest Disclosure

As an investment adviser and fiduciary, the Adviser owes its clients and shareholders an undivided duty of loyalty. We recognize that conflicts of interest are inherent in our business and accordingly have developed policies and procedures (including oversight monitoring) reasonably designed to detect, manage and mitigate the effects of actual or potential conflicts of interest in the area of employee personal trading, managing multiple accounts for multiple clients, including AllianceBernstein Mutual


Funds, and allocating investment opportunities. Investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, are subject to the above-mentioned policies and oversight monitoring to ensure that all clients are treated equitably. We place the interests of our clients first and expect all of our employees to meet their fiduciary duties.

Employee Personal Trading. The Adviser has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is designed to detect and prevent conflicts of interest when investment professionals and other personnel of the Adviser own, buy or sell securities which may be owned by, or bought or sold for, clients. Personal securities transactions by an employee may raise a potential conflict of interest when an employee owns or trades in a security that is owned or considered for purchase or sale by a client, or recommended for purchase or sale by an employee to a client. Subject to the reporting requirements and other limitations of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Adviser permits its employees to engage in personal securities transactions, and also allows them to acquire investments in certain Funds managed by the Adviser. The Adviser’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires disclosure of all personal accounts and maintenance of brokerage accounts with designated broker-dealers approved by the Adviser. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also requires preclearance of all securities transactions (except transactions in U.S. Treasuries and open-end mutual funds) and imposes a 90-day holding period for securities purchased by employees to discourage short-term trading.

Managing Multiple Accounts for Multiple Clients. The Adviser has compliance policies and oversight monitoring in place to address conflicts of interest relating to the management of multiple accounts for multiple clients. Conflicts of interest may arise when an investment professional has responsibilities for the investments of more than one account because the investment professional may be unable to devote equal time and attention to each account. The investment professional or investment professional teams for each client may have responsibilities for managing all or a portion of the investments of multiple accounts with a common investment strategy, including other registered investment companies, unregistered investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, pension plans, separate accounts, collective trusts and charitable foundations. Among other things, the Adviser’s policies and procedures provide for the prompt dissemination to investment professionals of initial or changed investment recommendations by analysts so that investment professionals are better able to develop investment strategies for all accounts they manage. In addition, investment decisions by investment professionals are reviewed for the purpose of maintaining uniformity among similar accounts and ensuring that accounts are treated equitably. Investment professional compensation reflects a broad contribution in multiple dimensions to long-term investment success for our clients and is generally not tied specifically to the performance of any particular client’s account, nor is it generally tied directly to the level or change in level of assets under management.

Allocating Investment Opportunities. The investment professionals at the Adviser routinely are required to select and allocate investment opportunities among accounts. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that information relevant to investment decisions is disseminated promptly within its portfolio management teams and investment opportunities are


allocated equitably among different clients. The policies and procedures require, among other things, objective allocation for limited investment opportunities (e.g., on a rotational basis), and documentation and review of justifications for any decisions to make investments only for select accounts or in a manner disproportionate to the size of the account. Portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar accounts, which minimize the potential for conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. Nevertheless, access to portfolios funds or other investment opportunities may be allocated differently among accounts due to the particular characteristics of an account, such as size of the account, cash position, tax status, risk tolerance and investment restrictions or for other reasons.

The Adviser’s procedures are also designed to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise when the Adviser has a particular financial incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, relating to an account. An investment professional may perceive that he or she has an incentive to devote more time to developing and analyzing investment strategies and opportunities or allocating securities preferentially to accounts for which the Adviser could share in investment gains.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

The Adviser’s compensation program for investment professionals is designed to align with clients’ interests, emphasizing each portfolio manager’s ability to generate long-term investment success for the Adviser’s clients, including the Fund. The Adviser also strives to ensure that compensation is competitive and effective in attracting and retaining the highest caliber employees.

Portfolio managers receive a base salary, incentive compensation and contributions to AllianceBernstein’s 401(k) plan. Part of the annual incentive compensation is generally paid in the form of a cash bonus, and part through an award under the firm’s Incentive Compensation Award Plan (ICAP). The ICAP awards vest over a four-year period. Deferred awards are paid in the form of restricted grants on the firm’s Master Limited Partnership Units, and award recipients have the ability to receive a portion of their awards in deferred cash. The amount of contributions to the 401(k) plan is determined at the sole discretion of the Adviser. On an annual basis, the Adviser endeavors to combine all of the foregoing elements into a total compensation package that considers industry compensation trends and is designed to retain its best talent.

The incentive portion of total compensation is determined by quantitative and qualitative factors. Quantitative factors, which are weighted more heavily, are driven by investment performance. Qualitative factors are driven by contributions to the investment process and client success.

The quantitative component includes measures of absolute, relative and risk-adjusted investment performance. Relative and risk-adjusted returns are determined based on the benchmark in the Fund’s prospectus and versus peers over one-, three- and five-year calendar periods, with more weight given to longer-time periods. Peer groups are chosen by Chief Investment Officers, who consult with the product management team


to identify products most similar to our investment style and most relevant within the asset class. Portfolio managers of the Funds do not receive any direct compensation based upon the investment returns of any individual client account, and compensation is not tied directly to the level or change in level of assets under management.

Among the qualitative components considered, the most important include thought leadership, collaboration with other investment colleagues, contributions to risk-adjusted returns of other portfolios in the firm, efforts in mentoring and building a strong talent pool and being a good corporate citizen. Other factors that can play a part in determining portfolio managers’ compensation, such as the complexity of investment strategies managed, volume of assets managed and experience.

The Adviser emphasizes four behavioral competencies—relentlessness, ingenuity, team orientation and accountability—that support its mission to be the most trusted advisor to its clients. Assessments of investment professionals are formalized in a year-end review process that includes 360-degree feedback from other professionals from across the investment teams and the Adviser.

(a) (4) The dollar range of the Fund’s equity securities owned directly or beneficially by the Fund’s portfolio managers as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 is set forth below:

 

     DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY
SECURITIES IN THE FUND
 

Paul DeNoon

     $0-$10,000   

Marco Santamaria

     None   

Douglas J. Peebles

     None   

Matthew S. Sheridan

     $350,000-$360,000   

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

There have been no purchases of equity securities by the Fund or by affiliated parties for the reporting period.

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.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

12 (a) (1)   Code of Ethics that is subject to the disclosure of Item 2 hereof
12 (b) (1)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12 (b) (2)   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12 (c)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of 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 Global High Income Fund, Inc.

 

By:

/s/ Robert M. Keith

Robert M. Keith
President
Date: May 21, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

/s/ Robert M. Keith

Robert M. Keith
President
Date: May 21, 2015
By:

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

Joseph J. Mantineo
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 21, 2015