-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, UpN0kA80blpv/HwNsPdCelPRq9pdL7JaiLPrpXsxUTSYS1rl57zdxrFn1184mjB5 n85J8ksY+BZ3bwVMCbD0Xw== 0000919574-02-000702.txt : 20020415 0000919574-02-000702.hdr.sgml : 20020415 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000919574-02-000702 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 485BPOS PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020311 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20020311 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000350181 IRS NUMBER: 133056623 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 485BPOS SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-70427 FILM NUMBER: 02572484 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 BUSINESS PHONE: 2013194105 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP STREET 2: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 31ST FL CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000350181 IRS NUMBER: 133056623 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 485BPOS SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-03131 FILM NUMBER: 02572485 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 BUSINESS PHONE: 2013194105 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP STREET 2: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 31ST FL CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 485BPOS 1 bo00250200ax9.txt As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2002 File Nos. 2-70427 811-03131 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-1A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF l933 Pre-Effective Amendment Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 X and/or REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF l940 Amendment No. 36 X ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY FUND, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Alliance Capital Management L.P. 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 (Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code) (800) 221-5672 Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code EDMUND P. BERGAN, JR., ESQ. Alliance Capital Management L.P. 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10105 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) Copies of communications to: Thomas G. MacDonald, Esq. Seward & Kissel LLP One Battery Park Plaza New York, New York 10004 It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box) __X__immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) ____on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) _____60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) _____on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) _____75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) _____on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485. If appropriate, check the following box: This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. The Registrant's Prospectus is incorporated herein by reference to Part A of the Amendment to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the Commission on January 30, 2002. ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY FUND, INC. ____________________________________________________________ c/o Alliance Global Investor Services, Inc. P.O. Box 1520, Secaucus, New Jersey 07096-1520 Toll Free (800) 221-5672 For Literature: Toll Free (800) 227-4618 ____________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION February 1, 2002 (as amended March 11, 2002) ____________________________________________________________ This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus, but supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus, dated February 1, 2002, for the Alliance Technology Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") that offers the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund and the current Prospectus, dated February 1, 2002, for the Fund that offers the Advisor Class shares of the Fund (the "Advisor Class Prospectus" and, together with the Prospectus for the Fund that offers the Class A, Class B and Class C shares, the "Prospectus"). Financial statements for the Fund for the year ended November 30, 2001 are included in the annual report to shareholders and are incorporated into this SAI by reference. Copies of the Prospectuses and annual report may be obtained by contacting Alliance Global Investor Services, Inc. ("AGIS") at the address or the "For Literature" telephone number shown above. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND.................................. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND................................... EXPENSES OF THE FUND..................................... PURCHASE OF SHARES....................................... REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES...................... SHAREHOLDER SERVICES..................................... NET ASSET VALUE.......................................... DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES....................... PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS................................... GENERAL INFORMATION...................................... REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS............................................... APPENDIX A: Certain Employee Benefit Plans............... A-1 ___________________ (R) This registered service mark under license from the owner, Alliance Capital Management L.P. ________________________________________________________________ DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND ________________________________________________________________ The Fund is a diversified, open-end investment company. Except as otherwise indicated, the investment policies of the Fund are not "fundamental policies" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act"), and may, therefore, be changed by the Board of Directors without a shareholder vote. However, the Fund will not change its investment policies without contemporaneous written notice to its shareholders. The Fund's investment objective, as well as the Fund's 80% investment policy described below, may not be changed without shareholder approval. There can be, of course, no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Investment Objective and Policies The investment objective of the Fund is to emphasize growth of capital, and investments will be made based upon their potential for capital appreciation. Therefore, current income will be incidental to the objective of capital growth. However, subject to the limitations referred to under "Options" below, the Fund may seek to earn income through the writing of listed call options. In seeking to achieve its objective, the Fund will invest primarily in securities of companies which are expected to benefit from technological advances and improvements (i.e., companies which use technology extensively in the development of new or improved products or processes). The Fund, under normal circumstances, will invest at least 80% of its net assets in the securities of such companies except when the Fund assumes a temporary defensive position. For purposes of this policy, net assets includes any borrowings for investment purposes. There obviously can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved, and the nature of the Fund's investment objective and policies may involve a somewhat greater degree of risk than would be present in a more conservative investment approach. How the Fund Pursues Its Objective The Fund expects under normal circumstances to have substantially all of its assets invested in equity securities (common stocks or securities convertible into common stocks or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase common stocks). When business or financial conditions warrant, the Fund may take a defensive position and invest without limit in investment grade debt securities or preferred stocks or hold its assets in cash. The Fund at times may also invest in debt securities and 2 preferred stocks offering an opportunity for price appreciation (e.g., convertible debt securities). Critical factors which will be considered in the selection of securities will include the economic and political outlook, the value of individual securities relative to other investment alternatives, trends in the determinants of corporate profits, and management capability and practices. Generally speaking, disposal of a security will be based upon factors such as (i) actual or potential deterioration of the issuer's earning power which the Fund believes may adversely affect the price of its securities, (ii) increases in the price level of the security or of securities generally which the Fund believes are not fully warranted by the issuer's earning power, and (iii) changes in the relative opportunities offered by various securities. Companies in which the Fund will invest include those whose processes, products or services are anticipated by Alliance Capital Management L.P., the Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser" or "Alliance"), to be significantly benefited by the utilization or commercial application of scientific discoveries or developments in such fields as, for example, aerospace, aerodynamics, astrophysics, biochemistry, chemistry, communications, computers, conservation, electricity, electronics (including radio, television and other media), energy (including development, production and service activities), geology, health care, mechanical engineering, medicine, metallurgy, nuclear physics, oceanography and plant physiology. The Fund will endeavor to invest in companies where the expected benefits to be derived from the utilization of technology will significantly enhance the prospects of the company as a whole (including, in the case of a conglomerate, affiliated companies). The Fund's investment objective permits the Fund to seek securities having potential for capital appreciation in a variety of industries. Certain of the companies in which the Fund invests may allocate greater than usual amounts to research and product development. The securities of such companies may experience above-average price movements associated with the perceived prospects of success of the research and development programs. In addition, companies in which the Fund invests could be adversely affected by lack of commercial acceptance of a new product or products or by technological change and obsolescence. Additional Investment Policies and Practices Options. In seeking to attain its investment goal of capital appreciation, the Fund may supplement customary investment practices by writing and purchasing call options 3 listed on one or more national securities exchanges and purchasing listed put options, including put options on market indices. Upon payment of a premium, a put option gives the buyer of such option the right to deliver a specified number of shares of a stock to the writer of the option on or before a fixed date, at a predetermined price. A call option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to call upon the writer to deliver a specified number of shares of a specified stock on or before a fixed date, at a predetermined price, usually the market price at the time the contract is negotiated. The writing of call options will involve a potential loss of opportunity to sell securities at higher prices. In exchange for the premium received, the writer of a fully collateralized call option assumes the full downside risk of the securities subject to such option. In addition, the writer of the call gives up the gain possibility of the stock protecting the call. Generally the opportunity for profit from the writing of options is higher, and consequently the risks are greater, when the stocks involved are lower priced or volatile, or both. While an option that has been written is in force, the maximum profit that may be derived from the optioned stock is the premium less brokerage commissions and fees. The actual return earned by the Fund from writing a call option depends on factors such as the amount of the transaction costs and whether or not the option is exercised. Option premiums vary widely depending primarily on supply and demand. Writing and purchasing options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. If an option purchased by the Fund is not sold and is permitted to expire without being exercised, its premium would be lost by the Fund. When calls written by the Fund are exercised, the Fund will be obligated to sell stocks below the current market price. The Fund will not write a call unless the Fund at all times during the option period owns either (a) the optioned securities, or securities convertible into or carrying rights to acquire the optioned securities, or (b) an offsetting call option on the same securities. It is the Fund's policy not to write a call option if the premium to be received by the Fund in connection with such option would not produce an annualized return of at least 15% of the then current market value of the securities subject to option (without giving effect to commissions, stock transfer taxes and other expenses of the Fund which are deducted from premium receipts). The actual return earned by the Fund from writing a call depends on factors such as the amount of the transaction costs and whether or not the option is exercised. Calls written by the Fund will ordinarily be sold either on a national securities exchange or through put and call dealers, most, if not all, of whom are members of a national 4 securities exchange on which options are traded, and will in such cases be endorsed or guaranteed by a member of a national securities exchange or qualified broker-dealer, which may be Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser. The endorsing or guaranteeing firm requires that the option writer (in this case the Fund) maintain a margin account containing either corresponding stock or other equity as required by the endorsing or guaranteeing firm. In purchasing a call option, the Fund would be in a position to realize a gain if, during the option period, the price of the security increased over the strike price by an amount in excess of the premium paid and commissions payable on exercise. It would realize a loss if the price of the security declined or remained the same or did not increase over the strike price during the period by more than the amount of the premium and commissions payable on exercise. By purchasing a put option, the Fund would be in a position to realize a gain if, during the option period, the price of the security declined below the strike price by an amount in excess of the premium paid and commissions payable on exercise. It would realize a loss if the price of the security increased or remained the same or did not decrease below the strike price during that period by more than the amount of the premium and commissions payable on exercise. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a realized loss to the Fund. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written an option, the Fund seeks to effect a "closing purchase transaction" prior to, or concurrently with, the sale of the security. A closing purchase transaction is a transaction in which an investor who is obligated as a writer of an option terminates his obligation by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written. (Such a purchase does not result in the ownership of an option.) The Fund may enter into a closing purchase transaction to realize a profit on a previously written option or to enable the Fund to write another option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price or expiration date or both. The Fund realizes a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from the writing of the option. The Fund may not, however, effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option after it has been notified of the exercise of such option. The Fund may dispose of an option which it has purchased by entering into a "closing sale transaction" with the writer of the option. A closing sale transaction terminates the obligation of the writer of the option and does not result in the ownership 5 of an option. The Fund realizes a profit or loss from a closing sale transaction if the premium received from the transaction is more than or less than the cost of the option. The Fund will not write a call option if, as a result, the aggregate of the Fund's portfolio securities subject to outstanding call options (valued at the lower of the option price or market value of such securities) would exceed 15% of the Fund's total assets. The Fund will not sell any call option if such sale would result in more than 10% of the Fund's assets being committed to call options written by the Fund which, at the time of sale by the Fund, have a remaining term of more than 100 days. The aggregate cost of all outstanding options purchased and held by the Fund will at no time exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may purchase or write options on securities of the types in which it is permitted to invest in privately negotiated (i.e., over-the-counter) transactions. The Fund will effect such transactions only with investment dealers and other financial institutions (such as commercial banks or savings and loan institutions) deemed creditworthy by the Adviser, and the Adviser has adopted procedures for monitoring the creditworthiness of such entities. Options on Market Indices. Options on securities indices are similar to options on a security except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of a security at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the chosen index is greater than (in the case of a call) or less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option. Through the purchase of listed index options, the Fund could achieve many of the same objectives as through the use of options on individual securities. Price movements in the Fund's portfolio securities probably will not correlate perfectly with movements in the level of the index and, therefore, the Fund would bear a risk of loss on index options purchased by it if favorable price movements of the hedged portfolio securities do not equal or exceed losses on the options or if adverse price movements of the hedged portfolio securities are greater than gains realized from the options. Warrants. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in warrants which entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time. Warrants may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments in that they do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities which 6 may be purchased nor do they represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. Also, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to the expiration date. Foreign Securities. Investing in securities of non-United States companies which are generally denominated in foreign currencies involves certain considerations comprising both risk and opportunity not typically associated with investing in United States companies. These considerations include changes in exchange rates and exchange control regulation, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than are generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges and brokers and issuers, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility. Additional risks may be incurred in investing in particular countries. The Fund will not purchase a foreign security if such purchase at the time thereof would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund's total assets to be invested in foreign securities. Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest in restricted securities and in other assets having no ready market if such purchases at the time thereof would not cause more than 10% of the value of the Fund's net assets to be invested in all such restricted or not readily marketable assets. This limitation does not apply to liquid restricted securities, such as those eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions, in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rules 144 or 144A promulgated under such Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense, and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities will be valued in such manner as the Board of Directors of the Fund, in good faith, deems appropriate to reflect their fair market value. Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may seek to increase income by lending portfolio securities. Under present regulatory policies, such loans are required to be secured continuously by collateral consisting of liquid assets maintained 7 in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. A principal risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other collateralized extensions of credit, consists of the possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In addition, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the sale of any collateral realized upon the borrower's default will not yield proceeds sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The Fund has the right to call such a loan and obtain the securities loaned or equivalent securities at any time on five days' notice. During the existence of a loan, the Fund will receive the income earned on investment of the collateral. Any such investment of cash collateral will be subject to the Fund's investment risks. The aggregate value of the securities loaned by the Fund may not exceed 30% of the value of the Fund's total assets. Within this basic framework, the policy of the Fund is to invest in any company and industry and in any type of security which are believed to offer possibilities for capital appreciation. Investments may be made in well-known and established companies as well as in new and unseasoned companies. Since securities fluctuate in value due to general economic conditions, corporate earnings and many other factors, the shares of the Fund will increase or decrease in value accordingly, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment goal or be successful. Fundamental Investment Policies The following restrictions may not be changed without approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, which means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares, whichever is less. To maintain portfolio diversification and reduce investment risk, as a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not: (i) with respect to 75% of its total assets, have such assets represented by other than: (a) cash and cash items, (b) securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities"), or (c) securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities) not greater in value than 5% of the Fund's total assets, and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; 8 (ii) purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase (a) the value of the holdings of the Fund in the securities of such issuer exceeds 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets, or (b) the Fund owns more than 25% of the outstanding securities of any one class of securities of such issuer; (iii) concentrate its investments in any one industry, but the Fund has reserved the right to invest up to 25% of its total assets in a particular industry; (iv) invest in the securities of any issuer which has a record of less than three years of continuous operation (including the operation of any predecessor) if such purchase at the time thereof would cause 10% or more of the total assets of the Fund to be invested in the securities of such issuer or issuers; (v) make short sales of securities or maintain a short position or write put options; (vi) mortgage, pledge or hypothecate or otherwise encumber its assets, except as may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings mentioned in investment restriction (xiv) listed below; (vii) purchase the securities of any other investment company or investment trust, except when such purchase is part of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of assets; (viii) purchase or sell real property (including limited partnership interests but excluding readily marketable interests in real estate investment trusts or readily marketable securities of companies which invest in real estate) commodities or commodity contracts; (ix) purchase participations or other direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs; (x) participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account; (xi) invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control; (xii) purchase securities on margin, but it may obtain such short-term credits from banks as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities; 9 (xiii) make loans of its assets to any other person, which shall not be considered as including the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly-distributed debt securities; except that the Fund may purchase non-publicly distributed securities subject to the limitations applicable to restricted or not readily marketable securities and except for the lending of portfolio securities as discussed under "Description of the Funds" in the Prospectus; (xiv) borrow money except for the short-term credits from banks referred to in paragraph (xii) above and except for temporary or emergency purposes and then only from banks and in an aggregate amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time any borrowing is made. Money borrowed by the Fund will be repaid before the Fund makes any additional investments; (xv) act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may acquire restricted or not readily marketable securities under circumstances where, if sold, the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act (the Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in aggregate in restricted securities and not readily marketable securities); or (xvi) purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund's management, those officers and directors of the Fund, and those employees of the Adviser, who each owns beneficially more than one-half of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer together own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer. Whenever any investment policy or restriction states a minimum or maximum percentage of the Fund's assets which may be invested in any security or other asset, it is intended that such minimum or maximum percentage limitation be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund's acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limitations resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation of this percentage limitation. In the event that the aggregate of restricted and not readily marketable securities exceeds 10% of the Fund's net assets, the management of the Fund will consider whether action should be taken to reduce the percentage of such securities. In connection with the qualification or registration of the Fund's shares for sale under the securities laws of certain states, the Fund has agreed, in addition to the foregoing investment restrictions, that it will not invest in the securities of any issuer which has a record of less than three 10 years of continuous operation (including the operation of any predecessor) if such purchase at the time thereof would cause more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets to be invested in the securities of such issuer or issuers. The Fund may not purchase or sell real property (including limited partnership interests but excluding readily marketable interests in real estate investment trusts, or readily marketable securities of companies which invest in real estate), commodities or commodity contracts. In addition, the Fund may not invest in mineral leases. ________________________________________________________________ MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ________________________________________________________________ Adviser Alliance, a Delaware limited partnership with principal offices at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, has been retained under an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") to provide investment advice and, in general, to conduct the management and investment program of the Fund under the supervision of the Fund's Board of Directors (see "Management of the Fund" in the Prospectus). Alliance is a leading global investment management firm supervising client accounts with assets as of September 30, 2001, totaling approximately $421 billion. Alliance provides management services for many of the largest U.S. public and private employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, public employee retirement funds, banks, insurance companies and high net worth individuals worldwide. Alliance is also one of the largest mutual fund sponsors, with a diverse family of globally distributed mutual fund portfolios. As one of the world's leading global investment management organizations, Alliance is able to compete for virtually any portfolio assignment in any developed capital market in the world. Alliance, an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, is a Delaware limited partnership, of which Alliance Capital Management Corporation ("ACMC"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc. ("AXA Financial"), is the general partner. As of December 31, 2001, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. ("Alliance Holding") owned approximately 30% of the outstanding units of limited partnership interest in Alliance ("Alliance Units"). ACMC is the general partner of Alliance Holding, whose equity interests are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange") in the form of units ("Alliance Holding Units"). As of December 31, 2001, AXA Financial, together with certain of 11 its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including ACMC, beneficially owned approximately 2% of the outstanding Alliance Holding Units and 52% of the outstanding Alliance Units. AXA Financial, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA, a French company. The Adviser provides office space, investment advisory, administrative and clerical services, and order placement facilities for the Fund and pays all compensation of Directors and officers of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser. Under its Advisory Agreement, amended as of February 15, 2000, the Fund pays a quarterly fee to the Adviser, payable for the preceding quarter on the first business day of January, April, July and October, equal to the following percentages of the value of the Fund's aggregate net assets at the close of business on the last business day immediately preceding such payment date: 1/4 of 1.00% of the first $10 billion, 1/4 of .975% of the next $2.5 billion, 1/4 of .95% of the next $2.5 billion, 1/4 of .925% of the next $2.5 billion, 1/4 of .90% of the next $2.5 billion, 1/4 of .875% of the next $2.5 billion and 1/4 of .85% of such assets in excess of $22.5 billion. The Adviser is, under the Advisory Agreement, responsible for any expenses incurred by the Fund in promoting the sale of Fund shares (other than the portion of the promotional expenses borne by the Fund in accordance with an effective plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and the costs of printing and mailing Fund prospectuses and other reports to shareholders and all expenses and fees related to proxy solicitations and registrations and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and with state regulatory authorities). The Fund has, under the Advisory Agreement, assumed the obligation for payment of all of its other expenses. As to the obtaining of services other than those specifically provided to the Fund by the Adviser, the Fund may employ its own personnel. For such services, it also may utilize personnel employed by the Adviser or its affiliates and, in such event, the services will be provided to the Fund at cost and the payments therefor must be specifically approved by the Fund's Board of Directors. The Fund paid to the Adviser a total of $143,500 in respect of such services during the fiscal year of the Fund ended November 30, 2001. For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Adviser received from the Fund advisory fees of $68,307,137, $115,593,671 and $52,868,775, respectively. 12 The Advisory Agreement became effective on July 22, 1992. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the unanimous vote, cast in person, of the Fund's Directors, including the Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or "interested persons" as defined in the 1940 Act of any such party, at a meeting called for that purpose and held on October 22, 1991. At a meeting held on June 11, 1992, a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund approved the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement continues in effect for successive twelve-month periods (computed from each January 1), provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Directors of the Fund or by a majority vote of the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and, in either case, by a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or "interested persons" as defined in the 1940 Act of any such party. The Advisory Agreement was approved for another annual term by a vote, cast in person, of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or "interested persons" of any such party, at their Regular Meeting held on November 8, 2001. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty on 60 days' written notice by a vote of the majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities or by a vote of a majority of the Fund's Directors, or by the Adviser on 60 days' written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of assignment. The Adviser is not liable for any action or inaction in regard to its obligations under the Advisory Agreement as long as it does not exhibit willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations. Certain other clients of the Adviser may have investment objectives and policies similar to those of the Fund. The Adviser may, from time to time, make recommendations which result in the purchase or sale of a particular security by its other clients simultaneously with the Fund. If transactions on behalf of more than one client during the same period increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price or quantity. It is the policy of the Adviser to allocate advisory recommendations and the placing of orders in a manner which is deemed equitable by the Adviser to the accounts involved, including the Fund. When two or more of the clients of the Adviser (including the Fund) are purchasing or selling the same security on a given day from the same broker-dealer, such transactions may be averaged as to price. The Adviser may act as an investment adviser to other persons, firms or corporations, including investment companies, 13 and is investment adviser to AFD Exchange Reserves, Alliance All- Asia Investment Fund, Inc., Alliance Americas Government Income Trust, Inc., Alliance Balanced Shares, Inc., Alliance Bond Fund, Inc., Alliance Capital Reserves, Alliance Emerging Market Debt Fund, Inc., Alliance Global Small Cap Fund, Inc., Alliance Global Strategic Income Trust, Inc., Alliance Government Reserves, Alliance Greater China '97 Fund, Inc., Alliance Growth and Income Fund, Inc., Alliance Health Care Fund, Inc., Alliance High Yield Fund, Inc., Alliance Institutional Funds, Inc., Alliance Institutional Reserves, Inc., Alliance International Fund, Alliance International Premier Growth Fund, Inc., Alliance Mid- Cap Growth Fund. Inc., Alliance Money Market Fund, Alliance Multi-Market Strategy Trust, Inc., Alliance Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Alliance Municipal Income Fund II, Alliance Municipal Trust, Alliance New Europe Fund, Inc., Alliance Premier Growth Fund, Inc., Alliance Quasar Fund, Inc., Alliance Select Investor Series, Inc., Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc., Alliance Worldwide Privatization Fund, Inc., AllianceBernstein Disciplined Value Fund, Inc., AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc., AllianceBernstein Utility Income Fund, Inc., The Alliance Portfolios, The AllianceBernstein Trust, The Korean Investment Fund, Inc., EQ Advisors Trust and Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc., all registered open-end investment companies; and to ACM Government Opportunity Fund, Inc., ACM Income Fund, Inc., ACM Managed Income Fund, Inc., ACM Managed Dollar Income Fund, Inc., ACM Municipal Securities Income Fund, Inc., Alliance All-Market Advantage Fund, Inc., Alliance California Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Alliance National Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Alliance New York Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Alliance World Dollar Government Fund, Inc., Alliance World Dollar Government Fund II, Inc., The Austria Fund, Inc., The Southern Africa Fund, Inc. and The Spain Fund, Inc., all registered closed-end investment companies. Board of Directors Information The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Certain information concerning the Fund's Directors is set forth below.
NAME, ADDRESS, PRINCIPAL PORTFOLIOS OTHER AGE OF DIRECTOR OCCUPATION(S) IN FUND COMPLEX DIRECTORSHIPS (YEARS OF DURING PAST OVERSEEN BY HELD BY SERVICE*) 5 YEARS DIRECTOR DIRECTOR INTERESTED DIRECTORS John D. Carifa,** 56, President, Chief 114 None 14 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Operating Officer New York, NY 10105 (14) and a Director of ACMC, with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS Robert C. Alexander,#+ President of Alexander & 1 None 59, 38 East 29th Street, Associates, Management New York, NY 10016 (8) Consultants, since prior to 1997. David H. Dievler,#+ 72, Independent consultant. Until 94 None P.O. Box 167, Spring Lake, New December 1994, Senior Vice Jersey 07762 (12) President of ACMC responsible for mutual fund administration. Prior to joining ACMC in 1984, Chief Financial Officer of Eberstadt Asset Management since 1968. Prior to that, Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse & Co. Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1953. William H. Foulk, Jr.,#+ 69, 2 Investment Adviser and an 108 None Sound View Dr., Suite 100, independent consultant. Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 Formerly Senior Manager of (9) Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser, with which he had been associated since prior to 1997. Formerly Deputy Comptroller of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings. D. James Guzy,#+ 65, P.O. Box Chairman of the Board, 1 Intel 128, President and Chief Executive Corporatio Glenbrook, Nevada 89413 Officer of SRC Computers, n; Cirrus (20) Inc., with which he has been Logic associated prior to 1997. He Corporatio is also President of Arbor n; Company (private family Novellus investments). He is a Corporatio 15 Director of Intel Corporation n; Micro (semi-conductors), Cirrus Component Logic Corporation (semi- Technology conductors), Novellus ; and Corporation (semi-conductor Davis equipment), Micro Component Selected Technology (semi-conductor Advisers equipment) and the Davis Group of Selected Advisers Groups of Mutual Mutual Funds (registered Funds. investment companies). Marshall C. Turner, Jr.,#+ 60, Independent Consultant and 1 DuPont 220 Montgomery Street, technology venture investor. Photomasks Penthouse 10, He is General Partner and co- , Inc. San Francisco, California founder of Taylor & Turner 94104-3402 Associates, Ltd. (venture (9) capital partnerships) since prior to 1997. He is a director of DuPont Photomasks, Inc. (semi-conductor manufacturing services), the Public Broadcasting Service (public television network), the George Lucas Educational Foundation and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
________________ * There is no stated term of office for the Fund's Directors. ** Mr. Carifa is an "interested person", as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund because of an affiliation with Alliance. # Member of the Audit Committee. + Member of the Nominating Committee. The Fund's Board of Directors has two standing committees of the Board -- an Audit Committee and a Nominating Committee. The members of the Audit and Nominating Committees are identified above. The function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Fund's financial reporting process. The Audit Committee met two times during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year. The function of the Nominating Committee is to nominate persons to fill any vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee does not currently consider for nomination candidates proposed by shareholders for election as Directors. The Nominating Committee did not meet during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year. 16 In approving the most recent annual continuance of the Fund's Advisory Agreement, the Directors considered all information they deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Advisory Agreement. The principal areas of review by the Directors were the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the reasonableness of the fees charged for those services. These matters were considered by the disinterested directors meeting separately from the full Board of Directors with experienced counsel that is independent of the Adviser. The Directors' evaluation of the quality of the Adviser's services took into account their knowledge and experience gained through meetings with and reports of the Adviser's senior management, portfolio managers and administrative personnel over the course of the preceding year. Both short-term and long-term investment performance of the Fund, as well as senior management's attention to any portfolio management issues, were considered. The Fund's current and longer-term performance were compared to its performance benchmark and to that of competitive funds and other funds with similar investment objectives. The Directors also considered the scope and quality of the in-house research capability of the Adviser and other resources dedicated to performing its services. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser's role in coordinating the activities of the Fund's other service providers, were considered in light of on-going reports by management as to compliance with investment policies and applicable laws and regulations and of related reports by management and the Fund's independent auditors in periodic meetings with the Fund's Audit Committee. In reviewing the fees payable under the Advisory Agreement, the Directors compared the fees and overall expense levels of the Fund to those of competitive funds and other funds with similar investment objectives. The information on advisory fees and expense ratios, as well as performance data, included both information compiled by the Adviser and information compiled by an independent data service. The Directors also considered the fees of the Fund as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale to the Adviser. The Directors considered information provided by the Adviser concerning the Adviser's profitability with respect to the Fund, including the assumptions and methodology used in preparing the profitability information, in light of applicable case law relating to advisory fees. For these purposes, the Directors took into account not only the fees paid by the Fund, but also so-called "fallout benefits" to the Adviser, such as the engagement of affiliates of the Adviser to provide distribution, brokerage and transfer agency services to the Fund, and the benefits of research made available to the Adviser by reason of 17 brokerage commissions generated by the Fund's securities transactions. In evaluating the Fund's advisory fees, the Directors also took into account the demands, complexity and quality of the investment management of the Fund. The Directors also considered the business reputation of the Adviser and its financial resources. The Directors evaluated the procedures and systems adopted by the Adviser that are designed to fulfill the Adviser's fiduciary duty to the Fund with respect to possible conflicts of interest, including the Adviser's code of ethics (regulating the personal trading of its officers and employees) and the allocation of trades among its various investment advisory clients. The Directors also considered information concerning policies and procedures of the Adviser with respect to the execution of portfolio transactions. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision of the Directors to approve continuance of the Advisory Agreement. Rather, the Directors concluded in light of a weighing and balancing of all factors considered that it was in the best interests of the Fund to continue its Advisory Agreement without modification to its terms, including the fees charged for services thereunder. The dollar range of the Fund's securities owned by each director and the aggregate dollar range of securities owned in the Alliance Fund Complex are set forth below. DOLLAR RANGE AGGREGATE DOLLAR OF EQUITY RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN SECURITIES IN THE THE FUND AS OF ALLIANCE FUND COMPLEX DECEMBER 31, 2001 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001 John D. Carifa Over $100,000 Over $100,000 Robert C. Alexander $10,001 - $50,000 $10,001 - $50,000 David H. Dievler $10,001 - $50,000 Over $100,000 William H. Foulk, Jr. $10,001 - $50,000 Over $100,000 D. James Guzy $1 - $10,000 $1 - $10,000 Marshall C. Turner, Jr $50,001 - $100,000 Over $100,000 18 Officer Information Certain information concerning the Fund's officers is set forth below. NAME AND ADDRESS,* POSITION(S) HELD PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND (AGE) WITH FUND DURING PAST 5 YEARS John D. Carifa, (56) Chairman and See biography above. President Kathleen A. Corbet, (41) Senior Vice Executive Vice President President of ACMC,** with which she has been associated since prior to 1997. Gerald T. Malone, (47) Senior Vice Senior Vice President President of ACMC,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. Thomas J. Bardong, (56) Vice President Senior Vice President of ACMC,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. Mark D. Gersten, (51) Treasurer and Chief Senior Vice President of Financial Officer AGIS,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. Vincent S. Noto, (37) Controller Vice President of AGIS,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. Edmund P. Bergan, Jr., (51) Secretary Senior Vice President and the General Counsel of Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. ("AFD")** and AGIS,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. Andrew L. Gangolf, (47) Assistant Secretary Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of AFD,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. 19 Domenick Pugliese, (40) Assistant Secretary Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of AFD,** with which he has been associated since prior to 1997. ___________________ * The address for each of the Fund's officers is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105. ** ACMC, AFD, and AGIS are affiliates of the Fund. The aggregate compensation paid by the Fund to each of the Directors during its fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the aggregate compensation paid to each of the Directors during calendar year 2001 by all of the registered investment companies to which the Adviser provides investment advisory services (collectively, the "Alliance Fund Complex"), and the total number of registered investment companies in the Alliance Fund Complex with respect to which each of the Directors serves as a director or trustee, are set forth below. Neither the Fund nor any other registered investment company in the Alliance Fund Complex provides compensation in the form of pension or retirement benefits to any of its directors or trustees. Certain of the Directors are directors or trustees of one or more other registered investment companies in the Alliance Fund Complex. Total Number of Investment Total Number Companies in of Investment the Alliance Portfolios Total Fund Complex, Within the Compensation Including the Alliance Fund From the Fund, as to Complex, Including Alliance Fund which the the Fund, as to Aggregate Complex, Director is which the Director Name of Director Compensation Including a Director is a Director or of the Fund From the Fund the Fund or Trustee Trustee - --------------- ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------------ John D. Carifa $0 $0 51 114 Robert C. Alexander $20,850 $20,850 1 1 David H. Dievler $20,350 $244,350 44 94 William H. Foulk, Jr. $20,350 $249,400 45 108 D. James Guzy $20,850 $20,850 1 1 Marshall C. Turner, Jr. $20,850 $20,850 1 1 As of February 15, 2002 the Directors and officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the shares of the Fund. 20 ________________________________________________________________ EXPENSES OF THE FUND ________________________________________________________________ Distribution Services Agreement The Fund has entered into a Distribution Services Agreement (the "Agreement") with Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc., the Fund's principal underwriter (the "Principal Underwriter" or ("AFD")) to permit the Principal Underwriter to distribute the Fund's shares and to permit the Fund to pay distribution services fees to defray expenses associated with the distribution of its Class A, Class B and Class C shares in accordance with a plan of distribution which is included in the Agreement and has been duly adopted and approved in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Rule 12b-1 Plan"). During the Fund's fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Fund paid distribution services fees for expenditures under the Agreement, with respect to Class A shares, in amounts aggregating $6,704,757 which constituted .30%, annualized, of the Fund's aggregate average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares during the period, and the Adviser made payments from its own resources as described above aggregating $5,524,060. Of the $12,228,817 paid by the Fund and the Adviser under the Rule 12b-1 Plan with respect to the Class A shares, $202,547 was spent on advertising, $213,880 on the printing and mailing of prospectuses for persons other than current shareholders, $6,938,670 for compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (including, $1,124,062 to the Fund's Principal Underwriter), $854,607 for compensation to sales personnel, $4,019,113 was spent on printing of sales literature, travel, entertainment, due diligence and other promotional expenses. During the Fund's fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Fund paid distribution services fees for expenditures under the Agreement, with respect to Class B shares, in amounts aggregating $37,835,517 which constituted 1.00%, annualized, of the Fund's aggregate average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares during the period, and the Adviser made payments from its own resources as described above aggregating $-0-. Of the $37,835,517 paid by the Fund and the Adviser under the Rule 12b-1 Plan with respect to the Class B shares, $200,729 was spent on advertising, $235,676 on the printing and mailing of prospectuses for persons other than current shareholders, $18,166,884 for compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (including, $857,216 to the Fund's Principal Underwriter), $466,619 for compensation to sales personnel, $1,447,676 was spent on printing of sales literature, travel, entertainment, due diligence and other promotional 21 expenses, $7,749,493 was spent on interest on Class B shares financing, and $9,568,440 was used to offset the distribution service fee paid in prior years. During the Fund's fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Fund paid distribution services fees for expenditures under the Agreement, with respect to Class C shares, in amounts aggregating $10,121,404, which constituted 1.00%, annualized, of the Fund's Aggregate average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares during the period, and the Adviser made payments from its own resources as described above aggregating $187,439. Of the $10,308,843 paid by the Fund and the Adviser under the Rule 12b-1 Plan with respect to the Class C shares, $72,132 was spent on advertising, $83,466 on the printing and mailing of prospectuses for persons other than current shareholders, $9,374,481 for compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (including, $313,790 to the Fund's Principal Underwriter), $175,839 for compensation to sales personnel, $529,653 was spent on printing of sales literature, travel, entertainment, due diligence and other promotional expenses, and $73,272 was spent on interest on Class C shares financing. Distribution services fees are accrued daily and paid monthly and are charged as expenses of the Fund as accrued. The distribution services fees attributable to the Class B shares and Class C shares are designed to permit an investor to purchase such shares through broker-dealers without the assessment of an initial sales charge, and at the same time to permit the Principal Underwriter to compensate broker-dealers in connection with the sale of such shares. In this regard, the purpose and function of the combined contingent deferred sales charge and distribution services fees on the Class B shares and Class C shares are the same as those of the initial sales charge and distribution services fee with respect to the Class A shares in that in each case the sales charge and distribution services fee provide for the financing of the distribution of the relevant class of the Fund's shares. With respect to Class A shares of the Fund, distribution expenses accrued by AFD in one fiscal year may not be paid from distribution services fees received from the Fund in subsequent fiscal years. AFD's compensation with respect to Class B and Class C shares for any given year, however, will probably exceed the distribution services fee payable under the Rule 12b-1 Plan with respect to the class involved and, in the case of Class B and Class C shares, payments received from contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCs"). The excess will be carried forward by AFD and reimbursed from distribution services fees payable under the Rule 12b-1 Plan with respect to the class involved and, in the case of Class B and Class C shares, payments subsequently 22 received through CDSCs, so long as the Rule 12b-1 Plan is in effect. Unreimbursed distribution expenses incurred as of the end of the Fund's most recently completed fiscal period, and carried over for reimbursement in future years in respect of the Class B and Class C shares for the Fund were, respectively, $101,980,006 (3.30% of the net assets of Class B) and $6,706,677 (.80% of the net assets of Class C). The Rule 12b-1 Plan is in compliance with rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. which effectively limit the annual asset-based sales charges and service fees that a mutual fund may pay on a class of shares to .75% and .25%, respectively, of the average annual net assets attributable to that class. The rules also limit the aggregate of all front-end, deferred and asset-based sales charges imposed with respect to a class of shares by a mutual fund that also charges a service fee to 6.25% of cumulative gross sales of shares of that class, plus interest at the prime rate plus 1% per annum. In approving the 12b-1 Plan, the Directors of the Fund determined that there was a reasonable likelihood that the Rule 12b-1 Plan would benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The distribution services fee of a particular class will not be used to subsidize the provision of distribution services with respect to any other class. The Adviser may from time to time and from its own funds or such other resources as may be permitted by rules of the Commission make payments for distribution services to the Principal Underwriter; the latter may in turn pay part or all of such compensation to brokers or other persons for their distribution assistance. The Agreement will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods (computed from each October 1), provided, however, that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Directors of the Fund or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of that class, and in either case, by a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act, of any such party (other than as directors of the Fund) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan or any agreement related thereto. The Agreement was approved for another annual term by a vote, cast in person, of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act, at their Regular Meeting held on November 8, 2001. 23 In the event that the Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated or not continued with respect to the Class A shares, Class B shares or Class C shares, (i) no distribution services fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Fund to the Principal Underwriter with respect to that class, and (ii) the Fund would not be obligated to pay the Principal Underwriter for any amounts expended under the Agreement not previously recovered by the Principal Underwriter from distribution services fees in respect of shares of such class or through deferred sales charges. Transfer Agency Agreement AGIS, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser located at 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094, receives a transfer agency fee per account holder of each of the Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares of the Fund, plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. The transfer agency fee with respect to the Class B shares and Class C shares is higher than the transfer agency fee with respect to the Class A shares and Advisor Class shares, reflecting the additional costs associated with the Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Fund paid AGIS $14,782,886 pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement. Code of Ethics The Fund, the Adviser and the Principal Underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. ________________________________________________________________ PURCHASE OF SHARES ________________________________________________________________ The following information supplements that set forth in the Fund's Prospectus under the heading "Purchase and Sale of Shares -- How to Buy Shares." General Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis at a price equal to their net asset value plus an initial sales charge at the time of purchase ("Class A shares"), with a contingent deferred sales charge ("Class B shares"), without any initial sales charge and, as long as the shares are held for one year or more, without any contingent deferred sales charge ("Class C shares"), or, to investors eligible to purchase Advisor 24 Class shares, without any initial, contingent deferred or asset- based sales charge, in each case as described below. Shares of the Fund that are offered subject to a sales charge are offered through (i) investment dealers that are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and have entered into selected dealer agreements with the Principal Underwriter ("selected dealers"), (ii) depository institutions and other financial intermediaries or their affiliates, that have entered into selected agent agreements with the Principal Underwriter ("selected agents") and (iii) the Principal Underwriter. Advisor Class shares of the Fund may be purchased and held solely (i) through accounts established under fee-based programs, sponsored and maintained by registered broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries and approved by the Principal Underwriter, (ii) through self-directed defined contribution employee benefit plans (e.g., 401(k) plans) that have at least 1,000 participants or $25 million in assets, (iii) by "qualified state tuition programs" (within the meaning of section 529 of the Code) approved by AFD, (iv) by the categories of investors described in clauses (i) through (iv) below under "--Sales at Net Asset Value" (other than officers, directors and present and full-time employees of selected dealers or agents, or relatives of such person, or any trust, individual retirement account or retirement plan account for the benefit of such relative, none of whom is eligible on the basis solely of such status to purchase and hold Advisor Class shares), or (v) by directors and present or retired full-time employees of CB Richard Ellis, Inc. Generally, a fee-based program must charge an asset-based or other similar fee and must invest at least $250,000 in Advisor Class shares of the Fund in order to be approved by the Principal Underwriter for investment in Advisor Class shares. Investors may purchase shares of the Fund either through selected broker-dealers, agents, financial intermediaries or other financial representatives or directly through the Principal Underwriter. A transaction, service, administrative or other similar fee may be charged by your broker-dealer, agent, financial intermediary or other financial representative with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of Class A, Class B, Class C or Advisor Class shares made through such financial representative. Such financial intermediaries may also impose requirements with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of shares that are different from, or in addition to, those imposed by the Fund, including requirements as to the minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts. Sales personnel of selected dealers and agents distributing the Fund's shares may receive differing compensation for selling Class A, Class B, Class C or Advisor Class shares. 25 The Fund may refuse any order for the purchase of shares. The Fund reserves the right to suspend the sale of its shares to the public in response to conditions in the securities markets or for other reasons. The public offering price of shares of the Fund is their net asset value, plus, in the case of Class A shares, a sales charge which will vary depending on the purchase alternative chosen by the investor, as shown in the table below under "Class A Shares." On each Fund business day on which a purchase or redemption order is received by the Fund and trading in the types of securities in which the Fund invests might materially affect the value of Fund shares, the per share net asset value is computed in accordance with the Fund's Charter and By-Laws as of the next close of regular trading on the Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) by dividing the value of the Fund's total assets, less its liabilities, by the total number of its shares then outstanding. A Fund business day is any day on which the Exchange is open for trading. The respective per share net asset values of the Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares are expected to be substantially the same. Under certain circumstances, however, the per share net asset values of the Class B and Class C shares may be lower than the per share net asset values of the Class A and Advisor Class shares as a result of the differential daily expense accruals of the distribution and transfer agency fees applicable with respect to those classes of shares. Even under those circumstances, the per share net asset values of the four classes eventually will tend to converge immediately after the payment of dividends, which will differ by approximately the amount of the expense accrual differential among the classes. The Fund will accept unconditional orders for its shares to be executed at the public offering price equal to their net asset value next determined (plus applicable Class A sales charges), as described below. Orders received by the Principal Underwriter prior to the close of regular trading on the Exchange on each day the Exchange is open for trading are priced at the net asset value computed as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange on that day (plus applicable Class A sales charges). In the case of orders for purchase of shares placed through selected dealers, agents or financial representatives, as applicable, the applicable public offering price will be the net asset value as so determined, but only if the selected dealer, agent or financial representative receives the order prior to the close of regular trading on the Exchange and transmits it to the Principal Underwriter prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. The selected dealer, agent or financial representative, as applicable, is responsible for transmitting such orders by 26 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. (Certain selected dealers, agents or financial representatives may enter into operating agreements permitting them to transmit purchase information to the Principal Underwriter after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time and receive that day's net asset value). If the selected dealer, agent or financial representative fails to do so, the investor's right to that day's closing price must be settled between the investor and the selected dealer, agent or financial representative, as applicable. If the selected dealer, agent or financial representative, as applicable, receives the order after the close of regular trading on the Exchange, the price will be based on the net asset value determined as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange on the next day it is open for trading. Following the initial purchase of Fund shares, a shareholder may place orders to purchase additional shares by telephone if the shareholder has completed the appropriate portion of the Subscription Application or an "Autobuy" application obtained by calling the "For Literature" telephone number shown on the cover of this SAI. Except with respect to certain omnibus accounts, telephone purchase orders may not exceed $500,000. Payment for shares purchased by telephone can be made only by electronic funds transfer from a bank account maintained by the shareholder at a bank that is a member of the National Automated Clearing House Association ("NACHA"). Telephone purchase requests must be received before 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day to receive that day's public offering price. Telephone purchase requests received after 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time are automatically placed the following Fund business day, and the applicable public offering price will be the public offering price determined as of the close of business on such following business day. Full and fractional shares are credited to a subscriber's account in the amount of his or her subscription. As a convenience to the subscriber, and to avoid unnecessary expense to the Fund, stock certificates representing shares of the Fund are not issued except upon written request to the Fund by the shareholder or his or her authorized selected dealer or agent. This facilitates later redemption and relieves the shareholder of the responsibility for and inconvenience of lost or stolen certificates. No certificates are issued for fractional shares, although such shares remain in the shareholder's account on the books of the Fund. In addition to the discount or commission paid to dealers or agents, the Principal Underwriter from time to time pays additional cash or other incentives to dealers or agents, including EQ Financial Consultants, Inc., formerly Equico Securities, Inc., a affiliate of the Principal Underwriter, in connection with the sale of shares of the Fund. Such additional 27 amounts may be utilized, in whole or in part, to provide additional compensation to registered representatives who sell shares of the Fund. On some occasions, such cash or other incentives may take the form of payment for attendance at seminars, meals, sporting events or theater performances, or payment for travel, lodging and entertainment incurred in connection with travel taken by persons associated with a dealer or agent to locations within or outside the United States. Such dealer or agent may elect to receive cash incentives of equivalent amount in lieu of such payments. Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares each represent an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund, have the same rights and are identical in all respects, except that (i) Class A shares bear the expense of the initial sales charge (or contingent deferred sales charge, when applicable) and Class B and Class C shares bear the expense of the contingent deferred sales charge, (ii) Class B shares and Class C shares each bear the expense of a higher distribution services fee than those borne by Class A shares, and Advisor Class shares do not bear such a fee, (iii) Class B and Class C shares bear higher transfer agency costs than that borne by Class A and Advisor Class shares, (iv) each of Class A, Class B and Class C shares has exclusive voting rights with respect to provisions of the Rule 12b-1 Plan pursuant to which its distribution services fee is paid and other matters for which separate class voting is appropriate under applicable law, provided that, if the Fund submits to a vote of the Class A shareholders, an amendment to the Rule 12b-1 Plan that would materially increase the amount to be paid thereunder with respect to the Class A shares, then such amendment will also be submitted to the Class B shareholders and Advisor Class shareholders and the Class A, Class B and Advisor Class shareholders will vote separately by class, and (v) Class B shares and Advisor Class shares are subject to a conversion feature. Each class has different exchange privileges and certain different shareholder service options available. The Directors of the Fund have determined that currently no conflict of interest exists between or among the Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares. On an ongoing basis, the Directors of the Fund, pursuant to their fiduciary duties under the 1940 Act and state law, will seek to ensure that no such conflict arises. Alternative Retail Purchase Arrangements -- Class A, Class B and Class C Shares* ____________________ * Advisor Class shares are sold only to investors described above in this section under "--General." 28 The alternative purchase arrangements available with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C shares permit an investor to choose the method of purchasing shares that is most beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor expects to hold the shares, and other circumstances. Investors should consider whether, during the anticipated life of their investment in the Fund, the accumulated distribution services fee and contingent deferred sales charge on Class B shares prior to conversion, or the accumulated distribution services fee and contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares, would be less than the initial sales charge and accumulated distribution services fee on Class A shares purchased at the same time, and to what extent such differential would be offset by the higher return of Class A shares. Class A shares will normally be more beneficial than Class B shares to the investor who qualifies for reduced initial sales charges on Class A shares, as described below. In this regard, the Principal Underwriter will reject any order (except orders from certain retirement plans and certain employee benefit plans) for more than $250,000 for Class B shares. Class C shares will normally not be suitable for the investor who qualifies to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. (See Appendix A for information concerning the eligibility of certain employee benefit plans to purchase Class B shares at net asset value without being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and the ineligibility of certain such plans to purchase Class A shares.) For this reason, the Principal Underwriter will reject any order for more than $1,000,000 for Class C shares. Class A shares are subject to a lower distribution services fee and, accordingly, pay correspondingly higher dividends per share than Class B shares or Class C shares. However, because initial sales charges are deducted at the time of purchase, investors purchasing Class A shares would not have all their funds invested initially and, therefore, would initially own fewer shares. Investors not qualifying for reduced initial sales charges who expect to maintain their investment for an extended period of time might consider purchasing Class A shares because the accumulated continuing distribution charges on Class B shares or Class C shares may exceed the initial sales charge on Class A shares during the life of the investment. Again, however, such investors must weigh this consideration against the fact that, because of such initial sales charges, not all their funds will be invested initially. Other investors might determine, however, that it would be more advantageous to purchase Class B shares or Class C shares in order to have all their funds invested initially, although remaining subject to higher continuing distribution charges and, being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge for a four- year and one-year period, respectively. For example, based on 29 current fees and expenses, an investor subject to the 4.25% initial sales charge on Class A shares would have to hold his or her investment approximately seven years for the Class C distribution services fee to exceed the initial sales charge plus the accumulated distribution services fee of Class A shares. In this example, an investor intending to maintain his or her investment for a longer period might consider purchasing Class A shares. This example does not take into account the time value of money, which further reduces the impact of the Class C distribution services fees on the investment, fluctuations in net asset value or the effect of different performance assumptions. Those investors who prefer to have all of their funds invested initially but may not wish to retain Fund shares for the four-year period during which Class B shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge may find it more advantageous to purchase Class C shares. During the Fund's fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the aggregate amounts of underwriting commission payable with respect to shares of the Fund were $10,082,412, $47,460,551 and $28,263,335, respectively. Of that amount, the Principal Underwriter, received the amounts of $680,353, $2,201,557 and $1,410,619, respectively, representing that portion of the sales charges paid on shares of the Fund sold during the year which was not reallowed to selected dealers (and was, accordingly, retained by the Principal Underwriter). During the Fund's fiscal years ended in 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Principal Underwriter received contingent deferred sales charges of $196,686, $140,044 and $39,709, respectively, on Class A Shares, $7,071,499, $7,228,499 and $3,373,129, respectively, on Class B Shares and $294,116, $564,302 and $211,340, respectively, on Class C Shares. Class A Shares The public offering price of Class A shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge, as set forth below. 30 Sales Charge ------------ Discount or Commission As % of to Dealers As % of the or Agents Net Public As % of Amount of Amount Offering Offering Purchase Invested Price Price - -------- -------- -------- ------------ Less than $100,000 4.44% 4.25% 4.00% $100,000 but less than $250,000 3.36 3.25 3.00 $250,000 but less than $500,000 2.30 2.25 2.00 $500,000 but less than $1,000,000* 1.78 1.75 1.50 _________________ * There is no initial sales charge on transactions of $1,000,000 or more. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more, Class A shares redeemed within one year of purchase will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge equal to 1% of the lesser of the cost of the shares being redeemed or their net asset value at the time of redemption. Accordingly, no sales charge will be imposed on increases in net asset value above the initial purchase price. In addition, no charge will be assessed on shares derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. The contingent deferred sales charge on Class A shares will be waived on certain redemptions, as described below under "--Class B shares." In determining the contingent deferred sales charge applicable to a redemption of Class A shares, it will be assumed that the redemption is, first, of any shares that are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (for example, because an initial sales charge was paid with respect to the shares, or they have been held beyond the period during which the charge applies or were acquired upon the reinvestment of dividends or distributions) and, second, of shares held longest during the time they are subject to the sales charge. Proceeds from the contingent deferred sales charge on Class A shares are paid to the Principal Underwriter and are used by the Principal Underwriter to defray the expenses of the Principal Underwriter related to providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sales of Class A shares, such as the payment of compensation to selected dealers and agents for selling Class A shares. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more made through selected dealers or agents, the Adviser may, 31 pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement described above, pay such dealers or agents from its own resources a fee of up to 1% of the amount invested to compensate such dealers or agents for their distribution assistance in connection with such purchases. No initial sales charge is imposed on Class A shares issued (i) pursuant to the automatic reinvestment of income dividends or capital gains distributions, (ii) in exchange for Class A shares of other "Alliance Mutual Funds" (as that term is defined under "Combined Purchase Privilege" below), except that an initial sales charge will be imposed on Class A shares issued in exchange for Class A shares of AFD Exchange Reserves ("AFDER") that were purchased for cash without the payment of an initial sales charge and without being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge or (iii) upon the automatic conversion of Class B shares or Advisor Class shares as described below under "- - -Class B Shares-- Conversion Feature" and "--Conversion of Advisor Class Shares to Class A Shares." The Fund receives the entire net asset value of its Class A shares sold to investors. The Principal Underwriter's commission is the sales charge shown above less any applicable discount or commission "reallowed" to selected dealers and agents. The Principal Underwriter will reallow discounts to selected dealers and agents in the amounts indicated in the table above. In this regard, the Principal Underwriter may elect to reallow the entire sales charge to selected dealers and agents for all sales with respect to which orders are placed with the Principal Underwriter. A selected dealer who receives reallowance in excess of 90% of such a sales charge may be deemed to be an "underwriter" under the Securities Act. Investors choosing the initial sales charge alternative may under certain circumstances be entitled to pay (i) no initial sales charge (but be subject in most such cases to a contingent deferred sales charge) or (ii) a reduced initial sales charge. The circumstances under which investors may pay a reduced initial sales charge are described below. Combined Purchase Privilege. Certain persons may qualify for the sales charge reductions indicated in the schedule of such charges above by combining purchases of shares of the Fund into a single "purchase," if the resulting "purchase" totals at least $100,000. The term "purchase" refers to: (i) a single purchase by an individual, or to concurrent purchases, which in the aggregate are at least equal to the prescribed amounts, by an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of 21 years purchasing shares of the Fund for his, her or their own account(s); (ii) a single purchase by a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved; 32 or (iii) a single purchase for the employee benefit plans of a single employer. The term "purchase" also includes purchases by any "company," as the term is defined in the 1940 Act, but does not include purchases by any such company which has not been in existence for at least six months or which has no purpose other than the purchase of shares of the Fund or shares of other registered investment companies at a discount. The term "purchase" does not include purchases by any group of individuals whose sole organizational nexus is that the participants therein are credit card holders of a company, policy holders of an insurance company, customers of either a bank or broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser. A "purchase" may also include shares, purchased at the same time through a single selected dealer or agent, of any other "Alliance Mutual Fund." Currently, the Alliance Mutual Funds include: AFD Exchange Reserves Alliance All-Asia Investment Fund, Inc. Alliance Americas Government Income Trust, Inc. Alliance Balanced Shares, Inc. Alliance Bond Fund, Inc. -Corporate Bond Portfolio -Quality Bond Portfolio -U.S. Government Portfolio Alliance Emerging Market Debt Fund, Inc. Alliance Global Small Cap Fund, Inc. Alliance Global Strategic Income Trust, Inc. Alliance Greater China '97 Fund, Inc. Alliance Growth and Income Fund, Inc. Alliance Health Care Fund, Inc. Alliance High Yield Fund, Inc. Alliance International Fund Alliance International Premier Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Multi-Market Strategy Trust, Inc. Alliance Municipal Income Fund, Inc. -California Portfolio -Insured California Portfolio -Insured National Portfolio -National Portfolio -New York Portfolio Alliance Municipal Income Fund II -Arizona Portfolio -Florida Portfolio -Massachusetts Portfolio -Michigan Portfolio -Minnesota Portfolio -New Jersey Portfolio -Ohio Portfolio -Pennsylvania Portfolio -Virginia Portfolio 33 Alliance New Europe Fund, Inc. Alliance Premier Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Quasar Fund, Inc. Alliance Select Investor Series, Inc. -Biotechnology Portfolio -Premier Portfolio -Small Cap Growth Portfolio -Technology Portfolio Alliance Technology Fund, Inc. Alliance Worldwide Privatization Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Disciplined Value Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Utility Income Fund, Inc. The Alliance Fund, Inc.The Alliance Portfolios -Alliance Growth Fund -Alliance Conservative Investors Fund -Alliance Growth Investors Fund The AllianceBernstein Trust -AllianceBernstein Global Value Fund -AllianceBernstein International Value Fund -AllianceBernstein Small Cap Value Fund -AllianceBernstein Value Fund The Korean Investment Fund, Inc. Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc. -Bernstein Government Short Duration Portfolio -Bernstein Short Duration Plus Portfolio -Bernstein Intermediate Duration Portfolio -Bernstein Short Duration New York Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein Short Duration California Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein Short Duration Diversified Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein New York Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein California Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein Diversified Municipal Portfolio -Bernstein Tax-Managed International Value Portfolio -Bernstein International Value II Portfolio -Bernstein Emerging Markets Value Portfolio Prospectuses for the Alliance Mutual Funds may be obtained without charge by contacting AGIS at the address or the "For Literature" telephone number shown on the front cover of this SAI. Cumulative Quantity Discount (Right of Accumulation). An investor's purchase of additional Class A shares of the Fund may qualify for a Cumulative Quantity Discount. The applicable sales charge will be based on the total of: (i) the investor's current purchase; 34 (ii) the net asset value (at the close of business on the previous day) of (a) all shares of the Fund held by the investor and (b) all shares of any other Alliance Mutual Fund held by the investor; and (iii) the net asset value of all shares described in paragraph (ii) owned by another shareholder eligible to combine his or her purchase with that of the investor into a single "purchase" (see above). For example, if an investor owned shares of an Alliance Mutual Fund worth $200,000 at their then current net asset value and, subsequently, purchased Class A shares of the Fund worth an additional $100,000, the sales charge for the $100,000 purchase would be at the 2.25% rate applicable to a single $300,000 purchase of shares of the Fund, rather than the 3.25% rate. To qualify for the Combined Purchase Privilege or to obtain the Cumulative Quantity Discount on a purchase through a selected dealer or agent, the investor or selected dealer or agent must provide the Principal Underwriter with sufficient information to verify that each purchase qualifies for the privilege or discount. Statement of Intention. Class A investors may also obtain the reduced sales charges shown in the table above by means of a written Statement of Intention, which expresses the investor's intention to invest not less than $100,000 within a period of 13 months in Class A shares (or Class A, Class B, Class C and/or Advisor Class shares) of the Fund or any other Alliance Mutual Fund. Each purchase of shares under a Statement of Intention will be made at the public offering price or prices applicable at the time of such purchase to a single transaction of the dollar amount indicated in the Statement of Intention. At the investor's option, a Statement of Intention may include purchases of shares of the Fund or any other Alliance Mutual Fund made not more than 90 days prior to the date that the investor signs the Statement of Intention; however, the 13-month period during which the Statement of Intention is in effect will begin on the date of the earliest purchase to be included. Investors qualifying for the Combined Purchase Privilege described above may purchase shares of the Alliance Mutual Funds under a single Statement of Intention. For example, if at the time an investor signs a Statement of Intention to invest at least $100,000 in Class A shares of the Fund, the investor and the investor's spouse each purchase shares of the Fund worth $20,000 (for a total of $40,000), it will be necessary to invest only a total of $60,000 during the following 13 months in shares of the Fund or any other Alliance Mutual Fund, to qualify for the 35 3.25% sales charge on the total amount being invested (the sales charge applicable to an investment of $100,000). The Statement of Intention is not a binding obligation upon the investor to purchase the full amount indicated. The minimum initial investment under a Statement of Intention is 5% of such amount. Shares purchased with the first 5% of such amount will be held in escrow (while remaining registered in the name of the investor) to secure payment of the higher sales charge applicable to the shares actually purchased if the full amount indicated is not purchased, and such escrowed shares will be involuntarily redeemed to pay the additional sales charge, if necessary. Dividends on escrowed shares, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares, are not subject to escrow. When the full amount indicated has been purchased, the escrow will be released. To the extent that an investor purchases more than the dollar amount indicated on the Statement of Intention and qualifies for a further reduced sales charge, the sales charge will be adjusted for the entire amount purchased at the end of the 13-month period. The difference in the sales charge will be used to purchase additional shares of the Fund subject to the rate of the sales charge applicable to the actual amount of the aggregate purchases. Investors wishing to enter into a Statement of Intention in conjunction with their initial investment in Class A shares of the Fund should complete the appropriate portion of the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus while current Class A shareholders desiring to do so can obtain a form of Statement of Intention by contacting AGIS at the address or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this SAI. Certain Retirement Plans. Multiple participant payroll deduction retirement plans may also purchase shares of the Fund or any other Alliance Mutual Fund at a reduced sales charge on a monthly basis during the 13-month period following such a plan's initial purchase. The sales charge applicable to such initial purchase of shares of the Fund will be that normally applicable, under the schedule of the sales charges set forth in this SAI, to an investment 13 times larger than such initial purchase. The sales charge applicable to each succeeding monthly purchase will be that normally applicable, under such schedule, to an investment equal to the sum of (i) the total purchase previously made during the 13-month period and (ii) the current month's purchase multiplied by the number of months (including the current month) remaining in the 13-month period. Sales charges previously paid during such period will not be retroactively adjusted on the basis of later purchases. Reinstatement Privilege. A shareholder who has caused any or all of his or her Class A or Class B shares of the Fund to 36 be redeemed or repurchased may reinvest all or any portion of the redemption or repurchase proceeds in Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value without any sales charge, provided that (i) such reinvestment is made within 120 calendar days after the redemption or repurchase date and (ii) for Class B shares, a contingent deferred sales charge has been paid and the Principal Underwriter has approved, at its discretion, the reinvestment of such shares. Shares are sold to a reinvesting shareholder at the net asset value next determined as described above. A reinstatement pursuant to this privilege will not cancel the redemption or repurchase transaction; therefore, any gain or loss so realized will be recognized for federal income tax purposes except that no loss will be recognized to the extent that the proceeds are reinvested in shares of the Fund within 30 calendar days after the redemption or repurchase transaction. Investors may exercise the reinstatement privilege by written request sent to the Fund at the address shown on the cover of this SAI. Sales at Net Asset Value. The Fund may sell its Class A shares at net asset value (i.e., without an initial sales charge) and without a contingent deferred sales charge to certain categories of investors including: (i) investment management clients of the Adviser (other than the Adviser's Bernstein unit) or its affiliates; (ii) officers and present or former Directors of the Fund; present or former directors and trustees of other investment companies managed by the Adviser; present or retired full-time employees and former employees (for subsequent investment in accounts established during the course of their employment) of the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, AGIS and their affiliates; officers and directors of ACMC, the Principal Underwriter, AGIS and their affiliates; officers, directors and present full-time employees of selected dealers or agents; or the spouse, sibling, direct ancestor or direct descendant (collectively, "relatives") of any such person; or any trust, individual retirement account or retirement plan account for the benefit of any such person or relative; or the estate of any such person or relative, if such shares are purchased for investment purposes (such shares may not be resold except to the Fund); (iii) the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, AGIS and their affiliates; and certain employee benefit plans for employees of the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, AGIS and their affiliates; (iv) registered investment advisers or other financial intermediaries who charge a management, consulting or other fee for their services and who purchase shares through a broker or agent approved by the Principal Underwriter and clients of such registered investment advisers or financial intermediaries whose accounts are linked to the master account of such investment adviser or financial intermediary on the books of such approved broker or agent; (v) persons participating in a fee-based program, sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and approved by the 37 Principal Underwriter, pursuant to which such persons pay an asset-based fee to such broker-dealer or financial intermediary, or its affiliate or agent, for service in the nature of investment advisory or administrative services; (vi) employer- sponsored qualified pension or profit-sharing plans (including Section 401(k) plans), employer-sponsored nonqualified deferred compensation plans, custodial accounts maintained pursuant to Section 403(b)(7) retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (including individual retirement accounts to which simplified employee pension ("SEP") contributions are made), if such plans or accounts are established or administered under programs sponsored by administrators or other persons that have been approved by the Principal Underwriter; (vii) a unit investment trust organized and sponsored by Prudential Securities Incorporated, the portfolio of which consists of Class A shares of the Fund and stripped U.S. Treasury issued notes or bonds bearing no current interest (the "Trust"); and (vii) unit holders of the Trust investing the proceeds of cash distributions from the Trust under circumstances described in the prospectus of the Trust, including distributions upon the termination of the Trust provided that the proceeds of such termination are invested in the Fund within 30 days of such termination and that the Fund's principal underwriter is provided with evidence that establishes to the Fund's satisfaction that the investment in the Fund is being made exclusively from the proceeds from such distribution. Class B Shares Investors may purchase Class B shares at the public offering price equal to the net asset value per share of the Class B shares on the date of purchase without the imposition of a sales charge at the time of purchase. The Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge so that the Fund will receive the full amount of the investor's purchase payment. Proceeds from the contingent deferred sales charge on Class B shares are paid to the Principal Underwriter and are used by the Principal Underwriter to defray the expenses of the Principal Underwriter related to providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of the Class B shares, such as the payment of compensation to selected dealers and agents for selling Class B shares. The combination of the contingent deferred sales charge and the distribution services fee enables the Fund to sell the Class B shares without a sales charge being deducted at the time of purchase. The higher distribution services fee incurred by Class B shares will cause such shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends than those related to Class A shares. Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Class B shares that are redeemed within four years of purchase will be subject to a 38 contingent deferred sales charge at the rates set forth below charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject thereto. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the cost of the shares being redeemed or their net asset value at the time of redemption. Accordingly, no sales charge will be imposed on increases in net asset value above the initial purchase price. In addition, no charge will be assessed on shares derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. To illustrate, assume that an investor purchased 100 Class B shares at $10 per share (at a cost of $1,000) and in the second year after purchase, the net asset value per share is $12 and, during such time, the investor has acquired 10 additional Class B shares upon dividend reinvestment. If at such time the investor makes his or her first redemption of 50 Class B shares (proceeds of $600), 10 Class B shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the remaining 40 Class B shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in net asset value of $2 per share. Therefore, $400 of the $600 redemption proceeds will be charged at a rate of 3.0% (the applicable rate in the second year after purchase, as set forth below). The amount of the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, will vary depending on the number of years from the time of payment for the purchase of Class B shares until the time of redemption of such shares. Contingent Deferred Sales Charge as a % of Dollar Amount Year Since Purchase Subject to Charge - ------------------- --------------------- First 4.0% Second 3 0% Third 2.0% Fourth 1.0% Fifth and thereafter None In determining the contingent deferred sales charge applicable to a redemption of Class B shares, it will be assumed that the redemption is, first, of any shares that were acquired upon the reinvestment of dividends or distributions and, second, of shares held longest during the time they are subject to the sales charge. When shares acquired in an exchange are redeemed, the applicable contingent deferred sales charge and conversion schedules will be the schedules that applied at the time of the 39 purchase of shares of the corresponding class of the Alliance Mutual Fund originally purchased by the shareholder. The contingent deferred sales charge is waived on redemptions of shares (i) following the death or disability, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), of a shareholder, (ii) to the extent that the redemption represents a minimum required distribution from an individual retirement account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2, (iii) that had been purchased by present or former Directors of the Fund, by the relative of any such person, by any trust, individual retirement account or retirement plan account for the benefit of any such person or relative or by the estate of any such person or relative, or (iv) pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan (see "Shareholder Services--Systematic Withdrawal Plan" below). Conversion Feature. Eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shareholder's purchase order was accepted, Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares and will no longer be subject to a higher distribution services fee. Such conversion will occur on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes, without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. The purpose of the conversion feature is to reduce the distribution services fee paid by holders of Class B shares that have been outstanding long enough for the Principal Underwriter to have been compensated for distribution expenses incurred in the sale of such shares. For purposes of conversion to Class A, Class B shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions paid in respect of Class B shares in a shareholder's account will be considered to be held in a separate sub-account. Each time any Class B shares in the shareholder's account (other than those in the sub-account) convert to Class A, an equal pro-rata portion of the Class B shares in the sub-account will also convert to Class A. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares is subject to the continuing availability of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares may be suspended if such an opinion is no longer available at the time such conversion is to occur. In that event, no further conversions of Class B shares would occur, and shares might continue to be subject to the higher distribution services fee for an indefinite period which may extend beyond the period ending eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shareholder's purchase order was accepted. 40 Class C Shares Investors may purchase Class C shares at the public offering price equal to the net asset value per share of the Class C shares on the date of purchase without the imposition of a sales charge either at the time of purchase or, as long as the shares are held for one year or more, upon redemption. Class C shares are sold without an initial sales charge so that the Fund will receive the full amount of the investor's purchase payment and, as long as the shares are held for one year or more, without a contingent deferred sales charge so that the investor will receive as proceeds upon redemption the entire net asset value of his or her Class C shares. The Class C distribution services fee enables the Fund to sell Class C shares without either an initial or contingent deferred sales charge, as long as the shares are held for one year or more. Class C shares do not convert to any other class of shares of the Fund and incur higher distribution services fees and transfer agency costs than Class A shares and Advisor Class shares, and will thus have a higher expense ratio and pay correspondingly lower dividends than Class A shares and Advisor Class shares. Class C shares that are redeemed within one year of purchase will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject thereto. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the cost of the shares being redeemed or their net asset value at the time of redemption. Accordingly, no sales charge will be imposed on increases in net asset value above the initial purchase price. In addition, no charge will be assessed on shares derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares will be waived on certain redemptions, as described above under "--Class B shares." In determining the contingent deferred sales charge applicable to a redemption of Class C shares, it will be assumed that the redemption is, first, of any shares that are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (for [6~example, because the shares have been held beyond the period during which the charge applies or were acquired upon the reinvestment of dividends or distributions) and, second, of shares held longest during the time they are subject to the sales charge. Proceeds from the contingent deferred sales charge are paid to the Principal Underwriter and are used by the Principal Underwriter to defray the expenses of the Principal Underwriter related to providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of the Class C shares, such as the payment of compensation to selected dealers and agents for selling Class C shares. The combination of the contingent deferred sales charge and the distribution services fee enables 41 the Fund to sell the Class C shares without a sales charge being deducted at the time of purchase. The higher distribution services fee incurred by Class C shares will cause such shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends than those related to Class A shares and Advisor Class shares. The contingent deferred sales charge is waived on redemptions of shares (i) following the death or disability, as defined in the Code, of a shareholder, (ii) to the extent that the redemption represents a minimum required distribution from an individual retirement account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2, (iii) that had been purchased by present or former Directors of the Fund, by the relative of any such person, by any trust, individual retirement account or retirement plan account for the benefit of any such person or relative, or by the estate of any such person or relative, (iv) pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan (see "Shareholder Services - Systematic Withdrawal Plan" below), or (v) sold through programs offered by financial intermediaries and approved by AFD where such programs offer only shares which are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and where the financial intermediary establishes a single omnibus account for each Fund. Conversion of Advisor Class Shares to Class A Shares Advisor Class shares may be held solely through the fee- based program accounts, employee benefit plans, qualified state tuition programs and registered investment advisory or other financial intermediary relationships described above under "Purchase of Shares--General," and by investment advisory clients of, and by certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund. If (i) a holder of Advisor Class shares ceases to participate in the fee-based program or plan, or to be associated with the investment adviser or financial intermediary, in each case, that satisfies the requirements to purchase shares set forth under "Purchase of Shares--General" or (ii) the holder is otherwise no longer eligible to purchase Advisor Class shares as described in the Advisor Class Prospectus and this SAI (each, a "Conversion Event"), then all Advisor Class shares held by the shareholder will convert automatically to Class A shares of the Fund during the calendar month following the month in which the Fund is informed of the occurrence of the Conversion Event. The Fund will provide the shareholder with at least 30 days' notice of the conversion. The failure of a shareholder or a fee-based program to satisfy the minimum investment requirements to purchase Advisor Class shares will not constitute a Conversion Event. The conversion would occur on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes and without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. Class A shares currently bear a .30% distribution services fee. 42 Advisor Class Shares do not have any distribution services fee. As a result, Class A shares have a higher expense ratio and may pay correspondingly lower dividends and have a lower net asset value than Advisor Class shares. The conversion of Advisor Class shares to Class A shares is subject to the continuing availability of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the conversion of Advisor Class shares to Class A shares does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law. The conversion of Advisor Class shares to Class A shares may be suspended if such an opinion is no longer available at the time such conversion is to occur. In that event, the Advisor Class shareholder would be required to redeem his or her Advisor Class shares, which would constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law. ________________________________________________________________ REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES ________________________________________________________________ The following information supplements that set forth in the Fund's Prospectus under the heading "Purchase and Sale of Shares--How to Sell Shares." If you are an Advisor Class shareholder through an account established under a fee-based program your fee-based program may impose requirements with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of Advisor Class shares of the Fund that are different from those described herein. A transaction fee may be charged by your financial representative with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of Advisor Class shares made through such financial representative. Redemption Subject only to the limitations described below, the Fund's Charter requires that the Fund redeem the shares tendered to it, as described below, at a redemption price equal to their net asset value as next computed following the receipt of shares tendered for redemption in proper form. Except for any contingent deferred sales charge which may be applicable to Class A, Class B or Class C shares, there is no redemption charge. Payment of the redemption price will be made within seven days after the Fund's receipt of such tender for redemption. If a shareholder is in doubt about what documents are required by his or her fee-based program or employee benefit plan, the shareholder should contact his or her financial representative. The right of redemption may not be suspended or the date of payment upon redemption postponed for more than seven days after shares are tendered for redemption, except for any period 43 during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings) or during which the Commission determines that trading thereon is restricted, or for any period during which an emergency (as determined by the Commission) exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or for such other periods as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of security holders of the Fund. Payment of the redemption price normally will be made in cash. No interest will accrue on uncashed redemption checks. The value of a shareholder's shares on redemption or repurchase may be more or less than the cost of such shares to the shareholder, depending upon the market value of the Fund's portfolio securities at the time of such redemption or repurchase. Redemption proceeds on Class A, Class B and Class C shares will reflect the deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge, if any. Payment received by a shareholder upon redemption or repurchase of his or her shares, assuming the shares constitute capital assets in his or her hands, will result in long-term or short-term capital gain (or loss) depending upon the shareholder's holding period and basis in respect of the shares redeemed. To redeem shares of the Fund for which no stock certificates have been issued, the registered owner or owners should forward a letter to the Fund containing a request for redemption. The signature or signatures on the letter must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To redeem shares of the Fund represented by stock certificates, the investor should forward the appropriate stock certificate or certificates, endorsed in blank or with blank stock powers attached, to the Fund with the request that the shares represented thereby, or a specified portion thereof, be redeemed. The stock assignment form on the reverse side of each stock certificate surrendered to the Fund for redemption must be signed by the registered owner or owners exactly as the registered name appears on the face of the certificate or, alternatively, a stock power signed in the same manner may be attached to the stock certificate or certificates or, where tender is made by mail, separately mailed to the Fund. The signature or signatures on the assignment form must be guaranteed in the manner described above. Telephone Redemption by Electronic Funds Transfer. Each Fund shareholder is entitled to request redemption by Electronic 44 Funds Transfer of shares for which no stock certificates have been issued by telephone at 800-221-5672 by a shareholder who has completed the appropriate portion of the Subscription Application or, in the case of an existing shareholder, an "Autosell" application obtained from AGIS. A telephone redemption request by electronic funds transfer may not exceed $100,000 (except for certain omnibus accounts), and must be made by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day as defined above. Proceeds of telephone redemptions will be sent by electronic funds transfer to a shareholder's designated bank account at a bank selected by the shareholder that is a member of the NACHA. Telephone Redemption by Check. Each Fund shareholder is eligible to request redemption by check of Fund shares for which no stock certificates have been issued by telephone at 800-221-5672 before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day in an amount not exceeding $50,000. Proceeds of such redemptions are remitted by check to the shareholder's address of record. A shareholder otherwise eligible for telephone redemption by check may cancel the privilege by written instruction to AGIS, or by checking the appropriate box on the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus. Telephone Redemptions -- General. During periods of drastic economic or market developments, such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it is possible that shareholders would have difficulty in reaching AGIS by telephone (although no such difficulty was apparent at any time in connection with the attacks). If a shareholder were to experience such difficulty, the shareholder should issue written instructions to AGIS at the address shown on the cover of this SAI. The Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate its telephone redemption service at any time without notice. Telephone redemption is not available with respect to shares (i) for which certificates have been issued, (ii) held by a shareholder who has changed his or her address of record within the preceding 30 calendar days or (iv) held in any retirement plan account. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter or AGIS will be responsible for the authenticity of telephone requests for redemptions that the Fund reasonable believes to be genuine. The Fund will employ reasonable procedures in order to verify that telephone requests for redemptions are genuine, including, among others, recording such telephone instructions and causing written confirmations of the resulting transactions to be sent to shareholders. If the Fund did not employ such procedures, it could be liable for losses arising from unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. Selected dealers or agents may charge a commission for handling telephone requests for redemptions. 45 Repurchase The Fund may repurchase shares through the Principal Underwriter, selected financial intermediaries or selected dealers or agents. The repurchase price will be the net asset value next determined after the Principal Underwriter receives the request (less the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, with respect to the Class A, Class B and Class C shares), except that requests placed through selected dealers or agents before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any day will be executed at the net asset value determined as of such close of regular trading on that day if received by the Principal Underwriter prior to its close of business on that day (normally 5:00 p.m. Eastern time). The financial intermediary or selected dealer or agent is responsible for transmitting the request to the Principal Underwriter by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. (Certain selected dealers, agents or financial representatives may enter into operating agreements permitting them to transmit purchase information to the Principal Underwriter after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time and receive that day's net asset value). If the financial intermediary or selected dealer or agent fails to do so, the shareholder's right to receive that day's closing price must be settled between the shareholder and the dealer or agent. A shareholder may offer shares of the Fund to the Principal Underwriter either directly or through a selected dealer or agent. Neither the Fund nor the Principal Underwriter charges a fee or commission in connection with the repurchase of shares (except for the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C shares). Normally, if shares of the Fund are offered through a financial intermediary or selected dealer or agent, the repurchase is settled by the shareholder as an ordinary transaction with or through the selected dealer or agent, who may charge the shareholder for this service. The repurchase of shares of the Fund as described above is a voluntary service of the Fund and the Fund may suspend or terminate this practice at any time. General The Fund reserves the right to close out an account that through redemption has remained below $200 for 90 days. Shareholders will receive 60 days' written notice to increase the account value before the account is closed. No contingent deferred sales charge will be deducted from the proceeds of this redemption. In the case of a redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund recently purchased by check, redemption proceeds will not be made available until the Fund is reasonably assured that the check has cleared, normally up to 15 calendar days following the purchase date. 46 ________________________________________________________________ SHAREHOLDER SERVICES ________________________________________________________________ The following information supplements that set forth in the Fund's Prospectus under the heading "Purchase and Sale of Shares." The shareholder services set forth below are applicable to Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares unless otherwise indicated. If you are an Advisor Class shareholder through an account established under a fee-based program your fee-based program may impose requirements with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of Advisor Class shares of the Fund that are different from those described herein. A transaction fee may be charged by your financial representative with respect to the purchase, sale or exchange of Advisor Class shares made through such financial representative. Automatic Investment Program Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through an automatic investment program utilizing electronic funds transfer drawn on the investor's own bank account. Under such a program, pre-authorized monthly drafts for a fixed amount (at least $25) are used to purchase shares through the selected dealer or selected agent designated by the investor at the public offering price next determined after the Principal Underwriter receives the proceeds from the investor's bank. In electronic form, drafts can be made on or about a date each month selected by the shareholder. Investors wishing to establish an automatic investment program in connection with their initial investment should complete the appropriate portion of the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus. Current shareholders should contact AGIS at the address or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this SAI to establish an automatic investment program. Exchange Privilege You may exchange your investment in the Fund for shares of the same class of other Alliance Mutual Funds (including AFD Exchange Reserves, a money market fund managed by the Adviser). In addition, (i) present officers and full-time employees of the Adviser, (ii) present Directors or Trustees of any Alliance Mutual Fund and (iii) certain employee benefit plans for employees of the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, AGIS and their affiliates may, on a tax-free basis, exchange Class A shares of the Fund for Advisor Class shares of the Fund. Exchanges of shares are made at the net asset value next determined and without sales or service charges. Exchanges may be made by telephone or written request. Telephone exchange 47 requests must be received by AGIS by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day in order to receive that day's net asset value. Shares will continue to age without regard to exchanges for purpose of determining the CDSC, if any, upon redemption and, [5~in the case of Class B shares, for the purpose of conversion to Class A shares. After an exchange, your Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares in accordance with the conversion schedule applicable to the Class B shares of the Alliance Mutual Fund you originally purchased for cash ("original shares"). When redemption occurs, the CDSC applicable to the original shares is applied. Please read carefully the prospectus of the mutual fund into which you are exchanging before submitting the request. Call AGIS at 800-221-5672 to exchange uncertificated shares. Except with respect to exchanges of Class A shares of the Fund for Advisor Class shares of the Fund, exchanges of shares as described above in this section are taxable transactions for federal income tax purposes. The exchange service may be changed, suspended, or terminated on 60 days' written notice. All exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirements and any other applicable terms set forth in the prospectus for the Alliance Mutual Fund whose shares are being acquired. An exchange is effected through the redemption of the shares tendered for exchange and the purchase of shares being acquired at their respective net asset values as next determined following receipt by the Alliance Mutual Fund whose shares are being exchanged of (i) proper instructions and all necessary supporting documents as described in such fund's prospectus, or (ii) a telephone request for such exchange in accordance with the procedures set forth in the following paragraph. Exchanges involving the redemption of shares recently purchased by check will be permitted only after the Alliance Mutual Fund whose shares have been tendered for exchange is reasonably assured that the check has cleared, normally up to 15 calendar days following the purchase date. Exchanges of shares of Alliance Mutual Funds will generally result in the realization of a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund shareholder, and the shareholder's selected dealer, agent or financial representative, as applicable, are authorized to make telephone requests for exchanges unless AGIS receives written instruction to the contrary from the shareholder, or the shareholder declines the privilege by checking the appropriate box on the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus. Such telephone requests cannot be accepted with respect to shares then represented by stock certificates. Shares acquired pursuant to a telephone request 48 for exchange will be held under the same account registration as the shares redeemed through such exchange. Eligible shareholders desiring to make an exchange should telephone AGIS with their account number and other details of the exchange, at (800) 221-5672 before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day as defined above. Telephone requests for exchange received before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Fund business day will be processed as of the close of business on that day. During periods of drastic economic or market developments, such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it is possible that shareholders would have difficulty in reaching AGIS by telephone (although no such difficulty was apparent at any time in connection with the attacks). If a shareholder were to experience such difficulty, the shareholder should issue written instructions to AGIS at the address shown on the cover of this SAI. A shareholder may elect to initiate a monthly "Auto Exchange" whereby a specified dollar amount's worth of his or her Fund shares (minimum $25) is automatically exchanged for shares of another Alliance Mutual Fund. Auto Exchange transactions normally occur on the 12th day of each month, or the Fund business day prior thereto. None of the Alliance Mutual Funds, the Adviser, the Principal Underwriter or AGIS will be responsible for the authenticity of telephone requests for exchanges that the Fund reasonably believes to be genuine. The Fund will employ reasonable procedures in order to verify that telephone requests for exchanges are genuine, including, among others, recording such telephone instructions and causing written confirmations of the resulting transactions to be sent to shareholders. If the Fund did not employ such procedures, it could be liable for losses arising from unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. Selected dealers, agents or financial representatives, as applicable, may charge a commission for handling telephone requests for exchanges. The exchange privilege is available only in states where shares of the Alliance Mutual Fund being acquired may be legally sold. Each Alliance Mutual Fund reserves the right, at any time on 60 days' notice to its shareholders, to reject any order to acquire its shares through exchange or otherwise to modify, restrict or terminate the exchange privilege. Retirement Plans The Fund may be a suitable investment vehicle for part or all of the assets held in various types of retirement plans, such as those listed below. The Fund has available forms of such 49 plans pursuant to which investments can be made in the Fund and other Alliance Mutual Funds. Persons desiring information concerning these plans should contact AGIS at the "For Literature" telephone number on the cover of this SAI, or write to: Alliance Global Investor Services, Inc. Retirement Plans P.O. Box 1520 Secaucus, New Jersey 07096-1520 Individual Retirement Account ("IRA"). Individuals who receive compensation, including earnings from self-employment, are entitled to establish and make contributions to an IRA. Taxation of the income and gains paid to an IRA by the Fund is deferred until distribution from the IRA. An individual's eligible contribution to an IRA will be deductible if neither the individual nor his or her spouse is an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. If the individual or his or her spouse is an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, the individual's contributions to an IRA may be deductible, in whole or in part, depending on the amount of the adjusted gross income of the individual and his or her spouse. Employer-Sponsored Qualified Retirement Plans. Sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations may sponsor qualified money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans, including Section 401(k) plans ("qualified plans"), under which annual tax- deductible contributions are made within prescribed limits based on compensation paid to participating individuals. The minimum initial investment requirement may be waived with respect to certain of these qualified plans. If the aggregate net asset value of shares of the Alliance Mutual Funds held by a qualified plan reaches $1 million on or before December 15 in any year, all Class B or Class C shares of the Fund held by the plan can be exchanged, at the plan's request, without any sales charge, for Class A shares of the Fund. Simplified Employee Pension Plan ("SEP"). Sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations may sponsor a SEP under which they make annual tax-deductible contributions to an IRA established by each eligible employee within prescribed limits based on employee compensation. 403(b)(7) Retirement Plan. Certain tax-exempt organizations and public educational institutions may sponsor retirement plans under which an employee may agree that monies deducted from his or her compensation (minimum $25 per pay 50 period) may be contributed by the employer to a custodial account established for the employee under the plan. The Alliance Plans Division of Frontier Trust Company, a subsidiary of Equitable, which serves as custodian or trustee under the retirement plan prototype forms available from the Fund, charges certain nominal fees for establishing an account and for annual maintenance. A portion of these fees is remitted to AGIS as compensation for its services to the retirement plan accounts maintained with the Fund. Distributions from retirement plans are subject to certain Code requirements in addition to normal redemption procedures. For additional information please contact AGIS. Dividend Reinvestment Program Shareholders may elect to have all income and capital gains distributions from their account be paid to them in the form of additional shares of the same class of the Fund pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Program. No initial or contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares issued pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Program. Shares issued under this program will have an aggregate net asset value as of the close of business on the declaration date of the dividend or distribution equal to the cash amount of the distribution. Investors wishing to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment Program should complete the appropriate section of the Subscription Application. Current shareholders should contact AGIS to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment Program. In certain circumstances where a shareholder has elected to receive dividends and/or capital gain distributions in cash but the account has been determined to be lost due to mail being returned to us by the Postal Service as undeliverable, such shareholder's distributions option will automatically be placed within the Dividend Reinvestment Program for future distributions. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution checks. Dividend Direction Plan A shareholder who already maintains, in addition to his or her Class A, Class B, Class C or Advisor Class Fund account, a Class A, Class B, Class C or Advisor Class account with one or more other Alliance Mutual Funds may direct that income dividends and/or capital gains paid on his or her Class A, Class B, Class C or Advisor Class Fund shares be automatically reinvested, in any amount, without the payment of any sales or service charges, in shares of the same class of such other Alliance Mutual Fund(s). Further information can be obtained by contacting AGIS at the 51 address or the "For Literature" telephone number shown on the cover of this SAI. Investors wishing to establish a dividend direction plan in connection with their initial investment should complete the appropriate section of the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus. Current shareholders should contact AGIS to establish a dividend direction plan. Systematic Withdrawal Plan General. Any shareholder who owns or purchases shares of the Fund having a current net asset value of at least $4,000 (for quarterly or less frequent payments), $5,000 (for bi-monthly payments) or $10,000 (for monthly payments) may establish a systematic withdrawal plan under which the shareholder will periodically receive a payment in a stated amount of not less than $50 on a selected date. Systematic withdrawal plan participants must elect to have their dividends and distributions from the Fund automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund owned by a participant in the Fund's systematic withdrawal plan will be redeemed as necessary to meet withdrawal payments and such payments will be subject to any taxes applicable to redemptions and, except as discussed below, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Shares acquired with reinvested dividends and distributions will be liquidated first to provide such withdrawal payments and thereafter other shares will be liquidated to the extent necessary, and depending upon the amount withdrawn, the investor's principal may be depleted. A systematic withdrawal plan may be terminated at any time by the shareholder or the Fund. Withdrawal payments will not automatically end when a shareholder's account reaches a certain minimum level. Therefore, redemptions of shares under the plan may reduce or even liquidate a shareholder's account and may subject the shareholder to the Fund's involuntary redemption provisions. See "Redemption and Repurchase of Shares--General." Purchases of additional shares concurrently with withdrawals are undesirable because of sales charges when purchases are made. While an occasional lump-sum investment may be made by a holder of Class A shares who is maintaining a systematic withdrawal plan, such investment should normally be an amount equivalent to three times the annual withdrawal or $5,000, whichever is less. Payments under a systematic withdrawal plan may be made by check or electronically via the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") network. Investors wishing to establish a systematic withdrawal plan in conjunction with their initial investment in shares of the Fund should complete the appropriate portion of the Subscription Application found in the Prospectus, while current 52 Fund shareholders desiring to do so can obtain an application form by contacting AGIS at the address or the "For Literature" telephone number shown on the cover of this SAI. CDSC Waiver for Class B Shares and Class C Shares. Under a systematic withdrawal plan, up to 1% monthly, 2% bi-monthly or 3% quarterly of the value at the time of redemption of the Class B or Class C shares in a shareholder's account may be redeemed free of any contingent deferred sales charge. With respect to Class B shares, the waiver applies only with respect to shares acquired after July 1, 1995. Class B shares that are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (such as shares acquired with reinvested dividends or distributions) will be redeemed first and will count toward the foregoing limitations. Remaining Class B shares that are held the longest will be redeemed next. Redemptions of Class B shares in excess of the foregoing limitations will be subject to any otherwise applicable contingent deferred sales charge. With respect to Class C shares, shares held the longest will be redeemed first and will count toward the foregoing limitations. Redemptions in excess of those limitations will be subject to any otherwise applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Statements and Reports Each shareholder of the Fund receives semi-annual and annual reports which include a portfolio of investments, financial statements and, in the case of the annual report, the report of the Fund's independent auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, as well as a confirmation of each purchase and redemption. By contacting his or her broker or AGIS, a shareholder can arrange for copies of his or her account statements to be sent to another person. ________________________________________________________________ NET ASSET VALUE ________________________________________________________________ The per share net asset value is computed in accordance with the Fund's Charter and By-Laws at the next close of regular trading on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) following receipt of a purchase or redemption order by the Fund on each Fund business day on which such an order is received and on such other days as the Board of Directors deems appropriate or necessary in order to comply with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act. The Fund's per share net asset value is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund's total assets, less its liabilities, by 53 the total number of its shares then outstanding. A Fund business day is any weekday on which the Exchange is open for trading. In accordance with applicable rules under the 1940 Act, portfolio securities are valued at current market value or at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has delegated to the Adviser certain of the Board's duties with respect to the following procedures. Readily marketable securities listed on the Exchange or on a foreign securities exchange (other than foreign securities exchanges whose operations are similar to those of the United States over-the-counter market) are valued, except as indicated below, at the last sale price reflected on the consolidated tape at the close of the Exchange or, in the case of a foreign securities exchange, at the last quoted sale price, in each case on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, then the security is valued in good faith at fair value by, or in accordance with procedures established by, the Board of Directors. Readily marketable securities not listed on the Exchange or on a foreign securities exchange but listed on other United States national securities exchanges or traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. are valued in like manner. Portfolio securities traded on the Exchange and on one or more foreign or other national securities exchanges, and portfolio securities not traded on the Exchange but traded on one or more foreign or other national securities exchanges are valued in accordance with these procedures by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded. Readily marketable securities traded in the over-the- counter market, securities listed on a foreign securities exchange whose operations are similar to those of the United States over-the-counter market, and securities listed on a U.S. national securities exchange whose primary market is believed to be over-the-counter (but excluding securities traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.), are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by Nasdaq or, in the case of securities not quoted by Nasdaq, the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources. Listed put or call options purchased by the Fund are valued at the last sale price. If there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day. Open futures contracts and options thereon will be valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the most recent quoted bid price. If there are no 54 quotations available for the day of valuations, the last available closing settlement price will be used. U.S. Government Securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less, or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days (unless in either case the Board of Directors determines that this method does not represent fair value). Fixed-income securities may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when such prices are believed to reflect the fair market value of such securities. The prices provided by pricing service take into account many factors, including institutional size trading in similar groups of securities and any developments related to specific securities. All other assets of the Fund are valued in good faith at fair value by, or in accordance with procedures established by, the Board of Directors. Trading in securities on Far Eastern and European securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets is normally completed well before the close of business of each Fund business day. In addition, trading in foreign markets may not take place on all Fund business days. Furthermore, trading may take place in various foreign markets on days that are not Fund business days. The Fund's calculation of the net asset value per share, therefore, does not always take place contemporaneously with the most recent determination of the prices of portfolio securities in these markets. Events affecting the values of these portfolio securities that occur between the time their prices are determined in accordance with the above procedures and the close of the Exchange will not be reflected in the Fund's calculation of net asset value unless it is believed that these prices do not reflect current market value, in which case the securities will be valued in good faith by, or in accordance with procedures established by, the Board of Directors at fair value. The Board of Directors may suspend the determination of the Fund's net asset value (and the offering and sale of shares), subject to the rules of the Commission and other governmental rules and regulations, at a time when: (1) the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (2) an emergency exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or (3) for the protection of shareholders, the Commission by order permits a 55 suspension of the right of redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption. For purposes of determining the Fund's net asset value per share, all assets and liabilities initially expressed in a foreign currency will be converted into U.S. dollars at the mean of the current bid and asked prices of such currency against the U.S. dollar last quoted by a major bank that is a regular participant in the relevant foreign exchange market or on the basis of a pricing service that takes into account the quotes provided by a number of such major banks. If such quotations are not available as of the close of the Exchange, the rate of exchange will be determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors. The assets attributable to the Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Advisor Class shares will be invested together in a single portfolio. The net asset value of each class will be determined separately by subtracting the liabilities allocated to that class from the assets belonging to that class in conformance with the provisions of a plan adopted by the Fund in accordance with Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act. ________________________________________________________________ DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES ________________________________________________________________ Dividends paid by the Fund, if any, with respect to Class A, Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares will be calculated in the same manner at the same time on the same day and will be in the same amount, except that the higher distribution services fee applicable to Class B and C shares, and any incremental transfer agency costs relating to Class B and Class C shares, will be borne exclusively by the class to which they relate. United States Federal Income Taxation of Dividends and Distributions General The Fund intends for each taxable year to qualify to be taxed as a "regulated investment company" under the Code. Such qualification relieves the Fund of federal income tax liability on the part of its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains which it timely distributes to its shareholders. Such qualification does not, of course, involve governmental supervision of management or investment practices or policies. Investors should consult their own counsel for a 56 complete understanding of the requirements the Fund must meet to qualify to be taxed as a "regulated investment company." The information set forth in the Prospectus and the following discussion relate solely to the significant United States federal income taxes on dividends and distributions by the Fund and assumes that the Fund qualifies to be taxed as a regulated investment company. Investors should consult their own tax counsel with respect to the specific tax consequences of their being shareholders of the Fund, including the effect and applicability of federal, state and local tax laws to their own particular situation and the possible effects of changes therein. It is the present policy of the Fund to distribute to shareholders all net investment income and to distribute realized capital gains. However, there is no fixed dividend rate and there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any dividends or realize any capital gains. The amount of any dividend or distribution paid on shares of the Fund must necessarily depend upon the realization of income and capital gains from the Fund's investments. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of the 4% federal excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income of regulated investment companies. The Fund will be required to pay the 4% excise tax to the extent it does not distribute to its shareholders during any calendar year an amount equal to at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (ii) 98% of its capital gain net income and foreign currency gains for the twelve months ended November 30 of such year, and (iii) any ordinary income or capital gains from the preceding calendar year that was not distributed during such year. For this purpose, income or gain retained by the Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by the Fund by year-end. For federal income and excise tax purposes, dividends declared and payable to shareholders of record as of a date in October, November or December but actually paid during the following January will be taxable to these shareholders for the year declared, and not for the subsequent calendar year in which the shareholders actually receive the dividend. Dividends of the Fund's net ordinary income and distributions of any net realized short-term capital gain are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In view of the Fund's investment policies, it is expected that dividends from domestic corporations will be a significant part of the Fund's gross income and, accordingly, that a significant part of the Fund's dividends will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction; however, this is largely dependent on the Fund's 57 investment activities, and accordingly cannot be predicted with certainty. The amount of such dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction is limited to the amount of qualifying dividends from domestic corporations received by the Fund during the fiscal year. Under provisions of the tax law a corporation's dividends-received deduction will be disallowed unless the corporation holds shares in the Fund on the ex- dividend date and for at least 45 other days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days prior to the ex-dividend date. In determining the holding period of such shares for this purpose, any period during which a shareholder's risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales or similar transactions is not counted. Furthermore, provisions of the tax law disallow the dividends-received deduction to the extent a corporation's investment in shares of the Fund is financed with indebtedness. Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares in the Fund. Any dividend or distribution received by a shareholder on shares of the Fund will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of such shares by the amount of such dividend or distribution. Furthermore, a dividend or distribution made shortly after the purchase of such shares by a shareholder, although in effect a return of capital to that particular shareholder, would be taxable to him as described above. If a shareholder has held shares in the Fund for six months or less and during that period has received a distribution of net capital gain, any loss recognized by the shareholder on the sale of those shares during the six-month period will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the distribution. In determining the holding period of such shares for this purpose, any period during which a shareholder's risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales or similar transactions is not counted. Dividends are taxable in the manner discussed regardless of whether they are paid to the shareholder in cash or are reinvested in additional shares of the Fund or another Alliance Mutual Fund. A dividend or capital gains distribution with respect to shares of the Fund held by a tax-deferred or qualified plan, such as an individual retirement account, 403(b)(7) retirement plan or corporate pension or profit-sharing plan, generally will not be taxable to the plan. Distributions from such plans will be taxable to individual participants under applicable tax rules without regard to the character of the income earned by the qualified plan. 58 The Fund generally will be required to withhold tax at the rate of 30% with respect to distributions payable to a non- corporate shareholder unless the shareholder certifies on his subscription application that the social security or taxpayer identification number provided is correct and that the shareholder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he is subject to backup withholding. The foregoing discussion relates only to U.S. federal income tax law as it affects shareholders who are U.S. citizens or residents or U.S. corporations. The effects of federal income tax law on shareholders who are non-resident aliens or foreign corporations may be substantially different. Foreign investors should consult their counsel for further information as to the U.S. tax consequences of receipt of income from the Fund. United States Federal Income Taxation of the Fund The following discussion relates to certain significant United States federal income tax consequences to the Fund with respect to the determination of its "investment company taxable income" each year. This discussion assumes that the Fund will be taxed as a regulated investment company for each of its taxable years. Options. Certain listed nonequity options are considered "section 1256 contracts" for federal income tax purposes. Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year will be "marked to market" and treated for federal income tax purposes as though sold for fair market value on the last business day of such taxable year. Gain or loss realized by the Fund on section 1256 contracts generally will be considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. The Fund can elect to exempt its section 1256 contracts which are part of a "mixed straddle" (as described below) from the application of section 1256. With respect to equity options, gain or loss realized by the Fund upon the lapse or sale of such options held by the Fund will be either long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon the Fund's holding period with respect to such options. However, gain or loss realized upon the lapse or closing out of such options that are written by the Fund will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. In general, if the Fund exercises an option, or if an option that the Fund has written is exercised, gain or loss on the option will not be separately recognized but the premium received or paid will be included in the calculation of gain or loss upon disposition of the property underlying the option. 59 Tax Straddles. Any option or other position entered into or held by the Fund in conjunction with any other position held by the Fund may constitute a "straddle" for federal income tax purposes. A straddle of which at least one, but not all, the positions are section 1256 contracts may constitute a "mixed straddle." In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the character and timing of the Fund's gains and losses with respect to straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that (i) loss realized on disposition of one position of a straddle not be recognized to the extent that the Fund has unrealized gains with respect to the other position in such straddle; (ii) the Fund's holding period in straddle positions be suspended while the straddle exists (possibly resulting in gain being treated as short-term capital gain rather than long-term capital gain); (iii) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions which are part of a mixed straddle and which are non-section 1256 positions be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital loss; (iv) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions which would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses be treated as long-term capital losses; and (v) the deduction of interest and carrying charges attributable to certain straddle positions may be deferred. Various elections are available to the Fund which may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules, particularly with respect to mixed straddles. In general, the straddle rules described above do not apply to any straddles held by the Fund, all of the offsetting positions of which consist of section 1256 contracts. ________________________________________________________________ PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS ________________________________________________________________ Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund, the Adviser makes the Fund's portfolio decisions and determines the broker to be used in specific transactions with the objective of negotiating a combination of the most favorable commission and the best price obtainable on each transaction (generally defined as best execution). Consistent with the objective of obtaining best execution, the Fund may use brokers and dealers who supply investment information to the Adviser. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser entered into agreements or understandings with any brokers regarding the placement of securities transactions because of research or statistical services they provide. To the extent that such persons or firms supply investment information to the Adviser for use in rendering investment advice to the Fund, such information may be supplied at no cost to the Adviser. While it is impossible to place an 60 actual dollar value on such investment information, its receipt by the Adviser probably does not reduce the overall expenses of the Adviser to any material extent. The investment information provided to the Adviser is of the type described in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is designed to augment the Adviser's own internal research and investment strategy capabilities. Research and statistical services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects securities transactions are used by the Adviser in carrying out its investment management responsibilities with respect to all its client accounts but not all such services may be used by the Adviser in connection with the Fund. There may be occasions where the transaction cost charged by a broker may be greater than that which another broker may charge if the Fund determines in good faith that the amount of such transaction cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage, research and statistical services provided by the executing broker. The Fund may deal in some instances in securities which are not listed on a national stock exchange but are traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may also purchase listed securities through the third market, from a dealer which is not a member of the Exchange on which a security is listed. Where transactions are executed in the over-the-counter market or third market, the Fund will seek to deal with the primary market makers; but when necessary in order to obtain the best price and execution, it will utilize the services of others. In all cases, the Fund will attempt to negotiate best execution. The extent to which commissions that will be charged by broker-dealers selected by the Fund may reflect an element of value for research cannot presently be determined. To the extent that research services of value are provided by broker-dealers with or through whom the Fund places portfolio transactions, the Adviser may be relieved of expenses which it might otherwise bear. Research services furnished by broker-dealers could be useful and of value to the Adviser in servicing its other clients as well as the Fund; but, on the other hand, certain research services obtained by the Adviser as a result of the placement of portfolio brokerage of other clients could be useful and of value to it in serving the Fund. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and subject to seeking best execution, the Fund may consider sales of shares of the Fund or other investment companies managed by the Adviser as a factor in the selection of brokers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Fund may from time to time place orders for the purchase or sale of securities (including listed call options) with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC ("SCB & Co."), an affiliate 61 of the Adviser. In such instances the placement of orders with such brokers would be consistent with the Fund's objective of obtaining best execution and would not be dependent upon the fact that SCB & Co. is an affiliate of the Adviser. With respect to orders placed with SCB & Co. for execution on a national securities exchange, commissions received must conform to Section 17(e)(2)(A) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17e-1 thereunder, which permit an affiliated person of a registered investment company (such as the Fund), or any affiliated person of such person, to receive a brokerage commission from such registered investment company provided that such commission is reasonable and fair compared to the commissions received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities during a comparable period of time. During the fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions amounting in the aggregate of $5,613,921, $7,071,273 and $4,304,433, respectively. During the fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, brokerage commissions amounting in the aggregate of $317,947, $130,140 and $9,348, respectively, were paid to SCB & Co. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the brokerage commissions paid to SCB & Co. constituted 5.66% of the Fund's aggregate brokerage commissions. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, of the Fund's aggregate dollar amount of the brokerage transactions involving the payment of commissions, 0% were effected through SCB & Co. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, transactions in portfolio securities of the Fund aggregating $7,468,503,455, with associated brokerage commissions of approximately $2,057,437 were allocated to persons or firms supplying research services to the Fund or the Adviser. ________________________________________________________________ GENERAL INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________ Capitalization The Fund is a Maryland corporation organized in 1980. The authorized capital stock of the Fund consists of 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 3,000,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, 3,000,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock and 3,000,000,000 shares of Advisor Class Common Stock, each having a par value of $.01 per share. All shares of the Fund when duly issued will be fully paid and non-assessable. The Board of Directors is authorized to reclassify and issue any unissued shares to any number of additional series and classes without shareholder approval. Accordingly, the Board may create additional series of shares in the future, for reasons 62 such as the desire to establish one or more additional portfolios of the Fund with different investment objectives, policies or restrictions. Any issuance of shares of another series would be governed by the 1940 Act and the laws of the State of Maryland. If shares of another series were issued in connection with the creation of a second portfolio, each share of either portfolio would normally be entitled to one vote for all purposes. Generally, shares of both portfolios would vote as a single series for the election of directors and on any other matter that affected both portfolios in substantially the same manner. As to matters affecting each portfolio differently, such as approval of the Advisory Agreement and changes in investment policy, shares of each portfolio would vote as separate series. It is anticipated that annual shareholder meetings will not be held; shareholder meetings will be held only when required by federal or state law. Shareholders have available certain procedures for the removal of Directors. A shareholder will be entitled to share pro rata with other holders of the same class of shares all dividends and distributions arising from the Fund's assets and, upon redeeming shares, will receive the then current net asset value of the Fund represented by the redeemed shares less any applicable CDSC. The Fund is empowered to establish, without shareholder approval, additional portfolios, which may have different investment objectives and policies than those of the Fund, and additional classes of shares within the Fund. If an additional portfolio or class were established in the Fund, each share of the portfolio or class would normally be entitled to one vote for all purposes. Generally, shares of each portfolio and class would vote together as a single class on matters, such as the election of Directors, that affect each portfolio and class in substantially the same manner. Class A, B, C and Advisor Class shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, except that each class bears its own transfer agency expenses, each of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund bears its own distribution expenses and Class B shares and Advisor Class shares convert to Class A shares under certain circumstances. Each class of shares of the Fund votes separately with respect to the Fund's Rule 12b- 1 distribution plan and other matters for which separate class voting is appropriate under applicable law. Shares are freely transferable, are entitled to dividends as determined by the Directors and, in liquidation of the Fund, are entitled to receive the net assets of the Fund. At the close of business on February 15, 2002, there were 98,286,401 shares of common stock of the Fund outstanding, including 27,747,664 Class A shares, 48,203,928 Class B shares, 12,812,600 Class C shares and 3,393,851 Advisor Class shares. To the knowledge of the Fund the following persons owned of record 63 or beneficially 5% or more of a class of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of February 15, 2002. No. of % of Name and Address Shares Class - ---------------- ------ ----- Class A Salomon Smith Barney 1,914,638 6.90% House Account Attn: Cindy Tempesta 333 W. 34th Street, Floor 3 New York, NY 10001-2483 MLPF&S For the Sole Benefit of 2,915,104 10.50% Its Customers Attn: Fund Administration (97091) 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 2nd Floor Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 Class B Salomon Smith Barney 5,826,781 12.08% House Account Attn: Cindy Tempesta 333 W. 34th Street, Floor 3 New York, NY 10001-2483 MLPF&S For the Sole Benefit of 6,982,119 14.49% Its Customers Attn: Fund Administration (97BG6) 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 2nd Floor Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 Dean Witter Reynolds 3,071,289 6.37% Attn MF Operations 2 Harborside Plaza 2nd Fl Jersey City, NJ 07311 Class C Salomon Smith Barney 2,018,599 15.76% House Account Attn: Cindy Tempesta 333 W. 34th Street, Floor 3 New York, NY 10001-2483 64 MLPF&S For the Sole Benefit of 3,040,138 23.73% Its Customers Attn: Fund Administration (97BF7) 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 2nd Floor Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 Advisor Class Merrill Lynch 2,035,935 59.97% Attn: Fund Admin. (97LS9) 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 2nd Floor Jacksonville, FL 32246-6486 Trust for Profit Sharing Pl. 376,154 11.08% for Employees of Alliance Capital Management L.P. Plan F Attn: Jill Smith 32nd Floor 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105-0302 Collegebound Fund 265,804 7.83% CBF-Aggressive Growth Portfolio 529 Plan 500 Plaza Drive Secaucus, NJ 07094 Custodian State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, will act as the Fund's Custodian for the assets of the Fund but plays no part in deciding on the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Subject to the supervision of the Fund's Directors, State Street Bank and Trust Company may enter into sub-custodial agreements for the holding of the Fund's foreign securities. Principal Underwriter AFD, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Alliance, located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, is the principal underwriter of shares of the Fund. Under the Agreement, the Fund has agreed to indemnify the distributors, in the absence of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. 65 Counsel Legal matters in connection with the issuance of the shares of the Fund offered hereby will be passed upon by Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, New York. Independent Auditors Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, 10019, has been selected as independent auditors for the Fund. Performance Information From time to time the Fund advertises its "average annual total return", "average annual total return (after taxes on distributions)" and "average annual total return (after taxes on distributions and redemptions)" (referred to below as "total return" and "after-tax returns"). Computed separately for each class, the Fund's total return and after-tax returns are the average annual compounded rate of return for its most recently completed one, five and ten-year periods (or the period since the Fund's inception). Total return and after-tax returns are computed by finding, through the use of formulae prescribed by the Commission, the rate of return over the periods that would equate an assumed initial amount invested to the value of the investment at the end of the period. For the purposes of computing total return and after-tax returns, income dividends and capital gains distributions paid on shares of the Fund are assumed to have been reinvested when paid and the maximum sales charge applicable to purchases of Fund shares is assumed to have been paid. After-tax returns are an estimate that is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the effect of state and local taxes. Since different classes may have first been sold on different dates ("Actual Inception Dates"), in some cases this can result in return information being presented for a class for periods prior to its Actual Inception Date. Where return information is presented for periods prior to the Actual Inception Date of a Class (a "Younger Class"), such information is calculated by using the historical performance of the class with the earliest Actual Inception Date (the "Oldest Class"). For this purpose, the Fund calculates the difference in total annual fund operating expenses (as a percentage of average net assets) between the Younger Class and the Oldest Class, divides the difference by 12, and subtracts the result from the monthly performance at net asset value (including reinvestment of all dividends and distributions) of the Oldest Class for each month prior to the Younger Class's Actual Inception Date for which performance information is to be shown. The resulting "pro 66 forma" monthly performance information is used to calculate the Younger Class's average annual returns for these periods. Any conversion feature applicable to the Younger Class is assumed to occur in accordance with the Actual Inception Date for that class, not its hypothetical inception date. Returns shown in the table, for the one-, five- and ten- year periods ended November 30, 2001 (or since inception through that date, as noted), reflect imposition of the maximum front-end or contingent deferred sales charges as well as conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares after the applicable period. Year Five Years Ten Years ended ended ended 11/30/01 11/30/01 11/30/01 Class A Return Before Taxes (28.08)% 8.73% 18.75% Return After Taxes on Distributions (29.00)% 7.80% 16.18% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (15.69)% 7.19% 15.04% Class B Return Before Taxes (28.24)% 8.89% 18.53%* Class C Return Before Taxes (26.14)% 8.88% 18.52%* Advisor Class Return Before Taxes (24.68)% 10.01% 11.34%* * Inception dates:Class B shares: May 3, 1993 Class C shares: May 3, 1993 Advisor Class shares: October 2, 1996 The Fund's returns are not fixed and will fluctuate in response to prevailing market conditions or as a function of the type and quality of the securities in the Fund's portfolio and the Fund's expenses. Total return and after-tax return information is useful in reviewing the Fund's performance but such information may not provide a basis for comparison with bank deposits or other investments which pay a fixed return for a stated period of time. An investor's principal invested in the Fund is not fixed and will fluctuate in response to prevailing market conditions. 67 Advertisements quoting performance rankings of the Fund as measured by financial publications or by independent organizations such as Lipper, Inc. ("Lipper") and Morningstar, Inc., and advertisements presenting the historical record of payments of income dividends may from time to time be sent to investors or placed in newspapers or magazines such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Business Week, Changing Times, Fortune, Forbes, Money Magazine, or other media on behalf of the Fund. The Fund is included in Lipper rankings under the category "Science and Technology." Additional Information Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the shareholder's broker or to AGIS at the address or telephone numbers shown on the front cover of this SAI. This SAI does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement filed by the Fund with the Commission under the Securities Act. Copies of the Registration Statement may be obtained at a reasonable charge from the Commission or may be examined, without charge, at the offices of the Commission in Washington, D.C. 68 ________________________________________________________________ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS _________________________________________________________________ The financial statements of the Fund dated November 30, 2001 and the report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, are incorporated herein by reference to its annual report. The filing was made with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 30b2-1 thereunder. The annual report was filed on February 6, 2002 . It is available without charge upon request by calling AGIS at (800) 227-4618. 69 ____________________________________________________________ APPENDIX A: CERTAIN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS ____________________________________________________________ Employee benefit plans described below which are intended to be tax-qualified under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Tax Qualified Plans"), for which Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or an affiliate thereof ("Merrill Lynch") is recordkeeper (or with respect to which recordkeeping services are provided pursuant to certain arrangements as described in paragraph (ii) below) ("Merrill Lynch Plans") are subject to specific requirements as to the Fund shares which they may purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, the following Merrill Lynch Plans are not eligible to purchase Class A shares and are eligible to purchase Class B shares of the Fund at net asset value without being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge: (i) Plans for which Merrill Lynch is the recordkeeper on a daily valuation basis, if when the plan is established as an active plan on Merrill Lynch's recordkeeping system: (a) the plan is one which is not already investing in shares of mutual funds or interests in other commingled investment vehicles of which Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. is investment adviser or manager ("MLAM Funds"), and either (A) the aggregate assets of the plan are less than $3 million or (B) the total of the sum of (x) the employees eligible to participate in the plan and (y) those persons, not including any such employees, for whom a plan account having a balance therein is maintained, is less than 500, each of (A) and (B) to be determined by Merrill Lynch in the normal course prior to the date the plan is established as an active plan on Merrill Lynch's recordkeeping system (an "Active Plan"); or (b) the plan is one which is already investing in shares of or interests in MLAM Funds and the assets of the plan have an aggregate value of less than $5 million, as determined by Merrill Lynch as of the date the plan becomes an Active Plan. For purposes of applying (a) and (b), there are to be aggregated all assets of any Tax-Qualified Plan maintained by the sponsor of the Merrill Lynch Plan (or A-1 any of the sponsor's affiliates) (determined to be such by Merrill Lynch) which are being invested in shares of or interests in MLAM Funds, Alliance Mutual Funds or other mutual funds made available pursuant to an agreement between Merrill Lynch and the principal underwriter thereof (or one of its affiliates) and which are being held in a Merrill Lynch account. (ii) Plans for which the recordkeeper is not Merrill Lynch, but which are recordkept on a daily valuation basis by a recordkeeper with which Merrill Lynch has a subcontracting or other alliance arrangement for the performance of recordkeeping services, if the plan is determined by Merrill Lynch to be so eligible and the assets of the plan are less than $3 million. Class B shares of the Fund held by any of the above- described Merrill Lynch Plans are to be replaced at Merrill Lynch's direction through conversion, exchange or otherwise by Class A shares of the Fund on the earlier of the date that the value of the plan's aggregate assets first equals or exceeds $5 million or the date on which any Class B share of the Fund held by the plan would convert to a Class A share of the Fund as described under "Purchase of Shares" and "Redemption and Repurchase of Shares." Any Tax Qualified Plan, including any Merrill Lynch Plan, which does not purchase Class B shares of the Fund without being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge under the above criteria is eligible to purchase Class B shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as well as other classes of shares of the Fund as set forth above under "Purchase of Shares" and "Redemption and Repurchase of Shares." A-2 PART C OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 23. Exhibits: (a) (1) Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(a) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2- 70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (2) Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant dated December 21, 1981 and filed January 5, 1982 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N- 1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (3) Articles of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant dated October 16, 1989 and filed December 5, 1989 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (4) Articles Supplementary to Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant dated April 29, 1993 and filed April 30, 1993 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (5) Articles Supplementary to Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant dated September 30, 1996 and filed October 1, 1996 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(d) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2- 70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (6) Articles Supplementary to Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant dated May 21, 1998 and filed July 6, 1998 - Incorporated by reference C-1 to Exhibit 1(f) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N- 1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 1998. (b) By-Laws of the Registrant - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (c) Not applicable. (d) Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Capital Management L.P. - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (e) (1) Distribution Services Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6(a) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2- 70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (2) Amendment to Distribution Services Agreement dated July 11, 1996 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (3) Form of Selected Dealer Agreement to be between Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. and selected dealers offering shares of Registrant - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6(c) to Post- Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2- 70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (4) Form of Selected Agent Agreement between Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. and selected agents making available shares of Registrant - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6(d) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration C-2 Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811- 03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (f) Not applicable. (g) (1) Custodian Contract between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811- 03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (2) Amendment to Custodian Contract dated May 23, 1989 - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2- 70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (h) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Global Investor Services, Inc. - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997. (i) Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (i) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 of Registrant's Registration Statement (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2002. (j) Consent of Independent Auditors - Filed herewith. (k) Not applicable. (l) Not applicable. (m) Rule 12b-1 Plan - See Exhibit (e)(1) hereto. (n) (1) Rule 18f-3 Plan - Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 18 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 1996. (2) Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated September 30, 1996 - Incorporated by reference to C-3 Exhibit 18 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 of Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 1997. (p) (1) Code of Ethics for the Fund, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Alliance Bond Fund, Inc. (File Nos. 2-48227 and 811-2383), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2000, which is substantially identical in all material respects except as to the party which is the Registrant. (2) Code of Ethics for the Alliance Capital Management L.P. and Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (File Nos. 33- 18647 and 811-5398), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2001. Other Exhibits: Power of Attorney of Robert C. Alexander, John D. Carifa, David H. Dievler, William H. Foulk, Jr., D. James Guzy, Marshall C. Turner, Jr. and Donald J. Robinson - Incorporated by reference to Other Exhibits to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-70427 and 811-03131) filed wit the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2001. ITEM 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant. None. ITEM 25. Indemnification It is the Registrants policy to indemnify its directors and officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by Section 2-418 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland and as set forth in Article EIGHTH of Registrants Articles of Incorporation, filed as Exhibit (a), and Section 10 of the Distribution Services Agreement filed as C-4 Exhibit (e)(1), all as set forth below. The liability of the Registrants directors and officers is dealt with in Article EIGHTH of Registrants Articles of Incorporation, as set forth below. The Advisers liability for any loss suffered by the Registrant or its shareholders is set forth in Section 4 of the Advisory Agreement filed as Exhibit (d) to this Registration Statement, as set forth below. Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law reads as follows: "2-418 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.--(a) In this section the following words have the meaning indicated. (1) "Director" means any person who is or was a director of a corporation and any person who, while a director of a corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan. (2) "Corporation" includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of a corporation in a merger, consolidation, or other transaction in which the predecessors existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction. (3) "Expenses" include attorneys fees. (4) "Official capacity" means the following: (i) When used with respect to a director, the office of director in the corporation; and (ii) When used with respect to a person other than a director as contemplated in subsection (j), the elective or appointive office in the corporation held by the officer, or the employment or agency relationship undertaken by the employee or agent in behalf of the corporation. (iii) Official capacity does not include service for any other foreign or C-5 domestic corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan. (5) "Party" includes a person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding. (6) "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative. (b)(1) A corporation may indemnify any director made a party to any proceeding by reason of service in that capacity unless it is established that: (i) The act or omission of the director was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding; and 1. Was committed in bad faith; or 2. Was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or (ii) The director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or services; or (iii) In the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. (2) (i) Indemnification may be against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding. (ii) However, if the proceeding was one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the director shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. C-6 (3) (i) The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the director did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this subsection. (ii) The termination of any proceeding by conviction, or a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the director did not meet that standard of conduct. (4) A corporation may not indemnify a director or advance expenses under this section for a proceeding brought by that director against the corporation, except: (i) For a proceeding brought to enforce indemnification under this section; or (ii) If the charter or bylaws of the corporation, a resolution of the board of directors of the corporation, or an agreement approved by the board of directors of the corporation to which the corporation is a party expressly provide otherwise. (c) A director may not be indemnified under subsection (b) of this section in respect of any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in the directors official capacity, in which the director was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. (d) Unless limited by the charter: (1) A director who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding referred to in subsection (b) of this section shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding. (2) A court of appropriate jurisdiction upon application of a director C-7 and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification in the following circumstances: (i) If it determines a director is entitled to reimbursement under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the court shall order indemnification, in which case the director shall be entitled to recover the expenses of securing such reimbursement; or (ii) If it determines that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the director has met the standards of conduct set forth in subsection (b) of this section or has been adjudged liable under the circumstances described in subsection (c) of this section, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any proceeding by or in the right of the corporation or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in subsection (c) shall be limited to expenses. (3) A court of appropriate jurisdiction may be the same court in which the proceeding involving the directors liability took place. (e)(1) Indemnification under subsection (b) of this section may not be made by the corporation unless authorized for a specific proceeding after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the standard of conduct set forth in subsection (b) of this section. (2) Such determination shall be made: (i) By the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not, at the time, parties to the proceeding, or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a committee of the board consisting solely of two or more directors not, at the time, C-8 parties to such proceeding and who were duly designated to act in the matter by a majority vote of the full board in which the designated directors who are parties may participate; (ii) By special legal counsel selected by the board or a committee of the board by vote as set forth in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph, or, if the requisite quorum of the full board cannot be obtained therefor and the committee cannot be established, by a majority vote of the full board in which director who are parties may participate; or (iii) By the stockholders. (3) Authorization of indemnification and determination as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible. However, if the determination that indemnification is permissible is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and determination as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the manner specified in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (2) of this subsection for selection of such counsel. (4) Shares held by directors who are parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the subject matter under this subsection. (f)(1) Reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, upon receipt by the corporation of: (i) A written affirmation by the director of the director's good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation as authorized in this section has been met; and (ii) A written undertaking by or on behalf of the director to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. C-9 (2) The undertaking required by subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make the repayment. (3) Payments under this subsection shall be made as provided by the charter, bylaws, or contract or as specified in subsection (e) of this section. (g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided or authorized by this section may not be deemed exclusive of any other rights, by indemnification or otherwise, to which a director may be entitled under the charter, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders or directors, an agreement or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. (h) This section does not limit the corporations power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with an appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when the director has not been made a named defendant or respondent in the proceeding. (i) For purposes of this section: (1) The corporation shall be deemed to have requested a director to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance of the director's duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, the director to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan: (2) Excise taxes assessed on a director with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be deemed fines; and (3) Action taken or omitted by the director with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of the director's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by C-10 the director to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. (j) Unless limited by the charter: (1) An officer of the corporation shall be indemnified as and to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this section for a director and shall be entitled, to the same extent as a director, to seek indemnification pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d); (2) A corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, or agent of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify directors under this section; and (3) A corporation, in addition, may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, or agent who is not a director to such further extent, consistent with law, as may be provided by its charter, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors or contract. (k)(1) A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request, of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan against any liability asserted against and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person's position, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify against liability under the provisions of this section. (2) A corporation may provide similar protection, including a trust fund, letter of C-11 credit, or surety bond, not inconsistent with this section. (3) The insurance or similar protection may be provided by a subsidiary or an affiliate of the corporation. (l) Any indemnification of, or advance of expenses to, a director in accordance with this section, if arising out of a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, shall be reported in writing to the stockholders with the notice of the next stockholders' meeting or prior to the meeting. "Article EIGHTH of the Registrants Articles of Incorporation reads as follows: To the maximum extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland as from time to time amended, the Corporation shall indemnify its currently acting and its former directors and officers and those persons who, at the request of the Corporation, serve or have served another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in one or more of such capacities. The Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Capital Management L.P. provides that Alliance Capital Management L.P. will not be liable under such agreement for any mistake of judgment or in any event whatsoever except for lack of good faith and that nothing therein shall be deemed to protect Alliance Capital Management L.P. against any liability to the Registrant or its security holders to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties thereunder, or by reason of reckless disregard of its duties or obligations thereunder. The Distribution Services Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. provides that the Registrant will indemnify, defend and hold Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc., and any person who controls it within the meaning of Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. or any C-12 controlling person may incur arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in Registrants Registration Statement or Prospectus or arising out of, or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either of the foregoing or necessary to make the statements in either of the foregoing not misleading, provided that nothing therein shall be so construed as to protect Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. against any liability to the Registrant or its security holders to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties thereunder or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder. The foregoing summaries are qualified by the entire text of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation, the Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Capital Management L.P. and the Distribution Services Agreement between the Registrant and Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. which are filed herewith as Exhibits (d), and (e), respectively, in response to Item 23 and each of which are incorporated by reference herein. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the C-13 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Registrant participates in a joint directors and officers liability insurance policy issued by the ICI Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage under this policy has been extended to directors, trustees and officers of the investment companies managed by Alliance Capital Management L.P. Under this policy, outside trustees and directors are covered up to the limits specified for any claim against them for acts committed in their capacities as trustee or director. A pro rata share of the premium for this coverage is charged to each investment company and to the Adviser. ITEM 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser. The descriptions of Alliance Capital Management L.P. under the caption The Adviser in the Prospectus and Management of the Fund in the Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein. The information as to the directors and executive officers of Alliance Capital Management Corporation, the general partner of Alliance Capital Management L.P., set forth in Alliance Capital Management L.P.'s Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 1988 (File No. 801-32361) and amended through the date hereof, is incorporated by reference. ITEM 27. Principal Underwriters. (a) Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc., the Registrant's Principal Underwriter in connection with the sale of shares of the Registrant. Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. acts as Principal Underwriter or Distributor for the following investment companies: AFD Exchange Reserves Alliance All-Asia Investment Fund, Inc. Alliance Americas Government Income Trust, Inc. Alliance Balanced Shares, Inc. C-14 Alliance Bond Fund, Inc. Alliance Capital Reserves Alliance Emerging Market Debt Fund, Inc. Alliance Global Small Cap Fund, Inc. Alliance Global Strategic Income Trust, Inc. Alliance Government Reserves Alliance Greater China '97 Fund, Inc. Alliance Growth and Income Fund, Inc. Alliance Health Care Fund, Inc. Alliance High Yield Fund, Inc. Alliance Institutional Fund, Inc. Alliance Institutional Reserves, Inc. Alliance International Fund Alliance International Premier Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Money Market Fund Alliance Multi-Market Strategy Trust, Inc. Alliance Municipal Income Fund, Inc. Alliance Municipal Income Fund II Alliance Municipal Trust Alliance New Europe Fund, Inc. Alliance Premier Growth Fund, Inc. Alliance Quasar Fund, Inc. Alliance Select Investor Series, Inc. Alliance Technology Fund, Inc. Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. Alliance Worldwide Privatization Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Disciplined Value Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Real Estate Investment Fund, Inc. AllianceBernstein Utility Income Fund, Inc. The Alliance Portfolios The AllianceBernstein Trust The Korean Investment Fund, Inc. Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc. (b) The following are the Directors and Officers of Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc., the principal place of business of which is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. POSITIONS AND POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH OFFICES WITH NAME UNDERWRITER REGISTRANT Michael J. Laughlin Director and Chairman John D. Carifa Director President & Director Robert L. Errico Director and President C-15 Geoffrey L. Hyde Director and Senior Vice President Dave H. Williams Director David Conine Executive Vice President Richard A. Davies Executive Vice President & Managing Director Richard K. Saccullo Executive Vice President Edmund P. Bergan, Jr. Senior Vice President, Secretary General Counsel and Secretary Robert H. Joseph, Jr. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Anne S. Drennan Senior Vice President and Treasurer Benji A. Baer Senior Vice President Amy I. Belew Senior Vice President John R. Bonczek Senior Vice President John R. Carl Senior Vice President William W. Collins, Jr. Senior Vice President James S. Comforti Senior Vice President Richard W. Dabney Senior Vice President Mark J. Dunbar Senior Vice President John C. Endahl Senior Vice President Donald N. Fritts Senior Vice President John A. Gagliano Senior Vice President Andrew L. Gangolf Senior Vice President Assistant and Assistant General Secretary Counsel John Grambone Senior Vice President William B. Hanigan Senior Vice President C-16 Bradley F. Hanson Senior Vice President George H. Keith Senior Vice President Richard D. Keppler Senior Vice President Richard E. Khaleel Senior Vice President Susan L. Matteson-King Senior Vice President Shawn P. McClain Senior Vice President Daniel D. McGinley Senior Vice President Patrick J. Mullen Senior Vice President Joanna D. Murray Senior Vice President Daniel A. Notto Senior Vice President Antonios G. Poleondakis Senior Vice President Robert E. Powers Senior Vice President Domenick Pugliese Senior Vice President Assistant and Assistant General Secretary Counsel Kevin A. Rowell Senior Vice President John P. Schmidt Senior Vice President Kurt H. Schoknecht Senior Vice President Raymond S. Sclafani Senior Vice President Gregory K. Shannahan Senior Vice President Scott C. Sipple Senior Vice President Joseph F. Sumanski Senior Vice President Peter J. Szabo Senior Vice President Michael J. Tobin Senior Vice President Joseph T. Tocyloski Senior Vice President David R. Turnbough Senior Vice President Richard A. Winge Senior Vice President C-17 Emilie D. Wrapp Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel Gerard J. Friscia Vice President and Controller Michael W. Alexander Vice President Ricardo Arreola Vice President Peter J. Barber Vice President Kenneth F. Barkoff Vice President Adam J. Barnett Vice President Charles M. Barrett Vice President Matthew F. Beaudry Vice President Leo Benitez Vice President Gregory P. Best Vice President Dale E. Boyd Vice President Robert F. Brendli Vice President Thomas C. Callahan Vice President Kevin T. Cannon Vice President John M. Capeci Vice President John P. Chase Vice President Doris T. Ciliberti Vice President Leo H. Cook Vice President Russell R. Corby Vice President Dwight P. Cornell Vice President Michael R. Crimmins Vice President John W. Cronin Vice President Robert J. Cruz Vice President C-18 Daniel J. Deckman Vice President Sherry V. Delaney Vice President Faith C. Deutsch Vice President Janet B. DiBrita Vice President Richard P. Dyson Vice President Adam E. Engelhardt Vice President John E. English Vice President Sohaila S. Farsheed Vice President John J. Fennessy Vice President Daniel J. Frank Vice President Mark D. Gersten Vice President Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Hyman Glasman Vice President Thoomas R. Graffo Vice President Timothy J. Greeley Vice President Alan Halfenger Vice President Michael S. Hart Vice President Jean-Francois Y. Hautemulle Vice President Edward J. Hecker Vice President Timothy A. Hill Vice President George R. Hrabovsky Vice President Scott Hutton Vice President Anthony D. Ialeggio Vice President Theresa Iosca Vice President Oscar J. Isoba Vice President C-19 Eric G. Kalendar Vice President Danielle M. Klaskow Vice President Victor Kopelakis Vice President Richard D. Kozlowski Vice President Daniel W. Krause Vice President Donna M. Lamback Vice President P. Dean Lampe Vice President Joseph R. Laspina Vice President Henry Michael Lesmeister Vice President Eric L. Levinson Vice President James M. Liptrot Vice President James P. Luisi Vice President Michael F. Mahoney Vice President Scott T. Malatesta Vice President Kathryn Austin Masters Vice President Thomas M. McConnell Vice President David L. McGuire Vice President Jeffrey P. Mellas Vice President Michael V. Miller Vice President Marcia L. Mohler Vice President Thomas F. Monnerat Vice President Michael F. Nash, Jr. Vice President Timothy H. Nasworthy Vice President Nicole Nolan-Koester Vice President Peter J. O'Brien Vice President John J. O'Connor Vice President C-20 Daniel P. O'Donnell Vice President Richard J. Olszewski Vice President Todd P. Patton Vice President Jeffrey R. Petersen Vice President Catherine N. Peterson Vice President James J. Posch Vice President Carol H. Rappa Vice President Arlene L. Reddington Vice President Bruce W. Reitz Vice President Karen C. Satterberg Vice President Eileen B. Sebold Vice President Arthur M. Sgroi Vice President Richard J. Sidell Vice President Clara Sierra Vice President Teris A. Sinclair Vice President Rayandra E. Slonina Vice President Bryant B. Smith Vice President Jeffrey C. Smith Vice President William J. Spector Vice President Martine H. Stansbery, Jr. Vice President Eileen Stauber Vice President Gordon Telfer Vice President Elizabeth K. Tramo Vice President Benjamin H. Travers Vice President Michael D. Underhill Vice President Andrew B. Vaughey Vice President C-21 Marie R. Vogel Vice President Wayne W. Wagner Vice President Jesse L. Weissberger Vice President Mark E. Westmoreland Vice President Paul C. Wharf Vice President Scott Whitehouse Vice President Matthew Witschel Vice President Michael A. Wolfsmith Vice President Stephen P. Wood Vice President Keith A. Yoho Vice President Richard J. Appaluccio Assistant Vice President Omar J. Aridi Assistant Vice President Joseph D. Asselta Assistant Vice President Andrew Berger Assistant Vice President Susan Bieber Assistant Vice President Paul G. Bishop Assistant Vice President Daniel U. Brakewood Assistant Vice President Henry Brennan Assistant Vice President Alan T. Brum Assistant Vice President Mark S. Burns Assistant Vice President C-22 Maria L. Carreras Assistant Vice President Judith A. Chin Assistant Vice President Jorge Ciprian Assistant Vice President Jeffrey T. Coghan Assistant Vice President Shawn M. Conroy Assistant Vice President Jean A. Coomber Assistant Vice President Dorsey Davidge Assistant Vice President Jennifer DeLong Assistant Vice President Ralph A. DiMeglio Assistant Vice President Timothy J. Donegan Assistant Vice President Joan Eilbott Assistant Vice President Bernard J. Eng Assistant Vice President Jeffrey M. Eschert Assistant Vice President Michael J. Eustic Assistant Vice President Kumar Jagdeo, II Assistant Vice President Marci Green Assistant Vice President C-23 Arthur F. Hoyt, Jr. Assistant Vice President Mark W. Hubbard Assistant Vice President David A. Hunt Assistant Vice President Michael J. Kawla Assistant Vice President Elizabeth E. Keefe Assistant Vice President Edward W. Kelly Assistant Vice President Julie B. Kerzner Assistant Vice President Thomas J. Khoury Assistant Vice President Jeffrey M. Kusterer Assistant Vice President Alexandra C. Landau Assistant Vice President Laurel E. Lindner Assistant Vice President Evamarie C. Lombardo Assistant Vice President Gary D. McConnel Assistant Vice President Daniel K. McGouran Assistant Vice President Amanda C. McNichol Assistant Vice President Richard F. Meier Assistant Vice President Steven M. Miller Assistant Vice President C-24 Jeffrey D. Mosco Assistant Vice President Charles B. Nanick Assistant Vice President David A. Nicosia Assistant Vice President Alex E. Pady Assistant Vice President Raymond E. Parker Assistant Vice President Wandra M. Perry-Hartsfield Assistant Vice President Rizwan A. Raja Assistant Vice President Carol H. Rappa Assistant Vice President Brendan J. Reynolds Assistant Vice President Patricia Ridella Assistant Vice President James A. Rie Assistant Vice President Lauryn A. Rivello Assistant Vice President Christopher P. Rodney Assistant Vice President Peter V. Romeo Assistant Vice President Jessica M. Rozman Assistant Vice President Christina Santiago Assistant Vice President and Counsel Matthew J. Scarlata Assistant Vice President C-25 Norman B. Schiszler Assistant Vice President Orlando Soler Assistant Vice President John Scialabba Assistant Vice President Nancy D. Testa Assistant Vice President Marie R. Vogel Assistant Vice President Eric D. Weedon Assistant Vice President Tracianne Williams Assistant Vice President Nina C. Wilkinson Assistant Vice President Mark R. Manley Assistant Secretary (c) Not applicable. ITEM 28. Location of Accounts and Records. The majority of the accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are maintained as follows: journals, ledgers, securities records and other original records are maintained principally at the offices of Alliance Global Investor Services, Inc., 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094- 1520 and at the offices of State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Registrant's Custodian, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. All other records so required to be maintained are maintained at the offices of Alliance Capital Management L.P., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. ITEM 29. Management Services. Not applicable. C-26 ITEM 30. Undertakings Not applicable. C-27 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 11th day of March, 2002. ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY FUND, INC. By /s/ John D. Carifa --------------------------- John D. Carifa Chairman and President Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated: Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- 1) Principal Executive Officer /s/ John D. Carifa Chairman and March 11, 2002 ------------------ President John D. Carifa 2) Principal Financial and Accounting Officer /s/ Mark D. Gersten Treasurer and March 11, 2002 ------------------- Chief Financial Mark D. Gersten Officer 3) All of the Directors Robert C. Alexander John D. Carifa David H. Dievler William H. Foulk, Jr. D. James Guzy Marshall C. Turner, Jr. C-28 By (Attorney-in-fact) /s/ Edmund P. Bergan, Jr. March 11, 2002 ------------------------- Edmund P. Bergan, Jr. C-29 Index to Exhibits (j) Consent of Independent Auditors C-30 00250200.AX9 EX-99.J OTHER OPININ 3 j00250200ay0.txt CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Financial Highlights," "Shareholder Services - Statements and Reports" and "General Information - Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report dated January 7, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement (Form N-1A Nos. 2-70427 and 811- 03131) of the Alliance Technology Fund, Inc. ERNST & YOUNG LLP New York, New York March 5, 2002 00250-200.AY0 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----