Mutual Fund Summary Prospectus (497k)
November 01 2012 - 4:46PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
|
|
|
|
|
SUMMARY PROSPECTUS November 1, 2012
|
AllianceBernstein Global Thematic Growth Fund
Ticker: Class AALTFX; Class BATEBX; Class
CATECX; Class RATERX; Class KATEKX; Class IAGTIX; Advisor ClassATEYX
Before you invest, you may want to review the Funds Prospectus, which contains more information
about the Fund and its risks. The Funds Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (SAI), both dated November 1, 2012, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. For free paper or electronic copies of
the Funds Prospectus and other information about the Fund, go to
http://www.alliancebernstein.com/links/mf
, email a request to prorequest@alliancebernstein.com, call (800) 227-4618, or ask any financial advisor, bank, or
broker-dealer who offers shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, page number references refer to the current Prospectus for this Fund.
PRO-0101-GTG-1112
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Funds investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and members of your family invest, or agree to invest
in the future, at least $100,000 in AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary and in Investing in the FundsSales Charge Reduction Programs for Class A
Shares on page 53 of the Prospectus and in Purchase of SharesSales Charge Reduction Programs for Class A Shares on page 113 of the Funds SAI.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
Shares
|
|
|
Class B Shares
(not currently offered
to new investors)
|
|
|
Class C
Shares
|
|
|
Advisor Class
Shares
|
|
|
Class
R, K and I
Shares
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
4.25%
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
|
None(a)
|
|
|
|
4.00%(b)
|
|
|
|
1.00%(c)
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Exchange Fee
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
Advisor Class
|
|
|
Class R
|
|
|
Class K
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
|
|
.74%
|
|
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
.30%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
.50%
|
|
|
|
.25%
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Other Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfer Agent
|
|
|
.41%
|
|
|
|
.55%
|
|
|
|
.46%
|
|
|
|
.41%
|
|
|
|
.26%
|
|
|
|
.20%
|
|
|
|
.05%
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
.10%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Other Expenses
|
|
|
.51%
|
|
|
|
.65%
|
|
|
|
.56%
|
|
|
|
.51%
|
|
|
|
.36%
|
|
|
|
.30%
|
|
|
|
.15%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
.02%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.57%
|
|
|
|
2.41%
|
|
|
|
2.32%
|
|
|
|
1.27%
|
|
|
|
1.62%
|
|
|
|
1.31%
|
|
|
|
.91%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Purchases of Class A shares in amounts of $1,000,000 or more, or by certain group retirement plans, may be subject to a 1%, 1-year contingent deferred sales charge
(CDSC), which may be subject to waiver in certain circumstances.
|
(b)
|
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. The CDSC decreases over time. For Class B shares the CDSC decreases 1.00% annually to 0% after the
fourth year.
|
(c)
|
For Class C shares, the CDSC is 0% after the first year.
|
Examples
The Examples are intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
Advisor Class
|
|
|
Class R
|
|
|
Class K
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
After 1 Year
|
|
$
|
578
|
|
|
$
|
644
|
|
|
$
|
335
|
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
|
$
|
165
|
|
|
$
|
133
|
|
|
$
|
93
|
|
After 3 Years
|
|
$
|
900
|
|
|
$
|
951
|
|
|
$
|
724
|
|
|
$
|
403
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
415
|
|
|
$
|
290
|
|
After 5 Years
|
|
$
|
1,244
|
|
|
$
|
1,285
|
|
|
$
|
1,240
|
|
|
$
|
697
|
|
|
$
|
881
|
|
|
$
|
718
|
|
|
$
|
504
|
|
After 10 Years
|
|
$
|
2,213
|
|
|
$
|
2,538
|
|
|
$
|
2,656
|
|
|
$
|
1,534
|
|
|
$
|
1,922
|
|
|
$
|
1,579
|
|
|
$
|
1,120
|
|
S-1
For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares
at the end of the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
After 1 Year
|
|
$
|
244
|
|
|
$
|
235
|
|
After 3 Years
|
|
$
|
751
|
|
|
$
|
724
|
|
After 5 Years
|
|
$
|
1,285
|
|
|
$
|
1,240
|
|
After 10 Years
|
|
$
|
2,538
|
|
|
$
|
2,656
|
|
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio
turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Examples, affect the
Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 154% of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
The Fund pursues
opportunistic growth by investing in a global universe of companies in multiple industries that may benefit from innovation.
The Adviser
employs a combination of top-down and bottom-up investment processes with the goal of identifying the most attractive securities worldwide, fitting into broader themes, which are developments that have broad effects across
industries and companies. Drawing on the global fundamental and quantitative research capabilities of the Adviser, and its economists macro-economic insights, the Adviser seeks to identify long-term economic or business trends that will affect
multiple industries. The Adviser will assess the effects of these trends, in the context of the business cycle, on entire industries and on individual companies. Through this process, the Adviser intends to identify key investment themes, which will
be the focus of the Funds investments and which are expected to change over time based on the Advisers research.
In addition to
this top-down thematic approach, the Adviser will also use a bottom-up analysis of individual companies that focuses on prospective earnings growth, valuation and quality of company management. The Adviser normally considers
a universe of approximately 2,600 mid- to large-capitalization companies worldwide for investment.
The Fund invests in securities issued by
U.S. and non-U.S. companies from multiple industry sectors in an attempt to maximize opportunity, which should also tend to reduce risk. The Fund invests in both developed and emerging market countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund
invests significantly (at least 40%unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser) in securities of non-U.S. companies. In addition, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, in the equity securities of companies located
in at least three countries. The percentage of the Funds assets invested in securities of companies in a particular country or denominated in a particular currency varies in accordance with the Advisers assessment of the appreciation
potential of such securities. The Fund may invest in any company and industry and in any type of equity security, listed and unlisted, with potential for capital appreciation. It invests in well-known, established companies as well as new, smaller
or less-seasoned companies. Investments in new, smaller or less-seasoned companies may offer more reward but may also entail more risk than is generally true of larger, established companies. The Fund may also invest in synthetic foreign equity
securities, which are various types of warrants used internationally that entitle a holder to buy or sell underlying securities, real estate investment trusts and zero-coupon bonds. Normally, the Fund invests in about 60-80 companies.
The Fund may, at times, invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in lieu of making direct investments in securities. ETFs may provide
more efficient and economical exposure to the types of companies and geographic locations in which the Fund seeks to invest than direct investments.
Currencies can have a dramatic impact on equity returns, significantly adding to returns in some years and greatly diminishing them in others. Currency and equity positions are evaluated separately. The
Adviser may seek to hedge the currency exposure resulting from securities positions when it finds the currency exposure unattractive. To hedge all or a portion of its currency risk, the Fund may, from time to time, invest in currency-related
derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures, options on futures, swaps and options. The Adviser may also seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related
derivatives.
The Fund may enter into other derivatives transactions, such as options, futures contracts, forwards, and swaps. The Fund may use
options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, including on individual securities and stock indexes, futures contracts (including futures contracts on individual securities and stock
indexes) or shares of ETFs. These transactions may be used, for example, in an effort to earn extra income, to adjust exposure to individual securities or markets, or to protect all or a portion of the Funds portfolio from a decline in value,
sometimes within certain ranges.
S-2
PRINCIPAL RISKS
|
|
Market Risk:
The value of the Funds assets will fluctuate as the stock or bond market fluctuates. The value of its investments may
decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as growth, may underperform the market
generally.
|
|
|
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk:
Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may
fluctuate more widely in price and may be less liquid due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
|
|
|
Emerging Market Risk:
Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well
as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory, or other uncertainties.
|
|
|
Currency Risk:
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Funds investments or reduce its returns.
|
|
|
Capitalization Risk:
Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization
companies. Investments in small-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.
|
|
|
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 for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results.
|
As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION
The bar chart and performance information provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by
showing:
|
|
how the Funds performance changed from year to year over ten years; and
|
|
|
how the Funds average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
|
You may obtain updated performance information on the Funds website at
www.AllianceBernstein.com
(click on
Individuals U.S. then Pricing & Performance).
The Funds past performance before and after taxes,
of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
In November 2008, the Fund implemented its current investment
objective and policies (previously it had invested primarily in technology companies) and also changed its name and portfolio management team. Accordingly, the performance shown below for periods prior to November 2008 may not be representative
of the Funds performance under its current investment policies.
Bar Chart
The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Funds Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. Through
September 30, 2012, the year-to-date unannualized return for Class A shares was 9.65%.
During the period shown in the bar chart, the Funds:
Best Quarter was up 25.86%, 2nd quarter, 2009; and Worst Quarter was down -27.81%, 3rd quarter, 2002.
S-3
Performance Table
Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ended December 31, 2011)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
5 Years
|
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A*
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-26.95%
|
|
|
|
-2.45%
|
|
|
|
-1.61%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
|
-27.02%
|
|
|
|
-2.52%
|
|
|
|
-1.64%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
|
-17.43%
|
|
|
|
-2.07%
|
|
|
|
-1.36%
|
|
Class B
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-27.35%
|
|
|
|
-2.40%
|
|
|
|
-1.81%
|
|
Class C
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-25.03%
|
|
|
|
-2.33%
|
|
|
|
-1.91%
|
|
Advisor Class
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-23.48%
|
|
|
|
-1.31%
|
|
|
|
-0.88%
|
|
Class R**
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-23.79%
|
|
|
|
-1.65%
|
|
|
|
-1.26%
|
|
Class K**
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-23.56%
|
|
|
|
-1.34%
|
|
|
|
-0.95%
|
|
Class I**
|
|
Return Before Taxes
|
|
|
-23.28%
|
|
|
|
-1.01%
|
|
|
|
-0.66%
|
|
MSCI AC World Index (Net)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes except the reinvestment of dividends net of non-U.S. withholding taxes)
|
|
|
-7.35%
|
|
|
|
-1.93%
|
|
|
|
4.24%
|
|
|
|
Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for Class B, Class C and Advisor Class shares because these Classes have different expense ratios;
|
|
|
Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax
returns depend on an individual investors tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown; and
|
|
|
Are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
|
**
|
Inception date for Class R shares: 11/3/03, and for Class K and Class I shares: 3/1/05. Performance information for periods prior to the inception of Class R, Class K, and Class
I shares is the performance of the Funds Class A shares adjusted to reflect the higher expense ratio of Class R shares and the lower expense ratios of Class K and Class I shares, respectively.
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER
AllianceBernstein L.P. is the
investment adviser for the Fund.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The following table lists the persons responsible for day-to-day management of the Funds portfolio:
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
|
|
Length of Service
|
|
Title
|
Catherine D. Wood
|
|
Since 2008
|
|
Senior Vice President of the Adviser
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph G. Carson
|
|
Since 2008
|
|
Senior Vice President of the Adviser
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amy P. Raskin
|
|
Since 2008
|
|
Senior Vice President of the Adviser
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vadim Zlotnikov
|
|
Since 2008
|
|
Senior Vice President of the Adviser
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
Purchase Minimums
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initial
|
|
Subsequent
|
Class A/Class C Shares, including traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs
(Class B Shares are not currently offered to new shareholders)
|
|
$2,500
|
|
$50
|
Automatic Investment Program
|
|
None
|
|
$50
If initial minimum investment is
less than $2,500, then $200
monthly until account balance
reaches $2,500
|
Advisor Class Shares (only available to fee-based programs or through other limited arrangements)
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
Class A, Class R, Class K and Class I Shares are available at net asset value, without an initial sales charge, to 401(k) plans, 457 plans,
employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of a Fund.
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
You may sell (redeem) your shares each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. You may sell your shares through your
financial intermediary or by mail (AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc., P.O. Box 786003, San Antonio, TX 78278-6003) or telephone (800-221-5672).
TAX INFORMATION
The Fund may pay income dividends
or make capital gains distributions, which may be subject to federal income taxes and taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, and may also be subject to state and local taxes.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
If you purchase shares of a Fund
through the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or a group retirement plan), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict
of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
PRO-0101-GTG-1112
|
|
|
|
|
S-4
Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024