Related Party Transactions

Mutual Funds

We provide investment management, distribution, shareholder, administrative and brokerage services to individual investors by means of retail mutual funds sponsored by our company, our subsidiaries and our affiliated joint venture companies. We provide substantially all of these services under contracts that specify the services to be provided and the fees to be charged. The contracts are subject to annual review and approval by each mutual fund’s board of directors or trustees and, in certain circumstances, by the mutual fund’s shareholders. Revenues for services provided or related to the mutual funds are as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Investment advisory and services fees	$	1,148,467	$	998,892	$	1,056,227
Distribution revenues	397,674		371,604		415,380
Shareholder servicing fees	73,310		76,201		85,207
Other revenues	6,942		6,253		4,939
Bernstein Research Services	13		5		4

AXA and its Subsidiaries

We provide investment management and certain administration services to AXA and its subsidiaries. In addition, AXA and its subsidiaries distribute company-sponsored mutual funds, for which they receive commissions and distribution payments. Sales of company-sponsored mutual funds through AXA and its subsidiaries aggregated approximately $0.5 billion, $0.8 billion and $1.1 billion for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Also, we are covered by various insurance policies maintained by AXA and its subsidiaries and we pay fees for technology and other services provided by AXA and its subsidiaries. Aggregate amounts included in the consolidated financial statements for transactions with AXA and its subsidiaries, as of and for the years ended December 31, are as follows:



	2017			2016			2015
	(in thousands)
Revenues:
Investment advisory and services fees	$	157,430		$	150,016		$	149,035
Bernstein Research Services	403			583			694
Distribution revenues	13,387			12,145			11,541
Other revenues	1,130			969			912
	$	172,350		$	163,713		$	162,182
Expenses:
Commissions and distribution payments to financial intermediaries	$	19,202		$	16,077		$	16,140
General and administrative	12,428			16,315			17,680
Other	1,696			1,653			1,483
	$	33,326		$	34,045		$	35,303
Balance Sheet:
Institutional investment advisory and services fees receivable	$	13,806		$	11,826
Prepaid expenses	2,905			1,461
Other due to AXA and its subsidiaries	(19,666		)	(5,325		)
	$	(2,955	)	$	7,962

AllianceBernstein Venture Fund I, L.P. was launched during 2006. It seeks to achieve its investment objective, which is long-term capital appreciation through equity and equity-related investments, by acquiring early-stage growth companies in private transactions. One of our subsidiaries is the general partner of the fund and, as a result, the fund is included in our consolidated financial statements, with approximately $0.1 million and $32.7 million of investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. AXA Equitable holds a 10% limited partnership interest in this fund.

We maintain an unfunded, non-qualified long-term incentive compensation plan known as the Capital Accumulation Plan and also have assumed obligations under contractual unfunded long-term incentive compensation arrangements covering certain former executives (“Contractual Arrangements”). The Capital Accumulation Plan was frozen on December 31, 1987, since which date no additional awards have been made. The Board may terminate the Capital Accumulation Plan at any time without cause, in which case our liability would be limited to benefits that have vested. Payment of vested benefits under both the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements generally will be made over a ten-year period commencing at retirement age. The General Partner is obligated to make capital contributions to AB in amounts equal to benefits paid under the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements. Amounts paid by the General Partner to AB for the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $0.3 million, $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Other Related Parties

The consolidated statements of financial condition include a net receivable from AB Holding as a result of cash transactions for fees and expense reimbursements. The net receivable balance included in the consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $11.1 million and $12.0 million, respectively.