AllianceBernstein Holding, L.P. - AB STOCK NEWS

China's battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry faces near-term challenges despite its global dominance. The country produced 6.2 million BEVs in 2023, over half the global total. However, growth has slowed due to competition from cheaper plug-in hybrids and charging infrastructure in smaller cities. Export growth is also meeting resistance with higher tariffs in key markets like the EU, Canada, and the US.

Despite these challenges, China's BEV industry maintains structural advantages, including leadership in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and dominance of the battery supply chain. The industry no longer receives national subsidies, contrary to some perceptions. Analysts suggest the next phase may involve industry consolidation, similar to other Chinese industries' growth trajectories.

Investors are advised to monitor for signs of industry maturation and invest selectively. Western automakers face their own challenges in transitioning to EVs while maintaining profitability. The report suggests watching Chinese BEV makers with integrated battery operations and battery manufacturers with diverse global clients.

PRISM 3.0, a digital ESG scoring platform developed by AllianceBernstein (AB), aims to solve the challenges of integrating financially material ESG risks and opportunities into investment portfolios. The platform addresses issues such as hard-to-find and subjective company ESG data, lack of global data standards, and limitations of third-party ESG rating providers.

Key features of PRISM 3.0 include:

• Sourcing nearly 180 metrics from NGOs, governments, and third parties
• Ensuring data integrity and minimizing human biases
• Allowing meaningful comparison of companies within and across industries
• Using industry-relevant metrics for more accurate assessments
• Covering 96-98% of investment-grade, high-yield, and emerging-market corporate bonds
• Freeing up credit analysts' time for targeted engagements with corporate issuers

PRISM 3.0 represents a data-driven solution to turn ESG data challenges into opportunities for better investment decision-making.

AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB) has launched the AB CarVal Credit Opportunities Fund (ABAYX), an unlisted, closed-end interval fund. The fund aims to outperform high-yield bonds with less volatility and lower correlation to public markets. It invests in a mix of public and private credit across the US and Europe, including aircraft leasing, specialty finance, and energy transition investments.

The fund is managed by AB CarVal Principal John Withrow and Managing Director Roger Newkirk, supported by Managing Principals James Ganley, Jody Gunderson, and Lucas Detor. This launch expands AB's Private Markets platform, which now represents over $64 billion in assets. The interval fund structure makes this strategy accessible to individual investors with low minimums, previously to institutional clients.

AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB) reported a 2% increase in assets under management (AUM) for August 2024, reaching $791 billion from $777 billion in July. The growth was primarily driven by market appreciation, although partially offset by net outflows. Institutional net outflows exceeded Retail net inflows, while Private Wealth net flows remained relatively stable.

The AUM breakdown shows:

• Equity: $336 billion (42.5% of total AUM)
• Fixed Income: $292 billion (36.9% of total AUM)
• Alternatives/Multi-Asset Solutions: $163 billion (20.6% of total AUM)

Notably, there was a reclassification of $12 billion in Private Placements AUM from Taxable Fixed Income to Alternatives/Multi-Asset as of July 31, 2024.

AllianceBernstein (AB) has been recognized as a Best Place To Work for Disability Inclusion, earning high scores on the Disability Equality Index in both the U.S. and U.K. AB, a leading global investment management firm, emphasizes corporate responsibility, responsible investing, and stewardship in its operations.

As of March 31, 2024, AB managed $759B in assets, with $528B ESG-integrated. The firm's approach is guided by its purpose to 'pursue insight that unlocks opportunity' and its mission to help clients define and achieve investment goals. AB integrates material ESG and climate factors into most of its actively managed strategies, covering about 70% of total assets under management.

AB's values include investing in employees, striving for distinctive knowledge, speaking with courage and conviction, and acting with integrity. The firm is committed to diversity, mentorship, and collaboratively identifying creative solutions to clients' investment challenges, including ESG and climate-related issues.

AllianceBernstein (AB) has developed a climate transition alignment framework (CTAF) to assess companies' readiness for a low-carbon future. The framework evaluates high greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting companies on a five-point scale, from no awareness (Level 0) to full alignment (Level 5). AB uses this framework to engage with company management and inform voting decisions on climate-related shareholder proposals.

Key aspects of AB's approach include:

• Identifying companies in high-impact industries
• Assessing transition risks and opportunities
• Engaging collaboratively with management teams
• Evaluating shareholder proposals based on materiality, transparency, and prescriptiveness
• Balancing the need for emissions reduction with regulatory uncertainties and measurement challenges

The CTAF process aims to support both business strategies and investor returns in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

AllianceBernstein (AB) is set to host the Emerging Markets Investors Alliance (EMIA) 8th Annual ESG Engagement Conference at their London office on September 16, 2024. This event brings together investors and experts for insightful panels and discussions, focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics.

AB, a leading global investment management firm, emphasizes corporate responsibility and responsible investing. As of March 31, 2024, AB managed $759 billion in assets, with $528 billion being ESG-integrated. The firm's approach to stewardship and investment strategy is guided by its purpose to pursue insight that unlocks opportunity, considering the unique goals of each stakeholder.

AB became a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2011, formalizing its approach to integrating material ESG factors into most of its actively managed equity and fixed-income strategies. The firm's values include investing in one another, striving for distinctive knowledge, speaking with courage and conviction, and acting with integrity.

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB) has announced that its 2023 Schedule K-3, which contains information on international tax relevance, is now available for unitholders to download online. This document is primarily needed by foreign unitholders, those computing foreign tax credits, and certain corporate or partnership unitholders for their specific tax reporting requirements.

Unitholders can access their Schedules K-3 at www.taxpackagesupport.com/ab. AB encourages affected investors to review the information in the form and consult with a tax advisor if necessary. For those who prefer an electronic copy via email, unitholders can call Tax Package Support toll-free at (844) 275-9875.

AllianceBernstein (AB) has analyzed over 11,000 ESG-labeled bonds, revealing that while issuance has declined, the overall quality of the market has improved. AB's proprietary strength score, based on disclosure, ambition, and credibility of targets, shows a surge in quality across issuers and vintage years.

Key findings include:

• Weaker issues are less frequent in the market
• Greenwashing appears to be less of an issue
• Active investors are guiding issuers towards stronger ESG-labeled bond structures

AB's engagements with companies have shown positive results, such as supporting ambitious sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) and encouraging substantial scope 3 emissions reduction targets. This analysis demonstrates the evolving landscape of ESG-labeled bonds, emphasizing quality over quantity in the market.