AB AllianceBernstein Holding LP

NEW YORK, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceBernstein L.P. ("AB") and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. ("AB Holding") (NYSE: AB) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

"After a challenging first two months of the year, both global markets and investor sentiment lifted in March," said Peter S. Kraus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While gross sales for the first quarter lagged the levels of a year ago, we experienced strong momentum in diverse areas like global high income, US investment grade and municipal bonds, and strategic core equities. At the same time, with redemptions still at or near multi-year lows, we had net inflows of $2.2 billion."

Kraus continued: "We've worked hard in the years since the Global Financial Crisis to build out and innovate in the regions, channels and services where we see the best growth prospects for our clients, and consistently improve upon AB's competitive positioning and financial strength. Today, we're seeing our efforts pay off in the improvement of our investment portfolios, the diversity of our offering, and the strength of our client relationships and financials. Navigating the volatility of the first quarter was challenging, but we maintained our long-term track records in both fixed income and equities. In fixed income, 84% of our assets were in outperforming services for the 3-year period through March, and in equities, we were at 82%. In addition, we were just named Small Cap Value Manager of the Year by Institutional Investor. Even in the toughest markets, we're being recognized for the performance and innovation of our products. Multi-asset is a good example. During the quarter, a major national consultant awarded our new retail multi-manager target-date fund and Collective Investment Trust (CIT) series with a buy rating. On the retail target-date fund side, our 11 fund vintages ranked 30th percentile on average for the quarter and 19th percentile for the 1-year, in each case beating the top three target-date providers in the category. Overseas, we were named the #1 Discretionary Investment Manager (DIM) in the multi-asset space in Taiwan and our Emerging Markets Multi-Asset (EMMA) Luxembourg-based fund was upgraded to five stars for the 3-year period. We're also gaining momentum in the private credit space. Our second Commercial Real Estate Debt fund just closed at $1.5 billion, exceeding our target by 50%. And our Private Wealth clients committed $200 million to our new energy fund, a solid raise given the volatility of oil prices during the quarter. The success of this and other targeted services is helping us to broaden and expand our client base. Finally, on the sell-side, by staying true to our differentiated research model and unconflicted trading platform, we continue to rank highly on annual independent industry surveys and to outpace peers in revenue growth."

Kraus concluded: "Across our businesses, we remain committed to investing for growth while keeping costs in check, and we delivered on this commitment in the first quarter of 2016, reducing our total adjusted operating expenses by 5% year-on-year. We remain relentless in pursuing our goal of expanding margins when revenue growth accelerates. In the meantime, we'll keep pushing forward on our mission to keep clients Ahead of Tomorrow with our products and our service."

The firm's cash distribution per unit of $0.40 is payable on May 19, 2016, to holders of record of AB Holding Units at the close of business on May 9, 2016.

Market Performance

US and global equity markets were mixed in the first quarter, while US and global fixed income markets were higher. The S&P 500's total return was 1.4% in the first quarter, while the MSCI EAFE Index's total return was (2.9)%. The Barclays US Aggregate Index returned 3.0% during the first quarter and the Barclays Global Aggregate ex US Index's total return was 8.3%.

Assets Under Management ($ Billions)

Total assets under management as of March 31, 2016 were $479.0 billion, up $11.6 billion, or 2.5%, from December 31, 2015, and down $6.9 billion, or 1.4%, from March 31, 2015.

Total net inflows were $2.2 billion, compared to the prior quarter's net outflows of $2.5 billion and the prior-year period's net inflows of $6.0 billion.

Net inflows to the Institutions channel were $1.8 billion, compared to net outflows of $0.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015. Institutions gross sales of $4.5 billion increased 5% from $4.3 billion in the prior quarter. The pipeline of awarded but unfunded Institutional mandates increased sequentially from $6.1 billion to $6.2 billion as of March 31, 2016.

The Retail channel experienced first quarter 2016 net outflows of $0.6 billion, compared to $1.5 billion of net outflows in the prior quarter. Retail gross sales of $7.7 billion decreased 5% from the fourth quarter's $8.1 billion.

In the Private Wealth channel, net inflows of $1.0 billion compared to net outflows of $0.1 billion in the prior quarter. Private Wealth gross sales increased 52% to $3.2 billion from the prior quarter's $2.1 billion.

First Quarter Financial Results

We are presenting both earnings information derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") and non-GAAP, adjusted earnings information in this release. Management principally uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating performance because they present a clearer picture of our operating performance, and allow management to see long-term trends without the distortion caused by long-term incentive compensation-related mark-to-market adjustments, real estate consolidation charges/credits and other adjustment items. Similarly, we believe that this non-GAAP earnings information helps investors better understand the underlying trends in our results and, accordingly, provides a valuable perspective for investors. AB Holding is required to distribute all of its Available Cash Flow, as defined in the AB Holding Partnership Agreement, to its Unitholders (including the General Partner). Since the third quarter of 2012, Available Cash Flow has been the adjusted diluted net income per unit for the quarter multiplied by the number of units outstanding at the end of the quarter. Management anticipates that Available Cash Flow will continue to be based on adjusted diluted net income per unit, unless management determines that one or more of the non-GAAP adjustments that are made for adjusted net income should not be made with respect to the Available Cash Flow calculation. These non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as substitutes for, any measures derived in accordance with US GAAP and they may not be comparable to non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. Management uses both US GAAP and non-GAAP measures in evaluating our financial performance. The non-GAAP measures alone may pose limitations because they do not include all of our revenues and expenses.

Non-GAAP Earnings

This section discusses our first quarter 2016 non-GAAP financial results, as compared to the first quarter of 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2015. The phrases "adjusted net revenues", "adjusted operating expenses", "adjusted operating income", "adjusted operating margin" and "adjusted diluted net income per Unit" are used in the following earnings discussion to identify non-GAAP information. The most directly comparable US GAAP items are reconciled to these non-GAAP items on pages 12-15 of this release.

Adjusted net revenues of $590 million were down 7% compared to the first quarter of 2015, due to lower advisory fees and higher net distribution expenses. Sequentially, adjusted net revenues were down 3%, driven by the same factors and partly offset by higher Bernstein Research revenues and lower investment losses. Bernstein Research revenues were essentially flat compared to the first quarter of 2015 and increased 7% from the fourth quarter of 2015 as a result of a volatility-driven increase in client activity in the US and Asia.

Adjusted operating expenses were $458 million for the first quarter, down 5% compared to the prior-year period, as total compensation and benefits, general and administrative ("G&A") and promotion and servicing expenses were all lower. The year-over-year decrease in total compensation and benefits expenses was a result of lower incentive compensation, commissions and fringes, partially offset by higher base compensation. Within G&A, the decrease was primarily due to lower other miscellaneous expenses. The decrease in promotion and servicing expenses was due to lower marketing and travel and entertainment expenses, partly offset by higher trade execution fees.

Sequentially, adjusted operating expenses were up 3%, driven by higher total compensation and benefits expenses, which were partly offset by lower promotion and servicing and G&A expenses. The sequential increase in total compensation and benefits expenses was driven by higher base and incentive compensation, partly offset by lower commissions, fringes and other employment costs. The sequential decrease in promotion and servicing expenses was driven by lower travel and entertainment expenses, partly offset by higher trade execution fees. Within G&A, the decrease was driven by lower professional fees.

Adjusted operating income of $132 million decreased 13% from $152 million for the first quarter of 2015, and the adjusted operating margin decreased to 22.4% from 23.9%. On a sequential basis, adjusted operating income decreased 19% from $162 million, and the adjusted operating margin decreased from 26.7%.

Adjusted diluted net income per Unit was $0.40 compared to $0.45 in the first quarter of 2015 and $0.50 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

US GAAP Earnings

Net revenues of $769 million were up 1% compared to the first quarter of 2015, largely the result of higher investment gains, partly offset by lower advisory fees and distribution revenues. During the quarter we recorded a realized gain of $75 million upon the close of the sale of our investment in Jasper Technologies, Inc. to Cisco Systems, Inc. Sequentially, net revenues increased 6% as a result of investment gains in the current quarter compared to investment losses in the previous period and higher Bernstein Research revenues, partly offset by lower advisory fees and distribution revenues.

Operating expenses were $596 million for the first quarter of 2016, down 2% year-over-year, due to lower total compensation and benefits, promotion and servicing and G&A expenses. Within employee compensation and benefits expenses, lower incentive compensation, commissions and fringes were partly offset by higher base compensation, reflecting higher severance costs. Promotion and servicing expenses decreased from the prior-year period due to lower distribution-related payments, travel and entertainment and marketing expenses and amortization of deferred sales commissions. Within G&A, the decrease was primarily due to lower other miscellaneous expenses. During the first quarter of 2016, we recorded a $27.6 million non-cash real estate charge, resulting from new charges of $28.5 million relating to the further consolidation of office space at our New York metro offices, offset by changes in estimates related to previously recorded real estate charges. This compares to a $0.4 million non-cash real estate credit in the first quarter of 2015.

On a sequential basis, operating expenses were up 7% as a result of higher total employee compensation and benefits expenses, partly offset by lower promotion and servicing and G&A expenses. Employee compensation and benefits expenses increased due to higher incentive compensation, commissions and fringes and base compensation, reflecting higher severance costs. Within promotion and servicing, lower distribution plan payments and travel and entertainment expense were partly offset by higher trade execution fees. Within G&A, the decrease was driven by lower professional fees. The $27.6 million non-cash real estate charge in the current quarter compares to a $0.2 million non-cash real estate credit in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Operating income of $173 million for the first quarter of 2016 increased 13% from $153 million for the first quarter of 2015 and increased 1% from $171 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Diluted net income per Unit for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.56 compared to $0.45 in the first quarter of 2015 and $0.53 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Headcount

As of March 31, 2016, we had 3,450 employees, compared to 3,486 employees as of March 31, 2015 and 3,600 employees as of December 31, 2015.

Unit Repurchases

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we purchased 1.9 million and 0.7 million AB Holding Units for $39.7 million and $17.0 million, respectively (on a trade date basis). These amounts reflect open-market purchases of 1.8 million and 0.6 million AB Holding Units for $38.1 million and $15.1 million, respectively, with the remainder relating to purchases of AB Holding Units from employees to allow them to fulfill statutory tax withholding requirements at the time of distribution of long-term incentive compensation awards.

First Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call Information

Management will review first quarter 2016 financial and operating results during a conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The conference call will be hosted by Peter S. Kraus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and John C. Weisenseel, Chief Financial Officer.

Parties may access the conference call by either webcast or telephone:

1. To listen by webcast, please visit AB's Investor Relations website at http://abglobal.com/corporate/investor-relations/home.htm at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
         
2. To listen by telephone, please dial (866) 556-2265 in the U.S. or (973) 935-8521 outside the U.S. 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. The conference ID# is 87493602.

The presentation that will be reviewed during the conference call will be available on AB's Investor Relations website shortly after the release of first quarter 2016 financial and operating results on April 28, 2016.

AB will be providing live updates via Twitter during the conference call. To access the tweets, follow AB on Twitter: @AB_insights. Also, in the future, AB may provide public disclosures to investors via Twitter and other appropriate internet-based social media.

A replay of the webcast will be made available beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference call and will be available on AB's website for one week.  An audio replay of the conference call will also be available for one week. To access the audio replay, please call (855) 859-2056 in the US, or (404) 537-3406 outside the US, and provide the conference ID #: 87493602.

Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements provided by management in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The most significant of these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of sponsored investment products and separately-managed accounts, general economic conditions, industry trends, future acquisitions, competitive conditions, and current and proposed government regulations, including changes in tax regulations and rates and the manner in which the earnings of publicly-traded partnerships are taxed. AB cautions readers to carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made; AB undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. For further information regarding these forward-looking statements and the factors that could cause actual results to differ, see "Risk Factors" and "Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in AB's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Any or all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release, Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, other documents AB files with or furnishes to the SEC, and any other public statements issued by AB, may turn out to be wrong. It is important to remember that other factors besides those listed in "Risk Factors" and "Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements", and those listed below, could also adversely affect AB's financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.

The forward-looking statements referred to in the preceding paragraph include statements regarding:

• The pipeline of new institutional mandates not yet funded: Before they are funded, institutional mandates do not represent legally binding commitments to fund and, accordingly, the possibility exists that not all mandates will be funded in the amounts and at the times currently anticipated.
• Our expectation that, as a result of vacating and marketing for sublease two floors in New York during the first quarter of 2016, and recording real estate charges totaling $28.5 million, approximately $3.7 million of annualized savings will be generated: Any charges we record are based on our current assumptions regarding sublease marketing periods, costs to prepare the properties to market, market rental rates, broker commissions and subtenant allowance/incentives, all of which are factors largely beyond our control. If our assumptions prove to be incorrect, we may be forced to record additional charges, which may result in annual savings different from our current expectation.
• The possibility that AB will engage in open market purchases of Holding Units to help fund anticipated obligations under our incentive compensation award program: The number of Holding Units AB may decide to buy in future periods, if any, to help fund incentive compensation awards is dependent upon various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the fluctuation in the price of a Holding Unit and the availability of cash to make these purchases.

Qualified Tax Notice

This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation §1.1446-4(b).  Please note that 100% of AB Holding's distributions to foreign investors is attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, AB Holding's distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable tax rate, currently 39.6%.

About AB

AB is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets.

As of March 31, 2016, AB Holding owned approximately 36.4% of the issued and outstanding AB Units and AXA, one of the largest global financial services organizations, owned an approximate 63.2% economic interest in AB.

Additional information about AB may be found on our website, www.abglobal.com.