AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

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: 811-10573

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL 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)

 

 

Joseph J. Mantineo

AllianceBernstein L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

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

Date of fiscal year end: October 31, 2014

Date of reporting period: October 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 


ANNUAL REPORT

 

AllianceBernstein

National Municipal Income Fund

(NYSE: AFB)

 

 

 

LOGO

 

October 31, 2014

 

Annual Report

 


 

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 AllianceBernstein’s website at www.alliancebernstein.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein at (800) 227-4618.

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

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

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


December 12, 2014

 

Annual Report

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund (the “Fund”) for the annual reporting period ended October 31, 2014. The Fund is a closed-end fund and its shares are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Investment Objectives and Policies

The Fund seeks to provide high current income exempt from regular federal income tax by investing substantially all of its net assets in municipal securities that pay interest that is exempt from federal income tax. The Fund will normally invest at least 80%, and normally substantially all, of its net assets in municipal securities paying interest that is exempt from regular federal income tax. The Fund also normally will invest at least 75% of its assets in investment-grade municipal securities or unrated municipal securities considered to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in municipal bonds rated below investment-grade and unrated municipal bonds considered to be of comparable quality as determined by AllianceBernstein L.P., (the “Adviser”). The Fund intends to invest primarily in municipal securities that pay interest that is not subject to the federal Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”), but may invest without limit in municipal securities paying interest that is subject to the federal AMT. For more information regarding the Fund’s risks, please see “Disclosures and Risk” on pages 4-5 and “Note G—Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund” of the Notes to Financial Statements on pages 30-33.

Investment Results

The table on page 6 provides performance data for the Fund and its benchmark, the Barclays Municipal Bond Index, for the six- and 12-month periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Fund outperformed the benchmark for both periods. For the six-month period, security selection in the education, special tax and state general obligation sectors contributed most to relative performance, as did an underweight in the state general obligation sector. An underweight in the health care sector and overweight in the special tax sector detracted from performance, as did security selection in the pre-refunded sector. For the 12-month period, security selection in the education, transportation and state general obligation sectors contributed to performance, as did an underweight in the state general obligation sector. An overweight in the special tax and underweight in health care detracted, as did security selection in the special tax and prerefunded sectors.

Leverage, achieved through the usage of both auction rate preferred stock and tender option bonds (“TOBs”), benefited the Fund’s total return and income over both the six- and 12-month periods. The Fund did not use derivatives during either period.

Market Review and Investment Strategy

Limited supply and continued demand supported municipal bond prices over the six- and 12-month periods ended October 31, 2014. As a result municipal issues outperformed most other

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       1   


bond sectors. According to estimates by the Municipal Bond Investment Team (the “Team”) municipal yields declined between 0.10% and 0.50% over the six-month period and between 0.35% and roughly 1% over the 12-month period. During both periods, the yields for long-maturity bonds declined more than yields for shorter-maturity bonds and municipal bonds generally outperformed Treasury bonds. In the last few months of the reporting period, volatility increased in the markets in response to multiple factors: stronger U.S. economic growth prompted concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) might raise interest rates sooner than expected; faltering economic growth overseas; and strife in the Middle East and Ukraine also heightened uncertainty.

The Team also targeted medium-grade, primarily BBB credit quality* bonds, as an attractive part of the market to overweight. This strategy has allowed the Fund to capture historically high yields relative to AAA bonds. In addition, the Team expects the yield spread (the amount by which a bond’s yield exceeds the yield of AAA-rated bonds) of such bonds to fall (improving prices) when the Fed begins to increase rates.

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are insured under policies issued by certain insurance companies. Historically, insured municipal securities

typically received a higher credit rating, which meant that the issuer of the securities paid a lower interest rate. As a result of declines in the credit quality and associated downgrades of most fund insurers, insurance has less value than it did in the past. The market now values insured municipal securities primarily based on the credit quality of the issuer of the security with little value given to the insurance feature. In purchasing such insured securities, the Adviser evaluates the risk and return of municipal securities through its own research. If an insurance company’s rating is downgraded or the company becomes insolvent, the prices of municipal securities insured by the insurance company may decline. As of October 31, 2014, the Fund’s percentages of investments in municipal bonds that are insured and in insured municipal bonds that have been pre-refunded or escrowed to maturity are 10.53% and 1.30%, respectively.

Since February 2008, auctions of the Preferred Shares have had fewer buyers than sellers and, as a result, the auctions have “failed”. The failed auctions did not lower the credit quality of the Preferred Shares, but rather meant that a holder was unable to sell the Preferred Shares in the auctions, so that there was a loss of liquidity for the holders of the Preferred Shares. When an auction fails, the Preferred Shares pay interest at a formula-based maximum rate based on AA-commercial paper and short-term municipal bond

 

*   A measure of the quality and safety of a bond or portfolio, based on the issuer’s financial condition and not of the Fund itself. AAA is highest (best) and D is lowest (worst). Investment grade securities are those rated BBB and above. Ratings are subject to change. If applicable, the pre-refunded category includes bonds which are secured by U.S. Government Securities and therefore have been deemed high-quality investment grade by the Adviser.

 

2     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND


rates. In the extremely low short-term interest rate environment of recent years, the interest rates resulting from such formula have been much lower than the returns on the Fund’s investments and the cost of alternative forms of leverage available to the Fund. However, to the extent that the cost of this leverage increases in the future and earnings from the Fund’s investments do not increase, the Fund’s net investment returns may decline. The

Team continues to explore, and discuss with the Board of Directors, other liquidity and leverage options, including TOBs, which it has used in the past; this may result in Preferred Shares being redeemed in the future. The Fund is not required to redeem any Preferred Shares, and the Team expects to continue to rely on the Preferred Shares for a portion of the Fund’s leverage exposure.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       3   


DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

AllianceBernstein National Municipal 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 NAVs and market price information, and additional information regarding the Fund, is available at www.alliancebernstein.com and www.nyse.com. For additional shareholder information regarding this Fund, please see page 48.

Benchmark Disclosure

The unmanaged Barclays Municipal Bond Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a fund portfolio. The Barclays Municipal Bond Index represents the performance of the long-term tax-exempt bond market consisting of investment grade bonds. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance for any specific investment, including the Fund. In addition, the Index does not reflect the use of leverage, whereas the Fund utilizes leverage.

A Word About Risk

Among the risks of investing in the Fund are changes in the general level of interest rates or changes in bond credit quality ratings. Changes in interest rates have a greater effect on bonds with longer maturities than on those with shorter maturities. Please note, as interest rates rise, existing bond prices fall and can cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decline. While the Fund invests principally in bonds and other fixed-income securities, in order to achieve its investment objectives, the Fund may at times use certain types of investment derivatives, such as options, futures, forwards and swaps. These instruments involve risks different from, and in certain cases, greater than, the risks presented by more traditional investments. At the discretion of the Fund’s Adviser, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in municipal bonds that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”). These securities involve greater volatility and risk than higher-quality fixed-income securities.

Leverage Risks: The Fund uses financial leverage for investment purposes, which involves leverage risk. The Fund’s outstanding Auction Rate Preferred Stock results in leverage. The Fund may also use other types of financial leverage, including TOBs, either in combination with, or in lieu of, the Auction Preferred Stock. The Fund utilizes leverage to seek to enhance the yield and net asset value attributable to its Common Stock. These objectives may not be achieved in all interest rate environments. Leverage creates certain risks for holders of Common Stock, including the likelihood of greater volatility of the net asset value and market price of the Common Stock. If income from the securities purchased from the funds made available by leverage is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be less than if leverage had not been used. As a result, the amounts available for distribution to Common Stockholders as dividends and other distributions will be reduced. During periods of rising short-term interest rates, the interest paid on the Auction Rate Preferred Stock or the floaters issued in connection with the Fund’s TOB transactions would increase. In addition, the interest paid on inverse floaters held by the Fund, whether issued in connection with the Fund’s TOB transactions or purchased in a secondary market transaction, would decrease. Under such circumstances, the Fund’s income and distributions to Common Stockholders may decline, which would adversely affect the Fund’s yield and possibly the market value of its shares.

Tax Risk: There is no guarantee that all of the Fund’s income will remain exempt from federal or state income taxes. From time to time, the U.S. Government and the U.S. Congress consider changes in federal tax law that could limit or eliminate the federal tax exemption for municipal bond income, which would in effect reduce the net income received by shareholders from the Fund by increasing taxes on that

 

(Disclosures, Risks and Note about Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

4     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Disclosures and Risks


DISCLOSURES AND RISKS

(continued from previous page)

 

income. In such event, the Fund’s NAV, could also decline as yields on municipal bonds, which are typically lower than those on taxable bonds, would be expected to increase to approximately the yield of comparable bonds.

Market Risk: The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the bond market fluctuates. The value of the Fund’s investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events that affect large portions of the market.

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. 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. Investments in fixed income securities with lower ratings tend to have a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations.

Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of investments in fixed income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates, which are expected to increase in the near future. Interest rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations.

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.

Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk occurs when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling less liquid securities may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of liquidity risk may include low trading volumes and large positions. Municipal securities may have more liquidity risk than other fixed-income securities because they trade less frequently and the market for municipal securities is generally smaller than many other markets.

Derivatives Risk: Investments in derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and may be subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.

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.

These risks are fully discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

An Important Note About Historical Performance

The performance on the following page 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.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       5   

Disclosures and Risks


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

 

        
THE FUND VS. ITS BENCHMARK
PERIODS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2014 (unaudited)
  Returns      
  6 Months        12 Months       
AllianceBernstein
National Municipal Income Fund (NAV)
    7.36%           14.98%     

 

Barclays Municipal Bond Index     3.59%           7.82%     

 

The Fund’s market price per share on October 31, 2014, was $14.04. The Fund’s NAV price per share on October 31, 2014, was $14.79. For additional Financial Highlights, please see page 34.

 

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.

        

 

 

See Disclosures, Risks and Note about Historical Performance on pages 4-5.

 

6     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Historical Performance


PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

October 31, 2014 (unaudited)

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): $425.1

 

LOGO

 

*   All data are as of October 31, 2014. The Fund’s quality rating breakdown is expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s total investments in municipal securities and may vary over time. The quality ratings are determined by using the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.(“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Ltd.(“Fitch”). The Portfolio considers the credit ratings issued by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch and uses the highest rating issued by the agencies. These ratings are a measure of the quality and safety of a bond or portfolio, based on the issuer’s financial condition. AAA is the highest (best) and D is the lowest (worst). If applicable, the pre-refunded category includes bonds which are secured by US Government Securities and therefore are deemed high-quality investment grade by the Adviser. If applicable, Not Applicable (N/A) includes non credit worthy investments; such as, equities, currency contracts, futures and options. If applicable, the Not Rated category includes bonds that are not rated by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization. The Adviser evaluates the creditworthiness of non-rated securities based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, cash flows, enterprise value and economic environment.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       7   

Portfolio Summary


PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

October 31, 2014

 

     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS – 165.1%

    

Long-Term Municipal Bonds – 165.1%

    

Alabama – 1.9%

    

Alabama Public School & College Authority
Series 2009A
5.00%, 5/01/19 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

   $ 3,000      $ 3,525,480   

County of Jefferson AL
(County of Jefferson AL Sch Warrants)
Series 2004A
5.25%, 1/01/18-1/01/23

     3,100        3,149,538   

Montgomery BMC Special Care Facilities Financing Authority
(Baptist Health/Montgomery AL)
Series 2004C
5.125%, 11/15/24

     1,500        1,502,085   
    

 

 

 
       8,177,103   
    

 

 

 

Alaska – 0.5%

    

Alaska International Airports System
NATL Series 2003B
5.00%, 10/01/26

     2,000        2,006,240   
    

 

 

 

Arizona – 1.2%

    

Salt Verde Financial Corp.
(Citibank, NA)
Series 2007
5.25%, 12/01/23

     2,665        3,187,207   

Salt Verde Financial Corp.
(Citigroup, Inc.)
Series 2007
5.25%, 12/01/22

     1,485        1,762,710   
    

 

 

 
       4,949,917   
    

 

 

 

California – 25.9%

    

Bay Area Toll Authority
Series 2013S
5.00%, 4/01/32

     5,720        6,568,791   

California Econ Recovery
Series 2009A
5.25%, 7/01/21

     4,860        5,717,207   

California Pollution Control Financing Authority
(Poseidon Resources Channelside LP)
Series 2012
5.00%, 7/01/37-11/21/45(a)

     7,370        7,889,621   

City of Chula Vista CA
(San Diego Gas & Electric Co.)
Series 1996A
5.30%, 7/01/21

     4,000        4,084,880   

 

8     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

City of Los Angeles Department of Airports
(Los Angeles Intl Airport)
Series 2009A
5.25%, 5/15/29

   $ 5,700      $ 6,673,161   

County of San Bernardino CA COP
Series 2009A
5.25%, 8/01/26

     1,455        1,579,781   

Grossmont-Cuyamaca CCD CA GO AGC
5.00%, 8/01/22-8/01/23(b)

     4,480        5,127,487   

Los Angeles Community College District/CA
Series 2008F-1
5.00%, 8/01/28

     5,800        6,555,624   

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Series 2013B
5.00%, 7/01/34

     1,770        2,065,926   

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power PWR
Series 2013A
5.00%, 7/01/30

     6,255        7,331,548   

Series 2013B
5.00%, 7/01/30

     10,000        11,815,100   

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power WTR
Series 2013B
5.00%, 7/01/32

     3,840        4,501,325   

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority
5.00%, 3/01/32-3/01/34(b)

     11,340        13,285,299   

State of California
Series 2003
5.00%, 2/01/32-2/01/33

     265        265,983   

Series 2013
5.00%, 11/01/30

     5,800        6,787,740   

University of California
Series 2012G
5.00%, 5/15/31

     7,000        8,162,630   

Series 2013A
5.00%, 5/15/30-5/15/32

     9,855        11,615,917   
    

 

 

 
       110,028,020   
    

 

 

 

Colorado – 5.6%

    

Anthem West Metropolitan District
Series 2005
6.125%, 12/01/25

     1,000        968,370   

City & County of Denver CO Airport System Revenue
(Denver Intl Airport)
Series 2013B
5.25%, 11/15/31

     6,680        7,884,070   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       9   

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Colorado Health Facilities Authority
(Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Obligated Group)
Series 2006
5.25%, 6/01/19-6/01/23

   $ 2,425      $ 2,573,571   

Denver Urban Renewal Authority
(Stapleton Development Corp.)
Series 2010B-1
5.00%, 12/01/25

     6,865        7,175,229   

Park Creek Metropolitan District
Series 2005
5.25%, 12/01/25

     3,000        3,098,820   

5.50%, 12/01/30

     890        916,264   

Todd Creek Village Metropolitan District No 1
Series 2004
6.125%, 12/01/19(c)

     1,180        590,000   

Todd Creek Village Metropolitan District No 1 COP
Series 2006
6.125%, 12/01/22(c)(d)

     1,970        492,500   
    

 

 

 
       23,698,824   
    

 

 

 

Connecticut – 8.5%

    

State of Connecticut
Series 2013C
5.00%, 7/15/27

     7,165        8,482,930   

Series 2013E
5.00%, 8/15/29

     4,800        5,649,264   

State of Connecticut Special Tax Revenue
Series 2011A
5.00%, 12/01/28

     5,000        5,819,700   

Series 2012
5.00%, 1/01/29

     13,855        16,162,135   
    

 

 

 
       36,114,029   
    

 

 

 

District of Columbia – 1.4%

    

District of Columbia
Series 2013A
5.00%, 6/01/29

     5,000        5,858,000   
    

 

 

 

Florida – 6.8%

    

City of Orlando FL
Series 2014A
5.00%, 11/01/44

     7,720        8,654,738   

5.25%, 11/01/33

     5,620        6,621,877   

Florida HomeLoan Corp.
(Trust Lake Park Ltd.)
AGM Series 2002-D1
5.40%, 3/01/42

     8,780        8,784,478   

 

10     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Florida Ports Financing Commission
Series 2011A
5.00%, 10/01/25-10/01/27

   $ 4,205      $ 4,908,106   
    

 

 

 
       28,969,199   
    

 

 

 

Georgia – 1.3%

    

City of Atlanta Department of Aviation
(Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Intl Airport)
Series 2014B
5.00%, 1/01/31-1/01/32

     4,675        5,408,937   
    

 

 

 

Hawaii – 1.3%

    

State of Hawaii Airports System Revenue
Series 2010A
5.00%, 7/01/34

     5,000        5,552,150   
    

 

 

 

Illinois – 9.9%

    

Chicago O’Hare International Airport
XLCA Series 2003B-1
5.25%, 1/01/34

     4,860        4,875,601   

Cook County High School District No 29 Proviso Township
AGM Series 2004
5.00%, 12/01/20

     2,000        2,142,260   

Illinois Finance Authority
(Illinois Institute of Technology)
Series 2006A
5.00%, 4/01/31

     1,250        1,254,650   

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Series 2013A
5.00%, 1/01/31-1/01/32

     10,145        11,425,185   

State of Illinois
Series 2014
5.00%, 5/01/35

     5,565        5,991,669   

Univ of Illinois
AGM
5.25%, 10/01/26(b)

     10,800        12,114,468   

Village of Gilberts IL
Series 2005
6.00%, 3/01/15 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     2,511        2,604,836   

Village of Manhattan IL
(Village of Manhattan IL SSA No 2004-1)
Series 2005
5.875%, 3/01/28

     1,651        1,670,267   
    

 

 

 
       42,078,936   
    

 

 

 

Kentucky – 1.4%

    

Kentucky Turnpike Authority
(Kentucky Turnpike Authority State Lease)
Series 2013A
5.00%, 7/01/29

     5,000        5,907,550   
    

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       11   

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Louisiana – 3.9%

    

City of New Orleans LA
NATL Series 2005
5.00%, 3/01/18-12/01/29

   $ 4,985      $ 5,103,606   

5.25%, 12/01/20

     1,000        1,045,210   

RADIAN Series 2007A
5.00%, 12/01/22

     5,875        6,390,237   

Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority
Series 2007
5.25%, 9/15/17

     3,430        3,643,415   

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities & Community Development Auth
(Parish of Jefferson LA)
Series 2009A
5.00%, 4/01/26

     535        580,908   
    

 

 

 
       16,763,376   
    

 

 

 

Massachusetts – 6.6%

    

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency
(Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, Inc.)
Series 2013E
5.00%, 11/01/38

     5,000        5,635,750   

Massachusetts School Building Authority
Series 2011B
5.00%, 10/15/32

     13,000        15,059,980   

Series 2012B
5.00%, 8/15/28-8/15/30

     6,345        7,462,322   
    

 

 

 
       28,158,052   
    

 

 

 

Michigan – 8.4%

    

Detroit City School District
Series 2012A
5.00%, 5/01/26-5/01/27

     6,045        6,687,991   

Michigan Finance Authority
(City of Detroit MI Water Supply System Revenue)
AGM Series 2014D1
5.00%, 7/01/35

     1,250        1,371,288   

Michigan Finance Authority
(Public Lighting Authority)
Series 2014B
5.00%, 7/01/34

     2,250        2,415,577   

Michigan Strategic Fund
(Detroit Renewable Energy Obligated Group)
Series 2013
8.50%, 12/01/30(a)

     4,000        4,103,560   

Plymouth Educational Center Charter School
Series 2005
5.125%, 11/01/23

     2,140        1,952,921   

 

12     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Wayne State University
Series 2009A
5.00%, 11/15/29

   $ 16,500      $ 19,087,365   
    

 

 

 
       35,618,702   
    

 

 

 

Minnesota – 1.1%

    

Minneapolis-St Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission
Series 2014A
5.00%, 1/01/31-1/01/33

     4,200        4,825,380   
    

 

 

 

Mississippi – 0.9%

    

City of Gulfport MS
(Memorial Hospital at Gulfport/MS)
Series 2001A
5.75%, 7/01/31

     4,000        4,009,640   
    

 

 

 

Missouri – 1.3%

    

City of Kansas City MO
(City of Kansas City MO Lease)
Series 2008C
5.00%, 4/01/28

     2,000        2,212,560   

Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission
Series 2014A
5.00%, 1/01/32-1/01/34

     3,050        3,495,452   
    

 

 

 
       5,708,012   
    

 

 

 

New Jersey – 5.4%

    

New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Series 2005O
5.25%, 3/01/15 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     500        508,325   

Series 2014U
5.00%, 6/15/30-6/15/34

     7,500        8,265,550   

New Jersey Economic Development Authority
(NYNJ Link Borrower LLC)
Series 2013
5.125%, 1/01/34

     1,000        1,091,900   

New Jersey State Turnpike Authority
Series 2012B
5.00%, 1/01/29

     6,500        7,459,400   

Series 2013A
5.00%, 1/01/31

     5,000        5,719,750   
    

 

 

 
       23,044,925   
    

 

 

 

New York – 27.0%

    

City of New York NY
Series 2004G
5.00%, 12/01/23

     845        847,907   

Series 2006J
5.00%, 6/01/16 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     1,155        1,239,326   

5.00%, 6/01/22

     5        5,352   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       13   

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Series 2010E
5.00%, 8/01/28

   $ 1,690      $ 1,930,048   

Series 2012B
5.00%, 8/01/30

     5,070        5,863,962   

Series 2012I
5.00%, 8/01/28

     8,780        10,221,413   

Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Series 2012D
5.00%, 11/15/29

     4,000        4,678,840   

Series 2012F
5.00%, 11/15/27

     1,575        1,856,011   

Series 2013A
5.00%, 11/15/29

     1,830        2,112,515   

Series 2013C
5.00%, 11/15/32

     1,000        1,142,220   

Series 2014B
5.25%, 11/15/34

     4,000        4,672,400   

Series 2014C
5.00%, 11/15/32

     1,000        1,149,650   

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured Revenue
Series 2007B
5.00%, 11/01/24

     7,025        7,739,653   

New York City Water & Sewer System
Series 2011HH
5.00%, 6/15/26

     5,000        5,887,200   

Series 2013D
5.00%, 6/15/34

     3,600        4,145,652   

New York St Dormitory Auth
(New York St Pers Income Tax)
5.00%, 3/15/26(b)

     7,000        7,851,410   

New York St Envrn Fac Corp.
(New York NY Mun Wtr Fin Auth)
5.00%, 6/15/24-6/15/27(b)

     7,000        7,942,550   

New York State Dormitory Authority
(State of New York Pers Income Tax)
Series 2012B
5.00%, 3/15/32

     7,600        8,710,436   

Series 2012D
5.00%, 2/15/29

     8,000        9,271,040   

New York State Environmental Facilities Corp.
(New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority)
Series 2011
5.00%, 6/15/27

     5,000        5,846,850   

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Series 20131
5.00%, 12/01/32

     4,400        5,004,384   

 

14     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Series 20141
5.00%, 10/15/44

   $ 8,000      $ 8,858,560   

Ulster County Industrial Development Agency
(Kingston Regional Senior Living Corp.)
Series 2007A
6.00%, 9/15/27

     1,775        1,699,758   

Utility Debt Securitization Authority
Series 2013T
5.00%, 12/15/30

     5,000        5,972,250   
    

 

 

 
       114,649,387   
    

 

 

 

North Carolina – 3.5%

    

City of Charlotte NC Airport Revenue
(Charlotte Douglas Intl Airport)
NATL Series 2004A
5.25%, 7/01/24

     2,895        2,895,405   

County of Iredell NC COP
AGM Series 2008
5.25%, 6/01/22

     1,080        1,225,584   

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Series 2014
5.00%, 4/01/31-4/01/33

     9,210        10,770,314   
    

 

 

 
       14,891,303   
    

 

 

 

Ohio – 2.3%

    

Columbiana County Port Authority
(Apex Environmental LLC)
Series 2004
10.635%, 8/01/25

     117        90,591   

Series 2004A
7.125%, 8/01/25(c)

     1,840        1,447,804   

Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
(FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation LLC)
Series 2006
3.625%, 12/01/33

     795        820,718   

Series 2008C
3.95%, 11/01/32

     5,800        6,079,908   

Summit County Development Finance Authority
Series 2012
5.00%, 12/01/25

     1,000        1,133,220   
    

 

 

 
       9,572,241   
    

 

 

 

Oregon – 2.6%

    

City of Forest Grove OR
(Pacific University)
RADIAN Series 2005A
5.00%, 5/01/28

     4,760        4,846,013   

Oregon State Lottery
Series 2011A
5.25%, 4/01/25

     5,000        5,998,950   
    

 

 

 
       10,844,963   
    

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       15   

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Pennsylvania – 3.6%

    

Allegheny County Industrial Development Authority
(Residential Resources, Inc./PA)
Series 2006
5.00%, 9/01/21

   $ 500      $ 508,420   

Delaware River Port Authority
Series 2012
5.00%, 1/01/26

     1,700        1,931,115   

Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority/PA
(New Regional Medical Center, Inc.)
Series 2010
5.25%, 8/01/33

     3,480        3,917,158   

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Series 2014A
5.00%, 12/01/31-12/01/33

     6,355        7,310,616   

Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (LLPCS Foundation)
Series 2005A
5.25%, 7/01/24(c)

     1,150        761,357   

Wilkes-Barre Finance Authority
(Wilkes University)
Series 2007
5.00%, 3/01/22

     990        1,039,510   
    

 

 

 
       15,468,176   
    

 

 

 

Rhode Island – 1.4%

    

Rhode Island Health & Educational Building Corp.
(Times2, Inc.)
Series 2004
5.00%, 12/15/24

     5,845        5,876,621   
    

 

 

 

South Carolina – 2.2%

    

Charleston Educational Excellence Finance Corp.
Series 2005
5.25%, 12/01/15 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     2,000        2,108,560   

Dorchester County School District No 2
(Dorchester County School District No 2 Lease)
AGC Series 2006
5.00%, 12/01/29

     1,600        1,729,552   

Newberry Investing IN Children’s Education
AGC Series 2005
5.00%, 12/01/15 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     5,450        5,728,222   
    

 

 

 
       9,566,334   
    

 

 

 

Tennessee – 0.6%

    

Sullivan County Health Educational & Housing Facilities Board
Series 2006C
5.00%, 9/01/16 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     1,760        1,906,168   

 

16     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Sullivan County Health Educational & Housing Facilities Board
(Wellmont Health System)
Series 2006C
5.25%, 9/01/26

   $ 725      $ 769,087   
    

 

 

 
       2,675,255   
    

 

 

 

Texas – 21.9%

    

Alvin Independent School District/TX
Series 2009B
5.00%, 2/15/28

     960        1,053,898   

Arlington Higher Education Finance Corp.
(Lifeschool of Dallas)
Series 2014A
5.00%, 8/15/39

     4,805        5,452,570   

Bexar County Health Facilities Development Corp.
(Army Retirement Residence Obligated Group)
Series 2007
5.00%, 7/01/27

     455        469,574   

City of Austin TX Water & Wastewater System Revenue
Series 2013A
5.00%, 11/15/28-11/15/29

     8,075        9,433,672   

City of Frisco TX
NATL Series 2006
5.00%, 2/15/16 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     3,220        3,413,715   

City of Houston TX Combined Utility System Revenue
Series 2011D
5.00%, 11/15/25-11/15/26

     8,500        9,953,870   

City of Lewisville TX
(City of Lewisville TX Spl Assmt Dist No 2)
ACA Series 2005
6.00%, 10/01/25

     1,100        1,128,633   

Dallas Independent School District
Series 2008
6.00%, 2/15/18 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     2,500        2,926,800   

Dripping Springs Independent School District/TX
Series 2008
5.125%, 2/15/17 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     5,715        6,322,504   

Fort Bend Independent School District
Series 2009
5.00%, 2/15/27

     7,560        8,851,550   

State of Texas
Series 2005A
5.00%, 4/01/15 (Pre-refunded/ETM)

     7,815        7,970,909   

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.
(NTE Mobility Partners LLC)
Series 2009
6.875%, 12/31/39

     1,720        2,026,177   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       17   

Portfolio of Investments


     Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  

 

 
    

Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.
(NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC)
Series 2013
6.75%, 6/30/43

   $ 3,000      $ 3,615,420   

Texas Trnsp Comm
5.00%, 4/01/23(b)

     20,600        22,651,966   

University of Texas System (The)
Series 2009A
5.25%, 8/15/22

     6,825        7,861,922   
    

 

 

 
       93,133,180   
    

 

 

 

Virginia – 1.5%

    

Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board
Series 2012
5.00%, 5/15/28

     5,340        6,246,839   
    

 

 

 

Washington – 3.9%

    

Energy Northwest
(Bonneville Power Administration)
Series 2011A
5.00%, 7/01/23

     5,250        6,226,762   

FYI Properties
(FYI Properties WA State Lease)
Series 2009
5.00%, 6/01/27

     3,885        4,332,358   

5.125%, 6/01/28

     5,200        5,814,848   
    

 

 

 
       16,373,968   
    

 

 

 

Wisconsin – 1.3%

    

State of Wisconsin
Series 20033
5.00%, 11/01/26

     1,465        1,467,945   

Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority
NATL Series 2002A
5.60%, 5/01/33

     3,975        3,977,862   
    

 

 

 
       5,445,807   
    

 

 

 

Total Investments – 165.1%
(cost $653,705,432)

       701,621,066   

Other assets less liabilities – (8.1)%

       (34,316,591

Preferred Shares at liquidation value – (57.0)%

       (242,225,000
    

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders – 100.0%(e)

     $ 425,079,475   
    

 

 

 

 

18     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments


(a)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At October 31, 2014, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $11,993,181 or 2.8% of net assets.

 

(b)   Security represents the underlying municipal obligation of an inverse floating rate obligation held by the Fund (see Note H).

 

(c)   Illiquid security.

 

(d)   Security is in default and is non-income producing.

 

(e)   Portfolio percentages are calculated based on net assets applicable to common shareholders.

As of October 31, 2014, the Fund’s percentages of investments in municipal bonds that are insured and in insured municipal bonds that have been pre-refunded or escrowed to maturity are 10.53% and 1.30%, respectively.

Glossary:

ACA – ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

AGC Assured Guaranty Corporation

AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal

BMC Baptist Medical Center

CCD Community College District

COP Certificate of Participation

ETM – Escrowed to Maturity

GO – General Obligation

NATL National Interstate Corporation

RADIAN Radian Asset Assurance Inc.

SSA Special Services Area

XLCA XL Capital Assurance Inc.

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       19   

Portfolio of Investments


STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

October 31, 2014

 

Assets   

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $653,705,432)

   $ 701,621,066   

Interest receivable

     9,908,439   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     711,529,505   
  

 

 

 
Liabilities   

Due to custodian

     861,382   

Payable for floating rate notes issued*

     42,770,000   

Advisory fee payable

     312,245   

Dividends payable—preferred shares

     1,261   

Accrued expenses

     280,142   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     44,225,030   
  

 

 

 
Preferred Shares, at Liquidation Value   

Preferred shares, $.001 par value per share; 11,400 shares authorized, 9,689 shares issued and outstanding at $25,000 per share liquidation preference

     242,225,000   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

   $ 425,079,475   
  

 

 

 
Composition of Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders   

Common stock, $.001 par value per share; 1,999,988,600 shares authorized, 28,744,936 shares issued and outstanding

   $ 28,745   

Additional paid-in capital

     407,503,931   

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (1,261

Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions

     (30,367,574

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     47,915,634   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

   $     425,079,475   
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Applicable to Common Shareholders (based on 28,744,936 common shares outstanding)

   $ 14.79   
  

 

 

 

 

*   Represents short-term floating rate certificates issued by tender option bond trusts (see Note H).

See notes to financial statements.

 

20     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Statement of Assets & Liabilities


STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended October 31, 2014

 

Investment Income      

Interest

   $     29,243,654      

Dividends—Affiliated issuers

     4,473       $     29,248,127   
  

 

 

    
Expenses      

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     3,566,758      

Preferred Shares-auction agent’s fees

     147,703      

Custodian

     148,429      

Audit and tax

     64,666      

Printing

     62,019      

Directors’ fees and expenses

     58,724      

Legal

     46,682      

Registration fees

     25,499      

Transfer agency

     15,033      

Miscellaneous

     93,911      
  

 

 

    

Total expenses before interest
expense and fees

     4,229,424      

Interest expense and fees

     535,986      
  

 

 

    

Total expenses

        4,765,410   
     

 

 

 

Net investment income

        24,482,717   
     

 

 

 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions      

Net realized loss on investment transactions

        (5,436,080

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

        36,650,304   
     

 

 

 

Net gain on investment transactions

        31,214,224   
     

 

 

 
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders from      

Net investment income

        (246,310
     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

      $ 55,450,631   
     

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       21   

Statement of Operations


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

 

     Year Ended
October 31,
2014
    Year Ended
October 31,
2013
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations     

Net investment income

   $ 24,482,717      $ 23,504,169   

Net realized loss on investment transactions

     (5,436,080     (10,905,598

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     36,650,304        (29,716,026
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders from     

Net investment income

     (246,310     (443,251
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations

     55,450,631        (17,560,706
Dividends to Common Shareholders from     

Net investment income

     (24,426,514     (25,670,210

Return of capital

     (719,556     – 0 –   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to
common shareholders

     (25,146,070     (25,670,210
Common Stock Transactions     

Reinvestment of dividends resulting in the issuance of common stock

     – 0  –      256,765   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     30,304,561        (42,974,151
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders     

Beginning of period

     394,774,914        437,749,065   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period (including distributions in excess of net investment income of ($1,261) and undistributed net investment income of $188,846, respectively)

   $     425,079,475      $     394,774,914   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

22     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Statement of Changes in Net Assets


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2014

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in the State of Maryland on November 9, 2001 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 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 following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.

1. Security Valuation

Portfolio securities are valued at their current market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

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, AllianceBernstein L.P. (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 is used; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less. If the original term to maturity exceeded 60 days, the securities are valued by a pricing service, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued by using amortized cost as of the 61st day prior to maturity. 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,

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       23   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Investment companies are valued at their net asset value each day.

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

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 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

 

24     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3. In addition, non-agency rated investments are classified as Level 3.

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

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

 

Investments in

Securities:

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

       

Long-Term Municipal Bonds

  $ – 0  –    $ 686,063,390      $ 15,557,676      $ 701,621,066   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

    – 0  –      686,063,390        15,557,676        701,621,066   

Other Financial Instruments*

    – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total^

  $     – 0  –    $     686,063,390      $     15,557,676      $     701,621,066   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument.

 

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

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

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

     Long-Term
Municipal Bonds
    Total  

Balance as of 10/31/13

  $ 23,128,578      $ 23,128,578   

Accrued discounts/(premiums)

    (17,819     (17,819

Realized gain (loss)

    (4,236,270     (4,236,270

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

    2,225,634        2,225,634   

Purchases

    116,611        116,611   

Sales

    (5,659,058     (5,659,058

Transfers in to Level 3

    – 0 –      – 0 – 

Transfers out of Level 3

    – 0 –      – 0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 10/31/14

  $     15,557,676      $     15,557,676   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from Investments held as of 10/31/14*

  $ 958,682      $ 958,682   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments in the accompanying statement of operations.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       25   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

As of October 31, 2014 all Level 3 securities were priced by third party vendors.

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

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

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

3. Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required.

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.

 

26     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

4. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

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

5. 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.

NOTE B

Advisory, Administrative Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of an investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s average daily net assets applicable to common and preferred shareholders. Such fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

Under the terms of the 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 October 31, 2014, there was no reimbursement paid to ABIS.

The Fund may invest in the AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc.—Government STIF Portfolio (“Government STIF Portfolio”), an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser. The Government STIF Portfolio is offered as a cash management option to mutual funds and other institutional accounts of the Adviser, and is not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The Government STIF Portfolio pays no investment management fees but does bear its own expenses. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in shares of the Government STIF Portfolio for the year ended October 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Market Value

October 31, 2013

(000)

  Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
October 31, 2014
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 
$    4,862   $     114,138      $     119,000      $     – 0  –    $     4   

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       27   

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

NOTE C

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended October 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding
U.S. government securities)

   $     172,022,415      $     168,914,115   

U.S. government securities

     – 0  –      – 0  – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation (excluding short-term investment) are as follows:

 

Cost

   $      611,224,475   
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 51,145,670   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (3,654,649
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $     47,491,021   
  

 

 

 

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 Fund did not engage in derivatives transactions for the year ended October 31, 2014.

NOTE D

Common Stock

There are 28,744,936 shares of common stock outstanding at October 31, 2014. During the year ended October 31, 2014, the Fund did not issue any shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. During the year ended October 31, 2013, the Fund issued 16,791 shares in connection with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

NOTE E

Preferred Shares

The Fund has 11,400 shares authorized and 9,689 shares issued and outstanding of auction preferred stock (the “Preferred Shares”), consisting of 2,677 shares each of Series M, Series W and Series TH, and also 1,658 shares of Series T. The Preferred Shares have a liquidation value of $25,000 per share plus accumulated, unpaid dividends. The dividend rate on the Preferred Shares may change every 7 days as set by the auction agent for series M, T, W and TH. Due to the recent failed auctions, the dividend rate is the “maximum rate” set by the terms of the Preferred Shares, which is based on AA commercial paper rates and short-term

 

28     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


 

 

municipal bond rates. The dividend rate on series M is 0.08% effective through November 3, 2014, series T is 0.08% effective through November 4, 2014, series W is 0.08% effective through November 5, 2014 and series TH is 0.08% effective through November 6, 2014.

At certain times, the Preferred Shares are redeemable by the Fund, in whole or in part, at $25,000 per share plus accumulated, unpaid dividends. The Fund voluntarily may redeem the Preferred Shares in certain circumstances.

The Fund is not required to redeem any of its Preferred Shares and expects to continue to rely on the Preferred Shares for a portion of its leverage exposure. The Fund may also pursue other liquidity solutions for the Preferred Shares.

The preferred shareholders, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors in the event two years’ dividends on the Preferred Shares are unpaid. In each case, the remaining directors will be elected by the common shareholders and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class. The preferred shareholders will vote as a separate class on certain other matters as required under the Fund’s Charter, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Maryland law, and management regularly evaluates, and discusses with the Fund’s Board of Directors, the costs and potential benefits of alternative sources of leverage for the Fund.

NOTE F

Distributions to Common Shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and October 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

     2014     2013  

Distributions paid from:

    

Ordinary income

   $ 8,476      $ 7,944   

Tax-exempt income

     24,418,038        25,662,266   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions paid

     24,426,514        25,670,210   

Tax return of capital

     719,556        – 0  – 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 25,146,070      $ 25,670,210   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2014, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Accumulated capital and other losses

   $ (29,967,087 )(a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     47,515,147 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 17,548,060   
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   

On October 31, 2014, the Fund had a net capital loss carry forward of $29,967,087.

 

(b)   

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax treatment of tender option bonds.

 

(c)   

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable primarily to dividends payable.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       29   

Notes to Financial Statements


For tax purposes, net capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an indefinite period. These post-enactment capital losses must be utilized prior to the pre-enactment capital losses, which are subject to expiration. Post-enactment capital loss carryforwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered short-term as under previous regulation.

As of October 31, 2014, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $29,967,087 which will expire as follows:

 

Short-Term
Amount

 

Long-Term
Amount

 

Expiration

$ 979,235   n/a   2017
5,292,453   n/a   2018
4,345,107   n/a   2019
6,469,345   $12,880,947   no expiration

During the current fiscal year, there were no permanent differences that resulted in adjustments to distributions in excess of net investment income, accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions, or additional paid-in capital.

NOTE G

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income debt securities such as bonds or notes. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty to a derivative contract, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. Credit risk is greater for medium quality and lower-rated securities. Lower-rated debt securities and similar unrated securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) have speculative elements or are predominantly speculative risks.

Municipal Market Risk—This is the risk that special factors may adversely affect the value of municipal securities and have a significant effect on the yield or value of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities. These factors include economic conditions, political or legislative changes, uncertainties related to the tax status of municipal securities, or the rights of investors in these securities. To the extent that the Fund invests more of its assets in a particular state’s municipal securities, the Fund may be vulnerable to events adversely affecting that state, including economic, political and regulatory occurrences, court decisions, terrorism and catastrophic natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. The Fund’s investments in certain municipal securities with principal and interest payments that are made from the revenues of a specific project or facility, and not general tax

 

30     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


revenues, may have increased risks. Factors affecting the project or facility, such as local business or economic conditions, could have a significant effect on the project’s ability to make payments of principal and interest on these securities.

Derivatives Risk—The Fund may enter into derivative transactions such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. Derivatives may result in significant losses, including losses that are far greater than the value of the derivatives reflected in the statement of assets and liabilities.

Financing and Related Transactions; Leverage and Other Risk —The Fund utilizes leverage to seek to enhance the yield and net asset value attributable to its common stock. These objectives may not be achieved in all interest rate environments. Leverage creates certain risks for holders of common stock, including the likelihood of greater volatility of the net asset value and market price of the common stock. If income from the securities purchased from the funds made available by leverage is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be less than if leverage had not been used. As a result, the amounts available for distribution to common stockholders as dividends and other distributions will be reduced. During periods of rising short-term interest rates, the interest paid on the Preferred Shares or floaters in tender option bond transactions would increase, which may adversely affect the Fund’s income and distribution to common stockholders. A decline in distributions would adversely affect the Fund’s yield and possibly the market value of its shares. If rising short-term rates coincide with a period of rising long-term rates, the value of the long-term municipal bonds purchased with the proceeds of leverage would decline, adversely affecting the net asset value attributable to the Fund’s common stock and possibly the market value of the shares.

The Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares results in leverage. The Fund may also use other types of financial leverage, including tender option bond transactions, either in combination with, or in lieu of, the Preferred Shares. In a tender option bond transaction, the Fund may transfer a highly rated fixed-rate municipal security to a broker, which, in turn, deposits the bond into a special purpose vehicle (typically, a trust) usually sponsored by the broker. The Fund receives cash and a residual interest security (sometimes referred to as an “inverse floater”) issued by the trust in return. The trust simultaneously issues securities, which pay an interest rate that is reset each week based on an index of high-grade short-term seven-day demand notes. These securities, sometimes referred to as “floaters”, are bought by third parties, including tax-exempt money market funds, and can be tendered by these holders to a liquidity provider at par, unless certain events occur. The Fund continues to earn all the interest from the transferred bond less the amount of interest paid on the floaters and the expenses of the trust, which include payments to the trustee

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       31   

Notes to Financial Statements


and the liquidity provider and organizational costs. The Fund also uses the cash received from the transaction for investment purposes or to retire other forms of leverage. Under certain circumstances, the trust may be terminated and collapsed, either by the Fund or upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a downgrade in the credit quality of the underlying bond, or in the event holders of the floaters tender their securities to the liquidity provider. See Note H to the financial statements for more information about tender option bond transactions.

The Fund may also purchase inverse floaters from a tender option bond trust in a secondary market transaction without first owning the underlying bond. The income received from an inverse floater varies inversely with the short-term interest rate paid on the floaters issued by the trust. The prices of inverse floaters are subject to greater volatility than the prices of fixed-income securities that are not inverse floaters. Investments in inverse floaters may amplify the risks of leverage. If short-term interest rates rise, the interest payable on the floaters would increase and income from the inverse floaters decrease, resulting in decreased amounts of income available for distribution to common stockholders.

The use of derivative instruments by the Fund, such as forwards, futures, options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage.

Duration Risk—Duration is the 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. For example, a fixed-income security with a duration of three years will decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%.

Liquidity Risk—Liquidity risk occurs when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling less liquid securities may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of liquidity risk may include low trading volumes and large positions. Municipal securities may have more liquidity risk than other fixed-income securities because they trade less frequently and the market for municipal securities is generally smaller than many other markets.

Tax Risk—There is no guarantee that all of the Fund’s income will remain exempt from federal or state income taxes. From time to time, the U.S. Government and the U.S. Congress consider changes in federal tax law that could limit or eliminate the federal tax exemption for municipal bond income, which would in effect reduce the income received by shareholders from the Fund by increasing taxes on that income. In such event, the Fund’s NAV could also decline as yields on municipal bonds, which are typically lower than those on taxable bonds, would be expected to increase to approximately the yield of comparable taxable bonds.

 

32     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Notes to Financial Statements


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.

NOTE H

Floating Rate Notes Issued in Connection with Securities Held

The Fund may engage in tender option bond transactions in which the Fund may transfer a fixed rate bond (“Fixed Rate Bond”) to a broker for cash. The broker deposits the Fixed Rate Bond into a Special Purpose Vehicle (the “SPV”, which is generally organized as a trust), organized by the broker. The Fund buys a residual interest in the assets and cash flows of the SPV, often referred to as an inverse floating rate obligation (“Inverse Floater”). The SPV also issues floating rate notes (“Floating Rate Notes”) which are sold to third parties. The Floating Rate Notes pay interest at rates that generally reset weekly and their holders have the option to tender their notes to a liquidity provider for redemption at par. The Inverse Floater held by the Fund gives the Fund the right (1) to cause the holders of the Floating Rate Notes to tender their notes at par, and (2) to have the trustee transfer the Fixed Rate Bond held by the SPV to the Fund, thereby collapsing the SPV. The SPV may also be collapsed in certain other circumstances. In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities, the Fund accounts for the transaction described above as a secured borrowing by including the Fixed Rate Bond in its portfolio of investments and the Floating Rate Notes as a liability under the caption “Payable for floating rate notes issued” in its statement of assets and liabilities. Interest expense related to the Fund’s liability with respect to Floating Rate Notes is recorded as incurred. The interest expense is also included in the Fund’s expense ratio. At October 31, 2014, the amount of the Fund’s Floating Rate Notes outstanding was $42,770,000 and the related interest rate was 0.06% to 0.17%.

The Fund may also purchase Inverse Floaters in the secondary market without first owning the underlying bond. Such an Inverse Floater is included in the Fund’s portfolio of investments but is not required to be treated as a secured borrowing and reflected in the Fund’s financial statements as a secured borrowing. For the year ended October 31, 2014, the Fund did not engage in such transactions.

NOTE I

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.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       33   

Notes to Financial Statements


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

 

    Year Ended October 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $  13.73        $  15.24        $  14.26        $  14.44        $  13.68   
 

 

 

 

Income From Investment Operations

         

Net investment income(a)

    .85        .82        .95        1.04        1.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    1.09        (1.42     .98        (.26     .65   

Dividends to preferred shareholders from net investment income (common stock equivalent basis)

    (.01     (.02     (.02     (.03     (.03
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    1.93        (.62     1.91        .75        1.69   
 

 

 

 

Less: Dividends to Common Shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (.84     (.89     (.93     (.93     (.93

Return of capital

    (.03     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to common shareholders

    (.87     (.89     (.93     (.93     (.93
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $  14.79        $  13.73        $  15.24        $  14.26        $  14.44   
 

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

    $  14.04        $  12.95        $  16.16        $  13.92        $  14.38   
 

 

 

 

Premium/(Discount), end of period

    (5.07 )%      (5.68 )%      6.04  %      (2.38 )%      (.42 )% 

Total Return

         

Total investment return based on:(b)

         

Market value

    15.72  %      (14.62 )%      23.57  %      3.82  %      12.99  % 

Net asset value

    14.98  %      (4.01 )%      13.76  %      5.91  %      12.80  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period
(000’s omitted)

    $425,079        $394,775        $437,749        $409,195        $414,474   

Preferred Shares, at liquidation value ($25,000 per share)
(000’s omitted)

    $242,225        $242,225        $242,225        $242,225        $242,225   

Ratio to average net assets applicable to common shareholders of:

         

Expenses, net of waivers(c)(d)

    1.17  %      1.11  %      1.10  %      1.13  %      1.13  % 

Expenses, before waivers(c)(d)

    1.17  %      1.11  %      1.10  %      1.13  %      1.13  % 

Net investment income, before Preferred Shares dividends(c)

    6.03  %      5.63  %      6.42  %      7.63  %      7.65  % 

Preferred Shares dividends

    .06  %      .11  %      .14  %      .20  %      .24  % 

Net investment income, net of Preferred Shares dividends

    5.97  %      5.52  %      6.28  %      7.43  %      7.41  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

    26  %      41  %      28  %      10  %      7  % 

Asset coverage ratio

    275  %      263  %      281  %      269  %      271  % 

See footnote summary on page 35.

 

34     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Financial Highlights


(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   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 in periods where there is an increase in the discount or a decrease in the premium of the 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.

 

(c)   These expense and net investment income ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to preferred shareholders.

 

(d)   The expense ratios presented below exclude interest expense:

 

     Year Ended October 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net of waivers

     1.04     1.02     1.00     1.04     1.03

Before waivers

     1.04     1.02     1.00     1.04     1.03

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       35   

Financial Highlights


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of AllianceBernstein

National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of October 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets applicable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and others, or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc. at October 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets applicable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

December 29, 2014

 

36     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


2014 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 October 31, 2014.

The Fund designates $24,664,263 as exempt-interest dividends for the year ended October 31, 2014.

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 2015.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       37   


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(unaudited)

Shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names can elect to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which dividends and capital gain distributions to shareholders will be paid in or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (the “Dividend Shares”). Computershare Trust Company NA, (the “Agent”) will act as agent for participants under the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether or how they may participate in the Plan.

If the Board declares an income distribution or determines to make a capital gain distribution payable either in shares or in cash, 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 dividend or 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 dividend or 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 dividend or 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 will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Agent’s open market purchases of shares.

 

38     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Additional Information


The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any income taxes that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on dividends and 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 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 Station, TX 77842-3170.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       39   

Additional Information


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.,(1) Chairman

John H. Dobkin(1)

Michael J. Downey(1)

William H. Foulk, Jr.,(1)

D. James Guzy(1)

  

Nancy P. Jacklin(1)

Robert M. Keith, President and Chief Executive Officer

Garry L. Moody(1)

Earl D. Weiner(1)

OFFICERS

Philip L. Kirstein,
Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer

Robert “Guy” B. Davidson III,(2)

Senior Vice President

Douglas J. Peebles,
Senior Vice President

Michael G. Brooks,(2) Vice President

  

Fred S. Cohen,(2) Vice President

Terrance T. Hults,(2) Vice President

Emilie D. Wrapp, Secretary

Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Phyllis J. Clarke, Controller

Vincent S. Noto, Chief Compliance Officer

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Corporation CCB/5

1 Iron Street

Boston, MA 02210

 

Legal Counsel

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

 

Preferred Shares:

Dividend Paying Agent,

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The Bank of New York

101 Barclay Street - 7W

New York, NY 10286

 

Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

5 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

 

Common Stock:

Dividend Paying Agent,

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 30170

College Station, TX 77842-3170

 

(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 Municipal Bond Investment Team. The investment professionals with the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are: Michael G. Brooks, Fred S. Cohen, Robert “Guy” B. Davidson III and Terrance T. Hults.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase at market prices from time-to-time shares of its Common Stock in the open market.

This report, including the financial statements therein, is transmitted to the shareholders of AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund for their information. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in the report.

Annual Certifications—As required, on April 30, 2014, 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 period.

 

40     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Board of Directors


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Board of Directors Information

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

 

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

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
INTERESTED DIRECTOR      

Robert M. Keith, #

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

54

(2010)

  Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the head of AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”) since July 2008; Director of ABI and President of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. Previously, he served as Executive Managing Director of ABI from December 2006 to June 2008. Prior to joining ABI in 2006, Executive Managing Director of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, and prior thereto, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Client Service and Sales of the Adviser’s institutional investment management business since 2004. Prior thereto, he was Managing Director and Head of North American Client Service and Sales in the Adviser’s institutional investment management business, with which he had been associated since prior to 2004.     117      None

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       41   

Management of the Fund


 

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

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS    

Chairman of the Board

Marshall C. Turner, Jr., ##

73

(2005)

  Private Investor since prior to 2009. Former CEO of Dupont Photomasks, Inc. (components of semi-conductor manufacturing), 2003-2006, and interim CEO 1999-2000. He has extensive operating and early-stage investment experience, including prior service as general partner of three institutional venture capital partnerships, and serves on the boards of three education and science-related non-profit organizations. He has served as a director of one AllianceBernstein fund since 1992, and director or trustee of multiple AllianceBernstein funds since 2005. He has been Chairman of the AllianceBernstein Funds since January 2014, and the Chairman of the Independent Directors Committees of such Funds since February 2014.     117      Xilinx, Inc. (programmable logic semi-conductors) and SunEdison, Inc. (semi-conductor substrates, solar materials and solar power plants) since prior to 2009 until July 2014
     

John H. Dobkin, ##

72

(2001)

  Independent Consultant since prior to 2009. Formerly, President of Save Venice, Inc. (preservation organization) from 2001–2002; Senior Advisor from June 1999-June 2000 and President of Historic Hudson Valley (historic preservation) from December 1989-May 1999. Previously, Director of the National Academy of Design. He has served as a director or trustee of various AllianceBernstein Funds since 1992, and as Chairman of the Audit Committees of a number of such Funds from 2001-2008.     117      None

 

42     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

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

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Michael J. Downey, ##

70

(2005)

  Private Investor since prior to 2009. Formerly, managing partner of Lexington Capital, LLC (investment advisory firm) from December 1997 until December 2003. 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 AllianceBernstein Funds since 2005 and is a director and Chairman of one other registered investment company.     117      Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. (registered investment company) since prior to 2009, Prospect Acquisition Corp. (financial services) from 2007 until 2009, and The Merger Fund (registered investment company) since prior to 2009 until 2013
     

William H. Foulk, Jr., ##

82

(2001)

  Investment Adviser and an Independent Consultant since prior to 2009. Previously, he was Senior Manager of Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser. He was formerly Deputy Comptroller and Chief Investment Officer of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings. He has served as a director or trustee of various AllianceBernstein Funds since 1983, and was Chairman of the Independent Directors Committees of the AllianceBernstein Funds from 2003 until early February 2014. He served as Chairman of such Funds from 2003 through December 2013. He is also active in a number of mutual fund related organizations and committees.     117      None

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       43   

Management of the Fund


 

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

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

D. James Guzy, ##

78

(2005)

  Chairman of the Board of SRC Computers, Inc. (semi-conductors), with which he has been associated since prior to 2009. He served as Chairman of the Board of PLX Technology (semi-conductors) since prior to 2009 until November 2013. He was a director of Intel Corporation (semi-conductors) from 1969 until 2008, and served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of such company for several years until May 2008. He has served as a director or trustee of one or more of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 1982.     117      PLX Technology (semi-conductors) since prior to 2009 until November 2013 and Cirrus Logic Corporation (semi-conductors) since prior to 2009 until July 2011
     

Nancy P. Jacklin, ##

66

(2006)

  Professorial Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies since 2008. Formerly, 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 AllianceBernstein Funds since 2006 and has been Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the Funds since August 2014.     117      None

 

44     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

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

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***

  PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR
    OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

(continued)

   

Garry L. Moody, ##

62

(2008)

  Independent Consultant. 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); 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 is a member of both the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC), an organization of independent directors of mutual funds, and the Trustee Advisory Board of BoardIQ, a biweekly publication focused on issues and news affecting directors of mutual funds. He has served as a director or trustee, and as Chairman of the Audit Committees, of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2008.     117      None
     

Earl D. Weiner, ##

75

(2007)

  Of Counsel, and Partner prior to January 2007, of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and is a former member of the ABA Federal Regulation of Securities Committee Task Force to draft editions of the Fund Director’s Guidebook. He also serves as a director or trustee of various non-profit organizations and has served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of a number of them. He has served as a director or trustee of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2007 and served as Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committees of the AllianceBernstein Funds from 2007 until August 2014.     117      None

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       45   

Management of the Fund


 

 

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

 

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

 

***   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 led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director for the Fund.

 

#   Mr. Keith is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, due to his position as a Senior Vice President of the Adviser.

 

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

 

46     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Management of the Fund


 

Officer Information

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

 

NAME, ADDRESS*

AND AGE

  

POSITION(S)

HELD WITH FUND

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION

DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

Robert M. Keith
54
   President and Chief Executive Officer    See biography above.
     
Philip L. Kirstein
69
   Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer of the AllianceBernstein Funds, with which he has been associated since October 2004. Prior thereto, he was Of Counsel to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP from October 2003 to October 2004, and General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. since prior to March 2003.
     
Robert “Guy” B. Davidson III
53
   Senior Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Douglas J. Peebles
49
   Senior Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Michael G. Brooks
66
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Fred S. Cohen
56
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Terrance T. Hults
48
   Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Emilie D. Wrapp
58
   Secretary    Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI,** with which she has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Joseph J. Mantineo
55
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”),** with which he has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Phyllis J. Clarke
53
   Controller    Vice President of ABIS,** with which she has been associated since prior to 2009.
     
Vincent S. Noto
50
   Chief Compliance Officer    Vice President and Mutual Fund Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser** since 2014. Prior thereto, he was Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Compliance of the Adviser** since 2009.

 

*   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.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       47   

Management of the Fund


SUMMARY OF GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Shareholder Information

The Fund’s NYSE trading symbol is “AFB”. Weekly comparative net asset value (NAV) and market price information about the Fund is published each Monday in The Wall Street Journal and each Saturday in Barron’s and other newspapers in a table called “Closed-End Bond Funds.” Daily net asset value and market price information, and additional information regarding the Fund, is available at www.alliancebernstein.com.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan, shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names may elect to have all distributions reinvested automatically in additional shares of the Fund by ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A., as agent under the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of the broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee for details. All Distributions to investors who elect not to participate in the Plan will be paid by check mailed directly to the record holder by or under the direction of ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A.

For questions concerning shareholder account information, or if you would like a brochure describing the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, please call Computershare Trust Company at (800) 219-4218.

 

 

48     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Summary of General Information


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

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

US Equity

US Core

Core Opportunities Fund

Select US Equity Portfolio

US Growth

Concentrated Growth Fund

Discovery Growth Fund

Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

US Value

Discovery Value Fund

Equity Income Fund

Growth & Income Fund

Value Fund

International/Global Equity

International/Global Core

Global Equity & Covered Call Strategy Fund

Global Thematic Growth Fund

International Portfolio

Tax-Managed International Portfolio

International/Global Growth

International Growth Fund

International/Global Value

International Value Fund

Fixed Income

Municipal

High Income Municipal Portfolio

Intermediate California Portfolio

Intermediate Diversified Portfolio

Intermediate New York Portfolio

Municipal Bond Inflation Strategy

Tax-Aware Fixed Income Portfolio

National Portfolio

Arizona Portfolio

California Portfolio

Massachusetts Portfolio

Michigan Portfolio

Minnesota Portfolio

New Jersey Portfolio

New York Portfolio

Ohio Portfolio

Pennsylvania Portfolio

Virginia Portfolio

Taxable

Bond Inflation Strategy

Global Bond Fund

Fixed Income (continued)

Taxable

High Income Fund

High Yield Portfolio

Intermediate Bond Portfolio

Limited Duration High Income Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

Alternatives

All Market Real Return Portfolio*

Credit Long/Short Portfolio

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Long/Short Multi-Manager Fund

Market Neutral Strategy-U.S.

Multi-Manager Alternative Strategies Fund

Select US Long/Short Portfolio

Unconstrained Bond Fund

Multi-Asset

All Market Growth Portfolio*

Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Portfolio

Global Risk Allocation Fund

Retirement Strategies

2000 Retirement Strategy

2005 Retirement Strategy

2010 Retirement Strategy

2015 Retirement Strategy

2020 Retirement Strategy

2025 Retirement Strategy

2030 Retirement Strategy

2035 Retirement Strategy

2040 Retirement Strategy

2045 Retirement Strategy

2050 Retirement Strategy

2055 Retirement Strategy

Wealth Strategies

Balanced Wealth Strategy

Conservative Wealth Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Tax-Managed Balanced Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Conservative Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Closed-End Funds

Alliance California Municipal Income Fund

Alliance New York Municipal Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Multi-Manager Alternative Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund

 

We also offer Exchange Reserves, which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AllianceBernstein mutual funds. An investment in Exchange Reserves is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

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.alliancebernstein.com or contact your AllianceBernstein investments representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

* Prior to December 15, 2014, All Market Growth Portfolio was named Dynamic All Market Fund; All Market Real Return Portfolio was named Real Asset Strategy.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       49   

AllianceBernstein Family of Funds


NOTES

 

 

50     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND


NOTES

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND       51   


NOTES

 

 

52     ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND


Privacy Notice (This information is not part of the Shareholder Report.)

AllianceBernstein L.P., the AllianceBernstein Family of Funds and AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (collectively, “AllianceBernstein” or “we”) understand the importance of maintaining the confidentiality 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 may collect information about clients from sources, including: (1) account documentation, including applications or other forms, which may contain information such as a client’s name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income, and other household information, (2) clients’ transactions with us and others, such as 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.”

It is our policy not to disclose nonpublic personal information about our clients (or former clients) except to our affiliates, or to others as permitted or required by law. From time to time, AllianceBernstein may disclose nonpublic personal information that we collect about our clients (or former clients), as described above, to non-affiliated third parties, including those that perform processing or servicing functions and those that provide marketing services for us or on our behalf under a joint marketing agreement that requires the third party provider to adhere to AllianceBernstein’s privacy policy. We have policies and procedures to safeguard nonpublic personal information about our clients (and former clients) that include restricting access to such nonpublic personal information and maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards, that comply with applicable standards, to safeguard such nonpublic personal information.


ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800.221.5672

 

LOGO

 

 

ABNMIF-0151-1014   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 and William H. Foulk, Jr. qualify as audit committee financial experts.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) - (c) The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm 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 which issue press releases), and preferred stock maintenance testing (for those Funds that issue preferred stock); and (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation.

 

         

Audit Fees

     Audit-Related
Fees
     Tax Fees  

AB National Muni Income

  2013    $  32,500       $  10,000       $ 12,967   
  2014    $ 39,988       $ 8,000       $  13,467   

 

(d) Not applicable.

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

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

(f) Not applicable.


(g) The following table sets forth the aggregate non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Fund’s Adviser and entities that control, are controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund:

 

           

All Fees for

Non-Audit Services

Provided to the

Portfolio, the Adviser

and Service Affiliates

     Pre-approved by the
Audit Committee
(Portion Comprised of
Audit Related Fees)

(Portion Comprised of
Tax Fees)
 

AB National Muni Income

    2013       $ 344,478       $ 22,967   
        $  (10,000
        $  (12,967
    2014       $  432,122       $ 21,467   
        $ (8,000
        $  (13,467

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

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

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:

 

Garry L. Moody    D. James Guzy

John H. Dobkin

Michael J. Downey

William H. Foulk, Jr.

  

Nancy P. Jacklin

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.

Earl D. Weiner

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

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

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


Statement of Policies and Procedures for

Proxy Voting

 

1. Introduction

As an investment adviser, we are shareholder advocates and have a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions that are in our clients’ best interests by maximizing the value of their shares. Proxy voting is an integral part of this process, through which we support strong corporate governance structures, shareholder rights, and transparency.

We have an obligation to vote proxies in a timely manner and we apply the principles in this policy to our proxy decisions. We believe a company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices may have a significant effect on the value of the company, and we take these factors into consideration when voting. For additional information regarding our ESG policies and practices, please refer to our firm’s Statement of Policy Regarding Responsible Investment (“RI Policy”).

This Proxy Voting Policy (“Proxy Voting Policy” or “Policy”), which outlines our policies for proxy voting and includes a wide range of issues that often appear on proxies, applies to all of AllianceBernstein’s investment management subsidiaries and investment services groups investing on behalf of clients 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 (“Proxy Managers”), in order to ensure that our proxy voting policies and procedures are implemented consistently.

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.

 

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 and, in turn, may result in the Proxy Manager making different voting decisions on the same proposal. Nevertheless, the Proxy Manager votes proxies with the goal of maximizing the value of the securities in client portfolios.

In addition to our firm-wide proxy voting policies, we have a Proxy Committee, which provides oversight and includes senior investment professionals from Equities, Legal personnel and Operations personnel. It is the responsibility of the Proxy Committee to evaluate and maintain proxy voting procedures and guidelines, to evaluate proposals and issues not covered by these guidelines, to consider changes in policy, and to review the Proxy Voting Policy no less frequently than annually. In addition, the Proxy Committee meets as necessary to address special situations.

Research Services

We subscribe to the corporate governance and proxy research services of Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). All our investment professionals can access these materials via the Proxy Manager and/or Proxy Committee.

Engagement

In evaluating proxy issues and determining our votes, we welcome and seek out the points of view of various parties. Internally, the Proxy Manager may consult the Proxy Committee, Chief Investment Officers, Directors of Research, and/or Research Analysts across our equities platforms, and Portfolio Managers in whose managed accounts a stock is held. Externally, the Proxy Manager may engage with company management, company directors, interest groups, shareholder activists, other shareholders and research providers.


3. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Our proxy voting guidelines are principles-based rather than rules-based. We adhere to a core set of principles that are described in this Proxy Voting Policy. We assess each proxy proposal in light of these principles. Our proxy voting “litmus test” will always be 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 the 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 the guidelines if warranted by the specific facts and circumstances of the situation (i.e., if, under the circumstances, we believe that deviating from our stated policy is necessary to help maximize long-term shareholder value). In addition, these guidelines are not intended to address all issues that may appear on all proxy ballots. Proposals not specifically addressed by these guidelines, whether submitted by management or shareholders, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, always keeping in mind our fiduciary duty to make voting decisions that, by maximizing long-term shareholder value, are in our clients’ best interests.

4. Board and Director Proposals

 

5.        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, we generally vote against.

Other changes in a company’s charter, articles of incorporation or by-laws are usually technical or administrative in nature. Absent a compelling reason to the contrary, we will support such proposals. However, we may oppose proposals that would permit management to establish the size of the board outside a specified range without shareholder approval.

 

6.      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 oppose the adoption of classified boards unless there is a justifiable financial reason or an adequate sunset provision exists. However, where a classified board already exists, we will not oppose directors who sit on such boards for that reason. We will vote against directors that fail to implement shareholder approved proposals to declassify boards.


7.      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 indemnification for gross negligence.

 

8.      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.

 

9.      Election of Directors

     For               

We generally vote in favor of the management-proposed slate of directors. However, we may not do so if we determine that there are compelling reasons to oppose directors (see below) or there is a proxy contest for seats on the board.

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, such as failure to implement proposals to declassify boards, failure to implement a majority vote requirement, failure to submit a rights plan to a shareholder vote and failure to act on tender offers where a majority of shareholders have tendered their shares (provided we supported, or would have supported, the original proposal). In addition, we oppose directors who fail to attend at least 75% of board meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse. Also, we may consider the number of boards on which a director sits and/or their length of service on a particular board. Finally, 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 believe companies should have a majority of independent directors and independent key committees. However, we will consider local market regulation as part of our decision. We will generally regard a director as independent if the director satisfies the criteria for independence (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 generally vote against directors who, during the previous fiscal year, failed to act on a majority supported shareholder proposal or engaged in what we believe to be a poor governance practice. We may also consider engaging company management (by phone, in writing and in person), until any issues have been satisfactorily resolved.

We may vote against directors for poor compensation practices. In our view, poor compensation practices include, for example, permitting option re-pricing without prior shareholder approval, providing continuous perquisites to an executive officer and his or her dependents after the officer is no longer employed by the company, adjusting performance-based diminished payouts with supplemental cash payments, eliminating performance goals for executive officers and crediting additional years of service to current executives for the purpose of enhancing the executive’s pension benefit. However, because we do not believe that permitting executive officers to receive dividends on unearned performance shares is a poor compensation practice, we will not oppose directors who permit this practice.


We consider the election of directors who are “bundled” on a single slate on a case-by-case basis considering the amount of information available and an assessment of the group’s qualifications.

 

a. Controlled Company Exemption

     Case-by-case                

Companies where more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, need not comply with the requirement to have a majority of independent directors and independent key committees. Conversely, we will vote against directors for failure to adhere to such independence standards where shareholders with a majority voting interest have a minority economic interest.

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. 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.

 

10.    Establish Additional Board Committees (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 issues.

 

11.    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 positions of chairman and CEO are not separated. We view the existence of an independent lead director as a good example of the sufficient counter-balancing governance. If a company has an independent lead director in place, we will generally oppose a proposal to separate the positions of chairman and CEO.

 

12.    Limit Term of Directorship; Establish Mandatory Retirement Age (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 and/or establish an age at which a director is no longer eligible to serve on the board. Proponents believe term limits and forced retirement help ensure that new ideas are introduced to the company. Opponents argue that director turnover decreases board stability.


Taking into consideration local market practice, we generally believe that a director’s qualifications, not length of service, should be the primary factor considered. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals that seek to either limit the term during which a director may serve on a company’s board or force a director’s retirement at a certain age.

 

13.    Majority of 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 we are aware of the listing requirements of the NYSE and NASDAQ (which require companies to have a majority of independent directors on their board), we will support such proposals regardless of where the company is listed.

 

14.    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. While we are aware of the listing requirements of the NYSE and NASDAQ (that generally require fully independent nominating and compensation committees), we will support such proposals regardless of where the company is listed. However, in order to allow companies an opportunity to select qualified candidates for these important board positions, at this time we will not oppose inside directors that sit on these committees.

 

15.    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.

 

16.    Prohibit CEOs from Serving on Compensation Committees (SHP)

     Against               

These proposals seek to require a board of directors to adopt a policy prohibiting current and former chief executive officers of other public companies from serving on that company’s compensation committee. Proponents argue that having a current or former CEO serving on a compensation committee presents an inherent conflict of interest because the CEO is likely to support inflated compensation for his or her peers. Opponents argue, and we agree, that permitting CEOs to serve on compensation committees has merit because their experience with compensation matters (including oversight of executive pay) may be invaluable to a board. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals seeking to prohibit CEOs from serving on compensation committees.

 

1  For purposes of this Policy, an independent director is one that meets the requirements of independence pursuant to the listing standards of the exchange on which the common stock is listed.
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.


17.    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.

 

18.    Require Independent Board Chairman (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

We believe there can be benefits to having the positions of chairman and CEO combined as well as split. When the position is combined the company must have sufficient counter-balancing governance in place, generally through a strong lead director. Also, for companies with smaller market capitalizations, separate chairman and CEO positions may not be practical.

 

19.    Require Two Candidates for Each Board Seat (SHP)

     Against               

We believe that proposals like these are detrimental to a company’s ability to attract highly qualified candidates. Accordingly, we oppose them.

 

20.    Stock Ownership Requirement (SHP)

     Against               

These proposals require directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board. We do not believe stock ownership is necessary to align the interests of directors and shareholders. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

21. Compensation Proposals

 

22.    Accelerated Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change of Control (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

We examine proposals to prohibit accelerated vesting of equity awards in the event of a change in control on a case-by-case basis. If a change in control is triggered at or above a 50% ownership level, we generally support accelerated vesting. If, however, a change in control is triggered at less than 50% ownership, we generally oppose accelerated vesting.

 

23.    Adopt Form of Employment Contract (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

These proposals ask companies to adhere to certain principles when drafting employment contracts for executives. We will review the criteria requested and consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis.


24.    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.

 

25.    Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

Similar to advisory votes on executive compensation, shareholders may request a non-binding advisory vote to approve compensation given to board members which we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

 

26.    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.

 

27.    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. However, 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. Where appropriate, we engage the company directly.

 

28.    Approve Remuneration Reports

     Case-by-case                

In certain markets, (e.g., Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States), publicly traded issuers are required by law to submit their company’s remuneration report to a non-binding shareholder vote. The report contains, among other things, the nature and amount of the compensation of the directors and certain executive officers as well as a discussion of the company’s performance.

We evaluate remuneration reports on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the reasonableness of the company’s compensation structure and the adequacy of the disclosure. Where a compensation plan permits retesting of performance-based awards, we will consider the specific terms of the plan, including the volatility of the industry and the number and duration of the retests. We may abstain or vote against a plan if disclosure of the remuneration details is inadequate or the report is not provided to shareholders with sufficient time prior to the meeting to consider its terms.

In markets where remuneration reports are not required for all companies, we will support shareholder proposals asking the board to adopt a policy (i.e., “say on pay”) that the company’s shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on an advisory resolution to approve the compensation committee’s report. Although say on pay votes 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 the value of the company.


29.    Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)

     Case-by-case                

Retirement bonuses are normal practice 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.

 

30.    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.

 

31.    Disclose Executive and Director Pay (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

In December 2006 and again in February 2010, the SEC 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.

 

32.    Exclude Pension Income from Performance-based Compensation (SHP)

     For               

We are aware that companies may seek to artificially inflate earnings based on questionable assumptions about pension income. Even though these practices are acceptable under the relevant accounting rules, we believe that pension income is not an acceptable way to increase executive pay and that management’s discretion in estimating pension income is a potential conflict of interest. Accordingly, we support such proposals.

 

33.    Executive and Employee Compensation Plans

     Case-by-case                

Executive and employee compensation plans (“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.

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.

 

34.    Limit Dividend Payments to Executives (SHP)

     Against               

We believe that management, within reason, should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of awards offered to executive officers. Therefore, we oppose withholding the dividend payment on restricted stock awards, even if the stock is unvested, when these awards are used as part of incentive compensation; we believe these awards serve as an effective means of executive reward and retention. We do, however, believe that it is acceptable for a company to accumulate dividends and tie their payment to the achievement of performance goals and to stipulate that the dividends are forfeited if the employee does not achieve his or her goal.

 

35.    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.

 

36.    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.

 

37.    Pay Directors Only in Stock (SHP)

     Against               

As noted immediately above, we do not believe that stock ownership is necessary to align the interests of directors and shareholders. Further, we believe that the board should be given latitude in determining the mix and types of compensation offered to its members. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

 

38.    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.

 

39.    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.

 

40.    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 financial restatement (whether for fraud or other reasons) that resulted in their failure to achieve past performance targets. In deciding how to vote, we consider the adequacy of existing company clawback policy, if any.

 

41.    Single Trigger Change-in-Control Agreements (SHP)

     Case-by-case   

Companies often include single trigger change-in-control provisions (e.g., a provision stipulating that an employee’s unvested equity awards become fully vested upon a change-in-control of the company without any additional requirement) in employment agreements and compensation plans.

We will not oppose directors who establish these provisions, nor will we oppose compensation plans that include them. However, we will examine on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals calling for future employment agreements and compensation plans to include double trigger change-in-control provisions (e.g., a provision stipulating that an employee’s unvested equity awards become fully vested only after a change-in-control of the company and termination of employment).

 

42.    Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote (SHP)

     Case-by-case                

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) that exceed 2.99 times the sum of an executive officer’s base salary plus bonus, and that are triggered by a change in control, to a shareholder vote, but we review proposals to ratify or redeem such plans on a case-by-case basis.


43.    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. Shareholders must then be given an opportunity to analyze a compensation plan’s final, material terms in order to ensure it is within acceptable limits. Accordingly, we generally oppose proposals that require submitting severance plans and/or employment contracts for a shareholder vote prior to being negotiated by management.

 

44.    Submit Option Re-pricing to a Shareholder Vote (SHP)

     For           

Re-pricing underwater options reduces the incentive value of stock compensation plans and dilutes shareholder value. Consequently, we support shareholder proposals that seek to require a company to submit option re-pricing to a shareholder vote.

 

45.    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.

46. Capital Changes and Anti-Takeover Proposals

 

47.    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.

 

48.    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.

 

49.    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.


50.    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.

 

51.    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.

 

52.    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. AllianceBernstein believes 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.

 

53.    Expensing Stock Options (SHP)

   For        

U.S. 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.

 

54.    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).

 

55.    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.

 

56.    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).

 

57.    Issuance of Stock with Unequal Voting Rights

     Case-by-case           

Unequal voting rights plans are designed to reduce the voting power of existing shareholders and concentrate a significant amount of voting power in the hands of management. In the majority of instances, they serve as an effective deterrent to takeover attempts. These structures, however, may be beneficial, allowing management to focus on longer-term value creation, which benefits all shareholders. AllianceBernstein evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis and takes into consideration the alignment of management incentives with appropriate performance, metrics, and the effectiveness of the company’s strategy.

 

58.    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.


59.    Opt Out of State Anti-takeover Law (US) (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

Many states have enacted anti-takeover laws requiring an acquirer to obtain a supermajority of a company’s stock in order to exercise control. For example, under Delaware law, absent board approval, a bidder must acquire at least 85% of a company’s stock before the bidder can exercise control. Such laws represent a formidable takeover defense for companies because by simply placing 15% of the stock in “friendly” hands, a company can block an otherwise successful takeover attempt that may be in the best interests of the shareholders. These statutes often allow companies to opt-out of this law with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares.

Shareholders proposing opt out resolutions argue that these anti-takeover laws grant the board too much power to determine a matter that should be left to the shareholders. Critics of such proposals argue that opt-out provisions do not prevent takeovers but, rather, provide the board with an opportunity to negotiate a better deal for all shareholders. Because each state’s anti-takeover laws are different and must be considered in the totality of all of a company’s takeover defenses, we review these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

60.    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. We recognize that such provisions can help facilitate the growth of a company’s business and potentially can benefit shareholders when a company lowers its tax liability. 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.

 

61.    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.

 

62.    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.


63.    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.

 

64.    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.

65. Auditor Proposals

 

66.    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. 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. The UK market is an exception where 100% is the threshold due to market demanded auditing. 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 abstain due to a lack of disclosure of who the auditor is.

 

67.    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 abstain if the information is not available in advance of the meeting.


68.    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.

 

69.    Limit Compensation Consultant Services (SHP)

     Against           

These proposals seek to restrict a company from engaging a consultant retained to advise the board on compensation matters to provide the company with other services other than compensation consulting if such consultant already has been engaged to provide compensation consulting.

In February 2010, the SEC adopted final rules regarding disclosure enhancements in proxy statements and Forms 10-K. One such rule requires disclosure of the fees paid to compensation consultants and their affiliates if they provide consulting services relating to executive officer compensation and additional services, if the cost of such additional services exceeds $120,000. The rule does not, however, restrict a company from acquiring both kinds of services from a compensation consultant.

We agree with the SEC that companies should be required to disclose payments exceeding $120,000 to compensation consultants for services other than executive compensation consulting services, and we do not believe company boards should be subject to any additional restrictions or requirements. Accordingly, we oppose these proposals.

We generally apply these principles for non-US companies as well.

 

70.    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.

 

71.    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 others 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.

72. Shareholder Access and Voting Proposals

 

73.    A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

Most state corporation statutes (though not Delaware, where many U.S. 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 of the outstanding shares. (Ten percent is common among states, although one state sets the threshold as high as forty percent.)

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. Accordingly, we will generally support a proposal to call a special meeting if the proposing shareholder owns, or the proposing shareholders as a group own, 10% or more of the outstanding voting equity of the company.

From time to time we may receive requests to join with other shareholders for purposes of meeting an ownership requirement necessary to call a special meeting. Similarly, we may receive other 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.

 

74.    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 x 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.

 

75.    Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures (SHP)

     For           

In dual class structures (such as A&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.

 

76.    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.

 

77.    Implement Confidential Voting (SHP)

     For           

Proponents of confidential voting argue that proxy voting should be conducted under the same rules of confidentiality as voting in political and other elections (by secret ballot), with an independent party verifying the results. They also argue that open balloting allows management to re-solicit shareholders and to urge—or sometimes coerce—them into changing their votes. Opponents argue that confidential voting makes it more difficult for a company to garner the necessary votes to conduct business (especially where a supermajority vote is required) because proxy solicitors cannot determine how individual shareholders voted.

We support confidential voting before the actual vote has been cast, because we believe that voting on shareholder matters should be free of any potential for coercion or undue influence from the company or other interested parties.

 

78.    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.

 

79.    Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent (SHP)

     For           

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 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.


80.    Proxy Access for Annual Meetings (SHP)

     For           

These proposals ask companies to give shareholders equal access to proxy materials in order to express their views on various proxy issues.

Management often argues that shareholders already have significant access to the proxy as provided by law (i.e., the right to have shareholder proposals included in the proxy statement and the right to suggest director candidates to the nominating committee). Management also argues that it would be unworkable to open the proxy process because of the large number of shareholders who might wish to comment and because it would be impossible to screen out “nuisance” proposals.

We have voted in favor of certain resolutions calling for enhancement of shareholders’ ability to access proxy materials to increase corporate boards’ attention to shareholder concerns. While we recognize that access must be limited in order to discourage frivolous proposals and those put forward by shareholders who may not have the best interests of all shareholders in mind, we believe that shareholders should have a meaningful ability to exercise their rights to vote for and nominate directors of the companies in which they invest.

To this end, in the United States we supported SEC proxy reform in 2003 and 2007, and we supported the SEC’s proposed proxy reform in 2009 intended to solve the problem of shareholders’ limited ability to exercise their rights to nominate directors and have the nominations disclosed to and considered by shareholders. In 2010, the SEC adopted new rules requiring companies to include the nominees of “significant, long-term shareholders” in their proxy materials, alongside the nominees of management. Under the rules, shareholders are deemed “significant and long-term” if they own at least three percent of the company’s shares continuously for at least the prior three years. However, in July 2011, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the SEC’s 2010 rules (Exchange Act Rule 14a-11), finding that, in adopting the rule, the SEC violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to adequately consider the rule’s effect on efficiency, competition and capital formation. We continue to monitor the situation.

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.

 

81.    Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (U.K.)

     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.

 

82.    Rotation of Locale for Annual Meeting (SHP)

     Against           

Proponents contend that the site of the annual meeting should be moved each year to a different locale in order to allow as many shareholders as possible to attend the annual meeting. Conversely, we believe the location of a company’s annual meeting is best left to the discretion of management, unless there is evidence that the location of previous meetings was specifically chosen with the intention of making it more difficult for shareholders to participate in the meeting. Consequently, we generally oppose proposals calling for the locale of the annual meeting to rotate.


83.    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.

 

84.    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.

85. Environmental, Social and Disclosure Proposals

 

86.    Adopt a Special Corporate Policy for SEC Rule 10b5-1 and Other Trading Plans (US) (SHP)

     Against           

These shareholder proposals ask a company to adopt a special policy for trading by senior executives in addition to the requirements of SEC Rule 10b5-1 and other trading plans that govern their trading. Subject to the history of the company and any record of abuses, we are generally against requiring a company to adopt additional requirements.

 

87.    Adopt Guidelines for Country Selection (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These proposals seek to require a company to prepare a special report on how it selects the countries in which it operates. We will evaluate whether sufficient information about why a company operates in various jurisdictions is provided in annual reports and other company documents.

 

88.    Amend EEO Statement to Include a Reference to Sexual Orientation (US) (SHP)

     For           

We support proposals requiring a company to amend its Equal Employment Opportunity policies to specifically reference sexual orientation.

 

89.    Animal Testing (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

Proposals requiring companies to reduce reliance on animals for consumer product safety testing will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account practicality and business impact. Proposals requiring increased disclosure on the numbers of animals tested, the types of animals used and the types of tests performed will be generally voted in favor, while carefully considering any policies that are already in place at the company, and to what extent such policies meet the national standards.


90.    Anti-Greenmail Proposal (SHP)

     For           

Greenmails, commonly referred to as “legal corporate blackmail,” are payments made to a potential hostile acquirer who has accumulated a significant percentage of a company’s stock. The company acquires the raider’s stock at a premium in exchange for an agreement that the raider will not attempt to acquire control for a certain number of years. This practice discriminates against all other shareholders as only the hostile party receives payment, which is usually at a substantial premium over the market value of its shares. Anti-greenmail proposals seek to prevent greenmail by adopting amendments to the company’s charter or by-laws that limit the ability of that company’s board to acquire blocks of another company’s stock at above-market prices.

We vote in favor of an anti-greenmail proposal, provided the proposal has no other management initiated anti-takeover features.

 

91.    Charitable Contributions (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

We generally support shareholder proposals relating to reporting charitable contributions. We will evaluate proposals seeking to restrict charitable contributions on a case-by-case basis. Proponents of such proposals argue that charitable contributions are an inappropriate use of company assets because the purpose of any corporation is to make a profit. Opponents argue that charitable contributions are a useful means for a company to create goodwill.

 

92.    Genetically Altered or Engineered Food (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These proposals seek to require companies to label genetically modified organisms in a company’s products or in some cases completely eliminate their use. Proponents argue that such measures should be required due to the possible health and safety issues surrounding the use of such products. Opponents point out that the use of such products helps improve crop yield, and implementing such proposals could have immediate negative economic effects on the company.

 

93.    Global Labor Standards (SHP)

     For           

These proposals ask companies to issue reports on their corporate standards for doing business abroad and to adopt mechanisms for ensuring vendor compliance with these standards. The standards include policies to ensure that workers are paid sustainable living wages and children are not used as forced labor. Generally, we vote in favor, but we carefully consider any policies that are already in place at the company, to what extent such policies meet the standards espoused by the International Labor Organization’s Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (and other relevant ILO conventions), and any evidence of prior abuse by the company. We will also ensure the practicality of such proposals.

 

94.    Global Warming; Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

Proposals addressing environmental and energy concerns are plentiful. We will generally support proposals requesting greater disclosure, but proposals seeking to adopt specific emissions or environmental goals or metrics will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Topics can range from general environmental reports to more specific reports on topics such as greenhouse gas emissions, the release of radioactive materials, and the generation or use of nuclear energy. The scope of the requested reports or policies can also vary. Proponents of these proposals may seek information on the steps the company has taken to address the environmental concern in question, or they may also ask the company to detail any financial risk associated with environmental issues. Opponents of these proposals claim that complying with proponents’ requests would be overly costly for, or unduly burdensome on, the company.


95.    Implement the MacBride Principles (Northern Ireland) (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

The MacBride Principles aim to fight discriminatory anti Catholic employment practices in the British state of Northern Ireland. The Principles encourage U.S. companies to actively recruit Catholic employees and, where possible, groom them for management responsibilities. Companies are also asked to ensure job security for their Catholic employees and to abolish the use of inflammatory religious emblems.

Supporters argue that the MacBride Principles effectively address Northern Ireland’s inequalities in employment (in Northern Ireland, unemployment among Catholic men is twice as high as among Protestant men). Opponents contend that the adoption of the MacBride Principles is itself a form of reverse discrimination, which may violate British law. The British government is concerned that adoption of the MacBride Principles may increase the “hassle factor” of doing business in the economically troubled area and reduce the attractiveness of investments.

 

96.    Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

We believe management and directors should be given latitude in determining appropriate performance measurements. 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.

 

97.    Military Issues (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These proposals ask companies involved in military production to report on future plans and to diversify or convert to the production of civilian goods and services. Opponents of these resolutions are concerned that conversion is not economically rational, and view the proposals as intrusions into management’s decision making prerogative. Opponents also point to the imperative of a strong defense as reason enough to continue military production.

 

98.    Nuclear Waste Disposal (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These resolutions ask companies to allocate a portion of the cost of building nuclear power plants for research into nuclear waste disposal. Proponents argue that, because the life span of certain waste byproducts exceeds current containment capabilities, the industry should concentrate more on waste management and disposal. While opponents acknowledge the need for research, they contend that the problem is overstated, and that some suggested containment programs are unnecessarily expensive.

 

99.    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.

 

100. Pharmaceutical Pricing (US) (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These proposals seek to require a company to implement pricing restraints to make prescription drugs more affordable, both domestically and in third-world countries. Proponents argue that drug prices in the United States, considered to be among the highest in the world, make adequate medical care inaccessible to those other than the most affluent. Critics of such proposals argue that artificial price controls would reduce revenues, deter investors and ultimately reduce funds available for future research and development.


101. Plant Closings (US) (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

These proposals ask companies to create or expand programs to relocate workers displaced by a plant closing. Supporters of plant closing resolutions argue management should be more sensitive to employees both during the decision on closing a plant and in efforts at relocation. Companies generally respond that they already have programs to accommodate displaced workers. In addition, federal law now requires 60 days’ advance notice of a major plant closing or layoff and a number of states also have applicable regulations.

 

102. Reimbursement of Shareholder Proposal 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. We generally vote against these proposals.

 

103. Report on Pay Disparity (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

A report on pay disparity compares the total compensation of a company’s executive officers with that of the company’s lowest paid workers, including statistics and rationale pertaining to changes in the size of the gap, information on whether executive compensation is “excessive”, and information on whether greater oversight is needed over certain aspects of the company’s compensation policies.

Proponents may note that executive compensation, in general, and the gap between executive compensation and the pay of a company’s lowest paid employees, has grown significantly in recent years. They may also note that the gap between executive salary and the wage of the average employee at the company is significantly higher.

 

104. Report on Water Pollution Prevention Measures (SHP)

     For           

We will generally support proposals requesting a company report to shareholders on measures taken by the company to prevent runoff, wastewater and other forms of water pollution from the company’s own (and its contractors’) facilities, taking into account national legislation and practicality.

 

105. Report on Workplace Diversity and/or Employment Policies (SHP)

     For           

Equal employment may refer to the right to be free from discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in the work force. Resolutions generally ask companies to report progress in complying with affirmative action laws. In assessing these proposals, we carefully consider any policies that are already in place at the company. However, we will also assure the practicality of such proposals.

 

106. Reporting Political Contributions; Lobbying Expenses (SHP)

     For           

We generally vote in favor of proposals requesting increased disclosure of political contributions and lobbying expenses. By requiring reports to shareholders, proponents of these shareholder resolutions contend investors can help police wrongdoings in the political system and better evaluate the use of company resources. Critics of these proposals contend that reformers overstate the problem and that a company should play an active role in expressing its opinion about relevant legislation.


107. Submit Political Spending Program to Shareholder Advisory Vote (SHP)

     Against           

We generally vote against shareholder proposals requiring the board of directors to adopt a policy to provide shareholders with the opportunity to ratify a company’s political spending program. We believe such proposals are overly intrusive on management’s discretion.

 

108. Sustainability Report (SHP)

     For           

We generally support shareholder proposals calling for a sustainability report while taking into account the current reporting policies of the company as they relate to sustainability and whether having a report provides added benefits to shareholders.

Sustainability is a business model that requires companies to balance the needs and interests of various stakeholders while concurrently sustaining their business, communities and the environment for future generations. Although many argue that the sustainable development concept is constantly evolving, core issues continue to revolve around ensuring the rights of future generations, adopting a long-term approach to business problems and strengthening the connections between the environment, society and the economy. This “triple bottom line” can be used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters. However, the term can also encompass a set of values, issues and practices that companies must address in order to minimize harm, while simultaneously creating economic, social and environmental value. We evaluate these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

Proponents of these proposals argue that investors are justified in seeking additional disclosure on companies’ social and environmental performance because they affect shareholder value. Opponents argue that companies already include much of the information contained in a sustainability report in workplace policies and/or codes of ethics and post this information on their websites; supporting these proposals would therefore be unduly burdensome.

 

109. The CERES Principles (SHP)

     Case-by-case           

Many environmental proposals include a recommendation that companies adopt and report their compliance with the Coalition of Environmentally Responsible Economies (the “CERES” Principles). The CERES Principles are a set of ten principles committing the company to environmental improvement. Proponents argue that endorsement of the CERES principles gives a company greater public credibility than standards created by industry or government regulation alone. Companies argue that implementing the CERES Principles only duplicates their current environmental policies and is unduly burdensome

 

110. Tobacco (SHP)        

Proposals relating to tobacco issues are wide-ranging. They include proposals to have a company issue warnings on the environmental risks of tobacco smoke and the risks of smoking-related diseases, as well as proposals to link executive compensation with reductions in teen smoking.

 

a.      End Production of Tobacco Products

     Against           

These proposals seek to phase-out all production, promotion and marketing of tobacco products by a specified date. Proponents argue that tobacco companies have acknowledged the serious health risks related to smoking cigarettes yet they continue to distribute them. When evaluating these resolutions, we must consider the company’s risks and liabilities associated with those lines of business, and evaluate the overall strategic business plans and how those plans will serve to maximize long-term shareholder value.


Because phasing out all tobacco-related operations by a tobacco company is very likely to result in the end of the company, which clearly is not in the best interests of shareholders, we will generally oppose these proposals.

 

b.      Spin-off Tobacco-related Business

     Case-by-case           

The motivation for these proposals is generally in line with what we have described immediately above — proponents seek for the subject company to phase-out all production, promotion and marketing of tobacco products by a specified date, citing health risks and tobacco companies’ systemic failure to honestly inform the public about these health risks until recently. The key difference is that, unlike the above type of proposal, which would be put to a company that derives most, if not all, of its revenues from tobacco-related operations, a spin-off proposal would request that a company that derives only a portion (often a substantial portion) of its revenues from tobacco-related operations spin-off its tobacco-related operating segment / subsidiary.

When evaluating resolutions requesting a company divest itself from one or more lines of business, we must consider the company’s risks and liabilities associated with those lines of business, evaluate the overall strategic business plans and determine how those plans will serve to maximize long-term shareholder value

 

111. Conflicts of Interest

 

  112. 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.

We recognize that there may be a potential material conflict of interest when we vote a proxy solicited by an issuer whose retirement plan we manage, or we administer, who distributes AllianceBernstein-sponsored mutual funds, or with whom we or an employee has another business or personal relationship that may affect how we vote on the issuer’s proxy. Similarly, we may have a potential material conflict of interest when deciding how to vote on a proposal sponsored or supported by a shareholder group that is a client. In order to avoid any perceived or actual conflict of interest, the procedures set forth below in sections 3.2 through 3.7 have been established for use when we encounter a potential conflict to ensure that our voting decisions are based on our clients’ best interests and are not the product of a conflict.

 

  113. Adherence to Stated Proxy Voting Policies

Votes generally are cast in accordance with this policy3. In situations where our policy is case-by-case, this Manual often provides criteria that will guide our decision. In situations where our policy on a particular issue is case-by-case and the vote cannot be clearly decided by an application of our stated policy, a member of the Proxy Committee or his/her designee will make the voting decision in accordance with the basic principle of our policy

 

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, AllianceBernstein reserves the right to depart from those policies if we believe it to be in the client’s best interests.


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 ISS, 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. On an annual basis, the Proxy Committee will receive a report of all such votes so as to confirm adherence of the policy.

 

  114. Disclosure of Conflicts

When considering a proxy proposal, members of the Proxy Committee or investment professionals involved in the decision-making process must disclose to the Proxy 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 Proxy Committee has a conflict of interest, he or she must also remove himself or herself from the decision-making process.

 

  115. Potential Conflicts List

No less frequently than annually, a list of companies and organizations whose proxies may pose potential conflicts of interest is compiled by the Legal and Compliance Department (the “Potential Conflicts List”). The Potential Conflicts List includes:

Publicly-traded Clients from the Russell 3000 Index, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe Australia Far East Index (MSCI EAFE), the MSCI Canada Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index;

Publicly-traded companies that distribute AllianceBernstein mutual funds;

Bernstein private clients who are directors, officers or 10% shareholders of publicly traded companies;

Clients who sponsor, publicly support or have material interest in a proposal upon which we will be eligible to vote;

Publicly-traded affiliated companies;

Companies where an employee of AllianceBernstein or AXA Financial has identified an interest;

Any other conflict of which a Proxy Committee member becomes aware4.

We determine our votes for all meetings of companies on the Potential Conflicts List by applying the tests described in Section 3.6 below. We document all instances when the independent compliance officer determines our vote.

 

  116. 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 does not generate a conflict of interest:

If our proposed vote is consistent with our Proxy Voting Policy, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy and our client’s position on the proposal, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy or is not covered herein, is consistent with our client’s position, and is also consistent with the views of ISS, no further review is necessary.

If our proposed vote is contrary to our Proxy Voting Policy or is not covered herein, is consistent with our client’s position and is contrary to the views of ISS, the vote will be presented to an independent compliance officer (“ICO”). The ICO will determine whether the proposed vote is reasonable. If the ICO cannot determine that the proposed vote is reasonable, the ICO may instruct AllianceBernstein to refer the votes back to the client(s) or take other actions as the ICO deems appropriate. The ICO’s review will be documented using a Proxy Voting Conflict of Interest Form (a copy of which is attached hereto).

 

 

4  The Proxy Committee must notify the Legal and Compliance Department promptly of any previously unknown conflict.


  117. Review of Third Party Research Service Conflicts of Interest

We consider the research of ISS, so the Proxy Committee takes reasonable steps to verify that ISS is, in fact, independent based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances. This includes reviewing ISS’s conflict management procedures on an annual basis. When reviewing these conflict management procedures, we will consider, among other things, whether ISS (i) has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues; and (ii) can offer research in an impartial manner and in the best interests of our clients.

 

  118. Confidential Voting

It is AllianceBernstein’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 Proxy Committee; (ii) Portfolio managers that hold the security in their managed accounts; (iii) the Research Analyst(s) who cover(s) the security; and (iv) clients, upon request, for the securities held in their portfolio. Once the votes have been cast, they are made public in accordance with mutual fund proxy vote disclosures required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and we generally post all votes to our public website the quarter after the vote has been cast.

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 for advice on proxy votes that they cast. A member of the Proxy Committee or a Proxy Manager may offer such advice subject to an understanding with the client that the advice 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 Proxy 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.

 

  119. A Note Regarding AllianceBernstein’s Structure

AllianceBernstein 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 AllianceBernstein and AB Holding, AllianceBernstein Corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and related financial services companies.

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.


120. Voting Transparency

We publish our voting records on our website quarterly, 30 days after the end of the previous quarter. 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. Alternatively, clients may make a written request to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

121. 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 five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, we will follow the U.S. rule of five years. We maintain the vast majority of these records electronically. We will keep paper records, if any, in one of our offices for at least two years.

 

  122. Proxy Voting Policy

The Proxy Voting Policy shall be maintained in the Legal and Compliance Department and posted on our company intranet and the AllianceBernstein website.

 

  123. Proxy Statements Received Regarding Client Securities

For U.S. Securities5, AllianceBernstein relies on the SEC to maintain copies of each proxy statement we receive regarding client securities. For Non-U.S. Securities, we rely on ISS, our proxy voting agent, to retain such proxy statements.

 

  124. Records of Votes Cast on Behalf of Clients

Records of votes cast by AllianceBernstein are retained electronically by our proxy voting agent, ISS.

 

  125. Records of Clients Requests for Proxy Voting Information

Copies of written requests from clients for information on how AllianceBernstein 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.

 

  126. Documents Prepared by AllianceBernstein that are Material to Voting Decisions

The Proxy Committee is responsible for maintaining documents prepared by the Committee or any AllianceBernstein 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 the Proxy Manager.

 

 

5  U.S. securities are defined as securities of issuers required to make reports pursuant to §12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Non-U.S. securities are defined as all other securities.


127. Proxy Voting Procedures

 

  128. Vote Administration

In an effort to increase the efficiency of voting proxies, AllianceBernstein 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. A Proxy Manager reviews the ballots via ISS’s web platform, ProxyExchange (For separately managed account programs, Proxy Managers use Broadridge’s ProxyEdge platform.). Using ProxyExchange (or ProxyEdge), the Proxy Manager submits our voting decision. ISS (or Broadridge) then returns the proxy ballot forms to the designated returnee for tabulation. Clients may request that, when voting their proxies, we utilize an ISS recommendation or ISS’s Taft-Hartley Voting Policy.

If necessary, any paper ballots we receive will be voted online using ProxyVote or via mail or fax.

 

  129. Share blocking

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 abstain from voting 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 U.S. require periodic renewals of powers of attorney that local agents must have from our clients prior to implementing our voting instructions.

 

  130. 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.


EXHIBIT

PROXY COMMITTEE MEMBERS


EXHIBIT

Proxy Voting Guideline Summary

 

Shareholder
Proposal

  

 

   For    Against    Case-by-
Case

Board and Director Proposals

   Changes in Board Structure and Amending the Articles of Incorporation    Ö      
   Classified Boards       Ö   
  

Director Liability and Indemnification

         Ö

Ö

   Disclose CEO Succession Plan    Ö      
   Election of Directors    Ö      
  

Controlled Company Exemption

         Ö
  

Voting for Director Nominees in a Contested Election

         Ö

Ö

   Establish Additional Board Committees          Ö

Ö

   Independent Lead Director    Ö      

Ö

   Limit Term of Directorship; Establish Mandatory Retirement Age          Ö

Ö

   Majority of Independent Directors    Ö      

Ö

   Majority of Independent Directors on Key Committees    Ö      

Ö

   Majority Votes for Directors    Ö      

Ö

   Prohibit CEOs from Serving on Compensation Committees       Ö   

Ö

   Removal of Directors Without Cause    Ö      

Ö

   Require Independent Board Chairman          Ö

Ö

   Require Two Candidates for Each Board Seat       Ö   

Ö

   Stock Ownership Requirement       Ö   

Compensation Proposals

Ö

   Accelerated Vesting of Equity Compensation Awards-Change of Control          Ö

Ö

   Adopt Form of Employment Contract          Ö

Ö

   Adopt Policies to Prohibit any Death Benefits to Senior Executives       Ö   


Shareholder
Proposal

        For    Against    Case-by-
Case

Ö

   Advisory Vote to Ratify Directors’ Compensation          Ö

Ö

   Amend Executive Compensation Plan tied to Performance (Bonus Banking)       Ö   
  

Approve Remuneration for Directors and Auditors

         Ö
  

Approve Remuneration Reports

         Ö
  

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors (Japan and South Korea)

         Ö
  

Approve Special Payments to Continuing Directors and Auditors (Japan)

         Ö

Ö

   Disclose Executive and Director Pay          Ö

Ö

   Exclude Pension Income from Performance-based Compensation    Ö      
  

Executive and Employee Compensation Plans

         Ö

Ö

   Limit Dividend Payments to Executives       Ö   

Ö

   Limit Executive Pay          Ö

Ö

   Mandatory Holding Periods       Ö   

Ö

   Pay Directors Only in Stock       Ö   

Ö

   Performance-based Stock Option Plans          Ö

Ö

   Prohibit Relocation Benefits to Senior Executives       Ö   

Ö

   Recovery of Performance-based Compensation    Ö      

Ö

   Single Trigger Change-in-Control Agreements          Ö

Ö

   Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote          Ö

Ö

   Submit Golden Parachutes / Severance Plans to a Shareholder Vote prior to their being Negotiated by Management          Ö

Ö

   Submit Option Re-pricing to a Shareholder Vote    Ö      

Ö

   Submit Survivor Benefit Compensation Plans to a Shareholder Vote    Ö      
Capital Changes and Anti-Take Over Proposals

Ö

   Amend Exclusive Forum Bylaw       Ö   
   Amend Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) Rights Plans    Ö      
   Authorize Share Repurchase    Ö      
   Blank Check Preferred Stock       Ö   


Shareholder
Proposal

        For    Against    Case-by-
Case
   Corporate Restructurings, Merger Proposals and Spin-offs          Ö
  

Elimination of Preemptive Rights

         Ö

Ö

   Expensing Stock Options    Ö      
  

Fair Price Provisions

         Ö
  

Increase Authorized Common Stock

         Ö
   Issuance of Equity without Preemptive Rights    Ö      
  

Issuance of Stock with Unequal Voting Rights

         Ö
   Net Long Position Requirement    Ö      

Ö

   Opt Out of State Anti-takeover Law (US)          Ö
  

Reincorporation

         Ö

Ö

   Reincorporation to Another jurisdiction to Permit Majority Voting or Other Changes in Corporate Governance          Ö
   Stock Splits    Ö      

Ö

   Submit Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan to a Shareholder Vote    Ö      
  

Transferrable Stock Options

         Ö
Auditor Proposals
   Appointment of Auditors    Ö      
   Approval of Financial Statements    Ö      
   Approval of Internal Statutory Auditors    Ö      

Ö

   Limit Compensation Consultant Services       Ö   
  

Limitation of Liability of External Statutory Auditors (Japan)

         Ö

Ö

   Separating Auditors and Consultants          Ö
Shareholder Access & Voting Proposals

Ö

   A Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings          Ö

Ö

   Adopt Cumulative Voting          Ö

Ö

   Adopt Cumulative Voting in Dual Shareholder Class Structures    Ö      

Ö

   Early Disclosure of Voting Results       Ö   


Shareholder
Proposal

        For    Against    Case-by-
Case

Ö

   Implement Confidential Voting    Ö      
   Limiting a Shareholder’s Right to Call Special Meetings       Ö   

Ö

   Permit a Shareholder’s Right to Act by Written Consent    Ö      

Ö

   Proxy Access for Annual Meetings    Ö      
   Reduce Meeting Notification from 21 Days to 14 Days (U.K.)    Ö      

Ö

   Rotation of Locale for Annual Meeting       Ö   

Ö

   Shareholder Proponent Engagement Process    Ö      
   Supermajority Vote Requirements       Ö   
Environmental & Social, Disclosure Proposals

Ö

   Adopt a Special Corporate Policy for SEC Rule 1b5-1 and Other Trading Plans       Ö   

Ö

   Adopt Guidelines for Country Selection          Ö

Ö

   Amend EEO Statement to Include a Reference to Sexual Orientation    Ö      

Ö

   Animal Testing          Ö

Ö

   Anti-Greenmail Proposal    Ö      

Ö

   Charitable Contributions          Ö

Ö

   Genetically Altered or Engineered Food          Ö

Ö

   Global Labor Standards    Ö      

Ö

   Global Warming; Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions          Ö

Ö

   Implement the MacBride Principles (Northern Ireland)          Ö

Ö

   Include Sustainability as a Performance Measure          Ö

Ö

   Military Issues          Ö

Ö

   Nuclear Waste Disposal          Ö
   Other Business       Ö   

Ö

   Pharmaceutical Pricing          Ö

Ö

   Plant Closings          Ö

Ö

   Reimbursement of Shareholder Proposal Expenses       Ö   


Shareholder
Proposal

        For    Against    Case-by-
Case

Ö

   Report on Collateral in Derivatives Trading       Ö   

Ö

   Report on Pay Disparity          Ö

Ö

   Report on Water Pollution Prevention Measures    Ö      

Ö

   Report on Workplace Diversity and/or Employment Policies    Ö      

Ö

   Reporting Political Contributions; Lobbying Expenses    Ö      

Ö

   Submit Political Spending Program to Shareholder Advisory Vote       Ö   

Ö

   Sustainability Report    Ö      

Ö

   The CERES Principles          Ö
  

Tobacco

        

Ö

   End Production of Tobacco Products       Ö   

Ö

   Spin-off Tobacco-related Business          Ö


EXHIBIT

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 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 contrary to our client’s position?

¨  Yes         ¨  No                     If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

 

3. Is our proposed vote consistent with the views of Institutional Shareholder Services?

¨  Yes         ¨  No                     If yes, stop here and sign below as no further review is necessary.

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, equity compensation plan, etc.

 

  ¨ A description of any substantive contact with any interested outside party and a proxy voting committee or an AllianceBernstein 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.

 

Independent Compliance 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: (                                         )
Phillip Kirstein      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.


EXHIBIT

STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

Principles for Responsible Investment,

ESG, and Socially Responsible Investment

1. Introduction

AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AllianceBernstein” or “we”) is appointed by our clients as an investment manager with a fiduciary responsibility to help them achieve their investment objectives over the long term. Generally, our clients’ objective is to maximize the financial return of their portfolios within appropriate risk parameters. AllianceBernstein has long recognized that environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues can impact the performance of investment portfolios. Accordingly, we have sought to integrate ESG factors into our investment process to the extent that the integration of such factors is consistent with our fiduciary duty to help our clients achieve their investment objectives and protect their economic interests.

Our policy draws a distinction between how the Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI” or “Principles”), and Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) incorporate ESG factors. PRI is based on the premise that, because ESG issues can affect investment performance, appropriate consideration of ESG issues and engagement regarding them is firmly within the bounds of a mainstream investment manager’s fiduciary duties to its clients. Furthermore, PRI is intended to be applied only in ways that are consistent with those mainstream fiduciary duties.

SRI, which refers to a spectrum of investment strategies that seek to integrate ethical, moral, sustainability and other non-financial factors into the investment process, generally involves exclusion and/or divestment, as well as investment guidelines that restrict investments. AllianceBernstein may accept such guideline restrictions upon client request.


2. Approach to ESG

Our long-standing policy has been to include ESG factors in our extensive fundamental research and consider them carefully when we believe they are material to our forecasts and investment decisions. If we determine that these aspects of an issuer’s past, current or anticipated behavior are material to its future expected returns, we address these concerns in our forecasts, research reviews, investment decisions and engagement. In addition, we have well-developed proxy voting policies that incorporate ESG issues and engagement.

3. Commitment to the PRI

In recent years, we have gained greater clarity on how the PRI initiative, based on information from PRI Advisory Council members and from other signatories, provides a framework for incorporating ESG factors into investment research and decision-making. Furthermore, our industry has become, over time, more aware of the importance of ESG factors. We acknowledge these developments and seek to refine what has been our process in this area.

After careful consideration, we determined that becoming a PRI signatory would enhance our current ESG practices and align with our fiduciary duties to our clients as a mainstream investment manager. Accordingly, we became a signatory, effective November 1, 2011.

In signing the PRI, AllianceBernstein as an investment manager publicly commits to adopt and implement all six Principles, where consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities, and to make progress over time on implementation of the Principles.

The six Principles are:

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment research and decision-making processes.

AllianceBernstein Examples: ESG issues are included in the research analysis process. In some cases, external service providers of ESG-related tools are utilized; we have conducted proxy voting training and will have continued and expanded training for investment professionals to incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes across our firm.


2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We are active owners through our proxy voting process (for additional information, please refer to our Statement of Policies and Procedures for Proxy Voting Manual); we engage issuers on ESG matters in our investment research process (we define “engagement” as discussions with management about ESG issues when they are, or we believe they are reasonably likely to become, material).

3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

AllianceBernstein Examples: Generally, we support transparency regarding ESG issues when we conclude the disclosure is reasonable. Similarly, in proxy voting, we will support shareholder initiatives and resolutions promoting ESG disclosure when we conclude the disclosure is reasonable.

4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.

AllianceBernstein Examples: By signing the PRI, we have taken an important first step in promoting acceptance and implementation of the six Principles within our industry.

5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We will engage with clients and participate in forums with other PRI signatories to better understand how the PRI are applied in our respective businesses. As a PRI signatory, we have access to information, tools and other signatories to help ensure that we are effective in our endeavors to implement the PRI.


6. We will report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

AllianceBernstein Examples: We will respond to the 2012 PRI questionnaire and disclose PRI scores from the questionnaire in response to inquiries from clients and in requests for proposals; we will provide examples as requested concerning active ownership activities (voting, engagement or policy dialogue).

4. RI Committee

Our firm’s RI Committee provides AllianceBernstein stakeholders, including employees, clients, prospects, consultants and service providers alike, with a resource within our firm on which they can rely for information regarding our approach to ESG issues and how those issues are incorporated in different ways by the PRI and SRI. Additionally, the RI Committee is responsible for assisting AllianceBernstein personnel to further implement our firm’s RI policies and practices, and, over time, to make progress on implementing all six Principles.

The RI Committee has a diverse membership, including senior representatives from investments, distribution/sales and legal. The Committee is chaired by Linda Giuliano, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer-Equities.

If you have questions or desire additional information about this Policy, we encourage you to contact the RI Committee at RIinquiries@alliancebernstein.com or reach out to a Committee member:


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

The day-to-day management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by the Municipal Bond Investment Team. While all members of the teams work jointly to determine the majority of the investment strategy including security selection for the Fund, Messrs. Michael G. Brooks, Fred S. Cohen, Robert B. Davidson III and Terrance T. Hults are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

(a)(1) The following table sets forth when each person became 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

Michael G. Brooks; since October 2005—Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AB”)    Senior Vice President of AB with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2005.
Fred S. Cohen; since October 2005—Senior Vice President of AB    Senior Vice President of AB, with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2005.
Robert B. Davidson III; since April 2002—Senior Vice President of AB    Senior Vice President of AB with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2005.
Terrance T. Hults; since December 2001—Senior Vice President of AB    Senior Vice President of AB with which he has been associated in a substantially similar capacity to his current position since prior to 2005.

(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 October 31, 2014.


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
 

Michael G. Brooks

     28       $ 16,116,000,000         None         None   

Fred S. Cohen

     28       $ 16,116,000,000         None         None   

Robert B. Davidson III

     28       $ 16,116,000,000         None         None   

Terrance T. Hults

     28       $ 16,116,000,000         None         None   

Wayne Godlin

     28       $ 16,116,000,000         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
 

Michael G. Brooks

     12         882,000,000         None         None   

Fred S. Cohen

     12         882,000,000         None         None   

Robert B. Davidson III

     12         882,000,000         None         None   

Terrance T. Hults

     12         882,000,000         None         None   

Wayne Godlin

     12         882,000,000         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
 

Michael G. Brooks

     1,593       $ 11,426,000,000         3       $ 339,000,000   

Fred S. Cohen

     1,593       $ 11,426,000,000         3       $ 339,000,000   

Robert B. Davidson III

     1,593       $ 11,426,000,000         3       $ 339,000,000   

Terrance T. Hults

     1,593       $ 11,426,000,000         3       $ 339,000,000   

Wayne Godlin

     1,593       $ 11,426,000,000         3       $ 339,000,000   

Investment Professional Conflict of Interest Disclosure

As an investment adviser and fiduciary, the Adviser owes its clients and shareholders an undivided duty of loyalty. We recognize that conflicts of interest are inherent in our business and accordingly have 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 AllianceBernstein 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. We place the interests of our clients first and expect all of our 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) and imposes a 90-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 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 our clients 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. 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 minimize the potential for conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. Nevertheless, access to portfolios 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.


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. An investment professional may perceive that he or she has an incentive to devote more time to developing and analyzing investment strategies and opportunities or allocating securities preferentially to accounts for which the Adviser could share in investment gains.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

The Adviser’s compensation program for investment professionals 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 on 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 risk-adjusted 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 that can play a part 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.

(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 October 31, 2014 is set forth below:

 

     DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY
SECURITIES IN THE FUND
 

Michael G. Brooks

     None   

Fred S. Cohen

     None   

Robert B. Davidson III

     None   

Terrance T. Hults

     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-3 (c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.


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

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

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

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

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


SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant): AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Robert M. Keith

  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date:   December 19, 2014

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

 

By:  

/s/ Robert M. Keith

  Robert M. Keith
  President
Date:   December 19, 2014
By:  

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date:   December 19, 2014