N-Q 1 d767445dnq.htm ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN FIXED-INCOME SHARES, INC. AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-06068

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN FIXED-INCOME SHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Joseph J. Mantineo

AllianceBernstein L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 221-5672

Date of fiscal year end: April 30, 2015

Date of reporting period: July 31, 2014

 

 

 


ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.


AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc. - Government STIF Portfolio

Portfolio of Investments

July 31, 2014 (unaudited)

 

      Yield*        Principal
Amount
(000)
       U.S. $ Value  

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 101.0%

            

U.S. Government & Government Sponsored Agency Obligations - 89.0%

  

         

Federal Farm Credit Bank

            

8/26/14 (a)

     0.087      $ 28,000         $ 27,999,464   

6/16/15 (a)

     0.097        7,500           7,499,386   

3/04/15 (a)

     0.101        50,000           49,998,506   

8/01/14 (a)

     0.122        100,000           100,000,000   

10/27/14 (a)

     0.124        3,000           3,000,182   

8/15/14 (a)

     0.132        6,400           6,400,110   

2/06/15 (a)

     0.136        15,000           15,002,532   

10/20/14 (a)

     0.136        25,000           25,003,137   

5/14/15 (a)

     0.162        40,500           40,517,852   

4/27/15 (a)

     0.169        8,500           8,504,011   

4/15/15 (a)

     0.172        97,000           97,047,307   

6/22/15 (a)

     0.174        14,750           14,758,025   

4/23/15 (a)

     0.175        16,000           16,008,021   

11/03/14 (a)

     0.175        1,365           1,365,290   

3/20/15 (a)

     0.181        10,500           10,503,517   

2/13/15 (a)

     0.182        13,620           13,625,977   

6/26/15 (a)

     0.184        5,000           5,002,997   

9/29/14 (a)

     0.186        3,195           3,195,504   

9/08/14 (a)

     0.193        8,130           8,130,864   

8/28/14

     0.200        5,000           5,000,460   

1/26/15 (a)

     0.220        4,750           4,752,689   

3/04/15 (a)

     0.230        35,000           35,023,134   

11/26/14

     0.250        750           750,377   

11/28/14

     0.250        1,450           1,450,741   

1/20/15 (a)

     0.260        5,750           5,754,371   

Federal Home Loan Bank

            

10/16/14

     0.080        106,000           105,996,173   

12/03/14

     0.080        50,000           49,998,053   

8/22/14 (a)

     0.084        115,000           114,998,634   

8/28/14

     0.090        50,000           49,999,382   

9/02/14 (a)

     0.090        52,000           51,999,804   

8/01/14 (a)

     0.092        50,000           50,000,000   

2/27/15 (a)

     0.094        150,000           149,993,709   

11/18/14 (a)

     0.095        50,000           49,999,241   

11/25/14 (a)

     0.095        20,000           20,000,086   

11/20/14 (a)

     0.096        25,000           24,999,612   

11/21/14 (a)

     0.096        95,600           95,601,902   

2/20/15 (a)

     0.096        200,000           199,991,680   

8/12/14 (a)

     0.097        135,000           135,000,022   

11/03/14 (a)

     0.100        50,000           50,001,046   

8/19/14 (a)

     0.101        57,950           57,950,004   

8/20/14 (a)

     0.101        10,000           10,000,111   

3/20/15 (a)

     0.101        1,500           1,499,951   

5/20/15 (a)

     0.101        100,000           99,996,022   

9/12/14 (a)

     0.102        12,000           12,000,309   

12/09/14 (a)

     0.108        25,000           25,000,000   


      Yield*        Principal
Amount
(000)
       U.S. $ Value  

11/17/14 (a)

     0.114        50,000           50,003,117   

8/13/14

     0.120        85,000           84,999,981   

10/02/14

     0.125        3,350           3,350,213   

10/28/14

     0.125        6,000           6,000,549   

11/12/14

     0.125        6,000           6,000,551   

12/09/14 (a)

     0.131        19,400           19,401,970   

8/15/14 (a)

     0.132        1,020           1,020,014   

8/26/14

     0.170        24,000           24,001,624   

9/11/14

     0.170        50,000           50,004,291   

10/08/14

     0.230        670           670,072   

6/11/15 (a)

     0.731        450           452,229   

10/17/14

     1.000        2,500           2,504,808   

12/12/14

     1.250        400           401,647   

8/13/14

     5.500        340           340,599   

Federal Home Loan Bank Discount Notes

            

8/20/14

     0.060        21,000           20,999,335   

8/22/14

     0.060        20,310           20,309,290   

8/13/14

     0.063        70,000           69,998,530   

9/10/14

     0.065        9,065           9,064,345   

8/13/14

     0.070        43,056           43,054,995   

9/03/14

     0.070        50,000           49,996,792   

9/05/14

     0.070        19,510           19,508,672   

8/20/14

     0.075        50,000           49,998,021   

9/05/14

     0.075        100,000           99,992,708   

9/17/14

     0.075        25,000           24,997,552   

10/03/14

     0.078        50,000           49,993,175   

10/10/14

     0.079        50,000           49,992,319   

9/19/14

     0.080        100,000           99,989,112   

10/15/14

     0.080        50,000           49,991,667   

10/15/14

     0.080        100,000           99,983,334   

10/15/14

     0.081        50,000           49,991,562   

10/03/14

     0.082        16,000           15,997,704   

10/15/14

     0.082        34,000           33,994,192   

10/10/14

     0.085        64,900           64,889,273   

10/17/14

     0.090        100,000           99,980,750   

10/31/14

     0.090        50,000           49,988,625   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.

            

7/16/15 (a)

     0.142        50,000           50,014,875   

6/26/15 (a)

     0.144        150,000           150,048,963   

7/17/15 (a)

     0.144        50,000           50,014,844   

12/05/14 (a)

     0.156        45,000           45,009,778   

12/05/14

     0.350        2,900           2,901,689   

10/07/14 (a)

     0.390        1,500           1,500,724   

8/20/14

     1.000        919           919,435   

11/13/14

     5.000        490           496,770   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Discount Notes

            

9/02/14

     0.060        19,500           19,498,960   

9/11/14

     0.070        6,800           6,799,458   

10/15/14

     0.075        1,700           1,699,734   

10/16/14

     0.075        2,970           2,969,530   

10/06/14

     0.080        3,727           3,726,453   

10/15/14

     0.080        12,900           12,897,851   

10/16/14

     0.080        3,000           2,999,493   

10/17/14

     0.080        24,000           23,995,893   

10/20/14

     0.080        10,500           10,498,133   

10/23/14

     0.080        1,150           1,149,788   


      Yield*        Principal
Amount
(000)
       U.S. $ Value  

10/24/14

     0.080        1,900           1,899,645   

10/27/14

     0.080        6,825           6,823,680   

Federal National Mortgage Association

            

2/27/15 (a)

     0.124        10,000           10,001,365   

8/05/15 (a)

     0.126        50,000           50,005,445   

1/20/15 (a)

     0.166        12,713           12,716,748   

10/30/14

     0.625        75,712           75,812,172   

9/08/14

     1.500        9,000           9,012,753   

10/15/14

     4.625        11,412           11,518,304   

Federal National Mortgage Association Discount Notes

            

9/03/14

     0.060        31,200           31,198,284   

9/08/14

     0.070        200,000           199,985,224   

10/01/14

     0.080        4,100           4,099,445   

10/02/14

     0.080        2,500           2,499,656   

10/07/14

     0.080        5,030           5,029,251   

10/14/14

     0.080        15,500           15,497,452   

10/15/14

     0.080        7,820           7,818,697   

10/29/14

     0.080        7,946           7,944,428   

11/03/14

     0.080        10,240           10,237,861   

8/06/14

     0.100        50,000           49,999,306   

U.S. Treasury Notes

            

11/30/14

     0.250        33,000           33,021,711   

1/15/15

     0.250        150,000           150,119,401   

11/15/14

     0.375        17,000           17,015,796   

8/15/14

     0.500        50,000           50,008,021   

11/30/14

     2.125        50,000           50,340,136   

1/31/15

     2.250        150,000           151,619,875   

8/31/14

     2.375        152,100           152,385,716   

10/31/14

     2.375        150,000           150,848,619   

2/28/15

     2.375        50,000           50,661,255   

2/15/15

     4.000        50,000           51,054,996   
            

 

 

 
               4,939,501,426   
            

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements - 12.0%

            

Bank of America 0.05%, dated 7/30/14 due 8/06/14 in the amount of $125,001,215 (collateralized by $127,254,700 U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.25% to 0.875% due 12/31/15 to 09/15/16, value $127,500,079)

          125,000           125,000,000   

Deutsche Bank 0.09%, dated 7/31/14 due 8/01/14 in the amount of $223,100,558 (collateralized by $228,089,900 U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.375% to 0.875% due 4/30/16 to 7/15/17, value $227,562,080)

          223,100           223,100,000   

HSBC Bank USA 0.05%, dated 7/31/14 due 8/01/14 in the amount of $50,000,069 (collateralized by $49,689,500 U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.75% to 3.125% due 8/31/20 to 5/15/22, value $51,000,131)

          50,000           50,000,000   

Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. 0.09%, dated 7/31/14 due 8/01/14 in the amount of $65,000,163 (collateralized by $66,305,700 U.S. Treasury Bills, Zero Coupon due 10/09/14 to 12/11/14, value $66,300,028)

          65,000           65,000,000   


           Principal
Amount
(000)
       U.S. $ Value  

Toronto Dominion 0.09%, dated 7/31/14 due 8/01/14 in the amount of $200,000,500 (collateralized by $204,002,400 Federal Farm Credit Floating Rate, Federal Farm Credit Systemwide Bond and U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.126% to 3.00% due 3/31/15 to 7/09/24, value $ 204,000,870)

        200,000           200,000,000   
          

 

 

 
             663,100,000   
          

 

 

 

Total Investments - 101.0%
(cost $5,602,601,426)

             5,602,601,426   

Other assets less liabilities - (1.0)% (b)

             (55,364,394
          

 

 

 

Net Assets - 100.0%

           $ 5,547,237,032   
          

 

 

 

 

* Represents annualized yield from date of purchase for discount securities, and stated interest rate for interest-bearing securities.

 

(a) Floating Rate Security. Stated interest rate was in effect at July 31, 2014.
(b) As of July 31, 2014, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes.


AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc. - Government STIF Portfolio

July 31, 2014 (unaudited)

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

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

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

   

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

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which is then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3. In addition, non-agency rated investments are classified as Level 3.

Other fixed income investments, including non-U.S. government and corporate debt, are generally valued using quoted market prices, if available, which are typically impacted by current interest rates, maturity dates and any perceived credit risk of the issuer. Additionally, in the absence of quoted market prices, these inputs are used by pricing vendors to derive a valuation based upon industry or proprietary models which incorporate issuer specific data with relevant yield/spread comparisons with more widely quoted bonds with similar key characteristics. Those investments for which there are observable inputs are classified as Level 2. Where the inputs are not observable, the investments are classified as Level 3.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of July 31, 2014:

 

Investments in Securities:

   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

        

U.S. Government & Government Sponsored Agency Obligations

   $ – 0  –    $ 4,939,501,426      $ – 0  –    $ 4,939,501,426   

Repurchase Agreements

     663,100,000        – 0  –      – 0  –      663,100,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     633,100,000        4,939,501,426        – 0  –      5,602,601,426   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total^

   $     633,100,000      $     4,939,501,426      $             – 0  –    $     5,602,601,426   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

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

The Adviser has established a Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) which is responsible for overseeing the pricing and valuation of all securities held in the Portfolio. The Committee operates under pricing and valuation policies and procedures established by the Adviser and approved by the Board, including pricing policies which set forth the mechanisms and processes to be employed on a daily basis to implement these policies and procedures. In particular, the pricing policies describe how to determine market quotations for securities and other instruments. The Committee’s responsibilities include: 1) fair value and liquidity determinations (and oversight of any third parties to whom any responsibility for fair value and liquidity determinations is delegated), and 2) regular monitoring of the Adviser’s pricing and valuation policies and procedures and modification or enhancement of these policies and procedures (or recommendation of the modification of these policies and procedures) as the Committee believes appropriate.

The Committee is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the pricing policies by the Adviser’s Pricing Group (the “Pricing Group”) and a third party which performs certain pricing functions in accordance with the pricing policies. The Pricing Group is responsible for the oversight of the third party on a day-to-day basis. The Committee and the Pricing Group perform a series of activities to provide reasonable assurance of the accuracy of prices including: 1) periodic vendor due diligence meetings, review of methodologies, new developments and process at vendors, 2) daily compare of security valuation versus prior day for all securities that exceeded established thresholds, and 3) daily review of unpriced, stale, and variance reports with exceptions reviewed by senior management and the Committee.


In addition, several processes outside of the pricing process are used to monitor valuation issues including: 1) performance and performance attribution reports are monitored for anomalous impacts based upon benchmark performance, and 2) portfolio managers review all portfolios for performance and analytics (which are generated using the Adviser’s prices).


ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-Q:

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

3 (a) (1)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
3 (a) (2)   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant): AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares

 

By:   /s/    Robert M. Keith
  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date:   September 22, 2014

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

 

By:   /s/    Robert M. Keith
  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date:   September 22, 2014
By:   /s/    Joseph J. Mantineo
  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date:   September 22, 2014