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: 811-07732

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME 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)

 

 

Stephen M. Woetzel

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: March 31, 2024

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2024

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 


MAR 03.31.24

LOGO

ANNUAL REPORT

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN

GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

(NYSE: AWF)

 

LOGO

 

 


 

 

 
Investment Products Offered  

  Are Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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 AB’s website at www.abfunds.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB 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 as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. AB publishes full portfolio holdings for the Fund monthly at www.abfunds.com.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the Adviser of the funds.

The [A/B] logo is a registered service mark of AllianceBernstein and AllianceBernstein® is a registered service mark used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.


 

FROM THE PRESIDENT    LOGO

Dear Shareholder,

We’re pleased to provide this report for AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). Please review the discussion of Fund performance, the market conditions during the reporting period and the Fund’s investment strategy.

At AB, we’re striving to help our clients achieve better outcomes by:

 

+   

Fostering diverse perspectives that give us a distinctive approach to navigating global capital markets

 

+   

Applying differentiated investment insights through a connected global research network

 

+   

Embracing innovation to design better ways to invest and leading-edge mutual-fund solutions

Whether you’re an individual investor or a multibillion-dollar institution, we’re putting our knowledge and experience to work for you every day.

For more information about AB’s comprehensive range of products and shareholder resources, please log on to www.abfunds.com.

Thank you for your investment in AB mutual funds—and for placing your trust in our firm.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Onur Erzan

President and Chief Executive Officer, AB Mutual Funds

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 1


 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

May 7, 2024

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. for the annual reporting period ended March 31, 2024. The Fund is a closed-end fund and its shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Fund seeks high current income and, secondarily, capital appreciation.

RETURNS AS OF MARCH 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

     6 Months      12 Months  
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND (NAV)      10.89%        15.06%  

Primary Benchmark:

Bloomberg Global High Yield Index (USD hedged)

     10.57%        13.36%  
Blended Benchmark:
33% JPM GBI-EM / 33% JPM EMBI Global/
33% Bloomberg US Corporate HY 2% Issuer Capped Index
     8.27%        7.90%  

The Fund’s market price per share on March 31, 2024, was $10.62. The Fund’s NAV per share on March 31, 2024, was $11.21. For additional financial highlights, please see pages 105-106.

Please keep in mind that high, double-digit returns are highly unusual and cannot be sustained. Investors should also be aware that these returns were primarily achieved during favorable market conditions.

INVESTMENT RESULTS

The table above shows the Fund’s performance compared with its primary benchmark, the Bloomberg Global High Yield Index (USD hedged), as well as its blended benchmark for the six- and 12-month periods ended March 31, 2024. The blended benchmark is composed of equal weightings of the JPMorgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (“JPM GBI-EM”) (local currency-denominated), the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (“JPM EMBI Global”) and the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield (“HY”) 2% Issuer Capped Index.

During both periods, the Fund outperformed its primary benchmark and the blended benchmark. Over the 12-month period, security selection was the largest contributor to relative performance, from security selection in US investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, eurozone high-yield corporates and emerging-market (“EM”) sovereign and corporate bonds. Yield-curve positioning also contributed, as an overweight to the six-month part of the yield curve in the US and an underweight to the six-month part of the eurozone yield-curve contributed more to performance than losses from overweights to the two- to 10-year parts of the US yield-curve. At the country level, an underweight to the eurozone contributed. From a currency perspective, a short in the euro also added to performance. Sector

 

2 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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allocation detracted, mostly from an underweight to EM sovereign bonds, and off-benchmark exposure to US investment-grade corporates, US Treasuries and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) that were partially offset by gains from off-benchmark exposure to collateralized loan obligations and an underweight to emerging-market corporate bonds.

During the six-month period, security selection was the greatest contributor, as selections among US investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, eurozone high-yield corporates and emerging-market sovereign bonds contributed. An underweight to the eurozone and an overweight to the US contributed from a country allocation perspective. Yield-curve positioning also added to performance, mainly from an overweight to the six-month part of the US curve and an underweight to the six-month part of the eurozone curve that was partially offset by losses from overweights to the two- and five-year parts of the US yield-curve and underweights to the 20- and 30-year parts of the US yield-curve. Sector allocation detracted, mostly from an underweight to emerging-market sovereign bonds and off-benchmark exposure to US investment-grade corporates, US Treasuries, bank loans, agency risk-sharing transactions and CMBS that were partially offset by a gain from an overweight to US high-yield corporate bonds. Currency decisions also detracted, because of a short position in the euro.

During both periods, the Fund used interest rate swaps and futures to manage and hedge duration risk and/or to take active yield-curve positioning. Currency forwards were used to hedge foreign currency exposure and to take active currency risk. Credit default swaps were also utilized to effectively gain exposure to specific sectors. Total return swaps were used to create synthetic high-yield exposure in the Fund, while written options and purchased options were used to put spread for downside protection.

During both the six-month and 12-month period, the utilization of leverage on behalf of the Fund contributed positively to performance.

MARKET REVIEW AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Over the 12-month period ended March 31, 2024, fixed-income government bond market yields were extremely volatile in all major developed markets, and developed-market government bond returns started to diverge based on individual country rates of growth, inflation expectations and central bank decisions. Most central banks raised interest rates substantially to combat inflation, then paused further interest-rate hikes later in the period and are on the cusp of beginning monetary easing. Government bond returns in aggregate were positive, with the highest return in Switzerland, while US Treasury returns were only slightly positive. Overall, developed-market investment-grade corporate bonds solidly outperformed government bonds, including in the US and eurozone. High-yield corporate bonds advanced and significantly outperformed government bonds—especially in the eurozone and US. Emerging-market hard-currency

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 3


sovereign bonds outperformed developed-market treasuries by a wide margin. Emerging-market hard-currency corporate bonds had strong relative positive returns and outperformed developed-market corporates by credit quality. Among sovereigns and corporates, emerging-market high yield outperformed investment grade by a material margin during the period. Local-currency sovereign bonds exceeded developed-market treasuries yet trailed other risk sectors as the US dollar gained on most currencies during the period.

The Fund’s Investment Management Team (the “Team”) seeks to generate high current income and, secondarily, capital appreciation. The Fund is a globally diversified portfolio that takes full advantage of the Team’s best research ideas by pursuing high-income opportunities across all fixed-income sectors. The Fund invests primarily (and without limit) in corporate debt securities from US and non-US issuers, as well as government bonds from both developing and developed countries, including the US. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests substantially in lower-rated bonds, but may also invest in investment-grade and unrated debt securities.

INVESTMENT POLICIES

The Fund invests without limit in securities denominated in non-US currencies as well as those denominated in the US dollar. The Fund may also invest, without limit, in sovereign debt securities issued by emerging and developed nations and in debt securities of US and non-US corporate issuers. For more information regarding the Fund’s risks, please see “Disclosures and Risks” on pages 5-8 and “Note E—Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund” of the Notes to Financial Statements on pages 100-103.

 

 

4 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

 

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

Shareholder Information

Weekly comparative net asset value (“NAV”) and market price information about the Fund is published each Saturday in Barron’s and in other newspapers in a table called “Closed-End Funds.” Daily NAV and market price information, and additional information regarding the Fund, is available at www.abfunds.com and www.nyse.com. For additional shareholder information regarding this Fund, please see pages 110-111.

Benchmark Disclosure

All indices are unmanaged and do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a fund portfolio. The Bloomberg Global High Yield Index (USD hedged) represents non-investment grade fixed-income securities of companies in the US, and developed and emerging markets, hedged to the US dollar. The JPM® GBI-EM represents the performance of local currency government bonds issued by emerging markets. The JPM EMBI Global (market-capitalization weighted) represents the performance of US dollar-denominated Brady bonds, Eurobonds and trade loans issued by sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities. The Bloomberg US Corporate HY 2% Issuer Capped Index is the 2% Issuer Capped component of the US Corporate High Yield Index, which represents the performance of fixed-income securities having a maximum quality rating of Ba1, a minimum amount outstanding of $150 million and at least one year to maturity. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance of any specific investment, including the Fund.

A Word About Risk

Market Risk: The market value of a security may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, which increases the probabilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. Conditions affecting the general economy, including political, social, or economic instability at the local, regional, or global level may also affect the market value of a security. Health crises, such as pandemic and epidemic diseases, as well as other incidents that interrupt the expected course of events, such as natural disasters, including fires, earthquakes and flooding, war or civil disturbance, acts of terrorism, power outages and other unforeseeable and external events, and the public response to or fear of such diseases or events, have had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on the

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 5


 

DISCLOSURES AND RISKS (continued)

 

Fund’s investments and net asset value and can lead to increased market volatility. For example, the diseases or events themselves or any preventative or protective actions that governments may take in respect of such diseases or events may result in periods of business disruption, inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts, and reduced or disrupted operations for the Fund’s portfolio companies. The occurrence and pendency of such diseases or events could adversely affect the economies and financial markets either in specific countries or worldwide.

Interest-Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest-rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the recent end of a period of historically low rates and the effect of potential central bank monetary policy, and government fiscal policy, initiatives and resulting market reactions to those initiatives.

Credit Risk: An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer or guarantor may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security and accrued interest. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security.

Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade than other types of securities.

Duration Risk: Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a fixed-income security. Fixed-income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise.

 

6 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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DISCLOSURES AND RISKS (continued)

 

Inflation Risk: This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities.

Foreign (Non-US) Risk: Investments in securities of non-US issuers may involve more risk than those of US issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

Emerging-Market Risk: Investments in emerging-market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid and are subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties.

Currency Risk: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.

Leverage Risk: As a result of the Fund’s use of leveraging techniques, its NAV may be more volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of changes in interest rates and any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s investments.

Derivatives Risk: Investments in derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying asset, which could cause the Fund to suffer a potentially unlimited loss. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Fund.

Illiquid Investments Risk: Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments are or become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of Fund shares. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed-income securities generally decline.

Management Risk: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there is

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 7


 

DISCLOSURES AND RISKS (continued)

 

no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected.

Mortgage-Related and/or Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed and/or other asset-backed securities, including securities backed by mortgages and assets with an international or emerging-markets origination and securities backed by non-performing loans at the time of investment. Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to certain additional risks. The value of these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates. These risks include “extension risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may delay the payment of principal, and “prepayment risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of falling interest rates, issuers may pay principal sooner than expected, exposing the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Mortgage-backed securities offered by nongovernmental issuers and other asset-backed securities may be subject to other risks, such as higher rates of default in the mortgages or assets backing the securities or risks associated with the nature and servicing of mortgages or assets backing the securities.

As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

An Important Note About Historical Performance

The performance shown in this report represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. All fees and expenses related to the operation of the Fund have been deducted. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Historical performance does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions at prices obtained pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

8 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

 

GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND (unaudited)

3/31/2014 TO 3/31/2024

 

LOGO

This chart illustrates the total value of an assumed $10,000 investment in AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund based on market prices (from 3/31/2014 to 3/31/2024) as compared with the performance of the Fund’s benchmarks. The chart assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions at prices obtained pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 9


 

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF MARCH 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

    NAV
Returns
    Market
Price
 
1 Year     15.06%       18.43%  
5 Years     4.75%       5.95%  
10 Years     5.05%       4.78%  

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS

AS OF THE MOST RECENT CALENDAR QUARTER-END

MARCH 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

     NAV
Returns
     Market
Price
 
1 Year      15.06%        18.43%  
5 Years      4.75%        5.95%  
10 Years      5.05%        4.78%  

Performance assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions at prices obtained pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

10 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

March 31, 2024 (unaudited)

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): 966.4

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

 

1

The Fund’s security type breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Fund also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). “Other” security type weightings represent 0.2% or less in the following: Common Stocks, Preferred Stocks, Asset-Backed Securities and Rights.

 

2

The Fund’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Fund also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). “Other” country weightings represent 0.7% or less in the following: Angola, Argentina, Austria, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey (Channel Islands), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Romania, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zambia.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 11


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2024

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

CORPORATES - NON-INVESTMENT GRADE – 56.7%

      

Industrial – 50.1%

      

Basic – 3.6%

      

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
5.00%, 09/30/2027(a)(b)

    U.S.$       140      $ 135,790  

6.375%, 06/15/2030(b)

      364        365,701  

Alcoa Nederland Holding BV
6.125%, 05/15/2028(b)

      649        649,969  

7.125%, 03/15/2031(b)

      441        449,223  

Arsenal AIC Parent LLC
8.00%, 10/01/2030(b)

      728        764,194  

ASP Unifrax Holdings, Inc.
5.25%, 09/30/2028(b)

      1,976        1,275,289  

7.50%, 09/30/2029(b)

      1,244        687,942  

Baffinland Iron Mines Corp./Baffinland Iron Mines LP
8.75%, 07/15/2026(b)

      373        344,561  

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.
7.00%, 03/15/2032(b)

      2,998        3,040,127  

Constellium SE
3.125%, 07/15/2029(b)

    EUR       1,109        1,106,618  

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI
4.75%, 02/01/2026

    U.S.$       333        327,581  

CVR Partners LP/CVR Nitrogen Finance Corp.
6.125%, 06/15/2028(b)

      360        346,140  

Domtar Corp.
6.75%, 10/01/2028(b)

      140        127,489  

Element Solutions, Inc.
3.875%, 09/01/2028(b)

      1,370        1,255,786  

ERP Iron Ore LLC
9.04%, 12/31/2019(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)

      240        76,802  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty Ltd.
4.375%, 04/01/2031(b)

      2,125        1,899,334  

4.50%, 09/15/2027(b)

      819        786,014  

5.875%, 04/15/2030(b)

      86        84,548  

6.125%, 04/15/2032(b)

      2,651        2,620,859  

Glatfelter Corp.
4.75%, 11/15/2029(b)

      77        65,530  

Graham Packaging Co., Inc.
7.125%, 08/15/2028(b)

      698        633,188  

Graphic Packaging International LLC 3.75%, 02/01/2030(b)

      1,661        1,479,607  

Hecla Mining Co.
7.25%, 02/15/2028

      282        283,225  

 

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PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Hudbay Minerals, Inc.
4.50%, 04/01/2026(b)

    U.S.$       401      $ 387,489  

INEOS Finance PLC
6.375%, 04/15/2029(b)

    EUR       1,160        1,253,222  

7.50%, 04/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       848        852,512  

INEOS Quattro Finance 2 PLC
8.50%, 03/15/2029(b)

    EUR       1,726        1,965,427  

9.625%, 03/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       548        588,964  

INEOS Styrolution Ludwigshafen GmbH
2.25%, 01/16/2027(b)

    EUR       104        103,608  

Ingevity Corp.
3.875%, 11/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       495        447,195  

Intelligent Packaging Holdco Issuer LP
9.00% (9.00% Cash or 9.75% PIK), 01/15/2026(b)(c)

      611        574,809  

Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC
6.00%, 09/15/2028(b)

      361        344,199  

Magnetation LLC/Mag Finance Corp.
11.00%, 05/15/2018(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      2,857        – 0  – 

Mineral Resources Ltd.
8.125%, 05/01/2027(b)

      158        159,775  

Olympus Water US Holding Corp.
7.125%, 10/01/2027(b)

      755        763,096  

9.75%, 11/15/2028(b)

      1,750        1,865,756  

Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc.
4.375%, 10/15/2029(b)

      143        131,018  

SCIL IV LLC/SCIL USA Holdings LLC
4.375%, 11/01/2026(b)

    EUR       320        341,814  

5.375%, 11/01/2026(b)

    U.S.$       1,039        1,008,478  

Sealed Air Corp.
6.875%, 07/15/2033(b)

      564        588,216  

SNF Group SACA
3.125%, 03/15/2027(b)

      655        604,972  

3.375%, 03/15/2030(b)

      951        822,619  

SunCoke Energy, Inc.
4.875%, 06/30/2029(b)

      395        357,928  

Trinseo Materials Operating SCA/Trinseo
Materials Finance, Inc.
5.375%, 09/01/2025(b)

      58        46,400  

Vibrantz Technologies, Inc.
9.00%, 02/15/2030(b)

      1,887        1,743,479  

WR Grace Holdings LLC
4.875%, 06/15/2027(b)

      1,186        1,128,101  

5.625%, 08/15/2029(b)

      61        54,603  
      

 

 

 
         34,939,197  
      

 

 

 

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 13


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Capital Goods – 4.6%

 

ARD Finance SA
5.00% (5.00% Cash or 5.75% PIK), 06/30/2027(b)(c)

  EUR     3,069      $ 933,128  

Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA
LLC/Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC
4.00%, 09/01/2029(b)

  U.S.$     985        794,136  

6.00%, 06/15/2027(b)

      684        663,330  

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.
2.125%, 08/15/2026(b)

  EUR     1,442        1,333,703  

4.125%, 08/15/2026(b)

  U.S.$     3,282        2,977,186  

5.25%, 08/15/2027(b)

      639        401,212  

Ball Corp.
6.00%, 06/15/2029

      1,607        1,621,903  

6.875%, 03/15/2028

      553        567,281  

Bombardier, Inc.
7.25%, 07/01/2031(b)

      862        864,435  

7.875%, 04/15/2027(b)

      1,055        1,056,619  

8.75%, 11/15/2030(b)

      1,295        1,384,031  

Calderys Financing LLC
11.25%, 06/01/2028(b)

      2,089        2,247,544  

Clean Harbors, Inc.
4.875%, 07/15/2027(b)

      25        24,250  

6.375%, 02/01/2031(b)

      393        395,775  

Crown Americas LLC
5.25%, 04/01/2030

      411        396,561  

Eco Material Technologies, Inc.
7.875%, 01/31/2027(b)

      3,007        3,054,090  

EnerSys
4.375%, 12/15/2027(b)

      935        884,948  

6.625%, 01/15/2032(b)

      1,170        1,179,803  

Enviri Corp.
5.75%, 07/31/2027(b)

      1,384        1,302,685  

Esab Corp.
6.25%, 04/15/2029(b)

      544        546,907  

F-Brasile SpA/F-Brasile US LLC
Series XR
7.375%, 08/15/2026(b)

      957        956,695  

GFL Environmental, Inc.
6.75%, 01/15/2031(b)

      523        535,995  

Griffon Corp.
5.75%, 03/01/2028

      1,079        1,057,163  

Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd./Titan Co-Borrower LLC
9.00%, 02/15/2029(b)

      370        382,671  

 

14 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

LSB Industries, Inc.
6.25%, 10/15/2028(a)(b)

    U.S.$       1,348      $ 1,297,920  

Madison IAQ LLC
5.875%, 06/30/2029(b)

      359        329,116  

Maxim Crane Works Holdings Capital LLC
11.50%, 09/01/2028(b)

      340        368,638  

Moog, Inc.
4.25%, 12/15/2027(b)

      379        356,969  

Mueller Water Products, Inc.
4.00%, 06/15/2029(b)

      291        263,989  

Oscar AcquisitionCo LLC/Oscar Finance, Inc.
9.50%, 04/15/2030(b)

      372        366,942  

Paprec Holding SA
7.25%, 11/17/2029(b)

    EUR       569        654,237  

Stericycle, Inc.
3.875%, 01/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       1,076        975,810  

TK Elevator Midco GmbH
4.375%, 07/15/2027(b)

    EUR       585        607,591  

TK Elevator US Newco, Inc.
5.25%, 07/15/2027(b)

    U.S.$       306        295,675  

TransDigm, Inc.
4.625%, 01/15/2029

      1,595        1,480,536  

4.875%, 05/01/2029

      1,954        1,816,156  

6.375%, 03/01/2029(b)

      83        83,254  

6.75%, 08/15/2028(b)

      2,508        2,544,765  

7.125%, 12/01/2031(b)

      3,137        3,235,838  

7.50%, 03/15/2027

      118        118,105  

Trinity Industries, Inc.
7.75%, 07/15/2028(b)

      1,073        1,101,743  

Triumph Group, Inc.
9.00%, 03/15/2028(b)

      2,265        2,388,079  

Tutor Perini Corp.
6.875%, 05/01/2025(b)

      61        60,528  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.
6.375%, 03/15/2029(b)

      371        374,898  

6.625%, 03/15/2032(b)

      375        381,218  

7.125%, 06/15/2025(b)

      20        20,026  

7.25%, 06/15/2028(b)

      271        276,697  
      

 

 

 
         44,960,781  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 6.9%

 

Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.
6.50%, 11/15/2028(b)

      723        680,873  

Altice Financing SA
5.00%, 01/15/2028(b)

      516        424,302  

5.75%, 08/15/2029(b)

      2,724        2,178,035  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 15


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

AMC Networks, Inc.
4.25%, 02/15/2029

  U.S.$     1,084      $ 768,531  

4.75%, 08/01/2025

      890        889,145  

10.25%, 01/15/2029(b)

      1,083        1,090,862  

Arches Buyer, Inc.
6.125%, 12/01/2028(b)

      907        760,999  

Banijay Entertainment SASU
7.00%, 05/01/2029(b)

  EUR     603        683,178  

8.125%, 05/01/2029(b)

  U.S.$     805        831,586  

Cable One, Inc.
4.00%, 11/15/2030(b)

      139        108,453  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
4.50%, 08/15/2030(b)

      4,665        3,918,662  

4.50%, 06/01/2033(b)

      2,851        2,224,988  

4.75%, 02/01/2032(b)

      7,063        5,771,285  

6.375%, 09/01/2029(b)

      1,760        1,670,817  

7.375%, 03/01/2031(b)

      2,762        2,708,210  

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
5.125%, 08/15/2027(b)

      512        483,258  

CMG Media Corp.
8.875%, 12/15/2027(b)

      478        314,131  

CSC Holdings LLC
4.50%, 11/15/2031(b)

      981        694,236  

4.625%, 12/01/2030(b)

      1,142        580,159  

5.375%, 02/01/2028(b)

      2,721        2,340,418  

5.75%, 01/15/2030(b)

      2,178        1,152,284  

7.50%, 04/01/2028(b)

      1,032        694,115  

11.25%, 05/15/2028(b)

      824        817,242  

11.75%, 01/31/2029(b)

      581        581,157  

Deluxe Corp.
8.00%, 06/01/2029(b)

      17        15,655  

DISH DBS Corp.
5.125%, 06/01/2029

      2,807        1,176,208  

5.25%, 12/01/2026(b)

      3,571        2,816,398  

5.75%, 12/01/2028(b)

      2,596        1,785,009  

5.875%, 11/15/2024(i)

      1,821        1,740,225  

7.75%, 07/01/2026

      274        183,138  

Gray Television, Inc.
5.375%, 11/15/2031(b)

      1,364        895,356  

iHeartCommunications, Inc.
4.75%, 01/15/2028(b)

      60        42,092  

5.25%, 08/15/2027(b)

      1,499        1,075,025  

6.375%, 05/01/2026

      547        465,728  

LCPR Senior Secured Financing DAC
5.125%, 07/15/2029(b)

      2,910        2,429,916  

6.75%, 10/15/2027(b)

      1,098        1,029,180  

 

16 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC
5.50%, 04/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       461      $ 352,481  

McGraw-Hill Education, Inc.
5.75%, 08/01/2028(b)

      1,123        1,056,111  

Outfront Media Capital LLC/Outfront Media Capital Corp.
4.625%, 03/15/2030(b)

      376        337,277  

Paramount Global
6.25%, 02/28/2057

      245        214,923  

6.375%, 03/30/2062

      343        316,376  

Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc.
4.50%, 09/15/2026(b)

      1,849        1,470,659  

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
4.125%, 12/01/2030(b)

      1,613        1,172,855  

5.50%, 03/01/2030(b)

      382        275,231  

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.
3.875%, 09/01/2031(b)

      40        33,338  

4.00%, 07/15/2028(b)

      4,573        4,184,291  

5.00%, 08/01/2027(b)

      837        805,831  

Summer BC Holdco B SARL
5.75%, 10/31/2026(b)

    EUR       1,395        1,477,601  

TEGNA, Inc.
5.00%, 09/15/2029

    U.S.$       333        298,698  

Townsquare Media, Inc.
6.875%, 02/01/2026(b)

      113        110,243  

Univision Communications, Inc.
6.625%, 06/01/2027(b)

      1,593        1,559,285  

7.375%, 06/30/2030(b)

      1,186        1,173,562  

8.00%, 08/15/2028(b)

      1,261        1,285,080  

Urban One, Inc.
7.375%, 02/01/2028(b)

      2,526        2,150,632  

VZ Vendor Financing II BV
2.875%, 01/15/2029(b)

    EUR       885        824,070  

Ziggo Bond Co. BV
5.125%, 02/28/2030(b)

    U.S.$       1,770        1,513,762  
      

 

 

 
         66,633,162  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Telecommunications – 2.6%

 

Altice France Holding SA
4.00%, 02/15/2028(b)

    EUR       332        86,261  

6.00%, 02/15/2028(b)

    U.S.$       359        101,950  

10.50%, 05/15/2027(b)

      2,710        1,009,475  

Altice France SA/France
3.375%, 01/15/2028(b)

    EUR       885        685,696  

5.125%, 01/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       391        268,813  

5.125%, 07/15/2029(b)

      5,220        3,537,131  

5.50%, 01/15/2028(b)

      492        350,887  

5.50%, 10/15/2029(b)

      1,761        1,210,696  

8.125%, 02/01/2027(b)

      526        406,335  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 17


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Consolidated Communications, Inc.
6.50%, 10/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       1,486      $ 1,304,140  

Embarq Corp.
7.995%, 06/01/2036

      984        534,970  

Frontier Communications Holdings LLC
6.75%, 05/01/2029(b)

      1,209        1,077,291  

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.
6.625%, 08/01/2026

      302        177,976  

Iliad Holding SASU
6.50%, 10/15/2026(b)

      519        513,794  

Level 3 Financing, Inc.
3.40%, 03/01/2027(b)

      584        450,884  

3.75%, 07/15/2029(b)

      1,018        459,540  

4.25%, 07/01/2028(b)

      769        361,863  

4.625%, 09/15/2027(b)

      1,451        962,423  

Lorca Telecom Bondco SA
4.00%, 09/18/2027(b)

    EUR       952        997,251  

Telecom Italia Capital SA
7.20%, 07/18/2036

    U.S.$       259        252,956  

7.72%, 06/04/2038

      1,565        1,565,119  

United Group BV
3.625%, 02/15/2028(b)

    EUR       237        240,485  

4.625%, 08/15/2028(b)

      481        496,891  

6.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

      616        681,157  

8.13% (EURIBOR 3 Month + 4.25%),
02/01/2029(b)(i)

      539        583,397  

Vmed O2 UK Financing I PLC
4.25%, 01/31/2031(b)

    U.S.$       530        448,436  

4.75%, 07/15/2031(b)

      3,639        3,136,895  

7.75%, 04/15/2032(b)

      1,918        1,926,148  

Windstream Escrow LLC/Windstream Escrow Finance Corp.
7.75%, 08/15/2028(b)

      453        419,765  

Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.
4.00%, 03/01/2027(b)

      443        364,386  

6.125%, 03/01/2028(b)

      128        88,895  
      

 

 

 
         24,701,906  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 2.4%

 

Adient Global Holdings Ltd.
4.875%, 08/15/2026(b)

      438        427,083  

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
5.00%, 10/01/2029

      220        197,579  

6.875%, 07/01/2028

      866        861,699  

Aston Martin Capital Holdings Ltd.
10.00%, 03/31/2029(b)

      639        651,934  

Dana Financing Luxembourg SARL
5.75%, 04/15/2025(b)

      55        54,773  

 

18 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Dana, Inc.
4.25%, 09/01/2030

    U.S.$       760      $ 671,514  

5.375%, 11/15/2027

      109        106,727  

5.625%, 06/15/2028

      182        177,589  

Exide Technologies
11.00%, 10/31/2024(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(k)

      4,147        – 0  – 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)
5.625%, 04/30/2033

      636        580,771  

IHO Verwaltungs GmbH
3.75% (3.75% Cash or 4.50% PIK), 09/15/2026(b)(c)

    EUR       885        942,294  

3.875% (3.875% Cash or 4.625% PIK), 05/15/2027(b)(c)

      338        357,542  

6.00% (6.00% Cash or 6.75% PIK), 05/15/2027(b)(c)

    U.S.$       1,984        1,981,818  

8.75% (8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK), 05/15/2028(b)(c)

    EUR       306        357,628  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC
5.50%, 07/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       1,206        1,154,276  

5.875%, 01/15/2028(b)

      705        694,348  

7.75%, 10/15/2025(b)

      1,207        1,219,065  

Mclaren Finance PLC
7.50%, 08/01/2026(b)

      1,973        1,733,961  

PM General Purchaser LLC
9.50%, 10/01/2028(b)

      1,250        1,277,498  

Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc.
6.25%, 02/01/2029(b)

      1,530        1,339,295  

Tenneco, Inc.
8.00%, 11/17/2028(b)

      2,794        2,549,030  

Titan International, Inc.
7.00%, 04/30/2028

      1,465        1,446,040  

ZF Europe Finance BV
2.00%, 02/23/2026(a)(b)

    EUR       200        206,468  

ZF Finance GmbH
Series E
2.00%, 05/06/2027(b)

      200        200,774  

2.75%, 05/25/2027(b)

      900        923,787  

ZF North America Capital, Inc.
4.75%, 04/29/2025(b)

    U.S.$       2,357        2,328,418  

6.875%, 04/14/2028(b)

      504        522,985  

7.125%, 04/14/2030(b)

      504        531,117  
      

 

 

 
         23,496,013  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment – 2.3%

 

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
7.50%, 02/15/2029(b)

      142        95,865  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 19


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Carnival Corp.
4.00%, 08/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       1,739      $ 1,619,878  

7.00%, 08/15/2029(b)

      243        252,920  

7.625%, 03/01/2026(b)

    EUR       311        341,971  

Carnival Holdings Bermuda Ltd.
10.375%, 05/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       3,548        3,871,277  

Cedar Fair LP
5.25%, 07/15/2029

      85        80,479  

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp./Millennium Op
5.375%, 04/15/2027

      85        83,615  

Cinemark USA, Inc.
5.25%, 07/15/2028(b)

      492        465,845  

Lindblad Expeditions LLC
6.75%, 02/15/2027(b)

      365        367,236  

Merlin Entertainments Group US Holdings, Inc.
7.375%, 02/15/2031(b)

      1,076        1,084,869  

Motion Bondco DAC
4.50%, 11/15/2027(b)

    EUR       670        694,315  

NCL Corp., Ltd.
5.875%, 03/15/2026(b)

    U.S.$       545        538,160  

5.875%, 02/15/2027(b)

      80        78,919  

8.125%, 01/15/2029(b)

      922        976,375  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
5.375%, 07/15/2027(b)

      1,159        1,142,289  

5.50%, 08/31/2026(b)

      948        938,842  

5.50%, 04/01/2028(b)

      4,222        4,170,334  

Six Flags Entertainment Corp.
7.25%, 05/15/2031(b)

      1,082        1,095,550  

Viking Cruises Ltd.
5.875%, 09/15/2027(b)

      715        701,842  

7.00%, 02/15/2029(b)

      1,752        1,759,392  

9.125%, 07/15/2031(b)

      83        90,752  

VOC Escrow Ltd.
5.00%, 02/15/2028(b)

      1,749        1,684,324  
      

 

 

 
         22,135,049  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 3.2%

 

Adams Homes, Inc.
7.50%, 02/15/2025(b)

      194        194,258  

Affinity Interactive
6.875%, 12/15/2027(b)

      396        370,582  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US LLC
4.875%, 02/15/2030(b)

      1,097        983,266  

6.25%, 09/15/2027(b)

      1,411        1,380,512  

 

20 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Builders FirstSource, Inc.
5.00%, 03/01/2030(b)

  U.S.$     466      $ 444,433  

6.375%, 03/01/2034(b)

      1,119        1,123,295  

Century Communities, Inc.
3.875%, 08/15/2029(b)

      406        365,583  

6.75%, 06/01/2027

      31        31,144  

Churchill Downs, Inc.
4.75%, 01/15/2028(b)

      491        467,380  

Cirsa Finance International SARL
6.50%, 03/15/2029(b)

  EUR     559        617,056  

Five Point Operating Co. LP/Five Point Capital Corp.
10.50%, 01/15/2028(i)

  U.S.$     1,306        1,346,314  

Forestar Group, Inc.
3.85%, 05/15/2026(b)

      385        367,705  

Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.
3.625%, 02/15/2032(b)

      1,593        1,372,607  

3.75%, 05/01/2029(b)

      699        640,896  

5.875%, 04/01/2029(b)

      1,286        1,287,941  

6.125%, 04/01/2032(b)

      738        740,785  

Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC/Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Esc
4.875%, 07/01/2031(b)

      560        501,655  

5.00%, 06/01/2029(b)

      1,598        1,491,009  

6.625%, 01/15/2032(b)

      500        501,482  

Installed Building Products, Inc.
5.75%, 02/01/2028(b)

      291        283,895  

Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.
6.75%, 02/15/2029(b)

      2        1,939  

Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc.
4.50%, 06/15/2029(b)

      514        469,876  

Mattamy Group Corp.
4.625%, 03/01/2030(b)

      95        86,430  

MGM Resorts International
4.625%, 09/01/2026

      549        536,693  

4.75%, 10/15/2028

      1,047        995,542  

5.50%, 04/15/2027

      1,163        1,153,379  

5.75%, 06/15/2025

      30        29,967  

Miller Homes Group Finco PLC
7.00%, 05/15/2029(b)

  GBP     679        798,252  

9.15% (EURIBOR 3 Month + 5.25%),
05/15/2028(b)(j)

  EUR     514        551,500  

Miter Brands Acquisition Holdco, Inc./MIWD
Borrower LLC
6.75%, 04/01/2032(b)

  U.S.$     361        362,234  

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority
8.00%, 02/01/2026(b)

      442        431,168  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 21


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

New Home Co., Inc. (The)
8.25%, 10/15/2027(a)(b)

    U.S.$       211      $ 214,839  

Playtech PLC
4.25%, 03/07/2026(b)

    EUR       101        106,277  

Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp.
4.75%, 04/01/2029

    U.S.$       911        855,510  

Standard Industries, Inc./NJ
4.375%, 07/15/2030(b)

      705        633,128  

Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz LP/Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp.
5.875%, 05/15/2025(b)

      1,785        1,776,817  

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc.
5.125%, 08/01/2030(b)

      92        87,931  

5.75%, 01/15/2028(b)

      376        373,856  

5.875%, 06/15/2027(b)

      83        82,989  

Thor Industries, Inc.
4.00%, 10/15/2029(b)

      387        346,581  

TopBuild Corp.
4.125%, 02/15/2032(b)

      418        370,070  

Travel & Leisure Co.
4.50%, 12/01/2029(b)

      911        836,291  

4.625%, 03/01/2030(b)

      2,415        2,205,118  

6.625%, 07/31/2026(b)

      637        641,604  

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
4.375%, 08/15/2028(b)

      378        351,168  

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.
5.25%, 05/15/2027(b)

      781        764,274  

Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp.
5.125%, 10/01/2029(b)

      1,988        1,884,389  
      

 

 

 
         31,459,622  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants – 0.2%

 

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc.
3.875%, 01/15/2028(b)

      1,286        1,208,674  

4.375%, 01/15/2028(b)

      118        111,545  

CEC Entertainment LLC
6.75%, 05/01/2026(b)

      365        361,848  
      

 

 

 
         1,682,067  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 2.7%

 

Arko Corp.
5.125%, 11/15/2029(b)

      1,035        858,009  

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
4.625%, 11/15/2029(b)

      858        793,825  

5.00%, 02/15/2032(b)

      827        749,168  

 

22 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Bath & Body Works, Inc.
5.25%, 02/01/2028

  U.S.$     89      $ 87,091  

6.75%, 07/01/2036

      631        637,096  

6.875%, 11/01/2035

      519        530,182  

7.50%, 06/15/2029

      107        111,454  

7.60%, 07/15/2037

      261        260,303  

9.375%, 07/01/2025(b)

      41        42,762  

BCPE Ulysses Intermediate, Inc.
7.75% (7.75% Cash or 8.50% PIK),
04/01/2027(b)(c)

      518        512,795  

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.
6.50%, 08/01/2030(b)

      674        684,298  

Carvana Co.
5.50%, 04/15/2027(b)

      415        323,310  

12.00% (12.00% PIK), 12/01/2028(a)(b)(c)

      992        969,961  

CT Investment GmbH
6.375%, 04/15/2030(b)

  EUR     516        558,889  

FirstCash, Inc.
6.875%, 03/01/2032(b)

  U.S.$     1,871        1,872,268  

Foundation Building Materials, Inc.
6.00%, 03/01/2029(b)

      246        226,385  

Gap, Inc. (The)
3.625%, 10/01/2029(b)

      371        325,008  

3.875%, 10/01/2031(b)

      95        80,351  

Global Auto Holdings Ltd/AAG FH UK Ltd.
8.375%, 01/15/2029(b)

      1,363        1,332,460  

8.75%, 01/15/2032(b)

      835        808,264  

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
4.00%, 08/15/2028(b)

      507        467,266  

Guitar Center, Inc.
8.50%, 01/15/2026(b)

      396        349,504  

Kontoor Brands, Inc.
4.125%, 11/15/2029(b)

      894        804,230  

LBM Acquisition LLC
6.25%, 01/15/2029(b)

      81        75,960  

LCM Investments Holdings II LLC
4.875%, 05/01/2029(b)

      92        84,545  

8.25%, 08/01/2031(b)

      727        759,961  

LSF9 Atlantis Holdings LLC/Victra Finance Corp.
7.75%, 02/15/2026(b)

      378        375,202  

Michaels Cos., Inc. (The)
5.25%, 05/01/2028(b)

      1,475        1,252,868  

7.875%, 05/01/2029(b)

      1,248        935,931  

Murphy Oil USA, Inc.
3.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

      460        401,781  

4.75%, 09/15/2029

      16        15,181  

5.625%, 05/01/2027

      69        68,330  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 23


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

NMG Holding Co., Inc./Neiman Marcus Group LLC
7.125%, 04/01/2026(b)

    U.S.$       724      $ 709,733  

Nordstrom, Inc.
5.00%, 01/15/2044

      4        3,089  

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
3.75%, 06/15/2029

      903        809,373  

QVC, Inc.
4.375%, 09/01/2028

      5        4,006  

4.45%, 02/15/2025

      253        245,063  

4.75%, 02/15/2027

      193        171,667  

Sonic Automotive, Inc.
4.625%, 11/15/2029(b)

      1,674        1,503,124  

4.875%, 11/15/2031(b)

      144        125,968  

Specialty Building Products Holdings LLC/SBP Finance Corp.
6.375%, 09/30/2026(b)

      418        414,804  

Staples, Inc.
7.50%, 04/15/2026(b)

      2,851        2,782,285  

10.75%, 04/15/2027(b)

      1,207        1,148,150  

White Cap Buyer LLC
6.875%, 10/15/2028(b)

      161        157,961  

White Cap Parent LLC
8.25% (8.25% Cash or 9.00% PIK),
03/15/2026(b)(c)

      329        328,662  

William Carter Co. (The)
5.625%, 03/15/2027(b)

      80        79,392  
      

 

 

 
         25,837,915  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 6.6%

 

AdaptHealth LLC
6.125%, 08/01/2028(b)

      288        270,421  

Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New
Albertsons LP/Albertsons LLC
3.25%, 03/15/2026(b)

      773        736,468  

4.625%, 01/15/2027(b)

      615        595,327  

6.50%, 02/15/2028(b)

      2,469        2,498,531  

Bausch & Lomb Corp.
8.375%, 10/01/2028(b)

      2,278        2,355,834  

Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
8.50%, 01/31/2027(b)

      543        321,637  

Bausch Health Cos., Inc.
4.875%, 06/01/2028(b)

      2,807        1,529,572  

5.25%, 01/30/2030(b)

      8        3,369  

5.50%, 11/01/2025(b)

      291        274,588  

5.75%, 08/15/2027(b)

      70        40,294  

6.125%, 02/01/2027(b)

      359        223,942  

 

24 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

6.25%, 02/15/2029(b)

  U.S.$     911      $ 395,357  

7.25%, 05/30/2029(b)

      254        113,727  

11.00%, 09/30/2028(b)

      403        268,980  

CAB SELAS
3.375%, 02/01/2028(b)

  EUR     1,880        1,835,385  

Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH
7.50%, 05/15/2030(b)

      770        877,245  

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
4.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

  U.S.$     493        380,424  

5.625%, 03/15/2027(b)

      573        527,344  

6.00%, 01/15/2029(b)

      1,466        1,280,802  

6.125%, 04/01/2030(b)

      3,702        2,665,525  

6.875%, 04/01/2028(b)

      213        149,707  

6.875%, 04/15/2029(b)

      1,350        1,011,803  

8.00%, 03/15/2026(b)

      296        295,455  

10.875%, 01/15/2032(b)

      79        81,592  

DaVita, Inc.
3.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

      816        682,721  

4.625%, 06/01/2030(b)

      3,975        3,558,021  

Edgewell Personal Care Co.
4.125%, 04/01/2029(b)

      2        1,836  

Elanco Animal Health, Inc.
6.65%, 08/28/2028(a)

      1,496        1,521,758  

Embecta Corp.
5.00%, 02/15/2030(b)

      2,586        2,109,999  

Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.
3.875%, 08/15/2028(b)

      1,516        705,474  

Fortrea Holdings, Inc.
7.50%, 07/01/2030(b)

      406        419,349  

Global Medical Response, Inc.
6.50%, 10/01/2025(b)

      309        293,552  

Grifols SA
3.20%, 05/01/2025(b)

  EUR     414        411,682  

3.875%, 10/15/2028(b)

      3,256        2,777,715  

4.75%, 10/15/2028(b)(i)

  U.S.$     804        665,336  

Gruenenthal GmbH
4.125%, 05/15/2028(b)

  EUR     1,141        1,191,630  

Heartland Dental LLC/Heartland Dental Finance Corp.
10.50%, 04/30/2028(b)

  U.S.$     76        80,764  

Herbalife Nutrition Ltd./HLF Financing, Inc.
7.875%, 09/01/2025(b)

      382        382,000  

Iceland Bondco PLC
9.40% (EURIBOR 3 Month + 5.50%),
12/15/2027(b)(j)

  EUR     385        418,314  

10.875%, 12/15/2027(b)

  GBP     162        215,665  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 25


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

IQVIA, Inc.
2.25%, 03/15/2029(b)

  EUR     862      $ 837,169  

6.50%, 05/15/2030(b)

  U.S.$     329        335,801  

Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc./KIK Custom Products, Inc.
7.00%, 12/31/2027(b)

      1,929        1,914,284  

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.
4.125%, 01/31/2030(b)

      1,062        968,935  

Legacy LifePoint Health LLC
4.375%, 02/15/2027(b)

      2,626        2,500,894  

Medline Borrower LP
3.875%, 04/01/2029(b)

      1,738        1,582,006  

5.25%, 10/01/2029(b)

      3,167        2,993,470  

Neogen Food Safety Corp.
8.625%, 07/20/2030(b)

      883        949,763  

Newell Brands, Inc.
4.875%, 06/01/2025

      170        167,577  

5.70%, 04/01/2026(a)

      452        444,241  

6.375%, 09/15/2027

      1,026        1,012,670  

Organon & Co./Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV
2.875%, 04/30/2028(b)

  EUR     885        887,947  

4.125%, 04/30/2028(b)

  U.S.$     499        464,857  

5.125%, 04/30/2031(b)

      922        816,535  

Performance Food Group, Inc.
4.25%, 08/01/2029(b)

      297        272,388  

5.50%, 10/15/2027(b)

      290        284,947  

Post Holdings, Inc.
4.50%, 09/15/2031(b)

      131        117,849  

4.625%, 04/15/2030(b)

      821        753,588  

5.50%, 12/15/2029(b)

      529        511,040  

6.25%, 02/15/2032(b)

      445        448,102  

Primo Water Holdings, Inc.
4.375%, 04/30/2029(b)

      1,227        1,126,324  

RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings,
Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc.
9.75%, 12/01/2026(b)

      775        776,444  

Spectrum Brands, Inc.
3.875%, 03/15/2031(b)(i)

      1,170        1,129,042  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.
7.25%, 04/15/2032(b)

      837        844,341  

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.
3.875%, 10/15/2031(b)

      3        2,551  

4.00%, 04/15/2029(b)

      448        406,983  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.
4.375%, 01/15/2030

      2,307        2,133,251  

6.125%, 10/01/2028

      648        645,627  

 

26 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Triton Water Holdings, Inc.
6.25%, 04/01/2029(b)

    U.S.$       884      $ 805,042  

US Acute Care Solutions LLC
6.375%, 03/01/2026(b)

      3,211        3,092,759  

US Foods, Inc.
4.75%, 02/15/2029(b)

      88        83,521  

6.875%, 09/15/2028(b)

      79        80,937  
      

 

 

 
         63,560,030  
      

 

 

 

Energy – 6.8%

 

Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp.
5.375%, 06/15/2029(b)

      80        76,951  

5.75%, 03/01/2027(b)

      602        593,935  

5.75%, 01/15/2028(b)

      100        98,421  

Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp.
7.00%, 11/01/2026(b)

      3        3,007  

Berry Petroleum Co. LLC
7.00%, 02/15/2026(b)

      245        241,750  

Blue Racer Midstream LLC/Blue Racer Finance Corp.
7.625%, 12/15/2025(b)

      421        424,418  

Buckeye Partners LP
3.95%, 12/01/2026

      91        87,005  

4.125%, 03/01/2025(b)

      85        83,005  

4.125%, 12/01/2027

      507        477,812  

Callon Petroleum Co.
7.50%, 06/15/2030(b)

      1,004        1,063,009  

CGG SA
8.75%, 04/01/2027(b)

      422        382,374  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.
6.75%, 04/15/2029(b)

      177        179,081  

CITGO Petroleum Corp.
6.375%, 06/15/2026(b)

      471        473,655  

7.00%, 06/15/2025(b)

      1,781        1,779,155  

8.375%, 01/15/2029(b)

      844        884,353  

Civitas Resources, Inc.
5.00%, 10/15/2026(b)

      682        666,886  

8.375%, 07/01/2028(b)

      1,185        1,246,547  

8.625%, 11/01/2030(b)

      521        559,313  

8.75%, 07/01/2031(b)

      1,137        1,217,431  

CNX Resources Corp.
6.00%, 01/15/2029(b)

      311        304,792  

7.25%, 03/01/2032(b)

      876        891,295  

7.375%, 01/15/2031(b)

      107        108,872  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 27


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Comstock Resources, Inc.
5.875%, 01/15/2030(b)

  U.S.$     30      $ 27,170  

6.75%, 03/01/2029(b)

      294        280,363  

Crescent Energy Finance LLC
7.625%, 04/01/2032(b)

      347        349,880  

9.25%, 02/15/2028(b)

      1,134        1,197,827  

CVR Energy, Inc.
8.50%, 01/15/2029(b)

      392        396,998  

Encino Acquisition Partners Holdings LLC
8.50%, 05/01/2028(b)

      1,318        1,332,097  

Energy Transfer LP
8.00%, 05/15/2054

      365        381,617  

EnLink Midstream Partners LP
Series C
9.70% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.37%), 04/29/2024(j)(l)

      2,734        2,674,359  

EQM Midstream Partners LP
4.50%, 01/15/2029(b)

      898        842,388  

6.375%, 04/01/2029(b)

      315        317,214  

FTAI Infra Escrow Holdings LLC
10.50%, 06/01/2027(b)

      351        364,995  

Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp.
6.25%, 05/15/2026

      92        91,409  

7.75%, 02/01/2028

      440        442,240  

8.00%, 01/15/2027

      543        548,510  

8.25%, 01/15/2029

      1,359        1,395,570  

Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp.
6.875%, 01/15/2029

      1,921        1,908,845  

7.00%, 08/01/2027

      403        403,956  

Gulfport Energy Corp.
8.00%, 05/17/2026(b)

      610        619,688  

8.00%, 05/17/2026

      355        360,001  

Hess Midstream Operations LP
4.25%, 02/15/2030(b)

      798        733,547  

5.625%, 02/15/2026(b)

      488        483,967  

Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.
5.75%, 02/01/2029(b)

      313        305,280  

6.00%, 02/01/2031(b)

      412        401,521  

6.25%, 04/15/2032(b)

      89        87,824  

8.375%, 11/01/2033(b)

      1,299        1,405,979  

Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC
8.875%, 07/15/2028(b)

      702        741,996  

Ithaca Energy North Sea PLC
9.00%, 07/15/2026(b)

      200        202,054  

 

28 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

ITT Holdings LLC
6.50%, 08/01/2029(b)

  U.S.$     2,506      $ 2,288,289  

KCA Deutag UK Finance PLC
9.875%, 12/01/2025(b)

      331        333,232  

Kodiak Gas Services LLC
7.25%, 02/15/2029(b)

      333        339,462  

Moss Creek Resources Holdings, Inc.
7.50%, 01/15/2026(b)

      2,788        2,784,735  

Nabors Industries Ltd.
7.25%, 01/15/2026(b)

      403        400,088  

7.50%, 01/15/2028(b)

      1,042        976,922  

Nabors Industries, Inc.
7.375%, 05/15/2027(b)

      399        398,272  

9.125%, 01/31/2030(b)

      128        133,117  

New Fortress Energy, Inc.
6.50%, 09/30/2026(b)

      1,540        1,483,178  

6.75%, 09/15/2025(b)

      1,011        1,004,098  

8.75%, 03/15/2029(b)

      1,376        1,371,143  

NGL Energy Operating LLC/NGL Energy Finance Corp.
8.125%, 02/15/2029(b)

      1,709        1,750,477  

8.375%, 02/15/2032(b)

      1,242        1,273,559  

NuStar Logistics LP
5.625%, 04/28/2027

      80        79,221  

5.75%, 10/01/2025

      80        79,665  

6.00%, 06/01/2026

      547        545,319  

6.375%, 10/01/2030

      225        227,057  

Parkland Corp.
4.50%, 10/01/2029(b)

      220        203,479  

4.625%, 05/01/2030(b)

      220        202,820  

5.875%, 07/15/2027(b)

      46        45,602  

PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp.
6.00%, 02/15/2028

      318        312,612  

7.875%, 09/15/2030(b)

      92        95,334  

Petrofac Ltd.
9.75%, 11/15/2026(b)

      200        81,126  

Solaris Midstream Holdings LLC
7.625%, 04/01/2026(b)

      1,376        1,391,124  

Southwestern Energy Co.
5.375%, 02/01/2029

      187        181,737  

8.375%, 09/15/2028

      120        124,494  

Summit Midstream Holdings LLC/Summit Midstream Finance Corp.
9.00%, 10/15/2026(a)(b)

      1,416        1,432,396  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp.
4.50%, 05/15/2029

      204        189,949  

4.50%, 04/30/2030

      399        365,979  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 29


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

5.875%, 03/15/2028

    U.S.$       774      $ 768,184  

7.00%, 09/15/2028(b)

      79        80,731  

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp.
6.00%, 12/31/2030(b)

      160        151,932  

6.00%, 09/01/2031(b)

      72        67,122  

7.375%, 02/15/2029(b)

      82        82,468  

Talos Production, Inc.
9.00%, 02/01/2029(b)

      490        520,749  

9.375%, 02/01/2031(b)

      582        619,505  

Transocean Aquila Ltd.
8.00%, 09/30/2028(b)

      1,077        1,105,171  

Transocean, Inc.
8.75%, 02/15/2030(b)

      219        228,062  

11.50%, 01/30/2027(b)

      211        219,960  

USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp.
6.875%, 09/01/2027

      4        4,005  

Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC
3.875%, 08/15/2029(b)

      93        83,724  

3.875%, 11/01/2033(b)

      879        747,394  

4.125%, 08/15/2031(b)

      1,829        1,628,811  

6.25%, 01/15/2030(b)

      1,818        1,830,247  

Venture Global LNG, Inc.
8.125%, 06/01/2028(b)

      1,448        1,477,311  

8.375%, 06/01/2031(b)

      1,107        1,142,752  

9.50%, 02/01/2029(b)

      1,663        1,792,763  

9.875%, 02/01/2032(b)

      2,794        3,012,104  
      

 

 

 
         65,797,843  
      

 

 

 

Other Industrial – 0.3%

      

AECOM
5.125%, 03/15/2027

      390        383,427  

American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc.
4.00%, 01/15/2028(b)

      100        93,609  

Benteler International AG
10.50%, 05/15/2028(b)

      337        364,265  

Dealer Tire LLC/DT Issuer LLC
8.00%, 02/01/2028(b)

      1,116        1,113,082  

Grand Canyon University
4.125%, 10/01/2024

      223        217,869  

Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc.
6.75%, 03/15/2028(b)

      377        384,759  

7.75%, 03/15/2031(b)

      14        14,647  
      

 

 

 
         2,571,658  
      

 

 

 

 

30 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Services – 3.3%

      

ADT Security Corp. (The)
4.875%, 07/15/2032(b)

    U.S.$       1,012      $ 920,432  

Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp.
6.00%, 06/01/2029(b)

      327        281,376  

6.625%, 07/15/2026(b)

      100        99,939  

9.75%, 07/15/2027(b)

      1,601        1,605,179  

Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 SARL 3.625%, 06/01/2028(b)

    EUR       255        254,884  

4.625%, 06/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       4,455        4,060,205  

4.875%, 06/01/2028(b)

    GBP       1,010        1,149,224  

AMN Healthcare, Inc.
4.625%, 10/01/2027(b)

    U.S.$       4        3,804  

ANGI Group LLC
3.875%, 08/15/2028(b)

      2,420        2,100,398  

Aptim Corp.
7.75%, 06/15/2025(b)

      362        357,198  

APX Group, Inc.
5.75%, 07/15/2029(b)

      1,604        1,542,025  

6.75%, 02/15/2027(b)

      776        780,337  

Aramark Services, Inc.
5.00%, 02/01/2028(b)

      1,064        1,025,778  

Block, Inc.
2.75%, 06/01/2026

      923        868,786  

Brink’s Co. (The)
4.625%, 10/15/2027(b)

      383        365,141  

Cars.com, Inc.
6.375%, 11/01/2028(b)

      830        805,755  

Garda World Security Corp.
4.625%, 02/15/2027(b)

      188        180,208  

6.00%, 06/01/2029(b)

      179        160,300  

7.75%, 02/15/2028(b)

      1,281        1,313,992  

9.50%, 11/01/2027(b)

      479        480,430  

IHS Markit Ltd.
4.75%, 08/01/2028

      104        100,206  

Korn Ferry
4.625%, 12/15/2027(b)

      402        382,826  

Millennium Escrow Corp.
6.625%, 08/01/2026(b)

      2,023        1,198,066  

Mobius Merger Sub, Inc.
9.00%, 06/01/2030(b)

      351        349,003  

Monitronics International, Inc.
9.125%, 04/01/2020(d)(e)(f)(g)(k)

      958        – 0  – 

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC
5.50%, 09/01/2028(b)

      1,922        1,634,229  

5.75%, 11/01/2028(b)

      2,619        2,067,979  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 31


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Neptune Bidco US, Inc.
9.29%, 04/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       2,588      $ 2,448,577  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc.
3.375%, 08/31/2027(b)

      423        388,846  

5.25%, 04/15/2024(b)

      3        2,995  

5.75%, 04/15/2026(b)

      540        538,382  

6.25%, 01/15/2028(b)

      1,225        1,200,211  

Q-Park Holding I BV
2.00%, 03/01/2027(b)

    EUR       579        586,529  

Rakuten Group, Inc.
11.25%, 02/15/2027(b)

    U.S.$       441        466,977  

Service Corp. International/US
3.375%, 08/15/2030

      18        15,607  

Shutterfly Finance LLC
8.50% (4.25% Cash and 4.25% PIK), 10/01/2027(a)(b)(c)

      59        46,906  

9.75%, 10/01/2027(b)

      7        7,022  

Sotheby’s
7.375%, 10/15/2027(b)

      212        197,613  

TriNet Group, Inc.
3.50%, 03/01/2029(b)

      413        370,441  

Verscend Escrow Corp.
9.75%, 08/15/2026(b)

      551        552,898  

Wand NewCo 3, Inc.
7.625%, 01/30/2032(b)

      726        751,220  
      

 

 

 
         31,661,924  
      

 

 

 

Technology – 2.8%

      

Ahead DB Holdings LLC
6.625%, 05/01/2028(b)

      725        656,274  

ASGN, Inc.
4.625%, 05/15/2028(b)

      370        349,999  

AthenaHealth Group, Inc.
6.50%, 02/15/2030(b)

      1,754        1,606,032  

CommScope, Inc.
6.00%, 03/01/2026(b)

      948        866,252  

Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.
6.50%, 10/15/2028(b)

      51        45,328  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc.
3.00%, 02/15/2029

      402        356,421  

Entegris, Inc.
5.95%, 06/15/2030(b)

      1,146        1,132,819  

Fair Isaac Corp.
4.00%, 06/15/2028(b)

      423        395,305  

Gen Digital, Inc.
6.75%, 09/30/2027(b)

      1,768        1,794,141  

7.125%, 09/30/2030(b)

      586        602,076  

 

32 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

GoTo Group, Inc.
5.50%, 05/01/2028(b)

    U.S.$       1,667      $ 1,259,050  

Imola Merger Corp.
4.75%, 05/15/2029(b)

      968        907,756  

MicroStrategy, Inc.
6.125%, 06/15/2028(b)

      352        340,025  

NCR Voyix Corp.
5.125%, 04/15/2029(b)

      963        892,794  

Newfold Digital Holdings Group, Inc.
11.75%, 10/15/2028(b)

      7        7,575  

Open Text Holdings, Inc.
4.125%, 02/15/2030(b)

      564        505,482  

Playtika Holding Corp.
4.25%, 03/15/2029(b)

      1,199        1,037,839  

Presidio Holdings, Inc.
4.875%, 02/01/2027(b)

      182        176,774  

8.25%, 02/01/2028(b)

      1,374        1,370,189  

PTC, Inc.
3.625%, 02/15/2025(b)

      396        387,473  

4.00%, 02/15/2028(b)

      363        339,311  

Rackspace Finance LLC
3.50%, 05/15/2028(b)

      3,030        1,521,062  

Science Applications International Corp.
4.875%, 04/01/2028(b)

      105        100,275  

Seagate HDD Cayman
4.09%, 06/01/2029

      1,555        1,436,619  

4.125%, 01/15/2031

      38        33,397  

4.875%, 06/01/2027

      221        215,252  

8.25%, 12/15/2029(b)

      956        1,026,527  

8.50%, 07/15/2031(b)

      1,012        1,093,227  

Sensata Technologies, Inc.
3.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

      392        339,211  

TTM Technologies, Inc.
4.00%, 03/01/2029(b)

      375        340,080  

Vericast Corp.
11.00%, 09/15/2026(b)

      130        138,236  

Veritas US, Inc./Veritas Bermuda Ltd.
7.50%, 09/01/2025(b)

      3,230        2,960,806  

Virtusa Corp.
7.125%, 12/15/2028(b)

      717        646,420  

Western Digital Corp.
4.75%, 02/15/2026

      1,623        1,587,819  

Xerox Corp.
6.75%, 12/15/2039

      42        36,091  

Xerox Holdings Corp.
5.50%, 08/15/2028(b)

      451        410,601  

8.875%, 11/30/2029(b)

      83        84,541  
      

 

 

 
         26,999,079  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 33


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.8%

      

Allegiant Travel Co.
7.25%, 08/15/2027(b)

    U.S.$       127      $ 126,199  

American Airlines, Inc.
7.25%, 02/15/2028(b)

      81        82,213  

8.50%, 05/15/2029(b)

      881        930,386  

American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd.
5.50%, 04/20/2026(b)

      1,818        1,805,576  

5.75%, 04/20/2029(b)

      1,208        1,188,083  

Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property Ltd./HawaiianMiles Loyalty Ltd.
5.75%, 01/20/2026(b)

      1,960        1,844,373  

Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd./Spirit IP Cayman Ltd.
8.00%, 09/20/2025(b)

      1,590        1,207,124  

United Airlines, Inc.
4.375%, 04/15/2026(b)

      689        666,301  

VistaJet Malta Finance PLC/Vista Management Holding, Inc.
6.375%, 02/01/2030(b)

      15        11,068  

7.875%, 05/01/2027(b)

      466        394,213  

9.50%, 06/01/2028(b)

      19        16,157  
      

 

 

 
         8,271,693  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Services – 1.0%

      

Albion Financing 1 SARL/Aggreko Holdings, Inc.
5.25%, 10/15/2026(b)

    EUR       625        678,588  

6.125%, 10/15/2026(b)

    U.S.$       228        225,582  

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc.
4.75%, 04/01/2028(b)

      660        610,648  

5.75%, 07/15/2027(b)

      1,031        996,459  

8.00%, 02/15/2031(b)

      697        695,580  

BCP V Modular Services Finance PLC
6.75%, 11/30/2029(b)

    EUR       1,214        1,154,166  

BCP V Modular Services Finance II PLC
4.75%, 11/30/2028(b)

      132        133,366  

Boels Topholding BV
6.25%, 02/15/2029(b)

      862        958,418  

GN Bondco LLC
9.50%, 10/15/2031(b)

    U.S.$       371        370,540  

Hertz Corp. (The)
4.625%, 12/01/2026(b)

      1,260        1,145,083  

5.00%, 12/01/2029(b)

      1,461        1,129,731  

 

34 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Loxam SAS
4.50%, 02/15/2027(b)

    EUR       629      $ 675,330  

6.375%, 05/31/2029(b)

      172        192,963  

PROG Holdings, Inc.
6.00%, 11/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       374        349,736  

Rand Parent LLC
8.50%, 02/15/2030(b)

      372        368,062  

United Rentals North America, Inc.
4.00%, 07/15/2030

      3        2,727  

6.125%, 03/15/2034(b)

      83        83,123  
      

 

 

 
         9,770,102  
      

 

 

 
         484,478,039  
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 6.0%

      

Banking – 0.3%

      

Ally Financial, Inc.
Series C
4.70%, 05/15/2028(l)

      256        202,890  

Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
7.00%, 01/15/2026(b)

      106        106,475  

9.75%, 03/15/2029(b)

      1,804        1,875,961  

Freedom Mortgage Corp.
12.00%, 10/01/2028(b)

      77        83,913  

UniCredit SpA
5.46%, 06/30/2035(b)

      243        228,315  

5.86%, 06/19/2032(b)

      203        198,289  

7.30%, 04/02/2034(b)

      200        205,575  
      

 

 

 
         2,901,418  
      

 

 

 

Brokerage – 0.8%

      

AG Issuer LLC
6.25%, 03/01/2028(b)

      464        453,446  

AG TTMT Escrow Issuer LLC
8.625%, 09/30/2027(b)

      1,181        1,222,297  

Aretec Group, Inc.
10.00%, 08/15/2030(b)

      1,656        1,812,154  

Hightower Holding LLC
6.75%, 04/15/2029(b)

      2,936        2,757,268  

Osaic Holdings, Inc.
10.75%, 08/01/2027(b)

      1,425        1,472,000  
      

 

 

 
         7,717,165  
      

 

 

 

Finance – 2.3%

      

Castlelake Aviation Finance DAC
5.00%, 04/15/2027(b)

      1,036        999,219  

CNG Holdings, Inc.
14.50%, 06/30/2026(b)(i)

      794        659,020  

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
5.25%, 04/15/2029(b)

      1,277        1,212,929  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 35


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Curo Group Holdings Corp.
7.50%, 08/01/2028(g)(h)(m)

    U.S.$       3,647      $ 928,957  

Curo SPV LLC
18.00%, 08/02/2027(d)(f)

      1,572        1,312,295  

Encore Capital Group, Inc.
4.875%, 10/15/2025(b)

    EUR       880        940,660  

9.25%, 04/01/2029(b)

    U.S.$       606        621,253  

Enova International, Inc.
8.50%, 09/15/2025(b)

      1,996        1,995,040  

11.25%, 12/15/2028(b)

      651        688,597  

Freedom Mortgage Holdings LLC
9.25%, 02/01/2029(b)

      82        83,902  

GGAM Finance Ltd.
7.75%, 05/15/2026(b)

      662        674,747  

8.00%, 02/15/2027(b)

      1,084        1,118,391  

8.00%, 06/15/2028(b)

      1,069        1,115,915  

goeasy Ltd.
7.625%, 07/01/2029(b)

      439        440,366  

9.25%, 12/01/2028(b)

      1,043        1,110,397  

Jefferies Finance LLC/JFIN Co-Issuer Corp.
5.00%, 08/15/2028(b)

      2,234        2,055,077  

LD Holdings Group LLC
6.125%, 04/01/2028(b)

      346        286,923  

6.50%, 11/01/2025(b)

      85        82,437  

Midcap Financial Issuer Trust
5.625%, 01/15/2030(b)

      216        186,429  

6.50%, 05/01/2028(b)

      431        397,567  

Navient Corp.
4.875%, 03/15/2028

      1,706        1,586,343  

5.00%, 03/15/2027

      585        560,245  

5.50%, 03/15/2029

      79        73,429  

5.625%, 08/01/2033

      40        33,083  

6.75%, 06/25/2025

      954        960,443  

6.75%, 06/15/2026

      835        841,866  

OneMain Finance Corp.
3.50%, 01/15/2027

      174        161,546  

SLM Corp.
3.125%, 11/02/2026

      589        547,659  

Synchrony Financial
7.25%, 02/02/2033

      1,004        999,025  
      

 

 

 
         22,673,760  
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 1.0%

      

Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc.
4.25%, 02/15/2029(b)

      152        137,257  

8.25%, 02/01/2029(b)

      1,048        1,053,530  

10.125%, 08/01/2026(b)

      559        580,946  

 

36 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

AmWINS Group, Inc.
6.375%, 02/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       479      $ 481,165  

Ardonagh Finco Ltd.

      

6.875%, 02/15/2031(b)

    EUR       286        304,478  

7.75%, 02/15/2031(b)

    U.S.$       211        209,839  

Ardonagh Group Finance Ltd.
8.875%, 02/15/2032(b)

      417        410,745  

Howden UK Refinance PLC/Howden UK Refinance 2 PLC/Howden US Refinance LLC
7.25%, 02/15/2031(b)

      880        885,311  

8.125%, 02/15/2032(b)

      238        239,949  

HUB International Ltd.
7.25%, 06/15/2030(b)

      1,725        1,774,187  

7.375%, 01/31/2032(b)

      753        758,836  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
4.375%, 06/15/2028(b)

      456        428,676  

Panther Escrow Issuer LLC
7.125%, 06/01/2031(b)

      2,457        2,500,835  
      

 

 

 
         9,765,754  
      

 

 

 

Other Finance – 0.4%

 

Armor Holdco, Inc.
8.50%, 11/15/2029(b)

      1,967        1,857,737  

Coinbase Global, Inc.
3.375%, 10/01/2028(b)

      1,281        1,094,177  

3.625%, 10/01/2031(b)

      694        564,031  
      

 

 

 
         3,515,945  
      

 

 

 

REITs – 1.2%

 

Aedas Homes Opco SL
4.00%, 08/15/2026(b)

    EUR       1,580        1,677,355  

Agps Bondco PLC
5.50%, 11/13/2026(a)(b)

      200        83,130  

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
4.625%, 06/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       428        360,736  

Brookfield Property REIT, Inc./BPR Cumulus LLC/BPR Nimbus LLC/GGSI Sellco LL
4.50%, 04/01/2027(b)

      1,324        1,208,305  

5.75%, 05/15/2026(b)

      350        344,352  

Iron Mountain, Inc.
4.875%, 09/15/2027(b)

      168        162,237  

5.25%, 03/15/2028(b)

      1,943        1,880,263  

5.25%, 07/15/2030(b)

      80        75,678  

Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP/Ladder Capital Finance Corp.
4.75%, 06/15/2029(b)

      8        7,268  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 37


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.
5.25%, 08/01/2026

    U.S.$       603      $ 551,774  

Necessity Retail REIT, Inc. (The)/American Finance Operating Partner LP
4.50%, 09/30/2028(b)

      405        346,719  

Office Properties Income Trust
3.45%, 10/15/2031

      863        365,674  

Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp.
5.75%, 01/15/2029(b)

      526        372,671  

Service Properties Trust
4.95%, 02/15/2027

      406        375,677  

4.95%, 10/01/2029

      85        69,531  

8.625%, 11/15/2031(b)

      991        1,057,736  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance, Inc./CSL Capital LLC
10.50%, 02/15/2028(b)

      593        615,148  

Via Celere Desarrollos Inmobiliarios SA
5.25%, 04/01/2026(b)

    EUR       771        818,403  

Vivion Investments SARL
3.00%, 08/08/2024(b)

      1,000        1,042,440  

Series E 7
.90%, 02/28/2029(a)(b)(c)

      403        357,730  
      

 

 

 
         11,772,827  
      

 

 

 
         58,346,869  
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.6%

 

Electric – 0.5%

 

Calpine Corp.
5.125%, 03/15/2028(b)

    U.S.$       304        291,595  

ContourGlobal Power Holdings SA
3.125%, 01/01/2028(b)

    EUR       167        167,604  

NRG Energy, Inc.
3.375%, 02/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       436        387,793  

3.625%, 02/15/2031(b)

      90        77,700  

3.875%, 02/15/2032(b)

      188        161,307  

5.25%, 06/15/2029(b)

      80        76,728  

6.625%, 01/15/2027

      7        7,010  

10.25%, 03/15/2028(b)(l)

      842        900,364  

Vistra Corp.
7.00%, 12/15/2026(b)(l)

      835        827,068  

8.00%, 10/15/2026(b)(l)

      1,003        1,022,184  

Vistra Operations Co. LLC
4.375%, 05/01/2029(b)

      91        84,333  

5.00%, 07/31/2027(b)

      80        77,518  

5.625%, 02/15/2027(b)

      809        796,537  
      

 

 

 
         4,877,741  
      

 

 

 

 

38 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Natural Gas – 0.1%

 

AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp.
5.75%, 05/20/2027

    U.S.$       183      $ 179,030  

5.875%, 08/20/2026

      140        139,743  

9.375%, 06/01/2028(b)

      469        483,320  
      

 

 

 
         802,093  
      

 

 

 
         5,679,834  
      

 

 

 

Total Corporates – Non-Investment Grade
(cost $578,799,987)

         548,504,742  
      

 

 

 
      

CORPORATES - INVESTMENT GRADE – 19.1%

      

Industrial – 9.4%

 

Basic – 0.8%

 

AngloGold Ashanti Holdings PLC
3.375%, 11/01/2028

      647        582,546  

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA
4.25%, 04/30/2029(b)

      491        453,561  

Freeport Indonesia PT
4.76%, 04/14/2027(b)

      281        274,115  

Glencore Funding LLC
5.63%, 04/04/2034(b)

      1,675        1,679,725  

6.50%, 10/06/2033(b)

      1,173        1,251,884  

Industrias Penoles SAB de CV
5.65%, 09/12/2049(b)

      386        344,022  

Inversiones CMPC SA
6.125%, 02/26/2034(b)

      453        459,653  

MEGlobal Canada ULC
5.875%, 05/18/2030(b)

      343        346,216  

Nexa Resources SA
6.50%, 01/18/2028(b)

      773        775,657  

Olin Corp.
5.625%, 08/01/2029

      272        268,074  

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA
6.50%, 11/07/2033(b)

      406        421,854  

Suzano Austria GmbH
3.75%, 01/15/2031

      262        231,379  

5.00%, 01/15/2030

      218        209,076  

6.00%, 01/15/2029

      410        411,517  

Series DM3N
3.125%, 01/15/2032

      331        274,627  
      

 

 

 
         7,983,906  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 39


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Capital Goods – 0.2%

 

Embraer Netherlands Finance BV
5.40%, 02/01/2027

    U.S.$       918      $ 914,271  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
5.90%, 02/01/2027

      311        315,577  

Regal Rexnord Corp.
6.30%, 02/15/2030(b)

      235        240,711  

Rolls-Royce PLC
3.625%, 10/14/2025(b)

      202        195,828  

St. Marys Cement, Inc. Canada
5.75%, 04/02/2034(b)

      222        219,897  
      

 

 

 
         1,886,284  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 1.0%

 

DIRECTV Financing LLC
8.875%, 02/01/2030(b)

      1,185        1,182,089  

DIRECTV Financing LLC/Directv Financing Co-Obligor, Inc.

      

5.875%, 08/15/2027(b)

      2,626        2,484,532  

Paramount Global
3.70%, 06/01/2028

      305        274,380  

4.20%, 06/01/2029

      280        250,949  

4.20%, 05/19/2032

      569        473,214  

4.95%, 01/15/2031

      187        166,369  

5.50%, 05/15/2033

      504        446,407  

6.875%, 04/30/2036

      323        305,506  

7.875%, 07/30/2030

      540        563,712  

Prosus NV
3.06%, 07/13/2031(b)

      1,998        1,613,385  

4.03%, 08/03/2050(b)

      331        212,047  

Warnermedia Holdings, Inc.
4.28%, 03/15/2032

      1,034        924,179  

Weibo Corp.
3.375%, 07/08/2030

      513        445,243  
      

 

 

 
         9,342,012  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Telecommunications – 0.1%

      

Sprint LLC
7.625%, 03/01/2026

      186        192,075  

Xiaomi Best Time International Ltd.
3.375%, 04/29/2030(b)

      718        632,513  
      

 

 

 
         824,588  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 2.2%

      

Ford Motor Co.
3.25%, 02/12/2032

      3,259        2,712,620  

4.75%, 01/15/2043

      29        24,025  

6.10%, 08/19/2032

      709        717,977  

 

40 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
2.70%, 08/10/2026

    U.S.$       793      $ 739,527  

4.95%, 05/28/2027

      1,160        1,132,039  

6.80%, 05/12/2028

      756        784,939  

7.35%, 11/04/2027

      2,541        2,665,618  

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.
2.35%, 01/08/2031

      525        433,994  

2.70%, 06/10/2031

      1,721        1,434,608  

3.60%, 06/21/2030

      264        238,371  

5.75%, 02/08/2031

      253        255,700  

6.40%, 01/09/2033

      1,708        1,791,391  

Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc.
6.50%, 03/10/2028(b)

      3,503        3,595,518  

Hyundai Capital America
6.10%, 09/21/2028(b)

      1,745        1,798,668  

Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC
1.85%, 09/16/2026(b)

      126        114,012  

2.45%, 09/15/2028(b)

      575        495,586  

2.75%, 03/09/2028(b)

      1,245        1,106,430  

6.95%, 09/15/2026(b)

      77        79,052  

7.05%, 09/15/2028(b)

      77        80,533  

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
4.345%, 09/17/2027(b)

      1,084        1,030,971  

4.81%, 09/17/2030(b)

      233        217,637  
      

 

 

 
         21,449,216  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment – 0.1%

      

Mattel, Inc.
3.375%, 04/01/2026(b)

      1,152        1,101,399  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.9%

 

GENM Capital Labuan Ltd.
3.88%, 04/19/2031(b)

      234        205,043  

Genting New York LLC/GENNY Capital, Inc.
3.30%, 02/15/2026(b)

      239        223,545  

International Game Technology PLC
3.50%, 06/15/2026(b)

    EUR       100        106,578  

4.125%, 04/15/2026(b)

    U.S.$       1,352        1,310,505  

Las Vegas Sands Corp.
2.90%, 06/25/2025

      4        3,848  

3.50%, 08/18/2026

      74        70,074  

MDC Holdings, Inc.
6.00%, 01/15/2043

      1,881        1,911,183  

Owens Corning
7.00%, 12/01/2036(a)

      777        875,322  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 41


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Resorts World Las Vegas LLC/RWLV Capital, Inc.
4.625%, 04/16/2029(b)

    U.S.$       1,200      $ 1,095,040  

4.625%, 04/06/2031(b)

      1,100        959,847  

8.45%, 07/27/2030(b)

      200        215,420  

Sands China Ltd.
2.85%, 03/08/2029(a)

      206        179,141  

3.25%, 08/08/2031(a)

      285        238,331  

4.625%, 06/18/2030(a)

      935        856,990  

5.40%, 08/08/2028(a)

      481        471,856  
      

 

 

 
         8,722,723  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.3%

 

Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC
5.875%, 03/15/2030(b)

      1,064        1,034,778  

6.125%, 03/15/2032(b)

      509        493,513  

Tapestry, Inc.
7.70%, 11/27/2030

      867        925,059  

7.85%, 11/27/2033

      309        335,465  
      

 

 

 
         2,788,815  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 1.2%

 

Altria Group, Inc.
6.875%, 11/01/2033

      1,024        1,113,688  

BAT Capital Corp.
6.00%, 02/20/2034

      454        459,538  

6.42%, 08/02/2033

      1,197        1,251,766  

7.08%, 08/02/2043

      77        82,225  

7.75%, 10/19/2032

      665        751,054  

Bayer US Finance LLC
6.375%, 11/21/2030(b)

      1,601        1,636,220  

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
3.75%, 03/15/2029(b)

      770        702,703  

4.00%, 03/15/2031(b)

      45        40,198  

IQVIA, Inc.
5.70%, 05/15/2028

      340        345,017  

Jazz Securities DAC
4.375%, 01/15/2029(b)

      954        888,649  

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS Luxembourg SARL
6.75%, 03/15/2034(b)

      1,344        1,407,587  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.
3.50%, 03/01/2032

      1,249        1,059,288  

6.875%, 05/15/2034

      1,581        1,685,261  

PRA Health Sciences, Inc.
2.875%, 07/15/2026(b)

      363        338,230  

Reynolds American, Inc.
5.85%, 08/15/2045

      171        159,045  
      

 

 

 
         11,920,469  
      

 

 

 

 

42 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Energy – 1.9%

 

Apache Corp.
4.75%, 04/15/2043

    U.S.$       8      $ 6,315  

5.10%, 09/01/2040

      24        20,590  

Continental Resources, Inc./OK
2.875%, 04/01/2032(b)

      343        279,926  

5.75%, 01/15/2031(b)

      692        687,951  

Ecopetrol SA
4.625%, 11/02/2031

      841        694,624  

6.875%, 04/29/2030

      782        758,141  

8.625%, 01/19/2029

      2,054        2,168,315  

EnLink Midstream Partners LP
4.85%, 07/15/2026

      440        431,327  

5.05%, 04/01/2045

      807        666,861  

5.60%, 04/01/2044

      104        92,508  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC
Series E
5.25%, 08/16/2077

      353        335,419  

EQT Corp.
3.90%, 10/01/2027

      291        276,529  

5.75%, 02/01/2034

      512        510,254  

HF Sinclair Corp.
5.00%, 02/01/2028(b)

      327        317,836  

Hunt Oil Co. of Peru LLC Sucursal Del Peru
8.55%, 09/18/2033(b)

      403        429,532  

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC
4.75%, 04/19/2027(b)

      543        527,796  

5.375%, 04/24/2030(b)

      1,383        1,357,501  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.
6.20%, 03/15/2040

      2        2,054  

7.50%, 05/01/2031

      1,673        1,862,715  

Oleoducto Central SA
4.00%, 07/14/2027(b)

      424        395,513  

Ovintiv, Inc.
6.25%, 07/15/2033

      782        812,588  

6.50%, 02/01/2038

      350        363,726  

Raizen Fuels Finance SA
6.45%, 03/05/2034(b)

      915        938,891  

Tengizchevroil Finance Co. International Ltd.
3.25%, 08/15/2030(b)

      1,902        1,545,969  

Var Energi ASA
7.50%, 01/15/2028(b)

      894        948,078  

8.00%, 11/15/2032(b)

      1,300        1,460,906  

Western Midstream Operating LP
3.95%, 06/01/2025

      225        220,498  
      

 

 

 
         18,112,363  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 43


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Services – 0.1%

 

Boost Newco Borrower LLC/GTCR W Dutch Finance Sub BV
8.50%, 01/15/2031(b)

    GBP       163      $ 221,804  

Gartner, Inc.
3.625%, 06/15/2029(b)

    U.S.$       262        237,341  

4.50%, 07/01/2028(b)

      86        82,010  
      

 

 

 
         541,155  
      

 

 

 

Technology – 0.1%

 

Lenovo Group Ltd.
3.42%, 11/02/2030(b)

      289        253,417  

5.83%, 01/27/2028(b)

      597        603,903  

Western Digital Corp.
2.85%, 02/01/2029

      59        51,401  

3.10%, 02/01/2032

      130        104,581  

Xiaomi Best Time International Ltd.
2.875%, 07/14/2031(b)

      318        264,636  
      

 

 

 
         1,277,938  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.3%

 

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
2.90%, 10/28/2024

      427        419,554  

Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles IP Ltd.
4.75%, 10/20/2028(b)

      716        700,297  

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets Ltd.
6.50%, 06/20/2027(b)

      1,615        1,626,348  
      

 

 

 
         2,746,199  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Railroads – 0.1%

 

Lima Metro Line 2 Finance Ltd.
4.35%, 04/05/2036(b)

      378        348,615  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Services – 0.1%

 

AerCap Global Aviation Trust
6.50%, 06/15/2045(b)

      588        585,368  

United Rentals North America, Inc.
3.875%, 11/15/2027

      737        697,425  
      

 

 

 
         1,282,793  
      

 

 

 
         90,328,475  
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 8.8%

 

Banking – 6.8%

 

Ally Financial, Inc.
6.70%, 02/14/2033

      421        425,522  

6.85%, 01/03/2030

      759        781,536  

8.00%, 11/01/2031

      548        611,077  

Series B
4.70%, 05/15/2026(l)

      2,950        2,532,947  

 

44 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA
6.03%, 03/13/2035

  U.S.$     1,200      $ 1,217,120  

Banco de Credito del Peru SA
5.85%, 01/11/2029(b)

      664        671,217  

Banco Santander SA
3.225%, 11/22/2032

      200        165,876  

6.92%, 08/08/2033

      2,600        2,721,678  

9.625%, 05/21/2033(l)

      1,400        1,544,706  

Bank of America Corp.
2.97%, 02/04/2033

      838        710,975  

Series U
8.74% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.40%), 04/29/2024(j)(l)

      316        316,271  

Series X
6.25%, 09/05/2024(l)

      1,199        1,201,694  

Bank of Ireland Group PLC
5.60%, 03/20/2030(b)

      903        902,915  

Barclays PLC
5.69%, 03/12/2030

      301        302,572  

6.125%, 12/15/2025(l)

      3,088        2,981,484  

7.12%, 06/27/2034

      664        707,254  

7.125%, 06/15/2025(l)

  GBP     404        501,612  

BNP Paribas SA
4.625%, 02/25/2031(b)(l)

  U.S.$     2,924        2,405,742  

BPCE SA
6.51%, 01/18/2035(b)

      1,245        1,263,386  

CaixaBank SA
5.875%, 10/09/2027(b)(l)

  EUR     1,000        1,061,626  

6.04%, 06/15/2035(b)

  U.S.$     1,257        1,268,246  

6.84%, 09/13/2034(b)

      1,227        1,313,461  

Capital One Financial Corp.
2.36%, 07/29/2032

      423        325,307  

6.05%, 02/01/2035

      654        666,303  

7.62%, 10/30/2031

      1,234        1,363,061  

Citigroup, Inc.
2.56%, 05/01/2032

      1,009        840,511  

5.83%, 02/13/2035

      1,663        1,645,203  

Series AA
7.625%, 11/15/2028(l)

      592        620,934  

Series W
4.00%, 12/10/2025(l)

      413        395,813  

Deutsche Bank AG/New York NY
7.08%, 02/10/2034

      1,509        1,552,104  

7.15%, 07/13/2027

      573        589,072  

Discover Financial Services
7.96%, 11/02/2034

      270        305,838  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 45


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
Series P
8.44% (SOFR + 3.14%), 04/29/2024(j)(l)

  U.S.$     1,130      $ 1,131,418  

HSBC Holdings PLC
4.76%, 03/29/2033

      901        836,918  

5.55%, 03/04/2030

      518        521,135  

8.11%, 11/03/2033

      1,024        1,171,295  

Series**
6.50%, 09/15/2037

      309        322,207  

Series E
4.75%, 07/04/2029(b)(l)

  EUR     1,595        1,611,067  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA
5.02%, 06/26/2024(b)

  U.S.$     331        329,822  

5.71%, 01/15/2026(b)

      1,650        1,636,734  

6.625%, 06/20/2033(b)

      997        1,035,831  

7.20%, 11/28/2033(b)

      832        899,407  

7.80%, 11/28/2053(b)

      201        227,865  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Series Q
8.82% (SOFR + 3.51%), 05/01/2024(j)(l)

      1,212        1,213,098  

Series R
8.87% (SOFR + 3.56%), 05/01/2024(j)(l)

      89        89,098  

KeyBank NA/Cleveland OH
5.85%, 11/15/2027

      254        251,646  

KeyCorp
6.40%, 03/06/2035

      82        83,820  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC
7.50%, 09/27/2025(l)

      1,737        1,728,920  

7.95%, 11/15/2033

      854        962,614  

M&T Bank Corp.
5.05%, 01/27/2034

      343        318,907  

NatWest Group PLC
6.475%, 06/01/2034

      672        683,369  

Nordea Bank Abp
6.625%, 03/26/2026(b)(l)

      3,065        3,034,370  

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)
Series R
8.64% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.30%), 06/01/2024(j)(l)

      503        503,784  

Santander Holdings USA, Inc.
6.17%, 01/09/2030

      1,473        1,487,320  

6.50%, 03/09/2029

      1,434        1,467,875  

6.565%, 06/12/2029

      724        745,930  

7.66%, 11/09/2031

      183        199,171  

Societe Generale SA
5.52%, 01/19/2028(b)

      3,340        3,319,312  

7.37%, 01/10/2053(b)

      203        210,394  

 

46 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Standard Chartered PLC
6.19%, 07/06/2027(b)

    U.S.$       433      $ 437,449  

Swedbank AB
Series NC5
5.625%, 09/17/2024(b)(l)

      1,000        995,243  

Truist Financial Corp.
Series L
8.69% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.36%), 12/15/2024(j)(l)

      1,397        1,408,811  

UBS Group AG
6.37%, 07/15/2026(b)

      712        717,212  

7.00%, 02/19/2025(b)(l)

      620        619,361  

9.25%, 11/13/2028(b)(i)(l)

      448        485,231  

9.25%, 11/13/2033(b)(l)

      380        428,476  

UniCredit SpA
1.98%, 06/03/2027(b)

      915        844,840  

Wells Fargo & Co.
7.625%, 09/15/2028(l)

      120        128,185  
      

 

 

 
         66,001,198  
      

 

 

 

Brokerage – 0.2%

 

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)
Series I
4.00%, 06/01/2026(l)

      1,251        1,170,085  

CI Financial Corp.
3.20%, 12/17/2030

      411        336,601  
      

 

 

 
         1,506,686  
      

 

 

 

Finance – 0.7%

      

Air Lease Corp.
Series B
4.65%, 06/15/2026(l)

      1,229        1,158,540  

Aircastle Ltd.
5.95%, 02/15/2029(b)

      534        534,381  

Aviation Capital Group LLC
3.50%, 11/01/2027(b)

      295        274,583  

4.125%, 08/01/2025(b)

      395        384,858  

4.875%, 10/01/2025(b)

      319        313,148  

Blackstone Private Credit Fund
7.30%, 11/27/2028(b)

      78        81,364  

Blue Owl Credit Income Corp.
7.75%, 01/15/2029(b)

      78        80,301  

Enact Holdings, Inc.
6.50%, 08/15/2025(b)

      8        7,998  

Golub Capital BDC, Inc.
7.05%, 12/05/2028

      79        80,918  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 47


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Huarong Finance 2017 Co., Ltd.
4.75%, 04/27/2027(b)

    U.S.$       200      $ 189,944  

Huarong Finance 2019 Co., Ltd.
Series E
3.75%, 05/29/2024(b)

      343        341,230  

Huarong Finance II Co., Ltd.
Series E
4.625%, 06/03/2026(b)

      200        192,125  

4.875%, 11/22/2026(b)

      430        412,531  

5.50%, 01/16/2025(b)

      1,082        1,070,098  

ILFC E-Capital Trust II
7.395% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 2.06%), 12/21/2065(b)(j)

      2,000        1,591,035  

Synchrony Financial
4.875%, 06/13/2025

      6        5,912  
      

 

 

 
         6,718,966  
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 1.0%

      

Allstate Corp. (The)
6.50%, 05/15/2057

      1,657        1,685,116  

American International Group, Inc.
Series A-9
5.75%, 04/01/2048

      319        312,846  

Argentum Netherlands BV for Swiss Re Ltd.
5.625%, 08/15/2052(b)

      308        303,931  

Global Atlantic Fin Co.
4.70%, 10/15/2051(b)

      62        56,180  

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
4.125%, 12/15/2051(b)

      470        424,506  

7.80%, 03/15/2037(b)

      2,187        2,278,573  

MetLife, Inc.
10.75%, 08/01/2039

      2,350        3,198,390  

Prudential Financial, Inc.
5.70%, 09/15/2048

      337        332,859  

Sagicor Financial Co., Ltd.
5.30%, 05/13/2028(b)

      357        344,675  

Sammons Financial Group, Inc.
3.35%, 04/16/2031(b)

      388        316,675  

6.875%, 04/15/2034(b)

      83        83,627  

Swiss RE Subordinated Finance PLC
5.70%, 04/05/2035(b)

      400        399,334  
      

 

 

 
         9,736,712  
      

 

 

 

REITs – 0.1%

      

Trust Fibra Uno
4.87%, 01/15/2030(b)

      1,480        1,314,888  

 

48 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

WEA Finance LLC
2.875%, 01/15/2027(b)

    U.S.$       117      $ 107,126  
      

 

 

 
         1,422,014  
      

 

 

 
         85,385,576  
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.9%

      

Electric – 0.8%

      

AES Andes SA
6.30%, 03/15/2029(b)

      482        486,656  

Alexander Funding Trust II
7.47%, 07/31/2028(b)

      685        724,256  

Cometa Energia SA de CV
6.375%, 04/24/2035(b)

      441        441,238  

Edison International
8.125%, 06/15/2053

      380        393,678  

Electricite de France SA
9.125%, 03/15/2033(b)(l)

      427        470,444  

FirstEnergy Corp. Series C
5.10%, 07/15/2047(a)

      7        6,154  

Israel Electric Corp., Ltd.
Series G
4.25%, 08/14/2028(b)

      451        419,571  

Kallpa Generacion SA
4.125%, 08/16/2027(b)

      488        462,990  

Minejesa Capital BV
4.625%, 08/10/2030(b)

      1,095        1,039,170  

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.
5.29%, 01/17/2034(b)

      757        744,719  

NRG Energy, Inc.
4.45%, 06/15/2029(b)

      154        145,749  

7.00%, 03/15/2033(b)

      323        344,696  

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
5.55%, 05/15/2029

      485        489,246  

Palomino Funding Trust I
7.23%, 05/17/2028(b)

      1,703        1,785,661  
      

 

 

 
         7,954,228  
      

 

 

 

Other Utility – 0.1%

      

Buffalo Energy Mexico Holdings/Buffalo Energy Infrastructure/Buffalo Energy
7.875%, 02/15/2039(b)

      470        505,616  
      

 

 

 
         8,459,844  
      

 

 

 

Total Corporates – Investment Grade
(cost $179,892,213)

         184,173,895  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 49


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

EMERGING MARKETS - CORPORATE BONDS – 5.4%

      

Industrial – 4.9%

      

Basic – 1.6%

      

Braskem Idesa SAPI
6.99%, 02/20/2032(b)

    U.S.$       904      $ 697,526  

7.45%, 11/15/2029(b)

      1,393        1,144,872  

Braskem Netherlands Finance BV
4.50%, 01/10/2028(b)

      1,265        1,130,695  

4.50%, 01/31/2030(b)

      966        829,600  

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA
5.50%, 07/23/2026(b)

      1,072        1,031,465  

Consolidated Energy Finance SA
5.625%, 10/15/2028(b)

      418        351,279  

CSN Inova Ventures
6.75%, 01/28/2028(b)

      1,694        1,644,874  

Eldorado Gold Corp.
6.25%, 09/01/2029(b)

      986        939,165  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
6.875%, 10/15/2027(b)

      1,215        1,156,680  

8.625%, 06/01/2031(b)

      832        807,044  

9.375%, 03/01/2029(b)

      438        453,615  

Indika Energy Capital IV Pte Ltd.
8.25%, 10/22/2025(b)

      905        911,222  

JSW Steel Ltd.
3.95%, 04/05/2027(b)

      409        380,370  

5.05%, 04/05/2032(b)

      658        578,834  

Sasol Financing USA LLC
8.75%, 05/03/2029(b)

      1,399        1,422,387  

Stillwater Mining Co.
4.00%, 11/16/2026(b)

      783        699,806  

4.50%, 11/16/2029(b)

      309        243,820  

UPL Corp., Ltd.
4.50%, 03/08/2028(b)

      616        526,873  

4.625%, 06/16/2030(b)

      673        536,928  

Vedanta Resources Finance II PLC
13.875%, 01/21/2027(b)

      195        183,270  

Volcan Cia Minera SAA
4.375%, 02/11/2026(b)

      345        212,930  
      

 

 

 
         15,883,255  
      

 

 

 

Capital Goods – 0.1%

 

Cemex SAB de CV
5.125%, 06/08/2026(b)(l)

      1,028        992,663  

IHS Holding Ltd.
6.25%, 11/29/2028(b)

      383        336,441  

 

50 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Odebrecht Holdco Finance Ltd.
Zero Coupon, 09/10/2058(h)

    U.S.$       2,661      $ 665  
      

 

 

 
         1,329,769  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 0.1%

      

Globo Comunicacao e Participacoes SA
4.875%, 01/22/2030(b)

      1,130        985,925  

Telecomunicaciones Digitales SA
4.50%, 01/30/2030(b)

      505        450,397  
      

 

 

 
         1,436,322  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Telecommunications – 0.0%

      

Digicel Group Holdings Ltd.
Zero Coupon, 12/31/2030(d)(h)

      98        1,461  

Millicom International Cellular SA
7.375%, 04/02/2032(b)

      343        343,597  
      

 

 

 
         345,058  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Other – 1.1%

 

Allwyn Entertainment Financing UK PLC
7.875%, 04/30/2029(b)

      200        207,653  

8.03% (EURIBOR 3 Month + 4.13%),
02/15/2028(b)(j)

    EUR       650        706,929  

Allwyn International AS
3.875%, 02/15/2027(b)

      170        177,444  

Melco Resorts Finance Ltd.
5.375%, 12/04/2029(b)

    U.S.$       1,356        1,234,218  

5.625%, 07/17/2027(b)

      965        922,480  

5.75%, 07/21/2028(b)

      1,255        1,186,981  

MGM China Holdings Ltd.
4.75%, 02/01/2027(b)

      1,122        1,066,523  

5.25%, 06/18/2025(b)

      222        218,878  

5.375%, 05/15/2024(b)

      174        173,565  

5.875%, 05/15/2026(b)

      414        408,307  

Studio City Co., Ltd.
7.00%, 02/15/2027(b)

      289        289,271  

Studio City Finance Ltd.
5.00%, 01/15/2029(b)

      207        181,901  

6.00%, 07/15/2025(b)

      448        440,720  

6.50%, 01/15/2028(b)

      199        189,299  

Wynn Macau Ltd.
4.875%, 10/01/2024(b)

      286        283,497  

5.125%, 12/15/2029(b)

      241        219,461  

5.50%, 01/15/2026(b)

      734        712,662  

5.50%, 10/01/2027(b)

      947        905,569  

5.625%, 08/26/2028(b)

      717        678,909  
      

 

 

 
         10,204,267  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 51


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.2%

      

Falabella SA
3.375%, 01/15/2032(b)

    U.S.$       583      $ 459,841  

3.75%, 10/30/2027(b)

      1,140        1,041,179  

K201640219 South Africa Ltd.
Zero Coupon, 06/25/2023(d)(e)(f)(g)

    ZAR       45        – 0  – 

K2016470219 South Africa Ltd.
3.00%, 12/31/2022(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      1,100        – 0 – 

K2016470260 South Africa Ltd.
25.00%, 12/31/2022(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      771        – 0 – 
      

 

 

 
         1,501,020  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 0.8%

 

BBFI Liquidating Trust
Zero Coupon, 12/30/2099(d)(f)(h)

      780        225,817  

BRF SA
4.875%, 01/24/2030(b)

      655        585,334  

Central American Bottling Corp./CBC Bottling Holdco SL/Beliv Holdco SL
5.25%, 04/27/2029(b)

      377        357,637  

MARB BondCo PLC
3.95%, 01/29/2031(b)

      1,762        1,440,100  

Rede D’or Finance SARL
4.50%, 01/22/2030(b)

      223        200,154  

4.95%, 01/17/2028(b)

      735        702,155  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands II BV
3.75%, 05/09/2027

    EUR       446        465,192  

4.375%, 05/09/2030

      1,000        1,038,393  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV
4.75%, 05/09/2027

    U.S.$       517        497,240  

5.125%, 05/09/2029(i)

      517        496,320  

7.875%, 09/15/2029

      506        542,172  

8.125%, 09/15/2031

      506        554,059  

Tonon Luxembourg SA
6.50%, 10/31/2024(g)(h)(m)

      621        62  

Ulker Biskuvi Sanayi AS
6.95%, 10/30/2025(b)

      327        324,057  

Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA
10.50%, 01/28/2018(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      4,090        410  

10.875%, 01/13/2020(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      480        48  

11.75%, 02/09/2022(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)

      1,620        162  
      

 

 

 
         7,429,312  
      

 

 

 
      

 

52 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Energy – 0.7%

 

Acu Petroleo Luxembourg SARL 7.50%, 01/13/2032(b)

    U.S.$       532      $ 516,927  

Canacol Energy Ltd.
5.75%, 11/24/2028(b)

      544        241,779  

Cosan Luxembourg SA
5.50%, 09/20/2029(b)

      461        442,362  

Geopark Ltd.
5.50%, 01/17/2027(b)

      561        509,107  

Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.
9.50%, 10/15/2029(b)

      746        694,015  

Greenko Wind Projects Mauritius Ltd.
5.50%, 04/06/2025(b)

      957        940,252  

Kosmos Energy Ltd.
7.50%, 03/01/2028(b)

      314        304,286  

7.75%, 05/01/2027(b)

      200        197,125  

Leviathan Bond Ltd.
6.50%, 06/30/2027(b)

      1,197        1,157,744  

MV24 Capital BV
6.75%, 06/01/2034(b)

      448        419,846  

SEPLAT Energy PLC
7.75%, 04/01/2026(b)

      381        370,046  

SierraCol Energy Andina LLC
6.00%, 06/15/2028(b)

      558        488,250  
      

 

 

 
         6,281,739  
      

 

 

 

Services – 0.0%

 

Bidvest Group UK PLC (The)
3.625%, 09/23/2026(b)

      454        422,674  
      

 

 

 

Technology – 0.2%

 

CA Magnum Holdings
5.375%, 10/31/2026(b)

      2,039        1,957,440  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Services – 0.1%

 

Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI SA
6.75%, 03/30/2029(b)

      453        460,644  

JSW Infrastructure Ltd.
4.95%, 01/21/2029(b)

      204        191,454  
      

 

 

 
         652,098  
      

 

 

 
         47,442,954  
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.4%

 

Electric – 0.3%

 

Adani Green Energy Ltd.
4.375%, 09/08/2024(b)

      495        489,486  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 53


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

AES Andes SA
6.35%, 10/07/2079(b)

    U.S.$       286      $ 280,280  

Continuum Energy Aura Pte Ltd.
9.50%, 02/24/2027(b)

      401        416,789  

Diamond II Ltd.
7.95%, 07/28/2026(b)

      597        606,784  

India Clean Energy Holdings
4.50%, 04/18/2027(b)

      511        468,523  

Investment Energy Resources Ltd.
6.25%, 04/26/2029(b)

      403        387,384  

Star Energy Geothermal Wayang Windu Ltd.
6.75%, 04/24/2033(b)

      186        186,602  

Terraform Global Operating LP
6.125%, 03/01/2026(b)

      118        116,236  
      

 

 

 
         2,952,084  
      

 

 

 

Other Utility – 0.1%

 

Aegea Finance SARL
6.75%, 05/20/2029(b)

      367        359,357  

9.00%, 01/20/2031(b)

      276        292,341  
      

 

 

 
         651,698  
      

 

 

 
         3,603,782  
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 0.1%

 

Banking – 0.1%

 

Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO
9.00%, 10/12/2028(b)

      465        488,204  

Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS
9.25%, 10/16/2028(b)

      400        424,550  
      

 

 

 
         912,754  
      

 

 

 

Other Finance – 0.0%

 

OEC Finance Ltd.
4.375%, 10/25/2029(a)(b)(c)

      213        12,374  

5.25%, 12/27/2033(a)(b)(c)

      694        38,666  

7.125%, 12/26/2046(a)(b)(c)(f)

      1,944        116,637  
      

 

 

 
         167,677  
      

 

 

 
         1,080,431  
      

 

 

 

Total Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds
(cost $62,336,921)

         52,127,167  
      

 

 

 
      

 

54 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS – 4.2%

      

CLO - Floating Rate – 4.2%

 

AMMC CLO 25 Ltd.
Series 2022-25A, Class E
12.90% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 7.59%), 04/15/2035(b)(j)

    U.S.$       5,000      $ 5,000,065  

Ares XXXIV CLO Ltd.
Series 2015-2A, Class CR
7.58% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 2.26%), 04/17/2033(b)(j)

      2,358        2,361,419  

Balboa Bay Loan Funding Ltd.
Series 2020-1A, Class ER
11.98% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.66%), 01/20/2032(b)(j)

      3,100        3,029,413  

Series 2021-2A, Class E
12.18% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.86%), 01/20/2035(b)(j)

      1,000        943,313  

Series 2022-1A, Class E
13.25% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 7.93%), 04/20/2034(b)(j)

      3,700        3,699,208  

Ballyrock CLO 15 Ltd.
Series 2021-1A, Class D
11.80% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.48%), 04/15/2034(b)(j)

      250        242,615  

Crown Point CLO 11 Ltd.
Series 2021-11A, Class E
12.39% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 7.07%), 01/17/2034(b)(j)

      2,000        1,980,010  

Dryden 78 CLO Ltd.
Series 2020-78A, Class C
7.53% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 2.21%), 04/17/2033(b)(j)

      3,000        3,000,003  

Series 2020-78A, Class D
8.58% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.26%), 04/17/2033(b)(j)

      1,329        1,324,276  

Elevation CLO Ltd.
Series 2020-11A, Class C
7.78% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 2.46%), 04/15/2033(b)(j)

      648        628,029  

Series 2020-11A, Class D1
9.43% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.11%), 04/15/2033(b)(j)

      1,006        1,000,014  

Elmwood CLO IX Ltd.
Series 2021-2A, Class E
11.53% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.21%), 07/20/2034(b)(j)

      250        249,850  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 55


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Elmwood CLO XII Ltd.
Series 2021-5A, Class E
11.93% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.61%), 01/20/2035(b)(j)

  U.S.$     650      $ 650,424  

Flatiron CLO 21 Ltd.
Series 2021-1A, Class E
11.57% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.26%), 07/19/2034(b)(j)

      400        399,968  

Galaxy 30 CLO Ltd.
Series 2022-30A, Class E
12.26% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.95%), 04/15/2035(b)(j)

      2,000        1,999,722  

OCP CLO Ltd.
Series 2021-21A, Class E
11.86% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.54%), 07/20/2034(b)(j)

      250        247,939  

Octagon Investment Partners 29 Ltd.
Series 2016-1A, Class DR
8.68% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.36%), 01/24/2033(b)(j)

      1,701        1,674,823  

Palmer Square CLO Ltd.
Series 2021-3A, Class E
11.73% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.41%), 01/15/2035(b)(j)

      4,100        4,099,483  

Rad CLO 10 Ltd.
Series 2021-10A, Class E
11.43% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.11%), 04/23/2034(b)(j)

      750        735,406  

Rad CLO 11 Ltd.
Series 2021-11A, Class E
11.83% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.51%), 04/15/2034(b)(j)

      355        353,184  

Regatta XIX Funding Ltd.
Series 2022-1A, Class E
12.20% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.88%), 04/20/2035(b)(j)

      349        348,617  

Regatta XXIV Funding Ltd.
Series 2021-5A, Class E
12.38% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 7.06%), 01/20/2035(b)(j)

      3,600        3,600,320  

Sixth Street CLO XVIII Ltd.
Series 2021-18A, Class E
12.08% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.76%), 04/20/2034(b)(j)

      1,238        1,238,121  

 

56 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Sixth Street CLO XX Ltd.
Series 2021-20A, Class E
11.73% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.41%), 10/20/2034(b)(j)

    U.S.$       679      $ 678,796  

Voya CLO Ltd.
Series 2019-1A, Class DR
8.43% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.11%), 04/15/2031(b)(j)

      1,050        1,035,630  
      

 

 

 

Total Collateralized Loan Obligations
(cost $40,543,511)

         40,520,648  
      

 

 

 
      

BANK LOANS – 3.2%

 

Industrial – 2.7%

 

Capital Goods – 0.2%

 

ACProducts Holdings, Inc.
9.81% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.25%), 05/17/2028(n)

      1,928        1,752,898  

Chariot Buyer LLC
8.68% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.25%), 11/03/2028(n)

      156        156,069  

TransDigm, Inc.
8.08% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 2.75%), 08/24/2028

      291        292,101  
      

 

 

 
         2,201,068  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Media – 0.3%

 

Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.
10.09% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.50%), 10/28/2027(n)

      1,697        1,698,893  

DIRECTV Financing, LLC
10.695% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 5.25%), 08/02/2029(n)

      546        544,822  

iHeartCommunications, Inc.
8.445% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 05/01/2026(n)

      355        309,565  
      

 

 

 
         2,553,280  
      

 

 

 

Communications - Telecommunications – 0.4%

      

Crown Subsea Communications Holding, Inc.
10.07% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.75%), 01/30/2031(n)

      1,430        1,437,150  

Zacapa SARL
9.35% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.00%), 03/22/2029(n)

      2,099        2,098,593  
      

 

 

 
         3,535,743  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 57


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 0.1%

 

Garrett Motion SARL
9.81% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.50%), 04/30/2028(d)(n)

    U.S.$       850      $ 854,250  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants – 0.0%

 

IRB Holding Corp.
8.18% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.75%), 12/15/2027(n)

      158        158,353  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.1%

 

Great Outdoors Group LLC
9.195% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 03/06/2028(n)

      471        470,728  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Cyclical – 0.5%

 

Gainwell Acquisition Corp.
9.41% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.00%), 10/01/2027(n)

      1,200        1,145,114  

PetSmart LLC
9.18% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 02/11/2028(n)

      2,174        2,166,553  

US Radiology Specialists, Inc.
10.70% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 5.25%), 12/15/2027(n)

      1,926        1,927,657  
      

 

 

 
         5,239,324  
      

 

 

 

Energy – 0.4%

 

GIP II Blue Holding LP
9.94% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.50%), 09/29/2028(n)

      2,014        2,018,407  

Parkway Generation LLC
10.32% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 9.50%), 02/18/2029(n)

      1,396        1,390,719  
      

 

 

 
         3,409,126  
      

 

 

 

Other Industrial – 0.2%

 

American Tire Distributors, Inc.
11.83% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 6.25%), 10/20/2028(n)

      2,077        1,788,736  

Dealer Tire Financial LLC
9.08% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 12/14/2027(d)(n)

      288        289,911  

Rockwood Service Corp.
9.69% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.25%), 01/23/2027(n)

      83        83,166  
      

 

 

 
         2,161,813  
      

 

 

 

 

58 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Technology – 0.5%

 

Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC
9.445% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.00%), 01/29/2027(n)

    U.S.$       308      $ 308,385  

Ascend Learning LLC
11.18% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 5.75%), 12/10/2029(n)

      840        825,040  

Boxer Parent Co., Inc.
9.58% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.25%), 12/29/2028(n)

      1,467        1,475,588  

FINThrive Software Intermediate Holdings, Inc.
12.19% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 6.75%), 12/17/2029(n)

      660        411,470  

Loyalty Ventures, Inc.
11.25% (PRIME 3 Month + 5.50%),
11/03/2027(d)(g)(m)(n)

      1,518        13,286  

Peraton Corp.
9.18% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 02/01/2028(n)

      608        606,445  

Presidio Holdings, Inc.
8.91% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.50%), 01/22/2027(n)

      373        373,460  

8.93% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.50%), 01/22/2027(n)

      11        10,573  

Veritas US, Inc.
10.445% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 5.00%), 09/01/2025(n)

      568        524,523  
      

 

 

 
         4,548,770  
      

 

 

 

Transportation - Airlines – 0.0%

 

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
9.07% (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.75%), 10/20/2027(n)

      430        442,590  
      

 

 

 
         25,575,045  
      

 

 

 

Financial Institutions – 0.3%

 

Finance – 0.0%

 

Orbit Private Holdings I Ltd.
9.93% (CME Term SOFR 6 Month + 4.50%), 12/11/2028(n)

      235        235,187  
      

 

 

 

Insurance – 0.3%

 

Asurion LLC
9.68% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.25%), 08/19/2028(n)

      1,648        1,587,414  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 59


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Truist Insurance Holdings
03/08/2032(o)

    U.S.$       1,460      $ 1,467,300  
      

 

 

 
         3,054,714  
      

 

 

 
         3,289,901  
      

 

 

 

Utility – 0.2%

 

Electric – 0.2%

 

Granite Generation LLC
9.195% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 11/09/2026(n)

      1,729        1,729,765  
      

 

 

 

Total Bank Loans
(cost $32,562,564)

         30,594,711  
      

 

 

 
      

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS – 3.2%

      

Risk Share Floating Rate – 2.3%

 

Bellemeade Re Ltd.
Series 2019-3A, Class M1C
7.39% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.06%), 07/25/2029(b)(j)

      524        524,947  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2014-HQ2
Series 2014-HQ2, Class M3
9.185% (CME Term SOFR + 3.86%), 09/25/2024(j)

      1,161        1,176,289  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2015-DNA1
Series 2015-DNA1, Class B
14.635% (CME Term SOFR + 9.31%), 10/25/2027(j)

      592        632,556  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2015-DNA2
Series 2015-DNA2, Class B
12.985% (CME Term SOFR + 7.66%), 12/25/2027(j)

      1,212        1,279,176  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2015-DNA3
Series 2015-DNA3, Class B
14.785% (CME Term SOFR + 9.46%), 04/25/2028(j)

      1,012        1,111,664  

 

60 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

        Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2015-HQA1
Series 2015-HQA1, Class B
14.235% (CME Term SOFR + 8.91%), 03/25/2028(j)

  U.S.$     1,000      $ 1,047,763  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2016-DNA2
Series 2016-DNA2, Class B
15.935% (CME Term SOFR + 10.61%), 10/25/2028(j)

      849        957,935  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2016-DNA3
Series 2016-DNA3, Class B
16.685% (CME Term SOFR + 11.36%), 12/25/2028(j)

      2,734        3,144,168  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2016-DNA4
Series 2016-DNA4, Class B
14.035% (CME Term SOFR + 8.71%), 03/25/2029(j)

      389        430,925  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Debt Notes 2016-HQA2
Series 2016-HQA2, Class B
16.935% (CME Term SOFR + 11.61%), 11/25/2028(j)

      420        481,238  

Federal National Mortgage Association Connecticut Avenue Securities
Series 2015-C04, Class 1M2
11.135% (CME Term SOFR + 5.81%), 04/25/2028(j)

      866        914,487  

Series 2015-C04, Class 2M2
10.985% (CME Term SOFR + 5.66%), 04/25/2028(j)

      225        231,921  

Series 2016-C01, Class 1B
17.185% (CME Term SOFR + 11.86%), 08/25/2028(j)

      673        769,512  

Series 2016-C01, Class 2M2
12.385% (CME Term SOFR + 7.06%), 08/25/2028(j)

      108        112,276  

Series 2016-C02, Class 1B
17.685% (CME Term SOFR + 12.36%), 09/25/2028(j)

      446        518,836  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 61


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Series 2016-C02, Class 1M2
11.435% (CME Term SOFR + 6.11%), 09/25/2028(j)

    U.S.$       279      $ 289,901  

Series 2016-C03, Class 1B
17.185% (CME Term SOFR + 11.86%), 10/25/2028(j)

      370        428,424  

Series 2016-C03, Class 2B
18.185% (CME Term SOFR + 12.86%), 10/25/2028(j)

      630        735,041  

Series 2016-C04, Class 1B
15.685% (CME Term SOFR + 10.36%), 01/25/2029(j)

      1,476        1,673,881  

Series 2016-C05, Class 2B
16.185% (CME Term SOFR + 10.86%), 01/25/2029(j)

      1,815        2,056,662  

Series 2016-C06, Class 1B
14.685% (CME Term SOFR + 9.36%), 04/25/2029(j)

      1,275        1,432,926  

Series 2016-C07, Class 2B
14.935% (CME Term SOFR + 9.61%), 05/25/2029(j)

      1,555        1,741,620  

JP Morgan Madison Avenue Securities Trust
Series 2015-CH1, Class M2
10.935% (CME Term SOFR + 5.61%), 10/25/2025(b)(j)

      361        369,261  

Wells Fargo Credit Risk Transfer Securities Trust
Series 2015-WF1, Class 2M2
10.935% (CME Term SOFR + 5.61%), 11/25/2025(b)(j)

      118        122,327  
      

 

 

 
         22,183,736  
      

 

 

 

Non-Agency Fixed Rate – 0.3%

 

Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2006-42, Class 1A6
6.00%, 01/25/2047

      444        230,389  

Series 2006-24CB, Class A15
5.75%, 08/25/2036

      482        259,855  

Series 2006-HY12, Class A5
4.14%, 08/25/2036

      461        418,888  

Series 2006-J1, Class 1A10
5.50%, 02/25/2036

      508        347,745  

Series 2006-J5, Class 1A1
6.50%, 09/25/2036

      472        259,482  

Bear Stearns ARM Trust
Series 2007-3, Class 1A1
4.23%, 05/25/2047

      70        61,668  

 

62 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Series 2007-4, Class 22A1
4.08%, 06/25/2047

    U.S.$       281      $ 249,029  

ChaseFlex Trust
Series 2007-1, Class 1A3
6.50%, 02/25/2037

      399        141,338  

CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-HY4, Class 1A1
4.43%, 09/25/2047

      83        71,743  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2007-AR4, Class 1A1A
4.69%, 03/25/2037

      43        35,319  

CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2007-A3, Class 1A4
5.75%, 03/25/2037

      411        363,034  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. Trust
Series 2005-QS14, Class 3A1
6.00%, 09/25/2035

      174        142,036  

Residential Asset Securitization Trust
Series 2006-A8, Class 3A4
6.00%, 08/25/2036

      126        57,319  

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates WMALT Trust
Series 2006-9, Class A4
4.28%, 10/25/2036

      1,210        336,027  

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
Series 2007-AR7, Class A1
5.88%, 12/28/2037

      268        229,898  
      

 

 

 
         3,203,770  
      

 

 

 

Non-Agency Floating Rate – 0.3%

 

Alternative Loan Trust
Series 2007-7T2, Class A3
6.00% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.71%), 04/25/2037(j)

      1,939        680,030  

CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
Series 2007-13, Class A7
6.00% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.71%), 08/25/2037(j)

      285        112,963  

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
Series 2007-FA2, Class 1A6
0.11% (5.44% – CME Term SOFR 1 Month), 04/25/2037(j)(p)

      70        5,246  

Series 2007-FA2, Class 1A10
5.69% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.36%), 04/25/2037(j)

      208        48,428  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 63


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Lehman XS Trust
Series 2007-10H, Class 2AIO
1.56% (6.89% – CME Term SOFR 1 Month), 07/25/2037(j)(p)

    U.S.$       108      $ 9,201  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. Trust
Series 2006-QS18, Class 2A2
1.11% (6.44% – CME Term SOFR 1 Month), 12/25/2036(j)(p)

      1,664        162,177  

Wachovia Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2006-ALT1, Class A2
2.02% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.47%), 01/25/2037(j)

      4,953        1,827,524  
      

 

 

 
         2,845,569  
      

 

 

 

Agency Fixed Rate – 0.3%

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. REMICS
Series 4767, Class KI
6.00%, 03/15/2048(q)

      8,232        1,555,291  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Strips
Series 247, Class 54
5.50%, 04/15/2036(q)

      3,696        721,238  
      

 

 

 
         2,276,529  
      

 

 

 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
(cost $33,559,131)

         30,509,604  
      

 

 

 
      

EMERGING MARKETS - SOVEREIGNS – 2.5%

 

Angola – 0.3%

 

Angolan Government International Bond
8.25%, 05/09/2028(b)

      200        192,687  

9.50%, 11/12/2025(b)

      2,118        2,157,051  
      

 

 

 
         2,349,738  
      

 

 

 

Argentina – 0.2%

 

Argentine Republic Government International Bond
0.75%, 07/09/2030(a)

      199        103,486  

1.00%, 07/09/2029

      1,099        585,854  

3.50%, 07/09/2041(a)

      562        226,124  

3.625%, 07/09/2035(a)

      835        345,694  

4.25%, 01/09/2038(a)

      1,323        612,551  
      

 

 

 
         1,873,709  
      

 

 

 

Dominican Republic – 0.6%

 

Dominican Republic International Bond
8.625%, 04/20/2027(b)

      5,719        5,962,057  
      

 

 

 

 

64 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Ecuador – 0.0%

 

Ecuador Government International Bond
3.50%, 07/31/2035(a)(b)

    U.S.$       150      $ 78,570  
      

 

 

 

Egypt – 0.2%

 

Egypt Government International Bond
8.50%, 01/31/2047(b)

      862        684,213  

8.70%, 03/01/2049(b)

      611        494,337  

8.875%, 05/29/2050(b)

      1,096        901,117  
      

 

 

 
         2,079,667  
      

 

 

 

El Salvador – 0.2%

 

El Salvador Government International Bond
6.375%, 01/18/2027(b)

      460        400,200  

7.625%, 09/21/2034(b)

      762        561,260  

7.625%, 02/01/2041(b)

      826        604,632  

8.625%, 02/28/2029(b)

      860        747,663  
      

 

 

 
         2,313,755  
      

 

 

 

Nigeria – 0.6%

 

Nigeria Government International Bond
6.125%, 09/28/2028(b)

      3,176        2,874,280  

6.50%, 11/28/2027(b)

      1,418        1,333,363  

7.14%, 02/23/2030(b)

      721        654,758  

8.375%, 03/24/2029(b)

      801        781,226  
      

 

 

 
         5,643,627  
      

 

 

 

Senegal – 0.1%

 

Senegal Government International Bond
4.75%, 03/13/2028(b)

    EUR       465        452,439  
      

 

 

 

Ukraine – 0.2%

 

Ukraine Government International Bond
7.25%, 03/15/2035(a)(b)

    U.S.$       1,886        547,883  

7.375%, 09/25/2034(a)(b)

      1,164        339,306  

7.75%, 09/01/2025(a)(b)

      3,507        1,306,358  
      

 

 

 
         2,193,547  
      

 

 

 

Venezuela – 0.1%

 

Venezuela Government International Bond
9.25%, 09/15/2027(g)(m)

      4,439        776,825  

9.25%, 05/07/2028(b)(g)(m)

      300        47,850  
      

 

 

 
         824,675  
      

 

 

 

Total Emerging Markets – Sovereigns
(cost $31,187,661)

         23,771,784  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 65


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

GOVERNMENTS - TREASURIES – 1.9%

 

Colombia – 0.3%

 

Colombian TES
Series B
7.25%, 10/26/2050

    COP       14,439,300      $ 2,617,855  
      

 

 

 

United States – 1.6%

 

U.S. Treasury Bonds
2.75%, 11/15/2042(r)

    U.S.$       2,154        1,688,197  

5.00%, 05/15/2037(r)

      1,824        1,983,030  

5.25%, 02/15/2029(s)(t)

      320        333,700  

6.125%, 11/15/2027(s)

      1,000        1,057,500  

U.S. Treasury Notes
2.25%, 02/15/2027(s)(t)

      10,811        10,178,950  

2.875%, 08/15/2028(s)(t)

      606        572,670  
      

 

 

 
         15,814,047  
      

 

 

 

Total Governments – Treasuries
(cost $19,251,920)

         18,431,902  
      

 

 

 
      

QUASI-SOVEREIGNS – 1.1%

 

Quasi-Sovereign Bonds – 1.1%

 

Chile – 0.1%

 

Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile
5.95%, 01/08/2034(b)

      979        980,224  

6.44%, 01/26/2036(b)

      453        467,805  
      

 

 

 
         1,448,029  
      

 

 

 

Mexico – 0.7%

 

Comision Federal de Electricidad
3.35%, 02/09/2031(b)

      775        644,945  

4.69%, 05/15/2029(b)

      1,603        1,505,818  

Petroleos Mexicanos
5.95%, 01/28/2031

      3,174        2,543,644  

6.49%, 01/23/2027

      463        435,868  

6.50%, 03/13/2027

      355        333,704  

6.70%, 02/16/2032

      465        387,112  

6.75%, 09/21/2047

      2,113        1,396,693  
      

 

 

 
         7,247,784  
      

 

 

 

South Africa – 0.2%

 

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
7.125%, 02/11/2025(b)

      237        235,933  

Transnet SOC Ltd.
8.25%, 02/06/2028(b)

      1,300        1,294,719  
      

 

 

 
         1,530,652  
      

 

 

 

Turkey – 0.1%

 

TC Ziraat Bankasi AS
8.00%, 01/16/2029(b)

      354        358,914  

 

66 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Turkiye Ihracat Kredi Bankasi AS 9.00%, 01/28/2027(b)

    U.S.$       208      $ 217,194  
      

 

 

 
         576,108  
      

 

 

 

Total Quasi-Sovereigns
(cost $10,947,821)

         10,802,573  
      

 

 

 
      

COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.4%

      

Non-Agency Fixed Rate CMBS – 0.4%

 

Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2012-CR3, Class F
4.75%, 10/15/2045(b)(i)

      37        1,831  

Series 2013-LC6, Class D
3.95%, 01/10/2046(b)

      1,318        1,238,035  

Series 2014-CR20, Class XA
0.92%, 11/10/2047(q)

      8,130        8,217  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
Series 2011-C4, Class D
4.98%, 06/15/2044(b)

      1,022        860,005  

Series 2014-C25, Class D
3.80%, 11/15/2047(b)

      1,807        1,610,814  
      

 

 

 
         3,718,902  
      

 

 

 

Non-Agency Floating Rate CMBS – 0.0%

      

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust
Series 2019-BPR, Class E
10.67% (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 5.34%), 05/15/2036(b)(j)

      301        272,539  
      

 

 

 

Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
(cost $4,226,090)

         3,991,441  
      

 

 

 
      

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS - US MUNICIPAL BONDS – 0.4%

      

United States – 0.4%

      

State of California
Series 2010
7.60%, 11/01/2040

      750        926,283  

State of Illinois
Series 2010
7.35%, 07/01/2035

      1,641        1,776,975  

Wisconsin Public Finance Authority
Series 2021
5.75%, 07/25/2041(h)

      1,435        1,281,631  
      

 

 

 

Total Local Governments – US Municipal Bonds
(cost $3,836,443)

         3,984,889  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 67


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

INFLATION-LINKED SECURITIES – 0.3%

      

Colombia – 0.3%

      

Fideicomiso PA Costera
6.25%, 01/15/2034(h)

    COP       1,870,508      $ 459,499  

Fideicomiso PA Pacifico Tres
7.00%, 01/15/2035(h)

      10,431,429        2,415,401  
      

 

 

 

Total Inflation-Linked Securities
(cost $3,552,947)

         2,874,900  
      

 

 

 
      

GOVERNMENTS - SOVEREIGN BONDS – 0.2%

      

Colombia – 0.1%

      

Colombia Government International Bond
4.125%, 05/15/2051

    U.S.$       1,058        657,547  

8.00%, 11/14/2035

      464        487,200  
      

 

 

 
         1,144,747  
      

 

 

 

Panama – 0.1%

      

Panama Government International Bond
7.50%, 03/01/2031

      447        462,924  

Panama Notas del Tesoro
3.75%, 04/17/2026

      468        447,525  
      

 

 

 
         910,449  
      

 

 

 

Romania – 0.0%

      

Romanian Government International Bond
6.375%, 01/30/2034(b)

      336        340,935  
      

 

 

 

Total Governments – Sovereign Bonds
(cost $2,720,698)

         2,396,131  
      

 

 

 
          Shares         

COMMON STOCKS – 0.2%

      

Consumer Discretionary – 0.1%

      

Broadline Retail – 0.1%

      

ATD New Holdings, Inc.(d)(g)

      20,185        598,828  

K201640219 South Africa Ltd. – Class A(d)(f)(g)

      12,695,187        13  

K201640219 South Africa Ltd. – Class B(d)(f)(g)

      2,009,762        2  
      

 

 

 
         598,843  
      

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services – 0.0%

      

AG Tracker(d)(f)(g)

      78,082        – 0  – 

CWT Travel Holdings, Inc.(d)(f)(g)

      3,766        89,031  

Paysafe Ltd.(g)

      10,709        169,095  
      

 

 

 
         258,126  
      

 

 

 

 

68 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

         

Shares

     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 0.0%

 

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.(g)

      1,674      $ 73,221  
      

 

 

 

Leisure Products – 0.0%

 

New Cotai LLC/New Cotai Capital Corp.(d)(f)(g)

      3        – 0  – 
      

 

 

 
         930,190  
      

 

 

 

Communication Services – 0.1%

      

Media – 0.1%

      

National CineMedia, Inc.(g)

      59,108        304,406  
      

 

 

 

Financials – 0.0%

      

Insurance – 0.0%

      

Mt. Logan Re, Ltd. Special Investment, Series 1, June 2022 – Class U-2(d)(f)(g)

      100        38,191  

Mt. Logan Re, Ltd. Special Investment, Series 2, June 2022 – Class U-2(d)(g)

      441        168,151  
    

 

 

 
         206,342  
    

 

 

 

Industrials – 0.0%

 

Electrical Equipment – 0.0%

 

Exide Technologies(d)(f)(g)

      643        201,259  
    

 

 

 

Energy – 0.0%

      

Energy Equipment & Services – 0.0%

      

BIS Industries Holdings Ltd.(d)(f)(g)

      838,296        1  

CHC Group LLC(f)(g)

      21,009        4  
      

 

 

 
         5  
      

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.0%

      

Golden Energy Offshore Services AS(g)

      916,212        139,248  

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

      243        3,541  
      

 

 

 
         142,789  
      

 

 

 
         142,794  
      

 

 

 

Consumer Staples – 0.0%

      

Household Products – 0.0%

      

Southeastern Grocers, Inc.(d)(f)(g)

      105,865        74,105  
      

 

 

 

Information Technology – 0.0%

 

IT Services – 0.0%

 

GOLO Mobile, Inc.(d)(f)(g)

      38,543        – 0  – 
    

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $12,139,786)

         1,859,096  
  

 

 

 
      

PREFERRED STOCKS – 0.1%

      

Industrials – 0.1%

      

Trading Companies & Distributors – 0.1%

      

WESCO International, Inc.
Series A
10.625%
(cost $948,963)

      35,175        925,454  
      

 

 

 

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 69


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.1%

     

Autos - Fixed Rate – 0.1%

     

Flagship Credit Auto Trust
Series 2019-4, Class E
4.11%, 03/15/2027(b)

    U.S.$       770     $ 748,450  
     

 

 

 

Other ABS - Floating Rate – 0.0%

     

Pagaya AI Debt Trust
Series 2022-6, Class A4
39.83%, 05/15/2030(b)(d)

      62       80,047  
     

 

 

 

Other ABS - Fixed Rate – 0.0%

     

Consumer Loan Underlying Bond
Certificate Issuer Trust I
Series 2019-24, Class PT
8.64%, 08/15/2044(h)

      7       7,104  

Series 2019-36, Class PT
11.77%, 10/17/2044(h)

      18       17,470  
     

 

 

 
        24,574  
     

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $857,538)

        853,071  
     

 

 

 
          Shares        

RIGHTS – 0.0%

 

Vistra Energy Corp.,
expiring 12/31/2049(d)(g)
(cost $0)

      10,721       13,133  
     

 

 

 
     

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.2%

 

Investment Companies – 0.8%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc. – Government Money Market Portfolio – Class AB, 5.21%(u)(v)(w)
(cost $7,585,463)

      7,585,463       7,585,463  
     

 

 

 
          Principal
Amount
(000)
       

Time Deposits – 0.4%

 

BBH, New York

     

3.79%, 04/01/2024

    CAD       0 **      2  

6.27%, 04/02/2024

    ZAR       22       1,151  

Citibank, London

     

2.85%, 04/02/2024

    EUR       1,466       1,581,326  

Citibank, New York

     

4.68%, 04/01/2024

    U.S.$       2,556       2,556,070  

 

70 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

          Principal
Amount
(000)
     U.S. $ Value  

 

 

Royal Bank of Canada, London

      

4.15%, 04/02/2024

    GBP       7      $ 9,109  
      

 

 

 

Total Time Deposits
(cost $4,147,658)

         4,147,658  
      

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(cost $11,733,121)

         11,733,121  
  

 

 

 

Total Investments – 100.2%
(cost $1,029,097,315)

         968,068,262 (x) 

Other assets less liabilities – (0.2)%

         (1,646,968
  

 

 

 

Net Assets – 100.0%

       $ 966,421,294  
  

 

 

 

FUTURES (see Note C)

 

Description   Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Month
    Current
Notional
    Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Purchased Contracts

       

U.S. 10 Yr Ultra Futures

    98       June 2024     $ 11,231,719     $ 51,664  

U.S. T-Note 5 Yr (CBT) Futures

    597       June 2024       63,888,328       97,945  

Sold Contracts

       

U.S. Long Bond (CBT) Futures

    68       June 2024       8,189,750       87,125  

U.S. T-Note 10 Yr (CBT) Futures

    241       June 2024        26,702,047       (90,367
       

 

 

 
  $  146,367  
       

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note C)

 

Counterparty   Contracts to
Deliver
(000)
    In Exchange
For
(000)
    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Bank of America NA

  KRW     45,746     USD     35       04/18/2024     $ 968  

Bank of America NA

  USD     30     KRW     38,938       04/18/2024       (964

Bank of America NA

  PEN     344     USD     93       05/16/2024       882  

Bank of America NA

  USD     2,846     EUR     2,621       06/12/2024       (10,379

Barclays Bank PLC

  BRL     45     USD     9       04/02/2024       35  

Barclays Bank PLC

  USD     9     BRL     45       04/02/2024       (35

Barclays Bank PLC

  KRW     44,854     USD     34       04/18/2024       478  

Barclays Bank PLC

  USD     63     KRW     83,548       04/18/2024       (933

Barclays Bank PLC

  EUR     1,678     USD     1,831       06/12/2024       14,617  

BNP Paribas SA

  COP     10,710,000     USD     2,722       05/16/2024        (27,428

BNP Paribas SA

  TWD     1,002     USD     32       05/24/2024       701  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  AUD     186     USD     123       04/18/2024       1,309  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     138     AUD     210       04/18/2024       (1,186

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CZK     1,624     USD     69       04/19/2024       12  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  GBP     113     USD     143       04/19/2024       654  

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 71


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Counterparty   Contracts to
Deliver
(000)
    In Exchange
For
(000)
    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  GBP     29     USD     37       04/19/2024     $ (5

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  PLN     387     USD     98       04/19/2024       1,030  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     104     GBP     82       04/19/2024       (747

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     34     HUF     12,092       04/19/2024       (500

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     37     PLN     148       04/19/2024       (34

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     31     ZAR     599       04/19/2024       412  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  ZAR     692     USD     37       04/19/2024       408  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  ZAR     58     USD     3       04/19/2024       (36

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  NOK     2,111     USD     201       04/30/2024       5,874  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  SEK     807     USD     77       04/30/2024       1,953  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     261     NOK     2,752       04/30/2024       (7,164

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     100     SEK     1,042       04/30/2024       (2,556

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CHF     107     USD     121       05/08/2024       2,540  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CHF     30     USD     33       05/08/2024       (16

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     164     CHF     143       05/08/2024       (4,205

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  SGD     49     USD     37       05/17/2024       513  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CNH     575     USD     79       05/23/2024       147  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  MXN     739     USD     44       05/23/2024       (396

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  NZD     61     USD     37       05/23/2024       773  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     33     CNH     239       05/23/2024       (451

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     33     NZD     54       05/23/2024       (240

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  EUR     464     USD     509       06/12/2024       6,922  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     57     EUR     52       06/12/2024       (160

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CAD     62     USD     46       06/13/2024       262  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  CAD     90     USD     66       06/13/2024       (216

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

  USD     68     CAD     92       06/13/2024       (99

Citibank NA

  USD     32     KRW     42,288       04/18/2024       (460

Citibank NA

  USD     68     TWD     2,127       05/24/2024       (1,079

Citibank NA

  USD     1,806     CAD     2,432       06/13/2024       (8,860

Deutsche Bank AG

  BRL     45     USD     9       04/02/2024       35  

Deutsche Bank AG

  USD     9     BRL     45       04/02/2024       (60

Deutsche Bank AG

  BRL     45     USD     9       05/03/2024       60  

Deutsche Bank AG

  EUR     48,229     USD     52,831       06/12/2024        648,359  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

  IDR     557,273     USD     35       04/25/2024       378  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

  USD     75     INR     6,201       06/14/2024       (608

HSBC Bank USA

  KRW     39,465     USD     30       04/18/2024       421  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  GBP     3,129     USD     3,970       04/19/2024       20,512  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  USD     1,921     GBP     1,514       04/19/2024       (9,929

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  USD     99     IDR     1,542,579       04/25/2024       (1,602

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  CLP     34,246     USD     36       05/16/2024       801  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  COP     13,572,390     USD     3,444       05/16/2024       (40,854

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  USD     40     CLP     39,419       05/16/2024       52  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

  USD     63     CLP     60,796       05/16/2024       (1,212

 

72 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Counterparty   Contracts to
Deliver
(000)
    In Exchange
For
(000)
    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

    USD       53       COP       209,537       05/16/2024     $ 631  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

    TWD       860       USD       28       05/24/2024       715  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

    EUR       1,070       USD       1,163       06/12/2024       5,839  

UBS AG

    USD       12       CNH       86       05/23/2024       (121
           

 

 

 
            $  595,758  
           

 

 

 

CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note C)

 

Description   Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Payment
Frequency
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2024
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market Value     Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Sale Contracts

 

           

Brazilian Government International Bond, 4.250%, 01/07/2025, 06/20/2029*

    1.00     Quarterly       1.37   USD 320     $ (5,345   $ (5,734   $ 389  

CDX-NAHY Series 41, 5 Year Index, 12/20/2028*

    5.00       Quarterly       3.11     USD  55,928        4,195,093       (62,402     4,257,495  

CDX-NAHY Series 42, 5 Year Index, 06/20/2029*

    5.00       Quarterly       3.29     USD 54,564       4,008,726        3,903,620       105,106  

iTraxx Europe Crossover Series 41, 5 Year Index, 06/20/2029*

    5.00       Quarterly       2.97     EUR 33,120       3,199,848       3,316,975       (117,127

South Africa Government International Bond, 5.875%, 09/16/2025, 06/20/2029*

    1.00       Quarterly       2.58     USD 2,380       (166,181     (153,075     (13,106
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          $  11,232,141     $  6,999,384     $  4,232,757  
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Termination date

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 73


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note C)

 

Swap Counterparty &
Referenced Obligation
  Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Payment
Frequency
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
March 31,
2024
    Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Sale Contracts

 

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

               

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00     Monthly       7.50     USD       204     $ (25,787   $ (20,632   $ (5,155

Deutsche Bank AG

 

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       163       (20,689     (17,259     (3,430

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       116       (14,654     (11,584     (3,070

Goldman Sachs International

               

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       166       (21,087     (12,670     (8,417

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       968       (122,656     (75,426     (47,230

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       81       (10,231     (6,525     (3,706

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       162       (20,462     (13,291     (7,171

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       162       (20,462     (14,383     (6,079

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       323       (40,866     (31,396     (9,470

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       467       (59,129     (45,431     (13,698

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       238       (30,104     (22,976     (7,128

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB-
Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       60       (7,555     (5,808     (1,747

JPMorgan Securities LLC

 

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       5,384       (681,156     (557,550     (123,606

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       2,871       (363,283     (311,767     (51,516

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

               

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       1,499        (189,588      (14,955      (174,633

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50       USD       533       (67,479     (50,477     (17,002

CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- Series 6, 05/11/2063*

    3.00       Monthly       7.50     USD       571       (72,250     (56,281     (15,969
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
            $  (1,767,438   $  (1,268,411   $  (499,027
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Termination date

 

74 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (see Note C)

 

Broker    Currency      Principal
Amount
(000)
     Interest
Rate
    Maturity      U.S. $
Value at
March 31,
2024
 

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     USD        473        2.25          $ 476,721  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     USD        683        3.00              683,742  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     USD        1,144        4.25              1,148,400  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     USD        1,326        4.50              1,338,092  

Jefferies LLC

     USD        851        0.00              851,130  

Jefferies LLC

     USD        87        2.00              86,591  

Jefferies LLC

     USD        502        4.75       4/02/2024        502,091  
             

 

 

 
              $  5,086,767  
             

 

 

 

 

 

The reverse repurchase agreement matures on demand. Interest rate resets daily and the rate shown is the rate in effect on March 31, 2024.

The type of underlying collateral and the remaining maturity of open reverse repurchase agreements on statements of assets and liabilities is as follows:

 

     Overnight
and
Continuous
    Up to
30 Days
    31-90 Days     Greater than
90 Days
    Total  

Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds

  $ 476,721     $ – 0  –    $  – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 476,721  

Corporates – Non-Investment Grade

    4,107,955       – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      4,107,955  

Corporates – Investment Grade

    – 0  –      502,091       – 0  –      – 0  –      502,091  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $  4,584,676     $  502,091     $  – 0  –    $  – 0  –    $  5,086,767  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

**

Principal amount less than 500.

 

(a)

Coupon rate adjusts periodically based upon a predetermined schedule. Stated interest rate in effect at March 31, 2024.

 

(b)

Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration. At March 31, 2024, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $700,446,808 or 72.48% of net assets.

 

(c)

Pay-In-Kind Payments (PIK). The issuer may pay cash interest and/or interest in additional debt securities. Rates shown are the rates in effect at March 31, 2024.

 

(d)

Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

(e)

Defaulted matured security.

 

(f)

Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(g)

Non-income producing security.

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 75


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

(h)

Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 0.55% of net assets as of March 31, 2024, are considered illiquid and restricted. Additional information regarding such securities follows:

 

144A/Restricted &
Illiquid Securities
   Acquisition
Date
    Cost     Market
Value
    Percentage of
Net Assets
 

BBFI Liquidating Trust
Zero Coupon, 12/30/2099

    
01/18/2013 -
06/17/2022

 
  $  667,466     $  225,817       0.02

Consumer Loan Underlying Bond Certificate Issuer Trust I Series 2019-24, Class PT 8.64%, 08/15/2044

     06/27/2019       7,125       7,104       0.00

Consumer Loan Underlying Bond Certificate Issuer Trust I Series 2019-36, Class PT 11.77%, 10/17/2044

     09/04/2019       17,842       17,470       0.00

Curo Group Holdings Corp. 7.50%, 08/01/2028

    
07/16/2021 -
05/10/2022

 
     3,417,696       928,957       0.10

Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. Zero Coupon, 12/31/2030

     11/14/2023       8,649       1,461       0.00

Exide Technologies 11.00%, 10/31/2024

     10/29/2020       0       0       0.00

Fideicomiso PA Costera 6.25%, 01/15/2034

     07/08/2016       564,755       459,499       0.05

Fideicomiso PA Pacifico Tres 7.00%, 01/15/2035

     03/04/2016       2,988,192        2,415,401       0.25

K2016470219 South Africa Ltd. 3.00%, 12/31/2022

    
01/31/2017 -
06/30/2022

 
    1,100,178       0       0.00

K2016470260 South Africa Ltd. 25.00%, 12/31/2022

    
01/31/2017 -
06/30/2022

 
    770,975       0       0.00

Magnetation LLC/Mag Finance Corp.
11.00%, 05/15/2018

    
05/15/2013 -
02/19/2015

 
    2,295,760       0       0.00

Odebrecht Holdco Finance Ltd. Zero Coupon, 09/10/2058

     01/22/2021       681,406       665       0.00

Tonon Luxembourg SA 6.50%, 10/31/2024

    
05/03/2019 -
10/31/2021

 
    1,209,003       62       0.00

Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA 10.50%, 01/28/2018

    
01/23/2014 -
01/27/2014

 
    2,401,854       410       0.00

Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA 10.875%, 01/13/2020

     06/09/2014       477,418       48       0.00

Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA 11.75%, 02/09/2022

    
01/29/2014 -
02/05/2014

 
    838,866       162       0.00

Wisconsin Public Finance Authority
Series 2021 5.75%, 07/25/2041

     08/03/2021        1,435,000       1,281,631       0.13

 

(i)

Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize reverse repurchase agreements.

 

(j)

Floating Rate Security. Stated interest/floor/ceiling rate was in effect at March 31, 2024.

 

(k)

Escrow Shares.

 

(l)

Securities are perpetual and, thus, do not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date.

 

(m)

Defaulted.

 

 

76 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


 

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

(n)

The stated coupon rate represents the greater of the SOFR or an alternate base rate such as the PRIME or the SOFR/PRIME floor rate plus a spread at March 31, 2024.

 

(o)

This position or a portion of this position represents an unsettled loan purchase. The coupon rate will be determined at the time of settlement and will be based upon the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a premium which was determined at the time of purchase.

 

(p)

Inverse interest only security.

 

(q)

IO – Interest Only.

 

(r)

Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open futures contracts.

 

(s)

Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize margin requirements for open centrally cleared swaps.

 

(t)

Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize OTC derivatives outstanding.

 

(u)

The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(v)

To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

(w)

Affiliated investments.

 

(x)

On March 29, 2024, the Fund and U.S. stock exchanges were closed for business due to a U.S. holiday but the foreign markets remained open for trading. The Fund valued its foreign securities using the closing market prices from the respective foreign markets as of March 28, 2024 for financial reporting purposes.

 

Currency Abbreviations:

 

AUD – Australian Dollar

BRL – Brazilian Real

CAD – Canadian Dollar

CHF – Swiss Franc

CLP – Chilean Peso

CNH – Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)

COP – Colombian Peso

CZK – Czech Koruna

EUR – Euro

GBP – Great British Pound

HUF – Hungarian Forint

IDR – Indonesian Rupiah

 

INR – Indian Rupee

KRW – South Korean Won

MXN – Mexican Peso

NOK – Norwegian Krone

NZD – New Zealand Dollar

PEN – Peruvian Sol

PLN – Polish Zloty

SEK – Swedish Krona

SGD – Singapore Dollar

TWD – New Taiwan Dollar

USD – United States Dollar

ZAR – South African Rand

Glossary:

ABS – Asset-Backed Securities

CBT – Chicago Board of Trade

CDX-CMBX.NA. – North American Commercial Mortgage-Backed Index

CDX-NAHY – North American High Yield Credit Default Swap Index

CLO – Collateralized Loan Obligations

CMBS – Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

CME – Chicago Mercantile Exchange

EURIBOR – Euro Interbank Offered Rate

JSC – Joint Stock Company

REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust

REMICS – Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits

SOFR – Secured Overnight Financing Rate

See notes to financial statements.

 

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STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

March 31, 2024

 

Assets   

Investments in securities, at value
Unaffiliated issuers (cost $1,021,511,852)

   $ 960,482,799  

Affiliated issuers (cost $7,585,463)

     7,585,463  

Cash

     30,301  

Cash collateral due from broker

     2,434,154  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $395,544)

     25,549  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     15,796,488  

Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign currency transactions

     3,985,851  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     718,293  

Receivable for unsettled reverse repurchase agreements

     142,678  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     29,254  

Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps

     6,645  

Receivable from Adviser

     861  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     991,238,336  
  

 

 

 
Liabilities   

Payable for investment securities purchased

     15,706,350  

Payable for reverse repurchase agreements

     5,086,767  

Market value of credit default swaps (net premiums received $1,268,411)

     1,767,438  

Advisory fee payable

     873,874  

Payable for capital gains taxes

     402,852  

Payable for unsettled reverse repurchase agreements

     294,578  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     122,535  

Payable for variation margin on futures

     66,602  

Administrative fee payable

     7,637  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     1,783  

Directors’ fee payable

     1,111  

Accrued expenses

     485,515  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     24,817,042  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 966,421,294  
  

 

 

 
Composition of Net Assets   

Capital stock, at par

   $ 862,297  

Additional paid-in capital

      1,152,146,191  

Accumulated loss

     (186,587,194
  

 

 

 
   $ 966,421,294  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—100 million shares of capital stock authorized, $0.01 par value (based on 86,229,677 shares outstanding)

   $ 11.21  
  

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

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STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended March 31, 2024

 

Investment Income     

Interest

   $  73,263,309    

Dividends

    

Unaffiliated issuers

     454,821    

Affiliated issuers

     415,312     $ 74,133,442  
  

 

 

   
Expenses     

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     8,316,650    

Transfer agency

     36,911    

Custody and accounting

     284,225    

Printing

     202,976    

Audit and tax

     200,833    

Registration fees

     83,381    

Administrative

     77,282    

Legal

     76,209    

Directors’ fees

     29,485    

Miscellaneous

     71,421    
  

 

 

   

Total expenses before interest expense

     9,379,373    

Interest expense

     303,678    
  

 

 

   

Total expenses

     9,683,051    

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B)

     (10,222  
  

 

 

   

Net expenses

       9,672,829  
    

 

 

 

Net investment income

       64,460,613  
    

 

 

 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment and Foreign Currency Transactions     

Net realized gain (loss) on:

    

Investment transactions(a)

       (19,206,226

Forward currency exchange contracts

       (981,464

Futures

       (2,540,849

Written options

       52,931  

Swaps

       17,415,918  

Foreign currency transactions

       (1,274,865

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

    

Investments(b)

       64,042,335  

Forward currency exchange contracts

       1,755,201  

Futures

       (2,300,851

Swaps

       3,705,829  

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

       (77,486
    

 

 

 

Net gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

       60,590,473  
    

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

     $  125,051,086  
    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $31,600.

 

(b)

Net of increase in accrued foreign capital gains taxes on unrealized gains of $1,161.

See notes to financial statements.

 

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STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Year Ended
March 31,
2024
    Year Ended
March 31,
2023
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations     

Net investment income

   $ 64,460,613     $ 59,434,784  

Net realized loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (6,534,555     (59,646,186

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     67,125,028       (49,324,368
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     125,051,086       (49,535,770

Distributions to Shareholders

     (67,266,382     (76,201,166

Return of Capital

     (2,312,344     – 0  – 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     55,472,360       (125,736,936
Net Assets     

Beginning of period

      910,948,934        1,036,685,870  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 966,421,294     $ 910,948,934  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2024

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), 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 Fund is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.

1. Security Valuation

Portfolio securities are valued at market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the oversight of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Pursuant to these procedures, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 of the 1940 Act. In this capacity, the Adviser is responsible, among other things, for making all fair value determinations relating to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight.

In general, the market values 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 last traded price from the previous 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 or over the counter (“OTC”) market put or call options are valued at the mid level between the current bid and ask prices. If either a current bid or current ask price is unavailable, the Adviser will have discretion to determine the best valuation (e.g., last trade price in the case of listed options); open futures 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

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

is used; U.S. Government securities and any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. 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, 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. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. 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 generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability (including those valued based on their market values as described in Note A.1 above). Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

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

   

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

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

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively, the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on an exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.

Valuations of mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities, by pricing vendors, are based on both proprietary and industry recognized models and discounted cash flow techniques. Significant inputs to the valuation of these instruments are value of the collateral, the rates and timing of delinquencies, the rates and timing of prepayments, and default and loss expectations, which are driven in part by housing prices for residential mortgages. Significant inputs are determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, including relevant indices. Mortgage and asset-backed securities for which management has collected current observable data through pricing services are generally categorized within Level 2. Those investments for which current observable data has not been provided are classified as Level 3.

Bank loan prices are provided by third party pricing services and consist of a composite of the quotes received by the vendor into a consensus price. Certain bank loans are classified as Level 3, as a significant input used in the fair value measurement of these instruments is the market quotes that are received by the vendor and these inputs are not observable.

Other fixed income investments, including non-U.S. government and corporate debt, are generally valued using quoted market prices, if available, which are typically impacted by current interest rates, maturity dates and any perceived credit risk of the issuer. Additionally, in the absence of quoted market prices, these inputs are used by pricing vendors to derive a valuation based upon industry or proprietary models which incorporate issuer specific data with relevant yield/spread comparisons with more widely quoted bonds with similar key characteristics. Those investments

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

for which there are observable inputs are classified as Level 2. Where the inputs are not observable, the investments are classified as Level 3.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of March 31, 2024:

 

Investments in
Securities

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

       

Corporates – Non-Investment Grade

  $ – 0  –    $ 547,115,645     $  1,389,097 #    $ 548,504,742  

Corporates – Investment Grade

    – 0  –      184,173,895       – 0  –      184,173,895  

Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds

    – 0  –      51,899,269       227,898 #      52,127,167  

Collateralized Loan Obligations

    – 0  –      40,520,648       – 0  –      40,520,648  

Bank loans

    – 0  –      29,437,264       1,157,447       30,594,711  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

    – 0  –      30,509,604       – 0  –      30,509,604  

Emerging Markets – Sovereigns

    – 0  –      23,771,784       – 0  –      23,771,784  

Governments – Treasuries

    – 0  –      18,431,902       – 0  –      18,431,902  

Quasi-Sovereigns

    – 0  –      10,802,573       – 0  –      10,802,573  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

    – 0  –      3,991,441       – 0  –      3,991,441  

Local Governments – US Municipal Bonds

    – 0  –      3,984,889       – 0  –      3,984,889  

Inflation-Linked Securities

    – 0  –      2,874,900       – 0  –      2,874,900  

Governments – Sovereign Bonds

    – 0  –      2,396,131       – 0  –      2,396,131  

Common Stocks

    689,511       4       1,169,581 #      1,859,096  

Preferred Stocks

    925,454       – 0  –      – 0  –      925,454  

Asset-Backed Securities

    – 0  –      773,024       80,047       853,071  

Rights

    – 0  –      – 0  –      13,133       13,133  

Short-Term Investments:

       

Investment Companies

     7,585,463       – 0  –      – 0  –      7,585,463  

Time Deposits

    4,147,658       – 0  –      – 0  –      4,147,658  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

    13,348,086        950,682,973       4,037,203        968,068,262  

Other Financial Instruments*:

       

Assets

       

Futures

    236,734       – 0  –      – 0  –       236,734  

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

    – 0  –      718,293       – 0  –      718,293  

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      11,403,667       – 0  –       11,403,667  

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Investments in
Securities

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Liabilities

       

Futures

  $ (90,367   $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $   (90,367 ) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

    – 0  –      (122,535     – 0  –      (122,535

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      (171,526     – 0  –       (171,526 ) 

Credit Default Swaps

    – 0  –      (1,767,438     – 0  –      (1,767,438

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

     (5,086,767     – 0  –      – 0  –      (5,086,767
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 8,407,686     $ 960,743,434     $ 4,037,203     $ 973,188,323  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

#

The Fund held securities with zero market value at period end.

 

*

Other financial instruments include reverse repurchase agreements and derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps. Derivative instruments are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, written options and written swaptions which are valued at market value.

 

Only variation margin receivable (payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. Where applicable, centrally cleared swaps with upfront premiums are presented here at market value.

3. 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 ask 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 the 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, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on 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 net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken or expected to be taken on federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years (the current and the prior three tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

5. 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 the securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains or losses are determined on the identified cost basis. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at the fair value of the securities received. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Fund accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Dividends and Distributions

Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 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.

7. Cash and Short-Term Investments

Cash and short-term investments include cash on hand and short-term investments with maturities of less than one year when purchased.

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 .90% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Such fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

Pursuant to the administration agreement, the Fund may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser, provided, however, that the reimbursement may not exceed

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

.15% annualized of average weekly net assets. For the year ended March 31, 2024, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $77,282.

Under the terms of a Shareholder Inquiry Agency Agreement with AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser, the Fund reimburses ABIS for costs relating to servicing phone inquiries on behalf of the Fund. During the year ended March 31, 2024, there was no such reimbursement paid to ABIS.

The Fund may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser had contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. Effective September 1, 2023, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .05% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .15%) until August 31, 2024. In connection with the investment by the Fund in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the year ended March 31, 2024, such waiver amounted to $10,222.

A summary of the Fund’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the year ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:

 

Fund

  Market Value
3/31/23
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
3/31/24
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

  $  10,074     $  204,478     $  206,967     $  7,585     $  415  

NOTE C

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended March 31, 2024, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

   $  425,840,242      $  393,195,957  

U.S. government securities

     2,098,745        12,677,734  

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Cost

   $  1,030,115,748  
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 29,883,246  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (86,206,998
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (56,323,752
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Fund, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

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 sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

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

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Futures

The Fund may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Fund bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Fund may

 

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purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

At the time the Fund enters into futures, the Fund deposits with the broker or segregates at its custodian cash or securities as collateral to satisfy initial margin requirements set by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Pursuant to the contract, with respect to cash collateral, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract; in the case of securities collateral, the Fund agrees to adjust the securities position held in the segregated account accordingly. Such receipts, payments or adjustments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Use of long futures subjects the Fund to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Fund to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of futures can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held futures for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Option Transactions

For hedging and investment purposes, the Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Fund may use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.

 

90 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. If a put or call purchased option by the Fund were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a loss to the Fund. Put and call purchased options are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

When the Fund writes an option, the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the written option. The Fund’s maximum payment for written put options equates to the number of shares multiplied by the strike price. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains from written options. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Fund. In writing an option, the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of a written option by the Fund could result in the Fund selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.

The Fund may also invest in options on swap agreements, also called “swaptions”. A swaption is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based “premium”. A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties. The Fund’s maximum payment for written put swaptions equates to the notional

 

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amount of the underlying swap. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held purchased options for hedging purposes.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held written options for hedging purposes.

 

   

Swaps

The Fund may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk or currencies. The Fund may also enter into swaps for non-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures including by making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” or in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset described below under “Total Return Swaps”. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Fund in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and recourse to the Fund or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.

Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Fund, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Fund accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received for swaps are recognized as cost or

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.

Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on a phased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

At the time the Fund enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Fund deposits with the broker or segregates at its custodian cash or securities as collateral to satisfy initial margin requirements set by the clearinghouse on which the transaction is effected. Pursuant to the contract, with respect to cash collateral, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract; in the case of securities collateral, the Fund agrees to adjust the securities position held in the segregated account accordingly. Such receipts, payments or adjustments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for centrally cleared swaps is generally less than non-centrally cleared swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each centrally cleared swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Credit Default Swaps:

The Fund may enter into credit default swaps, including to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults by corporate and sovereign issuers held by the Fund, or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. The Fund may purchase credit protection (“Buy Contract”) or provide credit protection (“Sale Contract”) on the referenced obligation of the credit default swap. During the term of the swap, the Fund receives/(pays) fixed payments from/(to) the respective counterparty, calculated at the agreed upon

 

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rate applied to the notional amount. If the Fund is a buyer/(seller) of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the swap, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller/(pay to the buyer) of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap (the “Maximum Payout Amount”) and deliver/(take delivery of) the referenced obligation or (ii) receive/(pay) a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation. In certain circumstances Maximum Payout Amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront premium received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Fund for the same referenced obligation with the same counterparty.

Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the referenced obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Fund is a buyer of protection and no credit event occurs, it will lose the payments it made to its counterparty. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Fund coupled with the periodic payments previously received may be less than the Maximum Payout Amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a net loss to the Fund.

Implied credit spreads over U.S. Treasuries of comparable maturity utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on issuers as of period end are disclosed in the portfolio of investments. The implied spreads serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and typically reflect the likelihood of default by the issuer of the referenced obligation. The implied credit spread of a particular reference obligation also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Widening credit spreads typically represent a deterioration of the referenced obligation’s credit soundness and greater likelihood of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced obligation.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held credit default swaps for non-hedging purposes.

Total Return Swaps:

The Fund may enter into total return swaps in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset. The Fund is subject to market price volatility of the underlying referenced

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

asset. A total return swap involves commitments to pay interest in exchange for a market linked return based on a notional amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, group of securities or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest obligation, the Fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund held total return swaps for non-hedging purposes.

The Fund typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Fund’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Fund’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Fund decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Fund’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Fund to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty tables below for additional details.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Fund had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of

Assets and

Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of

Assets and

Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value  

Interest rate contracts

 

Receivable for variation margin on futures

 

$

236,734

 

Payable for variation margin on futures

 

$

90,367

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of

Assets and

Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of

Assets and

Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value  

Foreign currency contracts

 

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

 

$

718,293

 

 

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

 

$

122,535

 

Credit contracts

      Market value of credit default swaps     1,767,438  

Credit contracts

  Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps     4,362,990   Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps     130,233
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $  5,318,017       $  2,110,573  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*

Only variation margin receivable (payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

Derivative Type

 

Location of Gain
or (Loss) on

Derivatives Within
Statement of
Operations

  Realized Gain
or (Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Interest rate contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures   $ (2,540,849   $  (2,300,851

Foreign currency contracts

 

Net realized gain/(loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward currency exchange contracts

 

 

(981,464

 

 

1,755,201

 

Credit contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swaps     17,415,918       3,705,829  

Equity contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments     177,620       – 0  – 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Derivative Type

 

Location of Gain
or (Loss) on

Derivatives Within
Statement of
Operations

  Realized Gain
or (Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Equity contracts

  Net realized gain/(loss) on written options; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written options   $ 52,931     $ – 0  – 
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $  14,124,156     $  3,160,179  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Fund’s derivative transactions during the year ended March 31, 2024:

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $  173,681,181  

Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 16,207,196  

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 8,860,531  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 62,795,281  

Futures:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 94,218,415  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 31,247,012 (a) 

Total Return Swaps:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 9,673,906 (b) 

Written Options:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 24,543,333 (c) 

Purchased Options:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 26,023,333 (c) 

 

(a)

Positions were open for two months during the reporting period.

 

(b)

Positions were open for eleven months during the reporting period.

 

(c)

Positions were open for three months during the reporting period.

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Fund as of March 31, 2024. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the tables.

 

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Counterparty

  Derivative
Assets
Subject to a
MA
    Derivatives
Available
for Offset
    Cash
Collateral
Received*
    Security
Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Assets
 

Bank of America NA.

  $ 1,850     $ (1,850   $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ – 0  – 

Barclays Bank PLC

    15,130       (968     – 0  –      – 0  –      14,162  

BNP Paribas SA

    701       (701     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

    22,809       (18,011     – 0  –      – 0  –      4,798  

Deutsche Bank AG

    648,454       (35,403     – 0  –      – 0  –      613,051  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA/ Goldman Sachs International

    378       (378     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

HSBC Bank USA

    421       – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      421  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC.

    28,550       (28,550     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $  718,293     $  (85,861   $  – 0  –    $  – 0  –    $  632,432  ^ 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Counterparty

  Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to a
MA
    Derivatives
Available
for Offset
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged*
    Security
Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilities
 

Bank of America NA.

  $ 11,343     $ (1,850   $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 9,493  

Barclays Bank PLC

    968       (968     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

BNP Paribas SA

    27,428       (701     – 0  –      – 0  –      26,727  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

    18,011       (18,011     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Citibank NA/Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

    36,186       – 0  –      – 0  –      (28,341     7,845  

Deutsche Bank AG

    35,403       (35,403     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA/ Goldman Sachs International

    333,160       (378     (332,782     – 0  –      – 0  – 

JPMorgan Securities LLC

    1,044,439       – 0  –      – 0  –      (1,044,439     – 0  – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC.

    382,914       (28,550     (120,000     (234,364     – 0  – 

UBS AG

    121       – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      121  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $  1,889,973     $  (85,861   $  (452,782   $  (1,307,144   $  44,186  ^ 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to overcollateralization.

 

^

Net amount represents the net receivable (payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

 

See Note C.3 for additional disclosure of netting arrangements regarding reverse repurchase agreements.

2. Currency Transactions

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Fund may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Fund may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates

 

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that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Fund and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Fund may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

3. Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase transactions (“RVP”) in accordance with the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), under which the Fund sells securities and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish a segregated account with the custodian containing liquid assets having a value comparable to the repurchase price. Under the MRA and other Master Agreements, the Fund is permitted to offset payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from the Fund in the event of a default. In the event of a default by a MRA counterparty, the Fund may be considered an unsecured creditor with respect to any excess collateral (collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price) held by and/or posted to the counterparty, and as such the return of such excess collateral may be delayed or denied. For the year ended March 31, 2024, the average amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding was $9,155,948 and the daily weighted average interest rate was 2.27%. At March 31, 2024, the Fund had reverse repurchase agreements outstanding in the amount of $5,086,767 as reported in the statement of assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Fund’s RVP liabilities by counterparty net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund as of March 31, 2024:

 

Counterparty

  RVP Liabilities
Subject to a
MRA
    Securities
Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
RVP Liabilities
 

Barclays Capital, Inc

  $ 3,646,955     $ (3,646,955   $ – 0  – 

Jefferies LLC

    1,439,812       (1,439,812     – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $  5,086,767     $  (5,086,767   $  – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Including accrued interest.

 

*

The actual collateral pledged may be more than the amount reported due to overcollateralization.

 

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NOTE D

Capital Stock

During the year ended March 31, 2024 and the year ended March 31, 2023, the Fund issued no shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

NOTE E

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Market Risk—The market value of a security may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, which increases the probabilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. Conditions affecting the general economy, including political, social, or economic instability at the local, regional, or global level may also affect the market value of a security. Health crises, such as pandemic and epidemic diseases, as well as other incidents that interrupt the expected course of events, such as natural disasters, including fires, earthquakes and flooding, war or civil disturbance, acts of terrorism, power outages and other unforeseeable and external events, and the public response to or fear of such diseases or events, have had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments and net asset value and can lead to increased market volatility. For example, the diseases or events themselves or any preventative or protective actions that governments may take in respect of such diseases or events may result in periods of business disruption, inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts, and reduced or disrupted operations for the Fund’s portfolio companies. The occurrence and pendency of such diseases or events could adversely affect the economies and financial markets either in specific countries or worldwide.

Interest-Rate Risk—Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the recent end of a period of historically low rates and the effects of potential central bank monetary policy, and government fiscal policy, initiatives and market reactions to those initiatives.

 

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Credit Risk—An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer or guarantor may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security and accrued interest. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security.

Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk—Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade than other types of securities.

Duration Risk—Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a fixed-income security. Fixed-income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise.

Inflation Risk—This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities.

Foreign (Non-US) Risk—Investments in securities of non-US issuers may involve more risk than those of US issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

Emerging-Market Risk—Investments in emerging-market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid and are subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties.

Currency Risk—Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.

Leverage Risk— As a result of the Fund’s use of leveraging techniques, its NAV may be more volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of changes in interest rates and any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate or index, which could cause the Fund to suffer a potentially unlimited loss. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Fund.

Illiquid Investments Risk—Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of Fund shares. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed-income securities generally decline.

Mortgage-Related and/or Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk—The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed and/or other asset-backed securities, including securities backed by mortgages and assets with an international or emerging-markets origination and securities backed by non-performing loans at the time of investment. Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to certain additional risks. The value of these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates. These risks include “extension risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may delay the payment of principal, and “prepayment risk”, which is the risk that, in periods of falling interest rates, issuers may pay principal sooner than expected, exposing the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Mortgage-backed securities offered by nongovernmental issuers and other asset-backed securities may be subject to other risks, such as higher rates of default in the mortgages or assets backing the securities or risks associated with the nature and servicing of mortgages or assets backing the securities.

LIBOR Replacement Risk—The Fund may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that recently transitioned from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) as a benchmark or reference rate for various interest rate calculations. The use of LIBOR was phased out in June 2023 and transitioned to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement (repo) market. There can be no assurance that instruments

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

linked to SOFR will have the same volume or liquidity as did the market for LIBOR-linked financial instruments prior to LIBOR’s discontinuance or unavailability.

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. Therefore, the Fund has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

Management Risk—The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected.

NOTE F

Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

     2024      2023  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 67,266,382      $ 76,201,166  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 67,266,382      $ 76,201,166  

Return of Capital

     2,312,344        – 0  – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $  69,578,726      $  76,201,166  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2024, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Accumulated capital and other losses

   $ (123,725,910 )(a) 

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (59,614,767 )(b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings (deficit)

   $  (183,340,677 )(c) 
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

As of March 31, 2024, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $123,725,910.

 

(b)

The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, the tax treatment of hyperinflationary currency contracts, the tax treatment of callable bonds, the tax treatment of swaps, the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, and the tax treatment of partnership investments.

 

(c)

The differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) are attributable primarily to the accrual of foreign capital gains tax and the tax treatment of defaulted securities.

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund had a net short-term capital loss carryforward of $24,243,082 and a net long-term capital loss carryforward of $99,482,828, which may be carried forward for an indefinite period.

During the current fiscal year, there were no permanent differences that resulted in adjustments to accumulated loss or additional paid-in capital.

NOTE G

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2022-06, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848”. ASU 2022-06 is an amendment to ASU 2020-04, which provided optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates and which was effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. ASU 2022-06 extends the effective period through December 31, 2024. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2022-06.

NOTE H

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the date the financial statements are issued. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements through this date.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

 

    Year Ended March 31,  
    2024     2023     2022     2021     2020  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value,
beginning of period

    $ 10.56       $ 12.02       $ 12.78       $ 10.74       $ 12.95  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment income(a)

    .75       .69       .61       .59       .67  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment

    .71       (1.27     (.58     2.24       (2.09

Contributions from Affiliates

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      .00 (b)      .00 (b) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    1.46       (.58     .03       2.83       (1.42
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Dividends and Distributions

         

Dividends from net investment income

    (.78     (.88     (.78     (.69     (.75

Return of capital

    (.03 )     – 0  –      (.01     (.10     (.04
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    (.81     (.88     (.79     (.79     (.79
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 11.21       $ 10.56       $ 12.02       $ 12.78       $ 10.74  
 

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

    $ 10.62       $ 9.72       $ 11.18       $ 11.85       $ 9.26  
 

 

 

 

(Discount), end of period

    (5.26 )%      (7.95 )%      (6.99 )%      (7.28 )%      (13.78 )% 

Total Return

         

Total investment return based on:(c)

         

Market value

    18.43     (5.00 )%      0.79     37.57     (14.43 )% 

Net asset value

    15.06     (4.01 )%^      0.48 %^      27.92     (11.18 )% 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

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

    $ 966,421       $ 910,949       $ 1,036,686       $ 1,102,273       $ 926,184  

Ratio to average net assets of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)(e)

    1.05     1.04     1.00     1.02     1.00

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)(e)

    1.05     1.04     1.00     1.02     1.01

Net investment income

    6.98     6.39     4.77     4.88     5.16

Portfolio turnover rate

    45     40     40     51     32
         
 

† Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00     .00     .00     .00     .01

See footnote summary on page 106.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

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

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)

Amount is less than $0.005.

 

(c)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock on the opening of the first day and a sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Generally, Total investment return based on net asset value will be higher than total investment return based on market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Conversely, total investment return based on net asset value will be lower than total investment return based on market value in periods where there is a decrease in the discount or an increase in the premium of the market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(d)

The expense ratios presented below exclude interest expense:

 

     Year Ended March 31,  
   2024     2023     2022     2021     2020  

Net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.01     1.02     .99     1.02     .99

Before waivers/reimbursements

     1.01     1.02     .99     1.02     1.00

 

(e)

In connection with the Fund’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses but bears proportionate shares of the acquired fund fees and expenses (i.e. operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the year ended March 31, 2020, such waiver amounted to 0.01%.

 

^

The net asset value and total return include adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for financial reporting purposes. As such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions may differ from financial statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of March 31, 2024, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at March 31, 2024, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2024, by correspondence

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (continued)

 

with the custodian, brokers and others; when replies were not received from brokers or others, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

We have served as the auditor of one or more of the AB investment companies since 1968.

New York, New York

May 24, 2024

 

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2024 FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions paid by the Fund during the taxable year ended March 31, 2024.

For foreign shareholders, 58.11% of ordinary dividends paid may be considered to be qualifying to be taxed as interest-related dividends.

Shareholders should not use the above information to prepare their income tax returns. The information necessary to complete your income tax returns will be included with your Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to you separately in January 2025.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 109


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

Shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will automatically be participants in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which distributions to shareholders will be paid in or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, unless they elect to receive cash. Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the “Agent”) will act as agent for participants under the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether or how they may participate in the Plan.

If the Board declares a distribution payable either in shares or in cash, as holders of the Common Stock may have elected, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in shares of Common Stock of the Fund valued as follows:

 

  (i)

If the shares of Common Stock are trading at net asset value or at a premium above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of net asset value or 95% of the then current market price.

 

  (ii)

If the shares of Common Stock are trading at a discount from net asset value at the time of valuation, the Agent will receive the distribution in cash and apply it to the purchase of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock in the open market on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. Such purchases will be made on or shortly after the payment date for such distribution and in no event more than 30 days after such date except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary to comply with Federal securities laws. If, before the Agent has completed its purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of a share of Common Stock, the average purchase price per share paid by the Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund.

The Agent will maintain all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnish written confirmation of all transactions in the account, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Agent in non-certificate form in the name of the participant, and each shareholder’s proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan.

There will be no charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund to satisfy the dividend reinvestment requirements. However, each participant

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (continued)

 

will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Agent’s open market purchases of shares.

The automatic reinvestment of distributions will not relieve participants of any income taxes that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on distributions.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to participants in the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan may also be amended or terminated by the Agent on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Agent at Computershare Trust Company N.A., P.O. Box 30170 College Point, TX 77842-3170.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 111


 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Garry L. Moody(1),
Chairman

Jorge A. Bermudez(1)

Michael J. Downey(1)

Onur Erzan, President and Chief Executive Officer

  

Nancy P. Jacklin(1)

Jeanette W. Loeb(1)

Carol C. McMullen(1)

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1)*

Emilie D. Wrapp, Advisory Board Member

OFFICERS

Christian DiClementi(2), Vice President

Gershon M. Distenfeld(2), Vice President

Fahd Malik(2), Vice President

Matthew S. Sheridan(2), Vice President

William Smith(2), Vice President

  

Nancy E. Hay, Secretary

Michael B. Reyes, Senior Vice President

Stephen M. Woetzel, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Phyllis J. Clarke, Controller

Jennifer Friedland, Chief Compliance Officer

 

Administrator

AllianceBernstein, L.P.

501 Commerce Street

Nashville, TN 37203

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

50 Post Office Square

Boston, MA 02110

 

Dividend Paying Agent,

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 505000

Louisville, KY 40233

  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

One Manhattan West

New York, NY 10001

 

Legal Counsel

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

 

1

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

 

2

The day-to-day management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by the Adviser’s Global High Income Investment Team. While all members of the team work jointly to determine the majority of the investment strategy including stock selection for the Fund, Messrs. DiClementi, Distenfeld, Malik, Sheridan and Smith, members of the Global High Income Investment Team, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase from time to time at market prices shares of its Common Stock in the open market.

 

This report, including the financial statements herein, is transmitted to the shareholders of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund for their information. The financial information included herein is taken from the records of the Fund. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

 

Annual Certifications—As required, on April 23, 2024, the Fund submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) the annual certification of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer certifying that he is not aware of any violation of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards. The Fund also has included the certifications of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the reporting period.

 

* 

Mr. Turner is expected to retire effective December 31, 2024.

 

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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* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR
INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Onur Erzan#

48

(2021)

  Senior Vice President of the Adviser, Head of Global Client Group and Head of Private Wealth. He oversees AB’s entire private wealth management business and third-party institutional and retail franchise, where he is responsible for all client services, sales and marketing, as well as product strategy, management and development worldwide. Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the AB Mutual Funds as of April 1, 2021. He is also a member of the Equitable Holdings Management Committee. Prior to joining the firm in January 2021, he spent over 19 years with McKinsey (management consulting firm), most recently as a senior partner and co-leader of its Wealth & Asset Management practice. In addition, he co-led McKinsey’s Banking & Securities Solutions (a portfolio of data, analytics and digital assets and capabilities) globally.     81     None
     

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS    

Garry L. Moody,##

Chairman of the Board

72

(2008)

  Private Investor since prior to 2019. Formerly, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1995-2008) where he held a number of senior positions, including Vice Chairman, and U.S. and Global Investment Management Practice Managing Partner; President, Fidelity Accounting and Custody Services Company (1993-1995), where he was responsible for accounting, pricing, custody and reporting for the Fidelity mutual funds; and Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (1975-1993), where he served as the National Director of Mutual Fund Tax Services and Managing Partner of its Chicago Office Tax department. He served as a member of the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and the Independent Directors Council’s Governing Council from October 2019 through September 2023, where he also served as Chairman of the Governance Committee from October 2021 through September 2023. He is Chairman of the AB Funds and Chairman of the Independent Directors Committees since January 2023; he has served as a director or trustee since 2008, and served as Chairman of the Audit Committee of such Funds from 2008 to February 2023.     81     None
     

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Jorge A. Bermudez,##
73
(2020)

  Private Investor since prior to 2019. Formerly, Chief Risk Officer of Citigroup, Inc., a global financial services company, from November 2007 to March 2008; Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup’s Commercial Business Group in North America and Citibank Texas from 2005 to 2007; and a variety of other executive and leadership roles at various businesses within Citigroup prior to then; Chairman (2017-2018) of the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees (Trustee 2014-2021) and Chairman of the Smart Grid Center Board at Texas A&M University since 2012; director of, among others, Citibank N.A. from 2005 to 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch from 2009 to 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2011 to 2017, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas from 2010 to 2016; and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Moody’s Corporation since December 2022. He has served as director or trustee of the AB Funds since January 2020.     81     Moody’s Corporation since April 2011
     

Michael J. Downey,##

80

(2005)

  Private Investor since prior to 2019. Formerly, Chairman of The Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. (registered investment company) from 2002 until January 2019. From 1987 until 1993, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Mutual Fund Management, director of the Prudential mutual funds, and member of the Executive Committee of Prudential Securities, Inc. He has served as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since 2005.     81     None

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 115


 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Nancy P. Jacklin,##

76

(2006)

  Private Investor since prior to 2019. Professorial Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (2008-2015). U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (which is responsible for ensuring the stability of the international monetary system), (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, U.S. Department of the Treasury (1973-1982). Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and of New York; and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has served as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since 2006 and served as Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the AB Funds from 2014 to August 2023.     81     None
     

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Jeanette W. Loeb,##

71

(2020)

 

Private Investor since prior to 2019. Director of New York City Center since 2005. Formerly, Chief Executive Officer of PetCareRx (e-commerce pet pharmacy) from 2002 to 2011 and 2015 to April 2023. She was a director of MidCap Financial Investment Corporation (business development company) from August 2011 to July 2023 and a director of AB Multi-Manager Alternative Fund (fund of hedge funds) from 2012 to 2018. Formerly, affiliated with Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (financial services) from 1977 to 1994, including as a partner thereof from 1986 to 1994. She has served as director or trustee of the AB Funds since April 2020 and serves as Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the AB Funds since August 2023.

    81    

None

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 117


 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Carol C. McMullen,##

68

(2016)

  Private Investor and a member of the Advisory Board of Butcher Box (since 2018) where she also serves as Advisory Board Chair (since June 2023). Formerly, Managing Director of Slalom Consulting (consulting) from 2014 until July 2023; member, Mass General Brigham (formerly, Partners Healthcare) Investment Committee (2010-2019); Director of Norfolk & Dedham Group (mutual property and casualty insurance) from 2011 until November 2016; Director of Partners Community Physicians Organization (healthcare) from 2014 until December 2016; and Managing Director of The Crossland Group (consulting) from 2012 until 2013. She has held a number of senior positions in the asset and wealth management industries, including at Eastern Bank (where her roles included President of Eastern Wealth Management), Thomson Financial (Global Head of Sales for Investment Management), and Putnam Investments (where her roles included Chief Investment Officer, Core and Growth and Head of Global Investment Research). She has served on a number of private company and non-profit boards, and as a director or trustee of the AB Funds since June 2016 and serves as Chair of the Audit Committees of such Funds since February 2023.     81     None

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

NAME,

ADDRESS* AND AGE

(YEAR FIRST ELECTED**)

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

AND OTHER RELEVANT

QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN AB FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
PUBLIC COMPANY
DIRECTORSHIPS
CURRENTLY
HELD BY
DIRECTOR

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.,##^

82

(2005)

  Private Investor since prior to 2019. He is a former (2007-2020) director of Xilinx Inc. (programmable logic semi-conductors and adaptable, intelligent computing) and, former Chairman and CEO of Dupont Photomasks, Inc. (semi-conductor manufacturing equipment) from 1999-2000, and 2003 through 2006. He has extensive operating leadership and venture capital investing experience, including five interim or full-time CEO roles, and prior service as general partner of institutional venture capital partnerships and as a director of a number of public and private companies. He also has extensive non-profit board leadership experience, including as a former Chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural history, and currently serves on the board of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. He has served as a director of one AB Fund since 1992, and director or trustee of all the AB Funds since 2005. He served as both Chairman of the AB Funds and Chairman of the Independent Directors Committees from 2014 through December 2022.     81    
     
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER    

Emilie D. Wrapp,#

68

(2024)

 

Former Senior Vice President, Counsel, Assistant Secretary & Senior Mutual Fund Legal Advisor of the Adviser (January 2023 – June 2023). Prior thereto, Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Counsel, and Head of Mutual Fund & Retail Legal of the Adviser; Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI since prior to 2019 until June 2023.

    81     None

 

*

The address for each of the Fund’s disinterested Directors and Advisory Board member is c/o AllianceBernstein L.P., Attention: Legal and Compliance Department—Mutual Fund Legal, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 119


 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

**

There is no stated term of office for the Fund’s Directors and Advisory Board member.

 

***

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes and skills relevant to each Director’s qualifications to serve as a Director, which lead to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director for the Fund.

 

#

Mr. Erzan is an “interested person”, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Funds because of his affiliation with the Adviser. Ms. Wrapp is an “interested person”, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Fund because of her former role with the Adviser.

 

##

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

 

^

Mr. Turner is expected to retire effective December 31, 2024.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND (continued)

 

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 FIVE YEARS

Onur Erzan,

48

   President and Chief Executive Officer    See biography above.
     

Gershon M. Distenfeld,

48

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019. He is also Director of Income Strategies.
     

Christian DiClementi,

42

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019.
     

Matthew S. Sheridan,

49

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019. He is also Director – US Multi-Sector Fixed Income.
     

Fahd Malik,

39

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019.
     

William Smith,

37

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he associated since prior to 2019. He is also Director of US High Yield Credit.
     

Nancy E. Hay,

51

   Secretary    Senior Vice President and Counsel of the Adviser**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2019 and Assistant Secretary of ABI**.
     

Michael B. Reyes,

47

   Senior Vice President    Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019.
     

Stephen M. Woetzel

52

   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Senior Vice President of ABIS**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2019.
     

Phyllis J. Clarke

63

   Controller    Vice President of ABIS**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2019.
     

Jennifer Friedland,

49

   Chief Compliance Officer    Vice President of the Adviser since 2020 and Mutual Fund Chief Compliance Officer (of all Funds since January 2023 and of the ETF Funds since 2022). Before joining the Adviser in 2020, she was Chief Compliance Officer at WestEnd Advisors, LLC from 2013 until 2019.

 

*

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

 

**

The Adviser, ABI and ABIS are affiliates of the Fund.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 121


Operation and Effectiveness of the Funds’ Liquidity Risk Management Program:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Fund to designate an Administrator of the Fund’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Fund’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Fund’s Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the fund’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2024, which covered the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Fund’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Fund will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Fund classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Fund’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Fund participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Fund is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Fund’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Fund’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Funds’ LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions

 

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have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was challenged due to rising rates and economic uncertainty. However, markets also remained orderly during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Fund or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 123


Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Advisory and Administration Agreements

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the continuance of the Fund’s Administration Agreement with the Adviser (in such capacity, the “Administrator”) at a meeting held in-person on August 1-2, 2023 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement and Administration 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 additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President of the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

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 AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests a portion of its assets.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. 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 Administrator to provide administrative services to the Fund and the overall arrangements (i) between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee and (ii) between the Fund and the Administrator, as provided in the Administration Agreement, including the administration fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors

 

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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 and by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund and the resources the Administrator has devoted to providing services to the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors noted that the Adviser receives reimbursements for certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser pursuant to the Administration Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was 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 and the Administration Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser (including in its capacity as Administrator) for calendar years 2021 and 2022 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood 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 subsidiary that provides shareholder services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds 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. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 125


Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to shareholder servicing fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of 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 Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the Fund’s performance against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing the Fund’s performance against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended May 31, 2023. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the management fee rate payable by the Fund (the combined advisory fee payable to the Adviser and administration fee payable to the Administrator) and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. They compared the combined advisory and administration fees payable by the Fund to the advisory fees of other funds where there is no separate administrator. 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 payable by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual total management fee rate (the combined advisory fee payable to the Adviser plus the administration fee payable to the Administrator) with a peer group median and noted that it was lower than the median. The directors noted that the total management fee rate was expressed as a percentage of net assets and would have been somewhat lower if expressed as a percentage of average total assets (i.e., net assets plus assets supported by leverage).

The directors also compared the Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate with the fee rate charged by the Adviser for advising an open-end high income fund that also invested globally, and noted historical differences in their fee structures.

 

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The Adviser informed the directors that there were no institutional products managed by the Adviser that utilize investment strategies similar to those of the Fund.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Fund in comparison to the medians for a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors considered that the Fund is a closed-end fixed-income fund and was not expected to have meaningful asset growth (absent a rights offering or an acquisition). In such circumstances, the directors did not view the potential for realization of economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow to be a material factor in their deliberations. They noted that, if the Fund’s net assets were to increase materially, they would review whether potential economies of scale were being realized.

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 127


 

INFORMATION REGARDING INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE,

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Recent Changes to Investment Objective, Investment Policies and Principal Risks

The following is a summary of certain material changes to the Fund’s investment objective, investment policies and principal risks during the most recent fiscal year. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased shares of the Fund.

None.

Current Investment Objective, Investment Policies and Principal Risks

Investment Objective

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek high current income. Its secondary investment objective is capital appreciation.

The investment objective is fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Investment Policies

The Fund is permitted to invest without limit in debt securities, including Sovereign Debt Obligations (defined as U.S. Dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, including participations in loans between foreign governments and financial institutions and interests in entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of instruments issued or guaranteed by foreign governments) and corporate debt, denominated in non-U.S. currencies as well as in the U.S. Dollar. In addition, the Fund may invest without limit in emerging and developed markets and in debt securities of U.S. and non-U.S. corporate issuers.

The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in the Sovereign Debt Obligations of any one country other than the U.S.

Substantially all of the Fund’s investments will be in high yield, high risk debt securities that are low-rated (i.e., below investment-grade) or unrated and in both cases that are considered to be predominantly speculative as regards the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

Principal Investment Risks

See the earlier description of the Fund’s risks under “Disclosures and Risks.”

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the Fund’s

 

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INFORMATION REGARDING INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE,

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS (continued)

 

outstanding voting securities.” A “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present in person or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. The percentage limitations set forth below apply only at the time an investment is made or other relevant action is taken by the Fund.

 

  1.

The Fund will not make loans except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (b) the lending of portfolio securities; or (c) the use of repurchase agreements;

 

  2.

The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that this restriction does not apply to U.S. Government Securities;

 

  3.

The Fund will not borrow money, except the Fund may borrow (a) from a bank or other entity in a privately arranged transaction and issue commercial paper, bonds, debentures or notes, in series or otherwise, with such interest rates, conversion rights and other terms and provisions as are determined by the Fund’s Board, if after such borrowing or issuance there is asset coverage of at least 300% as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act, as amended, and (b) for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund;

 

  4.

The Fund will not pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except to secure permitted borrowings;

 

  5.

The Fund will not invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control;

 

  6.

The Fund will not make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open it owns an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, securities of the same issue as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short (“short sales against the box”), and unless not more than 10% of the Fund’s net assets (taken at market value) is held as collateral for such sales at any one time (it is the Fund’s present intention to make such sales only for the purpose of deferring realization of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes);

 

  7.

The Fund will not (a) purchase or sell real estate, except that it may purchase and sell securities of companies which deal in real

 

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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 129


 

INFORMATION REGARDING INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE,

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS (continued)

 

  estate or interests therein and securities that are secured by real estate, provided such securities are Sovereign Debt Obligations; (b) purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts; (c) invest in interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs; and (d) purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of transactions;

 

  8.

The Fund will not own more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any investment company and not more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any investment company; and

 

  9.

The Fund will not act as an underwriter of securities, except that the Fund may acquire restricted securities under circumstances in which, if such securities were sold, the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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This page is not part of the Shareholder Report or the Financial Statements.

 

 

AB FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

US EQUITY

CORE

Core Opportunities Fund

Select US Equity Portfolio

Sustainable US Thematic Portfolio

GROWTH

Concentrated Growth Fund

Discovery Growth Fund

Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

VALUE

Discovery Value Fund

Equity Income Fund

Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Relative Value Fund

Small Cap Value Portfolio

Value Fund

INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL EQUITY

CORE

Global Core Equity Portfolio

International Low Volatility Equity Portfolio1

Sustainable Global Thematic Fund

Sustainable International Thematic Fund

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

GROWTH

Concentrated International Growth Portfolio

VALUE

All China Equity Portfolio

International Value Fund

FIXED INCOME

MUNICIPAL

High Income Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate California Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate Diversified Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate New York Municipal Portfolio

Municipal Bond Inflation Strategy

Tax-Aware Fixed Income Opportunities Portfolio

National Portfolio

Arizona Portfolio

California Portfolio

Massachusetts Portfolio

Minnesota Portfolio

New Jersey Portfolio

New York Portfolio

Ohio Portfolio

Pennsylvania Portfolio

Virginia Portfolio

TAXABLE

Bond Inflation Strategy

Global Bond Fund

High Income Fund

Income Fund

Intermediate Duration Portfolio

Short Duration High Yield Portfolio1

Short Duration Income Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

Sustainable Thematic Credit Portfolio

Total Return Bond Portfolio

ALTERNATIVES

All Market Real Return Portfolio

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Select US Long/Short Portfolio

MULTI-ASSET

All Market Total Return Portfolio

Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Portfolio

Global Risk Allocation Fund

Sustainable Thematic Balanced Portfolio

CLOSED-END FUNDS

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

Conservative Buffer ETF

Core Plus Bond ETF

Corporate Bond ETF

Disruptors ETF

High Yield ETF

Tax-Aware Intermediate Municipal ETF

Tax-Aware Long Municipal ETF

Tax-Aware Short Duration Municipal ETF

Ultra Short Income ETF

US High Dividend ETF

US Large Cap Strategic Equities ETF

US Low Volatility Equity ETF

 

We also offer Government Money Market Portfolio, which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AB mutual funds. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the Fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abfunds.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

1

Prior to July 5, 2023, International Low Volatility Equity Portfolio was named International Strategic Core Portfolio and Short Duration High Yield Portfolio was named Limited Duration High Income Portfolio.

 

abfunds.com  

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND | 131


 

NOTES

 

 

132 | ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

  abfunds.com


Privacy Notice

AllianceBernstein and its affiliates (collectively referred to as “AllianceBernstein”, “we”, “our”, and similar pronouns) understand the importance of maintaining the confidentiality and security of our clients’ nonpublic personal information. Nonpublic personal information is personally identifiable financial information about our clients who are natural persons. To provide financial products and services to our clients, we collect nonpublic personal information from a variety of sources, including: (1) information we receive from clients, such as through applications or other forms, which can include a client’s name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and other household information, (2) information about client transactions with us, our affiliates and non-affiliated third parties, which can include account balances and transactions history, and (3) information from visitors to our websites provided through online forms, site visitorship data and online information-collecting devices known as “cookies.”

We may disclose all of the nonpublic personal information that we collect about our current and former clients, as described above, to non-affiliated third parties to manage our business and as otherwise required or permitted by law, including those that perform transaction processing or servicing functions, marketing services providers that provide marketing services on our behalf pursuant to a joint marketing agreement, and professional services firms that provide knowledge-based services such as accountants, consultants, lawyers and auditors to help manage client accounts. We require all the third-party providers to adhere to our privacy policy or a functional equivalent.

We may also disclose the nonpublic personal information that we collect about current and former clients, as described above, to our affiliated investment, brokerage, service and insurance companies for the purpose of marketing their products or services to clients under circumstances that are permitted by law, such as if our affiliate has its own relationship with you. We have policies and procedures to ensure that certain conditions are met before an AllianceBernstein affiliated company may use information obtained from another affiliate to solicit clients for marketing purposes.

We will also use nonpublic personal information about our clients for our own internal analysis, analytics, research and development, and to improve and add to our client offerings.

We have policies and procedures designed to safeguard the confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information about our clients that include restricting access to nonpublic personal information to personnel that have been screened and undergone security and privacy training; to personnel who need it to perform their work functions such as our operations, customer service, account management, finance, quality, vendor management and compliance teams as required to provide services, communicate with you and fulfill our legal obligations.

We employ reasonably designed physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to secure and protect client nonpublic personal information.

If you are in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or Switzerland, we will comply with applicable legal requirements providing adequate protection for the transfer of personal information to recipients in countries outside of the EEA and Switzerland.

For more information, our Privacy Policy statement can be viewed here: https://www.alliancebernstein.com/abcom/Privacy_Terms/PrivacyPolicy.htm.


LOGO

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800 221 5672

GHI-0151-0324     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 Garry L. Moody, Marshall C. Turner, Jr., Jorge A. Bermudez and Carol C. McMullen 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 auditor Ernst & Young 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 that issue quarterly 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 Global High Income Fund

     2023      $ 162,505      $ 6,000      $ 15,869  
     2024      $ 162,505      $ 8,000      $ 22,128  

(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) No percentage of services addressed by (b) and (c) of this Item 4 were approved pursuant to the waiver provision of paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. No amounts are reported for Item 4 (d).

(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:

 

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

AB Global High Income Fund

     2023      $ 2,006,552      $ 21,869  
         $ (6,000
         $ (15,869
     2024      $ 1,943,206      $ 30,128  
         $ (8,000
         $ (22,128

(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.

(i) Not applicable.

(j) Not applicable.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee members are as follows:

 

  Jorge A. Bermudez    Garry L. Moody
  Michael J. Downey    Marshall C. Turner, Jr.
  Nancy P. Jacklin    Jeanette Loeb
  Carol C. McMullen   

ITEM 6. 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.


Statement of Policies and Procedures for

Proxy Voting

 

1.

INTRODUCTION

AllianceBernstein L.P.’s (“AB,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms) mission is to work in our clients’ best interests to deliver better investment outcomes through differentiated research insights and innovative portfolio solutions. As a fiduciary and investment adviser, we place the interests of our clients first and treat all our clients fairly and equitably, and we have an obligation to responsibly allocate, manage and oversee their investments to seek sustainable, long-term shareholder value.

AB has authority to vote proxies relating to securities in certain client portfolios and, accordingly, AB’s fiduciary obligations extend to AB’s exercise of such proxy voting authority for each client AB has agreed to exercise that duty. AB’s general policy is to vote proxy proposals, amendments, consents or resolutions relating to client securities, including interests in private investment funds, if any (collectively, “proxies”), in a manner that serves the best interests of each respective client as determined by AB in its discretion, after consideration of the relevant clients’ investment strategies, and in accordance with this Proxy Voting and Governance Policy (“Proxy Voting and Governance Policy” or “Policy”) and the operative agreements governing the relationship with each respective client (“Governing Agreements”). This Policy outlines our principles for proxy voting, includes a wide range of issues that often appear on voting ballots, and applies to all of AB’s internally managed assets, globally. It is intended for use by those involved in the proxy voting decision-making process and those responsible for the administration of proxy voting (“members of Responsibility team”), in order to ensure that this Policy and its procedures are implemented consistently.

To be effective stewards of our client’s investments and maximize shareholder value, we need to vote proxies on behalf of our clients responsibly. This Policy forms part of a suite of policies and frameworks beginning with ABs Stewardship Statement that outline our approach to Responsibility, stewardship, engagement, climate change, human rights, global slavery and human trafficking, and controversial investments. Proxy voting is an integral part of this process, enabling us to support strong corporate governance structures, shareholder rights, transparency and disclosure, and encourage corporate action on material environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) and climate issues.

This Policy is overseen by the Proxy Voting and Governance Committee (“Proxy Voting and Governance Committee” or “Committee”), which provides oversight and includes senior representatives from Equities, Fixed Income, Responsibility, Legal and Operations. It is the responsibility of the Committee to evaluate and maintain proxy voting procedures and guidelines, to evaluate proposals and issues not covered by these guidelines, to consider changes in the Policy, and to review the Policy no less frequently than annually. In addition, the Committee meets at least three times a year and as necessary to address special situations.

 

2.

RESEARCH UNDERPINS DECISION MAKING

As a research-driven firm, we approach our proxy voting responsibilities with the same commitment to rigorous research and engagement that we apply to all of our investment activities. The different investment philosophies utilized by our investment teams may occasionally result in different conclusions being drawn regarding certain proposals. In turn, our votes on some proposals may vary by issuer, while maintaining the goal of maximizing the value of the securities in client portfolios.

We sometimes manage accounts where proxy voting is directed by clients or newly acquired subsidiary companies. In these cases, voting decisions may deviate from this Policy. Where we have agreed to vote proxies on behalf of our clients, we have an obligation to vote proxies in a timely manner and we apply the principles in this Policy to our proxy decisions. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this Policy and a client’s Governing Agreements, the Governing Agreements shall supersede this Policy.

RESEARCH SERVICES

We subscribe to the corporate governance and proxy research services of vendors such as Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis at different levels. This research includes proxy voting recommendations distributed by ISS and Glass Lewis. All our investment professionals can access these materials via the members of the Responsibility team and/or the Committee.


ENGAGEMENT

In evaluating proxy issues and determining our votes, we welcome and seek perspectives of various parties. Internally, members of Responsibility team may consult the Committee, Chief Investment Officers, Portfolio Managers, and/or Research Analysts across our equities platforms, and Portfolio Managers who manage accounts in which a stock is held. Externally, we may engage with companies in advance of their Annual General Meeting, and throughout the year. We believe engagement provides the opportunity to share our philosophy, our corporate governance values, and more importantly, affect positive change that we believe will drive shareholder value. Also, these meetings often are joint efforts between the investment professionals, who are best positioned to comment on company-specific details, and members of Responsibility team, who offer a more holistic view of ESG and climate practices and relevant trends. In addition, we engage with shareholder proposal proponents and other stakeholders to understand different viewpoints and objectives.

 

3.

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

Our proxy voting guidelines are both principles-based and rules-based. We adhere to a core set of principles that are described in this Policy. We assess each proxy proposal in light of these principles. Our proxy voting “litmus test” will always be guided by what we view as most likely to maximize long-term shareholder value. We believe that authority and accountability for setting and executing corporate policies, goals and compensation generally should rest with a company’s board of directors and senior management. In return, we support strong investor rights that allow shareholders to hold directors and management accountable if they fail to act in the best interests of shareholders.

With this as a backdrop, our proxy voting guidelines pertaining to specific issues are set forth below. We generally vote proposals in accordance with these guidelines but, consistent with our “principles-based” approach to proxy voting, we may deviate from these guidelines if we believe that deviating from our stated Policy is necessary to help maximize long-term shareholder value) or as otherwise warranted by the specific facts and circumstances of an investment. In addition,

these guidelines are not intended to address all issues that may appear on all proxy ballots. We will evaluate on a case-by-case basis any proposal not specifically addressed by these guidelines, whether submitted by management or shareholders, always keeping in mind our fiduciary duty to make voting decisions that, by maximizing long-term shareholder value, are in our clients’ best interests.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

AB’s commitment to maximize the long-term value of clients’ portfolios drives how we analyze shareholder proposals. Rather than opting to automatically support all shareholder proposals that mention an ESG or climate issue, we evaluate whether or not each shareholder proposal promotes genuine improvement in the way a company addresses an ESG or climate issue, thereby enhancing shareholder value for our clients in managing a more comprehensive set of risks and opportunities for the company’s business. The evaluation of a proposal that addresses an ESG or climate issue will consider (among other things) the following core factors, as necessary:

 

   

Materiality of the mentioned ESG or climate issue for the company’s business

 

   

The company’s current practice, policy and framework

 

   

Prescriptiveness of the proposal – does the shareholder demand unreasonably restrict management from conducting its business?

 

   

Context of the shareholder proposal – is the proponent tied to any particular interest group(s)? Does the proposal aim to promote the interest of the shareholders or group that they are associated with?

 

   

How does the proposal add value for the shareholders?

We believe ESG and climate considerations are important elements that help improve the accuracy of our valuation of companies. We think it is in our clients’ best interests to incorporate a more comprehensive set of risks and opportunities, such as ESG and climate issues, from a long-term shareholder value perspective.

 

  3.1

BOARD AND DIRECTOR PROPOSALS

 

1.  Board Oversight and Director Accountability on Material Environmental and Social Topics Impacting Shareholder Value: Climate Risk Management and Human Rights Oversight

   CASE-BY-CASE

AB believes that board oversight and director accountability are critical elements of corporate governance. Companies demonstrate effective governance through proactive monitoring of material risks and opportunities, including ESG related risks and opportunities. In evaluating investee companies’ adaptiveness to evolving climate risks and human rights oversight, AB engages its significant holdings on climate strategy through a firmwide campaign. Based on each company’s response, AB will hold respective directors accountable as defined by the committee charter of the company.


2.  Establish New Board Committees and Elect Board Members with Specific Expertise (SHP)

   CASE-BY-CASE

We believe that establishing committees should be the prerogative of a well-functioning board of directors. However, we may support shareholder proposals to establish additional board committees to address specific shareholder issues, including ESG and climate issues. In some cases, oversight for material ESG issues can be managed effectively by existing committees of the board of directors, depending on the expertise of the directors assigned to such committees. We consider on a case-by-case basis proposals that require the addition of a board member with a specific area of expertise.

 

3.  Changes in Board Structure and Amending the Articles of Incorporation

   FOR

Companies may propose various provisions with respect to the structure of the board of directors, including changing the manner in which board vacancies are filled, directors are nominated and the number of directors. Such proposals may require amending the charter or by-laws or may otherwise require shareholder approval. When these proposals are not controversial or meant as an anti-takeover device, which is generally the case, we vote in their favor. However, if we believe a proposal is intended as an anti-takeover device and diminishes shareholder rights, we generally vote against.

We may vote against directors for amending by-laws without seeking shareholder approval and/or restricting or diminishing shareholder rights.

 

4.  Classified Boards

   AGAINST

A classified board typically is divided into three separate classes. Each class holds office for a term of two or three years. Only a portion of the board can be elected or replaced each year. Because this type of proposal has fundamental anti- takeover implications, we generally oppose the adoption of classified boards unless there is a justifiable financial reason or an adequate sunset provision. We may also vote against directors that fail to implement shareholder approved proposals to declassify boards that we previously supported.

 

5.  Director Liability and Indemnification

   CASE-BY-CASE

Some companies argue that increased indemnification and decreased liability for directors are important to ensure the continued availability of competent directors. However, others argue that the risk of such personal liability minimizes the propensity for corruption and recklessness.

We generally support indemnification provisions that are consistent with the local jurisdiction in which the company has been formed. We vote in favor of proposals adopting indemnification for directors with respect to acts conducted in the normal course of business. We also vote in favor of proposals that expand coverage for directors and officers where, despite an unsuccessful legal defense, we believe the director or officer acted in good faith and in the best interests of the company. We oppose proposals to indemnify directors for gross negligence.

 

6.  Disclose CEO Succession Plan (SHP)

   FOR

Proposals like these are often suggested by shareholders of companies with long-tenured CEOs and/or high employee turnover rates. Even though some markets might not require the disclosure of a CEO succession plan, we do think it is good business practice and will support these proposals.

 

7.  Election of Directors

   FOR

The election of directors is an important vote. We expect directors to represent shareholder interests at the company and maximize shareholder value. We generally vote in favor of the management-proposed slate of directors while considering a number of factors, including local market best practice. We believe companies should have a majority of independent directors and independent key committees. However, we will incorporate local market regulation and corporate governance codes into our decision making. We may support requirements that surpass market regulation and corporate governance codes implemented in a local market if we believe heightened requirements may improve corporate governance practices. We will generally regard a director as independent if the director satisfies the criteria for independence either (i) espoused by the primary exchange on which the company’s shares are traded, or (ii) set forth in the code we determine to be best practice in the country where the subject company is domiciled. We may also take into account affiliations, related-party transactions and prior service to the company. We consider the election of directors who are “bundled” on a single slate to be a poor governance practice and vote on a case-by-case basis considering the amount of information available and an assessment of the group’s qualifications.

In addition:

We believe that directors have a duty to respond to shareholder actions that have received significant shareholder support. We may vote against directors (or withhold votes for directors if plurality voting applies) who fail to act on key issues. We oppose directors who fail to attend at least 75% of board meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse.

We may abstain or vote against (depending on a company’s history of disclosure in this regard) directors of issuers where there is insufficient information about the nominees disclosed in the proxy statement.


We may vote against directors for poor compensation, audit or governance practices, including the lack of a formal key committee.

We may vote against directors for unilateral bylaw amendments that diminish shareholder rights.

We also may consider engaging company management (by phone, in writing and in person), until any issues have been satisfactorily resolved.

 

a.   Controlled Company Exemption

   CASE-BY-CASE

In certain markets, a different standard for director independence may be applicable for controlled companies, which are companies where more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, or as otherwise defined by local market standards. We may take these local standards into consideration when determining the appropriate level of independence required for the board and key committees.

Exchanges in certain jurisdictions do not have a controlled company exemption (or something similar). In such a jurisdiction, if a company has a majority shareholder or group of related majority shareholders with a majority economic interest, we generally will not oppose that company’s directors simply because the board does not include a majority of independent members, although we may take local standards into consideration when determining the appropriate level of independence required for the board and key committees. We will, however, consider these directors in a negative light if the company has a history of violating the rights of minority shareholders.

 

b.  Voting for Director Nominees in a Contested Election

   CASE-BY-CASE

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the goal of maximizing shareholder value.

 

8.

Board Capacity

We believe that incorporating an assessment of each director’s capacity into consideration for a director election is essential to promote meaningful board oversight of the management. Director effectiveness aside, a social externality arises when the practice of directors serving on many public company boards becomes widespread, as this limits the opportunities for other board candidates, particularly diverse candidates. AB currently votes against the appointment of directors who occupy, or would occupy following the vote: four (4) or more outside public company board seats for non-CEOs, three (3) or more outside public company board seats for the sitting CEO of the company in question and two (2) or more outside public company board seats for sitting CEOs of companies other than the company under consideration. We may also exercise flexibility on occasions where the “over-boarded” director nominee’s presence on the board is critical, based on company specific contexts in absence of any notable accountability concerns.

 

9.

Board Diversity

Diversity is an important element of assessing the board’s quality, as it promotes wider range of perspectives to be considered for companies to both strategize and mitigate risks. In line with this view, several European countries legally require a quota of female directors. Other European countries have a comply-or-explain policy. In the US, California requires corporations headquartered in the State of California to have at least one female director on board.

We believe that boards should develop, as part of their refreshment process, a framework for identifying diverse candidates for all open board positions. We believe diversity is broader than gender and should also take into consideration factors such as business experience, ethnicity, tenure and nationality. As such, we generally vote in favor of proposals that encourage the adoption of a diverse search policy, so-called “Rooney Rules”, assuring that each director search includes at least one woman, and in the US, at least one underrepresented person of color, in the slate of nominees. Our views on board diversity translate to the following two voting approaches:

 

  a.

Gender Diversity: AB will generally vote against the nominating/governance committee chair, or a relevant incumbent member in case of classified boards, when the board has no female members. In Japan, we will vote against the top management. This approach applies globally.

 

  b.

Ethnic and Racial Diversity: AB will escalate the topic of board level ethnic/racial diversity and engage with its significant holdings that lack a minority ethnic/racial representation on the board through 2021. Based on the outcome of such engagements, AB will begin voting against the nominating/governance committee chair or a relevant incumbent member for classified boards of companies that lack minority ethnic/racial representation on their board in 2022.


10.  Independent Lead Director (SHP)

   FOR

We support shareholder proposals that request a company to amend its by-laws to establish an independent lead director if the position of chairman is non-independent. We view the existence of a strong independent lead director, whose role is robust and includes clearly defined duties and responsibilities, such as the authority to call meetings and approve agendas, as a good example of the sufficient counter-balancing governance. If a company has such an independent lead director in place, we will generally oppose a proposal to require an independent board chairman, barring any additional board leadership concerns.

 

11.  Limit Term of Directorship (SHP)

   CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals seek to limit the term during which a director may serve on a board to a set number of years.

Accounting for local market practice, we generally consider a number of factors, such as overall level of board independence, director qualifications, tenure, board diversity and board effectiveness in representing our interests as shareholders, in assessing whether limiting directorship terms is in shareholders’ best interests. Accordingly, we evaluate these items case-by-case.

 

12.  Majority Independent1 Directors (SHP)

   FOR

Each company’s board of directors has a duty to act in the best interest of the company’s shareholders at all times. We believe that these interests are best served by having directors who bring objectivity to the company and are free from potential conflicts of interests. Accordingly, we support proposals seeking a majority of independent directors on the board while taking into consideration local market regulation and corporate governance codes.

 

13.  Majority of Independent Directors on Key Committees (SHP)

   FOR

In order to ensure that those who evaluate management’s performance, recruit directors and set management’s compensation are free from conflicts of interests, we believe that the audit2, nominating/governance, and compensation committees should be composed of a majority of independent directors, considering the local market regulation and corporate governance codes as well as controlled company status.

 

14.  Majority Votes for Directors (SHP)

   FOR

We believe that good corporate governance requires shareholders to have a meaningful voice in the affairs of the company. This objective is strengthened if directors are elected by a majority of votes cast at an annual meeting rather than by the plurality method commonly used. With plurality voting a director could be elected by a single affirmative vote even if the rest of the votes were withheld.

We further believe that majority voting provisions will lead to greater director accountability. Therefore, we support shareholder proposals that companies amend their by-laws to provide that director nominees be elected by an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, provided the proposal includes a carve-out to provide for plurality voting in contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected.

 

15.  Removal of Directors Without Cause (SHP)

   FOR

Company by-laws sometimes define cause very narrowly, including only conditions of criminal indictment, final adverse adjudication that fiduciary duties were breached or incapacitation, while also providing shareholders with the right to remove directors only upon “cause”.

We believe that the circumstances under which shareholders have the right to remove directors should not be limited to those traditionally defined by companies as “cause”. We also believe that shareholders should have the right to conduct a vote to remove directors who fail to perform in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties or representative of shareholders’ best interests. And, while we would prefer shareholder proposals that seek to broaden the definition of “cause” to include situations like these, we generally support proposals that would provide shareholders with the right to remove directors without cause.

 

1 

For purposes of this Policy, generally, we will consider a director independent if the director satisfies the independence definition set forth in the listing standards of the exchange on which the common stock is listed. However, we may deem local independence classification criteria insufficient.

2 

Pursuant to the SEC rules, adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as of October 31, 2004, each U.S. listed issuer must have a fully independent audit committee.


16.  Require Independent Board Chairman (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

We believe there can be benefits to an executive chairman and to having the positions of chairman and CEO combined as well as split. When the chair is non-independent, the company must have sufficient counter-balancing governance in place, generally through a strong independent lead director. Also, for companies with smaller market capitalizations, separate chairman and CEO positions may not be practical.

 

  3.2

COMPENSATION PROPOSALS

 

17.  Pro Rata Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change in Control (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

We examine proposals on the treatment of equity awards in the event of a change in control on a case-by-case basis. If a change in control is accompanied by termination of employment, often referred to as a double-trigger, we generally support accelerated vesting of equity awards. If, however, there is no termination agreement in connection with a change in control, often referred to as a single-trigger, we generally prefer pro rata vesting of outstanding equity awards.

 

18.  Adopt Policies to Prohibit any Death Benefits to Senior Executives (SHP)

  AGAINST

We view these bundled proposals as too restrictive and conclude that blanket restrictions on any and all such benefits, including the payment of life insurance premiums for senior executives, could put a company at a competitive disadvantage.

 

19.  Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation (SHP)

  FOR

Similar to advisory votes on executive compensation, shareholders may request a non-binding advisory vote to approve compensation given to board members. We generally support this item

 

20.  Amend Executive Compensation Plan Tied to Performance (Bonus Banking) (SHP)

  AGAINST

These proposals seek to force a company to amend executive compensation plans such that compensation awards tied to performance are deferred for shareholder specified and extended periods of time. As a result, awards may be adjusted downward if performance goals achieved during the vesting period are not sustained during the added deferral period.

We believe that most companies have adequate vesting schedules and clawbacks in place. Under such circumstances, we will oppose these proposals. However, if a company does not have what we believe to be adequate vesting and/or clawback requirements, we decide these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

21.  Approve Remuneration for Directors and Auditors

  CASE-BY-CASE

We will vote on a case-by-case basis where we are asked to approve remuneration for directors or auditors. We will generally oppose performance-based remuneration for non-executive directors as this may compromise independent oversight. In addition, where disclosure relating to the details of such remuneration is inadequate or provided without sufficient time for us to consider our vote, we may abstain or vote against, depending on the adequacy of the company’s prior disclosures in this regard and the local market practice.

 

22.  Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)

  CASE-BY-CASE

Retirement bonuses are customary in Japan and South Korea. Companies seek approval to give the board authority to grant retirement bonuses for directors and/or auditors and to leave the exact amount of bonuses to the board’s discretion. We will analyze such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering management’s commitment to maximizing long- term shareholder value. However, when the details of the retirement bonus are inadequate or undisclosed, we may abstain or vote against.

 

23.  Approve Special Payments to Continuing Directors and Auditors (Japan)

  CASE-BY-CASE

In conjunction with the abolition of a company’s retirement allowance system, we will generally support special payment allowances for continuing directors and auditors if there is no evidence of their independence becoming impaired. However, when the details of the special payments are inadequate or undisclosed, we may abstain or vote against.

 

24.  Disclose Executive and Director Pay (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has adopted rules requiring increased and/or enhanced compensation-related and corporate governance-related disclosure in proxy statements and Forms 10-K. Similar steps have


been taken by regulators in foreign jurisdictions. We believe the rules enacted by the SEC and various foreign regulators generally ensure more complete and transparent disclosure. Therefore, while we will consider them on a case-by-case basis (analyzing whether there are any relevant disclosure concerns), we generally vote against shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director compensation, including proposals that seek to specify the measurement of performance-based compensation, if the company is subject to SEC rules or similar rules espoused by a regulator in a foreign jurisdiction. Similarly, we generally support proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director compensation if the company is not subject to any such rules.

 

25.  Executive and Employee Compensation Plans, Policies and Reports

  CASE-BY-CASE

Compensation plans usually are complex and are a major corporate expense, so we evaluate them carefully and on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, however, we assess each proposed Compensation Plan within the framework of four guiding principles, each of which ensures a company’s Compensation Plan helps to align the long- term interests of management with shareholders:

Valid measures of business performance tied to the firm’s strategy and shareholder value creation, which are clearly articulated and incorporate appropriate time periods, should be utilized;

Compensation costs should be managed in the same way as any other expense;

Compensation should reflect management’s handling, or failure to handle, any recent social, environmental, governance, ethical or legal issue that had a significant adverse financial or reputational effect on the company and;

In granting compensatory awards, management should exhibit a history of integrity and decision-making based on logic and well thought out processes.

We may oppose plans which include, and directors who establish, compensation plan provisions deemed to be poor practice such as automatic acceleration of equity, or single-triggered, in the event of a change in control. Although votes on compensation plans are by nature only broad indications of shareholder views, they do lead to more compensation-related dialogue between management and shareholders and help ensure that management and shareholders meet their common objective: maximizing shareholder value.

In markets where votes on compensation plans are not required for all companies, we will support shareholder proposals asking the board to adopt such a vote on an advisory basis.

Where disclosure relating to the details of Compensation Plans is inadequate or provided without sufficient time for us to consider our vote, we may abstain or vote against, depending on the adequacy of the company’s prior disclosures in this regard. Where appropriate, we may raise the issue with the company directly or take other steps.

 

26.  Limit Executive Pay (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

We believe that management and directors, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards offered to executive officers. We vote against shareholder proposals seeking to limit executive pay if we deem them too restrictive. Depending on our analysis of the specific circumstances, we are generally against requiring a company to adopt a policy prohibiting tax gross up payments to senior executives.

 

27.  Mandatory Holding Periods (SHP)

  AGAINST

We generally vote against shareholder proposals asking companies to require a company’s executives to hold stock for a specified period of time after acquiring that stock by exercising company-issued stock options (i.e., precluding “cashless” option exercises), unless we believe implementing a mandatory holding period is necessary to help resolve underlying problems at a company that have hurt, and may continue to hurt, shareholder value. We are generally in favor of reasonable stock ownership guidelines for executives.

 

28.  Performance-Based Stock Option Plans (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These shareholder proposals require a company to adopt a policy that all or a portion of future stock options granted to executives be performance-based. Performance-based options usually take the form of indexed options (where the option sale price is linked to the company’s stock performance versus an industry index), premium priced options (where the strike price is significantly above the market price at the time of the grant) or performance vesting options (where options vest when the company’s stock price exceeds a specific target). Proponents argue that performance-based options provide an incentive for executives to outperform the market as a whole and prevent management from being rewarded for average performance. We believe that management, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards it offers. However, we recognize the benefit of linking a portion of executive compensation to certain types of performance


benchmarks. While we will not support proposals that require all options to be performance-based, we will generally support proposals that require a portion of options granted to senior executives be performance-based. However, because performance-based options can also result in unfavorable tax treatment and the company may already have in place an option plan that sufficiently ties executive stock option plans to the company’s performance, we will consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

29.  Prohibit Relocation Benefits to Senior Executives (SHP)

  AGAINST

We do not consider such perquisites to be problematic pay practices as long as they are properly disclosed. Therefore we will vote against shareholder proposals asking to prohibit relocation benefits.

 

30.  Recovery of Performance-Based Compensation (SHP)

  FOR

We generally support shareholder proposals requiring the board to seek recovery of performance-based compensation awards to senior management and directors in the event of a fraud or other reasons that resulted in the detriment to shareholder value and/or company reputation due to gross ethical lapses. In deciding how to vote, we consider the adequacy of the existing company clawback policy, if any.

 

31.  Submit Golden Parachutes/Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote (SHP)

  FOR

Golden Parachutes assure key officers of a company lucrative compensation packages if the company is acquired and/or if the new owners terminate such officers. We recognize that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by a change in control may help attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders or make the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism. Accordingly, we support proposals to submit severance plans (including supplemental retirement plans), to a shareholder vote, and we review proposals to ratify or redeem such plans retrospectively on a case-by-case basis.

 

32.  Submit Golden Parachutes/Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote Prior to Their Being Negotiated by Management (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

We believe that in order to attract qualified employees, companies must be free to negotiate compensation packages without shareholder interference. However, shareholders must be given an opportunity to analyze a compensation plan’s final, material terms in order to ensure it is within acceptable limits. Accordingly, we evaluate proposals that require submitting severance plans and/or employment contracts for a shareholder vote prior to being negotiated by management on a case-by-case basis.

 

33.  Submit Survivor Benefit Compensation Plan to Shareholder Vote (SHP)

  FOR

Survivor benefit compensation plans, or “golden coffins”, can require a company to make substantial payments or awards to a senior executive’s beneficiaries following the death of the senior executive. The compensation can take the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards. This compensation would not include compensation that the senior executive chooses to defer during his or her lifetime.

We recognize that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by the passing of senior executives may help attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders or make the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism.

 

  3.3

CAPITAL CHANGES AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROPOSALS

 

34.  Amend Exclusive Forum Bylaw (SHP)

  AGAINST

We will generally oppose proposals that ask the board to repeal the company’s exclusive forum bylaw. Such bylaws require certain legal action against the company to take place in the state of the company’s incorporation. The courts within the state of incorporation are considered best suited to interpret that state’s laws.

 

35.  Amend Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) Rights Plans

  FOR

NOL Rights Plans are established to protect a company’s net operating loss carry forwards and tax credits, which can be used to offset future income. We believe this is a reasonable strategy for a company to employ. Accordingly, we will vote in favor of NOL Rights Plans unless we believe the terms of the NOL Rights Plan may provide for a long-term anti- takeover device.

 

36.  Authorize Share Repurchase

  FOR

We generally support share repurchase proposals that are part of a well-articulated and well-conceived capital strategy. We assess proposals to give the board unlimited authorization to repurchase shares on a case-by-case basis.


Furthermore, we would generally support the use of derivative instruments (e.g., put options and call options) as part of a share repurchase plan absent a compelling reason to the contrary. Also, absent a specific concern at the company, we will generally support a repurchase plan that could be continued during a takeover period.

 

37.  Blank Check Preferred Stock

  AGAINST

Blank check preferred stock proposals authorize the issuance of certain preferred stock at some future point in time and allow the board to establish voting, dividend, conversion and other rights at the time of issuance. While blank check preferred stock can provide a corporation with the flexibility needed to meet changing financial conditions, it also may be used as the vehicle for implementing a “poison pill” defense or some other entrenchment device.

We are concerned that, once this stock has been authorized, shareholders have no further power to determine how or when it will be allocated. Accordingly, we generally oppose this type of proposal.

 

38.  Corporate Restructurings, Merger Proposals and Spin-Offs

  CASE-BY-CASE

Proposals requesting shareholder approval of corporate restructurings, merger proposals and spin-offs are determined on a case-by-case basis. In evaluating these proposals and determining our votes, we are singularly focused on meeting our goal of maximizing long-term shareholder value.

 

39.  Elimination of Preemptive Rights

  CASE-BY-CASE

Preemptive rights allow the shareholders of the company to buy newly issued shares before they are offered to the public in order to maintain their percentage ownership. We believe that, because preemptive rights are an important shareholder right, careful scrutiny must be given to management’s attempts to eliminate them. However, because preemptive rights can be prohibitively expensive to widely held companies, the benefit of such rights will be weighed against the economic effect of maintaining them.

 

40.  Expensing Stock Options (SHP)

  FOR

US generally accepted accounting principles require companies to expense stock options, as do the accounting rules in many other jurisdictions (including those jurisdictions that have adopted IFRS — international financial reporting standards). If a company is domiciled in a jurisdiction where the accounting rules do not already require the expensing of stock options, we will support shareholder proposals requiring this practice and disclosing information about it.

 

41.  Fair Price Provisions

  CASE-BY-CASE

A fair price provision in the company’s charter or by laws is designed to ensure that each shareholder’s securities will be purchased at the same price if the corporation is acquired under a plan not agreed to by the board. In most instances, the provision requires that any tender offer made by a third party must be made to all shareholders at the same price.

Fair pricing provisions attempt to prevent the “two-tiered front-loaded offer” where the acquirer of a company initially offers a premium for a sufficient percentage of shares of the company to gain control and subsequently makes an offer for the remaining shares at a much lower price. The remaining shareholders have no choice but to accept the offer. The two -tiered approach is coercive as it compels a shareholder to sell his or her shares immediately in order to receive the higher price per share. This type of tactic has caused many states to adopt fair price provision statutes to restrict this practice.

We consider fair price provisions on a case-by-case basis. We oppose any provision where there is evidence that management intends to use the provision as an anti-takeover device as well as any provision where the shareholder vote requirement is greater than a majority of disinterested shares (i.e., shares beneficially owned by individuals other than the acquiring party).

 

42.  Increase Authorized Common Stock

  CASE-BY-CASE

In general we regard increases in authorized common stock as serving a legitimate corporate purpose when used to: implement a stock split, aid in a recapitalization or acquisition, raise needed capital for the firm, or provide for employee savings plans, stock option plans or executive compensation plans. That said, we may oppose a particular proposed increase if we consider the authorization likely to lower the share price (this would happen, for example, if the firm were proposing to use the proceeds to overpay for an acquisition, to invest in a project unlikely to earn the firm’s cost of capital, or to compensate employees well above market rates). We oppose increases in authorized common stock where there is evidence that the shares are to be used to implement a “poison pill” or another form of anti-takeover device, or if the issuance of new shares would, in our judgment, excessively dilute the value of the outstanding shares upon issuance. In addition, a satisfactory explanation of a company’s intentions—going beyond the standard “general corporate purposes”— must be disclosed in the proxy statement for proposals requesting an increase of greater than 100% of the shares outstanding. We view the use of derivatives, particularly warrants, as legitimate capital-raising instruments and apply these same principles to


their use as we do to the authorization of common stock. Under certain circumstances where we believe it is important for shareholders to have an opportunity to maintain their proportional ownership, we may oppose proposals requesting shareholders approve the issuance of additional shares if those shares do not include preemptive rights.

In Hong Kong, it is common for companies to request board authority to issue new shares up to 20% of outstanding share capital. The authority typically lapses after one year. We may vote against plans that do not prohibit issuing shares at a discount, taking into account whether a company has a history of doing so.

 

43.  Issuance of Equity Without Preemptive Rights

  FOR

We are generally in favor of issuances of equity without preemptive rights of up to 30% of a company’s outstanding shares unless there is concern that the issuance will be used in a manner that could hurt shareholder value (e.g., issuing the equity at a discount from the current market price or using the equity to help create a “poison pill” mechanism).

 

44.  Multi Class Equity Structure

  AGAINST

The one share, one vote principle — stating that voting power should be proportional to an investor’s economic ownership is generally preferred in order to hold the board accountable to shareholders. AB’s general expectation of companies with multi class equity structures is to attach safeguards for minority shareholders when appropriate and in a cost-effective manner, which may include measures such as sunset provisions or requiring periodic shareholder reauthorizations. We expect boards to routinely review existing multi-class vote structures and share their current view.

With that backdrop, we acknowledge that multi-class structures may be beneficial for a period of time, allowing management to focus on longer-term value creation which benefits all shareholders. Accordingly, AB recommends companies that had an initial public offering (IPO) in the past two (2) years to institute a time-based sunset to be triggered seven (7) years from the year of the IPO. In 2021, we will engage with companies in our significant holdings universe that fall under this category. We may vote against the relevant board member of companies that remain unresponsive starting 2022 AGM, unless there is a valid case to apply an exemption.

For companies that instituted a multi-class share structure unrelated to an IPO event or had an IPO two (2) or more years ago, sunset should be seven (7) years from the year when the issuer implemented the multi-class structure. If the structure was adopted greater than seven (7) years ago, we will expect the issuer to consider the shortest sunset plan that makes sense based on the issuer’s context. In 2021, we will engage with our portfolio companies in scope. We may vote against the respective board member if we don’t see any progress starting 2022 AGM, unless there is a valid case to apply an exemption.

 

45.  Net Long Position Requirement

  FOR

We support proposals that require the ownership level needed to call a special meeting to be based on the net long position of a shareholder or shareholder group. This standard ensures that a significant economic interest accompanies the voting power.

 

46.  Reincorporation

  CASE-BY-CASE

There are many valid business reasons a corporation may choose to reincorporate in another jurisdiction. We perform a case-by-case review of such proposals, taking into consideration management’s stated reasons for the proposed move.

Careful scrutiny also will be given to proposals that seek approval to reincorporate in countries that serve as tax havens. When evaluating such proposals, we consider factors such as the location of the company’s business, the statutory protections available in the country to enforce shareholder rights and the tax consequences of the reincorporation to shareholders.

 

47.  Reincorporation to Another Jurisdiction to Permit Majority Voting or Other Changes in Corporate Governance (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

If a shareholder proposes that a company move to a jurisdiction where majority voting (among other shareholder-friendly conditions) is permitted, we will generally oppose the move notwithstanding the fact that we favor majority voting for directors. Our rationale is that the legal costs, taxes, other expenses and other factors, such as business disruption, in almost all cases would be material and outweigh the benefit of majority voting. If, however, we should find that these costs are not material and/or do not outweigh the benefit of majority voting, we may vote in favor of this kind of proposal. We will evaluate similarly proposals that would require reincorporation in another state to accomplish other changes in corporate governance.


48.  Stock Splits

  FOR

Stock splits are intended to increase the liquidity of a company’s common stock by lowering the price, thereby making the stock seem more attractive to small investors. We generally vote in favor of stock split proposals.

 

49.  Submit Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan to Shareholder Vote (SHP)

  FOR

Most shareholder rights plans (also known as “poison pills”) permit the shareholders of a target company involved in a hostile takeover to acquire shares of the target company, the acquiring company, or both, at a substantial discount once a “triggering event” occurs. A triggering event is usually a hostile tender offer or the acquisition by an outside party of a certain percentage of the target company’s stock. Because most plans exclude the hostile bidder from the purchase, the effect in most instances is to dilute the equity interest and the voting rights of the potential acquirer once the plan is triggered. A shareholder rights plan is designed to discourage potential acquirers from acquiring shares to make a bid for the issuer. We believe that measures that impede takeovers or entrench management not only infringe on the rights of shareholders but also may have a detrimental effect on the value of the company.

We support shareholder proposals that seek to require the company to submit a shareholder rights plan to a shareholder vote. We evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals to implement or eliminate a shareholder rights plan.

 

50.  Transferrable Stock Options

  CASE-BY-CASE

In cases where a compensation plan includes a transferable stock option program, we will consider the plan on a case-by- case basis.

These programs allow stock options to be transferred to third parties in exchange for cash or stock. In effect, management becomes insulated from the downside risk of holding a stock option, while the ordinary shareholder remains exposed to downside risk. This insulation may unacceptably remove management’s exposure to downside risk, which significantly misaligns management and shareholder interests. Accordingly, we generally vote against these programs if the transfer can be executed without shareholder approval, is available to executive officers or non-employee directors, or we consider the available disclosure relating to the mechanics and structure of the program to be insufficient to determine the costs, benefits and key terms of the program.

 

  3.4

AUDITOR PROPOSALS

 

51.  Appointment of Auditors

  FOR

We believe that the company is in the best position to choose its accounting firm, and we generally support management’s recommendation.

We recognize that there may be inherent conflicts when a company’s independent auditors perform substantial non-audit related services for the company. Therefore, in reviewing a proposed auditor, we will consider the amount of fees paid for non-audit related services performed compared to the total audit fees paid by the company to the auditing firm, and whether there are any other reasons for us to question the independence or performance of the firm’s auditor such as, for example, tenure. We generally will deem as excessive the non-audit fees paid by a company to its auditor if those fees account for 50% or more of total fees paid. In the UK market, which utilizes a different calculation, we adhere to a non- audit fee cap of 100% of audit fees. Under these circumstances, we generally vote against the auditor and the directors, in particular the members of the company’s audit committee. In addition, we generally vote against authorizing the audit committee to set the remuneration of such auditors. We exclude from this analysis non-audit fees related to IPOs, bankruptcy emergence, and spin-offs and other extraordinary events. We may vote against or abstain due to a lack of disclosure of the name of the auditor while taking into account local market practice.

 

52.  Approval of Financial Statements

  FOR

In some markets, companies are required to submit their financial statements for shareholder approval. This is generally a routine item and, as such, we will vote for the approval of financial statements unless there are appropriate reasons to vote otherwise. We may vote against if the information is not available in advance of the meeting.

 

53.  Approval of Internal Statutory Auditors

  FOR

Some markets (e.g., Japan) require the annual election of internal statutory auditors. Internal statutory auditors have a number of duties, including supervising management, ensuring compliance with the articles of association and reporting to a company’s board on certain financial issues. In most cases, the election of internal statutory auditors is a routine item and we will support management’s nominee provided that the nominee meets the regulatory requirements for serving as internal statutory auditors. However, we may vote against nominees who are designated independent statutory auditors who serve as executives of a subsidiary or affiliate of the issuer or if there are other reasons to question the independence of the nominees.


54.  Limitation of Liability of External Statutory Auditors (Japan)

  CASE-BY-CASE

In Japan, companies may limit the liability of external statutory auditors in the event of a shareholder lawsuit through any of three mechanisms: (i) submitting the proposed limits to shareholder vote; (ii) setting limits by modifying the company’s articles of incorporation; and (iii) setting limits in contracts with outside directors, outside statutory auditors and external audit firms (requires a modification to the company’s articles of incorporation). A vote by 3% or more of shareholders can nullify a limit set through the second mechanism. The third mechanism has historically been the most prevalent.

We review proposals to set limits on auditor liability on a case-by-case basis, considering whether such a provision is necessary to secure appointment and whether it helps to maximize long-term shareholder value.

 

55.  Separating Auditors and Consultants (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

We believe that a company serves its shareholders’ interests by avoiding potential conflicts of interest that might interfere with an auditor’s independent judgment. SEC rules adopted as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attempted to address these concerns by prohibiting certain services by a company’s independent auditors and requiring additional disclosure of other non-audit related services.

We evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals that go beyond the SEC rules or other local market standards by prohibiting auditors from performing other non-audit services or calling for the board to adopt a policy to ensure auditor independence.

We take into consideration the policies and procedures the company already has in place to ensure auditor independence and non-audit fees as a percentage of total fees paid to the auditor are not excessive.

 

  3.5

SHAREHOLDER ACCESS AND VOTING PROPOSALS

 

56.  A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings (SHP)

  FOR

Most state corporation statutes (though not Delaware, where many US issuers are domiciled) allow shareholders to call a special meeting when they want to take action on certain matters that arise between regularly scheduled annual meetings. This right may apply only if a shareholder, or a group of shareholders, owns a specified percentage as defined by the relevant company bylaws.

We recognize the importance of the right of shareholders to remove poorly performing directors, respond to takeover offers and take other actions without having to wait for the next annual meeting. However, we also believe it is important to protect companies and shareholders from nuisance proposals. We further believe that striking a balance between these competing interests will maximize shareholder value. We believe that encouraging active share ownership among shareholders generally is beneficial to shareholders and helps maximize shareholder value. Accordingly, we will generally support a proposal to establish shareholders’ right to call a special meeting unless we see a potential abuse of the right based on the company’s current share ownership structure.

 

57.  Adopt Cumulative Voting (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

Cumulative voting is a method of electing directors that enables each shareholder to multiply the number of his or her shares by the number of directors being considered. A shareholder may then cast the total votes for any one director or a selected group of directors. For example, a holder of 10 shares normally casts 10 votes for each of 12 nominees to the board thus giving the shareholder 120 (10 × 12) votes. Under cumulative voting, the shareholder may cast all 120 votes for a single nominee, 60 for two, 40 for three, or any other combination that the shareholder may choose.

We believe that encouraging activism among shareholders generally is beneficial to shareholders and helps maximize shareholder value. Cumulative voting supports the interests of minority shareholders in contested elections by enabling them to concentrate their votes and dramatically increase their chances of electing a dissident director to a board.

Accordingly, we generally will support shareholder proposals to restore or provide for cumulative voting and we generally will oppose management proposals to eliminate cumulative voting. However, we may oppose cumulative voting if a company has in place both proxy access, which allows shareholders to nominate directors to the company’s ballot, and majority voting (with a carve-out for plurality voting in situations where there are more nominees than seats), which requires each director to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast and, we believe, leads to greater director accountability to shareholders.

Also, we support cumulative voting at controlled companies regardless of any other shareholder protections that may be in place.

 

58.  Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures (SHP)

  FOR

In dual class structures (such as A and B shares) where the shareholders with a majority economic interest have a minority voting interest, we generally vote in favor of cumulative voting for those shareholders.


59.  Early Disclosure of Voting Results (SHP)

  AGAINST

These proposals seek to require a company to disclose votes sooner than is required by the local market. In the US, the SEC requires disclosure in the first periodic report filed after the company’s annual meeting which we believe is reasonable. We do not support requests that require disclosure earlier than the time required by the local regulator.

 

60.  Limiting a Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings

  AGAINST

Companies contend that limitations on shareholders’ rights to call special meetings are needed to prevent minority shareholders from taking control of the company’s agenda. However, such limits also have anti-takeover implications because they prevent a shareholder or a group of shareholders who have acquired a significant stake in the company from forcing management to address urgent issues, such as the potential sale of the company. Because most states prohibit shareholders from abusing this right, we see no justifiable reason for management to eliminate this fundamental shareholder right. Accordingly, we generally will vote against such proposals.

In addition, if the board of directors, without shareholder consent, raises the ownership threshold a shareholder must reach before the shareholder can call a special meeting, we will vote against those directors.

 

61.  Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

Action by written consent enables a large shareholder or group of shareholders to initiate votes on corporate matters prior to the annual meeting. We believe this is a fundamental shareholder right and, accordingly, will generally support shareholder proposals seeking to restore this right. However, in cases where a company has a majority shareholder or group of related majority shareholders with majority economic interest, we will oppose proposals seeking to restore this right as there is a potential risk of abuse by the majority shareholder or group of majority shareholders. We may also vote against the proposal if the company provides shareholders a right to call special meetings with an ownership threshold of 15% or below in absence of material restrictions, as we believe that shareholder access rights should be considered from a holistic view rather than promoting all possible access rights that may impede one another in contrast to long-term shareholder value.

 

62.  Proxy Access for Annual Meetings (SHP) (Management)

  FOR

These proposals allow “qualified shareholders” to nominate directors. We generally vote in favor of management and shareholder proposals for proxy access that employ guidelines reflecting the SEC framework for proxy access (adopted by the SEC in 2010, but vacated by the US District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011), which would have allowed a single shareholder, or group of shareholders, who hold at least 3% of the voting power for at least three years continuously to nominate up to 25% of the current board seats, or two directors, for inclusion in the subject company’s annual proxy statement alongside management nominees.

We may vote against proposals that use requirements that are stricter than the SEC’s framework including implementation restrictions and against individual board members, or entire boards, who exclude from their ballot properly submitted shareholder proxy access proposals or compete against shareholder proxy access proposals with stricter management proposals on the same ballot We will generally vote in favor of proposals that seek to amend an existing right to more closely align with the SEC framework.

We will evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals with less stringent requirements than the vacated SEC framework.

From time to time we may receive requests to join with other shareholders to support a shareholder action. We may, for example, receive requests to join a voting block for purposes of influencing management. If the third parties requesting our participation are not affiliated with us and have no business relationships with us, we will consider the request on a case-by-case basis. However, where the requesting party has a business relationship with us (e.g., the requesting party is a client or a significant service provider), agreeing to such a request may pose a potential conflict of interest. As a fiduciary we have an obligation to vote proxies in the best interest of our clients (without regard to our own interests in generating and maintaining business with our other clients) and given our desire to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, we will generally decline such a request.

 

63.  Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (UK)

  FOR

Companies in the United Kingdom may, with shareholder approval, reduce the notice period for extraordinary general meetings from 21 days to 14 days.


A reduced notice period expedites the process of obtaining shareholder approval of additional financing needs and other important matters. Accordingly, we support these proposals.

 

64.  Shareholder Proponent Engagement Process (SHP)

  FOR

We believe that proper corporate governance requires that proposals receiving support from a majority of shareholders be considered and implemented by the company. Accordingly, we support establishing an engagement process between shareholders and management to ensure proponents of majority-supported proposals, have an established means of communicating with management.

 

65.  Supermajority Vote Requirements

  AGAINST

A supermajority vote requirement is a charter or by-law requirement that, when implemented, raises the percentage (higher than the customary simple majority) of shareholder votes needed to approve certain proposals, such as mergers, changes of control, or proposals to amend or repeal a portion of the Articles of Incorporation.

In most instances, we oppose these proposals and support shareholder proposals that seek to reinstate the simple majority vote requirement. However, we may support supermajority vote requirements at controlled companies as a protection to minority shareholders from unilateral action of the controlling shareholder.

 

66.  Authorize Virtual-Only Shareholder Meetings

  CASE-BY-CASE

COVID-19 has called for a need to authorize companies in holding virtual-only shareholder meetings. While recognizing technology has enabled shareholders to remain connected with the board and management, AB acknowledges that virtual only shareholder meetings have resulted in certain companies abusing their authority by limiting shareholders from raising questions and demanding onerous requirements to be able to read their questions during the meeting. Because such practice vary by company and jurisdiction with different safeguard provisions, we will consider—among other things—a company’s disclosure on elements such as those below when voting on management or shareholder proposals for authorizing the company to hold virtual-only shareholder meetings:

 

   

Explanation for eliminating the in-person meeting;

 

   

Clear description of which shareholders are qualified to participate in virtual-only shareholder meetings and how attendees can join the meeting;

 

   

How to submit and ask questions;

 

   

How the company plans to mimic a real-time in-person question and answer session; and

 

   

List of questions received from shareholders in their entirety, both prior to and during the meeting, as well as associated responses from the company

 

  3.6

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND DISCLOSURE PROPOSALS

 

67.  Animal Welfare (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals may include reporting requests or policy adoption on items such as pig gestation crates and animal welfare in the supply chain. For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue.

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

68.  Climate Change (SHP)

  FOR

Proposals addressing climate change concerns are plentiful and their scope varies. Climate change increasingly receives investor attention as a potentially critical and material risk to the sustainability of a wide range of business-specific activities. These proposals may include emissions standards or reduction targets, quantitative goals, and impact assessments. We generally support these proposals, while taking into account the materiality of the issue and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue.


We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure, while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposal is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

69.  Charitable Contributions (SHP) (Management)

  CASE-BY-CASE

Proposals relating to charitable contributions may be sponsored by either management or shareholders.

Management proposals may ask to approve the amount for charitable contributions.

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

70.  Environmental Proposals (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals can include reporting and policy adoption requests in a wide variety of areas, including, but not limited to, (nuclear) waste, deforestation, packaging and recycling, renewable energy, toxic material, palm oil and water.

For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue.

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

71.  Genetically Altered or Engineered Food and Pesticides (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals may include reporting requests on pesticides monitoring/use and Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) as well as GMO labeling.

For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue.

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

72.  Health Proposals (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals may include reports on pharmaceutical pricing, antibiotic use in the meat supply, and tobacco products. We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account the current reporting policies of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue. We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposal is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

73.  Human Rights Policies and Reports (SHP)

  CASE-BY-CASE

These proposals may include reporting requests on human rights risk assessments, humanitarian engagement and mediation policies, working conditions, adopting policies on supply chain worker fees and expanding existing policies in these areas. We recognize that many companies have complex supply chains which have led to increased awareness of supply chain issues as an investment risk.

For proposals requesting companies to adopt a policy, we will carefully consider existing policies and the company’s incorporation of national standards and best practices. In addition, we will evaluate the potential enactment of new regulations, as well as any investment risk related to the specific issue.

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.


74.  Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure (SHP)

   CASE-BY-CASE

We believe management and directors should be given latitude in determining appropriate performance measurements. While doing so, consideration should be given to how long-term sustainability issues might affect future company performance. Therefore, we will evaluate on a case-by-case basis proposals requesting companies to consider incorporating specific, measurable, practical goals consisting of sustainability principles and environmental impacts as metrics for incentive compensation and how they are linked with our objectives as long-term shareholders.

 

75.  Lobbying and Political Spending (SHP)

 

   FOR

We generally vote in favor of proposals requesting increased disclosure of political contributions and lobbying expenses, including those paid to trade organizations and political action committees, whether at the federal, state, or local level.

These proposals may increase transparency.

 

76.  Other Business

   AGAINST

In certain jurisdictions, these proposals allow management to act on issues that shareholders may raise at the annual meeting. Because it is impossible to know what issues may be raised, we will vote against these proposals.

 

77.  Reimbursement of Shareholder Expenses (SHP)

   AGAINST

These shareholder proposals would require companies to reimburse the expenses of shareholders who submit proposals that receive a majority of votes cast or the cost of proxy contest expenses. We generally vote against these proposals, unless reimbursement occurs only in cases where management fails to implement a majority passed shareholder proposal, in which case we may vote in favor.

 

78.  Sustainability Report (SHP)

   FOR

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure related to sustainability while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

 

79.  Workplace: Diversity (SHP)

   FOR

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for reports and disclosure surrounding workplace diversity while taking into account existing policies and procedures of the company and whether the proposed information is of added benefit to shareholders.

We generally support proposals requiring a company to amend its Equal Employment Opportunity policies to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

80.  Workplace: Gender Pay Equity (SHP)

   FOR

A report on pay disparity between genders typically compares the difference between male and female median earnings expressed as a percentage of male earnings and may include, (i) statistics and rationale explanation pertaining to changes in the size of the gap, (ii) recommended actions, and (iii) information on whether greater oversight is needed over certain aspects of the company’s compensation policies. In the U.S., we are generally supportive of proposals to require companies to make similar assessments and disclosure related to the pay disparity between different gender and ethnic/racial groups. Shareholder requests to place a limit on a global median ethnic/racial pay gap will be assessed based on the cultural and the legal context of markets to which the company is exposed.

The SEC requires US issuers with fiscal years ending on or after January 1, 2017, to contrast CEO pay with median employee pay. This requirement, however, does not specifically address gender pay equity issues in such pay disparity reports. Accordingly, we will generally support proposals requiring gender pay metrics, taking into account the specific metrics and scope of the information requested and whether the SEC’s requirement renders the proposal unnecessary.


4.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

  4.1

INTRODUCTION

As a fiduciary, we always must act in our clients’ best interests. We strive to avoid even the appearance of a conflict that may compromise the trust our clients have placed in us, and we insist on strict adherence to fiduciary standards and compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. We have adopted a comprehensive Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) to help us meet these obligations. As part of this responsibility and as expressed throughout the Code, we place the interests of our clients first and attempt to avoid any perceived or actual conflicts of interest.

AB recognizes that potentially material conflicts of interest arise when we engage with a company or vote a proxy solicited by an issuer that sponsors a retirement plan we manage (or administer), that distributes AB-sponsored mutual funds, or with which AB or one or more of our employees have another business or personal relationship, and that such conflicts could affect how we vote on the issuer’s proxy. Similarly, potentially material conflicts of interest arise when engaging with and deciding how to vote on a proposal sponsored or supported by a shareholder group that is a client. In order to address any perceived or actual conflict of interest, the procedures set forth below in sections 4.2 through 4.8 have been established for use when we encounter a potential conflict to ensure that our engagement activities and voting decisions are in our clients’ best interest consistent with our fiduciary duties and seek to maximize shareholder value.

 

  4.2

ADHERENCE TO STATED PROXY VOTING POLICIES

Votes generally are cast in accordance with this Policy3. In situations where our Policy involves a case-by-case assessment, the following sections provide criteria that will guide our decision. In situations where our Policy on a particular issue involves a case-by-case assessment and the vote cannot be clearly decided by an application of our stated Policy, a member of the Committee or his/her designee will make the voting decision in accordance with the basic principle of our Policy to vote proxies with the intention of maximizing the value of the securities in our client accounts. In these situations, the voting rationale must be documented either on the voting platform of our proxy services vendor, by retaining relevant emails or another appropriate method. Where appropriate, the views of investment professionals are considered. All votes cast contrary to our stated voting Policy on specific issues must be documented. If a proxy vote involves a potential conflict of interest, the voting decision will be determined in accordance with the processes outlined in section 4.5 of the Policy. On an annual basis, the Committee will receive and review a report of all such votes so as to confirm adherence with the Policy.

 

  4.3

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS

When considering a proxy proposal, members of the Committee or investment professionals involved in the decision- making process must disclose to the Committee any potential conflict (including personal relationships) of which they are aware and any substantive contact that they have had with any interested outside party (including the issuer or shareholder group sponsoring a proposal) regarding the proposal. Any previously unknown conflict will be recorded on the Potential Conflicts List (discussed below). If a member of the Committee has a material conflict of interest, he or she generally must recuse himself or herself from the decision-making process.

 

  4.4

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS LIST

No less frequently than annually, a list of companies and organizations whose engagement and proxies may pose potential conflicts of interest is compiled by the Legal and Compliance Department (the “Potential Conflicts List”). The Potential Conflicts List generally includes:

 

   

Publicly-traded clients of AB;

 

   

Publicly-traded companies that distribute AB mutual funds;

 

   

Bernstein private clients who are directors, officers, or 10% shareholders of publicly traded companies;

 

   

Publicly-traded companies that are sell-side clients of our affiliated broker-dealer, SCB&Co.;

 

   

Companies where an employee of AB or Equitable Holdings, Inc., the parent company of AB, has identified an interest;

 

   

Publicly-traded affiliated companies;

 

   

Clients who sponsor, publicly support or have material interest in a proposal upon which we will be eligible to vote;

 

   

Publicly-traded companies targeted by the AFL-CIO for engagement and voting; and

 

   

Any other company subject to a material conflict of which a Committee member becomes aware4.

 

3 

From time to time a client may request that we vote their proxies consistent with AFL-CIO guidelines or the policy of the National Association of Pension Funds. In those situations, AB reserves the right to depart from those policies if we believe it to be in the client’s best interests.

4 

The Committee must notify the Legal and Compliance Department promptly of any previously unknown conflict.


We determine our votes for all meetings of companies that may present a conflict by applying the processes described in Section 4.5 below. We document all instances when the Conflicts Officer determines our vote.

 

  4.5

DETERMINE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

When we encounter a potential conflict of interest, we review our proposed vote using the following analysis to ensure our voting decision is in the best interest of our clients:

 

 

If our proposed vote is explicitly addressed by and consistent with the Policy, no further review is necessary.

 

 

If our proposed vote is contrary to the Policy (i.e., requires a case-by-case assessment or is not covered by the Policy), the vote will be presented to the Conflicts Officer. The Conflicts Officer’s review will be documented using a Proxy Voting Conflict of Interest Form (a copy of which is attached hereto). The Conflicts Officer will determine whether the proposed vote is reasonable. If the Conflicts Officer cannot determine that the proposed vote is reasonable, the Conflicts Officer may instruct AB to refer the votes back to the client(s) or take other actions as the Conflicts Officer deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the particular potential conflict. The Conflicts Officer may take or recommend that AB take the following steps:

 

   

Recuse or “wall-off” certain personnel from the proxy voting process;

 

   

Confirm whether AB’s proposed vote is consistent with the voting recommendations of our proxy research services vendor; or

 

   

Take other actions as the Conflicts Officer deems appropriate.

 

  4.6

REVIEW OF THIRD PARTY PROXY SERVICE VENDORS

AB engages one or more Proxy Service Vendors to provide voting recommendations and voting execution services. From time to time, AB will evaluate each Proxy Service Vendor’s services to assess that they are consistent with this Policy and the best interest of our clients. This evaluation may include: (i) a review of pre-populated votes on the Proxy Service Vendor’s electronic voting platform before such votes are cast, and (ii) a review of policies that address the consideration of additional information that becomes available regarding a proposal before the vote is cast. AB will also periodically review whether Proxy Service Vendors have the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues and provide the necessary services to AB. AB will consider, among other things, the adequacy and quality of the Proxy Service Vendor’s staffing, personnel and/or technology, as well as whether the Proxy Service Vendor has adequate disclosures regarding its methodologies in formulating voting recommendations. If applicable, we will also review whether any potential factual errors, incompleteness or methodological weaknesses materially affected the Proxy Service Vendor’s services and the effectiveness of the Proxy Service Vendor’s procedures for obtaining current and accurate information relevant to matters included in its research.

The Committee also takes reasonable steps to review the Proxy Service Vendor’s policies and procedures addressing conflicts of interest and verify that the Proxy Service Vendor(s) to which we have a full- level subscription is, in fact, independent based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances. This includes reviewing each Proxy Service Vendor’s conflict management procedures on an annual basis. When reviewing these conflict management procedures, we will consider, among other things, (i) whether the Proxy Service Vendor has adequate policies and procedures to identify, disclose, and address actual and potential conflicts of interest; and (ii) whether the Proxy Service Vendor provides adequate disclosure of actual and potential conflicts of interest with respect to the services provided to AB by the Proxy Service Vendor and (iii) whether the Proxy Service Vendor’s policies and procedures utilize technology in delivering conflicts disclosure; and (iv) can offer research in an impartial manner and in the best interests of our clients.

 

  4.7

CONFIDENTIAL VOTING

It is AB’s policy to support confidentiality before the actual vote has been cast. Employees are prohibited from revealing how we intend to vote except to (i) members of the Committee; (ii) Portfolio Managers who hold the security in their managed accounts; (iii) the Research Analyst(s) who cover(s) the security; (iv) clients, upon request, for the securities held in their portfolios; (v) clients who do not hold the security or for whom AB does not have proxy voting authority, but who provide AB with a signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement; or (vi) declare our stance on an ESG related shareholder proposal(s) that is (are) deemed material for the issuer’s business for generating long-term value in our clients’ best interests. Once the votes have been cast for our mutual fund clients, they are made public in accordance with mutual fund proxy vote disclosures required by the SEC, and we generally post all votes to our public website one business day after the meeting date.

We may participate in proxy surveys conducted by shareholder groups or consultants so long as such participation does not compromise our confidential voting policy. Specifically, prior to our required SEC disclosures each year, we may respond to surveys asking about our proxy voting policies, but not any specific votes. After our mutual fund proxy vote disclosures required by the SEC each year have been made public and/or votes have been posted to our public website, we may respond to surveys that cover specific votes in addition to our voting policies.


On occasion, clients for whom we do not have proxy voting authority may ask us how AB’s Policy would be implemented. A member of the Committee or one or more members of Responsibility team may provide the results of a potential implementation of the AB policy to the client’s account subject to an understanding with the client that the implementation shall remain confidential.

Any substantive contact regarding proxy issues from the issuer, the issuer’s agent or a shareholder group sponsoring a proposal must be reported to the Committee if such contact was material to a decision to vote contrary to this Policy. Routine administrative inquiries from proxy solicitors need not be reported.

 

  4.8

A NOTE REGARDING AB’S STRUCTURE

AB and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (“AB Holding”) are Delaware limited partnerships. As limited partnerships, neither company is required to produce an annual proxy statement or hold an annual shareholder meeting. In addition, the general partner of AB and AB Holding, AllianceBernstein Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Equitable Holdings, Inc.

As a result, most of the positions we express in this Proxy Voting Policy are inapplicable to our business. For example, although units in AB Holding are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the NYSE Listed Company Manual exempts limited partnerships and controlled companies from compliance with various listing requirements, including the requirement that our board have a majority of independent directors.

 

5.

VOTING TRANSPARENCY

We publish our voting records on our website one business day after the shareholder meeting date for each issuer company. Many clients have requested that we provide them with periodic reports on how we voted their proxies. Clients may obtain information about how we voted proxies on their behalf by contacting their Advisor.

 

6.

RECORDKEEPING

All of the records referenced below will be kept in an easily accessible place for at least the length of time required by local regulation and custom, and, if such local regulation requires that records are kept for less than six (6) years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, we will follow the US rule of six (6) or more years. If the local regulation requires that records are kept for more than six (6) or more years, we will comply with the local regulation.9 We maintain the vast majority of these records electronically.

 

  6.1

PROXY VOTING AND GOVERNANCE POLICY

The Policy shall be maintained in the Legal and Compliance Department and posted on our company intranet and on the AB website.

 

  6.2

PROXY STATEMENTS RECEIVED REGARDING CLIENT SECURITIES

For US Securities5, AB relies on the SEC to maintain copies of each proxy statement we receive regarding client securities. For Non-US Securities, we rely on ISS, our proxy voting agent, to retain such proxy statements.

 

  6.3

RECORDS OF VOTES CAST ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS

Records of votes cast by AB are retained electronically by our proxy research service vendor.

 

  6.4

RECORDS OF CLIENTS REQUESTS FOR PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

Copies of written requests from clients for information on how AB voted their proxies shall be maintained by the Legal and Compliance Department. Responses to written and oral requests for information on how we voted clients’ proxies will be kept in the Client Group.

 

  6.5

DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY AB THAT ARE MATERIAL TO VOTING DECISIONS

The Committee is responsible for maintaining documents prepared by the Committee or any AB employee that were material to a voting decision. Therefore, where an investment professional’s opinion is essential to the voting decision, the recommendation from investment professionals must be made in writing to a member of Responsibility team.

 

5

US securities are defined as securities of issuers required to make reports pursuant to §12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Non-US securities are defined as all other securities.


7.

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES

 

  7.1

VOTE ADMINISTRATION

In an effort to increase the efficiency of voting proxies, AB currently uses ISS to act as its voting agent for our clients’ holdings globally.

Issuers initially send proxy information to the custodians of our client accounts. We instruct these custodian banks to direct proxy related materials to ISS’s offices. ISS provides us with research related to each resolution and pre-populates certain ballots based on the guidelines contained in this Policy. Members of Responsibility team review the ballots via ISS’s web platform, ProxyExchange, and complete the ballots for any proposals where our Policy involves a case-by-case assessment. In addition, all AB’s proxy votes are double-checked by an offshore compliance team to verify that they are being voted in-line with our Policy. Using ProxyExchange, the members of Responsibility team submit our voting decision. ISS then returns the proxy ballot forms to the designated returnee for tabulation.

If necessary, any paper ballots we receive will be voted online using ProxyVote or via mail or fax.

 

  7.2

SHARE BLOCKING AND ABSTAINING FROM VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES

Proxy voting in certain countries requires “share blocking.” Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting (usually one week) with a designated depositary. During this blocking period, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the clients’ custodian banks. We may determine that the value of exercising the vote is outweighed by the detriment of not being able to sell the shares during this period. In cases where we want to retain the ability to trade shares, we may determine to not vote those shares.

We seek to vote all proxies for securities held in client accounts for which we have proxy voting authority. However, in some markets administrative issues beyond our control may sometimes prevent us from voting such proxies. For example, we may receive meeting notices after the cut-off date for voting or without enough time to fully consider the proxy. Similarly, proxy materials for some issuers may not contain disclosure sufficient to arrive at a voting decision, in which cases we may abstain from voting. Some markets outside the US require periodic renewals of powers of attorney that local agents must have from our clients prior to implementing our voting instructions.

AB will abstain from voting (which generally requires submission of a proxy voting card) or affirmatively decide not to vote if AB determines that abstaining or not voting would be in the applicable client’s best interest. In making such a determination, AB will consider various factors, including, but not limited to: (i) the costs associated with exercising the proxy (e.g., translation or travel costs); (ii) any legal restrictions on trading resulting from the exercise of a proxy (e.g., share-blocking jurisdictions); (iii) whether AB’s clients have sold the underlying securities since the record date for the proxy; and (iv) whether casting a vote would not reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the value of the client’s investment.

 

  7.3

LOANED SECURITIES

Many of our clients have entered into securities lending arrangements with agent lenders to generate additional revenue. We will not be able to vote securities that are on loan under these types of arrangements. However, under rare circumstances, for voting issues that may have a significant impact on the investment, we may request that clients or custodians recall securities that are on loan if we determine that the benefit of voting outweighs the costs and lost revenue to the client or fund and the administrative burden of retrieving the securities. For the SRI labeled Thematic funds, we recall U.S. securities on loan to vote proxies and have discontinued lending for non-U.S. securities.

If you have questions or desire additional information about this Policy, please contact ProxyTeam@alliancebernstein.com.


PROXY VOTING GUIDELINE SUMMARY

 

Shareholder

  Proposal  

      

For

 

Against

  

Case-by-

Case

Board and Director Proposals
   Board Diversity        +
+    Establish New Board Committees and Elect Board Members with Specific Expertise        +
   Changes in Board Structure and Amending the Articles of Incorporation   +     
   Classified Boards     +   
   Director Liability and Indemnification        +
+    Disclose CEO Succession Plan   +     
   Election of Directors   +     
   Controlled Company Exemption        +
   Voting for Director Nominees in a Contested Election        +
+    Independent Lead Director   +     
+    Limit Term of Directorship        +
+    Majority of Independent Directors   +     
+    Majority of Independent Directors on Key Committees   +     
+    Majority Votes for Directors   +     
+    Removal of Directors Without Cause   +     
+    Require Independent Board Chairman        +
+    Require Two Candidates for Each Board Seat     +   
Compensation Proposals
+    Elimination of Single Trigger Change-in-Control Agreements   +     
+    Pro Rata Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change of Control        +
+    Adopt Policies to Prohibit any Death Benefits to Senior Executives     +   
+    Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation   +     
+    Amend Executive Compensation Plan Tied to Performance (Bonus Banking)     +   
   Approve Remuneration for Directors and Auditors        +
   Approve Remuneration Reports        +
   Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)        +
   Approve Special Payments to Continuing Directors and Auditors (Japan)        +
+    Disclose Executive and Director Pay        +
+    Exclude Pension Income from Performance-Based Compensation   +     
   Executive and Employee Compensation Plans        +
+    Limit Dividend Payments to Executives     +   
+    Limit Executive Pay        +


Shareholder

  Proposal  

      

For

 

Against

  

Case-by-

Case

+    Mandatory Holding Periods     +   
+    Performance-Based Stock Option Plans        +
+    Prohibit Relocation Benefits to Senior Executives     +   
+    Recovery of Performance-Based Compensation   +     
+    Submit Golden Parachutes/Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote     +   
+    Submit Golden Parachutes/Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote prior to their being Negotiated by Management        +
+    Submit Survivor Benefit Compensation Plans to a Shareholder Vote   +     
Capital Changes and Anti-Take Over Proposals
+    Amend Exclusive Forum Bylaw     +   
   Amend Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) Rights Plans   +     
   Authorize Share Repurchase   +     
   Blank Check Preferred Stock     +   
   Corporate Restructurings, Merger Proposals and Spin-Offs        +
   Elimination of Preemptive Rights        +
+    Expensing Stock Options   +     
   Fair Price Provisions        +
   Increase Authorized Common Stock        +
   Issuance of Equity without Preemptive Rights   +     
   Issuance of Stock with Unequal Voting Rights        +
   Net Long Position Requirement   +     
   Reincorporation        +
+    Reincorporation to Another jurisdiction to Permit Majority Voting or Other Changes in Corporate Governance        +
   Stock Splits   +     
+    Submit Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan to a Shareholder Vote   +     
   Transferrable Stock Options        +
Auditor Proposals
   Appointment of Auditors   +     
   Approval of Financial Statements   +     
   Approval of Internal Statutory Auditors   +     
+    Limit Compensation Consultant Services     +   
   Limitation of Liability of External Statutory Auditors (Japan)        +
+    Separating Auditors and Consultants        +
Shareholder Access & Voting Proposals
+    A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings   +     
+    Adopt Cumulative Voting        +
+    Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures   +     
+    Early Disclosure of Voting Results     +   


Shareholder

  Proposal  

      

For

 

Against

  

Case-by-

Case

+    Implement Confidential Voting   +     
   Limiting a Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings     +   
+    Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent        +
+    Proxy Access for Annual Meetings   +     
   Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (UK)   +     
+    Rotation of Locale for Annual Meeting     +   
+    Shareholder Proponent Engagement Process   +     
   Supermajority Vote Requirements     +   
Environmental & Social, Disclosure Proposals
+    Animal Welfare        +
+    Climate Change        +
+    Carbon Accounting   +     
+    Carbon Risk   +     
+    Charitable Contributions        +
+    Environmental Proposals        +
+    Genetically Altered or Engineered Food and Pesticides        +
+    Health Proposals        +
+    Pharmaceutical Pricing (US)        +
+    Human Rights Policies and Reports        +
+    Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure (SHP)        +
+    Lobbying and Political Spending   +     
+    Other Business     +   
+    Reimbursement of Shareholder Expenses     +   
+    Sustainability Report        +
+    Workplace: Diversity   +     
+    Workplace: Pay Disparity        +


PROXY VOTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM

 

Name of Security           Date of Shareholder Meeting      
           

 

Short Description of the conflict (client, mutual fund distributor, etc.):

 

1.

Is our proposed vote on all issues explicitly addressed by, and consistent with our stated proxy voting policy?

    

 

  ☐ Yes ☐ No

If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

 

2.

Is our proposed vote on consistent with our client’s recommended vote?

    

 

  ☐ Yes ☐ No

Leave blank if not applicable; if yes, continue to question 3; if no, provide a memo reflecting the guidelines provided below.

 

3.

Is our proposed vote consistent with the views of Institutional Shareholder Services?               ☐ Yes ☐ No

Leave blank if not applicable.

Please attach a memo containing the following information and documentation supporting the proxy voting decision:

 

   

A list of the issue(s) where our proposed vote is contrary to our stated Policy (director election, cumulative voting, compensation)

 

   

A description of any substantive contact with any interested outside party and a proxy voting and governance committee or an AB investment professional that was material to our voting decision. Please include date, attendees, titles, organization they represent and topics discussed. If there was no such contact, please note as such.

 

   

If the Independent Compliance Officer has NOT determined that the proposed vote is reasonable, please explain and indicate what action has been, or will be taken.

 

  AB Conflicts Officer Approval (if necessary. Email approval is acceptable.):      Prepared By:
  I hereby confirm that the proxy voting decision referenced on this form is reasonable.           
         
     Print Name:   
  AB Conflicts Officer      Date:   
  Date:        

Please return this completed form and all supporting documentation to the Conflicts Officer in the Legal and Compliance Department and keep a copy for your records.


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

(a) (1) The management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by the Global Fixed Income: Emerging Markets Investment Team.

The following table lists the five members of the team with the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, the length of time that each person has been involved in the management of the Fund, and each person’s principal occupation during the past five years:

 

Employee; Year; Title

  

Principal Occupation During the Past Five (5) Years

Gershon Distenfeld; since prior to 2013; Vice President of the Adviser    Senior Vice President of the Adviser* with which he has been associated since prior to 2013.
Matthew S. Sheridan; since prior to 2013; Vice President of the Adviser    Senior Vice President of the Adviser* with which he has been associated since prior to 2013.

 

*

The Adviser, ABI and ABIS are affiliates of the Fund.

(a) (2) The following tables provide information regarding registered investment companies other than the Fund, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts over which the Fund’s portfolio managers also have day-to-day management responsibilities. The tables provide the numbers of such accounts, the total assets in such accounts and the number of accounts and total assets whose fees are based on performance. The information is provided as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

 

REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES

      (excluding the Fund)      

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed
     Total Assets of
Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed
     Number of
Registered
Investment
Companies Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
  Total Assets of
Registered
Investment
Companies
Managed with
Performance-based
Fees

Gershon Distenfeld

     7      $ 6,850,000,000      None   None

Matthew S. Sheridan

     14      $ 12,567,000,000      None   None


POOLED INVESTMENT VEHICLES

 

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
Managed
     Total Assets of
Pooled Investment
Vehicles Managed
     Number of Pooled
Investment Vehicles
Managed with
Performance-based
Fees
  Total Assets of
Pooled Investment
Vehicles Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
 

Gershon Distenfeld

     87      $ 53,102,000,000      1   $ 840,000,000  

Matthew S. Sheridan

     96      $ 44,139,000,000      None     None  

OTHER ACCOUNTS

 

Portfolio

Manager

   Total Number
of Other
Accounts
Managed
     Total Assets of
Other Accounts
Managed
     Number of Other
Accounts Managed
with Performance-
based Fees
  Total Assets of
Other Accounts
with Performance-
based Fees
 

Gershon Distenfeld

     457      $ 70,467,000,000      None     None  

Matthew S. Sheridan

     29      $ 12,105,000,000      None     None  

Investment Professional Conflict of Interest Disclosure

As an investment adviser and fiduciary, the Adviser owes its clients and shareholders an undivided duty of loyalty. The Adviser recognizes that conflicts of interest are inherent in its business and accordingly has developed policies and procedures (including oversight monitoring) reasonably designed to detect, manage and mitigate the effects of actual or potential conflicts of interest in the area of employee personal trading, managing multiple accounts for multiple clients, including AB Mutual Funds, and allocating investment opportunities. Investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, are subject to the above-mentioned policies and oversight monitoring to ensure that all clients are treated equitably. The Adviser places the interests of its clients first and expects all of its employees to meet their fiduciary duties.


Employee Personal Trading. The Adviser has adopted a Code of Business

Conduct and Ethics that is designed to detect and prevent conflicts of interest when investment professionals and other personnel of the Adviser own, buy or sell securities which may be owned by, or bought or sold for, clients. Personal securities transactions by an employee may raise a potential conflict of interest when an employee owns or trades in a security that is owned or considered for purchase or sale by a client, or recommended for purchase or sale by an employee to a client. Subject to the reporting requirements and other limitations of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Adviser permits its employees to engage in personal securities transactions, and also allows them to acquire investments in certain funds managed by the Adviser. The Adviser’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires disclosure of all personal accounts and maintenance of brokerage accounts with designated broker-dealers approved by the Adviser. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also requires preclearance of all securities transactions (except transactions in U.S. Treasuries and open-end mutual funds other than funds advised by the Adviser) and imposes a 60-day holding period for securities purchased by employees to discourage short-term trading.

Managing Multiple Accounts for Multiple Clients

The Adviser has compliance policies and oversight monitoring in place to address conflicts of interest relating to the management of multiple accounts for multiple clients. Conflicts of interest may arise when an investment professional has responsibilities for the investments of more than one account because the investment professional may be unable to devote equal time and attention to each 90 account. The investment professional or investment professional teams for each client may have responsibilities for managing all or a portion of the investments of multiple accounts with a common investment strategy, including other registered investment companies, unregistered investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, pension plans, separate accounts, collective trusts and charitable foundations. Among other things, the Adviser’s policies and procedures provide for the prompt dissemination to investment professionals of initial or changed investment recommendations by analysts so that investment professionals are better able to develop investment strategies for all accounts they manage. In addition, investment decisions by investment professionals are reviewed for the purpose of maintaining uniformity among similar accounts and ensuring that accounts are treated equitably. Investment professional compensation reflects a broad contribution in multiple dimensions to long-term investment success for clients of the Adviser and is generally not tied specifically to the performance of any particular client’s account, nor is it generally tied directly to the level or change in level of assets under management.

Allocating Investment Opportunities and Order Aggregation

The investment professionals at the Adviser routinely are required to select and allocate investment opportunities among accounts. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that information relevant to investment decisions is disseminated promptly within its portfolio management teams and investment opportunities are allocated equitably among different clients. The policies and procedures require, among other things, objective allocation for limited investment opportunities (e.g., on a rotational basis), and documentation and review of justifications for any decisions to make investments only for select accounts or in a manner disproportionate to the size of the account. Portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar accounts, which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest relating to the allocation


of investment opportunities. Nevertheless, access to portfolio funds or other investment opportunities may be allocated differently among accounts due to the particular characteristics of an account, such as size of the account, cash position, tax status, risk tolerance and investment restrictions or for other reasons.

Generally, all orders in the same security are aggregated in each trading system by the Adviser to facilitate best execution and to reduce overall trading costs. Executions for aggregated orders with the same executing broker are combined to determine one average price. The shares are then allocated to participating accounts using automated algorithms designed to achieve a fair, equitable and objective distribution of the shares over time. When the liquidity in a market is not sufficient to fill all client orders, the Adviser may give priority to certain orders over others. This prioritization is based on objective factors driving the order. Under such circumstances, the Adviser aggregates orders by these factors and subjects each aggregated order to the trade allocation algorithms discussed above. The factors used, in order of priority, are (1) correction of guideline breaches; (2) avoidance of guideline breaches; (3) investing significant new funding and completing tax strategy implementations; (4) investing in services that focus on specific financial instruments or market sectors, (5) avoidance of tracking error on the service/product level; and (6) portfolio rebalancing and optimization. Separate orders with the same priority may be traded using a rotational process that is fair and objective.

The Adviser may not require orders in the same security from different managers to be aggregated where one manager’s investment strategy requires rapid trade execution, provided the Adviser believes that disaggregation will not materially impact other client orders. Certain other clients of the Adviser have investment objectives and policies similar to those of a Fund. The Adviser may, from time to time, make recommendations that result in the purchase or sale of a particular security by its other clients simultaneously with a purchase or sale thereof by one or more Funds. If transactions on behalf of more than one client during the same period increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price or the quantity of securities available at a particular price. It is the policy of the Adviser to allocate advisory recommendations and the placing of orders in a manner that is deemed equitable by the Adviser to the accounts involved, including the Funds. When two or more of the clients of the Adviser (including a Fund) are purchasing or selling the same security on a given day through the same broker or dealer, such transactions may be averaged as to price.

The Adviser’s procedures are also designed to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise when the Adviser has a particular financial incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, relating to an account. The Adviser is conscious of these potential conflicts. When the Adviser is providing fiduciary services, the goal of the Adviser’s policies and procedures is to act in good faith and to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner over time, regardless of their strategy, fee arrangements or the influence of their owners or beneficiaries.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

The Adviser’s compensation program for portfolio managers is designed to align with clients’ interests, emphasizing each portfolio manager’s ability to generate long-term investment success for the Adviser’s clients, including the Funds. The Adviser also strives to ensure that compensation is competitive and effective in attracting and retaining the highest caliber employees.


Portfolio managers receive a base salary, incentive compensation and contributions to AllianceBernstein’s 401(k) plan. Part of the annual incentive compensation is generally paid in the form of a cash bonus, and part through an award under the firm’s Incentive Compensation Award Plan (ICAP). The ICAP awards vest over a four-year period. Deferred awards are paid in the form of restricted grants of the firm’s Master Limited Partnership Units, and award recipients have the ability to receive a portion of their awards in deferred cash. The amount of contributions to the 401(k) plan is determined at the sole discretion of the Adviser. On an annual basis, the Adviser endeavors to combine all of the foregoing elements into a total compensation package that considers industry compensation trends and is designed to retain its best talent.

The incentive portion of total compensation is determined by quantitative and qualitative factors. Quantitative factors, which are weighted more heavily, are driven by investment performance. Qualitative factors are driven by contributions to the investment process and client success.

The quantitative component includes measures of absolute, relative and riskadjusted investment performance. Relative and risk-adjusted returns are determined based on the benchmark in the Fund’s prospectus and versus peers over one-, three- and five-year calendar periods, with more weight given to longer-time periods. Peer groups are chosen by Chief Investment Officers, who consult with the product management team to identify products most similar to our investment style and most relevant within the asset class. Portfolio managers of the Funds do not receive any direct compensation based upon the investment returns of any individual client account, and compensation is not tied directly to the level or change in level of assets under management.

Among the qualitative components considered, the most important include thought leadership, collaboration with other investment colleagues, contributions to risk-adjusted returns of other portfolios in the firm, efforts in mentoring and building a strong talent pool and being a good corporate citizen. Other factors can play a role in determining portfolio managers’ compensation, such as the complexity of investment strategies managed, volume of assets managed and experience.

The Adviser emphasizes four behavioral competencies—relentlessness, ingenuity, team orientation and accountability—that support its mission to be the most trusted advisor to its clients. Assessments of investment professionals are formalized in a year-end review process that includes 360-degree feedback from other professionals from across the investment teams and the Adviser.

Asset-Based and Performance-Based Compensation:

With respect to the Select US Equity and Select US Long/Short, Mr. Feuerman and members of the investment team he leads (the “Investment Team”) were hired by the Adviser in 2011. At that time, the Adviser entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Feuerman under which a


compensation pool for Mr. Feuerman and members of the Investment Team was created based on specified percentages of the fees (both asset-based and performance-based fees) received by the Adviser from the accounts managed by the Investment Team. Performance fees are not assessed on the Fund or the assets of the Fund. In general, a larger percentage of the fees received by the Adviser is allocated to the compensation pool with respect to assets that were managed by Mr. Feuerman at his prior employer and that followed Mr. Feuerman to the Adviser than with respect to assets, such as the Fund, that were obtained or created after Mr. Feuerman joined the Adviser. The compensation pool is allocated among the members of the Investment Team based on the recommendations of Mr. Feuerman subject to approval by the Adviser’s Compensation Committee. This compensation represents a portion of the overall compensation received by members of the Investment Team.

(a) (4) The dollar range of the Fund’s equity securities owned directly or beneficially by the Fund’s portfolio managers as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 is set forth below:

 

     DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY
SECURITIES IN THE FUND

Gershon Distenfeld

   None

Matthew S. Sheridan

   None

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

There have been no purchases of equity securities by the Fund or by affiliated parties for the reporting period.

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 period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

The registrant did not engage in securities lending during its most recent fiscal year.

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.

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

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

13(a)(1)   Code of Ethics that is subject to the disclosure of Item 2 hereof
13(b)(1)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13(b)(2)   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13(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 Global High Income Fund, Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
Date: May 30, 2024

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/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
Date: May 30, 2024
By:  

/s/ Stephen M. Woetzel

  Stephen M. Woetzel
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 30, 2024

Exhibit 13(a)(1)

CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

 

I.

Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code

The AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund Complex’s code of ethics (this “Code”) for the investment companies within the complex (collectively, the “Funds” and each, a “Company”) applies to each Company’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Controller (the “Covered Officers,” each of whom is set forth in Exhibit A) for the purpose of promoting:

 

 

honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

 

full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Company;

 

 

compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

 

the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and

 

 

accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.

 

II.

Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the Company. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Company. For the purposes of this Code, members of the Covered Officer’s family include his or her spouse, children, stepchildren, financial dependents, parents and stepparents.

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Company and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Company because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Company. The Company’s and the investment adviser’s compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.


Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Company and the investment adviser of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Company or for the adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the adviser and the Company. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Company and the adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Company. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Company’s Board of Directors or Trustees (the “Directors”) that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more of the other Funds or of other investment companies covered by this or other codes.

Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Company.

Each Covered Officer must:

 

 

not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Company whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Company;

 

 

not cause the Company to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Company;

 

 

not use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for the Company to trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions;

 

2


There are some conflict of interest situations, whether involving a Covered Officer directly or a member of his family, that should always be discussed with the General Counsel of Alliance Capital Management L.P. (the “General Counsel”), if material. Examples of these include:

 

 

service as a director on the board of directors or trustees of any public or private company (other than a not-for-profit organization);

 

 

the receipt of any non-nominal gifts;

 

 

the receipt of any entertainment from any company with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety;

 

 

any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Company’s service providers, other than its investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or any affiliated person thereof;

 

 

a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Company for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or equity ownership.

 

III.

Disclosure and Compliance

 

 

Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements and disclosure controls and procedures generally applicable to the Company;

 

 

each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s directors and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

 

 

each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and the adviser with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds; and

 

3


 

it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

IV.

Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

 

 

upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the General Counsel that he has received, read, and understands the Code;

 

 

annually thereafter affirm to the General Counsel that he has complied with the requirements of the Code;

 

 

complete at least annually a questionnaire relating to affiliations or other relationships that may give rise to conflicts of interest;

 

 

not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the Company or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and

 

 

notify the General Counsel promptly if he knows of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code.

The General Counsel is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. However, waivers sought by a Covered Officer will be considered by the Company’s Audit Committee (the “Committee”).

The Company will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

 

 

the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him;

 

 

if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no material violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action;

 

 

any matter that the General Counsel believes is a material violation will be reported to the Committee;

 

 

if the Committee concurs that a material violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the Directors, who will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer;

 

 

the Committee will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and

 

 

any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

 

4


V.

Other Policies and Procedures

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Company for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Company, the Company’s adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, it is understood that this Code is in all respects separate and apart from, and operates independently of, any such policies and procedures. In particular, the Company’s and its investment adviser’s and principal underwriter's codes of ethics under Rule 17j-l under the Investment Company Act are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.

 

VI.

Amendments

Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Directors, including a majority of independent directors.

 

VII.

Confidentiality

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Directors, the investment adviser, their counsel, counsel to the Company and, if deemed appropriate by the Directors of the Company, to the Directors of the other Funds.

 

VIII. 

Internal  Use

The Code is intended solely for internal use by the Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any Company, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.

Date: July 22, 2003, as amended March 17, 2004

 

5


Exhibit A

Persons Covered by this Code of Ethics

Principal Executive Officer

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Controller

 

6

Exhibit 13(b)(1)

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Onur Erzan, President of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 30, 2024

 

/s/ Onur Erzan

Onur Erzan
President


Exhibit 13(b)(2)

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Stephen M. Woetzel, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 30, 2024

 

/s/ Stephen M. Woetzel

Stephen M. Woetzel
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 13(c)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, each of the undersigned, being the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies that the Registrant’s report on Form N-CSR for the period ended March 31, 2024 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: May 30, 2024

 

By:  

/s/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
By:  

/s/ Stephen M. Woetzel

  Stephen M. Woetzel
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


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AllianceBernstein Global... (NYSE:AWF)
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Von Jun 2023 bis Jun 2024 Click Here for more AllianceBernstein Global... Charts.