10-K 1 ab-20151231x10k.htm 10-K 10-K

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015

OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                 to

Commission file number 001-09818

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HOLDING L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
13-3434400
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y.
 
10105
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 969-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
units representing assignments of beneficial ownership of limited partnership interests
 
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes o  No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

(Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x
Accelerated filer   o
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes o  No x

The aggregate market value of the units representing assignments of beneficial ownership of limited partnership interests held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which such units were last sold on the New York Stock Exchange as of June 30, 2015 was approximately $2.8 billion.

The number of units representing assignments of beneficial ownership of limited partnership interests outstanding as of December 31, 2015 was 100,044,485. (This figure includes 100,000 general partnership units having economic interests equivalent to the economic interests of the units representing assignments of beneficial ownership of limited partnership interests.)

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This Form 10-K does not incorporate any document by reference.
 
 



Table of Contents

Glossary of Certain Defined Terms
ii
 
 
 
Part I
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
Part II
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
 
 
Item 7.
 
 
 
Item 7A.
 
 
Item 8.
 
 
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
 
 
 
Part III
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
 
 
Part IV
 
 
Item 15.

i


Glossary of Certain Defined Terms

“AB” – AllianceBernstein L.P. (Delaware limited partnership formerly known as Alliance Capital Management L.P., “Alliance Capital”), the operating partnership, and its subsidiaries and, where appropriate, its predecessors, AB Holding and ACMC, Inc. and their respective subsidiaries.

“AB Holding” – AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (Delaware limited partnership).

“AB Holding Partnership Agreement” – the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AB Holding, dated as of October 29, 1999 and as amended February 24, 2006.

“AB Holding Units” – units representing assignments of beneficial ownership of limited partnership interests in AB Holding.

“AB Partnership Agreement” – the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AB, dated as of October 29, 1999 and as amended February 24, 2006.

“AB Units” – units of limited partnership interest in AB.

“AUM” – AB's assets under management.

“AXA” – AXA (société anonyme organized under the laws of France) is the holding company for the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection. AXA operates primarily in Europe, North America, the Asia/Pacific regions and, to a lesser extent, in other regions, including the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. AXA has five operating business segments: Life and Savings, Property and Casualty, International Insurance, Asset Management and Banking.

“AXA Equitable” – AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (New York stock life insurance company), a subsidiary of AXA Financial, and its subsidiaries other than AB and its subsidiaries.

“AXA Financial” – AXA Financial, Inc. (Delaware corporation), a subsidiary of AXA.

“Bernstein Transaction” – AB's acquisition of the business and assets of SCB Inc., formerly known as Sanford C. Bernstein Inc., and the related assumption of the liabilities of that business, completed on October 2, 2000.

“Exchange Act” – the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“ERISA” – the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“General Partner” – AllianceBernstein Corporation (Delaware corporation), the general partner of AB and AB Holding and a subsidiary of AXA Equitable, and, where appropriate, ACMC, LLC, its predecessor.

“Investment Advisers Act” – the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

“Investment Company Act” – the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“NYSE” – the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

“Partnerships” – AB and AB Holding together.

“SEC” – the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” – the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“WPS Acquisition” – AB's acquisition of W.P. Stewart & Co., Ltd. (“WPS”), a concentrated growth equity investment manager, completed on December 12, 2013.




PART I

Item 1.    Business

The words “we” and “our” in this Form 10-K refer collectively to AB Holding and AB and its subsidiaries, or to their officers and employees. Similarly, the words “company” and “firm” refer to both AB Holding and AB. Where the context requires distinguishing between AB Holding and AB, we identify which company is being discussed. Cross-references are in italics.

We use “global” in this Form 10-K to refer to all nations, including the United States; we use “international” or “non-U.S.” to refer to nations other than the United States.

We use “emerging markets” in this Form 10-K to refer to countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) emerging markets index, which are, as of December 31, 2015, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Clients

We provide research, diversified investment management and related services globally to a broad range of clients through our three buy-side distribution channels: Institutions, Retail and Private Wealth Management, and our sell-side business, Bernstein Research Services.  See “Distribution Channels” in this Item 1 for additional information.

As of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, our AUM were $467 billion, $474 billion and $450 billion, respectively, and our net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $3.0 billion, $3.0 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively. AXA, our parent company, and its subsidiaries, whose AUM consist primarily of fixed income investments, together constitute our largest client. Our affiliates represented approximately 24%, 23% and 23% of our AUM as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and we earned approximately 5% of our net revenues from services we provided to our affiliates in each of 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. See “Distribution Channels” below and “Assets Under Management” and “Net Revenues” in Item 7 for additional information regarding our AUM and net revenues.

Generally, we are compensated for our investment services on the basis of investment advisory and services fees calculated as a percentage of AUM. For additional information about our investment advisory and services fees, including performance-based fees, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and “Net Revenues – Investment Advisory and Services Fees” in Item 7.

Research

Our high-quality, in-depth research is the foundation of our business. We believe that our global team of research professionals, whose disciplines include economic, fundamental equity, fixed income and quantitative research, gives us a competitive advantage in achieving investment success for our clients. We also have experts focused on multi-asset strategies, wealth management and alternative investments.

Investment Services

Our broad range of investment services includes:
•
Actively-managed equity strategies with global and regional portfolios across capitalization ranges and investment strategies, including value, growth and core equities;
•
Actively-managed traditional and unconstrained fixed income strategies, including taxable and tax-exempt strategies;
•
Passive management, including index and enhanced index strategies;
•
Alternative investments, including hedge funds, fund of funds and private equity (e.g., direct real estate investing); and
•
Multi-asset services and solutions, including dynamic asset allocation, customized target-date funds and target-risk funds.

Our services span various investment disciplines, including market capitalization (e.g., large-, mid- and small-cap equities), term (e.g., long-, intermediate- and short-duration debt securities), and geographic location (e.g., U.S., international, global, emerging markets, regional and local), in major markets around the world.




1

Our AUM by client domicile and investment service as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

By Client Domicile ($ in billions):
 
 
By Investment Service ($ in billions):
 

Distribution Channels

Institutions

We offer to our institutional clients, which include private and public pension plans, foundations and endowments, insurance companies, central banks and governments worldwide, and various of our affiliates, separately-managed accounts, sub-advisory relationships, structured products, collective investment trusts, mutual funds, hedge funds and other investment vehicles (“Institutional Services”).

We manage the assets of our institutional clients pursuant to written investment management agreements or other arrangements,  which generally are terminable at any time or upon relatively short notice by either party. In general, our written investment management agreements may not be assigned without the client's consent. For information about our institutional investment advisory and services fees, including performance-based fees, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and “Net Revenues – Investment Advisory and Services Fees” in Item 7.

AXA and its subsidiaries together constitute our largest institutional client. AXA's AUM accounted for approximately 33%, 32% and 31% of our institutional AUM as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and approximately 26%, 22% and 22% of our institutional revenues for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. No single institutional client other than AXA and its subsidiaries accounted for more than approximately 1% of our net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015.

As of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, Institutional Services represented approximately 51%, 50% and 50%, respectively, of our AUM, and the fees we earned from providing these services represented approximately 14%, 14% and 15% of our net revenues for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our AUM and revenues are as follows:


2

Institutional Services Assets Under Management
(by Investment Service)

 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
9,156

 
$
9,631

 
$
8,438

 
(4.9
)%
 
14.1
 %
Global & Non-US
16,705

 
19,522

 
21,100

 
(14.4
)
 
(7.5
)
Total
25,861

 
29,153

 
29,538

 
(11.3
)
 
(1.3
)
Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
15,573

 
16,196

 
14,111

 
(3.8
)
 
14.8

Global & Non-US
4,250

 
5,818

 
6,555

 
(27.0
)
 
(11.2
)
Total
19,823

 
22,014

 
20,666

 
(10.0
)
 
6.5

Total Equity
45,684

 
51,167

 
50,204

 
(10.7
)
 
1.9

Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
88,997

 
84,079

 
81,823

 
5.8

 
2.8

Global & Non-US
54,897

 
64,086

 
58,647

 
(14.3
)
 
9.3

Total
143,894

 
148,165

 
140,470

 
(2.9
)
 
5.5

Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
1,920

 
1,796

 
1,611

 
6.9

 
11.5

Global & Non-US
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
1,920

 
1,796

 
1,611

 
6.9

 
11.5

Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
64

 
67

 
63

 
(4.5
)
 
6.3

Global & Non-US
18

 
185

 
194

 
(90.3
)
 
(4.6
)
Total
82

 
252

 
257

 
(67.5
)
 
(1.9
)
Total Fixed Income
145,896

 
150,213

 
142,338

 
(2.9
)
 
5.5

Other(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
2,939

 
2,268

 
1,211

 
29.6

 
87.3

Global & Non-US
41,683

 
33,393

 
32,237

 
24.8

 
3.6

Total
44,622

 
35,661

 
33,448

 
25.1

 
6.6

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
118,649

 
114,037

 
107,257

 
4.0

 
6.3

Global & Non-US
117,553

 
123,004

 
118,733

 
(4.4
)
 
3.6

Total
$
236,202

 
$
237,041

 
$
225,990

 
(0.4
)
 
4.9

Affiliated
$
78,048

 
$
75,241

 
$
69,619

 
3.7

 
8.1

Non-affiliated
158,154

 
161,800

 
156,371

 
(2.3
)
 
3.5

Total
$
236,202

 
$
237,041

 
$
225,990

 
(0.4
)
 
4.9

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments.

3

Revenues from Institutional Services
(by Investment Service)

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
54,150

 
$
54,176

 
$
48,328

 
—
 %
 
12.1
 %
Global & Non-US
88,096

 
88,777

 
98,552

 
(0.8
)
 
(9.9
)
Total
142,246

 
142,953

 
146,880

 
(0.5
)
 
(2.7
)
Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
2,824

 
2,841

 
2,720

 
(0.6
)
 
4.4

Global & Non-US
4,295

 
4,333

 
5,359

 
(0.9
)
 
(19.1
)
Total
7,119

 
7,174

 
8,079

 
(0.8
)
 
(11.2
)
Total Equity
149,365

 
150,127

 
154,959

 
(0.5
)
 
(3.1
)
Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
94,272

 
92,250

 
96,125

 
2.2

 
(4.0
)
Global & Non-US
125,888

 
125,596

 
117,041

 
0.2

 
7.3

Total
220,160

 
217,846

 
213,166

 
1.1

 
2.2

Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
2,361

 
2,250

 
1,993

 
4.9

 
12.9

Global & Non-US
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
2,361

 
2,250

 
1,993

 
4.9

 
12.9

Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
68

 
69

 
76

 
(1.4
)
 
(9.2
)
Global & Non-US
81

 
142

 
227

 
(43.0
)
 
(37.4
)
Total
149

 
211

 
303

 
(29.4
)
 
(30.4
)
Fixed Income Servicing(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
13,510

 
11,468

 
14,051

 
17.8

 
(18.4
)
Global & Non-US
1,715

 
2,011

 
1,789

 
(14.7
)
 
12.4

Total
15,225

 
13,479

 
15,840

 
13.0

 
(14.9
)
Total Fixed Income
237,895

 
233,786

 
231,302

 
1.8

 
1.1

Other(3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
23,130

 
18,643

 
11,952

 
24.1

 
56.0

Global & Non-US
24,070

 
30,551

 
39,895

 
(21.2
)
 
(23.4
)
Total
47,200

 
49,194

 
51,847

 
(4.1
)
 
(5.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Investment Advisory and Services Fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
190,315

 
181,697

 
175,245

 
4.7

 
3.7

Global & Non-US
244,145

 
251,410

 
262,863

 
(2.9
)
 
(4.4
)
 
434,460

 
433,107

 
438,108

 
0.3

 
(1.1
)
Distribution Revenues
248

 
340

 
305

 
(27.1
)
 
11.5

Shareholder Servicing Fees
497

 
634

 
533

 
(21.6
)
 
18.9

Total
$
435,205

 
$
434,081

 
$
438,946

 
0.3

 
(1.1
)
Affiliated
$
113,162

 
$
95,231

 
$
96,729

 
18.8

 
(1.5
)
Non-affiliated
322,043

 
338,850

 
342,217

 
(5.0
)
 
(1.0
)
Total
$
435,205

 
$
434,081

 
$
438,946

 
0.3

 
(1.1
)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Fixed Income Servicing includes advisory-related services fees that are not based on AUM, including derivative transaction fees, capital purchase program-related advisory services and other fixed income advisory services.
(3)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative services.

4

Retail

We provide investment management and related services to a wide variety of individual retail investors, both in the U.S. and internationally, through retail mutual funds we sponsor, mutual fund sub-advisory relationships, separately-managed account programs (see below), and other investment vehicles (“Retail Products and Services”).

We distribute our Retail Products and Services through financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers, insurance sales representatives, banks, registered investment advisers and financial planners. These products and services include open-end and closed-end funds that are either (i) registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act (“U.S. Funds”), or (ii) not registered under the Investment Company Act and generally not offered to United States persons (“Non-U.S. Funds” and, collectively with the U.S. Funds, “AB Funds”). They also include separately-managed account programs, which are sponsored by financial intermediaries and generally charge an all-inclusive fee covering investment management, trade execution, asset allocation, and custodial and administrative services. In addition, we provide distribution, shareholder servicing, transfer agency services and administrative services for our Retail Products and Services. See “Net Revenues – Investment Advisory and Services Fees” in Item 7 for information about our retail investment advisory and services fees. See Note 2 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for a discussion of the commissions we pay to financial intermediaries in connection with the sale of open-end AB Funds.

Fees paid by the U.S. Funds are reflected in the applicable investment management agreement, which generally must be approved annually by the boards of directors or trustees of those funds, including by a majority of the independent directors or trustees. Increases in these fees must be approved by fund shareholders; decreases need not be, including any decreases implemented by a fund’s directors or trustees. In general, each investment management agreement with the U.S. Funds provides for termination by either party at any time upon 60 days’ notice.

Fees paid by Non-U.S. Funds are reflected in investment management agreements that continue until they are terminated. Increases in these fees generally must be approved by the relevant regulatory authority, depending on the domicile and structure of the fund, and Non-U.S. Fund shareholders must be given advance notice of any fee increases.

The mutual funds we sub-advise for AXA and its subsidiaries together constitute our largest retail client. They accounted for approximately 22%, 21% and 23% of our retail AUM as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and approximately 3%, 3% and 2% of our retail net revenues as of 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Certain subsidiaries of AXA, including AXA Advisors, LLC (“AXA Advisors”), a subsidiary of AXA Financial, were responsible for approximately 4%, 3% and 2% of total sales of shares of open-end AB Funds in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. UBS AG was responsible for approximately 8%, 11% and 12% of our open-end AB Fund sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Neither our affiliates nor UBS AG are under any obligation to sell a specific amount of AB Fund shares and each also sells shares of mutual funds that it sponsors and that are sponsored by unaffiliated organizations. No other entity accounted for 10% or more of our open-end AB Fund sales.

Most open-end U.S. Funds have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act that allows the fund to pay, out of assets of the fund, distribution and service fees for the distribution and sale of its shares (“Rule 12b-1 Fees”). The open-end U.S. Funds have entered into such agreements with us, and we have entered into selling and distribution agreements pursuant to which we pay sales commissions to the financial intermediaries that distribute our open-end U.S. Funds. These agreements are terminable by either party upon notice (generally 30 days) and do not obligate the financial intermediary to sell any specific amount of fund shares.

As of December 31, 2015, retail U.S. Fund AUM were approximately $45 billion, or 29% of retail AUM, as compared to $49 billion, or 30%, as of December 31, 2014, and $47 billion, or 31%, as of December 31, 2013. Non-U.S. Fund AUM, as of December 31, 2015, totaled $52 billion, or 33% of retail AUM, as compared to $57 billion, or 36%, as of December 31, 2014, and $56 billion, or 36%, as of December 31, 2013.

Our Retail Services represented approximately 33%, 34% and 34% of our AUM as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and the fees we earned from providing these services represented approximately 45%, 46% and 47% of our net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our AUM and revenues are as follows:


5

Retail Services Assets Under Management
(by Investment Service)

 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
31,481

 
$
29,449

 
$
27,656

 
6.9
 %
 
6.5
 %
Global & Non-US
14,810

 
15,920

 
13,997

 
(7.0
)
 
13.7

Total
46,291

 
45,369

 
41,653

 
2.0

 
8.9

Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
19,483

 
21,268

 
21,514

 
(8.4
)
 
(1.1
)
Global & Non-US
6,664

 
6,600

 
6,615

 
1.0

 
(0.2
)
Total
26,147

 
27,868

 
28,129

 
(6.2
)
 
(0.9
)
Total Equity
72,438

 
73,237

 
69,782

 
(1.1
)
 
5.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
5,905

 
5,934

 
4,597

 
(0.5
)
 
29.1

Global & Non-US
47,891

 
55,059

 
56,304

 
(13.0
)
 
(2.2
)
Total
53,796

 
60,993

 
60,901

 
(11.8
)
 
0.2

Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
11,601

 
10,432

 
8,243

 
11.2

 
26.6

Global & Non-US
12

 
14

 
14

 
(14.3
)
 
—

Total
11,613

 
10,446

 
8,257

 
11.2

 
26.5

Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
5,010

 
4,917

 
4,531

 
1.9

 
8.5

Global & Non-US
4,492

 
4,483

 
4,179

 
0.2

 
7.3

Total
9,502

 
9,400

 
8,710

 
1.1

 
7.9

Total Fixed Income
74,911

 
80,839

 
77,868

 
(7.3
)
 
3.8

Other(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
5,116

 
5,349

 
3,208

 
(4.4
)
 
66.7

Global & Non-US
1,903

 
2,072

 
2,132

 
(8.2
)
 
(2.8
)
Total
7,019

 
7,421

 
5,340

 
(5.4
)
 
39.0

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
78,596

 
77,349

 
69,749

 
1.6

 
10.9

Global & Non-US
75,772

 
84,148

 
83,241

 
(10.0
)
 
1.1

Total
$
154,368

 
$
161,497

 
$
152,990

 
(4.4
)
 
5.6

Affiliated
$
33,364

 
$
34,693

 
$
35,194

 
(3.8
)
 
(1.4
)
Non-affiliated
121,004

 
126,804

 
117,796

 
(4.6
)
 
7.6

Total
$
154,368

 
$
161,497

 
$
152,990

 
(4.4
)
 
5.6

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments.

6

Revenues from Retail Services
(by Investment Service)

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
184,904

 
$
182,008

 
$
134,311

 
1.6
 %
 
35.5
 %
Global & Non-US
105,768

 
94,491

 
96,338

 
11.9

 
(1.9
)
Total
290,672

 
276,499

 
230,649

 
5.1

 
19.9

Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
8,188

 
10,066

 
10,957

 
(18.7
)
 
(8.1
)
Global & Non-US
5,268

 
6,924

 
4,670

 
(23.9
)
 
48.3

Total
13,456

 
16,990

 
15,627

 
(20.8
)
 
8.7

Total Equity
304,128

 
293,489

 
246,276

 
3.6

 
19.2

Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
20,294

 
20,680

 
16,074

 
(1.9
)
 
28.7

Global & Non-US
393,315

 
429,409

 
483,171

 
(8.4
)
 
(11.1
)
Total
413,609

 
450,089

 
499,245

 
(8.1
)
 
(9.8
)
Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
44,916

 
38,317

 
35,993

 
17.2

 
6.5

Global & Non-US
73

 
78

 
78

 
(6.4
)
 
—

Total
44,989

 
38,395

 
36,071

 
17.2

 
6.4

Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
5,663

 
2,836

 
2,153

 
99.7

 
31.7

Global & Non-US
8,201

 
8,438

 
8,605

 
(2.8
)
 
(1.9
)
Total
13,864

 
11,274

 
10,758

 
23.0

 
4.8

Total Fixed Income
472,462

 
499,758

 
546,074

 
(5.5
)
 
(8.5
)
Other(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
71,129

 
64,452

 
22,819

 
10.4

 
182.4

Global & Non-US
8,334

 
9,277

 
9,785

 
(10.2
)
 
(5.2
)
Total
79,463

 
73,729

 
32,604

 
7.8

 
126.1

Total Investment Advisory and Services Fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
335,094

 
318,359

 
222,307

 
5.3

 
43.2

Global & Non-US
520,959

 
548,617

 
602,647

 
(5.0
)
 
(9.0
)
 
856,053

 
866,976

 
824,954

 
(1.3
)
 
5.1

Distribution Revenues
423,410

 
440,961

 
461,944

 
(4.0
)
 
(4.5
)
Shareholder Servicing Fees
83,078

 
89,198

 
89,472

 
(6.9
)
 
(0.3
)
Total
$
1,362,541

 
$
1,397,135

 
$
1,376,370

 
(2.5
)
 
1.5

Affiliated
$
47,663

 
$
47,910

 
$
43,264

 
(0.5
)
 
10.7

Non-affiliated
1,314,878

 
1,349,225

 
1,333,106

 
(2.5
)
 
1.2

Total
$
1,362,541

 
$
1,397,135

 
$
1,376,370

 
(2.5
)
 
1.5

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments.

7

Private Wealth Management

We offer to our private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth individuals and families, trusts and estates, charitable foundations, partnerships, private and family corporations, and other entities, separately-managed accounts, hedge funds, mutual funds and other investment vehicles (“Private Wealth Services”).

We manage these accounts pursuant to written investment advisory agreements, which generally are terminable at any time or upon relatively short notice by any party and may not be assigned without the client's consent. For information about our investment advisory and services fees, including performance-based fees, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and “Net Revenues – Investment Advisory and Services Fees” in Item 7.

Our Private Wealth Services represented approximately 16% of our AUM as of each of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and the fees we earned from providing these services represented approximately 23%, 22% and 20% of our net revenues for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our AUM and revenues are as follows:


8

Private Wealth Services Assets Under Management
(by Investment Service)

 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
22,873

 
$
22,842

 
$
21,620

 
0.1
 %
 
5.7
 %
Global & Non-US
15,595

 
15,125

 
15,003

 
3.1

 
0.8

Total
38,468

 
37,967

 
36,623

 
1.3

 
3.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
177

 
172

 
83

 
2.9

 
107.2

Global & Non-US
210

 
402

 
397

 
(47.8
)
 
1.3

Total
387

 
574

 
480

 
(32.6
)
 
19.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Equity
38,855

 
38,541

 
37,103

 
0.8

 
3.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
6,742

 
7,396

 
7,468

 
(8.8
)
 
(1.0
)
Global & Non-US
3,053

 
2,871

 
2,128

 
6.3

 
34.9

Total
9,795

 
10,267

 
9,596

 
(4.6
)
 
7.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
19,973

 
19,401

 
18,843

 
2.9

 
3.0

Global & Non-US
3

 
3

 
2

 
—

 
50.0

Total
19,976

 
19,404

 
18,845

 
2.9

 
3.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
4

 
5

 
11

 
(20.0
)
 
(54.5
)
Global & Non-US
372

 
402

 
357

 
(7.5
)
 
12.6

Total
376

 
407

 
368

 
(7.6
)
 
10.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Fixed Income
30,147

 
30,078

 
28,809

 
0.2

 
4.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
2,439

 
1,902

 
1,375

 
28.2

 
38.3

Global & Non-US
5,429

 
4,968

 
4,144

 
9.3

 
19.9

Total
7,868

 
6,870

 
5,519

 
14.5

 
24.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
52,208

 
51,718

 
49,400

 
0.9

 
4.7

Global & Non-US
24,662

 
23,771

 
22,031

 
3.7

 
7.9

Total
$
76,870

 
$
75,489

 
$
71,431

 
1.8

 
5.7

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments.

9

Revenues From Private Wealth Services
(by Investment Service)

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Equity Actively Managed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
260,997

 
$
250,415

 
$
211,927

 
4.2
 %
 
18.2
 %
Global & Non-US
170,810

 
169,472

 
153,062

 
0.8

 
10.7

Total
431,807

 
419,887

 
364,989

 
2.8

 
15.0

Equity Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
1,229

 
695

 
316

 
76.8

 
119.9

Global & Non-US
834

 
1,839

 
1,800

 
(54.6
)
 
2.2

Total
2,063

 
2,534

 
2,116

 
(18.6
)
 
19.8

Total Equity
433,870

 
422,421

 
367,105

 
2.7

 
15.1

Fixed Income Taxable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
36,748

 
39,811

 
44,260

 
(7.7
)
 
(10.1
)
Global & Non-US
20,429

 
15,778

 
13,029

 
29.5

 
21.1

Total
57,177

 
55,589

 
57,289

 
2.9

 
(3.0
)
Fixed Income Tax-Exempt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
106,161

 
102,509

 
104,867

 
3.6

 
(2.2
)
Global & Non-US
35

 
27

 
18

 
29.6

 
50.0

Total
106,196

 
102,536

 
104,885

 
3.6

 
(2.2
)
Fixed Income Passively Managed(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
11

 
9

 
88

 
22.2

 
(89.8
)
Global & Non-US
4,299

 
3,446

 
3,105

 
24.8

 
11.0

Total
4,310

 
3,455

 
3,193

 
24.7

 
8.2

Total Fixed Income
167,683

 
161,580

 
165,367

 
3.8

 
(2.3
)
Other(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
22,177

 
16,566

 
12,699

 
33.9

 
30.5

Global & Non-US
59,594

 
57,600

 
40,872

 
3.5

 
40.9

Total
81,771

 
74,166

 
53,571

 
10.3

 
38.4

Total Investment Advisory and Services Fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
427,323

 
410,005

 
374,157

 
4.2

 
9.6

Global & Non-US
256,001

 
248,162

 
211,886

 
3.2

 
17.1

Total
683,324

 
658,167

 
586,043

 
3.8

 
12.3

Distribution Revenues
3,498

 
3,669

 
3,175

 
(4.7
)
 
15.6

Shareholder Servicing Fees
3,031

 
2,488

 
2,140

 
21.8

 
16.3

Total
$
689,853

 
$
664,324

 
$
591,358

 
3.8

 
12.3

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes index and enhanced index services.
(2)
Includes multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments.

10

Bernstein Research Services

We offer high-quality fundamental research, quantitative services and brokerage-related services in equities and listed options to institutional investors, such as pension fund, hedge fund and mutual fund managers, and other institutional investors (“Bernstein Research Services”). We serve our clients, which are based in the United States and in other major markets around the world, through our trading professionals, who primarily are based in New York, London and Hong Kong, and our sell-side analysts, who provide fundamental company and industry research along with quantitative research into securities valuation and factors affecting stock-price movements.

We earn revenues for providing investment research to, and executing brokerage transactions for, institutional clients. These clients compensate us principally by directing us to execute brokerage transactions on their behalf, for which we earn commissions. These services accounted for approximately 16%, 16% and 15% of our net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

For information regarding trends in fee rates charged for brokerage transactions, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A.

Our Bernstein Research Services revenues are as follows:

Revenues From Bernstein Research Services

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015-14
 
2014-13
 
(in thousands)
 
 

 
 

Bernstein Research Services
$
493,463

 
$
482,538

 
$
445,083

 
2.3
%
 
8.4
%

Custody

Our U.S.-based broker-dealer subsidiary acts as custodian for the majority of our Private Wealth Management AUM and some of our Institutions AUM. Other custodial arrangements are maintained by client-designated banks, trust companies, brokerage firms or custodians.

Employees

As of December 31, 2015, our firm had 3,600 full-time employees, representing a 3.2% increase compared to the end of 2014.  We consider our employee relations to be good.

Service Marks

We have registered a number of service marks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and various foreign trademark offices, including the mark “AllianceBernstein”.  The logo set forth below and “Ahead of Tomorrow” are service marks of AB:
    
In January 2015, we established two new brand identities.  Although the legal names of our corporate entities did not change, our company, and our Institutions and Retail businesses, now are referred to as “AB”.  Private Wealth Management and Bernstein Research Services now are referred to as “AB Bernstein”.  Also, we adopted the logo and “Ahead of Tomorrow” service marks described above.

In connection with the Bernstein Transaction, we acquired all of the rights in, and title to, the Bernstein service marks, including the mark “Bernstein”.

In connection with the WPS Acquisition, we acquired all of the rights in, and title to, the WPS service marks, including the logo “WPSTEWART”. See “W.P. Stewart” in this Item 1 for information regarding the WPS Acquisition.




11

Regulation

Virtually all aspects of our business are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations, rules of various securities regulators and exchanges, and laws in the foreign countries in which our subsidiaries conduct business. These laws and regulations primarily are intended to protect clients and fund shareholders and generally grant supervisory agencies broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict the carrying on of business for failure to comply with such laws and regulations. Possible sanctions that may be imposed on us include the suspension of individual employees, limitations on engaging in business for specific periods, the revocation of the registration as an investment adviser or broker-dealer, censures and fines.

AB, AB Holding, the General Partner and five of our subsidiaries (Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB LLC”), AllianceBernstein Global Derivatives Corporation (“Global Derivatives”), AB Private Credit Investors LLC, WPS and W.P. Stewart Asset Management LLC) are registered with the SEC as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act. Additionally, AB Holding is an NYSE-listed company and, accordingly, is subject to applicable regulations promulgated by the NYSE. In addition, AB, SCB LLC and Global Derivatives are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisers; SCB LLC also is registered with the CFTC as a futures commissions merchant.

Each U.S. Fund is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act and each Non-U.S. Fund is subject to the laws in the jurisdiction in which the fund is registered. For example, our platform of Luxembourg-based funds operates pursuant to Luxembourg laws and regulations, including Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directives, and is authorized and supervised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”), the primary regulator in Luxembourg. AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc., one of our subsidiaries, is registered with the SEC as a transfer and servicing agent.

SCB LLC and another of our subsidiaries, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc., are registered with the SEC as broker-dealers, and both are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In addition, SCB LLC is a member of the NYSE and other principal U.S. exchanges.

Many of our subsidiaries are subject to the oversight of regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions outside the United States in which they operate, including the European Securities and Markets Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K., the CSSF in Luxembourg, the Financial Services Agency in Japan, the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Financial Services Commission in South Korea and the Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan. While these regulatory requirements often may be comparable to the requirements of the SEC and other U.S. regulators, they are sometimes more restrictive and may cause us to incur substantial expenditures of time and money related to our compliance efforts.

Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act

AB, AB Holding and their global subsidiaries had no transactions or activities requiring disclosure under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act (“Iran Act”), nor were they involved in the AXA Group matters described immediately below.

The non-U.S. based subsidiaries of AXA operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the various jurisdictions in which they operate, including applicable international (United Nations and European Union) laws and regulations. While AXA Group companies based and operating outside the United States generally are not subject to U.S. law, as an international group, AXA has in place policies and standards (including the AXA Group International Sanctions Policy) that apply to all AXA Group companies worldwide and often impose requirements that go well beyond local law. For additional information regarding AXA, see "Principal Security Holders" in Item 12.

AXA has informed us that AXA Konzern AG ("AXA Konzern"), an AXA insurance subsidiary organized under the laws of Germany, had a German client designated under Executive Order 13382. The client had a pension savings contract with AXA Konzern with an annual premium of approximately $15,000. The related annual net profit associated with this contract, which is difficult to calculate with precision, was estimated to be $1,500. This contract was terminated in March 2015.

AXA also has informed us that AXA Konzern provides car insurance to two diplomats based at the Iranian embassy in Berlin, Germany.  The total annual premium of these policies is approximately $13,000 and the annual net profit arising from these policies, which is difficult to calculate with precision, is estimated to be $1,950.  These policies were underwritten by a broker who specializes in providing insurance coverage for diplomats. Provision of motor vehicle insurance is mandatory in Germany

12

and cannot be cancelled until the policies expire.
 
In addition, AXA has informed us that AXA Insurance Ireland, an AXA insurance subsidiary, provides statutorily required car insurance under three separate policies to the Iranian embassy in Dublin, Ireland. AXA has informed us that compliance with the Declined Cases Agreement of the Irish Government prohibits the cancellation of these policies unless another insurer is willing to assume the coverage. The total annual premium for these policies is approximately $3,750 and the annual net profit arising from these policies, which is difficult to calculate with precision, is estimated to be $563.

Also, AXA has informed us that AXA Sigorta, a subsidiary of AXA organized under the laws of Turkey, provides car insurance coverage for vehicle pools of the Iranian General Consulate and the Iranian embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. Motor liability insurance coverage is mandatory in Turkey and cannot be cancelled unilaterally. The total annual premium in respect of these policies is approximately $3,150 and the annual net profit, which is difficult to calculate with precision, is estimated to be $473.

In addition, AXA has informed us that AXA Ukraine, an AXA insurance subsidiary, provides car insurance for the Attaché of the Embassy of Iran in Ukraine. Motor liability insurance coverage cannot be cancelled under Ukrainian law. The total annual premium in respect of this policy is approximately $1,000 and the annual net profit, which is difficult to calculate with precision, is estimated to be $150.
 
Lastly, AXA previously informed us about a pension contract that had been in place between a subsidiary in Hong Kong, AXA China Region Trustees Limited ("AXA CRT"), and an entity listed as a Specially Designated National ("SDN") with the identifier [IRAN] by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"). The pension contract was entered into in May 2012 and the individual enrolled in the pension contract was listed by OFAC as a designated SDN with the identifier [IRAN] in May 2013. Local authorities had informed AXA CRT that the pension contract could not be cancelled. In May 2015, however, the individual enrolled in the pension contract permanently departed Hong Kong and, as a result, claimed withdrawal of any accrued pension benefits. The annual pension contributions received under this pension contract had totaled approximately $7,800 and the related net profit, which is difficult to calculate with precision, was estimated to be $780. 

The aggregate annual premiums for the above-referenced insurance policies and pension contracts are approximately $43,700, representing approximately 0.00004% of AXA’s 2015 consolidated revenues, which are likely to be approximately $100 billion. The related net profit, which is difficult to calculate with precision, is estimated to be $5,416, representing approximately 0.0001% of AXA’s 2015 aggregate net profit.

History and Structure

We have been in the investment research and management business for nearly 50 years. Alliance Capital was founded in 1971 when the investment management department of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc. (since November 2000, a part of Credit Suisse Group) merged with the investment advisory business of Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. Bernstein was founded in 1967.

In April 1988, AB Holding “went public” as a master limited partnership. AB Holding Units, which trade under the ticker symbol “AB”, have been listed on the NYSE since that time.

In October 1999, AB Holding reorganized by transferring its business and assets to AB, a newly-formed operating partnership, in exchange for all of the AB Units (“Reorganization”). Since the date of the Reorganization, AB has conducted the business formerly conducted by AB Holding and AB Holding’s activities have consisted of owning AB Units and engaging in related activities. Unlike AB Holding Units, AB Units do not trade publicly and are subject to significant restrictions on transfer. The General Partner is the general partner of both AB and AB Holding.

In October 2000, our two legacy firms, Alliance Capital and Bernstein, combined, bringing together Alliance Capital’s expertise in growth equity and corporate fixed income investing and its family of retail mutual funds, with Bernstein’s expertise in value equity investing, tax-exempt fixed income management, and its Private Wealth Management and Bernstein Research Services businesses. For additional details about this business combination, see Note 2 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

As of December 31, 2015, the condensed ownership structure of AB is as follows (for a more complete description of our ownership structure, see “Principal Security Holders” in Item 12):


13


The General Partner owns 100,000 general partnership units in AB Holding and a 1% general partnership interest in AB. Including these general partnership interests, AXA, through certain of its subsidiaries (see “Principal Security Holders” in Item 12), had an approximate 62.8% economic interest in AB as of December 31, 2015.

Competition
We compete in all aspects of our business with numerous investment management firms, mutual fund sponsors, brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan associations, and other financial institutions that often provide investment products that have similar features and objectives as those we offer. Our competitors offer a wide range of financial services to the same customers that we seek to serve. Some of our competitors are larger, have a broader range of product choices and investment capabilities, conduct business in more markets, and have substantially greater resources than we do. These factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage, and we can give no assurance that our strategies and efforts to maintain and enhance our current client relationships, and create new ones, will be successful.

In addition, AXA and its subsidiaries provide financial services, some of which compete with those we offer. The AB Partnership Agreement specifically allows AXA and its subsidiaries (other than the General Partner) to compete with AB and to pursue opportunities that may be available to us. AXA, AXA Financial, AXA Equitable and certain of their respective subsidiaries have substantially greater financial resources than we do and are not obligated to provide resources to us.

To grow our business, we believe we must be able to compete effectively for AUM. Key competitive factors include:
•
our investment performance for clients;
•
our commitment to place the interests of our clients first;
•
the quality of our research;
•
our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled, and often highly specialized, personnel;
•
the array of investment products we offer;
•
the fees we charge;
•
Morningstar/Lipper rankings for the AB Funds;
•
our ability to sell our actively-managed investment services despite the fact that many investors favor passive services;
•
our operational effectiveness;
•
our ability to further develop and market our brand; and
•
our global presence.


14

Competition is an important risk that our business faces and should be considered along with the other risk factors we discuss in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A.

Available Information

AB and AB Holding file or furnish annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to such reports, and other reports (and amendments thereto) required to comply with federal securities laws, including Section 16 beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5, registration statements and proxy statements.  We maintain an Internet site (http://www.abglobal.com) where the public can view these reports, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after each report is filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

W.P. Stewart

On December 12, 2013, we acquired WPS, an equity investment manager that managed, as of December 12, 2013, approximately $2.1 billion in U.S., Global and Europe, Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) and Far East (“EAFE”) concentrated growth equity strategies for its clients, primarily in the U.S. and Europe. On the date of the WPS Acquisition, each of approximately 4.9 million outstanding shares of WPS common stock (other than certain specified shares, as previously disclosed in Amendment No. 2 to Form S-4 filed by AB on November 8, 2013) was converted into the right to receive $12.00 per share and one transferable contingent value right (“CVRs”) entitling the holders to an additional $4.00 per share cash payment if the Assets Under Management (as such term is defined in the Contingent Value Rights Agreement (“CVR Agreement”) dated as of December 12, 2013, a copy of which we filed as Exhibit 4.01 (“Exhibit 4.01”) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013) in the acquired WPS investment services exceed $5 billion on or before December 12, 2016, subject to measurement procedures and limitations set forth in the CVR Agreement. See the definition of AUM Milestone in the CVR Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.01. The foregoing description of the CVR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the CVR Agreement.

As of December 31, 2015, the Assets Under Management are approximately $4.0 billion. Accordingly, management has determined that the AUM Milestone did not occur during the fourth quarter of 2015.


15

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

Please consider this section along with the description of our business in Item 1, the competition section immediately above and AB’s financial information contained in Items 6, 7 and 8. The majority of the risk factors discussed below directly affect AB. These risk factors also affect AB Holding because AB Holding’s principal source of income and cash flow is attributable to its investment in AB. See also “Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 7.

Business-related Risks

Our revenues and results of operations depend on the market value and composition of our AUM, which can fluctuate significantly based on various factors, including many factors outside of our control.

We derive most of our revenues from investment advisory and services fees, which typically are calculated as a percentage of the value of AUM as of a specified date, or as a percentage of the value of average AUM for the applicable billing period, and vary with the type of investment service, the size of the account and the total amount of assets we manage for a particular client. The value and composition of our AUM can be adversely affected by several factors, including:
•
Market Factors. Declining equity markets during the second half of 2015, which resulted from, among other factors, concerns regarding growth in China and other international economies, rapidly declining commodity prices, particularly oil, fixed income market liquidity and a possible slowdown in the rate of growth of the global economy, caused our AUM and revenues to decline. This trend may continue. Additionally, increases in interest rates, particularly if rapid, likely would decrease the total return of many bond investments due to lower market valuations of existing bonds. These factors could have a significant adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations as AUM in our fixed income investments comprise a major component of our total AUM.

•
Client Preferences. Generally, our clients may withdraw their assets at any time and on short notice. Also, changing market dynamics and investment trends, particularly with respect to sponsors of defined benefit plans choosing to invest in less risky investments and the significant shift, which continued in 2015, from active equity investments to passive equity investments, may reduce interest in some of the investment products we offer, and/or clients and prospects may seek investment products that we may not currently offer. Also, the market forces described above and the resulting increased volatility of the securities markets have caused many investors to withdraw assets from riskier asset classes, such as equities and high yield debt, which has resulted in declines in our AUM and net flows. Loss of, or decreases in, AUM reduces our investment advisory and services fees and revenues.

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Our Investment Performance.  Our ability to achieve investment returns for clients that meet or exceed investment returns for comparable asset classes and competing investment services is a key consideration when clients decide to keep their assets with us or invest additional assets, and when a prospective client is deciding whether to invest with us. Poor investment performance, both in absolute terms and/or relative to peers and stated benchmarks, may result in clients withdrawing assets and in prospective clients choosing to invest with competitors.
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Investing Trends. Our fee rates vary significantly among the various investment products and services we offer to our clients. For example, we generally earn higher fees from assets invested in our actively-managed equity services than in our actively-managed fixed income services or passive services. Also, we often earn higher fees from global and international services than we do from U.S. services (see “Net Revenues” in Item 7 for additional information regarding our fee rates). If our clients choose to invest in actively-managed fixed income services and/or passive services, which generally have lower fees, instead of actively-managed equity services, which generally have higher fees, our investment advisory and services fees and revenues will decline.
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Service Changes. We may be required to reduce our fee levels, restructure the fees we charge and/or adjust the services we offer to our clients because of, among other things, regulatory initiatives (whether industry-wide or specifically targeted), changing technology in the asset management business (including algorithmic strategies), court decisions and competitive considerations. A reduction in fees would reduce our revenues.

A decrease in the value of our AUM, or a decrease in the amount of AUM we manage, or an adverse mix shift in our AUM, would adversely affect our investment advisory and services fees and revenues. A reduction in revenues, without a commensurate reduction in expenses, adversely affects our results of operations.

Our reputation could suffer if we are unable to deliver consistent, competitive investment performance.

Our business is based on the trust and confidence of our clients. Damage to our reputation, resulting from poor or inconsistent investment performance, among other factors, can reduce substantially our AUM and impair our ability to maintain or grow our business.




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Maintaining adequate liquidity for our general business needs depends on certain factors, including operating cash flows and our access to credit on reasonable terms.

Our financial condition is dependent on our cash flow from operations, which is subject to the performance of the capital markets, our ability to maintain and grow AUM and other factors beyond our control. Our ability to issue public or private debt on reasonable terms may be limited by adverse market conditions, our profitability, our creditworthiness as perceived by lenders and changes in government regulations, including tax rates and interest rates. Furthermore, our access to credit on reasonable terms is partially dependent on our firm’s credit ratings.

Standard & Poor’s Rating Service and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. each affirmed AB’s long-term and short-term credit ratings in 2015 and also affirmed its stable outlook.  Future changes in our credit ratings are possible and any downgrade to our ratings is likely to increase our borrowing costs and limit our access to the capital markets. If this occurs, we may be forced to incur unanticipated costs or revise our strategic plans, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.
 
Our business is dependent on investment advisory agreements with clients, and selling and distribution agreements with various financial intermediaries and consultants, which generally are subject to termination or non-renewal on short notice.
 
We derive most of our revenues pursuant to written investment management agreements (or other arrangements) with institutional investors, mutual funds and private wealth clients, and selling and distribution agreements with financial intermediaries that distribute AB Funds. Generally, the investment management agreements (and other arrangements), including our agreements with AXA and its subsidiaries (our largest client), are terminable at any time or upon relatively short notice by either party. The investment management agreements pursuant to which we manage the U.S. Funds must be renewed and approved by the Funds’ boards of directors annually. A significant majority of the directors are independent. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the board of directors of each fund will approve the fund’s investment management agreement each year, or will not condition its approval on revised terms that may be adverse to us. In addition, investors in AB Funds can redeem their investments without notice. Any termination of, or failure to renew, a significant number of these agreements, or a significant increase in redemption rates, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business prospects.

Similarly, the selling and distribution agreements with securities firms, brokers, banks and other financial intermediaries (including our agreement with UBS AG, with respect to which UBS AG was responsible for approximately 8% of our open-end AB Fund sales in 2015) are terminable by either party upon notice (generally 30 days) and do not obligate the financial intermediary to sell any specific amount of fund shares. These intermediaries generally offer their clients investment products that compete with our products. In addition, certain institutional investors rely on consultants to advise them about choosing an investment adviser and some of our services may not be considered among the best choices by these consultants. As a result, investment consultants may advise their clients to move their assets invested with us to other investment advisers, which could result in significant net outflows.

Lastly, our Private Wealth Services rely on referrals from financial planners, registered investment advisers and other professionals. We cannot be certain that we will continue to have access to, or receive referrals from, these third parties. Loss of such access or referrals could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business prospects.

We may be unable to continue to attract, motivate and retain key personnel, and the cost to retain key personnel could put pressure on our adjusted operating margin.

Our business depends on our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled, and often highly specialized, technical, managerial and executive personnel and there is no assurance that we will be able to do so.

The market for qualified research analysts, portfolio managers, financial advisors, traders, executive officers and other professionals is extremely competitive and is characterized by frequent movement of these professionals among different firms. Portfolio managers, financial advisors and executive officers often maintain strong, personal relationships with investors in our products and other members of the business community so their departure may cause us to lose client accounts or result in fewer opportunities to win new business, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business prospects.

Also, a decline in revenues may limit our ability to pay our employees at competitive levels, and maintaining (or increasing) compensation without a revenue increase, in order to retain key personnel, may adversely affect our adjusted operating margin.

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As a result, in response to recent declines in our AUM and revenues, we are taking steps to reduce costs and will continue to be vigilant about aligning our cost structure (including headcount) with our revenue base. For additional information regarding our compensation practices, see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" in Item 11.

Performance-based fee arrangements with our clients cause greater fluctuations in our net revenues.

We sometimes charge our clients performance-based fees, whereby we charge a base advisory fee and are eligible to earn an additional performance-based fee or incentive allocation that is calculated as either a percentage of absolute investment results or a percentage of investment results in excess of a stated benchmark over a specified period of time. Some performance-based fees include a high-watermark provision, which generally provides that if a client account underperforms relative to its performance target (whether in absolute terms or relative to a specified benchmark), it must gain back such underperformance before we can collect future performance-based fees. Therefore, if we fail to achieve the performance target for a particular period, we will not earn a performance-based fee for that period and, for accounts with a high-watermark provision, our ability to earn future performance-based fees will be impaired.

We are eligible to earn performance-based fees on 10.1%, 4.2% and 1.1% of the assets we manage for institutional clients, private wealth clients and retail clients, respectively (in total, 6.1% of our AUM). If the percentage of our AUM subject to performance-based fees grows, seasonality and volatility of revenue and earnings are likely to become more significant. Our performance-based fees in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $23.7 million, $53.2 million and $53.6 million, respectively. For 2015, the decrease in performance-based fees primarily resulted from the fact that major equity markets were down slightly for the year.
 
An impairment of goodwill may occur.

Determining whether an impairment of the goodwill asset exists requires management to exercise a substantial amount of judgment. In addition, to the extent that securities valuations are depressed for prolonged periods of time and/or market conditions continue to experience declines commensurate with the second half of 2015 and early in 2016, or if we experience significant net redemptions, our AUM, revenues, profitability and unit price will continue to be adversely affected. Although the price of an AB Holding Unit is just one factor in the calculation of fair value, if AB Holding Unit price levels continue to decline significantly, reaching the conclusion that fair value exceeds carrying value will, over time, become more difficult. In addition, control premiums, industry earnings multiples and discount rates are impacted by economic conditions. As a result, subsequent impairment tests may occur more frequently and be based on more negative assumptions and future cash flow projections, and may result in an impairment of goodwill. An impairment may result in a material charge to our earnings. For additional information about our impairment testing, see Item 7.

We may engage in strategic transactions that could pose risks.

As part of our business strategy, we consider from time to time potential strategic transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, consolidations, joint ventures and similar transactions, some of which may be material. These transactions, if undertaken, may involve a number of risks and present financial, managerial and operational challenges, including:
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adverse effects on our earnings if acquired intangible assets or goodwill become impaired;
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existence of unknown liabilities or contingencies that arise after closing; and
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potential disputes with counterparties.

Acquisitions also pose the risk that any business we acquire may lose customers or employees or could underperform relative to expectations. Additionally, the loss of investment personnel poses the risk that we may lose the AUM we expected to manage, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Furthermore, strategic transactions may require us to increase our leverage or, if we issue AB Units or AB Holding Units to fund an acquisition, would dilute the holdings of our existing Unitholders.

Fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and various other currencies can adversely affect our AUM, revenues and results of operations.

Although significant portions of our net revenues and expenses, as well as our AUM, presently are denominated in U.S. dollars, we have subsidiaries and clients outside of the United States with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Weakening of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar adversely affects the value in U.S. dollar terms of our subsidiaries' revenues and

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our AUM denominated in these other currencies. Accordingly, fluctuations in U.S. dollar exchange rates may affect our AUM, revenues and reported financial results from one period to the next.

We may not be successful in our efforts to hedge our exposure to such fluctuations, which could negatively impact our revenues and reported financial results.

Our seed capital investments are subject to market risk. While we enter into various futures, forwards and swap contracts to economically hedge many of these investments, we also may be exposed to market risk and credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to these derivative instruments.

We have a seed investment program for the purpose of building track records and assisting with the marketing initiatives pertaining to our firm's new products. As our new product launches have increased in recent years, so too has our use of seed capital for investment purposes. These seed capital investments are subject to market risk. Our risk management team oversees a seed hedging program that attempts to minimize this risk, subject to practical and cost considerations. Also, not all seed investments are deemed appropriate to hedge, and in those cases we are exposed to market risk. In addition, we may be subject to basis risk in that we cannot always hedge with precision our market exposure and, as a result, we may be subject to relative spreads between market sectors. As a result, volatility in the capital markets may cause significant changes in our period-to-period financial and operating results.

We use various derivative instruments, including futures, forwards and swap contracts, in conjunction with our seed hedging program.  While in most cases broad market risks are hedged, our hedges are imperfect and some market risk remains. In addition, our use of derivatives results in counterparty risk (i.e., the risk that we may be exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to these derivative instruments), regulatory risk (e.g., short selling restrictions) and cash/synthetic basis risk (i.e., the risk that the underlying positions do not move identically to the related derivative instruments).

The revenues generated by Bernstein Research Services may be adversely affected by circumstances beyond our control, including declines in brokerage transaction rates, declines in global market volumes and failure to settle our trades by significant counterparties.

Electronic, or “low-touch”, trading approaches represent a significant percentage of buy-side trading activity and typically produce transaction fees for execution-only services that are approximately one-third the price of traditional full service fee rates. As a result, blended pricing throughout our industry is lower now than it was historically, and price declines may continue. In addition, fee rates we charge and charged by other brokers for traditional brokerage services have historically experienced price pressure, and we expect these trends to continue. Also, while increases in transaction volume and market share often can offset decreases in rates, this may not continue. For example, global market volumes have declined in recent years, and we expect this may continue, especially considering recent increases in passive investing.

In addition, the failure or inability of any of our broker-dealer's significant counterparties to perform could expose us to substantial expenditures and adversely affect our revenues. For example, SCB LLC, as a member of clearing and settlement exchanges, would be required to settle open trades of any non-performing counterparty. This exposes us to the mark-to-market adjustment on the trades between trade date and settlement date, which could be significant, especially during periods of severe market volatility. Lastly, our ability to access cash in such situations may be limited by what our liquidity relationships are able to offer us at such times.
 
The individuals, third-party vendors or issuers on whom we rely to perform services for us or our clients may be unable or unwilling to honor their contractual obligations to us.

We rely on various counterparties and other third-party vendors to augment our existing investment, operational, financial and technological capabilities, but the use of a third-party vendor does not diminish AB's responsibility to ensure that client and regulatory obligations are met. In addition, default rates, downgrades and disputes with counterparties as to the valuation of collateral increase significantly in times of market stress. Disruptions in the financial markets and other economic challenges may cause our counterparties and other third-party vendors to experience significant cash flow problems or even render them insolvent, which may expose us to significant costs.

Also, weaknesses or failures within a third-party vendor's internal processes or systems can materially disrupt our business operations and third-party vendors may lack the necessary technology or resources to effectively safeguard our confidential data. If we are unable to effectively manage the risks associated with such third-party relationships, we may suffer fines, disciplinary action and harm to our reputation.

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We may not accurately value the securities we hold on behalf of our clients or our company investments.

In accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, contractual obligations or client direction, we employ procedures for the pricing and valuation of securities and other positions held in client accounts or for company investments. We have established a Valuation Committee, composed of senior officers and employees, which oversees pricing controls and valuation processes. If market quotations for a security are not readily available, the Valuation Committee determines a fair value for the security.

Extraordinary volatility in financial markets, significant liquidity constraints or our failure to adequately consider one or more factors when determining the fair value of a security based on information with limited market observability could result in our failing to properly value securities we hold for our clients or investments accounted for on our balance sheet. Improper valuation likely would result in our basing fee calculations on inaccurate AUM figures, our striking incorrect net asset values for company-sponsored mutual funds or hedge funds or, in the case of company investments, our inaccurately calculating and reporting our financial condition and operating results. Although the overall percentage of our AUM that we fair value based on information with limited market observability is not significant, inaccurate fair value determinations can harm our clients, create regulatory issues and damage our reputation.

We may not have sufficient information to confirm or review the accuracy of valuations provided to us by underlying external managers for the funds in which certain of our alternative investment products invest.

Certain of our alternative investment services invest in funds managed by external managers (“External Managers”) rather than investing directly in securities and other instruments. As a result, our abilities will be limited with regard to (i) monitoring such investments, (ii) regularly obtaining complete, accurate and current information with respect to such investments and (iii) exercising control over such investments. Accordingly, we may not have sufficient information to confirm or review the accuracy of valuations provided to us by External Managers. In addition, we will be required to rely on External Managers’ compliance with any applicable investment guidelines and restrictions. Any failure of an External Manager to operate within such guidelines or to provide accurate information with respect to the investment could subject our alternative investment products to losses and cause damage to our reputation.
 
The quantitative models we use in certain of our investment services may contain errors, resulting in imprecise risk assessments and unintended output.

We use quantitative models in a variety of our investment services, generally in combination with fundamental research. Our quantitative models are validated by senior quantitative professionals. We have a Model Risk Working Group to formalize and oversee a quantitative model governance framework, including minimum validation standards. However, due to the complexity of such models, it is possible that errors in the models could exist and our controls could fail to detect such errors. Failure to detect errors could result in client losses and damage to our reputation.

We may not always successfully manage actual and potential conflicts of interest that arise in our business.

Increasingly, we must manage actual and potential conflicts of interest, including situations where our services to a particular client conflict, or are perceived to conflict, with the interests of another client. Failure to adequately address potential conflicts of interest could adversely affect our reputation, results of operations and business prospects.

We have procedures and controls that are designed to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest, including those designed to prevent the improper sharing of information. However, appropriately managing conflicts of interest is complex. Our reputation could be damaged and the willingness of clients to enter into transactions in which such a conflict might arise may be affected if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with actual or perceived conflicts of interest. In addition, potential or perceived conflicts could give rise to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions.

Unpredictable events, including natural disaster, dangerous weather conditions, technology failure, terrorist attack and political unrest, may adversely affect our ability to conduct business.

War, terrorist attack, political unrest, power failure, climate change, natural disaster and rapid spread of infectious diseases could interrupt our operations by:

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causing disruptions in global economic conditions, thereby decreasing investor confidence and making investment products generally less attractive;
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inflicting loss of life;
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triggering large-scale technology failures or delays; and
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requiring substantial capital expenditures and operating expenses to remediate damage and restore operations.

Despite the contingency plans and facilities we have in place, including system security measures, information back-up and disaster recovery processes, our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our operations and the communities in which they are located. This may include a disruption involving electrical, communications, transportation or other services we may use or third parties with which we conduct business. If a disruption occurs in one location and our employees in that location are unable to occupy our offices or communicate with or travel to other locations, our ability to conduct business with and on behalf of our clients may suffer, and we may not be able to successfully implement contingency plans that depend on communication or travel. Furthermore, unauthorized access to our systems as a result of a security breach, the failure of our systems, or the loss of data could give rise to legal proceedings or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, disrupt operations, and damage our reputation.

Our operations require experienced, professional staff. Loss of a substantial number of such persons or an inability to provide properly equipped places for them to work may, by disrupting our operations, adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects. In addition, our property and business interruption insurance may not be adequate to compensate us for all losses, failures, or breaches that may occur.

Technology failures can significantly constrain our operations and result in significant time and expense to remediate, whether caused by “cyber attack”, another type of security breach or inadvertent system error.

We are highly dependent on software and related technologies throughout our business, including both proprietary systems and those provided by third-party vendors. We use our technology to, among other things, obtain securities pricing information, process client transactions, and provide reports and other services to our clients. Although we take protective measures, including measures designed to effectively secure information through system security technology and established and tested business continuity plans, we may still experience system delays and interruptions as a result of natural disasters, hardware failures, software defects, power outages, acts of war (cyber or conventional) and third-party failures. We cannot predict with certainty all of the adverse effects that could result from our failure, or the failure of a third party, to efficiently address and resolve these delays and interruptions. These adverse effects could include the inability to perform critical business functions or failure to comply with financial reporting and other regulatory requirements, which could lead to loss of client confidence, reputational damage, exposure to disciplinary action and liability to our clients. Accordingly, potential system failures and the cost necessary to correct those failures could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business prospects.

In addition, we could be subject to losses if we fail to properly safeguard sensitive and confidential information. As part of our normal operations, we maintain and transmit confidential information about our clients as well as proprietary information relating to our business operations. Although we take protective measures, our systems still could be vulnerable to cyber attack or other forms of unauthorized access (including computer viruses) that have a security impact, such as an authorized employee or vendor inadvertently or intentionally causing us to release confidential or proprietary information. Such disclosure could, among other things, allow competitors access to our proprietary business information and require significant time and expense to investigate and remediate the breach. Moreover, loss of confidential client information could harm our reputation and subject us to liability under laws that protect confidential personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenues.

Also, many of the software applications that we use in our business are licensed from, and supported, upgraded and maintained by, third-party vendors. A suspension or termination of certain of these licenses or the related support, upgrades and maintenance could cause temporary system delays or interruption. Additionally, technology rapidly evolves and we cannot guarantee that our competitors may not implement more advanced technology platforms for their products and services, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage and adversely affect our results of operations and business prospects.

Our own operational failures or those of third parties on which we rely, including failures arising out of human error, could disrupt our business, damage our reputation and reduce our revenues.

Weaknesses or failures in our internal processes or systems could lead to disruption of our operations, liability to clients, exposure to disciplinary action or harm to our reputation. Our business is highly dependent on our ability to process, on a daily

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basis, large numbers of transactions, many of which are highly complex, across numerous and diverse markets. These transactions generally must comply with client investment guidelines, as well as stringent legal and regulatory standards.

Our obligations to clients require us to exercise skill, care and prudence in performing our services. Despite our employees being highly trained and skilled, the large number of transactions we process makes it highly likely that errors will occasionally occur. If  we make a mistake in performing our services that causes financial harm to a client, we have a duty to act promptly to put the client in the position the client would have been in had we not made the error. The occurrence of mistakes, particularly significant ones, can have a material adverse effect on our reputation, results of operations and business prospects.
 
Our insurance policies may be insufficient to protect us against large losses.

We can make no assurance that a claim or claims will be covered by our insurance policies or, if covered, will not exceed the limits of available insurance coverage, or that our insurers will remain solvent and meet their obligations.

Our business is subject to pervasive, complex and continuously evolving global regulation, compliance with which involves substantial expenditures of time and money, and violation of which may result in material adverse consequences.

Virtually all aspects of our business are subject to federal and state laws and regulations, rules of securities regulators and exchanges, and laws and regulations in the foreign jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries conduct business. If we violate these laws or regulations, we could be subject to civil liability, criminal liability or sanction, including restriction or revocation of our and our subsidiaries’ professional licenses or registrations, revocation of the licenses of our employees, censures, fines, or temporary suspension or permanent bar from conducting business. Any such liability or sanction could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects. A regulatory proceeding, even if it does not result in a finding of wrongdoing or sanction, could require substantial expenditures of time and money and could potentially damage our reputation.

Moreover, regulators sometimes change their policies or laws in a manner that may make compliance more expensive and/or restrict or otherwise impede our ability to register, market and distribute our investment products. For example, the Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan (“FSC”) has implemented new limits on the degree to which local investors can own an offshore investment product, which limits were effective as of January 1, 2015.  While certain exemptions have been available to us, should we not continue to qualify, the FSC’s new rules could force some of our local resident investors to redeem their investments in our funds sold in Taiwan (and/or prevent further sales of those funds in Taiwan), some of which funds have local ownership levels substantially above the new FSC limits. This could lead to significant declines in our investment advisory and services fees and revenues earned from these funds.

In addition, pending legislation in the U.S. and Europe could pose significant challenges to AB, including rules proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), which are expected to become effective (at least in part) by the end of 2016. If enacted, the DOL's proposed rules, which impose fiduciary duties on financial advisors employed by broker-dealers, who provide investment advice pertaining to roll-overs of 401(k) balances and investments in individual retirement accounts, would change dramatically how investment advice is provided to clients industry-wide and will affect how AB compensates financial intermediaries that sell its mutual funds. The new rules also would adversely affect our ability to distribute our mutual funds to individual retirement accounts through subsidiaries of AXA, including AXA Advisors.

In Europe, the second installment of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (“MiFID II”), enactment of which is expected to be delayed until January 1, 2018, would prohibit investment managers from receiving inducements, including research, from broker-dealers, in exchange for securities transaction execution commissions. As a result, MiFID II, if enacted as currently drafted, could substantially reduce the revenues of our U.K.-based broker-dealer, which would no longer be compensated for its research through soft-dollar payments by third party buy-side firms. Furthermore, AB's European buy-side subsidiaries could be required to pay hard dollars to purchase research, which would increase our expenses.

MiFID II, as currently drafted, would permit buy-side firms to purchase research through the use of client-funded research payment accounts. Also, the language of the recently-proposed Delegated Act under MiFID II appears to permit the funding of these accounts in a manner that would permit the continued use of traditional commission sharing agreements, which would significantly reduce the financial impact on buy-side and sell-side firms of the MiFID II prohibition on inducements. However, significant operational changes would be required to implement the rule. The ultimate impact of MiFID II on payments for research currently is uncertain.


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We are involved in various legal proceedings and regulatory matters and may be involved in such proceedings in the future, any one or combination of which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.

We may be involved in various matters, including regulatory inquiries, administrative proceedings and litigation, some of which allege significant damages, and we may be involved in additional matters in the future. Litigation is subject to significant uncertainties, particularly when plaintiffs allege substantial or indeterminate damages, the litigation is in its early stages, or when the litigation is highly complex or broad in scope.

The financial services industry is intensely competitive.

We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including our investment performance for our clients, our array of investment services, innovation, reputation and price. By having a global presence, we may face competitors with more experience and more established relationships with clients, regulators and industry participants in the relevant market, which could adversely affect our ability to expand. Furthermore, if we are unable to maintain and/or continue to improve our investment performance, our client flows may be adversely affected, which may make it more difficult for us to compete effectively.
 
Also, increased competition could reduce the demand for our products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects. For additional information regarding competitive factors, see “Competition” in Item 1.

A major factor in our competitive environment is the perception that active equity managers have, on average over the past decade, underperformed passive services, which invest based on market indices rather than individual stock selection. This perception has resulted in significant outflows from actively-managed services and corresponding significant inflows into passive services. In the resulting environment, organic growth through positive net inflows is difficult to achieve for active equity managers, such as AB, and requires taking market share from other active managers.

Structure-related Risks

The partnership structure of AB Holding and AB limits Unitholders’ abilities to influence the management and operation of AB’s business and is highly likely to prevent a change in control of AB Holding and AB.

The General Partner, as general partner of both AB Holding and AB, generally has the exclusive right and full authority and responsibility to manage, conduct, control and operate their respective businesses, except as otherwise expressly stated in their respective Amended and Restated Agreements of Limited Partnership. AB Holding and AB Unitholders have more limited voting rights on matters affecting AB than do holders of common stock in a corporation. Both Amended and Restated Agreements of Limited Partnership provide that Unitholders do not have any right to vote for directors of the General Partner and that Unitholders only can vote on certain extraordinary matters (including removal of the General Partner under certain extraordinary circumstances). Additionally, the AB Partnership Agreement includes significant restrictions on the transfer of AB Units and provisions that have the practical effect of preventing the removal of the General Partner, which provisions are highly likely to prevent a change in control of AB’s management.

AB Units are illiquid and subject to significant transfer restrictions.

There is no public trading market for AB Units and we do not anticipate that a public trading market will develop. The AB Partnership Agreement restricts our ability to participate in a public trading market or anything substantially equivalent to one by providing that any transfer that may cause AB to be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” (“PTP”) as defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), shall be deemed void and shall not be recognized by AB. In addition, AB Units are subject to significant restrictions on transfer, such as obtaining the written consent of AXA Equitable and the General Partner pursuant to the AB Partnership Agreement. Generally, neither AXA Equitable nor the General Partner will permit any transfer that it believes would create a risk that AB would be treated as a corporation for tax purposes. AXA Equitable and the General Partner have implemented a transfer program that requires a seller to locate a purchaser and imposes annual volume restrictions on transfers. You may request a copy of the transfer program from our Corporate Secretary (corporate_secretary@abglobal.com). Also, we have filed the transfer program as Exhibit 10.07 to this Form 10-K.





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Changes in the partnership structure of AB Holding and AB and/or changes in the tax law governing partnerships would have significant tax ramifications.

AB Holding, having elected under Section 7704(g) of the Code to be subject to a 3.5% federal tax on partnership gross income from the active conduct of a trade or business, is a “grandfathered” PTP for federal income tax purposes. AB Holding is also subject to the 4.0% New York City unincorporated business tax (“UBT”), net of credits for UBT paid by AB. In order to preserve AB Holding’s status as a “grandfathered” PTP for federal income tax purposes, management ensures that AB Holding does not directly or indirectly (through AB) enter into a substantial new line of business. A “new line of business” includes any business that is not closely related to AB’s historical business of providing research and diversified investment management and related services to its clients. A new line of business is “substantial” when a partnership derives more than 15% of its gross income from, or uses more than 15% of its total assets in, the new line of business.

AB is a private partnership for federal income tax purposes and, accordingly, is not subject to federal and state corporate income taxes. However, AB is subject to the 4.0% UBT. Domestic corporate subsidiaries of AB, which are subject to federal, state and local income taxes, generally are included in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax return with separate state and local income tax returns being filed. Foreign corporate subsidiaries generally are subject to taxes in the foreign jurisdiction where they are located. If our business increasingly operates in countries other than the U.S., AB’s effective tax rate will increase over time because our international subsidiaries are subject to corporate taxes in the jurisdictions where they are located.

In order to preserve AB’s status as a private partnership for federal income tax purposes, AB Units must not be considered publicly traded. If such units were to be considered readily tradable, AB would be subject to federal and state corporate income tax on its net income. Furthermore, as noted above, should AB enter into a substantial new line of business, AB Holding, by virtue of its ownership of AB, would lose its status as a grandfathered PTP and would become subject to corporate income tax as set forth above. For information about the significant restrictions on transfer of AB Units, see the risk factor immediately above.

In addition, recent decisions by members of Congress and their staffs regarding the need for fundamental tax reform and possible tax law changes to raise additional revenue have included suggestions that all large partnerships (which would include both AB and AB Holding) should be taxed as corporations and that a process should be implemented to address repatriating the non-U.S. earnings of U.S. companies. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, tax legislation will be proposed in the future and are unable to determine what effect any new legislation might have on us. If our subsidiaries' non-U.S. earnings are repatriated to the U.S. at unfavorable tax rates, our tax liability may increase substantially. Furthermore, if AB Holding and AB were to lose their federal tax status as partnerships, they would be subject to corporate income tax, which would reduce materially their net income and quarterly distributions to Unitholders.

If, pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 ("2015 Act"), any audit by the Internal Revenue Services ("IRS") of our income tax returns for any fiscal year beginning after December 31, 2017 results in any adjustments, the IRS may collect any resulting taxes, including any applicable penalties and interest, directly from us, in which case our net income and the cash available for quarterly Unitholder distributions may be substantially reduced.

Although the IRS, under current law, generally determines tax adjustments at the partnership level when it audits the income tax return of a partnership, the IRS is required to collect any additional taxes, interest and penalties from the partnership's individual partners. As discussed immediately below, the 2015 Act modifies this procedure for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017.

Under the 2015 Act, if any audit by the IRS of our income tax returns for any fiscal year beginning after December 31, 2017 results in any adjustments, the IRS may collect any resulting taxes, including any applicable penalties and interest, directly from us.  Generally, we will have the ability to collect such tax liability from our Unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests during the year under audit, but there can be no assurance that we will elect to do so or be able to do so under all circumstances.  If we do not collect such tax liability from our Unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in the tax year under audit, our net income and the available cash for quarterly distributions to current Unitholders may be substantially reduced. Accordingly, our current Unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment, even if such Unitholders did not own Units during the tax year under audit.

Further guidance from the IRS is expected, which may significantly impact the application of these rules.

24



 
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

Neither AB nor AB Holding has unresolved comments from the staff of the SEC to report.



25

Item 2.    Properties

Our principal executive offices located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York are occupied pursuant to a lease expiring in 2019 with options to extend to 2029. At this location, we currently lease 1,033,984 square feet of space, within which we currently occupy approximately 599,265 square feet of space and have sub-let approximately 434,719 square feet of space. We also lease space at two other locations in New York City; we acquired one of these leases in connection with the WPS Acquisition.

In addition, we lease approximately 263,083 square feet of space at One North Lexington, White Plains, New York under a lease expiring in 2021 with options to extend to 2031. At this location, we currently occupy approximately 69,013 square feet of space and have sub-let (or are seeking to sub-let) approximately 194,070 square feet of space.

We also lease 92,067 square feet of space in San Antonio, Texas under a lease expiring in 2019 with options to extend to 2029.  At this location, we currently occupy approximately 59,004 square feet of space and have sub-let approximately 33,063 square feet of space.

In addition, we lease space in 20 other cities in the United States.

Our subsidiaries lease space in 28 cities outside the United States, the most significant of which are in London, England, under a lease expiring in 2022, and in Tokyo, Japan, under a lease expiring in 2018. In London, we currently lease 87,250 square feet of space, within which we currently occupy approximately 54,746 square feet of space and have sub-let (or are seeking to sub-let) approximately 32,504 square feet of space. In Tokyo, we currently lease and occupy approximately 34,615 square feet of space.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

With respect to all significant litigation matters, we consider the likelihood of a negative outcome. If we determine the likelihood of a negative outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an estimated loss for the expected outcome of the litigation. If the likelihood of a negative outcome is reasonably possible and we are able to determine an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts already accrued, if any, we disclose that fact together with the estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. However, it is often difficult to predict the outcome or estimate a possible loss or range of loss because litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, particularly when plaintiffs allege substantial or indeterminate damages. Such is also the case when the litigation is in its early stages or when the litigation is highly complex or broad in scope. In these cases, we disclose that we are unable to predict the outcome or estimate a possible loss or range of loss.

During the first quarter of 2012, we received a legal letter of claim (“Letter of Claim”) sent on behalf of Philips Pension Trustees Limited and Philips Electronics U.K. Limited (“Philips”), a former pension fund client, alleging that AllianceBernstein Limited (one of our subsidiaries organized in the U.K.) was negligent and failed to meet certain applicable standards of care with respect to the initial investment in, and management of, a £500 million portfolio of U.S. mortgage-backed securities. Philips has alleged damages ranging between $177 million and $234 million, plus compound interest on an alleged $125 million of realized losses in the portfolio. On January 2, 2014, Philips filed a claim form (“Claim”) in the High Court of Justice in London, England, which formally commenced litigation with respect to the allegations in the Letter of Claim.

We believe that any losses to Philips resulted from adverse developments in the U.S. housing and mortgage market that precipitated the financial crisis in 2008 and not from any negligence or other failure or malfeasance on our part. We believe that we have strong defenses to these claims, which are set forth in our October 12, 2012 response to the Letter of Claim and our June 27, 2014 Statement of Defence in response to the Claim, and intend to defend this matter vigorously.

In addition to the Claim discussed immediately above, we are involved in various other matters, including regulatory inquiries, administrative proceedings and litigation, some of which allege significant damages.

In management’s opinion, an adequate accrual has been made as of December 31, 2015 to provide for any probable losses regarding any litigation matters for which we can reasonably estimate an amount of loss. It is reasonably possible that we could incur additional losses pertaining to these matters, but currently we cannot estimate any such additional losses.

Management, after consultation with legal counsel, currently believes that the outcome of any individual matter that is pending or threatened, or all of them combined, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. However, any inquiry, proceeding or litigation has an element of uncertainty; management cannot determine whether further developments relating to any individual matter that is pending or threatened, or all of them combined, will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity in any future reporting period.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.



26

PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market for AB Holding Units and AB Units; Cash Distributions

AB Holding Units are listed on the NYSE and trade publicly under the ticker symbol “AB”. There is no established public trading market for AB Units, which are subject to significant restrictions on transfer.  For information about these transfer restrictions, see “Structure-related Risks” in Item 1A.

AB Holding’s principal source of income and cash flow is attributable to its limited partnership interests in AB.

Each of AB Holding and AB distributes on a quarterly basis all of its Available Cash Flow, as defined in the AB Holding Partnership Agreement and the AB Partnership Agreement, respectively, to its Unitholders and the General Partner. For additional information concerning distribution of Available Cash Flow by AB Holding, see Note 2 to AB Holding’s financial statements in Item 8. For additional information concerning distribution of Available Cash Flow by AB, see Note 2 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

The distributions of Available Cash Flow made by AB and AB Holding during 2015 and 2014 and the high and low sale prices of AB Holding Units reflected on the NYSE composite transaction tape during 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

 
Quarters Ended 2015
 
 
 
December
31
 
September
30
 
June
30
 
March
31
 
Total
Cash distributions per AB Unit(1)
$
0.56

 
$
0.50

 
$
0.54

 
$
0.51

 
$
2.11

Cash distributions per AB Holding Unit(1)
$
0.50

 
$
0.43

 
$
0.48

 
$
0.45

 
$
1.86

AB Holding Unit prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
27.70

 
$
30.07

 
$
32.74

 
$
31.00

 
 

Low
$
21.23

 
$
22.00

 
$
28.79

 
$
24.04

 
 

 
Quarters Ended 2014
 
 
 
December
31
 
September
30
 
June
30
 
March
31
 
Total
Cash distributions per AB Unit(1)
$
0.63

 
$
0.51

 
$
0.50

 
$
0.44

 
$
2.08

Cash distributions per AB Holding Unit(1)
$
0.57

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.39

 
$
1.86

AB Holding Unit prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
27.39

 
$
28.18

 
$
26.69

 
$
26.00

 
 
Low
$
22.40

 
$
25.00

 
$
22.71

 
$
20.98

 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Declared and paid during the following quarter.

On December 31, 2015, the closing price of an AB Holding Unit on the NYSE was $23.85 per Unit and there were 915 AB Holding Unitholders of record for approximately 81,000 beneficial owners. On December 31, 2015, there were 409 AB Unitholders of record, and we do not believe there are substantial additional beneficial owners.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

We did not engage in any unregistered sales of our securities during the years ended Dece