Alliance Capital Management Provides Update On Short Term Trading Investigation
06 November 2003 - 4:44PM
PR Newswire (US)
Alliance Capital Management Provides Update On Short Term Trading
Investigation NEW YORK, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As
previously announced, Alliance Capital Management L.P. ("Alliance
Capital") is cooperating with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and the Office of the New York State Attorney
General ("NYAG") in connection with their ongoing investigations of
short-term trading in mutual fund shares. Alliance Capital has also
been conducting its own investigation into these matters and has
formed a committee of independent directors to direct that
investigation and to recommend appropriate remedial action. That
investigation had identified a number of market timing
relationships, information about which had already been shared with
both the SEC and the NYAG. As previously reported, that
investigation caused the firm to suspend two employees who the firm
concluded engaged in inappropriate conduct with regard to market
timing transactions. Alliance Capital believes that some of these
market timing transactions had an adverse effect on mutual fund
shareholders. In addition, the investigation has raised supervisory
issues, which the firm is pursuing vigorously. Alliance Capital's
investigation is ongoing and it will take any actions warranted.
Alliance Capital also confirmed recent press reports that on
Friday, October 31, it received a Wells notice from the SEC
informing it that the Staff of the SEC intended to recommend that
an enforcement action be brought against the firm based on market
timing transactions. Under the Wells procedure, Alliance Capital
has an opportunity to respond and to present its views and
suggestions. Alliance Capital intends to take advantage of this
opportunity. Alliance Capital is hopeful that its response will
lead to the satisfactory resolution of these matters not just with
the SEC but also with the NYAG, although there can be no assurance
that such resolution will be reached. Such resolution would be
likely to include, but not be limited to, sanctions and penalties
and appropriate restitution to mutual fund shareholders. Alliance
Capital is committed to take all prudent steps both on its own and
as part of an industry-wide effort to remedy the issues that stem
from short-term trading of mutual fund shares. The firm remains
hopeful that by working in concert with the regulatory authorities
it will find the means to resolve these issues in a manner that
ensures that all mutual fund shareholders receive the fair and
equitable treatment that they deserve. ABOUT ALLIANCE CAPITAL
Alliance Capital is a leading global investment management firm
providing investment management services for many of the largest
U.S. public and private employee benefit plans, foundations, public
employee retirement funds, pension funds, endowments, banks,
insurance companies and high-net-worth individuals worldwide.
Alliance Capital is also one of the largest mutual fund sponsors,
with a diverse family of globally distributed mutual fund
portfolios. Through its Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC
subsidiary, Alliance provides in-depth research, portfolio strategy
and trade execution to the institutional investment community. At
September 30, 2003, Alliance Holding owned approximately 30.9% of
the Alliance Capital Units. AXA Financial was the beneficial owner
of approximately 55.1% of the outstanding Alliance Capital Units at
September 30, 2003 (including those held indirectly through its
ownership of 1.9% of the outstanding Alliance Holding Units),
which, including the general partnership interests in Alliance
Capital and Alliance Holding, represent an approximate 55.6%
economic interest in Alliance Capital. AXA Financial, Inc. is a
wholly owned subsidiary of AXA, one of the largest global financial
services organizations. Additional information may be found at
http://www.alliancecapital.com/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain
statements provided by Alliance Capital and Alliance Holding in
this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from future results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The most significant of such factors
include, but are not limited to, the following: the performance of
financial markets, the investment performance of Alliance Capital's
sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts,
general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive
conditions, and government regulations, including changes in tax
rates. Alliance Capital and Alliance Holding caution readers to
carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are
made; Alliance Capital and Alliance Holding undertake no obligation
to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of such statements. DATASOURCE:
Alliance Capital CONTACT: Valerie Haertel, Investor Relations,
+1-212-969-6414, , John Meyers, Media, +1-212-969-2301, , both of
Alliance Capital Web site: http://www.alliancecapital.com/
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