N-CSR 1 dncsr.htm ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

 

Investment Company Act file number

   811-08426

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York   10105
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Joseph J. Mantineo

AllianceBernstein L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

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

 

Date of fiscal year end: June 30, 2008

 

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2008


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


ANNUAL REPORT

 

AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund

 

 

LOGO

 

June 30, 2008

 

Annual Report


 

 

Investment Products Offered

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate as the prices of the individual securities in which it invests fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For a free copy of the Fund’s prospectus, which contains this and other information, visit our web site at www.alliancebernstein.com or call your financial advisor or AllianceBernstein® at (800) 227-4618. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

You may obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end by visiting www.alliancebernstein.com.

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

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

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

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the manager of the AllianceBernstein funds, and is a member of FINRA.

AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.


August 18, 2008

 

Annual Report

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund (the “Fund”) for the annual reporting period ended June 30, 2008. On May 8, 2008, the Boards of Directors (the “Boards”) of the Fund and AllianceBernstein International Research Growth Fund (“International Research Growth”) approved a proposal for the Fund to acquire International Research Growth. In connection with the acquisition, on July 25, 2008, all of International Research Growth’s assets and liabilities were transferred to the Fund, and stockholders of International Research Growth received shares of the Fund in exchange for their shares of the corresponding class of International Research Growth. The acquisition did not require approval of the Fund’s stockholders or International Research Growth’s stockholders. As a result of the acquisition, International Research Growth’s stockholders will benefit from lower expenses while enjoying the uninterrupted service of the same investment research and substantially the same portfolio management team and the same core strategy. The acquisition did not impact the Fund’s overall expenses.

Investment Objective and Policies

This open-end Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Fund invests primarily in an international portfolio of equity securities of companies located in both developed and emerging countries. The Fund’s portfolio normally consists of approximately 100-130 stocks. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, in the equity securities of companies located in at least three countries (and normally substantially more) other than the United States.

Investment Results

The table on page 6 provides the performance results for the Fund and its benchmark, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country (AC) World (ex-U.S.) Index (net and gross). Also included are returns for the MSCI World (ex-U.S.) Index (net) for the six- and 12-month periods ended June 30, 2008.

The Fund’s Class A shares without sales charges outperformed the MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index for the six- and 12-month periods ended June 30, 2008, although both the Fund and benchmark had negative returns. This outperformance was due almost entirely to beneficial stock selection and sector positioning.

For the 12-month period ended June 30, 2008, the Fund’s performance was positively impacted by an underweight sector stance versus the MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index in financials, which performed poorly, and an overweight in telecommunications, which performed well. This was partially offset by an underweight stance in utilities, a sector that performed well, and a slight overweight in consumer discretionary, which performed poorly.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     1


 

Stock selection over the period was strong in materials, telecommunication, energy and industrials, but detracted in financials and technology. Solid stock selection in the United Kingdom, Australia and France was partially offset by poorer stock selection in Italy, Switzerland and Taiwan.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, the Fund benefited from its overweight versus the MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index in the materials, energy and health care sectors, which performed well, and an underweight in financials, which did not. This performance was partly offset by an underweight versus the benchmark in utilities, which performed well, and an overweight in telecommunications, which did not.

From a country perspective, being overweight in Argentina, Brazil, Russia and South Africa added positively to the Fund’s performance, as these markets did well; being underweight in Japan and Canada was not of benefit, as both these markets also did well. Favorable stock selection in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa had a positive impact on the Fund’s performance, while stock selection in Switzerland and Germany was less supportive.

Market Review and Investment Strategy

The 12-month period ended June 30, 2008, proved to be volatile and uncertain, and markets overall did not perform well. A global credit crisis—one that had its roots in the U.S.—began to unfold at the beginning of the period under review. A steep decline in the U.S. housing market, which led to a collapse in subprime mortgage values and all related debt instruments, resulted in the start of a credit-induced slowdown toward the end of 2007 that spread to all parts of the world. Investors took flight from risk assets and markets began a slow and steady decline over the ensuing months. Investors were forced to reassess existing investment assumptions. This resulted in style and sector rotation, as they sought defensive companies with stable earnings, and avoided those most at risk due to the deteriorating credit environment. Growth investing staged a recovery, and the Fund benefited.

After a difficult first quarter of 2008, marked by a wholesale and often indiscriminate flight from risk assets, global financial markets made tentative progress toward stability early in the second quarter—only to end up being swamped by investor anxiety about economic growth and inflation at the quarter’s end.

Aggressive action by central banks, most notably the U.S. Federal Reserve, reassured many investors that governments would intervene to prevent an all-out collapse of financial markets. However, continued losses by bellwether financial firms, soaring energy costs and weakening economic growth hit confidence.

The six-month period experienced a high degree of market volatility, as equity markets became and remained jittery. The indiscriminate selling experienced during the first quarter of

 

2     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

2008 declined slightly, as investors seemed to recover their poise and willingness to differentiate between sectors, companies and their individual prospects. Accordingly, stock valuations diverged, with rewards skewing heavily toward sectors and companies that benefit the most from strong demand in emerging markets, particularly for raw materials and commodities.

At the other extreme, the financial sector, which is the largest component of many global equity indices, remained under extraordinary pressure. The collapse of securitized debt investments has decimated bank profits, and a fresh round of disappointing earnings news toward the end of the six-month period rekindled fears that the crisis may not soon be over.

For the first time since the 1970s, the global economy faces the prospect of “stagflation,” a dismal combination of stagnant economic growth and inflation. The U.S. economy seems particularly vulnerable. The housing slump grinds on, the job market is shaky and consumer confidence plunged to a 28-year low in June. Housing markets are also deteriorating in the U.K., Ireland and Spain. The Japanese economy has also slowed markedly. Amid these signs of decelerating growth, inflation has become a worrying menace. Food and energy prices have risen dramatically in the last 12-month period, which is likely to raise the cost of producing a vast array of goods, while at the same time curtailing the willingness and ability of consumers and some businesses to spend on nonessentials.

 

As inflationary pressures mount, central banks are confronting a dilemma: raise interest rates and risk slower growth or even recession, or leave rates where they are and risk mounting inflation and damaged credibility. Historically, the banks have viewed inflation as the greater risk. Central banks in Russia, India, China, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa have already raised rates in recent months, and banks in other developing nations are expected to follow suit as 2008 progresses. Increases are also now considered likely in many developed markets. Like the central banks, investors are both worried about inflation and fearful that heavy-handed rate increases will smother fragile economic growth in developed markets and hamper emerging economies.

The economic picture is not all bleak, however. The relative strength of emerging markets has so far blunted the worst effects of the slowdown, helping to keep global growth in positive territory. Despite the prospect of deceleration in their economic growth, emerging nations remain likely to consume an increasing share of the world’s raw materials, industrial goods and consumer products, purchasing many of them from companies based in developed nations. Even in the U.S., where the decline has been most acute, the weak dollar has helped to boost exports, while corporate balance sheets have remained reasonably solid. The bloated inventories that have helped to prolong past downturns are largely absent. So far, U.S. economic growth remains positive. While the threat of stagflation

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     3


 

dims the prospects that any economic rebound will be quick or simple, global GDP growth appears likely to remain positive, if somewhat anemic.

In aggregate, slowing but positive economic growth helps to create a favorable environment for growth stocks. If upside earnings surprises become less common and less expected, the companies that continue to produce them should become increasingly valuable to investors. This dynamic was evident during the second quarter of 2008. Although investors continued to react swiftly and harshly to earnings disappointment, they also showed renewed willingness to recognize and reward companies that appeared to be succeeding. Growth as an investment style resumed its performance leadership after the style-neutral tumult of the first part of the year.

Sustaining corporate profit growth in the current economic environment will not be easy. Slowing economic growth is ending a rare period during which upward earnings revisions were the norm and actual earnings consistently outpaced forecasts. While the multisector earnings decline that some investors had feared at the beginning of 2008 did not occur, history suggests that the markets may be at the beginning, rather than the end, of a cycle of falling earnings estimates. So caution is warranted.

The combination of broad-based earnings disappointment and more discriminating investors creates substantial opportunity for growth investors. The Fund’s overall investment strategy, with a focus on research-driven stock selection, remains intact. During the period, the Fund’s International Growth Portfolio Oversight Group continued to place emphasis on companies it believes will exhibit future growth rates that exceed the market’s expectations. The Fund remained well-diversified with strong representation in both developed and emerging markets and in a wide array of economic sectors.

 

4     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

An Important Note About the Value of Historical Performance

The performance shown on the following pages represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. You may obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end by visiting www.alliancebernstein.com.

The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For a free copy of the Fund’s prospectus, which contains this and other information, visit our website at www.alliancebernstein.com or call your financial advisor or AllianceBernstein Investments at 800.227.4618. You should read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

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

Benchmark Disclosure

Neither the unmanaged Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World (ex-U.S.) Index (net) nor the unmanaged MSCI All Country (AC) World (ex-U.S.) Index (net and gross) reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. The MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index (net and gross) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. The MSCI World (ex-U.S.) Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure global developed market equity performance in 23 developed market countries, excluding the U.S. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance for any specific investment, including the Fund.

The MSCI World (ex-U.S.) Index values are calculated using net returns. The MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index values are calculated using net and gross returns. Net returns approximate the minimum possible dividend reinvestment—the dividend reinvested after deduction of withholding tax, applying the rate to non-resident individuals who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. For values calculated using gross returns, the index series approximates the maximum possible dividend reinvestment. The amount reinvested is the dividend distributed to individuals resident in the country of the company, but does not include tax credits.

A Word About Risk

Substantially all of the Fund’s assets will be invested in foreign securities which may magnify fluctuations due to changes in foreign exchange rates and the possibility of substantial volatility due to political and economic uncertainties in foreign countries. The Fund may invest in securities of emerging market nations. These investments have additional risks, such as those presented by illiquid or thinly traded markets, company management risk, heightened political instability and currency volatility. Accounting standards and market regulations in emerging market nations are not the same as those in the U.S. Growth investing does not guarantee a profit or eliminate risk. The stocks of these companies have relatively high valuations. Because of these high valuations, an investment in a growth stock can be more risky than an investment in a company with more modest growth expectations. If a growth stock company should fail to meet these high earnings expectations, the price of these stocks can be severely negatively affected. While the Fund invests principally in common stocks and other equity securities, in order to achieve its investment objectives, the Fund may at times use certain types of investment derivatives, such as options, futures, forwards and swaps. These instruments involve risks different from, and in certain cases, greater than, the risks presented by more traditional investments. These risks are fully discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     5

 

Historical Performance


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

        

THE FUND VS. ITS BENCHMARK

PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008

  Returns    
  6 Months      12 Months     

AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund

        

Class A

  -7.57%      -1.80%  
 

Class B

  -7.89%      -2.45%  
 

Class C

  -7.88%      -2.45%  
 

Advisor Class*

  -7.45%      -1.49%  
 

Class R*

  -7.65%      -2.03%  
 

Class K*

  -7.58%      -1.78%  
 

Class I*

  -7.40%      -1.39%  
 

MSCI All Country (AC) World (ex-U.S.) Index (net)

  -10.16%      -6.64%  
 

MSCI All Country (AC) World (ex-U.S.) Index (gross)

  -9.84%      -6.20%  
 

MSCI World (ex-U.S.) Index (net)

  -9.76%      -8.81%  
 

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

        

GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND

6/30/98 TO 6/30/08

LOGO

This chart illustrates the total value of an assumed $10,000 investment in AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund Class A shares (from 6/30/98 to 6/30/08) as compared to the performance of the Fund’s benchmark. The MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index values represent a blend of the net and gross versions of the Index because the net version was not available prior to 6/30/01. The chart reflects the deduction of the maximum 4.25% sales charge from the initial $10,000 investment in the Fund and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.

See Historical Performance and Benchmark Disclosures on previous page.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

6     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Historical Performance


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF JUNE 30, 2008  
     NAV Returns        SEC Returns  
       
Class A Shares        

1 Year

   -1.80 %      -5.99 %

5 Years

   21.21 %      20.17 %

10 Years

   9.60 %      9.12 %
       
Class B Shares        

1 Year

   -2.45 %      -6.11 %

5 Years

   20.29 %      20.29 %

10 Years(a)

   8.93 %      8.93 %
       
Class C Shares        

1 Year

   -2.45 %      -3.36 %

5 Years

   20.33 %      20.33 %

10 Years

   8.79 %      8.79 %
       
Advisor Class Shares        

1 Year

   -1.49 %      -1.49 %

5 Years

   21.57 %      21.57 %

10 Years

   9.94 %      9.94 %
       
Class R Shares        

1 Year

   -2.03 %      -2.03 %

Since Inception*

   13.72 %      13.72 %
       
Class K Shares        

1 Year

   -1.78 %      -1.78 %

Since Inception*

   14.02 %      14.02 %
       
Class I Shares        

1 Year

   -1.39 %      -1.39 %

Since Inception*

   14.42 %      14.42 %

The Fund’s current prospectus fee table shows the Fund’s total annual operating expense ratios as 1.27%, 2.01%, 1.98%, 0.97%, 1.56%, 1.26% and 0.90% for Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively. The Financial Highlights section of this report sets forth expense ratio data for the current reporting period; the expense ratios shown above may differ from the expense ratios in the Financial Highlights section since they are based on different time periods.

 

(a)

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

 

* Inception Date is 3/1/05 for Class R, Class K and Class I shares.

 

These share classes are offered at net asset value (NAV) to eligible investors and their SEC returns are the same as the NAV returns. Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Funds. The inception dates for Class R, Class K, and Class I are listed above.

See Historical Performance disclosures on page 5.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     7

 

Historical Performance


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

SEC AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (WITH ANY APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)

AS OF THE MOST RECENT CALENDAR QUARTER-END (JUNE 30, 2008)

 

 

                   SEC Returns  
            
Class A Shares             

1 Year

             -5.99 %

5 Years

             20.17 %

10 Years

             9.12 %
            
Class B Shares             

1 Year

             -6.11 %

5 Years

             20.29 %

10 Years(a)

             8.93 %
            
Class C Shares             

1 Year

             -3.36 %

5 Years

             20.33 %

10 Years

             8.79 %
            
Advisor Class Shares             

1 Year

             -1.49 %

5 Years

             21.57 %

10 Years

             9.94 %
            
Class R Shares             

1 Year

             -2.03 %

Since Inception*

             13.72 %
            
Class K Shares             

1 Year

             -1.78 %

Since Inception*

             14.02 %
            
Class I Shares             

1 Year

             -1.39 %

Since Inception*

             14.42 %

 

(a)

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

 

* Inception date is 3/1/05 for Class R, Class K and Class I shares.

 

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

See Historical Performance disclosures on page 5.

 

8     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Historical Performance


FUND EXPENSES

 

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

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

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

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

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2008
   Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2008
   Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Actual    Hypothetical    Actual    Hypothetical**    Actual    Hypothetical
Class A    $   1,000    $   1,000    $   924.34    $   1,018.65    $   5.98    $   6.27
Class B    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 921.06    $ 1,014.97    $ 9.51    $ 9.97
Class C    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 921.18    $ 1,015.12    $ 9.36    $ 9.82
Advisor Class    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 925.54    $ 1,020.14    $ 4.55    $ 4.77
Class R    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 923.46    $ 1,017.40    $ 7.17    $ 7.52
Class K    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 924.19    $ 1,018.55    $ 6.08    $ 6.37
Class I    $ 1,000    $ 1,000    $ 926.00    $ 1,020.69    $ 4.02    $ 4.22
* Expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratios of 1.25%, 1.99%, 1.96%, 0.95%, 1.50%, 1.27% and 0.84%, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

** Assumes 5% return before expenses.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     9

 

Fund Expenses


PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

June 30, 2008

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): $3,437.2

LOGO

LOGO

 

* All data are as of June 30, 2008. The Fund’s sector and country breakdowns are expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent less than 2.3% weightings in the following countries: Argentina, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan and Thailand.

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

 

10     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Portfolio Summary


TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

June 30, 2008

 

Company    U.S. $ Value    Percent of
Net Assets
 

Rio Tinto PLC

   $   119,987,805    3.5 %

Xstrata PLC

     114,112,148    3.3  

Sasol Ltd.

     106,536,475    3.1  

BHP Billiton PLC

     81,142,986    2.4  

Evraz Group SA (Sponsored) (GDR)

     79,731,030    2.3  

StatoilHydro ASA

     78,037,965    2.3  

Incitec Pivot Ltd.

     76,233,703    2.2  

Cia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR and Sponsored ADR)

     76,154,050    2.2  

Gazprom OAO (Sponsored) (ADR)

     74,513,238    2.2  

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA

     74,414,405    2.2  
   $ 880,863,805    25.7 %

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     11

 

Ten Largest Holdings


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

June 30, 2008

 

Company    Shares   U.S. $ Value
    
 

COMMON STOCKS – 96.1%

 

Financials – 20.1%

 

Capital Markets – 8.0%

 

Credit Suisse Group AG

   645,281   $ 29,371,261

Gottex Fund Management Holdings Ltd.

   631,950     18,271,586

ICAP PLC

   2,731,981     29,263,266

Julius Baer Holding AG

   1,107,252     74,255,633

Macquarie Group Ltd.

   466,966     21,739,789

Man Group PLC

   5,124,831     63,309,362

Partners Group Holding AG

   303,184     41,714,147
        
       277,925,044
        

Commercial Banks – 9.9%

 

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA

   4,078,821     74,414,405

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China
Ltd. – Class H

   91,440,000     62,520,110

Investimentos Itau SA

   8,623,248     54,705,528

National Bank of Greece SA

   928,776     41,801,194

Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA

   1,399,256     30,068,919

Siam Commercial Bank PCL

   13,283,900     30,791,155

Standard Chartered PLC

   1,607,616     45,527,243
        
       339,828,554
        

Diversified Financial Services – 1.0%

 

Deutsche Boerse AG

   137,395     15,533,294

IG Group Holdings PLC

   2,879,649     18,857,684
        
       34,390,978
        

Insurance – 1.2%

 

Prudential PLC

   3,860,146     40,716,209
        
       692,860,785
        

Materials – 18.8%

 

Chemicals – 3.0%

 

Bayer AG

   311,256     26,129,693

Incitec Pivot Ltd.

   430,529     76,233,703
        
       102,363,396
        

Metals & Mining – 15.8%

 

BHP Billiton PLC

   2,115,838     81,142,986

Cia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR)

   377,523     13,522,874

Cia Vale do Rio Doce (Sponsored) (ADR)

   2,098,900     62,631,176

Equinox Minerals Ltd.(a)

   6,337,517     27,594,955

Evraz Group SA (Sponsored) (GDR)(b)

   681,435     79,731,030

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.(a)

   3,884,596     44,133,117

Rio Tinto PLC

   996,346     119,987,805

Xstrata PLC

   1,432,471     114,112,148
        
       542,856,091
        
       645,219,487
        

 

12     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Company    Shares   U.S. $ Value
    
 

Energy – 13.7%

 

Energy Equipment & Services – 3.1%

 

Tenaris SA (Sponsored) (ADR)

   737,900   $ 54,973,550

WorleyParsons Ltd.

   1,445,190     52,364,319
        
       107,337,869
        

Miscellaneous – 0.2%

 

SMA Solar Technology AG(a)

   73,776     6,400,230
        

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 10.4%

 

Addax Petroleum Corp.

   781,962     37,759,938

Gazprom OAO (Sponsored) (ADR)

   1,284,711     74,513,238

Sasol Ltd.

   1,809,851     106,536,475

StatoilHydro ASA

   2,091,623     78,037,965

Total SA

   734,703     62,536,619
        
       359,384,235
        
       473,122,334
        

Industrials – 10.3%

    

Aerospace & Defense – 1.4%

    

BAE Systems PLC

   5,644,355     49,542,119
        

Airlines – 0.2%

    

EasyJet PLC(a)

   1,507,983     8,064,269
        

Commercial Services & Supplies – 0.7%

    

Capita Group PLC

   1,731,844     23,624,749
        

Construction & Engineering – 0.5%

    

China Communications Construction Co. Ltd.–Class H

   9,376,000     16,073,847
        

Electrical Equipment – 0.9%

    

ABB Ltd.(a)

   1,038,305     29,390,064
        

Industrial Conglomerates – 2.0%

    

Barloworld Ltd.

   1,031,415     10,508,762

Siemens AG

   312,877     34,488,801

Smiths Group PLC

   1,060,493     22,940,045
        
       67,937,608
        

Machinery – 1.2%

    

Atlas Copco AB – Class A

   1,439,045     21,046,551

Komatsu Ltd.

   764,200     21,341,152
        
       42,387,703
        

Road & Rail – 0.7%

    

Central Japan Railway Co.

   2,120     23,367,627
        

Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.7%

    

Mitsubishi Corp.

   1,470,700     48,460,625

Mitsui & Co. Ltd.

   2,059,000     45,444,373
        
       93,904,998
        
       354,292,984
        

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     13

 

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Company    Shares   U.S. $ Value
    
 

Telecommunication Services – 6.9%

    

Diversified Telecommunication
Services – 2.8%

    

Global Village Telecom Holding SA(a)

   638,000   $ 15,521,178

Iliad SA

   203,713     19,734,529

Telefonica SA

   1,521,058     40,252,777

Vimpel-Communications (Sponsored) (ADR)

   735,800     21,838,544
        
       97,347,028
        

Wireless Telecommunication
Services – 4.1%

 

America Movil SAB de CV Series L (ADR)

   445,407     23,495,219

China Unicom Ltd

   7,848,000     14,574,246

MTN Group Ltd.

   1,622,333     25,679,916

NTT Docomo, Inc.

   10,691     15,706,512

Vodafone Group PLC

   20,458,494     60,277,772
        
       139,733,665
        
       237,080,693
        

Consumer Discretionary – 6.3%

    

Auto Components – 0.6%

    

Denso Corp.

   642,100     22,114,813
        

Automobiles – 2.1%

    

Fiat SpA

   1,568,531     25,530,946

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

   818,400     27,929,266

Porsche Automobil Holding SE

   114,620     17,616,572
        
       71,076,784
        

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 1.1%

    

Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR)

   187,100     8,565,438

Ladbrokes PLC

   1,842,889     9,363,737

OPAP, SA

   555,369     19,431,720
        
       37,360,895
        

Household Durables – 0.3%

    

Sony Corp.

   227,300     9,932,401
        

Media – 1.6%

    

Eutelsat Communications

   1,193,852     33,117,547

SES SA (FDR)

   845,161     21,349,568
        
       54,467,115
        

Multiline Retail – 0.2%

    

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd

   2,749,317     8,136,462
        

Specialty Retail – 0.4%

    

Esprit Holdings Ltd.

   1,255,800     13,076,023
        
       216,164,493
        

 

14     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Company    Shares   U.S. $ Value
    
 

Consumer Staples – 6.2%

    

Beverages – 0.9%

    

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (Sponsored) (ADR)

   401,700   $ 18,281,367

Pernod-Ricard SA

   136,631     13,942,487
        
       32,223,854
        

Food & Staples Retailing – 1.7%

    

Tesco PLC

   8,020,593     58,664,802
        

Food Products – 1.8%

    

Nestle SA

   1,379,860     62,182,917
        

Personal Products – 0.2%

    

L’Oreal SA

   58,368     6,330,947
        

Tobacco – 1.6%

    

British American Tobacco PLC

   958,565     33,064,800

ITC Ltd.

   2,463,560     10,745,147

Japan Tobacco, Inc.

   2,324     9,911,527
        
       53,721,474
        
       213,123,994
        

Health Care – 5.6%

    

Biotechnology – 0.6%

    

Basilea Pharmaceutica(a)

   29,505     4,791,767

CSL Ltd./Australia

   496,410     16,992,561
        
       21,784,328
        

Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 1.1%

    

Alcon, Inc.

   62,200     10,125,538

Essilor International SA

   452,932     27,628,504
        
       37,754,042
        

Health Care Providers & Services – 0.8%

    

Fresenius Medical Care AG

   340,914     18,740,429

Orpea(a)

   173,973     8,584,067
        
       27,324,496
        

Pharmaceuticals – 3.1%

    

Novartis AG

   692,631     38,116,978

Roche Holding AG

   253,122     45,504,326

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored) (ADR)

   463,995     21,250,971
        
       104,872,275
        
       191,735,141
        

Information Technology – 5.5%

    

Communications Equipment – 1.4%

    

Nokia OYJ

   981,586     23,992,773

Research In Motion Ltd.(a)

   208,401     24,461,622
        
       48,454,395
        

IT Services – 0.6%

    

Cap Gemini SA

   344,685     20,207,959
        

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     15

 

Portfolio of Investments


 

 

Company    Shares   U.S. $ Value
    
 

Office Electronics – 0.5%

    

Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.

   983,500   $ 16,607,011
        

Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment – 1.1%

    

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

   14,951,000     13,402,358

Elpida Memory, Inc.(a)

   324,100     10,394,184

Tokyo Electron Ltd.

   231,700     13,361,685
        
       37,158,227
        

Software – 1.9%

    

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

   70,400     39,921,972

Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. (Sponsored) (ADR)(a)

   949,900     25,789,785
        
       65,711,757
        
       188,139,349
        

Utilities – 2.7%

    

Electric Utilities – 2.2%

    

CEZ

   414,794     36,838,594

Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais (Sponsored) (ADR)

   828,833     20,347,850

E.ON AG

   86,616     17,448,760
        
       74,635,204
        

Independent Power Producers & Energy
Traders – 0.5%

    

International Power PLC

   1,992,029     17,065,210
        
       91,700,414
        

Total Common Stocks
(cost $3,039,730,620)

       3,303,439,674
        
    

WARRANTS – 0.9%

Financials – 0.9%

Commercial Banks – 0.9%

Merrill, expiring (2/23/10)(a)
(cost $42,992,495)

   10,247     32,315,759
        

RIGHTS – 0.0%

Financials – 0.0%

Commercial Banks – 0.0%

Itausa-  Investimentos Itau Sa(a)
(cost $343,052)

   50,361     316,347
        

 

16     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Portfolio of Investments


 

     Principal
Amount
(000)
 

U.S. $ Value

 
    
                

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 3.7%

 

Time Deposit – 3.7%

 

Dresdner
2.50%, 7/01/08
(cost $125,500,000)

   $ 125,500   $ 125,500,000  
          

Total Investments – 100.7%
(cost $3,208,566,167)

       3,461,571,780  

Other assets less liabilities – (0.7)%

       (24,409,902 )
          

Net Assets – 100.0%

     $ 3,437,161,878  
          

 

 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

(b) Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2008, the market value of this security amounted to $79,731,030 or 2.3% of net assets.

Glossary:

ADR – American Depositary Receipt

FDR – Fiduciary Depositary Receipt

GDR – Global Depositary Receipt

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     17

 

Portfolio of Investments


STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

June 30, 2008

 

Assets   

Investments in securities, at value (cost $3,208,566,167)

   $ 3,461,571,780  

Foreign cash, at value (cost $11,284,425)

     11,585,876  

Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign
currency contracts

     47,499,481  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     12,571,757  

Dividends receivable

     11,553,714  
        

Total assets

     3,544,782,608  
        
Liabilities   

Due to custodian

     305,898  

Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency contracts

     87,908,186  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     15,176,039  

Advisory fee payable

     2,074,052  

Distribution fee payable

     1,117,608  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     145,398  

Administrative fee payable

     28,961  

Accrued expenses

     864,588  
        

Total liabilities

     107,620,730  
        

Net Assets

   $ 3,437,161,878  
        
Composition of Net Assets   

Capital stock, at par

   $ 182,119  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,150,971,723  

Accumulated net investment income

     34,222,537  

Accumulated net realized loss on investment
and foreign currency transactions

     (1,789,704 )

Net unrealized appreciation of investments
and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     253,575,203  
        
   $     3,437,161,878  
        

Net Asset Value Per Share—21 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class   Net Assets      Shares
Outstanding
     Net Asset
Value
 
A   $   2,128,533,402      110,949,935      $   19.18 *
   
B   $ 114,405,686      6,537,905      $ 17.50  
   
C   $ 542,520,419      30,948,036      $ 17.53  
   
Advisor   $ 544,153,879      28,060,293      $ 19.39  
   
R   $ 64,984,900      3,408,982      $ 19.06  
   
K   $ 15,103,546      789,071      $ 19.14  
   
I   $ 27,460,046      1,424,814      $ 19.27  
   

 

* The maximum offering price per share for Class A shares was $20.03 which reflects a sales charge of 4.25%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

18     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Statement of Assets & Liabilities


STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended June 30, 2008

 

Investment Income     

Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $6,415,237)

   $     75,934,830    

Interest

     4,905,376    
          
Expenses      $ 80,840,206  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     22,819,672    

Distribution fee—Class A

     5,845,295    

Distribution fee—Class B

     1,313,926    

Distribution fee—Class C

     5,220,697    

Distribution fee—Class R

     253,340    

Distribution fee—Class K

     29,637    

Transfer agency—Class A

     2,206,460    

Transfer agency—Class B

     202,282    

Transfer agency—Class C

     651,237    

Transfer agency—Advisor Class

     500,629    

Transfer agency—Class R

     86,321    

Transfer agency—Class K

     23,148    

Transfer agency—Class I

     6,557    

Custodian

     1,807,443    

Registration

     312,082    

Printing

     267,968    

Administrative

     114,963    

Audit

     61,814    

Legal

     50,740    

Directors’ fees

     45,763    

Miscellaneous

     70,612    
          

Total expenses

     41,890,586    

Less: expense offset arrangement
(see Note B)

     (94,310 )  
          

Net expenses

       41,796,276  
          

Net investment income

       39,043,930  
          
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment and Foreign Currency Transactions     

Net realized gain (loss) on:

    

Investment transactions

       48,065,694 (a)

Foreign currency transactions

       (652,387 )

Net change in unrealized
appreciation/depreciation of:
Investments

       (176,934,976 )

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

       962,407  
          

Net loss on investments and foreign currency transactions

       (128,559,262 )
          

Contribution from Adviser (see Note B)

       78,968  
          

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Operations

     $     (89,436,364)  
          

 

(a) Net of foreign capital gain taxes of $622.

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     19

 

Statement of Operations


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Year Ended
June 30,
2008
    Year Ended
June 30,
2007
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations     

Net investment income

   $ 39,043,930     $ 20,301,817  

Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

     47,413,307       145,276,324  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (175,972,569 )     292,604,554  

Contribution from Adviser (see Note B)

     78,968       5,492  
                

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (89,436,364 )     458,188,187  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from     

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (15,438,794 )     (8,713,979 )

Class B

     (361,602 )     (427,133 )

Class C

     (1,378,416 )     (955,463 )

Advisor Class

     (4,263,259 )     (1,535,108 )

Class R

     (327,559 )     (131,568 )

Class K

     (89,448 )     (30,376 )

Class I

     (303,000 )     (32,759 )

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

    

Class A

     (111,480,268 )     (42,264,075 )

Class B

     (8,636,651 )     (5,028,642 )

Class C

     (32,922,894 )     (11,223,425 )

Advisor Class

     (23,533,185 )     (5,712,288 )

Class R

     (2,805,711 )     (629,771 )

Class K

     (590,931 )     (113,595 )

Class I

     (1,581,201 )     (115,299 )
Capital Stock Transactions     

Net increase

     1,142,070,183       816,505,793  
Capital Contributions     

Proceeds from third party regulatory settlement (see Note E)

     –0–       108,177  
                

Total increase

     848,920,900       1,197,888,676  
Net Assets     

Beginning of period

     2,588,240,978       1,390,352,302  
                

End of period (including undistributed of net investment income of $34,222,537 and $17,460,374, respectively)

   $     3,437,161,878     $     2,588,240,978  
                

See notes to financial statements.

 

20     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2008

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), organized as a Maryland corporation on March 16, 1994, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end management investment company. The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4.25% for purchases not exceeding $1,000,000. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more, Class A shares redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%. Class B shares are currently sold with a contingent deferred sales charge which declines from 4% to zero depending on the period of time the shares are held. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% on redemptions made within the first year after purchase. Class R and Class K shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. Advisor Class and Class I shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge and are not subject to ongoing distribution expenses. All seven classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that the classes bear different distribution and transfer agency expenses. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, 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 are valued at their current market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors.

In general, the market value of securities which are readily available and deemed reliable are determined as follows. Securities listed on a national securities exchange (other than securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”)) or on a foreign securities exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange or foreign securities exchange. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such day. Securities listed on more than one exchange are valued by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded; securities listed only on NASDAQ are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price; listed put or call options are valued at the last sale price. If

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     21

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

there has been no sale on that day, such securities will be valued at the closing bid prices on that day; open futures contracts and options thereon are valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the most recent quoted bid price. If there are no quotations available for the day of valuation, the last available closing settlement price is used; securities traded in the over-the-counter market, (“OTC”) are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or other comparable sources; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; fixed-income securities, including mortgage backed and asset backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker/dealers. In cases where broker/dealer quotes are obtained, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security; and OTC and other derivatives are valued on the basis of a quoted bid price or spread from a major broker/dealer in such security.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Fund may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Fund may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, foreign currency exchange contracts, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on

 

22     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

3. Taxes

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

4. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Fund is informed of the dividend. Interest income is accrued daily. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains or losses are determined on the identified cost basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.

5. Class Allocations

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

6. Dividends and Distributions

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

NOTE B

Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     23

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. Effective May 16, 2005, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis to 1.65%, 2.35%, 2.35%, 1.35%, 1.85%, 1.60% and 1.35% of the daily average net assets for the Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively. For the year ended June 30, 2008, there were no fees waived by the Adviser.

For the years ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007, the Adviser reimbursed the Fund $78,968 and $5,492, respectively, for trading losses incurred due to trade entry errors.

Pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Fund paid $114,963 to the Adviser representing the cost of certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser for the year ended June 30, 2008.

The Fund compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), 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. ABIS may make payments to intermediaries that provide omnibus account services, sub-accounting services and/or networking services. The compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $1,330,991 for the year ended June 30, 2008.

For the year ended June 30, 2008, the Fund’s expenses were reduced by $94,310 under an expense offset arrangement with ABIS.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser serves as the distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that it has retained front-end sales charges of $127,365 from the sale of Class A shares and received $26,977, $133,097 and $110,723 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by shareholders of Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2008.

Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the year ended June 30, 2008, amounted to $7,414,214, none of which was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.

NOTE C

Distribution Services Agreement

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Agreement the Fund pays distribution and servicing fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares, 1% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Class B and Class C shares, .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class R

 

24     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

shares and .25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class K shares. There are no distribution and servicing fees on the Class I and Advisor Class shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Agreement provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities. The Distributor has incurred expenses in excess of the distribution costs reimbursed by the Fund in the amounts of $6,589,077, $3,858,042, $345,174 and $78,702 for Class B, Class C, Class R and Class K shares, respectively. While such costs may be recovered from the Fund in future periods so long as the Agreement is in effect, the rate of the distribution and servicing fees payable under the Agreement may not be increased without a shareholder vote. In accordance with the Agreement, there is no provision for recovery of unreimbursed distribution costs incurred by the Distributor beyond the current fiscal year for Class A shares. The Agreement also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Fund’s shares.

NOTE D

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended June 30, 2008, were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding
U.S. government securities)

   $     3,709,384,302     $     2,699,327,904  

U.S. government securities

     –0     –0

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation (excluding foreign currency transactions) are as follows:

 

Cost

   $     3,227,971,963  
        

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 447,605,016  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (214,005,199 )
        

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 233,599,817  
        

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for investment purposes. A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions.

Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and depreciation by the Fund.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     25

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

The Fund’s custodian will place and maintain cash not available for investment or liquid assets in a separate account of the Fund having a value at least equal to the aggregate amount of the Fund’s commitments under forward currency exchange 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 the Fund has in that particular currency contract.

NOTE E

Capital Stock

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

 

           
    Shares         Amount      
    Year Ended
June 30,
2008
    Year Ended
June 30,
2007
       

Year Ended
June 30,
2008

    Year Ended
June 30,
2007
     
       
Class A            

Shares sold

  49,815,862     41,527,443       $ 1,015,136,410     $ 797,130,568    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

  5,583,422     2,335,533         116,972,683       41,502,420    
     

Shares converted from Class B

  1,123,314     689,795         22,706,877       13,276,316    
     

Shares redeemed

  (23,784,543 )   (22,571,353 )       (475,736,602 )     (420,214,265 )  
     

Net increase

  32,738,055     21,981,418       $ 679,079,368     $ 431,695,039    
     
           
Class B            

Shares sold

  1,599,463     2,073,316       $ 29,885,623     $ 36,122,300    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

  435,421     264,879         8,355,732       4,344,023    
     

Shares converted to Class A

  (1,227,647 )   (748,770 )       (22,706,877 )     (13,276,316 )  
     

Shares redeemed

  (1,406,720 )   (1,462,140 )       (25,879,624 )     (25,341,900 )  
     

Net increase (decrease)

  (599,483 )   127,285       $ (10,345,146 )   $ 1,848,107    
     
           
Class C            

Shares sold

  11,088,470     11,543,894       $ 208,247,749     $ 205,195,534    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

  1,682,373     490,588         32,335,203       8,055,455    
     

Shares redeemed

  (4,996,747 )   (2,273,440 )       (91,005,237 )     (40,158,114 )  
     

Net increase

  7,774,096     9,761,042       $ 149,577,715     $ 173,092,875    
     

 

26     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

    

Shares

       

Amount

     
     Year Ended
June 30,
2008
    Year Ended
June 30,
2007
        Year Ended
June 30,
2008
    Year Ended
June 30,
2007
     
        
Advisor Class             

Shares sold

   18,201,116     11,284,250       $ 371,154,033     $ 216,674,101    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

   1,156,308     261,686         24,432,797       4,686,804    
     

Shares redeemed

   (6,469,578 )   (2,712,225 )       (130,846,183 )     (52,293,174 )  
     

Net increase

   12,887,846     8,833,711       $ 264,740,647     $ 169,067,731    
     
            
Class R             

Shares sold

   2,747,539     1,314,834       $ 55,596,514     $ 24,613,734    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

   150,256     42,849         3,132,834       759,277    
     

Shares redeemed

   (917,147 )   (341,635 )       (18,225,056 )     (6,604,423 )  
     

Net increase

   1,980,648     1,016,048       $ 40,504,292     $ 18,768,588    
     
            
Class K             

Shares sold

   530,152     407,338       $ 10,574,792     $ 7,772,637    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

   32,554     8,115         680,374       143,968    
     

Shares redeemed

   (165,981 )   (67,961 )       (3,267,256 )     (1,346,086 )  
     

Net increase

   396,725     347,492       $ 7,987,910     $ 6,570,519    
     
            
Class I             

Shares sold

   537,513     794,944       $ 11,168,062     $ 15,833,667    
     

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

   84,759     3,141         1,779,091       55,873    
     

Shares redeemed

   (125,804 )   (16,851 )       (2,421,756 )     (318,429 )  
     

Net increase

   496,468     781,234       $ 10,525,397     $ 15,571,111    
     

During the year ended June 30, 2007, the Fund received $108,177 related to a third-party’s settlement of regulatory proceedings involving allegations of improper trading. This amount is presented in the Fund’s statement of changes in net assets. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates were involved in the proceedings or the calculation of the payment.

NOTE F

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involves special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     27

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

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 U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.

Indemnification Risk — In the ordinary course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote.

NOTE G

Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Fund, participate in a $250 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing if necessary, subject to certain restrictions in connection with abnormal redemption activity. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Fund did not utilize the facility during the year ended June 30, 2008.

NOTE H

Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid for the year ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were as follows:

 

     June 30,
2008
   June 30,
2007

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 94,519,187    $     16,540,193

Long-term capital gain

     109,193,732      60,373,288
             

Total taxable distributions

     203,712,919      76,913,481
             

Total distributions paid

   $     203,712,919    $ 76,913,481
             

As of June 30, 2008, the components of accumulated earning/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 48,582,537  

Undistributed long-term capital gains

     3,691,678  

Accumulated capital and other losses

     (435,588 )(a)

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     234,169,409  
        

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 286,008,036 (b)
        

 

(a)

Net capital loss incurred after October 31, and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Funds next taxable year. For the year ended June 30, 2008, the Fund deferred to July 1, 2008, post October capital losses of $435,588.

 

(b)

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and to Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) mark-to-market gain recognition.

 

28     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

During the current fiscal year, permanent differences, primarily due to foreign currency transactions, reclassification of distributions, India tax reclassification, contributions from adviser, and the tax treatment of Passive Foreign Investment Companies (“PFICs”) resulted in a net decrease in undistributed net investment income, a net decrease in accumulated net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions, and a decrease to additional paid in capital. This reclassification had no effect on net assets.

NOTE I

Legal Proceedings

On October 2, 2003, a purported class action complaint entitled Hindo, et al. v. AllianceBernstein Growth & Income Fund, et al. (“Hindo Complaint”) was filed against the Adviser, Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (“Alliance Holding”), Alliance Capital Management Corporation, AXA Financial, Inc., the AllianceBernstein Funds, certain officers of the Adviser (“AllianceBernstein defendants”), and certain other unaffiliated defendants, as well as unnamed Doe defendants. The Hindo Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by alleged shareholders of two of the AllianceBernstein Funds. The Hindo Complaint alleges that certain of the AllianceBernstein defendants failed to disclose that they improperly allowed certain hedge funds and other unidentified parties to engage in “late trading” and “market timing” of AllianceBernstein Fund securities, violating Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 206 and 215 of the Advisers Act. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and rescission of their contracts with the Adviser, including recovery of all fees paid to the Adviser pursuant to such contracts.

Following October 2, 2003, 43 additional lawsuits making factual allegations generally similar to those in the Hindo Complaint were filed in various federal and state courts against the Adviser and certain other defendants. On September 29, 2004, plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints with respect to four claim types: mutual fund shareholder claims; mutual fund derivative claims; derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding; and claims brought under ERISA by participants in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of the Adviser. All four complaints include substantially identical factual allegations, which appear to be based in large part on the Order of the SEC dated December 18, 2003 as amended and restated January 15, 2004 (“SEC Order”) and the New York State Attorney General Assurance of Discontinuance dated September 1, 2004 (“NYAG Order”).

On April 21, 2006, the Adviser and attorneys for the plaintiffs in the mutual fund shareholder claims, mutual fund derivative claims, and ERISA claims entered into a confidential memorandum of understanding containing their agreement to settle these claims. The agreement will be documented by a stipulation of settlement and will be submitted for court approval at a later date. The settlement amount ($30 million), which the Adviser previously accrued and

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     29

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

disclosed, has been disbursed. The derivative claims brought on behalf of Alliance Holding, in which plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, remain pending.

It is possible that these matters and/or other developments resulting from these matters could result in increased redemptions of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds’ shares or other adverse consequences to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. This may require the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to sell investments held by those funds to provide for sufficient liquidity and could also have an adverse effect on the investment performance of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. However, the Adviser believes that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform advisory services relating to the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds.

NOTE J

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing a fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded in the current period. Adoption of FIN 48 is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. On December 31, 2007, the Fund implemented FIN 48 which supplements FASB 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax position taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (tax years ended June 30, 2005-2007) for purposes of implementing FIN 48, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

On September 20, 2006, the FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”). FAS 157 establishes an authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value, and requires additional disclosures about fair-value measurements. The application of FAS 157 is required for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. As of June 30, 2008, management believes the adoption of FAS 157 will not impact the amounts reported in the financial statements. However, additional disclosures will be required.

On March 19, 2008, Financial Accounting Standards Board released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 161”). FAS 161 requires qualitative

 

30     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. The application of FAS 161 is required for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of FAS 161 and believes the adoption of FAS 161 will have no material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

NOTE K

Subsequent Event

On July 25, 2008, the Fund acquired all of the assets and all of the liabilities of AllianceBernstein International Research Growth Fund, Inc. (“IRG”), pursuant to a plan of reorganization approved on May 8, 2008, by the Boards of Directors of IRG and the Fund. On July 25, 2008, the acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 18,002,956 shares of the Fund for 21,703,099 shares of IRG. The aggregate net assets of the Fund and IRG immediately before the acquisition were $3,193,887,109 and $310,313,691 (including $20,279,606 of net unrealized appreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities), respectively. Immediately after the acquisition, the combined net assets of the Fund amounted to $3,504,200,800.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     31

 

Notes to Financial Statements


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

 

    Class A  
    Year Ended June 30,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
         
     
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $  20.85     $  16.93     $  13.72     $  11.15     $  8.38  
     

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment
income(a)

  .27     .23     .20     .15 (b)   .05 (b)(c)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (.53 )   4.56     3.22     2.46     2.76  

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.26 )   4.79     3.42     2.61     2.81  
     

Less: Dividends and Distributions

         

Dividends from net investment income

  (.17 )   (.15 )   (.09 )   (.04 )   (.04 )

Distributions from net realized gains on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0   – 0
     

Total dividends and distributions

  (1.41 )   (.87 )   (.21 )   (.04 )   (.04 )
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  19.18     $  20.85     $  16.93     $  13.72     $  11.15  
     

Total Return

         

Total investment return based on net asset value(e)

  (1.80 )%   29.16  %   25.11  %   23.44  %   33.57  %

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

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

  $2,128,533     $1,630,491     $952,036     $310,073     $202,899  

Ratio to average net assets of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursement

  1.23  %   1.27  %   1.43  %(f)   1.57  %   1.89  %

Expenses, before waivers/
reimbursement

  1.23  %   1.27  %   1.43  %(f)   1.61  %   2.04  %

Net investment
income

  1.35  %   1.21  %   1.26  %(f)   1.17  %(b)   .49  %(b)(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %   50  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

32     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

   

Class B

 
    Year Ended June 30,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
     
         

Net asset value,
beginning of period

  $  19.15     $  15.65     $  12.72     $  10.38     $  7.84  
     

Income From Investment
Operations

         

Net investment
income (loss)(a)

  .09     .06     .05     .04 (b)   (.03 )(b)(c)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (.45 )   4.22     3.01     2.30     2.57  

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.36 )   4.28     3.06     2.34     2.54  
     

Less: Dividends and Distributions

         

Dividends from net investment income

  (.05 )   (.06 )   (.01 )   – 0   – 0

Distributions from net realized gains on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0   – 0
     

Total dividends and distributions

  (1.29 )   (.78 )   (.13 )   – 0   – 0
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  17.50     $  19.15     $  15.65     $  12.72     $  10.38  
     

Total Return

         

Total investment return
based on net asset value(e)

  (2.45 ) %   28.18  %   24.18  %   22.54  %   32.40  %

Ratios/Supplemental
Data

         

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

  $114,406     $136,704     $109,706     $66,613     $56,959  

Ratio to average net
assets of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers/
reimbursement

  1.97  %   2.00  %   2.18  %(f)   2.33  %   2.67  %

Expenses, before
waivers/
reimbursement

  1.97  %   2.01  %   2.18  %(f)   2.37  %   2.82  %

Net investment income (loss)

  .48  %   .37  %   .33  %(f)   .33  %(b)   (.30 )%(b)(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %   50  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     33

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

    Class C  
    Year Ended June 30,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
     
         

Net asset value,
beginning of period

  $  19.18     $  15.67     $  12.72     $  10.38     $  7.84  
     

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment income (loss)(a)

  .12     .10     .13     .06 (b)   (.02 )(b)(c)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (.48 )   4.19     2.95     2.28     2.56  

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.36 )   4.29     3.08     2.34     2.54  
     

Less: Dividends and Distributions

         

Dividends from net investment income

  (.05 )   (.06 )   (.01 )   – 0   – 0

Distributions from net realized gains on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0   – 0
     

Total dividends and distributions

  (1.29 )   (.78 )   (.13 )   – 0   – 0
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  17.53     $  19.18     $  15.67     $  12.72     $  10.38  
     

Total Return

         

Total investment return based on net asset value(e)

  (2.45 )%   28.21  %   24.34  %   22.54  %   32.40  %

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

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

  $542,520     $ 444,496     $210,147     $29,957     $16,005  

Ratio to average net assets of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursement

  1.94  %   1.98  %   2.13  %(f)   2.29  %   2.65  %

Expenses, before waivers/
reimbursement

  1.94  %   1.98  %   2.13  %(f)   2.33  %   2.80  %

Net investment income (loss)

  .62  %   .55  %   .85  %(f)   .55  %(b)   (.26 )%(b)(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %   50  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

34     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

    Advisor Class  
    Year Ended June 30,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
     
         

Net asset value,
beginning of period

  $  21.05     $  17.08     $  13.82     $  11.22     $  8.44  
     

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment
income(a)

  .35     .31     .29     .22 (b)   .13 (b)(c)

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investment
and foreign currency
transactions

  (.54 )   4.57     3.21     2.45     2.72  

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.19 )   4.88     3.50     2.67     2.85  
     

Less: Dividends and
Distributions

         

Dividends from net
investment income

  (.23 )   (.19 )   (.12 )   (.07 )   (.07 )

Distributions from net
realized gains on
investment and foreign
currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0   – 0
     

Total dividends and
distributions

  (1.47 )   (.91 )   (.24 )   (.07 )   (.07 )
     

Net asset value, end of
period

  $  19.39     $  21.05     $  17.08     $  13.82     $  11.22  
     

Total Return

         

Total investment return
based on net asset
value(e)

  (1.49 )%   29.51  %   25.57  %   23.86  %   33.81  %

Ratios/Supplemental
Data

         

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

  $544,154     $319,322     $108,237     $8,404     $2,817  

Ratio to average net
assets of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursement

  .93  %   .97  %   1.13  %(f)   1.25  %   1.54  %

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursement

  .93  %   .97  %   1.13  %(f)   1.29  %   1.69  %

Net investment
income

  1.74  %   1.62  %   1.81  %(f)   1.74  %(b)   1.29  %(b)(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %   50  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     35

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

    Class R  
    Year Ended June 30,     March 1,
2005(g) to
June 30,
2005
 
  2008     2007     2006    
     
       

Net asset value, beginning of
period

  $  20.75     $  16.90     $  13.72     $  14.08  
     

Income From Investment
Operations

       

Net investment income(a)

  .25     .20     .29     .12  

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investment and foreign
currency transactions

  (.55 )   4.52     3.09     (.48 )

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.30 )   4.72     3.38     (.36 )
     

Less: Dividends and
Distributions

       

Dividends from net investment
income

  (.15 )   (.15 )   (.08 )   – 0

Distributions from net realized
gains on investment and
foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0
     

Total dividends and
distributions

  (1.39 )   (.87 )   (.20 )   – 0
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  19.06     $  20.75     $  16.90     $  13.72  
     

Total Return

       

Total investment return based
on net asset value(e)

  (2.03 )%   28.80  %   24.83  %   (2.56 )%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

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

  $64,985     $29,638     $6,969     $10  

Ratio to average net assets of:

       

Expenses, net of waivers/
reimbursements

  1.49  %   1.56  %   1.67  %(f)   1.58  %(h)

Expenses, before waivers/
reimbursements

  1.49  %   1.56  %   1.67  %(f)   1.58  %(h)

Net investment income

  1.24  %   1.02  %   1.76  %(f)   2.59  %(h)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

36     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

    Class K  
    Year Ended June 30,    

March 1,
2005(g) to
June 30,
2005

 
    2008     2007    

2006

   
     
       

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $  20.82     $  16.95     $  13.73     $  14.08  
     

Income From Investment Operations

       

Net investment income(a)

  .29     .31     .34     .13  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (.54 )   4.47     3.09     (.48 )

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.25 )   4.78     3.43     (.35 )
     

Less: Dividends and Distributions

       

Dividends from net investment income

  (.19 )   (.19 )   (.09 )   – 0

Distributions from net realized
gains on investment and foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0
     

Total dividends and
distributions

  (1.43 )   (.91 )   (.21 )   – 0
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  19.14     $  20.82     $  16.95     $  13.73  
     

Total Return

       

Total investment return based
on net asset value(e)

  (1.78 )%   29.13  %   25.18  %   (2.49 )%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

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

  $15,104     $8,169     $760     $10  

Ratio to average net assets of:

       

Expenses, net of waivers/ reimbursements

  1.26  %   1.26  %   1.41  %(f)   1.32  %(h)

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

  1.26  %   1.26  %   1.41  %(f)   1.32  %(h)

Net investment income

  1.45  %   1.60  %   2.05  %(f)   2.85  %(h)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %

See footnote summary on page 38.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     37

 

Financial Highlights


 

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

 

    Class I  
    Year Ended June 30,     March 1,
2005(g) to
June 30,
2005
 
    2008     2007     2006    
     
       

Net asset value, beginning of
period

  $  20.92     $  16.98     $  13.74     $  14.08  
     

Income From Investment
Operations

       

Net investment income(a)

  .35     .32     .48     .14  

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investment and foreign
currency transactions

  (.52 )   4.54     3.01     (.48 )

Contribution from Adviser

  – 0 (d)   – 0 (d)   – 0   – 0
     

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

  (.17 )   4.86     3.49     (.34 )
     

Less: Dividends and
Distributions

       

Dividends from net investment
income

  (.24 )   (.20 )   (.13 )   – 0

Distributions from net realized
gains on investment and
foreign currency transactions

  (1.24 )   (.72 )   (.12 )   – 0
     

Total dividends and
distributions

  (1.48 )   (.92 )   (.25 )   – 0
     

Net asset value, end of period

  $  19.27     $  20.92     $  16.98     $  13.74  
     

Total Return

       

Total investment return based
on net asset value(e)

  (1.39 )%   29.59  %   25.61  %   (2.41 )%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

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

  $27,460     $19,421     $2,497     $10  

Ratio to average net assets of:

       

Expenses, net of waivers/
reimbursements

  .84  %   .90  %   1.09  %(f)   1.04  %(h)

Expenses, before waivers/
reimbursements

  .84  %   .90  %   1.09  %(f)   1.04  %(h)

Net investment income

  1.70  %   1.70  %   2.81  %(f)   3.13  %(h)

Portfolio turnover rate

  90  %   68  %   59  %   47  %

 

(a) Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b) Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c) Net of expenses waived by the Transfer Agent.

 

(d) Amount is less than $0.005.

 

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

 

(f) The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation.

 

(g) Commencement of distributions.

 

(h) Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

38     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Financial Highlights


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. as of June 30, 2008, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the two-year period ended June 30, 2005 were audited by other independent registered public accountants whose report thereon, dated August 19, 2005, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 June 30, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures. 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 AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. as of June 30, 2008, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

LOGO

New York, New York

August 25, 2008

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     39

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


 

TAX INFORMATION

(unaudited)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, certain dividends paid by the Fund may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 42% of its ordinary dividends paid during its fiscal year as qualified dividend income, which is taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. The Fund also designates $109,193,732 as long-term capital gain dividends. The Fund also designates $6,403,644 as foreign tax credit with the associated foreign gross income of $81,961,497.

The Fund also designates 76% of its ordinary dividends paid during the fiscal year as qualified short term capital gains for foreign shareholders only. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from the information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008. Complete information will be computed and reported in conjunction with your 2008 Form 1099-DIV.

 

40     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Tax Information


 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

William H. Foulk, Jr.,(1) Chairman    D. James Guzy(1)
Marc O. Mayer, President and Chief Executive Officer    Garry L. Moody(1)
   Nancy P. Jacklin(1)
David H. Dievler(1)(2)   

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1)

John H. Dobkin(1)   

Earl D. Weiner(1)

Michael J. Downey(1)   

OFFICERS

Philip L. Kirstein,

Senior Vice President and Independent
Compliance Officer

Hiromitsu Agata(3), Vice President

Isabel Buccellati(3), Vice President

Gregory D. Eckersley(3), Vice President

William A. Johnston(3), Vice President

Ian Kirwan(3), Vice President

Michael J. Levy(3), Vice President

Siobhan F. McManus, Vice President

Michele Patri(3), Vice President

  

David G. Robinson(3), Vice President

Robert W. Scheetz(3), Vice President

Lisa A. Shalett, Vice President

Valli S. Srikanthapalan(3)Vice President

Christopher M. Toub(3), Vice President

Emilie D. Wrapp, Secretary

Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer

Vincent S. Noto, Controller

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

Brown Brothers Harriman &

Company

40 Water Street

Boston, MA 02109-3661

 

Principal Underwriter

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

 

Transfer Agent

AllianceBernstein Investor

Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 786003

San Antonio, TX 78278-6003

Toll-Free (800) 221-5672

  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

KPMG LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

 

Legal Counsel

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

(1) Member of the Audit Committee, the Independent Directors Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Foulk is the sole member of the Fair Value Pricing Committee.

 

(2) Retired effective June 30, 2008.

 

(3) The management of, and investment decisions for, the AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund’s portfolio are made by the International Growth Portfolio Oversight Group, comprised of senior members of the Global Emerging Markets Growth Investment Team and the International Large Cap Growth Investment Team. Messrs. Eckersley, Levy, Agata, Johnston, Kirwan, Patri, Robinson, Scheetz and Toub, and Mses. Buccellati and Srikanthapalan are the investment professionals with the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     41

 

Board of Directors


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Board of Directors Information

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Certain information concerning the Fund’s Directors is set forth below.

 

NAME, ADDRESS,*

AGE,

(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST 5 YEARS

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
  OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR
INTERESTED DIRECTOR      

Marc O. Mayer,***

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

50
(2003)

  Executive Vice President of the Adviser since 2000, and Chief Investment Officer of Blend Solutions since June 2008. Previously, Executive Managing Director of AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”) since 2003; prior thereto he was head of AllianceBernstein Institutional Investments, a unit of AllianceBernstein from 2001-2003. Prior to 2001, Chief Executive Officer of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (institutional research and brokerage arm of Bernstein & Co. LLC (“SCB & Co.”)) and its predecessor.   98   SCB Partners, Inc. and SCB Inc.
     
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS    

Chairman of the Board

William H. Foulk, Jr., #, +

75
(1994)

  Investment Adviser and Independent Consultant. Formerly, Senior Manager of Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser, with which he had been associated since prior to 2003. Formerly, Deputy Comptroller and Chief Investment Officer of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings.   100   None
     

David H. Dievler, #, ++
78
(1994)

  Independent Consultant. Until December 1994, Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Corporation (“AB Corp.”, formerly, AllianceCapital Management Corporation) responsible for mutual fund administration. Prior to joining AB Corp. in 1984, he was Chief Financial Officer of Eberstadt Asset Management since 1968. Prior to that, Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse & Co. Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1953.   99   None

 

42     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Management of the Fund


 

NAME, ADDRESS,*
AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST 5 YEARS

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
  OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

John H. Dobkin, #
66
(1994)

  Consultant. Formerly, President of Save Venice, Inc. (preservation organization) from 2001-2002. Formerly a Senior Advisor from June 1999-June 2000 and President of Historic Hudson Valley (historic preservation) from December 1989-May 1999. Previously, Director of the National Academy of Design. During 1988-1992, Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of AB Corp.   98   None
     

Michael J. Downey, #

64
(2005)

  Private Investor since January 2004. Formerly, managing partner of Lexington Capital, LLC (investment advisory firm) from December 1997 until December 2003. Prior thereto, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Mutual Fund Management from 1987 to 1993.   98   Asia Pacific Fund, Inc., The Merger Fund and Prospect Acquisition Corp. (financial services)
     

D. James Guzy #

72
(2005)

  Chairman of the Board of PLX Technology (semi-conductors) and of SRC Computers Inc., with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.   98   Intel Corporation (semi-conductors) and Cirrus Logic Corporation (semi-conductors)
     

Nancy P. Jacklin #

60
(2006)

  Formerly, U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (December 2002-May 2006); Partner, Clifford Chance (1992-2002); Sector Counsel, International Banking and Finance, and Associate General Counsel, Citicorp (1985-1992); Assistant General Counsel (International), Federal Reserve Board of Governors (1982-1985); and Attorney Advisor, US Department of the Treasury (1973-1982). Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and of New York; member of the Council on Foreign Relations.   98   None

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     43

 

Management of the Fund


 

NAME, ADDRESS,*

AGE,

(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST 5 YEARS

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
  OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Garry L. Moody, #

56

(2007)

  Formerly, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Vice Chairman, and U.S. and Global Managing Partner, Investment Management Services Group 1995–2008. President, Fidelity Accounting and Custody Services Company from 1993–1995, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, partner in charge of the Chicago Office’s Tax Department, National Director of Investment Management Tax Services from 1975–1993.   97   None
     

Marshall C. Turner, Jr. #

66
(2005)

 

Formerly, Chairman and CEO of Dupont Photomasks, Inc. (components of semi-conductor manufacturing), 2003–2005, and President and CEO, 2005–2006, after the company was renamed Toppan Photomasks, Inc.

  98  

Xilinx, Inc. (programmable logic semi-conductors) and MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (semi-conductor and solar cell substrates)

     

Earl D. Weiner, #

68
(2007)

  Of Counsel, and Partner prior to January 2007, of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; member of ABA Federal Regulation of Securities Committee Task Force on Fund Director’s Guidebook and member of Advisory Board of Sustainable Forestry Management Limited.   98   None

 

 

* The address for each of the Fund’s disinterested Directors is c/o AllianceBernstein L.P., Attention: Philip L. Kirstein, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

** There is no stated term of office for the Fund’s Directors.

 

*** Mr. Mayer is an “interested person”, as defined in the 1940 Act, due to his position as an Executive Vice President of the Adviser.

 

# Member of the Audit Committee, the Independent Directors Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

+ Member of the Fair Value Pricing Committee.

 

++ Retired effective June 30, 2008.

 

44     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Management of the Fund


 

Officer Information

Certain information concerning the Fund’s Officers is listed below.

 

NAME, ADDRESS*
AND AGE
  

POSITION(S)

HELD WITH FUND

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION

DURING PAST 5 YEARS

Marc O. Mayer
50
   President and Chief Executive Officer    See biography above.
     
Philip L. Kirstein
63
   Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer of the AllianceBernstein Funds, with which he has been associated since October 2004. Prior thereto, he was of Counsel to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP from October 2003 to October 2004, and General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. since prior to 2003.
     

Hiromitsu Agata

45

   Vice President   

Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Japan Ltd.**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

     

Isabel Buccellati

39

   Vice President   

Vice President of ABL **, with which she has been associated since prior to 2003.

     
Gregory D. Eckersley
43
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.
     

William A. Johnston

47

   Vice President   

Senior Vice President of ABL**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

     

Ian Kirwan

33

   Vice President   

Vice President of the Adviser since 2003**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

     
Michael J. Levy
38
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Limited (“ABL”)**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.
     
Siobhan McManus
46
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2003.
     

Michele Patri

45

   Vice President   

Senior Vice President of ABL**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

     

David G. Robinson

37

   Vice President   

Vice President of AllianceBernstein Australia Ltd.**, with which he has been associated since March 2003.

     
Robert W. Scheetz
42
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     45

 

Management of the Fund


 

NAME, ADDRESS*
AND AGE
  

POSITION(S)

HELD WITH FUND

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION

DURING PAST 5 YEARS

Lisa A. Shalett

45

   Vice President   

Executive Vice President of the Adviser**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2003.

     

Valli S. Srikanthapalan

34

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of ABL**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2003.
     
Christopher M. Toub
49
   Vice President    Executive Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.
     
Emilie D. Wrapp
52
   Secretary    Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2003.
     
Joseph J. Mantineo
49
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”)**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.
     
Vincent S. Noto
43
   Controller    Vice President of ABIS**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2003.

 

 

 

* The address for each of the Fund’s Officers is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

** The Adviser, ABI, ABIS, ABL, AB Japan Ltd. and AB Australia Ltd. are affiliates of the Fund.

 

  The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) has additional information about the Fund’s Directors and Officers and is available upon request. Contact your financial representative or AllianceBernstein at 1-800-227-4618 for a free prospectus or SAI.

 

46     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Management of the Fund


 

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

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser at a meeting held on May 6-8, 2008.

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed an independent evaluation prepared by the Fund’s Senior Officer (who is also the Fund’s Independent Compliance Officer) of the reasonableness of the advisory fee in the Advisory Agreement wherein the Senior Officer concluded that the contractual fee for the Fund was reasonable. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel and the Fund’s Senior Officer.

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

The directors also considered all other factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. In their deliberations, the directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     47


 

research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided at the Fund’s request by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are approved by the directors on a quarterly basis and, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also were considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues, expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2006 and 2007 that had been prepared with an updated expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s Senior Officer. The directors reviewed the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and noted that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries which provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between fund advisory contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund other than the fees and expense reimbursements payable under the Advisory Agreement, including but not limited to benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services from many of the brokers and dealers that execute purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its clients on an agency basis), 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly

 

48     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the Fund’s shares, transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, and brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year. At the May 2008 meeting, the directors reviewed information prepared by Lipper showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund as compared to a group of similar funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Group”) and as compared to a broader array of funds selected by Lipper (the “Performance Universe”), and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares as compared to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World (ex-US) Index (Net) (the “MSCI All Country World Index”) and the MSCI World (ex-US) Index (Net) (the “MSCI World Index”), in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended January 31, 2008, except as indicated below and (in the case of the MSCI World Index) the since inception period (June 1994 inception). The directors noted that the Fund was in the 3rd quintile of the Performance Group and Performance Universe for the 1-year period, 2nd quintile of the Performance Group and 1st quintile of the Performance Universe for the 3-year period and 1st quintile of the Performance Group and Performance Universe for the 5- and 10-year periods, and that the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index in the 1-year period and outperformed that index in the 3- and 5-year periods (no information was available for the 10-year and since inception periods) and outperformed the MSCI World Index in all periods reviewed. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s relative performance over time had been satisfactory.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate paid by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by Lipper concerning fee rates paid by other funds in the same Lipper category as the Fund at a common asset level. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds.

The directors also considered the fees the Adviser charges other clients with a similar investment style as the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed information in the Adviser’s Form ADV and the evaluation from the Fund’s Senior Officer disclosing the institutional fee schedule for institutional products managed by the Adviser that have a similar investment style as the Fund. The directors noted

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     49


 

that the institutional fee schedule for clients with a similar investment style as the Fund had breakpoints at lower asset levels than those in the fee schedule applicable to the Fund and that the application of the institutional fee schedule to the level of assets of the Fund would result in a fee rate that would be lower than that in the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also noted that the Adviser advises a portfolio of another AllianceBernstein fund with a substantially similar investment style as the Fund for the same fee schedule as the Fund.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional clients. The Adviser also noted that because mutual funds are constantly issuing and redeeming shares, they are more difficult to manage than an institutional account, where the assets tend to be relatively stable. In light of these facts, the directors did not place significant weight on these fee comparisons.

The directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to the fees and expenses of funds within two comparison groups created by Lipper: an Expense Group and an Expense Universe. Lipper described an Expense Group as a representative sample of funds comparable to the Fund and an Expense Universe as a broader group, consisting of all funds in the Fund’s investment classification/objective with a similar load type as the Fund. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services since the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some funds in the Fund’s Lipper category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases were voluntary and perhaps temporary.

The directors noted that the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate, at approximate current size, of 72.5 basis points, plus the 1 basis point impact of the administrative expense reimbursement in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the Expense Group median. The directors also noted that the proposed acquisition by the Fund of the much smaller AllianceBernstein International Research Growth Fund, Inc., approved by the directors at the May 2008 meeting, is not subject to shareholder approval and is expected to be effective in or around July 2008, and that the increase in the Fund’s net assets as a result of such acquisition was expected to result in a small reduction in the Fund’s effective advisory fee rate because its net assets are currently above the first breakpoint in the fee schedule. The directors noted that the Fund’s total expense ratio, which had been capped by the Adviser (although the expense ratio was currently lower than the cap), was lower than the Expense Group and Expense Universe medians. The directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was satisfactory.

 

50     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints and that the Fund’s net assets were in excess of the first breakpoint level. Accordingly, the Fund’s current effective advisory fee rate would reflect a reduction due to the effect of the breakpoints and would be further reduced to the extent the net assets of the Fund increase further. The directors also considered presentations by an independent consultant discussing economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AllianceBernstein Funds, as well as a presentation by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for establishing breakpoints that give effect to fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s breakpoint arrangements were acceptable and were resulting in a sharing of economies of scale.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     51


 

THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1

The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”).2 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Fund which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:

 

  1. Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services;

 

  2. Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services;

 

  3. Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit;

 

  4. Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services;

 

  5. Possible economies of scale as the Fund grows larger; and

 

  6. Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Fund.

 

1 It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 23, 2008 and presented to the Board of Directors on May 6-8, 2008.

 

2 Future references to the Fund do not include “AllianceBernstein.” In addition, on May 8, 2008, the Board approved the Adviser’s proposal to merge International Growth Fund (the surviving Fund), with AllianceBernstein International Research Growth Fund, Inc., scheduled to be completed later in 2008. References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Fund.

 

52     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

FUND ADVISORY FEES, EXPENSE CAPS, REIMBURSEMENTS & RATIOS

The Adviser proposed that the Fund pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.3

 

Category  

Advisory Fee Based on % of

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Net Assets

02/29/08

($MIL)

  Fund
International  

75 bp on 1st $2.5 billion

65 bp on next $2.5 billion

60 bp on the balance

  $ 3,232.5   International Growth Fund, Inc.

The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Fund. During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $118,004 (0.01% of the Fund’s average daily net assets) for such services.

The Adviser has agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse the Fund for that portion of its total operating expenses to the degree necessary to limit the Fund’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Fund’s fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser at the end of the Fund’s fiscal year upon at least 60 days written notice prior to the termination date of the undertaking. It should be noted that the Fund was operating below its expense caps during its most recent semi-annual period; accordingly, the expense limitation undertaking of the Fund was of no effect. In addition, set forth below are the gross expense ratios of the Fund for the most recent semi-annual period:

 

Fund   Expense Cap
Pursuant to
Expense
Limitation
Undertaking
   

Gross
Expense
Ratio4

(12/31/07)

    Fiscal
Year End
International Growth Fund, Inc.5   Advisor

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class R

Class K

Class I

  1.35

1.65

2.35

2.35

1.85

1.60

1.35

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

  0.90

1.20

1.94

1.91

1.48

1.25

0.85

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

  June 30

 

3 Most of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG.

 

4 Annualized.

 

5 The stated caps were made effective on May 16, 2005.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     53


 

I.  ADVISORY FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS

The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Fund that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Fund’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Fund are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, a portion of these expenses are reimbursed by the Fund to the Adviser. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Fund’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.

Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different and legal and reputational risks are greater, it is worth considering information regarding the advisory fees charged to institutional accounts with a similar investment style as the Fund.6 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have

 

6 The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship.

 

54     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

been the effective advisory fee of the Fund had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Fund versus the Fund’s advisory fee based on February 29, 2008 net assets:

 

Fund  

Net Assets

02/29/08

($MIL)

 

AllianceBernstein (“AB”)
Institutional (“Inst.”)

Fee Schedule

  Effective
AB Inst.
Adv. Fee
 

Fund

Advisory
Fee

International Growth Fund, Inc.7   $3,232.5  

International Large Cap Growth

80 bp on 1st $25 million

60 bp on next $25 million

50 bp on next $50 million

40 bp on the balance

Minimum Account Size: $25m

  0.406%   0.727%

The adviser also manages the AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (“AVPS”), which is available through variable annuity and variable life contracts offered by other financial institutions and offers policyholders the option to utilize certain AVPS portfolios as the investment option underlying their insurance contracts. Set forth below is the fee schedule of the AVPS portfolio that has a substantially similar investment style as the Fund.8 Also shown is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Fund had the AVPS fee schedule been applicable to the Fund:

 

Fund   AVPS
Portfolio
  Fee Schedule  

Effective
AVPS

Adv. Fee

  Fund
Advisory
Fee
International Growth Fund, Inc.   International Growth Portfolio  

0.75% on first $2.5 billion

0.65% on next $2.5 billion

0.60% on the balance

  0.727%   0.727%

The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Fund.

 

II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.

Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Fund with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers. Lipper’s analysis included the Fund’s ranking with respect to the proposed

 

7 Fees shown are for the International Large Cap Growth Strategy, which is similar but more concentrated than the Fund’s strategy.

 

8 It should be noted that the AVPS portfolio was also affected by the settlement between the Adviser and the NYAG. As a result, the Fund has the same breakpoints in its advisory fee schedule as the AVPS portfolio.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     55


 

management fee relative to the median of the Fund’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)9 at the approximate current asset level of the Fund.10

Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.

The Fund’s original EG had an insufficient number of peers in the view of the Senior Officer and the Adviser. Consequently, at the request of the Adviser and the Senior Officer, Lipper expanded the Fund’s EG to include peers that have similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.

 

Fund   Contractual
Management
Fee (%)11
 

Lipper Exp.

Group

Median (%)

  Rank
International Growth Fund, Inc.12   0.725   0.851   3/11

However, because Lipper had expanded the EG of the Fund, under Lipper’s standard guidelines, the Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”) was also expanded to include the universe of those peers that had a similar but not the same Lipper investment classification/objective.13 A “normal” EU will include funds that have the same investment classification/objective as the subject Fund.14

 

9 It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratio than comparable sized funds that have relatively large average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently.

 

10 The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Fund’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Fund, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Fund had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group.

 

11 The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Fund to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. In addition, the contractual management fee would not reflect any advisory fee waivers or expense reimbursements made by the Adviser to the Fund for expense caps that would effectively reduce the actual management fee.

 

12 The Fund’s EG includes the Fund, eight other International Multi-Cap Growth Funds (“IMLG”) and two other International Large-Cap Growth Funds (“ILCG”).

 

13 It should be noted that the expansion of the Fund’s EU was not requested by the Adviser or the Senior Officer. They requested that only the EG be expanded.

 

14 Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG peer when selecting an EU peer. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund.

 

56     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

Fund  

Expense

Ratio
(%)15

 

Lipper Exp.

Group

Median (%)

 

Lipper

Group

Rank

 

Lipper Exp.

Universe

Median (%)

 

Lipper
Universe

Rank

International Growth Fund, Inc.16   1.271   1.435   2/11   1.497   6/45

Based on this analysis, the Fund has a more favorable ranking on a total expense ratio basis than it does on a management fee basis.

 

III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE ADVISORY FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.

The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Fund. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.

 

IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.

The Fund’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Fund increased during calendar year 2007, relative to 2006.

In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Fund, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Fund and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Fund. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Fund and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Fund and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments, front-end sales loads, contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), an affiliate of the Adviser, is the Fund’s principal underwriter. ABI and the Adviser have disclosed in the Fund’s

 

15 The total expense ratios shown are for the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end Class A shares.

 

 

16 The Fund’s EU includes the Fund, EG and all other IMLG and ILCG funds, excluding outliers.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     57


 

prospectus that they may make revenue sharing payments from their own resources, in addition to resources derived from sales loads and Rule 12b-1 fees, to firms that sell shares of the Fund. In 2007, ABI paid approximately 0.04% of the average monthly assets of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds or approximately $24 million for distribution services and educational support (revenue sharing payments). For 2008, it is anticipated, ABI will pay approximately 0.04% of the average monthly assets of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds or approximately $28 million.17 During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, ABI received from the Fund $0, $8,019,209 and $202,725 in front-end sales charges, Rule 12b-1 and CDSC fees, respectively.

Fees and reimbursements for out of pocket expenses charged by AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), the affiliated transfer agent for the Fund, are charged on a per account basis, based on the level of service provided and the class of share held by the account. ABIS also receives a fee per shareholder sub-account for each account maintained by an intermediary on an omnibus basis. During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received $958,794 in fees from the Fund.18

The Fund may effect brokerage transactions through the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB,” and pay commissions for such transactions. The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any future business conducted with the Fund would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for its clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.

V.  POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE

The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,19 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in

 

17 ABI currently inserts the “Advance” in quarterly account statements and pays the incremental costs associated with the mailing. The incremental cost is less than what an “independent mailing” would cost.

 

18 The fees disclosed are net of any expense offsets with ABIS. An expense offset is created by the interest earned on the positive cash balance that occurs within the transfer agent account as there is a one day lag with regards to money movement from the shareholder’s account to the transfer agent’s account and then the transfer agent’s account to the Fund’s account. During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, the fees paid by the Fund to ABIS were reduced by $40,910 under the offset agreement between the Fund and ABIS.

 

19 Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules.

 

58     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.

An independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli20 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics. The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors. In this regard, it was noted that the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds were generally within the 25th-75th percentile range of their comparable peers.21 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant observed that the actual advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds were generally lower than the fees predicted by the study’s regression model.

The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets. The independent consultant observed that the advisory fees of certain AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds were higher than the medians of these select groups of funds.

 

VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

With assets under management of approximately $746 billion as of February 29, 2008, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Fund.

 

20 The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data.

 

21 The two dimensional analysis also showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     59


 

The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5, and 10 year performance rankings of the Fund22 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)23 for the periods ended January 31, 2008.24

 

     Fund
Return (%)
 

PG

Median (%)

 

PU

Median (%)

 

PG

Rank

 

PU

Rank

  1 year

  4.47   4.13   3.13   4/9   18/41

  3 year

  17.08   16.83   15.17   3/9   6/30

  5 year

  23.93   22.11   20.73   1/8   1/27

10 year

  10.67   7.76   7.87   1/6   2/15

Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Fund (in bold)25 versus its benchmark.26 Fund and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.27

 

     Periods Ending January 31, 2008
Annualized Performance
     1
Year
(%)
  3
Year
(%)
  5
Year
(%)
  10
Year
(%)
  Since
Inception
(%)
  Annualized   Risk
Period
(Year)
            Volatility
(%)
  Sharpe
(%)
 
International Growth Fund, Inc.   4.47   17.08   23.93   10.67   10.81   13.24   1.44   5
MSCI All Country World ex US Index (Net)26   4.97   16.56   22.39   N/A   N/A   12.10   1.46   5
MSCI World ex US Index (Net)26   1.68   14.51   20.77   7.52   7.30   N/A   N/A   5

Inception Date: June 2, 1994

           

 

22 The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Fund. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Fund shown were provided by the Adviser. Lipper maintains its own database that includes the Fund’s performance returns. Rounding differences may cause the Adviser’s Fund returns to be one or two basis points different from Lipper’s own Fund returns. To maintain consistency, the performance returns of the Fund, as reported by the Adviser, are provided instead of Lipper.

 

23 The Fund’s PG and PU are not identical to the Fund’s EG and EU as the criteria for including or excluding a fund in a PG/PU is different from that of an EG/EU.

 

24 Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time.

 

25 The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Fund.

 

26 The Adviser provided Fund and benchmark performance return information for periods through January 31, 2008. It should be noted that the “since inception” performance returns of the Fund’s benchmark goes back only through the nearest month-end after inception date. In contrast, the Fund’s since inception return goes back to the Fund’s actual inception date.

 

27

Fund and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a fund’s return in excess of the riskless return by the fund’s standard deviation. A fund with a greater volatility would be seen as more risky than a fund with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky fund. A fund with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be viewed as better performing than a fund with a lower Sharpe Ratio.

 

60     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

CONCLUSION:

Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Fund is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Fund is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.

Dated: June 5, 2008

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     61


THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

Wealth Strategies Funds

Balanced Wealth Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Wealth Preservation Strategy

Tax-Managed Balanced Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Tax-Managed Wealth Preservation Strategy

Blended Style Funds

U.S. Large Cap Portfolio

International Portfolio

Tax-Managed International Portfolio

Growth Funds

Domestic

Growth Fund

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Global & International

Global Health Care Fund

Global Research Growth Fund

Global Technology Fund

Greater China ‘97 Fund

International Growth Fund

Value Funds

Domestic

Balanced Shares

Focused Growth & Income Fund

Growth & Income Fund

Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

Utility Income Fund

Value Fund

Global & International

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Global Value Fund

International Value Fund

 

Taxable Bond Funds

Diversified Yield Fund*

Global Bond Fund*

High Income Fund*

Intermediate Bond Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

Municipal Bond Funds

 

National
Insured National
Arizona
California
Insured California
Florida
Massachusetts

  

Michigan
Minnesota
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Virginia

Intermediate Municipal Bond Funds

Intermediate California

Intermediate Diversified

Intermediate New York

Closed-End Funds

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Income Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income    Fund

ACM Managed Dollar Income Fund

California Municipal Income Fund

New York Municipal Income Fund

The Spain Fund


Retirement Strategies Funds

 

2000 Retirement Strategy

 

2020 Retirement Strategy

 

2040 Retirement Strategy

2005 Retirement Strategy

 

2025 Retirement Strategy

 

2045 Retirement Strategy

2010 Retirement Strategy

 

2030 Retirement Strategy

 

2050 Retirement Strategy

2015 Retirement Strategy

 

2035 Retirement Strategy

 

2055 Retirement Strategy

We also offer Exchange Reserves,** which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AllianceBernstein mutual funds.

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any AllianceBernstein fund/portfolio carefully before investing. For free copies of our prospectuses, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.alliancebernstein.com or contact your financial advisor. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

*   Prior to November 5, 2007, Diversified Yield Fund was named Global Strategic Income Trust and Global Bond Fund was named Global Government Income Trust. Prior to January 28, 2008, High Income Fund was named Emerging Market Debt Fund.

 

** An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

62     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

AllianceBernstein Family of Funds


NOTES

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     63


NOTES

 

64     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


NOTES

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     65


NOTES

 

66     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


NOTES

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND     67


NOTES

 

68     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND


 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800.221.5672

LOGO

 

 

IG-0151-0608   LOGO


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A copy of the registrant’s code of ethics is filed herewith as Exhibit 12(a)(1).

(b) During the period covered by this report, no material amendments were made to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.

(c) During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above were granted.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that independent directors William H. Foulk, Jr. and Garry L. Moody qualify as audit committee financial experts.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) - (c) The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm KPMG LLP, for the Fund’s last two fiscal years for professional services rendered for: (i) the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements included in the Fund’s annual report to stockholders; (ii) assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under (i), which include advice and education related to accounting and auditing issues and quarterly press release review (for those Funds which issue press releases), and preferred stock maintenance testing (for those Funds that issue preferred stock); and (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation.

 

          Audit Fees    Audit-Related
Fees
   Tax Fees

AB International Growth

   2007    $ 39,000       $ 8,000
   2008    $ 40,500       $ 25,730

(d) Not applicable.

(e) (1) Beginning with audit and non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures require the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures also require pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Adviser and Service Affiliates to the extent that these services are directly related to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund.

(e) (2) All of the amounts for Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees in the table under Item 4 (a) – (c) are for services pre-approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee.


(f) Not applicable.

(g) The following table sets forth the aggregate non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Fund’s Adviser and entities that control, are controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund, which include conducting an annual internal control report pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70 (“Service Affiliates”):

 

 

          All Fees for
Non-Audit Services
Provided to the
Portfolio, the Adviser
and Service Affiliates
   Pre-approved by the
Audit Committee
(Portion Comprised of
Audit Related Fees)
(Portion Comprised of
Tax Fees)
 

AB International Growth

   2007    $ 615,032    $ 8,000  
         $ –0–  
         $ (8,000 )
   2008    $ 428,330    $ 25,730  
         $ –0–  
         $ (25,730 )

(h) The Audit Committee of the Fund has considered whether the provision of any non-audit services not pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser and Service Affiliates is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

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

 

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

Not applicable to the registrant.


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

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

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

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

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

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

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.

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

 

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

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

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

12 (a) (1)   Code of Ethics that is subject to the disclosure of Item 2 hereof
12 (b) (1)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12 (b) (2)   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12 (c)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant): AllianceBernstein International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

By:  

/s/    Marc O. Mayer

 

Marc O. Mayer

President

Date:   August 25, 2008

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/    Marc O. Mayer

  Marc O. Mayer
  President
Date:   August 25, 2008
By:  

/s/    Joseph J. Mantineo

 

Joseph J. Mantineo

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Date:   August 25, 2008