N-CSRS 1 d637679dncsrs.htm AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND, INC. AB Discovery Growth 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: 811-00204

 

 

AB DISCOVERY GROWTH 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: July 31, 2019

Date of reporting period: January 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 


JAN    01.31.19

LOGO

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND

 

 

LOGO

 

Beginning January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling the Fund at (800) 221 5672.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper form free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call the Fund at (800) 221 5672. Your election to receive reports in paper form will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly, to all AB Mutual Funds you hold.


 

 

 
Investment Products Offered  

  Are Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value Are Not Bank Guaranteed

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abfunds.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

This shareholder report must be preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s prospectus for individuals who are not current shareholders of the Fund.

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Fund’s portfolio holdings reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s portfolio holdings reports may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC 0330. AB publishes full portfolio holdings for the Fund monthly at www.abfunds.com.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the Adviser of the funds.

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


 

FROM THE PRESIDENT    LOGO

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide this report for AB Discovery Growth Fund (the “Fund”). Please review the discussion of Fund performance, the market conditions during the reporting period and the Fund’s investment strategy.

As always, AB strives to keep clients ahead of what’s next by:

 

+   

Transforming uncommon insights into uncommon knowledge with a global research scope

 

+   

Navigating markets with seasoned investment experience and sophisticated solutions

 

+   

Providing thoughtful investment insights and actionable ideas

Whether you’re an individual investor or a multi-billion-dollar institution, we put knowledge and experience to work for you.

AB’s global research organization connects and collaborates across platforms and teams to deliver impactful insights and innovative products. Better insights lead to better opportunities—anywhere in the world.

For additional information about AB’s range of products and shareholder resources, please log on to www.abfunds.com.

Thank you for your investment in the AB Mutual Funds.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Robert M. Keith

President and Chief Executive Officer, AB Mutual Funds

 

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SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

 

March 15, 2019

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AB Discovery Growth Fund for the semi-annual reporting period ended January 31, 2019.

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

NAV RETURNS AS OF JANUARY 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

     6 Months      12 Months  
AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND      
Class A Shares      -4.59%        3.05%  
Class B Shares1      -5.14%        2.13%  
Class C Shares      -4.95%        2.27%  
Advisor Class Shares2      -4.49%        3.30%  
Class R Shares2      -4.80%        2.57%  
Class K Shares2      -4.63%        2.90%  
Class I Shares2      -4.49%        3.22%  
Class Z Shares2      -4.48%        3.30%  
Russell 2500 Growth Index      -5.91%        -1.37%  

 

1

Effective July 31, 2009, Class B shares are no longer available for purchase to new investors. Please see Note A for additional information.

 

2

Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund.

INVESTMENT RESULTS

The table above shows the Fund’s performance compared with its benchmark, the Russell 2500 Growth Index, for the six- and 12-month periods ended January 31, 2019.

All share classes of the Fund outperformed the benchmark for both periods, before sales charges. Strong fundamental execution, against a backdrop that rewarded fundamental outperformers, drove much of the outperformance. For both periods, security selection was the primary driver of outperformance versus the benchmark. During the six-month period, the strongest contributions came from the consumer-discretionary, technology and health care sectors, which more than offset underperformance in producer durables and financials. For the 12-month period, stock selection was positive for all sectors, except communication services, with the strongest contributions coming from health care, consumer discretionary and technology. Sector selection was largely neutral for both periods. Cash

 

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holdings, although kept to only transactional levels throughout the 12-month period, detracted given the very strong market backdrop.

The Fund did not utilize derivatives during either period.

MARKET REVIEW AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY

US equities fell during the six-month period ended January 31, 2019. Strong corporate earnings and economic data sent US equity indices to record highs early in the period. However, performance quickly turned negative amid increased volatility later in the reporting period. Investors worried about slowing global growth, especially in China, and rising interest rates driven by the actions of the US Federal Reserve. Trade conflicts between the US and China exacerbated investor fears. Growth-style stocks modestly outperformed value-style stocks, and small-cap stocks underperformed their large-cap peers.

The Fund continues to be built from the bottom up, with an emphasis on companies that can deliver fundamental outperformance. The Fund remains overweight secular growth companies that have unique drivers or company-specific initiatives to support their future earnings growth, regardless of the macro backdrop. At the end of the reporting period, consumer discretionary and industrials reflected the Fund’s only meaningful overweights, while materials, real estate, communication services, consumer staples and health care were notable underweights, relative to the benchmark.

INVESTMENT POLICIES

The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities with relatively smaller capitalizations as compared to the overall US market. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, “small- and mid-capitalization companies” are generally those companies that, at the time of investment, fall within the lowest 25% of the total US equity market capitalization (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, companies with market capitalizations of less than $10 million). Because the Fund’s definition of small- and mid-capitalization companies is dynamic, the limits on market capitalization will change with the markets. In the future, the Fund may define small- and mid-capitalization companies using a different classification system.

The Fund may invest in any company and industry and in any type of equity security with potential for capital appreciation. It invests in well-known and established companies and in new and less-seasoned companies. The Fund’s investment policies emphasize investments in companies that are demonstrating improving financial results and a favorable earnings outlook. The Fund may invest in foreign securities.

 

(continued on next page)

 

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The Fund invests principally in equity securities but may also invest in other types of securities, such as preferred stocks. The Fund may, at times, invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in lieu of making direct investments in securities. ETFs may provide more efficient and economical exposure to the types of companies and geographic locations in which the Fund seeks to invest than direct investments. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in rights and warrants.

The Fund may enter into derivatives transactions, such as options, futures contracts, forwards and swaps to manage risk and to seek to generate additional returns. The Fund may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, including on individual securities and stock indices, futures contracts (including futures contracts on individual securities and stock indices) or shares of ETFs. These transactions may be used, for example, in an effort to earn extra income, to adjust exposure to individual securities or markets, or to protect all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio from a decline in value, sometimes within certain ranges.

 

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DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

 

Benchmark Disclosure

The Russell 2500® Growth Index is unmanaged and does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. The Russell 2500 Growth Index represents the performance of small- to mid-cap growth companies within the US. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance for any specific investment, including the Fund.

A Word About Risk

Market Risk: The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the stock 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. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as growth, may underperform the market generally.

Sector Risk: The Fund may have more risk because of concentrated investments in a particular market sector, such as the technology or industrials sector. Market or economic factors affecting that sector could have a major effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.

Capitalization Risk: Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

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

Derivatives Risk: 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 for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results.

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

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    5


 

DISCLOSURES AND RISKS (continued)

 

An Important Note About Historical Performance

The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown in this report represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. You may obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end by visiting www.abfunds.com.

All fees and expenses related to the operation of the Fund have been deducted. Net asset value (“NAV”) returns do not reflect sales charges; if sales charges were reflected, the Fund’s quoted performance would be lower. SEC returns reflect the applicable sales charges for each share class: a 4.25% maximum front-end sales charge for Class A shares; the applicable contingent deferred sales charge for Class B shares (4% year 1, 3% year 2, 2% year 3, 1% year 4) and a 1% 1-year contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares. Returns for the different share classes will vary due to different expenses associated with each class. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.

 

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HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF JANUARY 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

    NAV Returns     SEC Returns
(reflects applicable
sales charges)
 
CLASS A SHARES    
1 Year     3.05%       -1.33%  
5 Years     9.12%       8.17%  
10 Years     18.26%       17.74%  
CLASS B SHARES    
1 Year     2.13%       -0.91%  
5 Years     8.21%       8.21%  
10 Years1     17.44%       17.44%  
CLASS C SHARES    
1 Year     2.27%       1.51%  
5 Years     8.27%       8.27%  
10 Years     17.31%       17.31%  
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES2    
1 Year     3.30%       3.30%  
5 Years     9.38%       9.38%  
10 Years     18.49%       18.49%  
CLASS R SHARES2    
1 Year     2.57%       2.57%  
5 Years     8.66%       8.66%  
10 Years     17.78%       17.78%  
CLASS K SHARES2    
1 Year     2.90%       2.90%  
5 Years     8.97%       8.97%  
10 Years     18.15%       18.15%  
CLASS I SHARES2    
1 Year     3.22%       3.22%  
5 Years     9.36%       9.36%  
10 Years     18.6%       18.6%  
CLASS Z SHARES2    
1 Year     3.30%       3.30%  
Since Inception3     10.97%       10.97%  

The Fund’s current prospectus fee table shows the Fund’s total annual operating expense ratios as 0.96%, 1.78%, 1.74%, 0.72%, 1.39%, 1.11%, 0.75% and 0.68% for Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K, Class I and Class Z shares, respectively. The Financial Highlights section of this report sets forth expense ratio data for the current reporting period; the expense ratios shown above may differ from the expense ratios in the Financial Highlights section since they are based on different time periods.

(footnotes continued on next page)

 

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HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

 

 

1

Assumes conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares after eight years.

 

2

These share classes are offered at NAV to eligible investors and their SEC returns are the same as their NAV returns. Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund.

 

3

Inception date: 5/30/2014.

 

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HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

 

SEC AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS

AS OF THE MOST RECENT CALENDAR QUARTER-END

DECEMBER 31, 2018 (unaudited)

 

     SEC Returns
(reflects applicable
sales charges)
 
CLASS A SHARES   
1 Year      -8.52%  
5 Years      5.28%  
10 Years      15.85%  
CLASS B SHARES   
1 Year      -8.00%  
5 Years      5.36%  
10 Years1      15.54%  
CLASS C SHARES   
1 Year      -5.82%  
5 Years      5.39%  
10 Years      15.43%  
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES2   
1 Year      -4.29%  
5 Years      6.43%  
10 Years      16.58%  
CLASS R SHARES2   
1 Year      -4.94%  
5 Years      5.78%  
10 Years      15.88%  
CLASS K SHARES2   
1 Year      -4.62%  
5 Years      6.07%  
10 Years      16.24%  
CLASS I SHARES2   
1 Year      -4.35%  
5 Years      6.45%  
10 Years      16.67%  
CLASS Z SHARES2   
1 Year      -4.27%  
Since Inception3      8.01%  

 

1

Assumes conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares after eight years.

 

2

Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund.

 

3

Inception date: 5/30/2014.

 

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EXPENSE EXAMPLE

(unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    Beginning
Account
Value
August 1,
2018
    Ending
Account
Value
January 31,
2019
    Expenses
Paid
During
Period*
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio*
    Total
Expenses
Paid
During
Period+
    Total
Annualized
Expense
Ratio+
 
Class A            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 954.10     $ 4.63       0.94   $ 4.63       0.94

Hypothetical**

  $   1,000     $   1,020.47     $   4.79       0.94   $   4.79       0.94

 

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EXPENSE EXAMPLE (continued)

 

    Beginning
Account
Value
August 1,
2018
    Ending
Account
Value
January 31,
2019
    Expenses
Paid
During
Period*
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio*
    Total
Expenses
Paid
During
Period+
    Total
Annualized
Expense
Ratio+
 
Class B            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 948.60     $ 8.64       1.76   $ 8.64       1.76

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,016.33     $ 8.94       1.76   $ 8.94       1.76
Class C            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 950.50     $ 8.46       1.72   $ 8.46       1.72

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,016.53     $ 8.74       1.72   $ 8.74       1.72
Advisor Class            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 955.10     $ 3.50       0.71   $ 3.55       0.72

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.63     $ 3.62       0.71   $ 3.67       0.72
Class R            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 952.00     $ 6.59       1.34   $ 6.59       1.34

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,018.45     $ 6.82       1.34   $ 6.82       1.34
Class K            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 953.70     $ 5.32       1.08   $ 5.37       1.09

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,019.76     $ 5.50       1.08   $ 5.55       1.09
Class I            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 955.10     $ 3.65       0.74   $ 3.65       0.74

Hypothetical**

  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.48     $ 3.77       0.74   $ 3.77       0.74
Class Z            

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 1,000.00     $ 3.33       0.66   $ 3.33       0.66

Hypothetical**

  $   1,000     $   1,021.88     $   3.36       0.66   $   3.36       0.66

 

*

Expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

**

Assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

 

+

In connection with the Fund’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Fund’s total expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratio plus the Fund’s pro rata share of the weighted average expense ratio of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios in which it invests, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

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PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

January 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): $2,426.5

 

 

 

LOGO

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS2

 

Company    U.S. $ Value      Percent of
Net Assets
 
Exact Sciences Corp.    $ 57,733,353        2.4
Burlington Stores, Inc.      44,268,555        1.8  
Five Below, Inc.      44,083,514        1.8  
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.      43,619,019        1.8  
Planet Fitness, Inc.      43,339,451        1.8  
Teladoc Health, Inc.      42,766,573        1.8  
Amedisys, Inc.      42,730,616        1.8  
Chegg, Inc.      40,377,089        1.7  
ICON PLC      39,934,062        1.6  
IDEX Corp.      39,728,908        1.6  
   $   438,581,140        18.1

 

1

All data are as of January 31, 2019. The Fund’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time.

 

2

Long-term investments.

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

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PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

January 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

COMMON STOCKS – 97.0%

    

Information Technology – 25.4%

    

Communications Equipment – 2.2%

    

Arista Networks, Inc.(a)

     135,000     $ 28,995,300  

Ciena Corp.(a)

     666,076       25,370,835  
    

 

 

 
       54,366,135  
    

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components – 1.2%

    

Littelfuse, Inc.

     162,550       28,563,286  
    

 

 

 

IT Services – 2.1%

    

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

     121,880       16,277,074  

Twilio, Inc. – Class A(a)

     306,610       34,131,825  
    

 

 

 
       50,408,899  
    

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment – 4.2%

    

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(a)

     1,225,030       29,902,982  

Cree, Inc.(a)

     511,110       25,775,277  

Semtech Corp.(a)

     525,610       25,523,622  

Universal Display Corp.(b)

     193,290       20,069,301  
    

 

 

 
       101,271,182  
    

 

 

 

Software – 14.6%

    

2U, Inc.(a)

     306,863       17,445,162  

ANSYS, Inc.(a)

     152,610       25,081,454  

Aspen Technology, Inc.(a)

     389,528       37,640,091  

Guidewire Software, Inc.(a)

     320,819       27,808,591  

HubSpot, Inc.(a)

     203,740       32,254,079  

New Relic, Inc.(a)

     306,339       31,139,359  

Nutanix, Inc. – Class A(a)

     374,238       19,172,213  

SailPoint Technologies Holding, Inc.(a)

     1,242,727       35,479,856  

Splunk, Inc.(a)

     178,400       22,271,456  

Tableau Software, Inc. – Class A(a)

     294,780       37,684,675  

Trade Desk, Inc. (The) – Class A(a)

     221,078       31,543,409  

Zendesk, Inc.(a)

     533,480       36,025,904  
    

 

 

 
       353,546,249  
    

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals – 1.1%

    

Pure Storage, Inc. – Class A(a)

     1,548,810       27,739,187  
    

 

 

 
       615,894,938  
    

 

 

 

Industrials – 21.0%

    

Aerospace & Defense – 1.3%

    

Hexcel Corp.

     458,551       31,048,488  
    

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics – 1.8%

    

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

     296,167       20,524,373  

XPO Logistics, Inc.(a)

     386,300       23,479,314  
    

 

 

 
       44,003,687  
    

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    13


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Building Products – 2.7%

    

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

     470,900     $ 32,040,036  

Lennox International, Inc.

     146,070       33,490,930  
    

 

 

 
       65,530,966  
    

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies – 0.8%

    

Copart, Inc.(a)

     366,754       18,568,755  
    

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering – 1.9%

    

Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)

     299,070       17,361,013  

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

     449,640       29,136,672  
    

 

 

 
       46,497,685  
    

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment – 1.2%

    

AMETEK, Inc.

     400,109       29,167,946  
    

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates – 0.7%

    

Carlisle Cos., Inc.

     157,303       16,946,252  
    

 

 

 

Machinery – 6.3%

    

Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.(a)

     1,329,097       32,788,823  

Gates Industrial Corp. PLC(a)

     1,208,254       18,015,067  

IDEX Corp.

     288,183       39,728,908  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

     298,117       25,769,234  

Nordson Corp.

     290,760       37,694,126  
    

 

 

 
       153,996,158  
    

 

 

 

Professional Services – 1.0%

    

CoStar Group, Inc.(a)

     63,262       24,718,994  
    

 

 

 

Road & Rail – 1.2%

    

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

     927,090       29,435,108  
    

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.1%

    

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.(a)

     367,540       19,589,882  

United Rentals, Inc.(a)

     242,460       30,370,540  
    

 

 

 
       49,960,422  
    

 

 

 
       509,874,461  
    

 

 

 

Health Care – 20.2%

    

Biotechnology – 11.0%

    

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

     473,390       11,134,133  

Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)

     329,863       10,004,745  

Ascendis Pharma A/S (Sponsored ADR)(a)

     189,800       13,563,108  

BeiGene Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(a)(b)

     97,599       12,637,118  

Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co., Ltd.(a)

     342,962       13,063,422  

Blueprint Medicines Corp.(a)

     190,618       13,741,652  

Exact Sciences Corp.(a)

     640,912       57,733,353  

Incyte Corp.(a)

     229,840       18,522,806  

Loxo Oncology, Inc.(a)

     85,593       20,080,118  

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)

     74,350       8,606,756  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.(a)

     312,230       27,544,930  

Rubius Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)

     618,701       8,470,017  

 

14    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Sage Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

     124,692     $ 17,779,832  

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

     171,270       23,928,132  

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a)

     217,801       10,741,945  
    

 

 

 
       267,552,067  
    

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 2.9%

    

AxoGen, Inc.(a)

     31,737       523,660  

Inogen, Inc.(a)

     158,670       23,992,491  

Insulet Corp.(a)

     105,120       8,534,693  

Penumbra, Inc.(a)

     254,465       37,027,202  
    

 

 

 
       70,078,046  
    

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services – 2.1%

    

Amedisys, Inc.(a)

     325,790       42,730,616  

Guardant Health, Inc.(a)

     224,482       9,055,604  
    

 

 

 
       51,786,220  
    

 

 

 

Health Care Technology – 1.8%

    

Teladoc Health, Inc.(a)

     666,146       42,766,573  
    

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services – 1.7%

    

ICON PLC(a)

     285,488       39,934,062  
    

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals – 0.7%

    

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC
(Sponsored ADR)(a)(b)

     79,333       11,324,786  

Revance Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

     384,929       6,647,724  
    

 

 

 
       17,972,510  
    

 

 

 
       490,089,478  
    

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary – 20.0%

    

Diversified Consumer Services – 4.8%

    

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.(a)

     376,708       43,619,019  

Chegg, Inc.(a)

     1,146,425       40,377,089  

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.(a)

     354,314       32,929,943  
    

 

 

 
       116,926,051  
    

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 4.7%

    

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. – Class A(a)

     59,010       31,252,286  

Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.(a)

     1,273,551       38,639,537  

Planet Fitness, Inc.(a)

     748,264       43,339,451  
    

 

 

 
       113,231,274  
    

 

 

 

Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 4.3%

    

Etsy, Inc.(a)

     679,832       37,152,819  

GrubHub, Inc.(a)

     440,690       35,431,476  

Wayfair, Inc. – Class A(a)

     282,320       30,902,747  
    

 

 

 
       103,487,042  
    

 

 

 

Multiline Retail – 1.4%

    

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.(a)

     450,102       35,184,474  
    

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    15


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Specialty Retail – 4.8%

    

Burlington Stores, Inc.(a)

     257,810     $ 44,268,555  

Five Below, Inc.(a)

     356,288       44,083,514  

National Vision Holdings, Inc.(a)

     908,022       28,838,779  
    

 

 

 
       117,190,848  
    

 

 

 
       486,019,689  
    

 

 

 

Financials – 6.5%

    

Banks – 3.4%

    

Cadence BanCorp

     1,402,803       26,302,556  

SVB Financial Group(a)

     122,535       28,597,218  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

     395,990       28,170,729  
    

 

 

 
       83,070,503  
    

 

 

 

Capital Markets – 3.1%

    

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

     170,298       17,872,775  

Lazard Ltd. – Class A

     776,123       30,881,934  

Stifel Financial Corp.

     543,253       26,005,521  
    

 

 

 
       74,760,230  
    

 

 

 
       157,830,733  
    

 

 

 

Energy – 2.0%

    

Energy Equipment & Services – 1.5%

    

Cactus, Inc. – Class A(a)

     627,179       20,584,015  

Oceaneering International, Inc.(a)

     1,116,840       17,523,219  
    

 

 

 
       38,107,234  
    

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.5%

    

Matador Resources Co.(a)

     589,150       11,488,425  
    

 

 

 
       49,595,659  
    

 

 

 

Materials – 1.1%

    

Chemicals – 1.1%

    

PolyOne Corp.

     838,034       27,127,161  
    

 

 

 

Communication Services – 0.8%

    

Entertainment – 0.8%

    

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(a)

     175,113       18,483,177  
    

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $1,870,584,513)

       2,354,915,296  
    

 

 

 
    

INVESTMENT COMPANIES – 1.0%

    

Funds and Investment Trusts – 1.0%

    

iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF(b)(c)
(cost $22,634,306)

     125,890       23,596,822  
    

 

 

 
    

PREFERRED STOCKS – 0.1%

    

Consumer Discretionary – 0.1%

    

Household Durables – 0.1%

    

Honest Co., Inc. (The) – Series D
0.00%(a)(d)(e)(f)

     42,660       1,068,947  

 

16    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Honest Co., Inc. (The) – Series E 0.00%(a)(d)(e)(f)

     11,161     $ 185,934  
    

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(cost $2,170,717)

       1,254,881  
    

 

 

 
    

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.8%

    

Investment Companies – 1.8%

    

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc. – Government Money Market Portfolio – Class AB, 2.35%(c)(g)(h)
(cost $43,408,017)

     43,408,017       43,408,017  
    

 

 

 

Total Investments Before Security Lending Collateral for Securities Loaned – 99.9%
(cost $1,938,797,553)

       2,423,175,016  
    

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED – 2.5%

    

Investment Companies – 2.5%

    

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc. – Government Money Market Portfolio – Class AB,
2.35%(c)(g)(h)
(cost $62,165,676)

     62,165,676       62,165,676  
    

 

 

 

Total Investments – 102.4% (cost $2,000,963,229)

       2,485,340,692  

Other assets less liabilities – (2.4)%

       (58,884,895
    

 

 

 

Net Assets – 100.0%

     $ 2,426,455,797  
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

 

(b)

Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)

To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, shareholder reports for AB funds can be obtained by calling AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

(d)

Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

(e)

Illiquid security.

 

(f)

Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(g)

Affiliated investments.

 

(h)

The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

Glossary:

ADR – American Depositary Receipt

ETF – Exchange Traded Fund

See notes to financial statements.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    17


 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

January 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Assets   

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $1,895,389,536)

   $     2,379,766,999 (a)  

Affiliated issuers (cost $105,573,693—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $62,165,676)

     105,573,693  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     6,752,051  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     4,599,391  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     108,719  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     29,432  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     2,496,830,285  
  

 

 

 
Liabilities   

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     62,165,676  

Payable for investment securities purchased

     4,950,199  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     1,710,353  

Management fee payable

     1,185,844  

Distribution fee payable

     162,683  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     75,923  

Administrative fee payable

     23,117  

Directors’ fees payable

     2,446  

Accrued expenses

     98,247  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     70,374,488  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,426,455,797  
  

 

 

 
Composition of Net Assets   

Capital stock, at par

   $ 2,354,964  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,898,152,832  

Distributable earnings

     525,948,001  
  

 

 

 
   $ 2,426,455,797  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—27 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.01 par value

 

Class   Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 

 

 
A   $ 649,032,550          65,362,243        $ 9.93

 

 
B   $ 770,723          138,505        $ 5.56  

 

 
C   $ 39,278,558          6,974,577        $ 5.63  

 

 
Advisor   $   1,082,146,677          100,884,111        $   10.73  

 

 
R   $ 20,043,879          2,173,261        $ 9.22  

 

 
K   $ 20,022,598          2,041,249        $ 9.81  

 

 
I   $ 97,717,582          9,217,475        $ 10.60  

 

 
Z   $ 517,443,230          48,704,939        $ 10.62  

 

 

 

(a)

Includes securities on loan with a value of $61,452,354 (see Note E).

 

*

The maximum offering price per share for Class A shares was $10.37 which reflects a sales charge of 4.25%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

18    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six Months Ended January 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

Investment Income     

Dividends

    

Unaffiliated issuers

   $     4,154,663    

Affiliated issuers

     591,335     $ 4,745,998  
  

 

 

   
Expenses     

Management fee (see Note B)

     7,485,168    

Distribution fee—Class A

     782,575    

Distribution fee—Class B

     4,267    

Distribution fee—Class C

     209,151    

Distribution fee—Class R

     51,981    

Distribution fee—Class K

     25,582    

Transfer agency—Class A

     254,507    

Transfer agency—Class B

     534    

Transfer agency—Class C

     16,183    

Transfer agency—Advisor Class

     418,256    

Transfer agency—Class R

     21,269    

Transfer agency—Class K

     19,982    

Transfer agency—Class I

     45,391    

Transfer agency—Class Z

     47,404    

Custodian

     101,565    

Registration fees

     77,767    

Printing

     44,550    

Administrative

     33,365    

Audit and tax

     25,973    

Legal

     21,366    

Directors’ fees

     12,773    

Miscellaneous

     42,604    
  

 

 

   

Total expenses

     9,742,213    

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (31,051  
  

 

 

   

Net expenses

       9,711,162  
    

 

 

 

Net investment loss

       (4,965,164
    

 

 

 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions     

Net realized gain on investment transactions

       92,591,499  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

       (216,433,168
    

 

 

 

Net loss on investment transactions

       (123,841,669
    

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Operations

     $     (128,806,833
    

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    19


 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations     

Net investment loss

   $ (4,965,164   $ (5,976,842

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     92,591,499       409,902,863  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (216,433,168     172,992,318  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (128,806,833     576,918,339  

Distributions to Shareholders

    

Class A

     (99,785,452     (39,900,235

Class B

     (185,414     (90,553

Class C

     (9,764,388     (3,562,981

Advisor Class

     (157,268,145     (63,862,790

Class R

     (3,231,118     (1,297,550

Class K

     (3,111,654     (1,046,660

Class I

     (13,241,940     (4,089,567

Class Z

     (71,571,050     (19,596,943
Capital Stock Transactions     

Net increase (decrease)

     500,528,301       (33,225,568
Capital Contributions     

Proceeds from regulatory settlement (see Note F)

     – 0  –      1,347,496  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase

     13,562,307       411,592,988  
Net Assets     

Beginning of period

     2,412,893,490       2,001,300,502  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $     2,426,455,797     $     2,412,893,490  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

20    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

January 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K, Class I and Class Z shares. Class T shares have been authorized but currently are not offered. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4.25% for purchases not exceeding $1,000,000. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more, Class A shares redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%. Class B shares are currently sold with a contingent deferred sales charge which declines from 4% to 0% depending on the period of time the shares are held. Effective January 31, 2009, sales of Class B shares of the Fund to new investors were suspended. Class B shares will only be issued (i) upon the exchange of Class B shares from another AB mutual fund, (ii) for purposes of dividend reinvestment, (iii) through the Fund’s Automatic Investment Program (the “Program”) for accounts that established the Program prior to January 31, 2009, and (iv) for purchases of additional shares by Class B shareholders as of January 31, 2009. The ability to establish a new Program for accounts containing Class B shares was suspended as of January 31, 2009. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% on redemptions made within the first year after purchase, and 0% after the first year of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares ten years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Class R and Class K shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. Advisor Class, Class I and Class Z shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge and are not subject to ongoing distribution expenses. All nine classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, except that the classes bear different distribution and transfer agency expenses. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    21


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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 the last traded price from the previous day. Securities listed on more than one exchange are valued by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded; securities listed only on NASDAQ are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price; listed or over the counter (“OTC”) market put or call options are valued at the mid level between the current bid and ask prices. If either a current bid or current ask price is unavailable, 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 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.

 

22    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Open end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by 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. To account for this, the Fund generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability (including those valued based on their market values as described in Note A.1 above). Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of January 31, 2019:

 

Investments in
Securities:

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

       

Common Stocks(a)

  $ 2,354,915,296     $   – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 2,354,915,296  

Investment Companies

    23,596,822       – 0  –      – 0  –      23,596,822  

Preferred Stocks

    – 0  –      – 0  –      1,254,881       1,254,881  

Short-Term Investments

    43,408,017       – 0  –      – 0  –      43,408,017  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

    62,165,676       – 0  –      – 0  –      62,165,676  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

    2,484,085,811       – 0  –      1,254,881       2,485,340,692  

Other Financial Instruments(b)

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total(c)

  $   2,484,085,811     $   – 0  –    $   1,254,881     $   2,485,340,692  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

(b)

Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

(c)

There were no transfers between any levels during the reporting period.

The Fund recognizes all transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy assuming the financial instruments were transferred at the beginning of the reporting period.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

      Preferred Stocks     Total  

Balance as of 7/31/18

   $ 1,383,402     $ 1,383,402  

Accrued discounts/(premiums)

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Realized gain (loss)

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

     (128,521     (128,521

Purchases

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Sales

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers in to Level 3

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

Transfers out of Level 3

     – 0  –      – 0  – 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 1/31/19

   $   1,254,881     $   1,254,881  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 1/31/19(a)

   $ (128,521   $ (128,521
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

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.

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 any 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 processes at vendors, 2) daily comparison 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.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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 rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

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.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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 the securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains or losses are determined on the identified cost basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Fund are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Fund represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. Dividends and Distributions

Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

NOTE B

Management Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the management agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee at an annual rate of .75% on the first $500 million of average daily net assets, .65% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets and .55% on average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. Such fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

During 2017, AXA S.A. (“AXA”), a French holding company for the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in life, property and casualty and health insurance and asset management, announced its intention to pursue the sale of a minority stake in its subsidiary, AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“AXA Equitable”), the holding company for a diversified financial services organization, through an initial public offering (“IPO”). AXA Equitable is the holding company for a diverse group of financial services companies, including AllianceBernstein L.P., the investment adviser to the Funds (“the Adviser”). In March 2018, AXA announced its intention to sell its entire interest in AXA Equitable over time, subject to market conditions and other factors (the “Plan”). During the second quarter of 2018, AXA Equitable completed the IPO, and, in the fourth quarter of 2018, AXA completed a

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

public offering of additional shares of AXA Equitable’s common stock and simultaneously sold shares to AXA Equitable pursuant to a separate agreement with it. As a result of the foregoing sales of AXA Equitable shares, AXA currently owns approximately 59% of the shares of common stock of AXA Equitable. Contemporaneously with the IPO, AXA sold $862.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% mandatorily exchangeable notes (the “MxB Notes”) due May 15, 2021 and exchangeable into up to 43,125,000 shares of common stock (or approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of common stock of AXA Equitable). AXA retains ownership (including voting rights) of such shares of common stock until the MxB Notes are exchanged, which may be on a date that is earlier than the maturity date at AXA’s option upon the occurrence of certain events.

It is anticipated that one or more of the transactions contemplated by the Plan may ultimately result in the indirect transfer of a “controlling block” of voting securities of the Adviser (a “Change of Control Event”) and therefore may be deemed an “assignment” causing a termination of each Fund’s current investment advisory agreement. In order to ensure that the existing investment advisory services could continue uninterrupted, at meetings held in late July through early August 2018, the Boards of Directors/Trustees (each a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards”) approved new investment advisory agreements with the Adviser, in connection with the Plan. The Boards also agreed to call and hold a joint meeting of shareholders on October 11, 2018 for shareholders of each Fund to (1) approve the new investment advisory agreement with the Adviser that would be effective after the first Change of Control Event and (2) approve any future advisory agreement approved by the Board and that has terms not materially different from the current agreement, in the event there are subsequent Change of Control Events arising from completion of the Plan that terminate the advisory agreement after the first Change of Control Event. Approval of a future advisory agreement means that shareholders may not have another opportunity to vote on a new agreement with the Adviser even upon a change of control, as long as no single person or group of persons acting together gains “control” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of AXA Equitable.

At the November 14, 2018 adjourned shareholder meeting, shareholders approved the new and future investment advisory agreements.

Pursuant to the management agreement, the Fund may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser. For the six months ended January 31, 2019, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $33,365.

The Fund compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Fund. ABIS may make payments to intermediaries that provide omnibus account services, sub-accounting services and/or networking services. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $441,350 for the six months ended January 31, 2019.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, serves as the distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that it has retained front-end sales charges of $12,792 from the sale of Class A shares and received $3,690, $207 and $2,632 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by shareholders of Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, for the six months ended January 31, 2019.

The Fund may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. Effective August 1, 2018, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2019. In connection with the investment by the Fund in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended January 31, 2019, such waiver amounted to $21,547.

A summary of the Fund’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended January 31, 2019 is as follows:

 

Fund

  Market Value
7/31/18
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
1/31/19
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

  $     33,349     $     411,534     $     401,475     $ 43,408     $     459  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

    81,343       445,511       464,688       62,166       132  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        $     105,574     $ 591  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended January 31, 2019 amounted to $503,316, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE C

Distribution Services Agreement

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Agreement, the Fund pays distribution and servicing fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares, 1% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to both Class B and Class C shares, .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares and .25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class K shares. There are no distribution and servicing fees on the Advisor Class, Class I and Class Z shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. Payments under the Class A plan are currently limited to .23% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares. The Agreement provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities. Since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, the Distributor has incurred expenses in excess of the distribution costs reimbursed by the Fund in the amounts of $5,743,891, $3,011,410, $538,444 and $327,576 for Class B, Class C, Class R and Class K shares, respectively. While such costs may be recovered from the Fund in future periods so long as the Agreement is in effect, the rate of the distribution and servicing fees payable under the Agreement may not be increased without a shareholder vote. In accordance with the Agreement, there is no provision for recovery of unreimbursed distribution costs incurred by the Distributor beyond the current fiscal year for Class A shares. The Agreement also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Fund’s shares.

NOTE D

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended January 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)...................

   $     913,728,218     $     791,976,936  

U.S. government securities......................

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 606,889,281  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (122,511,818
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $     484,377,463  
  

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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 Fund did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended January 31, 2019.

2. Currency Transactions

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Fund may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Fund may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Fund and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Fund may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E

Securities Lending

The Fund may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Fund’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Fund will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Fund in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Fund receives non-cash collateral, the Fund will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Fund will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Fund amounts equal to any income or other distributions from the securities. The Fund will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. The lending agent has agreed to

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

indemnify the Fund in the case of default of any securities borrower. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Fund, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. When the Fund lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. At January 31, 2019, the Fund had securities on loan with a value of $61,452,354 and had received cash collateral which has been invested into Government Money Market Portfolio of $62,165,676. The cash collateral will be adjusted on the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The Fund earned net securities lending income of $132,348 from Government Money Market Portfolio, inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower, for the six months ended January 31, 2019; this amount is reflected in the statement of operations. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Fund in the Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Fund’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended January 31, 2019, such waiver amounted to $9,504. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities.

NOTE F

Capital Stock

Each class consists of 3,000,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

           
    Shares           Amount        
    Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
          Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
       
 

 

 

   
Class A            

Shares sold

    3,973,174       5,298,852       $ 44,353,204     $ 63,300,792    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    9,196,250       3,178,179         84,513,535       33,784,043    

 

   

Shares converted from Class B

    11,302       24,634         135,879       271,929    

 

   

Shares converted from Class C

    23,952       50,911         280,505       565,438    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (5,304,614     (7,496,443       (59,328,350     (84,722,245  

 

   

Net increase

    7,900,064       1,056,133       $ 69,954,773     $ 13,199,957    

 

   
           

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

           
    Shares           Amount        
    Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
          Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
       
Class B            

Shares sold

    6,781       14,287       $ 52,706     $ 111,010    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    35,231       13,078         181,793       88,538    

 

   

Shares converted to Class A

    (18,097     (38,053       (135,879     (271,929  

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (5,439     (16,012       (40,215     (116,743  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    18,476       (26,700     $ 58,405     $ (189,124  

 

   
           
Class C            

Shares sold

    1,128,664       1,065,758       $ 7,549,663     $ 8,214,345    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    1,729,433       476,968         9,027,641       3,257,694    

 

   

Shares converted to Class A

    (38,628     (78,498       (280,505     (565,438  

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (1,223,002     (1,498,065       (7,259,646     (10,886,801  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    1,596,467       (33,837     $ 9,037,153     $ 19,800    

 

   
           
Advisor Class            

Shares sold

    12,799,630       14,490,504       $  152,807,931     $ 181,775,955    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    14,191,083       4,071,223         140,917,453       46,126,960    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (12,148,700     (23,909,044       (140,840,537     (293,144,032  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    14,842,013       (5,347,317     $ 152,884,847     $ (65,241,117  

 

   
   
Class R            

Shares sold

    580,180       408,336       $ 6,319,616     $ 4,596,810    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    378,226       129,194         3,230,049       1,297,108    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (561,904     (667,775       (6,044,311     (7,160,070  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    396,502       (130,245     $ 3,505,354     $ (1,266,152  

 

   
           
Class K            

Shares sold

    443,456       529,136       $ 5,060,554     $ 6,069,621    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    342,693       99,304         3,111,653       1,046,660    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (373,172     (711,960       (3,939,614     (7,823,510  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    412,977       (83,520     $ 4,232,593     $ (707,229)    

 

   
           

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    33


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

           
    Shares           Amount        
    Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
          Six Months Ended
January 31, 2019
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
July 31,
2018
       
Class I            

Shares sold

    2,252,755       2,749,655       $ 27,041,555     $ 33,426,701    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    1,349,350       364,320         13,237,123       4,087,665    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (1,063,429     (8,440,133       (12,115,198     (94,777,223  

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

    2,538,676       (5,326,158     $ 28,163,480     $   (57,262,857  

 

   
           
Class Z            

Shares sold

    15,407,468       9,997,443       $ 200,927,181     $ 117,485,797    

 

   

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    7,280,880       1,743,500         71,571,048       19,596,942    

 

   

Shares redeemed

    (3,412,588     (4,851,139       (39,806,533     (58,861,585  

 

   

Net increase

    19,275,760       6,889,804       $ 232,691,696     $ 78,221,154    

 

   

For the year ended July 31, 2018, the Fund recorded $1,347,496 related to settlements of regulatory proceedings. This amount is presented in the Fund’s statement of changes in net assets. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates were involved in the proceedings or the calculation of the payment.

NOTE G

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Sector Risk—The Fund may have more risk because of concentrated investments in a particular market sector, such as the technology or financial services sector. Market or economic factors affecting that sector could have a major effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

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.

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

 

34    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

degree than more traditional investments. Derivatives may result in significant losses, including losses that are far greater than the value of the derivatives reflected on the statement of assets and liabilities.

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.

NOTE H

Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Fund, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions in connection with abnormal redemption activity. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Fund did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended January 31, 2019.

NOTE I

Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending July 31, 2019 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended July 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017 were as follows:

 

     2018      2017  

Distributions paid from:

                      

Net long-term capital gains

   $     133,447,279      $   – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 133,447,279      $   – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of July 31, 2018, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 44,969,174  

Undistributed capital gains

     286,427,163  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     681,517,658 (a)  
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $     1,012,913,995  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

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), and the tax treatment of partnership investments.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    35


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of July 31, 2018, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement which removes, modifies and adds disclosures to Topic 820. The amendments in this ASU 2018-13 apply to all entities that are required, under existing U.S. GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements. The amendments in this ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of these changes on the financial statements.

In October 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to certain disclosure requirements included in Regulation S-X that had become “redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded, in light of the other Commission disclosure requirements, GAAP or changes in the information environment.” The compliance date for the amendments to Regulation S-X was November 5, 2018 (for reporting period end dates of September 30, 2018 or after). Management has adopted the amendments which simplified certain disclosure requirements on the financial statements.

NOTE K

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.

 

36    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class A  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  12.41       $  10.16       $  8.58       $  9.77       $  9.13       $  8.82  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.03 )(b)      (.05 )(b)       (.03 )(b)      (.04 )(b)      (.07     (.04

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.68     3.02       1.61       (.65     1.42       .88  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.71     2.98       1.58       (.68     1.35       .84  
 

 

 

 

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  9.93       $  12.41       $  10.16       $  8.58       $  9.77       $  9.13  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.59 )%      30.56  %       18.41  %      (6.90 )%      15.62  %      9.63  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $649,032       $713,181       $573,081       $580,016       $1,088,392       $702,185  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .94  %^      .95  %      .97  %      .99  %      .99  %      1.04  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .95  %^      .96  %      .99  %      .99  %      .99  %      1.04  % 

Net investment loss

    (.55 )%(b)^      (.42 )%(b)       (.33 )%(b)      (.48 )%(b)      (.75 )%      (.43 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    37


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

    Class B  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  7.86       $  6.73       $  5.73       $  6.76       $  6.58       $  6.54  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.05 )(b)      (.09 )(b)       (.07 )(b)      (.07 )(b)      (.10     (.09

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.48     1.95       1.07       (.46     .99       .66  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .00 (e)       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.53     1.86       1.00       (.52     .89       .57  
 

 

 

 

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  5.56       $  7.86       $  6.73       $  5.73       $  6.76       $  6.58  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (5.14 )%      29.43  %+       17.45  %+      (7.64 )%+      14.62  %      8.81  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $771       $944       $987       $1,374       $2,358       $3,382  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.76  %^      1.76  %      1.79  %      1.81  %      1.80  %      1.83  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.77  %^      1.77  %      1.80  %      1.81  %      1.80  %      1.83  % 

Net investment
loss

    (1.37 )%(b)^      (1.22 )%(b)       (1.10 )%(b)      (1.30 )%(b)      (1.55 )%      (1.28 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

38    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class C  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  7.93       $  6.78       $  5.77       $  6.81       $  6.61       $  6.57  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.05 )(b)      (.09 )(b)       (.06 )(b)      (.07 )(b)      (.10     (.08

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.48     1.97       1.07       (.47     1.01       .65  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .00 (e)       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.53     1.88       1.01       (.53     .91       .57  
 

 

 

 

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  5.63       $  7.93       $  6.78       $  5.77       $  6.81       $  6.61  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.95 )%      29.51  %       17.50  %       (7.73 )%      14.87  %      8.77  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $39,278       $42,670       $36,692       $52,223       $72,549       $72,360  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.72  %^      1.72  %      1.74  %      1.77  %      1.76  %      1.81  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.72  %^      1.73  %      1.76  %      1.77  %      1.76  %      1.81  % 

Net investment loss

    (1.33 )%(b)^      (1.19 )%(b)       (1.06 )%(b)      (1.25 )%(b)      (1.52 )%      (1.18 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    39


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Advisor Class  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  13.26       $  10.78       $  9.09       $  10.30       $  9.56       $  9.19  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.02 )(b)      (.02 )(b)       (.01 )(b)      (.02 )(b)      (.05     (.02

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.72     3.22       1.70       (.69     1.50       .92  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.74     3.21       1.69       (.70     1.45       .90  
 

 

 

 

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    (.02     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    (1.79     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  10.73       $  13.26       $  10.78       $  9.09       $  10.30       $  9.56  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.49 )%      30.96  %       18.59  %       (6.72 )%      15.98  %      9.90  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $1,082,147       $1,140,555       $985,457       $945,302       $939,463       $736,947  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .71  %^      .72  %      .74  %      .76  %      .76  %      .81  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .72  %^      .73  %      .76  %      .77  %      .76  %      .81  % 

Net investment loss

    (.32 )%(b)^      (.18 )%(b)       (.11 )%(b)      (.24 )%(b)      (.52 )%      (.19 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

40    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class R  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  11.69       $  9.65       $  8.18       $  9.38       $  8.83       $  8.57  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.05 )(b)      (.09 )(b)       (.06 )(b)      (.07 )(b)      (.10     (.07

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.65     2.85       1.53       (.63     1.36       .86  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.70     2.77       1.47       (.69     1.26       .79  
 

 

 

 

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  9.22       $  11.69       $  9.65       $  8.18       $  9.38       $  8.83  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.80 )%      29.98  %       17.83  %       (7.19 )%      15.11  %      9.31  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $20,044       $20,777       $18,402       $31,192       $31,707       $25,320  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.34  %^      1.37  %      1.37  %      1.39  %      1.38  %      1.41  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.35  %^      1.38  %      1.39  %      1.39  %      1.38  %      1.41  % 

Net investment loss

    (.95 )%(b)^      (.84 )%(b)       (.64 )%(b)      (.87 )%(b)      (1.14 )%      (.75 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    41


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class K  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  12.29       $  10.08       $  8.53       $  9.73       $  9.10       $  8.80  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.04 )(b)      (.06 )(b)       (.04 )(b)      (.05 )(b)      (.08     (.04

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.67     2.99       1.59       (.65     1.42       .87  

Capital contributions

    – 0 –      .01       – 0 –      .01       – 0 –      – 0 – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.71     2.94       1.55       (.69     1.34       .83  
 

 

 

 

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0 –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  9.81       $  12.29       $  10.08       $  8.53       $  9.73       $  9.10  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.63 )%      30.40  %       18.17  %       (7.03 )%      15.56  %      9.53  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $20,023       $20,016       $17,262       $16,222       $20,556       $18,460  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.08  %^      1.09  %      1.11  %      1.10  %      1.10  %      1.13  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    1.09  %^      1.10  %      1.12  %      1.10  %      1.10  %      1.13  % 

Net investment loss

    (.70 )%(b)^      (.56 )%(b)       (.47 )%(b)      (.58 )%(b)      (.86 )%      (.47 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class I  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  13.12       $  10.68       $  9.01       $  10.20       $  9.48       $  9.11  
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss(a)

    (.02 )(b)      (.02 )(b)       (.01 )(b)      (.02 )(b)      (.05     (.02

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.71     3.18       1.68       (.67     1.48       .92  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.73     3.17       1.67       (.68     1.43       .90  
 

 

 

 

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    (.02     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    (1.79     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     (.53
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  10.60       $  13.12       $  10.68       $  9.01       $  10.20       $  9.48  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.49 )%      30.87  %       18.54  %       (6.59 )%      15.90  %      9.99  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $97,718       $87,649       $128,235       $165,508       $195,036       $220,183  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .74  %^      .74  %      .74  %      .75  %      .76  %      .77  % 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .74  %^      .75  %      .76  %      .76  %      .76  %      .77  % 

Net investment loss

    (.35 )%(b)^      (.16 )%(b)       (.07 )%(b)      (.23 )%(b)      (.51 )%      (.16 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    43


 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class Z  
   

Six Months
Ended
January 31,
2019

(unaudited)

    Year Ended July 31,  
    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  13.15       $  10.70       $  9.01       $  10.21       $  9.48       $  9.37  
 

 

 

 

Income From
Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (loss)(a)

    (.02 )(b)      (.02 )(b)       (.01 )(b)      (.01 )(b)      (.05     .01  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (.71     3.19       1.70       (.69     1.49       .10  

Capital contributions

    – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      .01       – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (.73     3.18       1.69       (.69     1.44       .11  
 

 

 

 

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    (.03     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    (1.77     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    (1.80     (.73     – 0  –      (.51     (.71     – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  10.62       $  13.15       $  10.70       $  9.01       $  10.21       $  9.48  
 

 

 

 

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value(c)*

    (4.48 )%      30.91  %       18.76  %      (6.68 )%      16.01  %      1.17  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $517,443       $387,101       $241,185       $131,346       $199,256       $10  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .66  %^      .66  %      .68  %      .68  %      .68  %      .67  %^ 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)

    .66  %^      .67  %      .69  %      .68  %      .68  %      .67  %^ 

Net investment income (loss)

    (.27 )%(b)^      (.15 )%(b)       (.11 )%(b)      (.15 )%(b)      (.49 )%      .73 %^ 

Portfolio turnover rate

    33  %      72  %      70  %      67  %      59  %      74  % 

See footnote summary on page 45.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)

Net of fees and expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)

Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Initial sales charges or contingent deferred sales charges are not reflected in the calculation of total investment return. Total return does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(d)

In connection with the Fund’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended July 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, such waiver amounted to .01% and .01%, respectively.

 

(e)

Amount is less than $.005.

 

(f)

Commencement of distributions.

 

For the year ended July 31, 2017, the amount includes a refund for overbilling of prior years’ custody out of pocket fees as follows:

 

Net Investment
Income Per Share
   Net Investment
Income Ratio
  

Total

Return

$.001    .01%    .01%

 

*

Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Fund resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Fund’s performance for the years ended July 31, 2017, July 31, 2016, July 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014 by .02%, .02%, .02% and .01%, respectively.

 

  

Includes the impact of proceeds recorded and credited to the Fund resulting from regulatory settlements, which enhanced the Fund’s performance for the years ended July 31, 2018 and July 31, 2016 by .07% and .13%, respectively.

 

+

The net asset value and total return include adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for financial reporting purposes. As such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions may differ from financial statements.

 

^

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    45


 

RESULTS OF STOCKHOLDER MEETING

(unaudited)

 

A Special Meeting of Stockholders of AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was held on October 11, 2018 and adjourned until November 14, 2018. A description of each proposal and the number of shares voted at the Meeting are as follows (the proposal numbers shown below correspond to the proposal number in the Fund’s proxy statement):

 

1.

To approve and vote upon the election of Directors for the Fund, each such Director to serve for a term of indefinite duration and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

 

Director:

   Voted
For:
     Authority
Withheld:
 

Michael J. Downey

     94,044,779        1,777,135  

William H. Foulk, Jr.*

     93,756,205        2,065,709  

Nancy P. Jacklin

     94,023,885        1,798,029  

Robert M. Keith

     94,011,004        1,810,910  

Carol C. McMullen

     94,033,710        1,788,203  

Gary L. Moody

     93,981,542        1,840,372  

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.

     93,976,073        1,845,841  

Earl D. Weiner

     93,789,172        2,032,741  

 

2.

To vote upon the approval of new advisory agreements for the Fund with AllianceBernstein L.P.

 

Voted
For
    Voted
Against
    Abstained     Broker
Non-Votes
 
  69,359,672       1,054,626       2,042,605       23,365,011  

 

*

Mr. Foulk retired on December 31, 2018.

 

46    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1), Chairman

Michael J. Downey(1)

Nancy P. Jacklin(1)

Robert M. Keith, President and Chief Executive Officer

Carol C. McMullen(1)

Garry L. Moody(1)

Earl D. Weiner(1)

OFFICERS

Bruce K. Aronow(2), Vice President

Samantha S. Lau(2), Vice President

Wen-Tse Tseng(2), Vice President

Emilie D. Wrapp, Secretary

Michael B. Reyes, Senior Analyst

Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Stephen M. Woetzel, Controller

Vincent S. Noto, Chief Compliance Officer

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Corporation CCB/5

1 Iron Street

Boston, MA 02210

 

Principal Underwriter

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

 

Transfer Agent

AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 786003

San Antonio, TX 78278-6003

Toll-Free (800) 221-5672

  

Independent Registered Public 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 Adviser’s U.S. Small/Mid Cap Growth Investment Team. Ms. Lau and Messrs. Aronow and Tseng are the investment professionals with the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    47


Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Proposed New Advisory Agreement and Interim Advisory Agreement in the Context of Potential Assignments

As described in more detail in the Proxy Statement for the AB Funds dated August 20, 2018, the Boards of the AB Funds, at a meeting held on July 31-August 2, 2018, approved new advisory agreements with the Adviser (the “Proposed Agreements”) for the AB Funds, including AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), in connection with the planned disposition by AXA S.A. of its remaining shares of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (the indirect holder of a majority of the partnership interests in the Adviser and the indirect parent of AllianceBernstein Corporation, the general partner of the Adviser) in one or more transactions and the related potential for one or more “assignments” (within the meaning of section 2(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act) of the advisory agreements for the AB Funds, including the Fund’s Advisory Agreement, resulting in the automatic termination of such advisory agreements.

At the same meeting, the AB Boards also considered and approved interim advisory agreements with the Adviser (the “Interim Advisory Agreements”) for the AB Funds, including the Fund, to be effective only in the event that stockholder approval of a Proposed Agreement had not been obtained as of the date of one or more transactions resulting in an “assignment” of the Adviser’s advisory agreements, resulting in the automatic termination of such advisory agreements.

The shareholders of the Fund subsequently approved the Proposed Agreements at an annual meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and voting on the Proposed Agreements.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards’ approvals at the meeting held on July 31-August 2, 2018 is set forth below.

At a meeting of the AB Boards held on July 31-August 2, 2018, the Adviser presented its recommendation that the Boards consider and approve the Proposed Agreements. Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act provides that, after an initial period, a Fund’s Current Agreement and current sub-advisory agreement, as applicable, will remain in effect only if the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, annually reviews and approves them. Each of the Current Agreements had been approved by a Board within the one-year period prior to approval of its related Proposed Agreement, except that the Current Agreements for certain FlexFee funds were approved in February 2017. In connection with their approval of the Proposed Agreements, the Boards considered their conclusions in connection with their most recent approvals of the Current Agreements, in particular in cases where the last approval of a Current Agreement was relatively recent, including the Boards’ general satisfaction with the nature and quality of services being provided and, as applicable, in the case of

 

48    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


certain Funds, actions taken or to be taken in an effort to improve investment performance or reduce expense ratios. The Directors also reviewed updated information provided by the Adviser in respect of each Fund. Also in connection with their approval of the Proposed Agreements, the Boards considered a representation made to them at that time by the Adviser that there were no additional developments not already disclosed to the Boards since their most recent approvals of the Current Agreements that would be a material consideration to the Boards in connection with their consideration of the Proposed Agreements, except for matters disclosed to the Boards by the Adviser. The Directors considered the fact that each Proposed Agreement would have corresponding terms and conditions identical to those of the corresponding Current Agreement with the exception of the effective date and initial term under the Proposed Agreement.

The Directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to each Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the Directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the Directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the Funds. The Directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of each Fund.

The Directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the Directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the management fees of the Funds they oversee. The Directors did not identify any particular information that 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 Funds, and the overall arrangements between the Funds and the Adviser, as provided in the Proposed Agreements, including the management fees, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed under the Current Agreements and to be performed under the Proposed Agreements, expenses incurred and to be incurred and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The Directors considered the scope and quality of services to be provided by the Adviser under the Proposed Agreements, including the quality of

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    49


the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Funds. They also considered the information that had been provided to them by the Adviser concerning the anticipated implementation of the Plan and the Adviser’s representation that it did not anticipate that such implementation would affect the management or structure of the Adviser, have a material adverse effect on the Adviser, or adversely affect the quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and its affiliates. The Directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews each Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the Directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of each Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The Directors also considered that certain Proposed Agreements, similar to the corresponding Current Agreements, provide that the Funds will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Funds by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the Directors. The Directors noted that the Adviser did not request any reimbursements from certain Funds in the Fund’s latest fiscal year reviewed. The Directors noted that the methodology to be used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant retained by the Funds’ former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Funds’ other service providers, also was considered. The Directors of each Fund concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Funds under the Proposed Agreement for the Fund.

Costs of Services to be Provided and Profitability

The Directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of each Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2016 and 2017, as applicable, that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Funds’ former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The Directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The Directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with a Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund, as applicable. The Directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Proposed Agreements with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is

 

50    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


affected by numerous factors. The Directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with each Fund before taxes and distribution expenses, as applicable. The Directors noted that certain Funds were not profitable to the Adviser in one or more periods reviewed. The Directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the other Funds was not unreasonable. The Directors were unable to consider historical information about the profitability of certain Funds that had recently commenced operations and for which historical profitability information was not available. The Adviser agreed to provide the Directors with profitability information in connection with future proposed continuances of the Proposed Agreements.

Fall-Out Benefits

The Directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Funds, including, but not limited to, as applicable, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients) in the case of certain Funds; 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the shares of most of the Funds; brokerage commissions paid by certain Funds to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by most of the Funds to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower, and that a Fund’s unprofitability to the Adviser would be exacerbated, without these benefits. The Directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Funds.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the Directors in connection with the Board meeting at which the Proposed Agreements were approved, the Directors receive detailed performance information for the Funds at each regular Board meeting during the year.

The Boards’ consideration of each Proposed Agreement was informed by their most recent approval of the related Current Agreement, and, in the case of certain Funds, their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for those Funds’ underperformance in certain periods. The Directors also reviewed updated performance information and, in some cases, discussed with the Adviser the reasons for changes in performance or continued underperformance. On the basis of this review, the Directors concluded that each Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Management Fees and Other Expenses

The Directors considered the management fee rate payable by each Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by an independent service

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    51


provider (the “15(c) provider”) concerning management fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The Directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of management fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The Directors compared each Fund’s contractual management fee rate with a peer group median, and where applicable, took into account the impact on the management fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year. In the case of the ACS Funds, the Directors noted that the management fee rate is zero but also were cognizant that the Adviser is indirectly compensated by the wrap fee program sponsors that use the ACS Funds as an investment vehicle for their clients.

The Directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients pursuing a similar investment style to each Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Funds’ Senior Analyst and noted the differences between a Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds pursuing a similar investment strategy as the Fund, on the other, as applicable. The Directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the Directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The Adviser also informed the Directors that, in the case of certain Funds, there were no institutional products managed by the Adviser that have a substantially similar investment style. The Directors also discussed these matters with their independent fee consultant.

The Adviser reviewed with the Directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to each Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients, as applicable. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, each Fund, as applicable, (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows (in the case of open-end Funds); (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the

 

52    |    AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND   abfunds.com


substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Funds, and the different risk profile, the Directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

The Directors noted that many of the Funds may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the 1940 Act as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued by the SEC. The Directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts. The Directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that each Fund’s management fee would be for services that would be in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.

With respect to each Fund’s management fee, the Directors considered the total expense ratio of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Directors also considered the Adviser’s expense caps for certain Funds. The Directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to a Fund by others.

The Boards’ consideration of each Proposed Agreement was informed by their most recent approval of the related Current Agreement, and, in the case of certain Funds, their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for those Funds’ expense ratios in certain periods. The Directors also reviewed updated expense ratio information and, in some cases, discussed with the Adviser the reasons for the expense ratios of certain Funds. On the basis of this review, the Directors concluded that each Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

The Directors did not consider comparative expense information for the ACS Funds because those Funds do not bear ordinary expenses.

Economies of Scale

The Directors noted that the management fee schedules for certain Funds do not contain breakpoints and that they had discussed their strong preference for breakpoints in advisory contracts with the Adviser. The Directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the Funds, and by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The Directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Board meeting. The Directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The Directors noted that there is no established

 

abfunds.com   AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND    |    53


methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The Directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to each Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The Directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. The Directors informed the Adviser that they would monitor the asset levels of the Funds without breakpoints and their profitability to the Adviser and anticipated revisiting the question of breakpoints in the future if circumstances warrant doing so.

The Directors did not consider the extent to which fee levels in the Advisory Agreement for the ACS Funds reflect economies of scale because that Advisory Agreement does not provide for any compensation to be paid to the Adviser by the ACS Funds and the expense ratio of each of those Funds is zero.

Interim Advisory Agreements

In approving the Interim Advisory Agreements, the Boards, with the assistance of independent counsel, considered similar factors to those considered in approving the Proposed Agreements. The Interim Advisory Agreements approved by the Boards are identical to the Proposed Agreements, as well as the Current Agreements, in all material respects except for their proposed effective and termination dates and provisions intended to comply with the requirements of the relevant SEC rule, such as provisions requiring escrow of advisory fees. Under the Interim Advisory Agreements, the Adviser would continue to manage a Fund pursuant to an Interim Advisory Agreement until a new advisory agreement was approved by stockholders or until the end of the 150-day period, whichever would occur earlier. All fees earned by the Adviser under an Interim Advisory Agreement would be held in escrow pending shareholder approval of the Proposed Agreement. Upon approval of a new advisory agreement by stockholders, the escrowed management fees would be paid to the Adviser, and the Interim Advisory Agreement would terminate.

Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Current Advisory Agreement

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser at a meeting held on May 1-3, 2018 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are

 

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independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including materials from an outside consultant, who acted as their independent fee consultant, and comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Analyst for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that 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 overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical,

 

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accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s former Independent Compliance Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2016 and 2017 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s former Independent Compliance Officer. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage 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 and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the Fund’s shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be

 

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somewhat 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 each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2018. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients pursuing a similar investment style. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and the materials from the Fund’s Senior Analyst and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and any sub-advised funds, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore accounts, the

 

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Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions; (iii) must prepare and distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to funds such as the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

The directors noted that the Fund invests in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued by the SEC. The directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts, and that the Adviser had provided, and they had reviewed, information about the expense ratios of the relevant ETFs. The directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures for a fund or to temporarily “equitize” cash inflows pending purchases of underlying securities, that the advisory fee for the Fund is paid for services that are in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.

The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints and that the Fund’s net assets were higher than the breakpoint levels. Accordingly, the Fund’s current effective advisory fee rate reflected a reduction due to the breakpoints and would be further reduced to the extent the net assets of the Fund increase. The directors took into

 

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consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s breakpoint arrangements were acceptable and provide a means for sharing of any economies of scale.

 

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This page is not part of the Shareholder Report or the Financial Statements.

 

 

AB FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

US EQUITY

US CORE

Core Opportunities Fund

FlexFee US Thematic Portfolio

Select US Equity Portfolio

US GROWTH

Concentrated Growth Fund

Discovery Growth Fund

FlexFee Large Cap Growth Portfolio

Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

US VALUE

Discovery Value Fund

Equity Income Fund

Relative Value Fund

Small Cap Value Portfolio

Value Fund

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL EQUITY

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL CORE

FlexFee International Strategic Core Portfolio

Global Core Equity Portfolio

International Portfolio

International Strategic Core Portfolio

Sustainable Global Thematic Fund

Tax-Managed International Portfolio

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL GROWTH

Concentrated International Growth Portfolio

FlexFee Emerging Markets Growth Portfolio

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL EQUITY (continued)

Sustainable International Thematic Fund

INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL VALUE

All China Equity Portfolio

International Value Fund

FIXED INCOME

MUNICIPAL

High Income Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate California Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate Diversified Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate New York Municipal Portfolio

Municipal Bond Inflation Strategy

Tax-Aware Fixed Income Portfolio

National Portfolio

Arizona Portfolio

California Portfolio

Massachusetts Portfolio

Minnesota Portfolio

New Jersey Portfolio

New York Portfolio

Ohio Portfolio

Pennsylvania Portfolio

Virginia Portfolio

TAXABLE

Bond Inflation Strategy

FlexFee High Yield Portfolio

FlexFee International Bond Portfolio

Global Bond Fund

High Income Fund

Income Fund

Intermediate Bond Portfolio

Limited Duration High Income Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

ALTERNATIVES

All Market Real Return Portfolio

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Select US Long/Short Portfolio

Unconstrained Bond Fund

MULTI-ASSET

All Market Income Portfolio

All Market Total Return Portfolio

Conservative Wealth Strategy

Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Portfolio

Global Risk Allocation Fund

Tax-Managed All Market Income Portfolio

TARGET-DATE

Multi-Manager Select Retirement Allocation Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2010 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2015 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2020 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2025 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2030 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2035 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2040 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2045 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2050 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2055 Fund

Multi-Manager Select 2060 Fund

CLOSED-END FUNDS

Alliance California Municipal Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund

 

We also offer Government Money Market Portfolio, which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AB mutual funds. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the Fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abfunds.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

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LOGO

AB DISCOVERY GROWTH FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800 221 5672

 

DG-0152-0119                 LOGO


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Please see Schedule of Investments contained in the Report to Shareholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the registrant.


ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board of Directors since the Fund last provided disclosure in response to this item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(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 (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): AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Robert M. Keith

  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date: March 29, 2019

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ Robert M. Keith

  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date: March 29, 2019
By:  

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: March 29, 2019