-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, K6+/D0kQ9a0A4u6k/1cIH/Z4K8urmcloiQ7D6U9gtXgFhy66y/yCnvWbnXv/QoJb qSm289NvLIOzsaKQQdhFEw== 0000936772-01-000111.txt : 20010307 0000936772-01-000111.hdr.sgml : 20010307 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000936772-01-000111 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-30D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20001231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20010228 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALLIANCE VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000825316 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-30D SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05398 FILM NUMBER: 1556106 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 PLAZA DRIVE STREET 2: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 31ST FL CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 BUSINESS PHONE: 2013194105 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANGEMENT LP STREET 2: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 N-30D 1 0001.txt ALLIANCE -------------------- VARIABLE PRODUCTS -------------------- SERIES FUND -------------------- TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO -------------------- ANNUAL REPORT DECEMBER 31, 2000 Investment Products Offered --------------------------- > Are Not FDIC Insured > May Lose Value > Are Not Bank Guaranteed --------------------------- LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ February 1, 2001 Dear Shareholder: We are pleased to provide you with an update of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") for the annual reporting period ended December 31, 2000. We appreciate your investment in the Portfolio(s) of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund and look forward to reporting further investment progress in the coming period. Sincerely, /s/ John D. Carifa John D. Carifa Chairman and President 1 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE The Technology Portfolio (the "Portfolio") is a diversified investment portfolio that seeks growth of capital. The Portfolio invests principally in securities of companies that use technology extensively in the development of new or improved products or processes. MARKET REVIEW Roller coaster rides are thrilling, but we prefer to experience ours in the amusement park. The significant advances and then declines in technology stocks the last two years have been more extreme than anything we can recall--the excesses of enthusiasm and high valuations in 1999 have led to their inevitable undoing in 2000. More recently, price declines have been made worse by concerns of a global economic slowdown. Enter Alan Greenspan (finally) and his welcomed medicine of lowered interest rates. The question is, now what? Investors are reading their history books and learning that weakening economic conditions and an accommodative Federal Reserve can sometimes be a sufficient backdrop for rising stock prices. They are comparing current valuations with the peaks seen last March and concluding that some stocks have become attractive (if for no other reason than because they have dropped considerably). Most significantly, investors are beginning to ignore bad news--many stocks are going up on poor earnings reports, conservative management guidance and analyst estimate cuts. The activity of the NASDAQ in January has been more encouraging than anything we have seen since August of last year. Is NASDAQ's bear market finally over? We apologize for not providing a definitive answer but here is our thinking on the recent rally. On the negative side, we see a flight to cheapness, an interest in second tier companies with lower valuations. This is probably an effort to control risk while increasing one's equity exposure, and we think it is the wrong approach--one gets what one buys in technology and betting on the weaker players rarely works beyond the short term. There is also the prevailing thought that today's prices already discount a weak first quarter. We agree, but the second quarter will also be weak and it is a period of very tough comparisons compared to 2000 - something the Federal Reserve's rate cuts can not change in the next three months. We also point out that nine of the 10 largest one-day percentage gains in the 29-year history of NASDAQ occurred during the last year, a time of significant secular price erosion - too many rallies have fizzled. INVESTMENT RESULTS During the six- and 12-month periods ended December 31, 2000, the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Pacific Stock Exchange (PSE) High Technology Index, but outperformed the NASDAQ. The Portfolio returned -21.52% for the 12-month period while its benchmark returned -26.06%. These comparisons reflect the relative weakness of the technology sector versus the overall market, as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the strength of health care and biotechnology stocks, which are contained in the PSE High Technology Index but are not a sector in which the Portfolio invests. In the fourth quarter, concerns about a slowing economy affected technology stock prices and investor expectations, resulting in a decline in the NASDAQ of over 30%. This decline occurred as signs of slower spending in PCs, telecommunications and other areas led to a build-up in semiconductor inventories. We reacted to these changing fundamentals by becoming more conservatively positioned during the quarter, reducing positions in high beta stocks and maintaining higher than average cash positions. These actions helped relative performance during NASDAQ's decline and served to control risk in a difficult market environment. In addition to these actions, the Portfolio benefited from positions in communications software, outsourcing, wireless and emerging semiconductor companies. INVESTMENT OUTLOOK On the positive side, we are likely to re-learn in 2001 what "climbing a wall of worry" means. At some point in an economic slowdown, investors have taken a full measure of it, stocks have discounted the worst, and bad news leads to stock prices increases. For now at least, this seems to be happening. The unknown factor is whether the full extent of the current economic slowdown has been measured into people's thinking. We are encouraged that the secular growth prospects in technology are undiminished and that the next "killer application"--restructuring enterprises to exploit the cost benefits and operational efficiencies of the Internet--is still in its earliest stages. It is this theme that dominates the Portfolio's holdings as we enter 2001. Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ Finally, it is worth noting that in such a volatile stock market, trying to pick NASDAQ's absolute bottom should probably not be the highest priority. Different stocks bottom at different times, as do different sectors. At some point, and if the price is right, businesses should be purchased for their profit generating potential, not because of the myopic games played on Wall Street. The challenge of 2001 will be to put such stocks into the portfolio at the appropriate time. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average annual total returns are for the Portfolio's Class A shares. INVESTMENT RESULTS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ INVESTMENT RESULTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2000 Listed below are the Portfolio's average annual total returns for Class A shares for the one-year, five-year (where applicable) and since inception periods ended December 31, 2000. Technology Portfolio o 1 Year -21.52% o Since Inception (1/96) 21.71% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total returns are based on net asset value (NAV) performance for Class A shares and reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or capital gains distributions in additional shares. These figures do not reflect insurance company separate account or annuity contract charges, which would reduce total return to a contract owner. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. PERFORMANCE UPDATE Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ o Alliance Technology Portfolio o PSE High Tech Index [The following table was depicted as a mountain graph in the printed material.] PSE High Tech Index : $39,436 Technology Portfolio: $26,548 Past performance is no guarantee of future results. These charts illustrate the total value of an assumed $10,000 investment in each Portfolio as compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based index for the time frames indicated for each Portfolio. Performance results for each Portfolio represent the Portfolio's total return at net asset value (NAV). An investor cannot invest directly in an index or average, and its results are not indicative of the performance for any Alliance mutual fund. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Month-end closest to Portfolio inception. Inception dates for the Portfolios are: 1/14/91 Growth & Income; 9/15/94 Growth; 12/28/92 Total Return; 12/28/92 International; 6/26/92 Premier Growth; 7/15/91 Global Bond; 5/10/94 Utility Income; 5/2/94 Global Dollar Government; 9/23/94 Worldwide Privatization; 5/3/94 North American Government Income; 9/17/92 U.S. Government/High-Grade Securities; 1/11/96 Technology; 8/5/96 Quasar; 1/9/97 Real Estate Investment; 10/27/97 High Yield. THE BENCHMARKS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ The benchmarks described below represent unmanaged indices; the Lipper Averages include funds that have generally similar investment objectives to the respective Alliance portfolio, although some funds included in the averages may have somewhat different investment policies. CS First Boston High Yield--Credit Suisse First Boston High Yield Index is an unmanaged, trader-priced portfolio constructed to mirror the high yield debt market. DJ Utility--The Dow Jones Utility Index is a price-weighted average that consists of actively traded stocks representing a cross-section of corporations involved in various phases of the utility industry. JPM EMBI-Plus--The JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index-Plus tracks returns for external-currency-denominated debt instruments of the emerging markets including Brady bonds, loans, Eurobonds, and U.S. dollar-denominated local market instruments. Countries covered are Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Phillipines, Poland, Russia and Venezuela. LB Aggregate Bond--The Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index is composed of the Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Indices, and the Government/Credit Bond Index. LB Credit Bond--The Lehman Brothers Corporate Bond Index includes all publicly issued, fixed-rate, non-convertible investment grade corporate debt; the index is composed of both U.S. and Brady Bonds. Until June 30, 2000, this index was known as the Lehman Brothers Corporate Index. LB Gov't/Credit Bond--The Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Bond Index represents a combination of the two indices. LB Gov't Bond--The Lehman Brothers Government Bond Index is composed of the Treasury Bond and Agency Bond Indices, the 1-3 year Government Index and the 20+ year Treasury Index. LB Intermediate Gov't Bond--The Lehman Brothers Intermediate Government Bond Index is composed of U.S. Government agency and Treasury securities with maturities of one to 10 years. LB Long-Term Gov't Bond--The Lehman Brothers Long-Term Government Bond Index is composed of U.S. Government agency and Treasury securities with maturities of 10 years or more. Lipper Growth and Income Funds Average--The Lipper Growth and Income Funds Average reflects performance of 100 mutual funds. Lipper International Funds Average--The Lipper International Funds Average reflects performance of 100 mutual funds. MSCI EAFE--The Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index measures the overall performance of stock markets in 21 countries within Europe, Australia and the Far East. MSCI World ex-USA--The Morgan Stanley Capital International World ex-USA Index is an unmanaged, market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of stock markets in 21 countries outside the United States. NAREIT--The NAREIT Index represents returns for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trust Equity Index. NYSE Utility--The New York Stock Exchange Utility Index is composed of all utility issues traded on the Exchange. PSE High Technology--The Pacific Stock Exchange High Technology Index is comprised of technology stocks traded on the Pacific Stock Exchange. Russell 1000--The Russell 1000 Growth Stock Index represents performance of 1000 of the largest U.S. companies by market capitalization. Russell 2000--The Russell 2000 Value Index consists of 2000 small- and mid-cap companies. The average market capitalization is approximately $500 million. SSB 3-Month Treasury Bill--The Salomon Smith Barney 3-Month Treasury Bill Index represents the average of T-bill rates for each of the prior three months, adjusted to a bond equivalent basis. SSB World Gov't Bond--The Salomon Smith Barney World Government Bond Index represents performance of government bond markets in 14 countries. S&P 500--The Standard and Poor's 500 Stock Index includes 500 stocks and is a common measure of the performance of the overall U.S. stock market. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS December 31, 2000 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMPANY U.S. $ VALUE PERCENT OF NET ASSETS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amdocs, Ltd. $ 27,480,500 5.3% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanmina Corp. 25,807,300 4.9 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DST Systems, Inc. 24,257,350 4.7 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cisco Systems, Inc. 23,875,650 4.6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nokia Corp. (ADR) 20,523,300 3.9 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oracle Corp. 19,442,812 3.7 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEA Systems, Inc. 19,002,319 3.6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Data Corp. 18,709,331 3.6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Micron Technology, Inc. 17,139,400 3.3 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solectron Corp. 16,129,620 3.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $212,367,582 40.7% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS December 31, 2000 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ Company Shares U.S. $ Value - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMON STOCKS-86.6% TECHNOLOGY-82.0% COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT-4.5% Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)..... 25,550 $ 3,220,897 Nokia Corp. (ADR) (Finland) (a)............... 471,800 20,523,300 ------------ 23,744,197 ------------ COMPUTER HARDWARE-3.6% Avocent Corp. (a).............. 124,408 3,359,016 Dell Computer Corp. (a)........ 644,500 11,238,469 Gateway, Inc. (a).............. 225,000 4,047,750 ------------ 18,645,235 ------------ COMPUTER PERIPHERALS-2.2% Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (a)........... 27,800 2,552,387 Handspring, Inc. (a)........... 210,000 8,176,875 StorageNetworks, Inc. (a)...... 28,200 699,713 ------------ 11,428,975 ------------ COMPUTER SERVICES-11.8% Computer Sciences Corp. (a).... 126,000 7,575,750 DST Systems, Inc. (a).......... 362,050 24,257,350 Exult, Inc. (a)................ 62,000 821,500 First Data Corp. .............. 355,100 18,709,331 Fiserv, Inc. (a)............... 157,050 7,450,060 Sapient Corp. (a).............. 216,300 2,582,081 ------------ 61,396,072 ------------ COMPUTER SOFTWARE-21.6% Amdocs, Ltd. (a)............... 414,800 27,480,500 BEA Systems, Inc. (a).......... 282,300 19,002,319 Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)...... 78,000 3,324,750 I2 Technologies, Inc. (a)...... 209,200 11,375,250 Informatica Corp. (a).......... 114,000 4,510,125 Macrovision Corp. (a).......... 59,600 4,411,331 Mercury Interactive Corp. (a).. 39,800 3,591,950 Oracle Corp. (a)............... 669,000 19,442,812 Rational Software Corp. (a).... 202,900 7,900,419 TIBCO Software, Inc. (a)....... 52,200 2,502,338 VERITAS Software Corp. (a)..... 92,600 8,102,500 Vitria Technology, Inc. ....... 163,000 1,263,250 ------------ 112,907,544 ------------ CONTRACT MANUFACTURING-11.7% Celestica, Inc. (a)............ 84,900 4,605,825 Flextronics International, Ltd. (a).................... 424,000 12,084,000 Jabil Circuit, Inc. (a)........ 51,100 1,296,662 Plexus Corp. (a)............... 38,000 1,154,844 Sanmina Corp. (a).............. 336,800 25,807,300 Solectron Corp. (a)............ 475,800 16,129,620 ------------ 61,078,251 ------------ INTERNET-4.9% America Online, Inc. (a)....... 394,100 13,714,680 EBay, Inc. (a)................. 365,100 12,048,300 ------------ 25,762,980 ------------ NETWORKING SOFTWARE-5.7% CIENA Corp. (a)................ 75,500 6,134,375 Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)........ 624,200 23,875,650 ------------ 30,010,025 ------------ SEMI-CONDUCTOR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT-4.1% Applied Materials, Inc. (a).... 180,500 6,892,844 KLA-Tencor Corp. (a)........... 222,500 7,495,468 Teradyne, Inc. (a)............. 191,700 7,140,825 ------------ 21,529,137 ------------ SEMI-CONDUCTOR COMPONENTS-11.9% Altera Corp. (a)............... 504,150 13,265,447 Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (a)................... 88,700 6,656,658 Intel Corp. ................... 167,000 5,020,437 Micron Technology, Inc. (a).... 482,800 17,139,400 STMicroelectronics NV (ADR) (Netherlands)............... 122,300 5,235,969 Xilinx, Inc. (a)............... 315,800 14,566,275 ------------ 61,884,186 ------------ 428,386,602 ------------ CONSUMER SERVICES-2.2% CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS-2.2% Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (United Kingdom)............ 318,283 11,398,510 ------------ UTILITY-2.1% TELEPHONE UTILITY-2.1% Qwest Communications International, Inc. (a)..... 276,962 11,355,442 ------------ FINANCE-0.3% MISCELLANEOUS-0.3% Concord EFS, Inc. (a).......... 33,700 1,480,694 ------------ Total Common Stocks (cost $469,746,111)......... 452,621,248 ------------ TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued) Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ Principal Amount Company (000) U.S. $ Value - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT-16.8% TIME DEPOSIT-16.8% State Street Euro Dollar 6.00%, 1/02/01 (amortized cost $87,670,000)................ $87,670 $ 87,670,000 ------------ TOTAL INVESTMENTS-103.4% (cost $557,416,111)......... 540,291,248 Other assets less liabilities-(3.4%).......... (17,922,852) ------------ NET ASSETS-100%................ $522,368,396 ============ - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Non-income producing security. Glossary: ADR - American Depositary Receipt See Notes to Financial Statements. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES December 31, 2000 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================
ASSETS Investments in securities, at value (cost $557,416,111) ........... $ 540,291,248 Cash .............................................................. 664 Receivable for capital stock sold ................................. 570,859 Receivable for investment securities sold ......................... 86,280 Dividends and interest receivable ................................. 73,494 Deferred organization expenses .................................... 279 ------------- Total assets ...................................................... 541,022,824 ------------- LIABILITIES Payable for investment securities purchased ....................... 16,560,596 Payable for capital stock redeemed ................................ 1,548,500 Advisory fee payable .............................................. 432,003 Accrued expenses .................................................. 113,329 ------------- Total liabilities ................................................. 18,654,428 ------------- NET ASSETS ........................................................... $ 522,368,396 ============= COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS Capital stock, at par ............................................. $ 20,950 Additional paid-in capital ........................................ 537,111,416 Accumulated net realized gain on investments and written options .. 2,360,893 Net unrealized depreciation of investments ........................ (17,124,863) ------------- $ 522,368,396 ============= Class A Shares Net assets ........................................................ $ 343,600,708 ============= Shares of capital stock outstanding ............................... 13,769,816 ============= Net asset value per share ......................................... $ 24.95 ============= Class B Shares Net assets ........................................................ $ 178,767,688 ============= Shares of capital stock outstanding ............................... 7,179,935 ============= Net asset value per share ......................................... $ 24.90 =============
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Notes to Financial Statements. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Year Ended December 31, 2000 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================
INVESTMENT INCOME Interest .................................................................... $ 3,029,103 Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $16,170) ........................ 547,338 ------------- Total investment income ..................................................... 3,576,441 ------------- EXPENSES Advisory fee ................................................................ 5,570,263 Distribution fee - Class B .................................................. 255,553 Custodian ................................................................... 151,871 Administrative .............................................................. 66,000 Audit and legal ............................................................. 56,346 Printing .................................................................... 47,232 Amortization of organization expenses ....................................... 4,308 Transfer agency ............................................................. 919 Directors' fees ............................................................. 800 Miscellaneous ............................................................... 8,337 ------------- Total expenses .............................................................. 6,161,629 Less: expenses waived and reimbursed ........................................ (166,315) ------------- Net expenses ................................................................ 5,995,314 ------------- Net investment loss ......................................................... (2,418,873) ------------- REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS Net realized gain on investment transactions ................................ 2,809,683 Net realized gain on written options transactions ........................... 62,315 Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions .......................... (752) Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments ........... (179,187,971) ------------- Net loss on investments, written options and foreign currency transactions .. (176,316,725) ------------- NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS ..................................... $(178,735,598) =============
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Notes to Financial Statements. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================
Year Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2000 1999 ============= ============= INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS Net investment loss .................................................. $ (2,418,873) $ (777,699) Net realized gain on investments, written options and foreign currency transactions ....................................................... 2,871,246 30,906,400 Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments .... (179,187,971) 111,387,457 ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations ................ (178,735,598) 141,516,158 DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: Net realized gain on investments Class A ........................................................... (26,796,903) (356,801) Class B ........................................................... (3,620,556) -0- CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS Net increase ......................................................... 363,691,960 96,068,474 ------------- ------------- Total increase ....................................................... 154,538,903 237,227,831 NET ASSETS Beginning of period .................................................. 367,829,493 130,601,662 ------------- ------------- End of period ........................................................ $ 522,368,396 $ 367,829,493 ============= =============
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See Notes to Financial Statements. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 2000 Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies The Technology Portfolio (the "Portfolio") is a series of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"). The Portfolio's investment objective is to seek growth of capital. Current income is incidental to the Portfolio's objective. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 17, 1987, as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers nineteen separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Fund currently issues shares of the Conservative Investors Portfolio, Growth Investors Portfolio, Total Return Portfolio, Growth and Income Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, International Portfolio, Premier Growth Portfolio, Quasar Portfolio, Real Estate Investment Portfolio, Technology Portfolio, Utility Income Portfolio, Worldwide Privatization Portfolio, Global Bond Portfolio, Global Dollar Government Portfolio, High-Yield Portfolio, North American Government Income Portfolio, Short-Term Multi-Market Portfolio, U.S. Government/High Grade Securities Portfolio and Money Market Portfolio (the "Portfolios"). On January 5, 1999, the creation of a second class of shares, Class B shares, was approved by the Board of Directors. The Fund offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan. As of December 31, 2000, the following Portfolios had Class B shares issued and outstanding: Growth and Income Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, Premier Growth Portfolio, Quasar Portfolio, Technology Portfolio, Worldwide Privatization Portfolio, Global Bond Portfolio, U.S. Government/High Grade Securities Portfolio and Money Market Portfolio. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at each Portfolio's net asset value per share. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund. 1. Security Valuation Portfolio securities traded on a national securities exchange or on a foreign securities exchange (other than foreign securities exchanges whose operations are similar to those of the United States over-the-counter market) or on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., are generally valued at the last reported sales price or if no sale occurred, at the mean of the closing bid and asked price on that day. Readily marketable securities traded in the over-the-counter market, securities listed on a foreign securities exchange whose operations are similar to the U.S. over-the-counter market, and securities listed on a national securities exchange whose primary market is believed to be over-the-counter (but excluding securities traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.), are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked price. U.S. government and fixed income securities which mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless this method does not represent fair value. Securities for which current market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by, or in accordance with procedures adopted by, the Board of Directors. Fixed income securities may be valued on the basis of prices obtained from a pricing service when such prices are believed to reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities in which the Money Market Portfolio invests are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value, under which method a portfolio instrument is valued at cost and any premium or discount is amortized on a straight-line basis to maturity. 2. Currency Translation Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward exchange currency contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked price of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of securities and forward exchange currency contracts, holdings of foreign currencies, exchange gains and losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign witholding tax reclaims recorded on the Portfolio's books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ actually received or paid. Net currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. 3. Organization Expenses Organization expenses of $21,500 have been deferred and are being amortized on a straight line basis through January 2001. 4. Taxes It is the Fund's policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. 5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is accrued daily. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date securities are purchased or sold. The Fund accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income and in the case of the Money Market Portfolio, amortizes premium as well. Investment gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis. 6. Dividends and Distributions Each Portfolio declares and distributes dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized gains, respectively, if any, at least annually, except for dividends on the Money Market Portfolio, which are declared daily and paid monthly. Income dividends and capital gains distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification. During the current fiscal year, permanent differences, primarily due to net operating losses, resulted in a net decrease in accumulated net investment loss and a corresponding decrease in additional paid-in capital. This reclassification had no effect on net assets. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE B: Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates Under the terms of an investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays Alliance Capital Management L.P. (the "Adviser"), an investment advisory fee at an annualized rate of 1% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Portfolio paid $66,000 to the Adviser representing the cost of certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser for the year ended December 31, 2000. Prior to May 1, 2000, the Adviser agreed to waive its fee and to reimburse the additional operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis to .95% and 1.20% of the average daily net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. Effective May 1, 2000, the Adviser determined not to extend the expense limitation undertaking of the Portfolio. Expense waivers/reimbursements, if any, are accrued daily and paid monthly. For the year ended December 31, 2000, such waivers/reimbursements amounted to $166,315. Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the year ended December 31, 2000, amounted to $436,814. For the period from January 1, 2000 to October 31, 2000, $6,690 was paid to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. ("DLJ") directly and none was paid to brokers utilizing the services of the Pershing Division of DLJ, affiliates of the Adviser (whose affiliation ended on November 2, 2000). Effective October 2, 2000, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC ("SCB") became an affiliate of the Adviser. For the period from October 2, 2000 to December 31, 2000, brokerage commissions of $305 were paid to SCB directly. The Fund compensates Alliance Fund Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2000, the Fund paid a total of $18,000 which was allocated evenly among the Portfolios. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ NOTE C: Distribution Plan The Portfolios have each adopted a Plan for Class B shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (each a "Plan" and collectively the "Plans"). Under the Plans, the Portfolios pay distribution and servicing fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .50% of each portfolio's average daily net assets attributable to the Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board of Directors currently limit payments under the Plan to .25% of each Portfolio's average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plans provide that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities. The Portfolios are not obligated under the Plans to pay any distribution services fee in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plans is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of each Portfolio's shares. Since the Distributor's compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plans are characterized by the staff of the Commission as being of the "compensation" variety. In the event that a Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution services fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolios to the Distributor with respect to the relevant Plan. The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of each Portfolio's shares. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE D: Investment Transactions Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended December 31, 2000, were as follows: Purchases: Stocks and debt obligations ........................... $599,634,240 U.S. government and agencies .......................... -0- Sales: Stocks and debt obligations ........................... $304,419,818 U.S. government and agencies .......................... -0- At December 31, 2000, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $562,390,381. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows: Gross unrealized appreciation ........................ $ 74,237,168 Gross unrealized depreciation ........................ (96,336,301) ------------ Net unrealized depreciation .......................... $(22,099,133) ============ Capital losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October" losses) within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Portfolio's next taxable year. The Portfolio incurred and will elect to defer net capital losses of $27,628,421 during the fiscal year. 1. Forward Exchange Currency Contracts All Portfolios (except for the Global Dollar Government Portfolio, U.S. Government/High Grade Securities Portfolio and Money Market Portfolio) may enter into forward exchange currency contracts to hedge exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for investment purposes. A forward exchange currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The Portfolios may enter into contracts to deliver or receive foreign currency it will receive from or require for its normal investment activities. It may also use contracts in a manner intended to protect foreign currency denominated securities from declines in value due to unfavorable exchange rate movements. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contracts and the closing of such contracts is included in realized gains or losses from foreign currency transactions. Fluctuations in the value of forward exchange currency contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized gains or losses by the Portfolio. Each Portfolio's custodian will place and maintain cash not available for investment or other liquid assets in a separate account of the Portfolio having an approximate value equal to the aggregate amount of the respective portfolio's commitments under forward exchange cur- Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ rency contracts entered into with respect to position hedges. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars, reflects the total exposure each Portfolio has in that particular currency contract. At December 31, 2000, the Portfolio had no outstanding forward exchange currency contracts. 2. Option Transactions For hedging and investment purposes, all Portfolios (except for the Money Market Portfolio) may purchase and write call options and purchase put options on U.S. securities that are traded on U.S. securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. When the Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from which written options expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio on the expiration date as realized gains from written options. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio has realized a gain or loss. In writing an option, the Portfolio bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value. Transactions in options written for the year ended December 31, 2000 were as follows: Number of Contracts Premiums ========= ========= Options outstanding at beginning of period ............... -0- $ -0- Options written .......................................... 128 88,180 Options terminated in closing purchase transactions ...... (128) (88,180) ---- -------- Options outstanding at December 31, 2000 ................. -0- $ -0- ==== ======== - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE E: Capital Stock There are 20,000,000,000 shares of capital stock, $.001 par value per share of the Fund authorized divided into two classes, designated Class A and Class B. Each class consists of 10,000,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital stock were as follows:
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- SHARES AMOUNT -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2000 1999 2000 1999 ============= ============= ============= ============= Class A Shares sold .................... 11,604,761 12,863,200 $ 409,539,455 $ 307,701,168 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions ............... 723,654 17,796 26,796,903 356,801 Shares redeemed ................ (9,194,037) (9,058,244) (317,248,828) (221,002,537) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase ................... 3,134,378 3,822,752 $ 119,087,530 $ 87,055,432 ============= ============= ============= =============
TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- SHARES AMOUNT -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2000 1999 2000 1999 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Class B Shares sold .................... 7,287,563 318,126 $ 257,858,554 $ 9,336,030 Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions ............... 97,853 -0- 3,620,556 -0- Shares redeemed ................ (513,421) (10,186) (16,874,680) (322,988) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase ................... 6,871,995 307,940 $ 244,604,430 $ 9,013,042 ============= ============= ============= =============
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE F: Concentration of Risk Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable United States companies or of the United States government. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE G: Bank Borrowing A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $750 million revolving credit facility (the "Facility") intended to provide short-term financing if necessary, subject to certain restrictions in connection with abnormal redemption activity. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in the miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the year ended December 31, 2000. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Commencement of distribution. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASS A ------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 31, Year Ended December 31, 1996(a) to ======================================================= December 31, 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 =========== =========== =========== =========== ============ Net asset value, beginning of period ................. $ 33.61 $ 19.17 $ 11.72 $ 11.04 $ 10.00 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income From Investment Operations Net investment income (loss) (b)(c) .................. (.14) (.09) (.04) .02 .11 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions ...................................... (6.40) 14.57 7.51 .69 .93 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net increase in net asset value from operations ...... (6.54) 14.48 7.47 .71 1.04 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Less: Dividends and Distributions Dividends from net investment income ................. -0- -0- (.02) (.03) -0- Distributions from net realized gains ................ (2.12) (.04) -0- -0- -0- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total dividends and distributions .................... (2.12) (.04) (.02) (.03) -0- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net asset value, end of period ....................... $ 24.95 $ 33.61 $ 19.17 $ 11.72 $ 11.04 =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== Total Return Total investment return based on net asset value (d) . (21.52)% 75.71% 63.79% 6.47% 10.40% Ratios/Supplemental Data Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) ............ $ 343,601 $ 357,480 $ 130,602 $ 69,240 $ 28,083 Ratios to average net assets of: Expenses, net of waivers and reimbursements ....... 1.02% .95% .95% .95% .95%(e) Expenses, before waivers and reimbursements ....... 1.06% 1.12% 1.20% 1.19% 1.62%(e) Net investment income (loss) (b) .................. (.38)% (.39)% (.30)% .16% 1.17%(e) Portfolio turnover rate .............................. 61% 64% 63% 46% 22%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote summary on page 18. TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued) Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
------------------------------- CLASS B ------------------------------- Year September 22, Ended 1999(f) to December 31, December 31, 2000 1999 ============ ============= Net asset value, beginning of period ................................ $ 33.61 $ 23.59 ----------- ----------- Income From Investment Operations Net investment loss (b)(c) .......................................... (.21) (.05) Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions .. (6.38) 10.07 ----------- ----------- Net increase in net asset value from operations ..................... (6.59) 10.02 ----------- ----------- Less: Dividends and Distributions Dividends from net investment income ................................ -0- -0- Distributions from net realized gains ............................... (2.12) -0- ----------- ----------- Total dividends and distributions ................................... (2.12) -0- ----------- ----------- Net asset value, end of period ...................................... $ 24.90 $ 33.61 =========== =========== Total Return Total investment return based on net asset value (d) ................ (21.68)% 42.48% Ratios/Supplemental Data Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) ........................... $ 178,768 $ 10,350 Ratios to average net assets of: Expenses, net of waivers and reimbursements ...................... 1.31% 1.20%(e) Expenses, before waivers and reimbursements ...................... 1.33% 1.52%(e) Net investment loss (b) .......................................... (.66)% (.64)%(e) Portfolio turnover rate ............................................. 61% 64%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Commencement of operations. (b) Net of expenses reimbursed or waived by the Adviser. (c) Based on average shares outstanding. (d) Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. (e) Annualized. (f) Commencement of distribution. REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ To the Shareholders and Board of Directors Technology Portfolio Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Technology Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a series of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc., as of December 31, 2000, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Portfolio's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2000, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Technology Portfolio, a series of Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. at December 31, 2000, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the indicated periods, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP New York, New York February 1, 2001 FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION (unaudited) ================================================================================ The Portfolio hereby designates $7,105,309 as long-term capital gain distributions during the taxable year ended December 31, 2000. Alliance Variable Products Series Fund ================================================================================ BOARD OF DIRECTORS John D. Carifa, Chairman and President Ruth Block (1) David H. Dievler (1) John H. Dobkin (1) William H. Foulk, Jr. (1) Clifford L. Michel (1) Donald J. Robinson (1) OFFICERS Matthew Bloom, Senior Vice President Kathleen A. Corbet, Senior Vice President Greg Dube, Senior Vice President Alfred L. Harrison, Senior Vice President Wayne D. Lyski, Senior Vice President Raymond J. Papera, Senior Vice President Peter Anastos, Vice President Andrew Aran, Vice President Bruce K. Aronow, Vice President Edward Baker, Vice President Mark H. Breedon, Vice President Russell Brody, Vice President Frank Caruso, Vice President F. Jeanne Goetz, Vice President Jane Mack Gould, Vice President Alan E. Levi, Vice President Gerald T. Malone, Vice President Michael Mon, Vice President Douglas J. Peebles, Vice President Daniel G. Pine, Vice President John Ricciardi, Vice President Paul C. Rissman, Vice President Kenneth D. Smalley, Vice President Jean Van De Walle, Vice President Sandra Yeager, Vice President Edmund P. Bergan, Jr., Secretary Mark D. Gersten, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer Thomas Manley, Controller CUSTODIAN State Street Bank and Trust Company 225 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 DISTRIBUTOR Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Ernst & Young LLP 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 LEGAL COUNSEL Seward & Kissel One Battery Park Plaza New York, NY 10004 TRANSFER AGENT Alliance Fund Services, Inc. P.O. Box 1520 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1520 Toll-free 1-(800) 221-5672 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Member of the Audit Committee. (This page left intentionally blank.) -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----