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: 811-05398

 

 

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES 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

Alliance Bernstein 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: December 31, 2022

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2022

 

 

 


ITEM 1.

REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS

SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO

   (formerly, Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio)

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
    Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
    Expenses Paid
During Period*
    Annualized
Expense Ratio*
    Total
Expenses Paid
During Period+
    Total
Annualized
Expense Ratio+
 

Class A

           

Actual

  $   1,000     $ 840.80     $   2.65       0.58   $   3.29       0.72

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $ 1,000     $   1,021.92     $ 2.91       0.58   $ 3.61       0.72
           

Class B

           

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 839.40     $ 3.79       0.83   $ 4.42       0.97

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $ 1,000     $ 1,020.68     $ 4.16       0.83   $ 4.86       0.97

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

+   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Portfolio’s total expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratio plus the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the weighted average expense ratio of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios in which it invests, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

SECURITY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

   $ 54,626,795          27.9

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

     30,361,648          15.5  

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

     30,314,728          15.5  

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

     21,303,700          10.9  

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

     12,019,700          6.1  

S&P 500 Index

     11,972,690          6.1  

Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF

     5,554,554          2.8  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Index

     4,839,012          2.5  

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

     4,464,390          2.3  

Vanguard Small-Cap ETF

     3,962,475          2.0  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   179,419,692          91.6

SECURITY TYPE BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECURITY TYPE    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Investment Companies

   $ 162,607,990          84.3

Options Purchased—Puts

     9,606,050          5.1  

Inflation-Linked Securities

     4,839,012          2.5  

Options Purchased—Calls

     2,366,640          1.2  

Corporates—Investment Grade

     199,488          0.1  

Common Stocks

     288          0.0  

Short-Term Investments

     13,176,442          6.8  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   192,795,910          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments. Table shown includes investments of Underlying Portfolios.

 

2   The Portfolio’s security type breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). Table shown includes investments of Underlying Portfolios.

 

2


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company       
    
    
Shares
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–83.2%

     

FUNDS AND INVESTMENT TRUSTS–83.2%(a)

     

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

      362,000     $ 21,303,700  

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

      245,000       12,019,700  

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

      144,077       54,626,795  

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

      298,600       30,361,648  

Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF(b)

      28,200       5,554,554  

Vanguard Real Estate ETF(b)

      49,000       4,464,390  

Vanguard Small-Cap ETF(b)

      22,500       3,962,475  

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

      402,800       30,314,728  
     

 

 

 

Total Investment Companies
(cost $174,678,918)

        162,607,990  
     

 

 

 
    Notional
Amount
       

OPTIONS PURCHASED–PUTS–4.9%

     

OPTIONS ON EQUITY INDICES–4.9%

     

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 10; Exercise Price: USD 4,100.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       4,100,000       518,500  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 30; Exercise Price: USD 4,400.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       13,200,000       2,049,600  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 30; Exercise Price: USD 4,600.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       13,800,000       2,446,050  
        
    
Notional
Amount
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 60; Exercise Price: USD 4,500.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       27,000,000     4,485,900  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2024; Contracts: 2; Exercise Price: USD 4,000.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       800,000       106,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Options Purchased–Puts
(premiums paid $7,268,786)

        9,606,050  
     

 

 

 
    Principal
Amount
(000)
       

INFLATION-LINKED SECURITIES–2.5%

     

UNITED STATES–2.5%

     

U.S. Treasury Inflation Index
0.125%, 01/15/2032 (TIPS)
(cost $5,113,798)

    $       5,082       4,839,012  
     

 

 

 
    Notional
Amount
       

OPTIONS PURCHASED–CALLS–1.2%

     

OPTIONS ON EQUITY INDICES–1.2%

     

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 10; Exercise Price: USD 4,100.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       4,100,000       316,400  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 30; Exercise Price: USD 4,400.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       13,200,000       586,050  

 

3


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

        
    
Notional
Amount
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 30; Exercise Price: USD 4,600.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       13,800,000     $ 407,100  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2023; Contracts: 60; Exercise Price: USD 4,500.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       27,000,000       959,100  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Dec 2024; Contracts: 2; Exercise Price: USD 4,000.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(c)

    USD       800,000       97,990  
     

 

 

 

Total Options Purchased–Calls
(premiums paid $4,981,150)

        2,366,640  
     

 

 

 
    Principal
Amount
(000)
       

CORPORATES–INVESTMENT GRADE–0.1%

     

INDUSTRIAL–0.1%

     

TRANSPORTATION–SERVICES–0.1%

     

Chicago Parking Meters
4.93%, 12/30/2025(d)
(cost $180,646)

    $       200       199,488  
     

 

 

 
    Shares        

COMMON STOCKS–0.0%

     

REAL ESTATE–0.0%

     

REAL ESTATE OPERATING COMPANIES–0.0%

     

CTP NV

      25       288  
     

 

 

 

ENERGY–0.0%

     

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–0.0%

     

Gazprom PJSC (Sponsored ADR)(d)(e)

      15,730       –0 – 
Company       
    
    
Shares
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

LUKOIL PJSC (Sponsored ADR)(d)(e)

      790     –0 – 
     

 

 

 
        –0 – 
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS–0.0%

     

METALS & MINING–0.0%

     

MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC (ADR)(d)(e)

      2,540       –0 – 
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $272,190)

        288  
     

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–6.7%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–6.7%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(a)(f)(g)
(cost $13,176,442)

      13,176,442       13,176,442  
     

 

 

 

Total Investments Before Security Lending Collateral for Securities Loaned–98.6%
(cost $205,671,930)

        192,795,910  
     

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–1.6%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–1.6%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(a)(f)(g)
(cost $3,067,350)

      3,067,350       3,067,350  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.2%
(cost $208,739,280)

        195,863,260  

Other assets less liabilities–(0.2)%

        (380,222
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

      $ 195,483,038  
     

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

FUTURES (see Note D)

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
    

Expiration

Month

     Current
Notional
     Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Purchased Contracts

 

E-Mini Russell 2000 Futures

     4        September 2022      $ 341,600      $ (36,342

MSCI EAFE Futures

     25        September 2022        2,320,750        (15,366

MSCI Emerging Market Futures

     22        September 2022        1,102,970        (5,187

S&P 500 E-Mini Futures

     112        September 2022          21,221,200        (1,377,283

S&P Mid 400 E Mini Futures

     4        September 2022        907,200        (99,404

U.S. Long Bond (CBT) Futures

     50        September 2022        6,931,250        (112,671

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

     586        September 2022        69,459,313        (863,191
           

 

 

 
            $   (2,509,444
           

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Citibank, NA

       CHF        723          USD        762          07/13/2022        $ 4,815  

Citibank, NA

       USD        769          CHF        723          07/13/2022            (12,219

Citibank, NA

       KRW        1,090,551          USD        871          07/27/2022          24,766  

Citibank, NA

       TWD        7,542          USD        259          07/27/2022          5,239  

Citibank, NA

       USD        880          KRW        1,090,552          07/27/2022          (33,748

Citibank, NA

       USD        259          TWD        7,542          07/27/2022          (5,265

HSBC Bank USA

       TWD        14,640          USD        504          07/27/2022          10,515  

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        503          TWD        14,640          07/27/2022          (10,169

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       INR        59,224          USD        768          07/07/2022          17,748  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        774          INR        59,224          07/07/2022          (23,854

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       AUD        8,263          USD        5,923          07/21/2022          218,278  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        5,853          AUD        8,263          07/21/2022            (149,164

Standard Chartered Bank

       INR        58,707          USD        763          07/07/2022          19,971  

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        760          INR        58,707          07/07/2022          (16,898

Standard Chartered Bank

       AUD        941          USD        698          07/21/2022          47,662  

Standard Chartered Bank

       CAD        1,004          USD        782          07/21/2022          1,784  

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        667          AUD        941          07/21/2022          (17,044

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        802          CAD        1,004          07/21/2022          (22,684

Standard Chartered Bank

       KRW        1,741,347          USD        1,403          07/27/2022          51,956  

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        1,367          KRW        1,741,347          07/27/2022          (15,115

Standard Chartered Bank

       IDR        7,683,915          USD        527          07/28/2022          12,912  

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        534          IDR        7,683,915          07/28/2022          (20,599

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       SGD        54          USD        39          07/08/2022          239  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        40          SGD        54          07/08/2022          (698

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        57          USD        59          07/13/2022          (751

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        61          CHF        57          07/13/2022          (1,607

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        10,846          USD        86          07/15/2022          5,546  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        83          JPY        10,846          07/15/2022          (3,393

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        107          USD        84          07/21/2022          1,279  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        85          CAD        107          07/21/2022          (1,934

UBS AG

       CHF        721          USD        760          07/13/2022          4,805  

UBS AG

       USD        765          CHF        721          07/13/2022          (9,105
                         

 

 

 
                          $ 83,268  
                         

 

 

 

 

5


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Non-income producing security.

 

(d)   Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(e)   Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

(f)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(g)   Affiliated investments.

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

IDR—Indonesian Rupiah

INR—Indian Rupee

JPY—Japanese Yen

KRW—South Korean Won

SGD—Singapore Dollar

TWD—New Taiwan Dollar

USD—United States Dollar

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

CBT—Chicago Board of Trade

EAFE—Europe, Australia, and Far East

ETF—Exchange Traded Fund

MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International

PJSC—Public Joint Stock Company

TIPS—Treasury Inflation Protected Security

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

 

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $192,495,488)

   $ 179,619,468 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $16,243,792—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $3,067,350)

     16,243,792  

Cash collateral due from broker

     2,679,488  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $1,852)

     1,864  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     427,515  

Receivable for variation margin on futures

     412,092  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     36,324  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     10,997  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     2,844  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     577  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     199,434,961  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     3,067,350  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     344,247  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     173,847  

Advisory fee payable

     72,570  

Distribution fee payable

     37,295  

Administrative fee payable

     21,446  

Foreign capital gains tax payable

     13,800  

Directors’ fees payable

     395  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     90  

Accrued expenses

     220,883  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     3,951,923  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 195,483,038  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

 

Capital stock, at par

   $ 20,086  

Additional paid-in capital

     166,592,535  

Distributable earnings

     28,870,417  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 195,483,038  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $ 17,614,656          1,783,706        $ 9.88  
B      $   177,868,382          18,302,001        $   9.72  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $13,823,994 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $27,399)

   $ 1,550,582  

Affiliated issuers

     19,279  

Interest (net of foreign taxes withheld of $143)

     546,400  

Securities lending income

     4,680  
  

 

 

 
     2,120,941  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     569,213  

Distribution fee—Class B

     249,747  

Transfer agency—Class A

     227  

Transfer agency—Class B

     2,317  

Custody and accounting

     72,594  

Audit and tax

     42,890  

Administrative

     42,086  

Legal

     15,698  

Printing

     14,127  

Directors’ fees

     10,535  

Miscellaneous

     13,254  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,032,688  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (147,703
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     884,985  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     1,235,956  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     (3,685,980

Investment transactions(a)

     23,492,628  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     2,177,028  

Futures

     (2,121,774

Swaps

     264,013  

Foreign currency transactions

     (2,604,892

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     (4,266,342

Investments(b)

     (50,022,205

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (408,162

Futures

     (2,535,308

Swaps

     49,082  

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (5,498
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (39,667,410
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (38,431,454
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $6,888.

 

(b)   Net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains taxes on unrealized gains of $1,429.

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


    
BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income

   $ 1,235,956     $ 3,030,763  

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     17,521,023       20,060,382  

Net realized gain distributions from Underlying Portfolios

     –0 –      2,321,524  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (57,188,433     5,781,625  

Contributions from Affiliates (see Note B)

     –0 –      72  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (38,431,454     31,194,366  

Distributions to Shareholders

 

Class A

     –0 –      (615,351

Class B

     –0 –      (5,621,797

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (11,857,626     (22,864,424
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (50,289,080     2,092,794  

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     245,772,118       243,679,324  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 195,483,038     $ 245,772,118  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

9


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Balanced Hedged Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (formerly known as AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is to maximize total return consistent with the determination of AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) of reasonable risk. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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, 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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S.

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively, the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on an exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.

Valuations of mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities, by pricing vendors, are based on both proprietary and industry recognized models and discounted cash flow techniques. Significant inputs to the valuation of these instruments are value of the collateral, the rates and timing of delinquencies, the rates and timing of prepayments, and default and loss expectations, which are driven in part by housing prices for residential mortgages. Significant inputs are determined based

 

11


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, including relevant indices. Mortgage and asset-backed securities for which management has collected current observable data through pricing services are generally categorized within Level 2. Those investments for which current observable data has not been provided are classified as Level 3.

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 Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2      Level 3     Total  

Investments in Securities:

            

Assets:

 

Investment Companies

     $ 162,607,990      $ –0 –     $             –0 –    $ 162,607,990  

Options Purchased—Puts

       –0 –       9,606,050        –0 –      9,606,050  

Inflation—Linked Securities

       –0 –       4,839,012        –0 –      4,839,012  

Options Purchased—Calls

       –0 –       2,366,640        –0 –      2,366,640  

Corporates—Investment Grade

       –0 –       199,488        –0 –      199,488  

Common Stocks:

            

Real Estate

       –0 –       288        –0 –      288  

Energy

       –0 –       –0 –       0 (a)      –0 – 

Materials

       –0 –       –0 –       0 (a)      –0 – 

Short-Term Investments

       13,176,442        –0 –       –0 –      13,176,442  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       3,067,350        –0 –       –0 –      3,067,350  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       178,851,782        17,011,478        0 (a)      195,863,260  

Other Financial Instruments(b):

            

Assets:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       427,515        –0 –      427,515  

Liabilities:

 

Futures

       (2,509,444      –0 –       –0 –      (2,509,444 )(c) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       (344,247      –0 –      (344,247
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     $ 176,342,338      $ 17,094,746      $ 0 (a)    $ 193,437,084  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)   The Portfolio held securities with zero market value at period end.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

(c)   Only variation margin receivable/(payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. Where applicable, centrally cleared swaps with upfront premiums are presented here at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .45% of the first $2.5 billion, .425% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. Prior to May 2, 2022, the Portfolio paid the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to .75% and 1.00% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, there was no such reimbursement.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $42,086.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

 

13


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $3,140.

In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in other AB mutual funds, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the expenses payable to the Adviser by the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fees of AB mutual funds, as paid by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will remain in effect until December 31, 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waivers and/or reimbursements amounted to $144,425.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                                           Distributions  

Fund

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Realized
Gain (Loss)
(000)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appr./(Depr.)
(000)
    Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
    Realized
Gains
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 1,525      $ 99,966     $ 88,314      $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 13,177     $ 19     $ –0 – 

AB Discovery Growth Fund, Inc.

     3,174        –0 –      2,346        (400     (428     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

AB Trust—AB Discovery Value Fund

     3,246        –0 –      2,923        7       (330     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Bernstein Fund, Inc.: International Small Cap Portfolio

     8,146        –0 –      7,073        (658     (415     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

International Strategic Equities Portfolio

     42,838        –0 –      37,952        (2,434     (2,452     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Small Cap Core Portfolio

     3,267        –0 –      2,808        122       (581     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Sanford C. Bernstein Fund, Inc.—Emerging Markets Portfolio

     3,784        –0 –      3,401        (323     (60     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     214        21,189       18,336        –0 –      –0 –      3,067       0 **      –0 – 
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

           $ (3,686   $ (4,266   $ 16,244     $ 19     $ –0 – 
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

 

**   Amount is less than $500.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Adviser reimbursed the Portfolio $72 for trading losses incurred due to a trade entry error.

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases        Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 221,346,108        $ 235,325,825  

U.S. government securities

       28,459,925          37,665,252  

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 2,783,622  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (18,085,818
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (15,302,196
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Futures

The Portfolio may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Portfolio bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Portfolio may purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

At the time the Portfolio enters into futures, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Use of long futures subjects the Portfolio to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of futures can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.

 

15


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held futures for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Option Transactions

For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Portfolio may use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.

The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. If a put or call option purchased by the Portfolio were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a loss to the Portfolio. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

When the Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. The Portfolio’s maximum payment for written put options equates to the number of shares multiplied by the strike price. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held purchased options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Swaps

The Portfolio may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk or currencies. The Portfolio may also enter into swaps for non-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures, making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions.” A swap is an agreement that

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Portfolio in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and recourse to the Portfolio or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.

Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Portfolio, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Portfolio considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Portfolio to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Portfolio accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received for swaps are recognized as cost or proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.

Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on a phased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

At the time the Portfolio enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the clearinghouse on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for centrally cleared swaps is generally less than non-centrally cleared swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each centrally cleared swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Interest Rate Swaps:

The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional amount. The Portfolio may elect to pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate, or, receive a fixed rate and pay a floating rate on a notional amount.

In addition, the Portfolio may also enter into interest rate swap transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, or protecting against an increase in the price of securities the Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed

 

17


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

rate payments) computed based on a contractually-based principal (or “notional”) amount. Interest rate swaps are entered into on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments).

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held interest rate swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Inflation (CPI) Swaps:

Inflation swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to pay the cumulative percentage increase in a price index (the Consumer Price Index with respect to CPI swaps) over the term of the swap (with some lag on the inflation index), and the other pays a compounded fixed rate. Inflation swaps may be used to protect the net asset value, or NAV, of a Portfolio against an unexpected change in the rate of inflation measured by an inflation index since the value of these agreements is expected to increase if there are unexpected inflation increases.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held inflation (CPI) swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Credit Default Swaps:

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, including to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults by corporate and sovereign issuers held by the Portfolio, or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. The Portfolio may purchase credit protection (“Buy Contract”) or provide credit protection (“Sale Contract”) on the referenced obligation of the credit default swap. During the term of the swap, the Portfolio receives/(pays) fixed payments from/(to) the respective counterparty, calculated at the agreed upon rate applied to the notional amount. If the Portfolio is a buyer/(seller) of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the swap, the Portfolio will either (i) receive from the seller/(pay to the buyer) of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap (the “Maximum Payout Amount”) and deliver/(take delivery of) the referenced obligation or (ii) receive/(pay) a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation. In certain circumstances Maximum Payout Amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront premium received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced obligations with the same counterparty.

Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Portfolio had invested in the referenced obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Portfolio is a buyer of protection and no credit event occurs, it will lose the payments it made to its counterparty. If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Portfolio coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the Maximum Payout Amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a net loss to the Portfolio.

Implied credit spreads over U.S. Treasuries of comparable maturity utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on issuers as of period end are disclosed in the portfolio of investments. The implied spreads serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and typically reflect the likelihood of default by the issuer of the referenced obligation. The implied credit spread of a particular reference obligation also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Widening credit spreads typically represent a deterioration of the referenced obligation’s credit soundness and greater likelihood of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced obligation.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held credit default swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value  

Interest rate contracts

      Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures   $ 975,862

Equity contracts

      Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures     1,533,582

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 427,515     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts     344,247  

Equity contracts

  Investments in securities, at value     11,972,690      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 12,400,205       $ 2,853,691  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*   Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

Derivative Type

  

Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives
Within Statement of Operations

   Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Interest rate contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures    $ 589,241     $ (1,001,726

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures      (2,711,015     (1,533,582

Foreign currency contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts      2,177,028       (408,162

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments      –0 –      (277,246

Interest rate contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps      259,822       (42,437

Credit contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps      4,191       91,519  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ 319,267     $ (3,171,634
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

19


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Futures:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 59,754,325  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 5,154,986 (a) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 30,919,282  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 56,239,741  

Purchased Options:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 114,000,000 (a) 

Inflation Swaps:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 6,210,000 (b) 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 2,620,338 (a) 

Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 481,851 (a) 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 2,111,818 (a) 

 

(a)   Positions were open for three months during the period.

 

(b)   Positions were open for four months during the period.

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

  Derivative Assets
Subject to a MA
    Derivatives
Available
for Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Assets
 

Citibank, NA

  $ 34,820     $ (34,820   $             –0   $             –0   $ –0

HSBC Bank USA

    10,515       (10,169     –0 –      –0 –      346  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

    236,026       (173,018     –0 –      –0 –      63,008  

Standard Chartered Bank

    134,285       (92,340     –0 –      –0 –      41,945  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

    7,064       (7,064     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

UBS AG

    4,805       (4,805     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 427,515     $ (322,216   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 105,299
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Counterparty

  Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MA
    Derivatives
Available
for Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities
 

Citibank, NA

  $ 51,232     $ (34,820   $             –0   $             –0   $ 16,412  

HSBC Bank USA

    10,169       (10,169     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

    173,018       (173,018     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Standard Chartered Bank

    92,340       (92,340     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

    8,383       (7,064     –0 –      –0 –      1,319  

UBS AG

    9,105       (4,805     –0 –      –0 –      4,300  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 344,247     $ (322,216   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 22,031
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

3. TBA and Dollar Rolls

The Portfolio may invest in TBA mortgage-backed securities. A TBA, or “To Be Announced”, trade represents a contract for the purchase or sale of mortgage-backed securities to be delivered at a future agree-upon date; however, the specific mortgage pool numbers or the number of pools that will be delivered to fulfill the trade obligation or terms of the contract are unknown at the time of the trade. Mortgage pools (including fixed-rate or variable-rate mortgages) guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association, or GNMA, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or FNMA, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or FHLMC, are subsequently allocated to the TBA transactions.

The Portfolio may enter into certain TBA transactions known as dollar rolls. Dollar rolls involve sales by the Portfolio of securities for delivery in the current month and the Portfolio’s simultaneously contracting to repurchase substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Portfolio forgoes principal and interest paid on the securities. The Portfolio is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Portfolio is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase price. Dollar rolls are speculative techniques. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio earned drop income of $12,275 which is included in interest income in the accompanying statement of operations.

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect

 

21


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

  Government Money Market  
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 13,823,994     $ 3,067,350     $ 11,178,454     $ 4,312     $ 368     $ 138  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

         

Shares sold

    57,196       195,158       $ 621,586     $ 2,203,872  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

    –0 –      53,369         –0 –      615,351  

Shares redeemed

    (135,330     (388,807       (1,475,201     (4,445,529
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (78,134     (140,280     $ (853,615   $ (1,626,306
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

         

Shares sold

    636,965       1,167,051       $ 6,813,827     $ 13,063,851  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

    –0 –      494,442         –0 –      5,621,797  

Shares redeemed

    (1,670,836     (3,578,639       (17,817,838     (39,923,766
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (1,033,871     (1,917,146     $ (11,004,011   $ (21,238,118
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 68% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market.

Allocation Risk—The allocation of investments among the different investment styles, such as growth or value, equity or debt securities, or U.S. or non-U.S. securities may have a more significant effect on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, when one of these investment strategies is performing more poorly than others.

ETF Risk—ETFs are investment companies and are subject to market and selection risk. When the Portfolio invests in an ETF, the Portfolio bears its share of the ETF’s expenses and runs the risk that the ETF may not achieve its investment objective.

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

 

22


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

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

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

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

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

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

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

Real Assets Risk—The Portfolio’s investments in securities linked to real assets involve significant risks, including financial, operating, and competitive risks. Investments in securities linked to real assets expose the Portfolio to adverse macroeconomic conditions, such as a rise in interest rates or a downturn in the economy in which the asset is located. Changes in inflation rates or in the market’s inflation expectations may adversely affect the market value of inflation-sensitive equities. The Portfolio’s investments in real estate securities have many of the same risks as direct ownership of real estate, including the risk that the value of real estate could decline due to a variety of factors that affect the real estate market generally. Investments in real estate investment trusts, or REITs, may have additional risks. REITs are dependent on the capability of their managers, may have limited diversification, and could be significantly affected by changes in tax laws. Some REITs may utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and may potentially increase the Portfolio’s losses.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their

 

23


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

       2021        2020  

Distributions paid from:

         

Ordinary income

     $ 2,456,552        $ 5,219,650  

Net long-term capital gains

       3,780,596          6,835,156  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

     $ 6,237,148        $ 12,054,806  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 8,306,029  

Undistributed capital gains

     18,272,667  

Other losses

     (839 )(a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     40,744,702 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 67,322,559 (c) 
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   As of December 31, 2021, the cumulative deferred loss on straddles was $839.

 

(b)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), the tax treatment of Treasury inflation-protected securities, the amortization on callable bonds, the tax treatment of swaps, and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

 

24


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(c)   The difference between book-basis and tax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) is attributable primarily to the accrual of foreign capital gains tax.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

25


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $11.75       $10.61       $10.24       $10.10       $11.86       $10.54  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .07       .16       .13       .19       .23       .17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (1.94     1.29       .78       1.58       (.87     1.48  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      .00 (c)      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c)      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (1.87     1.45       .91       1.77       (.64     1.65  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.06     (.24     (.29     (.23     (.24

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (.25     (.30     (1.34     (.89     (.09
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.31     (.54     (1.63     (1.12     (.33
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.88       $11.75       $10.61       $10.24       $10.10       $11.86  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)*

    (15.92 )%      13.73     9.41     18.53     (6.17 )%      15.84
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $17,615       $21,879       $21,252       $24,347       $23,967       $29,328  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/
reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .58 %^      .56     .55     .55     .66     .73

Expenses, before waivers/
reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .71 %^      .75     .77     .75     .75     .73

Net investment income (b)

    1.36 %^      1.43     1.38     1.81     2.05     1.51

Portfolio turnover rate**

    122     63     66     63     150     108
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .14 %^      .20     .22     .22     .11     .00

 

 

See footnote summary on page 28.

 

26


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $11.58       $10.47       $10.10       $9.98       $11.73       $10.42  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .06       .13       .11       .16       .20       .14  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (1.92     1.26       .78       1.56       (.86     1.47  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      .00 (c)      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c)      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (1.86     1.39       .89       1.72       (.66     1.61  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.03     (.22     (.26     (.20     (.21

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (.25     (.30     (1.34     (.89     (.09
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.28     (.52     (1.60     (1.09     (.30
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.72       $11.58       $10.47       $10.10       $9.98       $11.73  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)*

    (16.06 )%      13.36     9.25     18.20     (6.41 )%      15.62
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

    $177,868       $223,893       $222,427       $231,071       $220,274       $274,070  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .83 %^      .81     .80     .80     .91     .98

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .96 %^      1.00     1.02     1.00     1.00     .98

Net investment income (b)

    1.10 %^      1.20     1.14     1.57     1.79     1.26

Portfolio turnover rate**

    122     63     66     63     150     108
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .14 %^      .20     .22     .22     .11     .00

 

 

See footnote summary on page 28.

 

27


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(d)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(e)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, such waiver amounted to .13% (annualized), .19%, .20%, .20% and .09%, respectively.

 

(f)   The expense ratios presented below exclude interest/bank overdraft expense:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Class A

            

Net of waivers/reimbursements

     .58 %^      .56     .55     .54     .66     .73

Before waivers/reimbursements

     .71 %^      .75     .77     .75     .75     .73

Class B

            

Net of waivers/reimbursements

     .83 %^      .81     .80     .79     .91     .98

Before waivers/reimbursements

     .96 %^      1.00     1.02     1.00     1.00     .98

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 by .02%.

 

**   The Portfolio accounts for dollar roll transactions as purchases and sales.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

28


 
BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

29


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

At a meeting of the Board of Directors (“Board” or “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) held by video conference on November 2-4, 2021 (the “November 2021 Meeting”), the Board approved, upon recommendation of the Adviser, certain changes to AB Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio (the “Fund”)1 as set forth in the Supplement dated November 5, 2021 to the Prospectuses and Summary Prospectuses dated May 1, 2021 of the Fund, including changes to the Fund’s name (to “AB Balanced Hedged Allocation Portfolio”) and principal investment strategies. In connection with these changes the Adviser also presented its recommendation that the Board consider and approve an amendment to the Company’s then-current Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of the Fund to implement a reduction to the Fund’s then-current advisory fee schedule (the “Amended Advisory Agreement”).

At the recommendation of the Adviser, the disinterested directors (“the directors”) unanimously approved the Amended Advisory Agreement.    

The Adviser’s changes, including the proposed advisory fee reduction, will be effective on or about May 1, 2022 and do not require shareholder approval.

The directors approved the continuance of the Fund’s then-current Advisory Agreement at a meeting held by video conference on August 4-5, 2021 (the “August 2021 Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the Amended Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed Amended Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Analyst for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed approval in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the proposed advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Amended Advisory Agreement, including the proposed advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The directors noted that the proposed lowering of the advisory fee would benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The directors noted that the Adviser was reducing the fees for business reasons, and had assured them that there would be no diminution in the nature or quality of services to the Fund. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services to be provided by the Adviser under the Amended Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Amended Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting,

 

1   Effective May 2, 2022, the Fund changed its name to AB Balanced Hedged Allocation Portfolio.

 

30


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Amended Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund under the Amended Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

In connection with their approval of the continuance of the Fund’s then-current Advisory Agreement at the August 2021 Meeting, the directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2019 and 2020 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the then-current Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors noted that the Fund was not profitable to the Adviser in the periods reviewed.

The Adviser agreed to provide the directors with profitability information in connection with future proposed continuances of the Amended Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the proposed reduction in the advisory fee rate would likely impact the Adviser’s profitability analysis in future years.

Fall-Out Benefits

At the August 2021 Meeting, the directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Fund’s unprofitability to the Adviser would be exacerbated without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the November 2021 Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the August 2021 Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended May 31, 2021 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the proposed advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser under the Amended Advisory Agreement and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund following the implementation of the Adviser’s proposed changes. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s pro forma contractual effective advisory fee rate (reflecting a

 

31


BALANCED HEDGED ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

reduction in the advisory fee rate to take effect on or about May 1, 2022) with a peer group median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s pro forma total rate of compensation was above the peer group median.

The Adviser informed the directors that there were no institutional products managed by it that utilize investment strategies similar to those of the Fund.

The directors noted that the Fund may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued, and rules adopted, by the SEC. The directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts. The directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that the advisory fee for the Fund would be for services in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s proposed advisory fee, the directors also considered the projected total expense ratio of the Class B shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The information provided included the pro forma expense ratio to reflect a reduction in the Fund’s expense ratio effective on or about May 1, 2022. The Adviser had agreed to cap the Fund’s expenses at then-current cap level, but the directors noted that the Fund’s pro forma expense ratio was currently below the level of the Adviser’s then-current cap. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s pro forma expense ratio was above the expense group median. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanation for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s pro forma expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the proposed advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the November 2021 Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

32


VPS-BHA-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
    Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
    Expenses Paid
During Period*
    Annualized
Expense Ratio*
    Total
Expenses Paid
During Period+
    Total
Annualized
Expense Ratio+
 

Class A

           

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 830.70     $ 3.81       0.84   $   3.86       0.85

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $   1,000     $   1,020.63     $   4.21       0.84   $ 4.26       0.85
           

Class B

           

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 829.60     $ 4.94       1.09   $ 4.99       1.10

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $ 1,000     $ 1,019.39     $ 5.46       1.09   $ 5.51       1.10

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

+   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/ unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Portfolio’s total expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratio plus the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the weighted average expense ratio of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios in which it invests, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

SECURITY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

U.S. Treasury Notes & Bonds

   $ 88,345,837          36.1

Apple, Inc.

     6,370,468          2.6  

Microsoft Corp.

     5,222,638          2.1  

AB All Market Real Return Portfolio—Class Z

     4,734,038          1.9  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     2,777,498          1.1  

Alphabet, Inc.—Class A

     1,871,984          0.8  

Alphabet, Inc.—Class C

     1,776,210          0.7  

Tesla, Inc.

     1,689,611          0.7  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     1,380,124          0.6  

Johnson & Johnson

     1,332,568          0.5  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   115,500,976          47.1

PORTFOLIO BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

ASSET CLASSES      ALLOCATION  

Equities

      

US Large Cap

       32.8

International Large Cap

       14.6  

Emerging Market Equities

       1.5  

Real Equities

       1.3  
      

 

 

 

Sub-total

       50.2  
      

 

 

 

Fixed Income

      

U.S. Bonds

       41.7  

International Bonds

       1.4  
      

 

 

 

Sub-total

       43.1  
      

 

 

 

Opportunistic Assets

      

Emerging Market Debt

       1.0  

Commodities

       0.6  
      

 

 

 

Sub-total

       1.6  
      

 

 

 

Net Cash

       5.1  
      

 

 

 

Total

       100.0

SECURITY TYPE BREAKDOWN3

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECURITY TYPE    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Common Stocks

   $   140,358,279          58.0

Governments—Treasuries

     88,345,837          36.4  

Investment Companies

     4,734,038          2.0  

Options Purchased—Puts

     1,143,694          0.5  

Short-Term Investments

     7,484,833          3.1  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   242,066,681          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio breakdown is expressed as an approximate percentage of the Portfolio’s total investments inclusive of derivative exposure, based on the Adviser’s internal classification guidelines.

 

3   The Portfolio’s security type breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

 

2


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

COMMON STOCKS–57.4%

 

     

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–12.1%

     

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–0.4%

     

Arista Networks, Inc.(a)

      703     $ 65,899  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

      11,860       505,710  

F5, Inc.(a)

      174       26,629  

Juniper Networks, Inc.

      921       26,249  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

      481       100,818  

Nokia Oyj

      15,450       71,611  

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson–Class B

      8,333       62,239  
     

 

 

 
        859,155  
     

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–0.5%

     

Amphenol Corp.–Class A

      1,710       110,090  

Arrow Electronics, Inc.(a)

      193       21,633  

Azbil Corp.

      299       7,883  

CDW Corp./DE

      386       60,818  

Cognex Corp.

      496       21,090  

Corning, Inc.

      2,294       72,284  

Halma PLC

      1,083       26,590  

Hamamatsu Photonics KK

      349       13,596  

Hexagon AB–Class B(b)

      5,557       58,065  

Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.

      89       11,818  

Ibiden Co., Ltd.

      241       6,828  

Keyence Corp.

      624       213,993  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.(a)

      522       71,958  

Kyocera Corp.

      859       45,919  

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

      1,617       88,009  

Omron Corp.

      553       28,146  

Shimadzu Corp.

      678       21,490  

TDK Corp.

      1,062       32,835  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

      930       105,230  

Teledyne Technologies, Inc.(a)

      135       50,640  

Trimble, Inc.(a)

      717       41,751  

Venture Corp. Ltd.

      462       5,534  

Yaskawa Electric Corp.

      638       20,606  

Yokogawa Electric Corp.

      634       10,488  

Zebra Technologies Corp.–Class A(a)

      152       44,680  
     

 

 

 
        1,191,974  
     

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–2.1%

     

Accenture PLC–Class A

      1,805       501,158  

Adyen NV(a)(b)

      62       89,474  

Affirm Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)

      543       9,807  

Akamai Technologies, Inc.(a)

      458       41,829  

Amadeus IT Group SA(a)

      1,286       72,008  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

      1,200       252,048  
Company       
    
    
Shares
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Bechtle AG

      234     $ 9,611  

Black Knight, Inc.(a)

      443       28,968  

Block, Inc.(a)

      1,480       90,961  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

      334       47,612  

Capgemini SE

      468       80,711  

CGI, Inc.(a)

      624       49,709  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.–Class A

      1,498       101,100  

Computershare Ltd.

      1,551       26,449  

Edenred

      712       33,728  

EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)

      163       48,049  

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

      1,741       159,598  

Fiserv, Inc.(a)

      1,769       157,388  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc.(a)

      221       46,434  

Fujitsu Ltd.

      551       68,945  

Gartner, Inc.(a)

      235       56,830  

Global Payments, Inc.

      805       89,065  

GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.

      164       11,682  

GoDaddy, Inc.–Class A(a)

      477       33,180  

International Business Machines Corp.

      2,568       362,576  

Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.

      255       6,270  

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

      208       37,444  

Mastercard, Inc.–Class A

      2,492       786,176  

MongoDB, Inc.(a)

      191       49,565  

NEC Corp.

      709       27,663  

Nexi SpA(a)(b)

      1,496       12,423  

Nomura Research Institute Ltd.

      954       25,602  

NTT Data Corp.

      1,822       25,276  

Nuvei Corp.(a)(b)(c)

      191       6,903  

Obic Co., Ltd.

      221       31,428  

Okta, Inc.(a)

      424       38,330  

Otsuka Corp.

      230       6,845  

Paychex, Inc.

      927       105,558  

PayPal Holdings, Inc.(a)

      3,160       220,694  

SCSK Corp.

      392       6,657  

Shopify, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      3,260       101,862  

Snowflake, Inc.–Class A(a)

      612       85,105  

TIS, Inc.

      594       15,629  

Twilio, Inc.–Class A(a)

      490       41,067  

VeriSign, Inc.(a)

      283       47,354  

Visa, Inc.–Class A(b)

      4,735       932,274  

Western Union Co. (The)

      1,123       18,496  

Wix.com Ltd.(a)

      163       10,685  

Worldline SA/France(a)

      680       25,364  
     

 

 

 
        5,133,590  
     

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–2.4%

     

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(a)

      4,668       356,962  

 

3


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Advantest Corp.

      577     $ 31,029  

Analog Devices, Inc.

      1,494       218,258  

Applied Materials, Inc.

      2,522       229,452  

ASM International NV(b)

      134       33,340  

ASML Holding NV

      1,161       548,500  

Broadcom, Inc.

      1,170       568,398  

Disco Corp.

      156       37,122  

Enphase Energy, Inc.(a)

      383       74,777  

Entegris, Inc.

      387       35,654  

Infineon Technologies AG

      3,728       90,686  

Intel Corp.

      11,626       434,929  

KLA Corp.

      431       137,523  

Lam Research Corp.

      399       170,034  

Lasertec Corp.(b)

      271       32,277  

Marvell Technology, Inc.

      2,409       104,864  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

      1,587       92,173  

Micron Technology, Inc.

      3,197       176,730  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

      127       48,773  

NVIDIA Corp.

      7,138       1,082,049  

NXP Semiconductors NV

      750       111,023  

ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)

      1,235       62,133  

Qorvo, Inc.(a)

      310       29,239  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

      3,218       411,067  

Renesas Electronics Corp.(a)

      3,317       30,017  

Rohm Co., Ltd.

      279       19,558  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

      468       43,356  

SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.(a)

      151       41,326  

STMicroelectronics NV

      1,951       61,700  

SUMCO Corp.

      934       12,147  

Teradyne, Inc.

      464       41,551  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

      2,637       405,175  

Tokyo Electron Ltd.

      430       140,349  

Tower Semiconductor Ltd.(a)

      311       14,506  
     

 

 

 
        5,926,677  
     

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–3.9%

     

Adobe, Inc.(a)

      1,347       493,083  

ANSYS, Inc.(a)

      249       59,583  

AppLovin Corp.–Class A(a)(b)

      339       11,675  

Autodesk, Inc.(a)

      628       107,991  

Avalara, Inc.(a)

      259       18,285  

AVEVA Group PLC(b)

      344       9,444  

Bentley Systems, Inc.–Class B(b)

      544       18,115  

Bill.com Holdings, Inc.(a)

      266       29,244  

BlackBerry Ltd.(a)(b)

      1,556       8,389  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(a)

      792       118,824  

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.(a)

      390       18,361  

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.(a)

      295       35,925  

Citrix Systems, Inc.

      359       34,884  

Cloudflare, Inc.–Class A(a)

      713       31,194  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Coinbase Global, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      342     $ 16,081  

Constellation Software, Inc./Canada

      58       86,102  

Coupa Software, Inc.(a)

      213       12,162  

Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc.–Class A(a)

      565       95,236  

CyberArk Software Ltd.(a)

      114       14,587  

Dassault Systemes SE

      1,904       70,526  

Datadog, Inc.–Class A(a)

      642       61,144  

DocuSign, Inc.(a)

      565       32,420  

Dropbox, Inc.–Class A(a)

      822       17,254  

Fair Isaac Corp.(a)

      75       30,067  

Fortinet, Inc.(a)

      1,955       110,614  

Guidewire Software, Inc.(a)

      226       16,044  

HubSpot, Inc.(a)

      129       38,784  

Intuit, Inc.

      768       296,018  

Lightspeed Commerce, Inc.(a)(b)

      381       8,495  

Microsoft Corp.

      20,335       5,222,638  

Nemetschek SE

      165       10,038  

Nice Ltd.(a)

      181       34,927  

NortonLifeLock, Inc.

      1,661       36,476  

Open Text Corp.

      774       29,278  

Oracle Corp.

      4,575       319,655  

Oracle Corp.Japan

      142       8,269  

Palantir Technologies, Inc.–Class A(a)

      4,681       42,457  

Palo Alto Networks,
Inc.(a)(b)

      282       139,291  

Paycom Software, Inc.(a)

      147       41,178  

PTC, Inc.(a)

      317       33,710  

RingCentral, Inc.– Class A(a)

      229       11,968  

Sage Group PLC (The)

      2,906       22,503  

Salesforce, Inc.(a)

      2,813       464,258  

SAP SE

      2,982       271,810  

ServiceNow, Inc.(a)

      571       271,522  

Sinch AB(a)(b)

      1,592       5,200  

Splunk, Inc.(a)

      454       40,161  

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.

      659       38,268  

Synopsys, Inc.(a)

      438       133,021  

Temenos AG (REG)

      182       15,576  

Trade Desk, Inc. (The)–Class A(a)

      1,258       52,698  

Trend Micro, Inc./Japan

      389       19,030  

Tyler Technologies, Inc.(a)

      118       39,233  

Unity Software, Inc.(a)(b)

      546       20,104  

VMware, Inc.–Class A

      598       68,160  

WiseTech Global Ltd.(b)

      419       10,987  

Workday, Inc.–Class A(a)

      560       78,165  

Xero Ltd.(a)

      384       20,483  

Zendesk, Inc.(a)

      348       25,776  

Zoom Video Communications, Inc.–Class A(a)

      623       67,265  

Zscaler, Inc.(a)

      240       35,882  
     

 

 

 
        9,530,518  
     

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE, STORAGE & PERIPHERALS–2.8%

     

Apple, Inc.

      46,595     $ 6,370,468  

Brother Industries Ltd.

      585       10,293  

Canon, Inc.

      2,811       63,701  

Dell Technologies, Inc.–Class C

      828       38,262  

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.

      1,009       54,215  

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.

      3,714       49,248  

HP, Inc.

      3,007       98,570  

Logitech International SA (REG)(b)

      494       25,760  

NetApp, Inc.

      635       41,427  

Ricoh Co., Ltd.

      1,572       12,273  

Seagate Technology Holdings PLC

      594       42,435  

Seiko Epson Corp.

      792       11,204  

Western Digital Corp.(a)

      893       40,033  
     

 

 

 
        6,857,889  
     

 

 

 
        29,499,803  
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–8.1%

     

BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.1%

     

AbbVie, Inc.

      5,050       773,458  

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

      343       50,026  

Amgen, Inc.

      1,591       387,090  

Argenx SE(a)

      139       52,075  

Biogen, Inc.(a)

      420       85,655  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a)

      526       43,590  

CSL Ltd.

      1,376       255,489  

Exact Sciences Corp.(a)(b)

      497       19,577  

Genmab A/S(a)

      188       60,996  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

      3,580       221,280  

Grifols SA(a)(b)

      851       16,139  

Horizon Therapeutics PLC(a)

      615       49,052  

Incyte Corp.(a)

      537       40,796  

Moderna, Inc.(a)

      978       139,707  

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.(a)

      272       26,515  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

      305       180,295  

Seagen, Inc.(a)

      393       69,537  

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB(a)

      482       10,469  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

      727       204,861  
     

 

 

 
        2,686,607  
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–1.4%

     

Abbott Laboratories

      5,035       547,053  

ABIOMED, Inc.(a)

      130       32,176  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Alcon, Inc.

      1,427     $ 100,063  

Align Technology, Inc.(a)

      214       50,647  

Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.

      541       8,191  

Avantor, Inc.(a)

      1,741       54,145  

Baxter International, Inc.

      1,434       92,106  

Becton Dickinson and Co.

      813       200,429  

BioMerieux

      118       11,570  

Boston Scientific Corp.(a)

      4,073       151,801  

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

      115       13,826  

Cochlear Ltd.(b)

      188       25,811  

Coloplast A/S–Class B

      339       38,734  

Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)

      141       44,150  

Demant A/S(a)

      274       10,300  

DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.

      624       22,296  

Dexcom, Inc.(a)

      1,152       85,859  

DiaSorin SpA

      72       9,469  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)

      1,779       169,165  

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.

      1,647       20,518  

Getinge AB–Class B

      653       15,134  

GN Store Nord AS

      374       13,194  

Hologic, Inc.(a)

      714       49,480  

Hoya Corp.

      1,048       89,691  

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)

      241       84,526  

Insulet Corp.(a)

      198       43,152  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

      1,022       205,126  

Koninklijke Philips NV

      2,523       54,115  

Masimo Corp.(a)

      150       19,600  

Medtronic PLC

      3,833       344,012  

Novocure Ltd.(a)(b)

      268       18,626  

Olympus Corp.

      3,480       70,523  

ResMed, Inc.

      418       87,625  

Sartorius AG (Preference Shares)

      70       24,568  

Siemens Healthineers AG

      805       41,044  

Smith & Nephew PLC

      2,511       35,116  

Sonova Holding AG (REG)

      154       49,215  

STERIS PLC

      286       58,959  

Straumann Holding AG (REG)

      318       38,308  

Stryker Corp.

      971       193,161  

Sysmex Corp.

      491       29,627  

Teleflex, Inc.

      134       32,944  

Terumo Corp.

      1,751       52,970  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

      597       62,721  
     

 

 

 
        3,401,746  
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–1.3%

     

AmerisourceBergen Corp.–Class A

      448       63,383  

Amplifon SpA(b)

      355       10,914  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

      791       41,346  

Centene Corp.(a)

      1,664       140,791  

Cigna Corp.

      917       241,648  

 

5


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

CVS Health Corp.

      3,748     $ 347,290  

DaVita, Inc.(a)

      165       13,193  

Elevance Health, Inc.

      689       332,498  

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

      586       29,359  

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

      1,195       36,342  

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

      694       116,634  

Henry Schein, Inc.(a)

      392       30,082  

Humana, Inc.

      362       169,441  

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings

      267       62,574  

McKesson Corp.

      428       139,618  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.(a)

      167       46,695  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

      341       45,346  

Ramsay Health Care Ltd.(b)

      523       26,490  

Sonic Healthcare Ltd.

      1,301       29,654  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

      2,687       1,380,124  

Universal Health Services, Inc.–Class B

      193       19,437  
     

 

 

 
        3,322,859  
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–0.1%

     

M3, Inc.

      1,230       35,405  

Teladoc Health, Inc.(a)(b)

      457       15,177  

Veeva Systems, Inc.–Class A(a)

      397       78,622  
     

 

 

 
        129,204  
     

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.8%

     

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

      858       101,905  

Bachem Holding AG (REG)

      89       6,203  

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.–Class A(a)

      64       31,680  

Bio-Techne Corp.

      113       39,170  

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.(a)

      145       31,026  

Danaher Corp.

      1,941       492,082  

Eurofins Scientific SE

      384       30,328  

Illumina, Inc.(a)

      449       82,778  

IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(a)

      545       118,260  

Lonza Group AG (REG)

      213       113,771  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(a)

      66       75,819  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

      361       51,341  

QIAGEN NV(a)

      659       30,985  

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

      79       24,926  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

      1,117       606,844  

Waters Corp.(a)

      173       57,259  

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

      212       64,102  
     

 

 

 
        1,958,479  
     

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–3.4%

 

   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

      5,285       82,455  

AstraZeneca PLC

      4,424       583,622  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Bausch Health Cos., Inc.(a)

      770     $ 6,437  

Bayer AG (REG)

      2,805       167,504  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

      6,223       479,171  

Catalent, Inc.(a)

      486       52,143  

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

      1,883       48,168  

Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

      4,958       126,094  

Eisai Co., Ltd.

      645       27,271  

Elanco Animal Health, Inc.(a)

      1,215       23,850  

Eli Lilly & Co.

      2,312       749,620  

GSK PLC

      14,514       312,800  

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

      495       9,767  

Ipsen SA

      108       10,226  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)

      176       27,458  

Johnson & Johnson

      7,507       1,332,568  

Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.

      705       15,917  

Merck & Co., Inc.

      7,217       657,974  

Merck KGaA

      369       62,590  

Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

      106       6,470  

Novartis AG (REG)

      6,256       530,387  

Novo Nordisk A/S–Class B

      4,808       533,218  

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

      994       25,535  

Orion Oyj–Class B

      303       13,561  

Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.

      1,078       38,481  

Pfizer, Inc.

      16,055       841,764  

Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica SpA

      298       12,995  

Roche Holding AG

      2,083       700,404  

Royalty Pharma PLC–Class A

      989       41,577  

Sanofi

      3,247       327,447  

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

      759       38,738  

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(b)

      4,243       119,179  

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(a)

      3,150       23,688  

UCB SA

      361       30,591  

Viatris, Inc.

      3,452       36,142  

Vifor Pharma AG(a)

      130       22,537  

Zoetis, Inc.

      1,348       231,708  
     

 

 

 
        8,350,057  
     

 

 

 
        19,848,952  
     

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–7.7%

     

BANKS–3.3%

     

ABN AMRO
Bank NV(b)(c)

      1,207       13,563  

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

      8,004       121,907  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

      19,037       86,477  

Banco Santander SA

      49,510       140,084  

Bank Hapoalim BM

      3,625       30,440  

 

6


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM

      4,148     $ 37,108  

Bank of America Corp.

      20,736       645,512  

Bank of Montreal

      1,851       177,996  

Bank of Nova Scotia (The)

      3,470       205,364  

Barclays PLC

      47,842       89,463  

BNP Paribas SA

      3,172       151,723  

BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.

      10,031       39,833  

CaixaBank SA

      12,657       44,325  

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

      2,575       125,049  

Chiba Bank Ltd. (The)(b)

      1,414       7,740  

Citigroup, Inc.

      5,666       260,579  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

      1,415       50,501  

Commerzbank AG(a)

      3,039       21,562  

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

      4,872       304,386  

Concordia Financial Group Ltd.

      3,021       10,489  

Credit Agricole SA

      3,555       32,773  

Danske Bank A/S

      1,969       28,024  

DBS Group Holdings Ltd.

      4,175       89,334  

DNB Bank ASA

      2,655       48,065  

Erste Group Bank AG

      981       24,928  

Fifth Third Bancorp

      1,952       65,587  

FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA

      1,741       20,886  

First Citizens BancShares, Inc./NC–Class A

      35       22,882  

First Republic Bank/CA

      505       72,821  

Hang Seng Bank Ltd.

      1,305       23,126  

HSBC Holdings PLC

      57,823       377,730  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc./OH

      4,105       49,383  

ING Groep NV

      11,146       109,806  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

      47,155       88,249  

Israel Discount Bank Ltd.–Class A

      3,531       18,490  

Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.

      1,118       8,704  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

      8,431       949,415  

KBC Group NV

      714       40,170  

KeyCorp

      2,648       45,625  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC

      202,692       104,286  

M&T Bank Corp.

      513       81,767  

Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA

      1,728       14,986  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

      34,087       182,367  

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd.

      439       14,615  

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

      6,854       78,032  

National Australia Bank Ltd.

      9,232       175,065  

National Bank of Canada

      966       63,392  

NatWest Group PLC

      16,043       42,703  

Nordea Bank Abp

      9,447       83,450  

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.

      9,327       76,510  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

      1,195     $ 188,535  

Regions Financial Corp.

      2,675       50,156  

Resona Holdings, Inc.

      6,122       22,899  

Royal Bank of Canada

      4,043       391,485  

Shizuoka Bank Ltd. (The)

      1,294       7,791  

Signature Bank/New York NY

      179       32,079  

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB–Class A

      4,646       45,772  

Societe Generale SA

      2,270       50,189  

Standard Chartered PLC

      7,444       56,198  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

      3,633       107,991  

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.

      917       28,341  

SVB Financial Group(a)

      168       66,358  

Svenska Handelsbanken AB–Class A

      4,164       35,743  

Swedbank AB–Class A

      2,585       32,785  

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)

      5,202       341,129  

Truist Financial Corp.

      3,792       179,855  

UniCredit SpA

      6,038       57,701  

United Overseas Bank Ltd.

      2,692       50,858  

US Bancorp

      4,025       185,231  

Webster Financial Corp.

      513       21,623  

Wells Fargo & Co.

      10,891       426,601  

Westpac Banking Corp.

      9,996       134,835  
     

 

 

 
        8,111,427  
     

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–1.7%

     

3i Group PLC

      2,778       37,653  

Abrdn PLC(b)

      6,226       12,153  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

      317       75,345  

Amundi SA

      174       9,580  

ASX Ltd.(b)

      553       31,258  

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)

      2,182       91,011  

BlackRock, Inc.–Class A

      435       264,932  

Blackstone, Inc.

      2,000       182,460  

Brookfield Asset Management, Inc.–Class A (Canada)

      4,030       179,271  

Carlyle Group, Inc. (The)

      559       17,698  

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

      305       34,523  

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

      4,137       261,376  

CME Group, Inc.–Class A

      1,026       210,022  

Credit Suisse Group AG (REG)

      7,568       43,197  

Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.

      3,863       17,297  

Deutsche Bank AG (REG)

      5,900       51,847  

Deutsche Boerse AG

      543       91,184  

EQT AB

      844       17,347  

Euronext NV(c)

      245       20,093  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

      108       41,534  

 

7


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Franklin Resources, Inc.(b)

      860     $ 20,047  

Futu Holdings Ltd. (ADR)(a)(b)

      150       7,831  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

      965       286,624  

Hargreaves Lansdown PLC

      1,015       9,793  

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd.

      3,590       177,548  

IGM Financial, Inc.(b)

      239       6,406  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

      1,604       150,840  

Invesco Ltd.

      986       15,904  

Japan Exchange Group, Inc.

      1,388       20,119  

Julius Baer Group Ltd.

      631       29,272  

KKR & Co., Inc.

      1,587       73,462  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

      940       87,713  

LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.

      229       42,246  

Macquarie Group Ltd.

      1,041       118,524  

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

      108       27,649  

Moody’s Corp.

      476       129,458  

Morgan Stanley

      3,814       290,093  

MSCI, Inc.–Class A

      232       95,619  

Nasdaq, Inc.

      329       50,186  

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

      8,221       29,868  

Northern Trust Corp.

      564       54,415  

Onex Corp.(b)

      211       10,507  

Partners Group Holding AG

      65       58,701  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

      554       49,533  

S&P Global, Inc.

      1,012       341,105  

SBI Holdings, Inc./Japan(b)

      695       13,580  

Schroders PLC

      354       11,564  

SEI Investments Co.

      336       18,151  

Singapore Exchange Ltd.(b)

      1,635       11,139  

St. James’s Place PLC

      1,543       20,762  

State Street Corp.

      1,045       64,424  

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

      651       73,960  

TMX Group Ltd.(b)

      160       16,283  

Tradeweb Markets, Inc.–Class A

      306       20,884  

UBS Group AG (REG)

      10,042       162,346  
     

 

 

 
        4,286,337  
     

 

 

 

CONSUMER FINANCE–0.2%

 

   

Ally Financial, Inc.

      951       31,868  

American Express Co.

      1,843       255,477  

Capital One Financial Corp.

      1,181       123,048  

Discover Financial Services

      814       76,988  

Synchrony Financial

      1,488       41,099  

Upstart Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)

      192       6,071  
     

 

 

 
        534,551  
     

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–0.6%

     

Apollo Global Management, Inc.

      1,141       55,316  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.–Class B(a)

      3,687     $ 1,006,625  

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

      1,112       28,990  

EXOR NV(b)

      310       19,372  

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA

      290       24,310  

Industrivarden AB–Class A

      372       8,410  

Industrivarden AB–Class C(b)

      439       9,813  

Investor AB–Class A

      1,423       25,629  

Investor AB–Class B

      5,201       85,774  

Kinnevik AB–Class B(a)(b)

      691       11,185  

L E Lundbergforetagen AB–Class B

      217       8,848  

M&G PLC

      7,423       17,598  

Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.

      1,823       8,414  

ORIX Corp.

      3,331       55,827  

Sofina SA(b)

      44       9,019  

Wendel SE

      77       6,453  
     

 

 

 
        1,381,583  
     

 

 

 

INSURANCE–1.9%

     

Admiral Group PLC

      513       14,046  

Aegon NV(b)

      5,111       22,011  

Aflac, Inc.

      1,763       97,547  

Ageas SA/NV

      463       20,415  

AIA Group Ltd.

      33,637       367,537  

Alleghany Corp.(a)

      41       34,157  

Allianz SE (REG)

      1,167       223,726  

Allstate Corp. (The)

      795       100,750  

American Financial Group, Inc./OH

      206       28,595  

American International Group, Inc.

      2,326       118,928  

Aon PLC–Class A

      611       164,774  

Arch Capital Group Ltd.(a)

      1,082       49,220  

Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

      596       97,172  

Assicurazioni Generali SpA

      3,159       50,458  

Assurant, Inc.

      158       27,310  

AXA SA

      5,531       126,336  

Baloise Holding AG (REG)

      131       21,444  

Brown & Brown, Inc.

      685       39,963  

Chubb Ltd.

      1,217       239,238  

Cincinnati Financial Corp.

      435       51,756  

Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.

      2,813       52,028  

Erie Indemnity Co.–Class A

      73       14,030  

Everest Re Group Ltd.

      112       31,391  

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

      72       38,154  

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

      769       28,422  

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA

      571       11,624  

Globe Life, Inc.

      270       26,317  

Great-West Lifeco, Inc.

      797       19,461  

Hannover Rueck SE

      172       25,087  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

      947       61,962  

iA Financial Corp., Inc.

      307       15,269  

 

8


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Insurance Australia Group Ltd.(b)

      7,038     $ 21,223  

Intact Financial Corp.(b)

      503       70,948  

Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.

      6,967       49,848  

Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.

      492       7,874  

Legal & General Group PLC

      17,046       49,835  

Lincoln National Corp.

      468       21,888  

Loews Corp.

      602       35,675  

Manulife Financial Corp.

      5,546       96,167  

Markel Corp.(a)

      39       50,437  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

      1,436       222,939  

Medibank Pvt Ltd.

      7,863       17,685  

MetLife, Inc.

      2,002       125,706  

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.

      1,192       36,551  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen (REG)

      400       94,619  

NN Group NV

      817       37,004  

Phoenix Group Holdings PLC

      2,140       15,418  

Poste Italiane SpA

      1,491       13,951  

Power Corp. of Canada

      1,597       41,091  

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

      746       49,825  

Progressive Corp. (The)

      1,669       194,055  

Prudential Financial, Inc.

      1,074       102,760  

Prudential PLC

      7,841       97,536  

QBE Insurance Group Ltd.

      4,225       35,502  

Sampo Oyj–Class A

      1,424       62,230  

Sompo Holdings, Inc.

      891       39,354  

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

      1,673       76,658  

Suncorp Group Ltd.

      3,604       27,483  

Swiss Life Holding AG (REG)

      90       43,935  

Swiss Re AG

      861       66,829  

T&D Holdings, Inc.

      1,496       17,908  

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.

      1,804       105,195  

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

      690       116,700  

Tryg A/S

      1,028       23,161  

Willis Towers Watson PLC

      337       66,520  

WR Berkley Corp.

      606       41,366  

Zurich Insurance Group AG

      430       187,512  
     

 

 

 
        4,582,516  
     

 

 

 

MORTGAGE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–0.0%

     

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

      4,455       26,329  
     

 

 

 
        18,922,743  
     

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–6.1%

     

AUTO COMPONENTS–0.2%

     

Aisin Corp.

      343     $ 10,616  

Aptiv PLC(a)

      773       68,851  

BorgWarner, Inc.

      685       22,858  

Bridgestone Corp.

      1,568       57,168  

Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA

      1,936       52,874  

Continental AG

      314       22,039  

Denso Corp.

      1,260       66,506  

Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

      231       7,337  

Lear Corp.

      171       21,527  

Magna International, Inc.–Class A (Canada)

      816       44,807  

Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

      2,019       22,311  

Valeo

      588       11,458  
     

 

 

 
        408,352  
     

 

 

 

AUTOMOBILES–1.3%

     

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

      945       73,257  

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Preference Shares)

      165       11,769  

Ferrari NV

      360       66,254  

Ford Motor Co.

      11,230       124,990  

General Motors Co.(a)

      3,941       125,166  

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

      4,623       111,465  

Isuzu Motors Ltd.

      1,612       17,831  

Lucid Group, Inc.(a)(b)

      1,180       20,249  

Mazda Motor Corp.

      1,565       12,774  

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

      2,291       133,057  

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

      6,579       25,767  

Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Preference Shares)

      437       29,065  

Renault SA(a)

      548       13,835  

Rivian Automotive, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      509       13,102  

Stellantis NV

      6,260       77,716  

Subaru Corp.

      1,681       29,734  

Suzuki Motor Corp.

      981       30,841  

Tesla, Inc.(a)

      2,509       1,689,611  

Toyota Motor Corp.

      30,270       467,045  

Volkswagen AG

      85       15,545  

Volkswagen AG (Preference Shares)

      530       71,359  

Volvo Car AB–Class B(a)(b)

      1,701       11,303  

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

      795       14,598  
     

 

 

 
        3,186,333  
     

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTORS–0.1%

     

D’ieteren Group

      71       10,433  

Genuine Parts Co.

      406       53,998  

LKQ Corp.

      773       37,947  

 

9


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Pool Corp.

      115     $ 40,391  
     

 

 

 
        142,769  
     

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–0.0%

     

IDP Education Ltd.(b)

      596       9,759  
     

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–1.0%

     

Accor SA(a)

      485       13,231  

Airbnb, Inc.–Class A(a)

      954       84,982  

Aramark

      659       20,185  

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.

      1,720       40,912  

Booking Holdings, Inc.(a)

      117       204,632  

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.(a)

      611       23,401  

Carnival Corp.(a)(b)

      2,393       20,699  

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.–Class A(a)

      81       105,888  

Compass Group PLC

      5,094       104,587  

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

      365       41,289  

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd.(b)

      173       8,132  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

      104       40,530  

Entain PLC(a)

      1,674       25,474  

Evolution AB

      522       47,753  

Expedia Group, Inc.(a)

      429       40,682  

Flutter Entertainment PLC(a)

      477       48,357  

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

      5,343       32,008  

Genting Singapore Ltd.

      16,869       8,749  

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

      797       88,818  

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC

      525       27,903  

La Francaise des Jeux SAEM

      300       10,417  

Las Vegas Sands Corp.(a)

      981       32,952  

Lottery Corp. Ltd.
(The)(a)(b)

      6,354       19,824  

Marriott International, Inc./MD–Class A

      792       107,720  

McDonald’s Corp.

      2,123       524,126  

McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan Ltd.(b)

      192       6,994  

MGM Resorts International

      1,003       29,037  

Oriental Land Co., Ltd./Japan

      581       81,138  

Restaurant Brands International, Inc.(b)

      840       42,137  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a)

      655       22,866  

Sands China Ltd.(a)

      6,020       14,482  

Sodexo SA

      253       17,896  

Starbucks Corp.

      3,284       250,865  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

      116       25,294  

Whitbread PLC

      576       17,467  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Wynn Resorts Ltd.(a)(b)

      314     $ 17,892  

Yum! Brands, Inc.

      825       93,646  
     

 

 

 
        2,342,965  
     

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–0.3%

     

Barratt Developments PLC

      2,919       16,328  

Berkeley Group Holdings PLC

      320       14,549  

DR Horton, Inc.

      961       63,609  

Electrolux AB–Class B(b)

      643       8,685  

Garmin Ltd.

      441       43,328  

Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

      411       6,310  

Lennar Corp.–Class A

      746       52,645  

Mohawk Industries, Inc.(a)

      149       18,490  

Newell Brands, Inc.

      1,154       21,972  

NVR, Inc.(a)

      10       40,042  

Open House Group Co., Ltd.

      200       7,961  

Panasonic Holdings Corp.

      6,271       50,633  

Persimmon PLC

      911       20,727  

PulteGroup, Inc.

      710       28,137  

SEB SA

      71       6,852  

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

      983       13,477  

Sekisui House Ltd.

      1,689       29,651  

Sharp Corp./Japan(b)

      697       5,391  

Sony Group Corp.

      3,634       296,377  

Taylor Wimpey PLC

      10,417       14,838  

Whirlpool Corp.

      168       26,018  
     

 

 

 
        786,020  
     

 

 

 

INTERNET & DIRECT MARKETING RETAIL–1.3%

 

   

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

      26,151       2,777,498  

Chewy, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      259       8,992  

Delivery Hero SE(a)

      465       17,543  

DoorDash, Inc.–Class A(a)

      543       34,844  

eBay, Inc.

      1,677       69,881  

Etsy, Inc.(a)

      363       26,575  

Just Eat Takeaway.com NV(a)

      521       8,187  

MercadoLibre, Inc.(a)

      130       82,793  

Prosus NV(a)

      2,368       153,336  

Rakuten Group, Inc.(b)

      2,413       10,911  

Wayfair, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      215       9,365  

Zalando SE(a)

      635       16,728  

ZOZO, Inc.

      271       4,903  
     

 

 

 
        3,221,556  
     

 

 

 

LEISURE PRODUCTS–0.1%

     

Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.

      579       40,873  

BRP, Inc.(b)

      109       6,708  

Hasbro, Inc.

      377       30,869  

Peloton Interactive, Inc.–Class A(a)

      821       7,537  

Shimano, Inc.

      260       43,799  

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Yamaha Corp.

      394     $ 16,243  
     

 

 

 
        146,029  
     

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL–0.3%

     

Canadian Tire Corp., Ltd.–Class A

      161       20,313  

Cie Financiere Richemont SA (REG)

      1,491       160,377  

Dollar General Corp.

      662       162,481  

Dollar Tree, Inc.(a)

      643       100,212  

Dollarama, Inc.

      808       46,526  

Next PLC

      378       27,004  

Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.

      1,071       17,075  

Target Corp.

      1,368       193,203  

Wesfarmers Ltd.

      3,238       93,656  
     

 

 

 
        820,847  
     

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–0.9%

     

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

      175       30,291  

AutoZone, Inc.(a)

      59       126,798  

Bath & Body Works, Inc.

      735       19,786  

Best Buy Co., Inc.

      618       40,287  

Burlington Stores, Inc.(a)

      191       26,020  

CarMax, Inc.(a)

      462       41,802  

Carvana Co.(a)(b)

      271       6,119  

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd.

      5,000       9,444  

Dynatrace, Inc.(a)

      571       22,520  

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

      219       115,036  

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB–Class B(b)

      2,085       25,025  

Hikari Tsushin, Inc.

      86       8,841  

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

      2,982       817,873  

Industria de Diseno Textil SA

      3,114       70,767  

JD Sports Fashion PLC

      7,363       10,375  

Kingfisher PLC(b)

      5,852       17,489  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

      1,913       334,144  

Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd.

      213       20,270  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.(a)

      192       121,298  

Ross Stores, Inc.

      1,009       70,862  

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

      3,406       190,225  

Tractor Supply Co.

      322       62,420  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

      155       59,749  

USS Co., Ltd.

      553       9,585  
     

 

 

 
        2,257,026  
     

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.6%

     

adidas AG

      494       87,750  

Burberry Group PLC

      1,141       22,890  

EssilorLuxottica SA

      821       124,474  

Gildan Activewear, Inc.

      542       15,601  

Hermes International

      91       102,414  

Kering SA

      214       110,900  

Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)

      337       91,870  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

      793       486,012  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Moncler SpA

      586     $ 25,248  

NIKE, Inc.–Class B

      3,644       372,417  

Pandora A/S

      271       17,217  

Puma SE

      301       19,970  

Swatch Group AG (The)

      83       19,716  

Swatch Group AG (The) (REG)

      150       6,693  

VF Corp.

      944       41,696  
     

 

 

 
        1,544,868  
     

 

 

 
        14,866,524  
     

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–5.7%

     

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–0.9%

     

Airbus SE

      1,683       164,614  

BAE Systems PLC

      8,983       90,944  

Boeing Co. (The)(a)

      1,582       216,291  

CAE, Inc.(a)

      905       22,302  

Dassault Aviation SA

      72       11,244  

Elbit Systems Ltd.

      76       17,456  

General Dynamics Corp.

      674       149,123  

HEICO Corp.

      125       16,390  

HEICO Corp.–Class A

      209       22,024  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc.

      1,076       33,840  

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

      115       25,049  

Kongsberg Gruppen ASA

      255       9,171  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

      552       133,418  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

      700       300,972  

MTU Aero Engines AG

      153       28,028  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

      424       202,914  

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

      4,261       409,525  

Rheinmetall AG

      125       28,846  

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC(a)(b)

      23,890       24,312  

Safran SA

      976       97,176  

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.

      3,908       11,504  

Textron, Inc.

      619       37,802  

Thales SA

      305       37,447  

TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)

      151       81,037  
     

 

 

 
        2,171,429  
     

 

 

 

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–0.3%

     

CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

      368       37,304  

Deutsche Post AG (REG)

      2,830       106,850  

DSV A/S

      548       77,058  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

      484       47,171  

FedEx Corp.

      719       163,004  

Kuehne & Nagel International AG (REG)

      156       37,066  

SG Holdings Co., Ltd.

      752       12,716  

United Parcel Service, Inc.–Class B

      2,092       381,874  

 

11


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

      796     $ 12,739  
     

 

 

 
        875,782  
     

 

 

 

AIRLINES–0.0%

     

Air Canada(a)(b)

      500       6,231  

ANA Holdings, Inc.(a)

      395       7,296  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.(a)

      456       13,210  

Deutsche Lufthansa AG (REG)(a)

      1,706       10,049  

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.(a)

      358       6,151  

Qantas Airways Ltd.(a)

      2,638       8,164  

Singapore Airlines
Ltd.(a)(b)

      2,936       10,788  

Southwest Airlines Co.(a)

      423       15,279  
     

 

 

 
        77,168  
     

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–0.3%

     

A O Smith Corp.

      375       20,505  

AGC, Inc.

      522       18,342  

Allegion PLC

      252       24,671  

Assa Abloy AB–Class B

      2,861       61,054  

Carrier Global Corp.

      2,442       87,082  

Cie de Saint-Gobain

      1,421       61,400  

Daikin Industries Ltd.

      719       115,442  

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

      383       22,934  

Geberit AG (REG)

      103       49,554  

Johnson Controls International PLC

      2,006       96,047  

Kingspan Group PLC

      440       26,458  

Lennox International, Inc.

      94       19,419  

Lixil Corp.

      772       14,510  

Masco Corp.

      685       34,661  

Nibe Industrier AB–Class B

      4,326       32,610  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

      1,213       85,723  

Owens Corning

      283       21,030  

ROCKWOOL A/S–Class B

      26       5,903  

TOTO Ltd.

      361       11,953  

Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd.

      4,186       10,100  
     

 

 

 
        819,398  
     

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.3%

     

Brambles Ltd.

      4,096       30,287  

Cintas Corp.

      267       99,733  

Copart, Inc.(a)

      610       66,283  

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

      566       12,175  

GFL Environmental, Inc.(b)

      512       13,190  

Rentokil Initial PLC

      5,308       30,770  

Republic Services, Inc.–Class A

      633       82,841  

Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.

      316       20,560  

Rollins, Inc.

      632       22,069  

Secom Co., Ltd.

      570       35,195  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Securitas AB–Class B

      894     $ 7,729  

TOPPAN, Inc.

      736       12,279  

Waste Connections, Inc.

      735       91,111  

Waste Management, Inc.

      1,184       181,128  
     

 

 

 
        705,350  
     

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–0.2%

     

ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA(b)

      630       15,354  

Bouygues SA

      655       20,216  

Eiffage SA

      238       21,529  

Epiroc AB–Class A

      1,881       29,165  

Epiroc AB–Class B

      1,113       15,083  

Ferrovial SA

      1,392       35,418  

Kajima Corp.

      1,203       13,794  

Obayashi Corp.

      1,784       12,976  

Quanta Services, Inc.

      411       51,515  

Shimizu Corp.

      1,517       8,380  

Skanska AB–Class B

      971       14,939  

Taisei Corp.

      500       15,590  

Vinci SA

      1,524       136,796  

WSP Global, Inc.

      336       37,991  
     

 

 

 
        428,746  
     

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–0.5%

     

ABB Ltd. (REG)

      4,689       125,750  

AMETEK, Inc.

      662       72,747  

Eaton Corp. PLC

      1,139       143,503  

Emerson Electric Co.

      1,696       134,900  

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

      330       13,643  

Generac Holdings, Inc.(a)

      182       38,326  

Legrand SA

      764       56,726  

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

      5,458       58,669  

Nidec Corp.

      1,283       79,503  

Plug Power, Inc.(a)(b)

      1,481       24,540  

Prysmian SpA

      727       19,973  

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

      332       66,171  

Schneider Electric SE

      1,544       183,976  

Sensata Technologies Holding PLC

      450       18,590  

Siemens Energy AG(a)

      1,244       18,334  

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA(a)(b)

      680       12,821  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

      2,883       61,298  
     

 

 

 
        1,129,470  
     

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–0.6%

     

3M Co.

      1,631       211,068  

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

      7,047       47,807  

DCC PLC

      282       17,545  

General Electric Co.

      3,139       199,860  

Hitachi Ltd.

      2,722       129,486  

Honeywell International, Inc.

      1,958       340,320  

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Investment AB Latour–Class B(b)

      422     $ 8,382  

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.

      640       33,628  

Keppel Corp., Ltd.

      3,974       18,565  

Lifco AB–Class B(b)

      665       10,739  

Melrose Industries PLC

      12,483       22,897  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

      302       119,184  

Siemens AG (REG)

      2,184       224,507  

Smiths Group PLC

      1,105       18,896  

Toshiba Corp.

      1,045       42,459  
     

 

 

 
        1,445,343  
     

 

 

 

MACHINERY–1.0%

     

Alfa Laval AB

      838       20,315  

Alstom SA

      905       20,665  

Atlas Copco AB–Class A

      7,669       71,782  

Atlas Copco AB–Class B

      4,456       37,336  

Caterpillar, Inc.

      1,530       273,503  

CNH Industrial NV

      2,921       33,782  

Cummins, Inc.

      407       78,767  

Daifuku Co., Ltd.

      302       17,284  

Daimler Truck Holding AG(a)

      1,292       34,026  

Deere & Co.

      833       249,458  

Dover Corp.

      412       49,984  

FANUC Corp.

      608       95,297  

Fortive Corp.

      973       52,912  

GEA Group AG

      438       15,185  

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

      258       5,731  

Hoshizaki Corp.

      302       9,001  

Husqvarna AB–Class B(b)

      1,196       8,816  

IDEX Corp.

      218       39,595  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

      894       162,931  

Indutrade AB

      779       14,293  

Ingersoll Rand, Inc.

      1,164       48,981  

KION Group AG

      206       8,624  

Knorr-Bremse AG

      207       11,856  

Komatsu Ltd.

      2,600       57,895  

Kone Oyj–Class B

      970       46,361  

Kornit Digital Ltd.(a)(b)

      140       4,438  

Kubota Corp.

      2,851       42,725  

Kurita Water Industries Ltd.(b)

      279       10,099  

Makita Corp.(b)

      595       14,748  

MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.

      1,033       17,606  

MISUMI Group, Inc.

      730       15,417  

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

      855       29,884  

NGK Insulators Ltd.

      596       8,030  

Nordson Corp.

      150       30,366  

PACCAR, Inc.

      992       81,681  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

      367       90,300  

Pentair PLC

      471       21,558  

Rational AG

      15       8,745  

Sandvik AB

      3,044       49,608  

Schindler Holding AG

      117       21,395  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Schindler Holding AG (REG)

      67     $ 12,067  

SKF AB–Class B

      1,094       16,231  

SMC Corp.

      210       93,479  

Snap-on, Inc.

      153       30,146  

Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC

      210       25,328  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

      467       48,970  

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

      3,244       33,874  

Toyota Industries Corp.

      406       25,175  

Trane Technologies PLC

      667       86,623  

VAT Group AG(c)

      77       18,415  

Volvo AB–Class A

      571       9,247  

Volvo AB–Class B

      4,308       67,030  

Wartsila OYJ Abp

      1,351       10,590  

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

      503       41,286  

Xylem, Inc./NY

      514       40,185  
     

 

 

 
        2,469,626  
     

 

 

 

MARINE–0.1%

     

AP Moller–Maersk A/S–Class A

      9       20,889  

AP Moller–Maersk A/S–Class B

      16       37,562  

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.(b)

      917       21,095  

Nippon Yusen KK(b)

      463       31,745  

SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.

      3,000       8,532  

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.(b)

      239       11,288  
     

 

 

 
        131,111  
     

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.4%

     

Adecco Group AG (REG)

      460       15,679  

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

      381       34,427  

Bureau Veritas SA

      839       21,586  

Clarivate PLC(a)

      882       12,225  

CoStar Group, Inc.(a)

      1,128       68,142  

Equifax, Inc.

      349       63,790  

Experian PLC

      2,632       77,278  

Intertek Group PLC

      461       23,695  

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

      369       46,911  

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

      381       38,371  

Nihon M&A Center Holdings, Inc.

      797       8,496  

Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.

      481       8,782  

Randstad NV(b)

      341       16,481  

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

      4,086       120,334  

RELX PLC (London)

      5,520       149,875  

Robert Half International, Inc.

      316       23,665  

SGS SA (REG)

      19       43,580  

Teleperformance

      168       51,876  

 

13


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Thomson Reuters Corp.

      487     $ 50,770  

TransUnion

      548       43,835  

Verisk Analytics, Inc.–Class A

      461       79,794  

Wolters Kluwer NV

      750       72,688  
     

 

 

 
        1,072,280  
     

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–0.7%

     

AMERCO

      28       13,390  

Aurizon Holdings Ltd.

      5,255       13,821  

Canadian National Railway Co.

      1,699       191,111  

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.

      2,655       185,450  

Central Japan Railway Co.

      407       46,778  

CSX Corp.

      6,262       181,974  

East Japan Railway Co.

      893       45,676  

Grab Holdings Ltd.–Class A(a) (b)

      2,203       5,574  

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

      638       17,426  

JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

      240       37,793  

Keio Corp.(b)

      216       7,749  

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

      351       9,692  

Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

      428       13,316  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

      451       20,877  

Lyft, Inc.–Class A(a)

      873       11,593  

MTR Corp., Ltd.

      3,764       19,734  

Nippon Express Holdings, Inc.

      241       13,128  

Norfolk Southern Corp.

      685       155,694  

Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

      826       11,144  

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

      279       71,502  

TFI International, Inc.

      237       19,025  

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

      482       11,002  

Tokyu Corp.(b)

      1,453       17,150  

Uber Technologies, Inc.(a)

      4,185       85,625  

Union Pacific Corp.

      1,819       387,956  

West Japan Railway Co.

      548       20,160  
     

 

 

 
        1,614,340  
     

 

 

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–0.3%

     

AerCap Holdings NV(a)

      384       15,721  

Ashtead Group PLC

      1,270       53,427  

Brenntag SE

      441       28,876  

Bunzl PLC

      963       31,982  

Fastenal Co.

      1,643       82,019  

Ferguson PLC

      625       70,014  

ITOCHU Corp.

      3,301       89,054  

Marubeni Corp.

      4,408       39,547  

Mitsubishi Corp.

      3,511       104,562  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

      3,931     $ 86,382  

MonotaRO Co., Ltd.(b)

      632       9,425  

Reece Ltd.(b)

      645       6,127  

Sumitomo Corp.

      3,189       43,349  

Toromont Industries Ltd.(b)

      235       19,001  

Toyota Tsusho Corp.

      592       19,301  

United Rentals, Inc.(a)

      207       50,282  

WW Grainger, Inc.

      132       59,985  
     

 

 

 
        809,054  
     

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE–0.1%

     

Aena SME SA(a)

      214       27,307  

Aeroports de Paris(a)

      85       10,836  

Atlantia SpA

      1,414       33,193  

Auckland International Airport Ltd.(a)

      3,574       16,010  

Getlink SE

      1,256       22,275  

Transurban Group

      8,767       87,225  
     

 

 

 
        196,846  
     

 

 

 
        13,945,943  
     

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–4.5%

 

   

BEVERAGES–1.1%

     

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

      2,480       133,553  

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.

      1,264       41,567  

Brown-Forman Corp.–Class B

      884       62,021  

Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd.(c)

      4,137       12,414  

Carlsberg AS–Class B

      287       36,679  

Coca-Cola Co., (The)

      11,759       739,759  

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC

      586       30,243  

Coca-Cola HBC AG

      574       12,790  

Constellation Brands, Inc.–Class A

      470       109,538  

Davide Campari-Milano NV

      1,492       15,740  

Diageo PLC

      6,611       285,547  

Heineken Holding NV

      288       20,922  

Heineken NV

      740       67,356  

Ito En Ltd.

      76       3,418  

Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

      2,227       78,814  

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.

      2,328       36,775  

Molson Coors Beverage Co.–Class B

      515       28,073  

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

      1,134       105,122  

PepsiCo, Inc.

      3,950       658,307  

Pernod Ricard SA

      598       110,555  

Remy Cointreau SA

      66       11,580  

Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd.

      338       12,764  

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd.

      2,060       16,155  
     

 

 

 
        2,629,692  
     

 

 

 

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–0.9%

     

Aeon Co., Ltd.

      1,825     $ 31,700  

Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.

      2,417       94,280  

Carrefour SA

      1,772       31,455  

Coles Group Ltd.

      3,814       46,936  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

      1,266       606,768  

Empire Co., Ltd.–Class A

      470       14,478  

Endeavour Group Ltd./Australia

      3,835       20,063  

George Weston Ltd.

      210       24,532  

HelloFresh SE(a)

      471       15,366  

J Sainsbury PLC

      4,995       12,431  

Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA

      808       17,516  

Kesko Oyj–Class B

      779       18,436  

Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.(b)

      396       9,734  

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV

      2,985       77,697  

Kroger Co. (The)

      1,994       94,376  

Loblaw Cos., Ltd.

      476       42,930  

Metro, Inc./CN

      688       36,928  

Ocado Group PLC(a)

      1,394       13,289  

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.

      2,112       81,946  

Sysco Corp.

      1,449       122,745  

Tesco PLC

      21,792       67,917  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

      2,095       79,401  

Walmart, Inc.

      4,356       529,602  

Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.

      240       4,825  

Woolworths Group Ltd.(b)

      3,460       84,986  
     

 

 

 
        2,180,337  
     

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS–1.0%

     

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

      1,258       30,677  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

      1,605       124,548  

Associated British Foods PLC

      1,017       19,624  

Barry Callebaut AG (REG)

      11       24,612  

Bunge Ltd.

      404       36,639  

Campbell Soup Co.

      603       28,974  

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

      4       40,728  

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG (REG)

      1       104,855  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

      1,369       46,874  

Danone SA

      1,865       104,444  

General Mills, Inc.

      1,722       129,925  

Hershey Co. (The)

      416       89,506  

Hormel Foods Corp.

      852       40,351  

JDE Peet’s NV(b)

      287       8,172  

JM Smucker Co. (The)

      310       39,683  

Kellogg Co.

      732       52,221  

Kerry Group PLC–Class A

      455       43,512  

Kikkoman Corp.

      395       21,021  

Kraft Heinz Co. (The)

      2,096       79,941  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

McCormick & Co., Inc./MD

      713     $ 59,357  

MEIJI Holdings Co., Ltd.

      320       15,724  

Mondelez International, Inc.–Class A

      3,964       246,125  

Mowi ASA

      1,181       27,007  

Nestle SA (REG)

      8,037       939,306  

Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.

      562       6,577  

Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.

      164       11,328  

Orkla ASA

      2,144       17,175  

Salmar ASA

      168       11,894  

Saputo, Inc.(b)

      711       15,505  

Tyson Foods, Inc.–Class A

      835       71,860  

WH Group Ltd.

      23,359       18,079  

Wilmar International Ltd.

      5,113       14,882  

Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

      342       19,726  
     

 

 

 
        2,540,852  
     

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–0.7%

     

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

      693       64,214  

Clorox Co. (The)

      352       49,625  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

      2,280       182,719  

Essity AB–Class B

      1,738       45,432  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

      297       18,248  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Preference Shares)

      509       31,497  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

      962       130,014  

Procter & Gamble Co., (The)

      6,844       984,099  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

      2,041       153,508  

Unicharm Corp.

      1,094       36,712  
     

 

 

 
        1,696,068  
     

 

 

 

PERSONAL PRODUCTS–0.4%

     

Beiersdorf AG

      288       29,554  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The)–Class A

      664       169,101  

Kao Corp.

      1,293       52,430  

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(b)

      138       8,547  

Kose Corp.

      96       8,749  

L’Oreal SA

      688       238,877  

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

      1,063       42,847  

Unilever PLC

      7,312       333,279  
     

 

 

 
        883,384  
     

 

 

 

TOBACCO–0.4%

     

Altria Group, Inc.

      5,188       216,703  

British American Tobacco PLC

      6,216       266,444  

Imperial Brands PLC

      2,577       57,693  

Japan Tobacco, Inc.(b)

      3,390       58,745  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

      4,425       436,924  

Swedish Match AB

      4,511       46,024  
     

 

 

 
        1,082,533  
     

 

 

 
        11,012,866  
     

 

 

 

 

15


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.4%

     

DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.1%

     

AT&T, Inc.

      20,393     $ 427,437  

BCE, Inc.(b)

      207       10,175  

BT Group PLC

      19,838       45,087  

Cable One, Inc.

      16       20,629  

Cellnex Telecom SA(b)

      1,551       60,362  

Charter Communications, Inc.–Class A(a)

      346       162,111  

Comcast Corp.–Class A

      12,916       506,824  

Deutsche Telekom AG (REG)

      9,254       184,055  

Elisa Oyj

      406       22,857  

Eurazeo SE

      124       7,703  

HKT Trust & HKT Ltd.–Class SS

      10,744       14,430  

Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA

      959       9,749  

Koninklijke KPN NV

      9,431       33,557  

Liberty Global PLC–Class A(a)

      447       9,409  

Liberty Global PLC–Class C(a)

      910       20,102  

Lumen Technologies, Inc.(b)

      2,629       28,682  

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

      3,367       96,745  

Orange SA

      5,696       67,119  

Proximus SADP

      434       6,406  

Quebecor, Inc.–Class B(b)

      463       9,895  

Shaw Communications, Inc.–Class B

      1,361       40,105  

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

      23,333       42,468  

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.(b)

      2,254       13,817  

Spark New Zealand Ltd.

      5,337       15,972  

Swisscom AG (REG)

      74       40,931  

Telecom Italia SpA/Milano(a)

      28,449       7,460  

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

      2,972       8,570  

Telefonica SA(a)(b)

      15,826       80,801  

Telenor ASA

      1,997       26,686  

Telia Co. AB

      7,589       29,127  

Telstra Corp., Ltd.

      11,740       31,226  

TELUS Corp.

      1,296       28,866  

United Internet AG (REG)

      276       7,911  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

      11,985       608,239  

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.(b)

      618       10,065  
     

 

 

 
        2,735,578  
     

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT–0.7%

     

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

      2,225       173,238  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

      1,467     $ 19,878  

Bollore SE

      2,524       11,766  

Capcom Co., Ltd.

      468       11,384  

Electronic Arts, Inc.

      803       97,685  

Embracer Group AB(a)(b)

      1,823       14,003  

Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

      123       3,988  

Konami Holdings Corp.

      230       12,742  

Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One–Class C(a)

      557       35,353  

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.(a)

      481       39,721  

Netflix, Inc.(a)

      1,268       221,735  

Nexon Co., Ltd.(b)

      1,340       27,517  

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

      326       140,198  

ROBLOX Corp.–
Class A(a)(b)

      1,003       32,959  

Roku, Inc.(a)

      340       27,928  

Sea Ltd. (ADR)(a)

      944       63,116  

Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

      218       9,676  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(a)

      461       56,486  

Toho Co., Ltd./Tokyo

      296       10,723  

Ubisoft Entertainment SA(a)

      268       11,820  

Universal Music Group NV(b)

      2,070       41,475  

Walt Disney Co., (The)(a)

      5,198       490,691  

Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.(a)

      6,358       85,324  
     

 

 

 
        1,639,406  
     

 

 

 

INTERACTIVE MEDIA & SERVICES–2.1%

     

Adevinta ASA(a)

      832       6,125  

Alphabet, Inc.–Class A(a)

      859       1,871,984  

Alphabet, Inc.–Class C(a)

      812       1,776,210  

Auto Trader Group PLC

      2,698       18,272  

IAC/InterActiveCorp(a)

      227       17,245  

Kakaku.com, Inc.

      296       4,916  

Match Group, Inc.(a)

      814       56,728  

Meta Platforms, Inc.–Class A(a)

      6,593       1,063,121  

Pinterest, Inc.–Class A(a)

      1,626       29,528  

REA Group Ltd.(b)

      151       11,660  

Scout24 SE

      229       11,797  

SEEK Ltd.

      959       13,911  

Snap, Inc.–Class A(a)

      3,129       41,084  

Twitter, Inc.(a)

      2,286       85,474  

Z Holdings Corp.(b)

      7,535       21,912  

ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.(a)

      748       24,864  
     

 

 

 
        5,054,831  
     

 

 

 

MEDIA–0.2%

     

CyberAgent, Inc.

      1,204       12,062  

Dentsu Group, Inc.(b)

      526       15,858  

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

DISH Network Corp.–Class A(a)(b)

      704     $ 12,623  

Fox Corp.–Class A

      901       28,976  

Fox Corp.–Class B

      423       12,563  

Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.

      581       5,337  

Informa PLC(a)

      4,268       27,574  

Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)

      1,124       30,944  

Liberty Broadband Corp.–Class C(a)

      386       44,637  

Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM–Class A(a)

      216       7,785  

Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM–Class C(a)

      475       17,124  

News Corp.–Class A

      1,090       16,982  

Omnicom Group, Inc.

      597       37,975  

Paramount Global–Class B(b)

      1,735       42,820  

Pearson PLC

      1,945       17,811  

Publicis Groupe SA

      651       32,017  

Vivendi SE

      2,057       20,991  

WPP PLC

      3,261       32,940  
     

 

 

 
        417,019  
     

 

 

 

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–0.3%

     

KDDI Corp.

      4,568       144,049  

Rogers Communications, Inc.–Class B

      1,012       48,493  

SoftBank Corp.

      8,187       90,897  

SoftBank Group Corp.(b)

      3,362       130,306  

T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)

      1,784       240,019  

Tele2 AB–Class B(b)

      1,620       18,473  

Vodafone Group PLC

      76,916       119,596  
     

 

 

 
        791,833  
     

 

 

 
        10,638,667  
     

 

 

 

ENERGY–2.9%

     

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–0.2%

     

Baker Hughes Co.–Class A

      2,722       78,584  

Halliburton Co.

      2,565       80,438  

Schlumberger NV

      4,035       144,292  

Tenaris SA

      1,348       17,314  
     

 

 

 
        320,628  
     

 

 

 

OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION–0.0%

     

ARC Resources Ltd.(b)

      1,960       24,713  
     

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–2.7%

     

Aker BP ASA

      903       31,328  

Ampol Ltd.

      680       16,050  

APA Corp.

      990       34,551  

BP PLC

      55,597       261,055  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Cameco Corp.

      1,136     $ 23,881  

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

      3,360       180,556  

Cenovus Energy, Inc.

      3,987       75,856  

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

      654       87,002  

Chevron Corp.

      5,561       805,122  

ConocoPhillips

      3,711       333,285  

Coterra Energy, Inc.

      2,322       59,884  

Devon Energy Corp.

      1,802       99,308  

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

      482       58,394  

Enbridge, Inc.

      5,785       244,307  

ENEOS Holdings, Inc.

      8,737       32,876  

Eni SpA

      7,206       85,468  

EOG Resources, Inc.

      1,672       184,656  

EQT Corp.

      967       33,265  

Equinor ASA

      2,790       97,219  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

      12,088       1,035,216  

Galp Energia SGPS SA

      1,431       16,744  

Hess Corp.

      796       84,328  

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

      524       12,518  

Imperial Oil Ltd.(b)

      669       31,537  

Inpex Corp.

      2,918       31,282  

Keyera Corp.(b)

      631       14,412  

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

      5,826       97,644  

Lundin Energy Mergerco AB(a)(d)(e)

      571       22,884  

Marathon Oil Corp.

      2,051       46,106  

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

      1,614       132,687  

Neste Oyj

      1,208       53,733  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

      2,667       157,033  

OMV AG

      420       19,753  

ONEOK, Inc.

      1,273       70,652  

Parkland Corp.(b)

      442       12,005  

Pembina Pipeline Corp.(b)

      1,571       55,532  

Phillips 66

      1,371       112,408  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

      659       147,010  

Repsol SA(b)

      4,142       61,061  

Santos Ltd.

      9,186       46,575  

Shell PLC

      21,723       565,727  

Suncor Energy, Inc.

      4,087       143,388  

Targa Resources Corp.

      619       36,936  

TC Energy Corp.(b)

      2,801       145,098  

TotalEnergies SE

      7,079       372,617  

Tourmaline Oil Corp.(b)

      895       46,537  

Valero Energy Corp.

      1,169       124,241  

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

      3,469       108,267  

Woodside Energy Group Ltd.(b)

      5,380       118,244  
     

 

 

 
        6,666,238  
     

 

 

 
        7,011,579  
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS–2.5%

     

CHEMICALS–1.3%

     

Air Liquide SA

      1,494       201,097  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

      633       152,224  

Akzo Nobel NV

      519       33,942  

 

17


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Albemarle Corp.

      335     $ 70,008  

Arkema SA

      170       15,207  

Asahi Kasei Corp.

      3,575       27,196  

BASF SE

      2,622       114,718  

Celanese Corp.–Class A

      309       36,341  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

      592       50,752  

Chr Hansen Holding A/S

      301       21,972  

Clariant AG (REG)(b)

      616       11,746  

Corteva, Inc.

      2,076       112,395  

Covestro AG

      551       19,147  

Croda International PLC

      398       31,459  

Dow, Inc.

      2,101       108,433  

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

      1,464       81,369  

Eastman Chemical Co.

      368       33,035  

Ecolab, Inc.

      737       113,321  

EMS-Chemie Holding AG (REG)

      20       14,926  

Evonik Industries AG

      598       12,825  

FMC Corp.

      359       38,417  

Givaudan SA (REG)

      27       95,167  

ICL Group Ltd.

      2,021       18,462  

IMCD NV(b)

      163       22,288  

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

      727       86,600  

Johnson Matthey PLC

      534       12,592  

JSR Corp.

      512       13,305  

Koninklijke DSM NV

      499       71,482  

Linde PLC

      1,464       420,944  

LyondellBasell Industries NV–Class A

      749       65,508  

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.

      3,605       19,588  

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

      440       9,385  

Mosaic Co. (The)

      1,051       49,639  

Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

      2,322       17,374  

Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.

      450       7,205  

Nissan Chemical Corp.

      397       18,324  

Nitto Denko Corp.

      414       26,777  

Novozymes A/S–Class B

      586       35,267  

Nutrien Ltd.

      1,574       125,350  

OCI NV

      300       9,869  

Orica Ltd.(b)

      1,167       12,768  

PPG Industries, Inc.

      674       77,065  

RPM International, Inc.

      370       29,126  

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

      707       158,304  

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

      1,129       126,912  

Sika AG (REG)

      416       96,028  

Solvay SA

      212       17,271  

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

      4,172       16,328  

Symrise AG

      379       41,336  

Toray Industries, Inc.

      3,953       22,251  

Tosoh Corp.

      716       8,906  

Umicore SA

      598       20,962  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Yara International ASA

      473     $ 19,819  
     

 

 

 
        3,072,732  
     

 

 

 

COMMODITY CHEMICALS–0.0%

     

Westlake Corp.

      110       10,782  
     

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS–0.1%

     

CRH PLC

      2,187       75,471  

HeidelbergCement AG

      413       19,940  

Holcim AG

      1,583       67,894  

James Hardie Industries PLC

      1,271       27,826  

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

      179       53,564  

Vulcan Materials Co.

      379       53,856  
     

 

 

 
        298,551  
     

 

 

 

CONTAINERS & PACKAGING–0.1%

     

Amcor PLC

      4,321       53,710  

Avery Dennison Corp.

      236       38,201  

Ball Corp.

      918       63,131  

CCL Industries, Inc.–Class B

      432       20,419  

Crown Holdings, Inc.

      356       32,813  

International Paper Co.

      1,021       42,708  

Packaging Corp. of America

      267       36,712  

Sealed Air Corp.

      423       24,416  

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

      702       23,673  

Westrock Co.

      751       29,920  
     

 

 

 
        365,703  
     

 

 

 

METALS & MINING–0.9%

     

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.(b)

      1,303       59,643  

Alcoa Corp.

      526       23,975  

Anglo American PLC

      3,629       129,732  

Antofagasta PLC

      1,125       15,886  

ArcelorMittal SA

      1,740       39,020  

Barrick Gold Corp. (Toronto)

      5,080       89,823  

BHP Group Ltd.

      14,453       413,841  

BlueScope Steel Ltd.

      1,399       15,415  

Boliden AB

      781       24,977  

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.(a)

      1,497       23,009  

Evolution Mining Ltd.(b)

      5,233       8,550  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

      1,677       31,815  

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.

      4,834       58,128  

Franco-Nevada Corp.

      546       71,822  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

      4,153       121,517  

Glencore PLC

      28,233       152,922  

Hitachi Metals Ltd.(a)

      610       9,234  

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.–Class A(a)(b)

      1,727       9,942  

JFE Holdings, Inc.

      1,378       14,497  

Kinross Gold Corp.

      3,552       12,638  

Lundin Mining Corp.

      1,879       11,912  

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Mineral Resources Ltd.

      485     $ 16,278  

Newcrest Mining Ltd.

      2,541       36,200  

Newmont Corp.

      2,277       135,869  

Nippon Steel Corp.

      2,295       32,119  

Norsk Hydro ASA

      3,839       21,695  

Northern Star Resources Ltd.(b)

      3,326       15,601  

Nucor Corp.

      769       80,291  

Pan American Silver Corp.

      600       11,788  

Rio Tinto Ltd.

      1,060       75,619  

Rio Tinto PLC

      3,208       191,795  

South32 Ltd.(b)

      13,276       35,974  

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

      546       36,118  

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

      672       20,835  

Teck Resources Ltd.–Class B

      1,354       41,403  

voestalpine AG

      331       7,074  

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.(b)

      1,287       46,373  
     

 

 

 
        2,143,330  
     

 

 

 

PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS–0.1%

     

Holmen AB–Class B

      268       10,917  

Mondi PLC

      1,386       24,602  

Oji Holdings Corp.

      2,281       9,882  

Stora Enso Oyj–Class R

      1,573       24,924  

Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA–Class B

      1,729       25,978  

UPM-Kymmene Oyj

      1,523       46,700  

West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd.(b)

      221       16,958  
     

 

 

 
        159,961  
     

 

 

 
        6,051,059  
     

 

 

 

UTILITIES–1.8%

     

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–1.0%

     

Acciona SA(b)

      71       13,082  

Alliant Energy Corp.

      715       41,906  

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

      1,440       138,154  

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

      1,839       18,518  

CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd.

      903       5,547  

CLP Holdings Ltd.

      4,629       38,468  

Constellation Energy Corp.

      931       53,309  

Duke Energy Corp.

      2,197       235,540  

Edison International

      1,087       68,742  

EDP–Energias de Portugal SA

      7,925       36,933  

Electricite de France SA

      1,600       13,142  

Elia Group SA/NV

      94       13,350  

Emera, Inc.(b)

      746       34,947  

Endesa SA(b)

      906       17,139  

Enel SpA

      23,221       127,349  

Entergy Corp.

      580       65,331  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Evergy, Inc.

      655     $ 42,739  

Eversource Energy

      984       83,118  

Exelon Corp.

      2,796       126,715  

FirstEnergy Corp.

      1,547       59,389  

Fortis, Inc./Canada

      1,350       63,819  

Fortum Oyj

      1,268       19,166  

HK Electric Investments & HK Electric Investments Ltd.–Class SS(c)

      6,615       6,070  

Hydro One Ltd.(c)

      939       25,248  

Iberdrola SA

      17,189       178,962  

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)

      1,971       19,510  

Mercury NZ Ltd.

      1,945       6,848  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

      5,604       434,086  

NRG Energy, Inc.

      691       26,375  

Origin Energy Ltd.(b)

      5,028       19,959  

Orsted AS

      540       56,875  

PG&E Corp.(a)

      4,253       42,445  

Power Assets Holdings Ltd.

      3,858       24,305  

PPL Corp.

      2,099       56,946  

Red Electrica Corp. SA(b)

      1,158       21,920  

Southern Co. (The)

      3,027       215,855  

SSE PLC

      3,043       60,055  

Terna–Rete Elettrica Nazionale(b)

      4,017       31,583  

Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.(a)

      4,284       17,921  

Verbund AG

      195       19,168  

Xcel Energy, Inc.

      1,554       109,961  
     

 

 

 
        2,690,495  
     

 

 

 

GAS UTILITIES–0.1%

     

AltaGas Ltd.

      800       16,880  

APA Group(b)

      3,368       26,229  

Atmos Energy Corp.

      387       43,383  

Enagas SA(b)

      710       15,703  

Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.

      31,787       34,305  

Naturgy Energy Group SA(b)

      415       11,992  

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

      1,040       19,932  

Snam SpA(b)

      5,757       30,203  

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

      1,050       21,760  

UGI Corp.

      599       23,127  
     

 

 

 
        243,514  
     

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT POWER AND RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY PRODUCERS–0.1%

     

AES Corp. (The)

      1,905       40,024  

Brookfield Renewable Corp.–Class A(b)

      368       13,108  

EDP Renovaveis SA

      822       19,418  

Meridian Energy Ltd.

      3,676       10,727  

Northland Power, Inc.

      647       19,261  

Uniper SE

      261       3,901  

Vistra Corp.

      1,240       28,334  
     

 

 

 
        134,773  
     

 

 

 

 

19


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

MULTI-UTILITIES–0.5%

     

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.(b)

      1,918     $ 25,778  

Ameren Corp.

      736       66,505  

Canadian Utilities Ltd.–Class A

      365       10,886  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

      1,795       53,096  

CMS Energy Corp.

      827       55,822  

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

      1,011       96,146  

Dominion Energy, Inc.

      2,314       184,680  

DTE Energy Co.

      553       70,093  

E.ON SE

      6,410       53,992  

Engie SA

      5,214       60,373  

National Grid PLC

      10,406       133,727  

NiSource, Inc.

      1,157       34,120  

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

      1,434       90,743  

RWE AG

      1,834       67,832  

Sempra Energy

      902       135,544  

United Utilities Group PLC

      1,946       24,224  

Veolia Environnement SA

      1,897       46,502  

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

      901       90,677  
     

 

 

 
        1,300,740  
     

 

 

 

WATER UTILITIES–0.1%

     

American Water Works Co., Inc.

      519       77,212  

Essential Utilities, Inc.

      685       31,407  

Severn Trent PLC

      714       23,705  
     

 

 

 
        132,324  
     

 

 

 
        4,501,846  
     

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE–1.6%

     

EQUITY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–1.3%

     

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

      434       62,943  

American Tower Corp.

      1,302       332,778  

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust

      8,639       17,730  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

      399       77,506  

Boston Properties, Inc.

      425       37,817  

British Land Co. PLC (The)

      2,513       13,747  

Camden Property Trust

      281       37,789  

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

      242       8,426  

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

      14,593       22,812  

Covivio

      135       7,542  

Crown Castle International Corp.

      1,234       207,781  

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp.

      7       15,910  

Dexus

      3,070       18,879  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

      812       105,422  

Duke Realty Corp.

      1,093       60,060  

Equinix, Inc.

      259       170,168  
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.

      504     $ 35,517  

Equity Residential

      1,020       73,664  

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

      187       48,902  

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

      383       65,156  

Gecina SA

      131       12,294  

GLP J-REIT

      13       15,931  

Goodman Group

      4,800       59,269  

GPT Group (The)(b)

      5,469       15,984  

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

      1,539       39,876  

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

      2,039       31,972  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

      1,735       61,731  

Iron Mountain, Inc.

      827       40,267  

Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest

      21       16,363  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

      4       18,419  

Kimco Realty Corp.

      1,760       34,795  

Klepierre SA

      614       11,882  

Land Securities Group PLC

      2,011       16,319  

Link REIT

      5,173       42,270  

Mapletree Commercial Trust(b)

      6,196       8,166  

Mapletree Logistics Trust

      9,093       11,004  

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

      1,703       26,005  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

      330       57,641  

Mirvac Group

      11,256       15,386  

Nippon Building Fund, Inc.

      5       24,954  

Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.

      6       14,778  

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.

      13       16,238  

Prologis, Inc.

      2,113       248,594  

Public Storage

      450       140,702  

Realty Income Corp.

      1,688       115,223  

Regency Centers Corp.

      440       26,096  

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

      433       6,735  

SBA Communications Corp.

      311       99,536  

Scentre Group

      14,819       26,608  

Segro PLC

      3,433       40,982  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

      938       89,035  

Stockland

      6,815       17,016  

Sun Communities, Inc.

      331       52,748  

UDR, Inc.

      908       41,804  

Ventas, Inc.

      1,141       58,682  

VICI Properties, Inc.(b)

      2,748       81,863  

Vicinity Centres

      11,047       14,034  

Vornado Realty Trust

      465       13,294  

Warehouses De Pauw CVA

      424       13,379  

Welltower, Inc.

      1,277       105,161  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

      2,131       70,579  

WP Carey, Inc.

      544       45,076  
     

 

 

 
        3,319,240  
     

 

 

 

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–0.3%

     

Aroundtown SA

      2,852     $ 9,122  

Azrieli Group Ltd.

      121       8,519  

Capitaland Investment Ltd./Singapore(b)

      6,504       17,901  

CBRE Group, Inc.–Class A(a)

      956       70,371  

City Developments Ltd.(b)

      1,050       6,167  

CK Asset Holdings Ltd.

      5,031       35,747  

Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.

      183       15,831  

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.

      1,644       38,448  

ESR Group Ltd.(a)(c)

      4,748       12,875  

FirstService Corp.

      113       13,707  

Hang Lung Properties Ltd.

      5,030       9,571  

Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.

      3,938       14,800  

Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd.(b)

      2,395       12,028  

Hulic Co., Ltd.(b)

      1,001       7,764  

LEG Immobilien SE

      208       17,310  

Lendlease Corp., Ltd.(b)

      1,966       12,384  

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

      3,335       48,335  

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

      2,569       55,195  

New World Development Co., Ltd.

      3,625       13,058  

Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.

      331       8,098  

Sagax AB–Class B

      543       10,067  

Sino Land Co., Ltd.

      9,242       13,647  

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.

      856       22,597  

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.

      3,616       42,814  

Swire Pacific Ltd.–Class A

      435       2,598  

Swire Properties Ltd.

      2,422       6,030  

Swiss Prime Site AG (REG)

      228       20,033  

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield(a)

      336       17,083  

UOL Group Ltd.

      370       1,961  

Vonovia SE

      1,995       61,726  

Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.

      3,876       18,509  

Zillow Group, Inc.–Class C(a)(b)

      470       14,922  
     

 

 

 
        659,218  
     

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE OPERATING COMPANIES–0.0%

     

Fastighets AB Balder–Class B(a)

      1,801       8,628  
     

 

 

 

RESIDENTIAL REITs–0.0%

     

American Homes 4 Rent–Class A

      893       31,648  
     

 

 

 
        4,018,734  
     

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
 

Shares

    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

INSURANCE–0.0%

     

MULTI-LINE INSURANCE–0.0%

     

Aviva PLC

      8,077     $ 39,563  
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $101,516,642)

        140,358,279  
     

 

 

 
    Principal
Amount
(000)
       

GOVERNMENTS–
TREASURIES–36.1%

     

UNITED STATES–36.1%

     

U.S. Treasury Bonds
1.875%, 11/15/2051

  $         182       137,449  

2.00%, 02/15/2050

      352       274,797  

2.25%, 08/15/2046–02/15/2052

      5,453       4,463,018  

2.375%, 11/15/2049–05/15/2051

      2,866       2,440,023  

2.50%, 02/15/2045–05/15/2046

      330       281,646  

2.75%, 08/15/2047

      143       129,104  

2.875%, 05/15/2043–05/15/2049

      3,767       3,454,213  

3.00%, 05/15/2045–02/15/2049

      2,311       2,189,850  

3.125%, 11/15/2041–02/15/2043

      648       621,918  

3.50%, 02/15/2039

      12       12,799  

3.625%, 08/15/2043

      1,869       1,927,973  

3.75%, 08/15/2041–11/15/2043

      226       237,898  

3.875%, 08/15/2040

      161       173,791  

4.25%, 05/15/2039

      134       153,452  

4.375%, 11/15/2039–05/15/2041

      694       803,655  

4.50%, 08/15/2039

      179       211,124  

4.75%, 02/15/2037–02/15/2041

      626       758,621  

5.25%, 11/15/2028

      378       425,041  

5.375%, 02/15/2031

      359       422,717  

5.50%, 08/15/2028

      762       864,416  

6.00%, 02/15/2026

      1,336       1,469,270  

6.125%, 11/15/2027

      404       464,014  

6.25%, 08/15/2023–05/15/2030

      447       534,289  

6.875%, 08/15/2025

      471       524,391  

7.625%, 02/15/2025

      158       176,331  

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.25%, 06/30/2025–09/30/2025

      6,368       5,843,331  

0.375%, 04/30/2025–01/31/2026

      5,215       4,775,741  

0.50%, 03/31/2025–02/28/2026

      1,219       1,114,010  

0.625%, 05/15/2030–08/15/2030

      1,931       1,609,437  

 

21


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
            
Principal
Amount
(000)
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

0.75%, 04/30/2026–08/31/2026

    $       3,874     $ 3,546,025  

0.875%, 09/30/2026–11/15/2030

      3,558       3,114,797  

1.125%, 10/31/2026–02/15/2031

      1,662       1,503,160  

1.25%, 12/31/2026

      919       850,279  

1.375%, 11/15/2031

      861       748,935  

1.50%, 09/30/2024–02/15/2030

      4,666       4,435,115  

1.625%, 02/15/2026–05/15/2031

      6,221       5,711,921  

1.75%, 07/31/2024–11/15/2029

      1,848       1,747,502  

1.875%, 02/28/2027–02/15/2032

      2,347       2,170,659  

2.00%, 05/31/2024–11/15/2026

      10,828       10,480,165  

2.125%, 03/31/2024–05/15/2025

      3,868       3,784,288  

2.25%, 04/30/2024–11/15/2027

      4,830       4,686,178  

2.375%, 08/15/2024–05/15/2029

      5,048       4,888,481  

2.50%, 01/31/2024–05/15/2024

      2,324       2,306,032  

2.625%, 02/15/2029

      451       439,573  

2.75%, 02/15/2028

      129       126,649  

2.875%, 05/15/2028

      400       396,297  

3.125%, 11/15/2028

      912       915,462  
     

 

 

 

Total Governments–Treasuries
(cost $94,727,419)

        88,345,837  
     

 

 

 
    Shares        

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–1.9%

     

FUNDS AND INVESTMENT TRUSTS–1.9%

     

AB All Market Real Return Portfolio–Class Z(f)(g)
(cost $5,170,000)

           512,897       4,734,038  
     

 

 

 
    Notional
Amount
       

OPTIONS PURCHASED–
PUTS–0.5%

     

OPTIONS ON INDICES–0.5%

     

Euro STOXX 50 Index
Expiration: Jun 2023; Contracts: 570; Exercise Price: EUR 2,700.00;
Counterparty: UBS
AG(a)

    EUR         1,539,000       72,699  
    
    
    
Company
            
    
Notional
Amount
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                         

FTSE 100 Index
Expiration: Apr 2023; Contracts: 110; Exercise Price: GBP 6,000.00;
Counterparty: UBS
AG(a)

    GBP       660,000     $ 28,952  

Nikkei 225 Index
Expiration: Jun 2023; Contracts: 7,000; Exercise Price: JPY 21,500.00;
Counterparty: UBS
AG(a)

    JPY       150,500,000       41,002  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Jan 2023; Contracts: 4,300; Exercise Price: USD 3,700.00;
Counterparty: UBS
AG(a)

    USD       15,910,000       1,001,041  
     

 

 

 

Total Options Purchased–Puts
(premiums paid $690,099)

        1,143,694  
     

 

 

 
   

 

Shares

 

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–3.1%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–3.1%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(f)(g)(h)
(cost $7,484,833)

      7,484,833       7,484,833  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–99.0%
(cost $209,588,993)

        242,066,681  
     

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.3%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.3%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(f)(g)(h) (cost $729,061)

      729,061       729,061  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–99.3%
(cost $210,318,054)

        242,795,742  

Other assets less
liabilities–0.7%

        1,624,446  
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

      $ 244,420,188  
     

 

 

 

 

22


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

FUTURES (see Note D)

 

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

Purchased Contracts

 

10 Yr Australian Bond Futures

     18        September 2022      $ 1,477,211      $ 30,998  

Canadian 10 Yr Bond Futures

     11        September 2022        1,059,579        17,151  

Hang Seng Futures

     8        July 2022        1,108,426        (16,860

Long Gilt Futures

     3        September 2022        416,244        (15,609

MSCI EAFE Futures

     2        September 2022        185,660        2,886  

MSCI Emerging Market Futures

     72        September 2022        3,609,720        20,392  

Nikkei 225 (CME) Futures

     1        September 2022        194,428          (11,302

SPI 200 Futures

     4        September 2022        445,971        (5,147

U.S. T-Note 2 Yr (CBT) Futures

     23        September 2022          4,830,359        (13,684

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

     4        September 2022        449,000        (2,036

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

     43        September 2022        5,096,844        (70,325

U.S. Ultra Bond (CBT) Futures

     14        September 2022        2,160,813        (66,310

Sold Contracts

 

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures

     27        September 2022        973,619        10,678  

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     29        September 2022        2,513,835        (7,110

MSCI Singapore IX ETS Futures

     24        July 2022        484,647        19,927  

OMXS 30 Index Futures

     60        July 2022        1,097,094        9,852  

S&P 500 E-Mini Futures

     50        September 2022        9,473,750        189,652  

S&P TSX 60 Index Futures

     14        September 2022        2,485,239        15,661  

TOPIX Index Futures

     16        September 2022        2,205,778        87,768  
           

 

 

 
            $   196,582  
           

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Bank of America, NA

       USD        1,822          JPY        232,627          07/15/2022        $ (106,582

Bank of America, NA

       CAD        1,343          USD        1,047          07/21/2022          3,097  

Bank of America, NA

       GBP        6,562          USD        8,234          08/25/2022          237,638  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        2,648          NOK        26,467          09/22/2022          44,131  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        2,963          SEK        30,223          09/22/2022          1,582  

Citibank, NA

       USD        4,296          EUR        4,057          07/28/2022          (38,564

Deutsche Bank AG

       EUR        7,164          USD        7,571          07/28/2022          52,790  

HSBC Bank USA

       CHF        4,441          USD        4,776          07/13/2022          121,176  

HSBC Bank USA

       CHF        1,867          USD        1,880          07/13/2022          (76,462

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        530          CHF        527          07/13/2022          22,280  

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        4,859          JPY        620,301          07/15/2022            (285,115)  

HSBC Bank USA

       AUD        3,781          USD        2,650          07/21/2022          39,495  

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        2,222          AUD        3,224          07/21/2022          3,432  

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        2,957          CAD        3,816          07/21/2022          7,224  

HSBC Bank USA

       EUR        2,742          USD        2,868          07/28/2022          (9,686

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        711          EUR        667          07/28/2022          (10,765

HSBC Bank USA

       USD        1,096          NZD        1,744          08/26/2022          (6,930

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       JPY        85,661          USD        665          07/15/2022          33,106  

 

23


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       USD        1,467          AUD        2,042          07/21/2022        $ (57,219

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       USD        657          CAD        831          07/21/2022          (11,046

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       EUR        1,630          USD        1,752          07/28/2022          41,311  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,905          CHF        1,819          07/13/2022          1,160  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       JPY        620,301          USD        4,810          07/15/2022          235,242  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       AUD        2,222          USD        1,593          07/21/2022          58,693  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       CAD        2,815          USD        2,206          07/21/2022          18,788  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,027          AUD        1,445          07/21/2022          (29,007

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        303          USD        315          07/13/2022          (1,903

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        477          CHF        465          07/13/2022          10,553  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        15,403          USD        121          07/15/2022          7,098  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        1,270          JPY        168,632          07/15/2022          (26,011

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        155          USD        121          07/21/2022          353  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        250          AUD        355          07/21/2022          (4,727

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        340          CAD        431          07/21/2022          (5,142

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        606          EUR        567          07/28/2022          (10,336

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        765          GBP        618          08/25/2022          (12,191

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       NZD        177          USD        114          08/26/2022          3,785  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        111          NZD        177          08/26/2022          (782

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       SEK        4,463          USD        437          09/22/2022          (440

UBS AG

       USD        3,325          CAD        4,158          07/21/2022          (94,720
                         

 

 

 
                          $ 155,306  
                         

 

 

 

CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note D)

 

Description   Fixed
Rate
(Pay)
Receive
    Payment
Frequency
    Implied
Credit
Spread at
June 30,
2022
    Notional
Amount
(000)
     Market
Value
    

Upfront
Premium

Paid/

(Received)

     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Sale Contracts

 

CDX-NAHY Series 38, 5 Year Index, 06/20/2027*

    5.00     Quarterly       5.76     USD        2,376      $   (65,976)      $   (66,601)      $   625  

 

*   Termination date

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration. At June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $115,581 or 0.0% of net assets.

 

(d)   Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

(e)   Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(f)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

(g)   Affiliated investments.

 

(h)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

24


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

EUR—Euro

GBP—Great British Pound

JPY—Japanese Yen

NOK—Norwegian Krone

NZD—New Zealand Dollar

SEK—Swedish Krona

USD—United States Dollar

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

CBT—Chicago Board of Trade

CDX-NAHY—North American High Yield Credit Default Swap Index

CME—Chicago Mercantile Exchange

EAFE—Europe, Australia, and Far East

ETS—Emission Trading Scheme

FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange

MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International

OMXS—Stockholm Stock Exchange

REG—Registered Shares

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

SPI—Share Price Index

TOPIX—Tokyo Price Index

TSX—Toronto Stock Exchange

See notes to financial statements.

 

25


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

 

Investments in securities, at value

 

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $196,934,160)

   $ 229,847,810 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $13,383,894—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $729,061)

     12,947,932  

Cash

     1,370  

Cash collateral due from broker

     1,939,814  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $837,070)

     834,067  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     963,419  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     942,934  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     863,997  

Receivable for variation margin on futures

     320,325  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     9,378  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     4,403  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     248,675,449  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions

     1,310,967  

Cash collateral due to broker

     1,000,000  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     787,628  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     729,061  

Advisory fee payable

     123,646  

Distribution fee payable

     50,927  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     40,436  

Administrative fee payable

     21,196  

Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps

     2,740  

Directors’ fees payable

     472  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     90  

Foreign capital gains tax payable

     46  

Accrued expenses

     188,052  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,255,261  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 244,420,188  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

 

Capital stock, at par

   $ 19,833  

Additional paid-in capital

     125,766,013  

Distributable earnings

     118,634,342  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 244,420,188  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $ 299,627          24,148        $ 12.41  
B      $   244,120,561          19,808,775        $   12.32  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $3,544,980 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

26


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $129,502)

   $ 1,814,404  

Affiliated issuers

     6,630  

Interest

     859,310  

Securities lending income

     9,939  
  

 

 

 
     2,690,283  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     937,626  

Distribution fee—Class B

     334,454  

Transfer agency—Class A

     2  

Transfer agency—Class B

     1,456  

Custody and accounting

     83,564  

Audit and tax

     48,045  

Administrative

     41,543  

Legal

     23,669  

Printing

     17,059  

Directors’ fees

     10,909  

Miscellaneous

     18,407  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,516,734  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (51,756
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     1,464,978  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     1,225,305  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions

     1,361,518  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (211,729

Futures

     (2,180,615

Swaps

     45,892  

Foreign currency transactions

     (150,781

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     (435,962

Investments

     (50,110,403

Forward currency exchange contracts

     84,187  

Futures

     (266,534

Swaps

     (26,632

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (43,050
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (51,934,109
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (50,708,804
  

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

27


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income

   $ 1,225,305     $ 3,445,840  

Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (1,135,715     95,963,763  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (50,798,394     (57,087,798
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (50,708,804     42,321,805  

Distributions to Shareholders

 

Class A

     –0 –      (7,238

Class B

     –0 –      (4,827,444

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (7,202,677     (283,941,527
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (57,911,481     (246,454,404

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     302,331,669       548,786,073  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 244,420,188     $ 302,331,669  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

28


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Dynamic Asset Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is to maximize total return consistent with AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) determination of reasonable risk. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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, 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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

29


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively, the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on an exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.

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

 

30


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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 Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

             

Assets:

             

Common Stocks:

 

Information Technology

     $ 26,470,918      $ 3,028,885      $ –0 –     $ 29,499,803  

Health Care

       14,556,075        5,292,877        –0 –       19,848,952  

Financials

       12,151,686        6,771,057        –0 –       18,922,743  

Consumer Discretionary

       10,464,778        4,401,746        –0 –       14,866,524  

Industrials

       8,261,936        5,684,007        –0 –       13,945,943  

Consumer Staples

       6,857,680        4,155,186        –0 –       11,012,866  

Communication Services

       8,737,584        1,901,083        –0 –       10,638,667  

Energy

       5,149,131        1,839,564        22,884        7,011,579  

Materials

       3,093,959        2,957,100        –0 –       6,051,059  

Utilities

       3,137,521        1,364,325        –0 –       4,501,846  

Real Estate

       2,942,145        1,076,589        –0 –       4,018,734  

Insurance

       –0 –       39,563        –0 –       39,563  

Governments—Treasuries

       –0 –       88,345,837        –0 –       88,345,837  

Investment Companies

       4,734,038        –0 –       –0 –       4,734,038  

Options Purchased—Puts

       –0 –       1,143,694        –0 –       1,143,694  

Short-Term Investments

       7,484,833        –0 –       –0 –       7,484,833  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       729,061        –0 –       –0 –       729,061  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       114,771,345        128,001,513        22,884        242,795,742  

Other Financial Instruments(a):

             

Assets:

 

Futures

       404,965        –0 –       –0 –       404,965 (b) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       942,934        –0 –       942,934  

Liabilities:

 

Futures

       (208,383      –0 –       –0 –       (208,383 )(b) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       (787,628      –0 –       (787,628

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps

       –0 –       (65,976      –0 –       (65,976 )(b) 
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 114,967,927      $ 128,090,843      $ 22,884      $ 243,081,654  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

(b)   Only variation margin receivable/(payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. Where applicable, centrally cleared swaps with upfront premiums are presented here at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and

 

31


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .70% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to .85% and 1.10% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. The Expense Caps will remain in effect until May 1, 2023 and then may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such reimbursements/waivers amounted to $43,735.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,543.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The

 

32


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $1,789.

In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in AB All Market Real Return Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the expenses payable to the Adviser by the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fees of AB mutual funds, as paid by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will remain in effect until May 1, 2023. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waivers and/or reimbursements amounted to $6,095.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

      Distributions  

Portfolio

  Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Realized
Gain (Loss)
(000)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appr./(Depr.)
(000)
    Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
    Realized
Gains
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

  $ 7,966     $ 28,781     $ 29,262     $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 7,485     $ 7     $ –0 – 

AB Bond Fund, Inc.—AB All Market Real Return Portfolio

    –0 –      5,170       –0 –      –0 –      (436     4,734       –0 –      –0 – 

Government Money Market Portfolio*

    1,312       8,863       9,446       –0 –      –0 –      729       1       –0 – 
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        $ –0 –    $ (436   $ 12,948     $ 8     $ –0 – 
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases        Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 10,069,473        $ 9,207,507  

U.S. government securities

       10,980,309          18,802,225  

 

33


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 50,035,556  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (17,205,355
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 32,830,201  
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Futures

The Portfolio may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Portfolio bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Portfolio may purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

At the time the Portfolio enters into futures, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Use of long futures subjects the Portfolio to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of futures can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held futures for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

34


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

   

Option Transactions

For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Portfolio may use options transactions for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.

The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. If a put or call option purchased by the Portfolio were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a loss to the Portfolio. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

When the Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. The Portfolio’s maximum payment for written put options equates to the number of shares multiplied by the strike price. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held purchased options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Swaps

The Portfolio may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk, equity markets or currencies. The Portfolio may also enter into swaps for non-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures, making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” or in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset described below under “Total Return Swaps”. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Portfolio in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and recourse to the Portfolio or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.

Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Portfolio, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Portfolio considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Portfolio to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Portfolio accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are

 

35


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received for swaps are recognized as cost or proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.

Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on a phased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

At the time the Portfolio enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the clearinghouse on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for centrally cleared swaps is generally less than non-centrally cleared swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each centrally cleared swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Credit Default Swaps:

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, including to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults by corporate and sovereign issuers held by the Portfolio, or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. The Portfolio may purchase credit protection (“Buy Contract”) or provide credit protection (“Sale Contract”) on the referenced obligation of the credit default swap. During the term of the swap, the Portfolio receives/(pays) fixed payments from/(to) the respective counterparty, calculated at the agreed upon rate applied to the notional amount. If the Portfolio is a buyer/(seller) of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the swap, the Portfolio will either (i) receive from the seller/(pay to the buyer) of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap (the “Maximum Payout Amount”) and deliver/(take delivery of) the referenced obligation or (ii) receive/(pay) a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation. In certain circumstances Maximum Payout Amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront premium received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced obligations with the same counterparty.

Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Portfolio had invested in the referenced obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Portfolio is a buyer of protection and no credit event occurs, it will lose the payments it made to its counterparty. If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Portfolio coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the Maximum Payout Amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a net loss to the Portfolio.

Implied credit spreads over U.S. Treasuries of comparable maturity utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on issuers as of period end are disclosed in the portfolio of investments. The implied spreads serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and typically reflect the likelihood of default by the issuer of the referenced obligation. The implied credit spread of a particular reference obligation also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Widening credit spreads typically represent a deterioration of the referenced obligation’s credit

 

36


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

soundness and greater likelihood of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced obligation.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held credit default swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Total Return Swaps:

The Portfolio may enter into total return swaps in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset. The Portfolio is subject to market price volatility of the underlying referenced asset. A total return swap involves commitments to pay interest in exchange for a market linked return based on a notional amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, group of securities or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held total return swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value  

Interest rate contracts

  Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures   $ 48,148   Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures   $ 167,963

Equity contracts

  Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures     356,817   Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures     40,420

Credit contracts

  Receivable/Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps     625    

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts     942,934     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts     787,628  

Equity contracts

  Investments in securities, at value     1,143,694      
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 2,492,218       $ 996,011  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*   Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

37


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Derivative Type

  

Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives
Within Statement of Operations

   Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Interest rate contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures    $ (1,763,656   $ (334,168

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures      (416,959     67,634  

Foreign currency contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts      (211,729     84,187  

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments      (96,395     573,603  

Credit contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps      1,834       625  

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps      44,058       (27,257
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ (2,442,847   $ 364,624  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Futures:

  

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 35,700,200  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 11,828,961  

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 42,793,240  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 47,328,924  

Purchased Options:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 29,232,374  

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps:

  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 2,376,000 (a) 

Total Return Swaps:

  

Average notional amount

   $ 919,325 (b) 

 

(a)   Positions were open for one month during the period.

 

(b)   Positions were open for five months during the period.

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements

 

38


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
Subject to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Assets
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 286,448      $ (106,582   $ –0 –    $         –0 –    $ 179,866  

Deutsche Bank AG

     52,790        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      52,790  

HSBC Bank USA

     193,607        (193,607     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     74,417        (68,265     –0 –      –0 –      6,152  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     313,883        (29,007     –0 –      –0 –      284,876  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     21,789        (21,789     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

UBS AG

     1,143,694        (94,720     (1,000,000     –0 –      48,974  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,086,628      $ (513,970   $ (1,000,000   $ –0 –    $ 572,658
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 106,582      $ (106,582   $         –0 –    $         –0 –    $ –0 – 

Citibank, NA

     38,564        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      38,564  

HSBC Bank USA

     388,958        (193,607     –0 –      –0 –      195,351  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     68,265        (68,265     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     29,007        (29,007     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     61,532        (21,789     –0 –      –0 –      39,743  

UBS AG

     94,720        (94,720     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 787,628      $ (513,970   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 273,658
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary

 

39


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value  of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

    Government Money Market    
Portfolio

 
 

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 3,544,980     $ 729,061     $ 3,067,474     $ 9,339     $ 600     $ 137  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    3,831       4,182       $ 52,169     $ 60,584  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      493         –0 –      7,238  

Shares redeemed

    (7,242     (3,316       (100,502     (47,220
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (3,411     1,359       $ (48,333   $ 20,602  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    541,296       1,070,080       $ 7,165,716     $ 15,318,153  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      330,195         –0 –      4,827,444  

Shares redeemed

    (1,058,897     (20,825,702       (14,320,060     (304,107,726
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (517,601     (19,425,427     $ (7,154,344   $ (283,962,129
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 91% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market.

 

40


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

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

Allocation Risk—The allocation of investments among different global asset classes may have a significant effect on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, when one of these asset classes is performing more poorly than others. As both the direct investments and derivatives positions will be periodically adjusted to reflect the Adviser’s view of market and economic conditions, there will be transaction costs that may be, over time, significant. In addition, there is a risk that certain asset allocation decisions may not achieve the desired results and, as a result, the Portfolio may incur significant losses.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk—The Portfolio’s 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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

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

ETF Risk—ETFs, are investment companies. When the Portfolio invests in an ETF, the Portfolio bears its share of the ETF’s expenses and runs the risk that the ETF may not achieve its investment objective.

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

Leverage Risk—When the Portfolio borrows money or otherwise leverages its investments, its performance may be volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio may create leverage through the use of reverse repurchase arrangements, forward currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, dollar rolls or futures or by borrowing money. The use of other types of derivative instruments by the Portfolio, such as options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage. Leverage may result in higher returns to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining.

Illiquid Investments Risk—Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments are or become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Portfolio. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of Portfolio shares.

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

Real Estate Risk—The Portfolio’s investments in real estate securities have many of the same risks as direct ownership of real estate, including the risk that the value of real estate could decline due to a variety of factors that affect the real estate

 

41


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

market generally. Investments in real estate investment trusts, or REIT’s, may have additional risks. REITs are dependent on the capability of their managers, may have limited diversification, and could be significantly affected by changes in taxes. Some REIT’s may utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and may potentially increase the Portfolio’s losses.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

 

42


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 4,834,682      $ 7,954,194  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 4,834,682      $ 7,954,194  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 6,504,224  

Undistributed capital gains

     82,204,270 (a) 

Other losses

     (614,284 )(b) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     81,248,936 (c) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 169,343,146  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   During the fiscal year, the Portfolio utilized $9,750,954 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains.

 

(b)   As of December 31, 2021, the cumulative deferred loss on straddles was $614,284.

 

(c)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, return of capital distributions received from underlying securities, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the tax treatment of partnership investments, and corporate restructuring.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

43


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $14.94       $13.89       $13.46       $11.91       $13.07       $11.63  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .08       .14       .15       .23       .20       .17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (2.61     1.20       .51       1.60       (1.11     1.52  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (2.53     1.34       .66       1.83       (.91     1.69  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.29     (.23     (.27     (.23     (.25

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      (.01     (.02     –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.29     (.23     (.28     (.25     (.25
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.41       $14.94       $13.89       $13.46       $11.91       $13.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)

    (16.93 )%      9.67     5.02     15.51     (7.07 )%      14.67
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $300       $412       $364       $383       $355       $328  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .84 %^      .82     .80     .80     .78     .77

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .88 %^      .83     .80     .80     .79     .78

Net investment income (b)

    1.14 %^      .98     1.18     1.78     1.60     1.39

Portfolio turnover rate

    8     32     13     19     24     20
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .01 %^      .01     .01     .02     .03     .04

 

 

See footnote summary on page 46.

 

44


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $14.85       $13.80       $13.36       $11.82       $12.98       $11.56  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .06       .12       .12       .19       .17       .14  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (2.59     1.16       .51       1.60       (1.11     1.50  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (2.53     1.28       .63       1.79       (.94     1.64  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.23     (.19     (.24     (.20     (.22

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      (.01     (.02     –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.23     (.19     (.25     (.22     (.22
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.32       $14.85       $13.80       $13.36       $11.82       $12.98  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)

    (17.04 )%      9.28     4.86     15.24     (7.35 )%      14.32
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $244,120       $301,920       $548,422       $568,985       $533,467       $604,703  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    1.09 %^      1.06     1.05     1.05     1.03     1.03

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    1.13 %^      1.07     1.06     1.05     1.04     1.04

Net investment income (b)

    .91 %^      .80     .93     1.51     1.35     1.15

Portfolio turnover rate

    8     32     13     19     24     20
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .01 %^      .01     .01     .02     .03     .04

 

 

See footnote summary on page 46.

 

45


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(d)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(e)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, such waiver amounted to .01% and .01%, respectively.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

46


 
DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

47


 
DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Dynamic Asset Allocation Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held by video conference on August 3-4, 2021 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Analyst for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests a portion of its assets.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2019 and 2020 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts

 

48


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended May 31, 2021 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Fund’s underperformance in the periods reviewed, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable. The directors determined to continue to monitor the Fund’s performance closely.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate with a peer group median and noted that it was above the median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s total rate of compensation was also above the peer group median.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Analyst and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to the those of Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the

 

49


DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

The directors noted that the Fund invests in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued, and rules adopted, by the SEC. The directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts, and that the Adviser had provided, and they had reviewed, information about the expense ratios of the relevant ETFs. The directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that the advisory fee for the Fund is for services that are in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The Adviser had agreed to cap the Fund’s expenses, but the directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was currently below the level of the Adviser’s cap. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was above the medians. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanations of the reasons for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints and that they had previously discussed their strong preference for breakpoints in advisory contracts with the Adviser. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. The directors informed the Adviser that they would monitor the Fund’s asset level (which was well below the level at which they would anticipate adding an initial breakpoint) and its profitability to the Adviser and anticipated revisiting the question of breakpoints in the future if circumstances warranted doing so.

 

50


VPS-DAA-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


      
GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each classes’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

    Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
    Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
    Expenses Paid
During Period*
    Annualized
Expense Ratio*
    Total
Expenses Paid
During Period+
    Total
Annualized
Expense Ratio+
 

Class A

           

Actual

  $   1,000     $ 864.10     $   2.03       0.44   $   2.22       0.48

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $ 1,000     $   1,022.61     $ 2.21       0.44   $ 2.41       0.48
           

Class B

           

Actual

  $ 1,000     $ 863.70     $ 3.28       0.71   $ 3.47       0.75

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.27     $ 3.56       0.71   $ 3.76       0.75

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

+   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fund fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and expenses from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios acquired fund fees and expenses. The Portfolio’s total expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratio plus the Portfolio’s pro-rata share of the weighted average expense ratio of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios in which it invests, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
SECURITY TYPE BREAKDOWN1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

SECURITY TYPE    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Common Stocks

   $ 476,003,783          56.6

Inflation-Linked Securities

     6,249,526          0.7  

Options Purchased—Puts

     1,594,288          0.2  

Short-Term Investments

     357,685,396          42.5  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   841,532,993          100.0

COUNTRY BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

COUNTRY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

United States

   $ 337,921,801          40.2

Japan

     37,071,224          4.4  

United Kingdom

     22,519,369          2.7  

France

     14,678,245          1.7  

Switzerland

     14,471,371          1.7  

Australia

     11,361,335          1.3  

Germany

     11,108,141          1.3  

Netherlands

     5,664,170          0.7  

Sweden

     4,442,652          0.5  

Hong Kong

     3,890,778          0.5  

Denmark

     3,851,301          0.5  

Spain

     3,513,571          0.4  

Italy

     2,673,296          0.3  

Other

     10,680,343          1.3  

Short-Term Investments

     357,685,396          42.5  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   841,532,993          100.0

 

 

 

 

1   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio’s security type breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivatives transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purpose (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

 

2   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivatives transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purpose (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). “Other” country weightings represent 0.2% or less in the following: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Luxembourg, Macau, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa and Taiwan.

 

2


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

COMMON STOCKS–55.0%

   

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–11.7%

   

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–0.4%

   

Arista Networks, Inc.(a)

    2,377     $ 222,820  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    43,873       1,870,745  

F5, Inc.(a)

    639       97,793  

Juniper Networks, Inc.

    3,412       97,242  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    1,767       370,363  

Nokia Oyj

    54,322       251,785  

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson–Class B

    29,407       219,641  
   

 

 

 
      3,130,389  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–0.5%

   

Amphenol Corp.–Class A

    6,306       405,980  

Azbil Corp.

    1,243       32,771  

CDW Corp./DE

    1,427       224,838  

Corning, Inc.

    8,028       252,962  

Halma PLC

    3,825       93,912  

Hamamatsu Photonics KK

    1,413       55,047  

Hexagon AB–Class B

    19,610       204,906  

Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.

    326       43,287  

Ibiden Co., Ltd.

    1,205       34,138  

Keyence Corp.

    1,978       678,332  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.(a)

    1,922       264,948  

Kyocera Corp.

    3,322       177,582  

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    5,868       319,380  

Omron Corp.

    1,870       95,177  

Shimadzu Corp.

    2,386       75,626  

TDK Corp.

    3,916       121,076  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    3,403       385,049  

Teledyne Technologies, Inc.(a)

    495       185,679  

Trimble, Inc.(a)

    2,642       153,844  

Venture Corp. Ltd.

    2,790       33,420  

Yaskawa Electric Corp.

    2,418       78,097  

Yokogawa Electric Corp.

    2,300       38,049  

Zebra Technologies Corp.–Class A(a)

    555       163,142  
   

 

 

 
      4,117,242  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–1.9%

   

Accenture PLC–Class A

    6,689       1,857,201  

Adyen NV(a)(b)

    221       318,932  

Akamai Technologies, Inc.(a)

    1,693       154,622  

Amadeus IT Group SA(a)

    4,617       258,525  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

    4,412       926,696  

Bechtle AG

    825       33,887  
                                                        

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    1,238     176,477  

Capgemini SE

    1,643       283,352  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.–Class A

    5,504       371,465  

Computershare Ltd.

    5,474       93,349  

DXC Technology Co.(a)

    2,582       78,260  

Edenred

    2,514       119,090  

EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)

    604       178,047  

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    6,450       591,271  

Fiserv, Inc.(a)

    6,144       546,632  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc.(a)

    817       171,660  

Fujitsu Ltd.

    2,015       252,133  

Gartner, Inc.(a)

    851       205,797  

Global Payments, Inc.

    2,973       328,933  

GMO Payment Gateway, Inc.

    424       30,202  

International Business Machines Corp.

    9,499       1,341,164  

Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.

    967       23,776  

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

    770       138,615  

Mastercard, Inc.–Class A

    9,070       2,861,404  

NEC Corp.

    2,474       96,528  

Nexi SpA(a)(b)

    5,280       43,847  

Nomura Research Institute Ltd.

    3,384       90,815  

NTT Data Corp.

    6,358       88,203  

Obic Co., Ltd.

    736       104,664  

Otsuka Corp.

    1,148       34,165  

Paychex, Inc.

    3,393       386,361  

PayPal Holdings, Inc.(a)

    12,230       854,143  

SCSK Corp.

    1,574       26,731  

TIS, Inc.

    2,330       61,304  

VeriSign, Inc.(a)

    1,007       168,501  

Visa, Inc.–Class A

    17,381       3,422,145  

Wix.com Ltd.(a)

    573       37,560  

Worldline SA/France(a)

    2,401       89,556  
   

 

 

 
      16,846,013  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–2.4%

   

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(a)

    17,114       1,308,708  

Advantest Corp.

    1,927       103,628  

Analog Devices, Inc.

    5,527       807,439  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    9,330       848,843  

ASM International NV(b)

    488       121,418  

ASML Holding NV

    4,132       1,952,113  

Broadcom, Inc.

    4,312       2,094,813  

Disco Corp.

    310       73,768  

Enphase Energy, Inc.(a)

    1,426       278,412  

Infineon Technologies AG

    13,326       324,162  

Intel Corp.

    43,184       1,615,513  

 

3


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

KLA Corp.

    1,576     $ 502,870  

Lam Research Corp.

    1,465       624,310  

Lasertec Corp.(b)

    797       94,926  

Microchip Technology, Inc.

    5,872       341,046  

Micron Technology, Inc.

    11,793       651,917  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

    463       177,810  

NVIDIA Corp.

    26,445       4,008,798  

NXP Semiconductors NV

    2,773       410,487  

ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)

    4,589       230,873  

Qorvo, Inc.(a)

    1,145       107,996  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    11,828       1,510,909  

Renesas Electronics Corp.(a)

    12,700       114,927  

Rohm Co., Ltd.

    882       61,828  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

    1,700       157,488  

SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.(a)

    585       160,103  

STMicroelectronics NV

    7,009       221,660  

SUMCO Corp.

    3,351       43,579  

Teradyne, Inc.

    1,692       151,519  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    9,739       1,496,397  

Tokyo Electron Ltd.

    1,518       495,465  

Tower Semiconductor Ltd.(a)

    1,109       51,728  
   

 

 

 
      21,145,453  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–3.7%

   

Adobe, Inc.(a)

    4,990       1,826,639  

ANSYS, Inc.(a)

    919       219,908  

Autodesk, Inc.(a)

    2,297       394,992  

AVEVA Group PLC(b)

    1,215       33,355  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(a)

    2,912       436,887  

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.(a)

    1,447       68,125  

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.(a)

    1,070       130,305  

Citrix Systems, Inc.

    1,317       127,973  

CyberArk Software Ltd.(a)

    400       51,184  

Dassault Systemes SE

    6,821       252,656  

Fortinet, Inc.(a)

    7,035       398,040  

Intuit, Inc.

    2,987       1,151,309  

Microsoft Corp.

    78,989       20,286,745  

Nemetschek SE

    581       35,346  

Nice Ltd.(a)

    661       127,553  

NortonLifeLock, Inc.

    6,145       134,944  

Oracle Corp.

    16,625       1,161,589  

Oracle Corp.Japan

    387       22,537  

Paycom Software, Inc.(a)

    509       142,581  

PTC, Inc.(a)

    1,112       118,250  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

    1,119       441,613  

Sage Group PLC (The)

    10,307       79,815  

Salesforce, Inc.(a)

    10,493       1,731,765  

SAP SE

    10,614       967,470  

ServiceNow, Inc.(a)

    2,117       1,006,676  
                                                        

Sinch AB(a)(b)

    5,271     17,217  

Synopsys, Inc.(a)

    1,617       491,083  

Temenos AG (REG)

    677       57,938  

Trend Micro, Inc./Japan

    1,347       65,897  

Tyler Technologies, Inc.(a)

    438       145,626  

WiseTech Global Ltd.(b)

    1,473       38,625  

Xero Ltd.(a)

    1,348       71,903  
   

 

 

 
      32,236,546  
   

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE, STORAGE & PERIPHERALS–2.8%

   

Apple, Inc.

    162,392       22,202,234  

Brother Industries Ltd.

    2,377       41,822  

Canon, Inc.

    10,078       228,381  

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.

    3,723       200,042  

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.

    13,731       182,073  

HP, Inc.

    11,125       364,678  

Logitech International SA (REG)(b)

    1,744       90,941  

NetApp, Inc.

    2,350       153,314  

Ricoh Co., Ltd.

    5,831       45,524  

Seagate Technology Holdings PLC

    2,087       149,095  

Seiko Epson Corp.

    2,818       39,866  

Western Digital Corp.(a)

    3,307       148,253  
   

 

 

 
      23,846,223  
   

 

 

 
      101,321,866  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–8.1%

   

BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.0%

   

AbbVie, Inc.

    18,663       2,858,425  

Amgen, Inc.

    5,642       1,372,699  

Argenx SE(a)

    492       184,324  

Biogen, Inc.(a)

    1,547       315,495  

CSL Ltd.

    4,896       909,064  

Genmab A/S(a)

    678       219,974  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    13,247       818,797  

Grifols SA(a)(b)

    3,005       56,988  

Incyte Corp.(a)

    1,988       151,028  

Moderna, Inc.(a)

    3,655       522,117  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    1,141       674,479  

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB(a)

    1,717       37,293  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    2,701       761,115  
   

 

 

 
      8,881,798  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–1.4%

   

Abbott Laboratories

    18,492       2,009,156  

ABIOMED, Inc.(a)

    481       119,052  

Alcon, Inc.

    5,103       357,830  

Align Technology, Inc.(a)

    774       183,183  

Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.(b)

    2,189       33,143  

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Baxter International, Inc.

    5,318     $ 341,575  

Becton Dickinson and Co.

    3,011       742,302  

BioMerieux

    417       40,889  

Boston Scientific Corp.(a)

    15,098       562,702  

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

    405       48,693  

Cochlear Ltd.(b)

    695       95,418  

Coloplast A/S–Class B

    1,240       141,682  

Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)

    521       163,135  

Demant A/S(a)

    964       36,238  

DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc.

    2,275       81,286  

Dexcom, Inc.(a)

    4,145       308,927  

DiaSorin SpA

    253       33,272  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)

    6,566       624,361  

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd.

    5,813       72,417  

Getinge AB–Class B

    2,304       53,398  

GN Store Nord AS

    1,388       48,965  

Hologic, Inc.(a)

    2,634       182,536  

Hoya Corp.

    3,772       322,819  

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)

    887       311,097  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

    3,791       760,892  

Koninklijke Philips NV

    8,984       192,694  

Medtronic PLC

    14,168       1,271,578  

Olympus Corp.

    12,545       254,227  

ResMed, Inc.

    1,545       323,878  

Sartorius AG (Preference Shares)

    248       87,040  

Siemens Healthineers AG

    2,928       149,288  

Smith & Nephew PLC

    8,859       123,891  

Sonova Holding AG (REG)

    556       177,687  

STERIS PLC

    1,057       217,901  

Straumann Holding AG (REG)

    1,133       136,488  

Stryker Corp.

    3,554       706,997  

Sysmex Corp.

    1,688       101,855  

Teleflex, Inc.

    495       121,696  

Terumo Corp.

    6,504       196,753  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

    2,213       232,498  
   

 

 

 
      11,969,439  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–1.4%

   

AmerisourceBergen Corp.–Class A

    1,593       225,378  

Amplifon SpA

    1,254       38,554  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    2,877       150,381  

Centene Corp.(a)

    6,177       522,636  

Cigna Corp.

    3,351       883,056  

CVS Health Corp.

    13,849       1,283,248  

DaVita, Inc.(a)

    639       51,094  

Elevance Health, Inc.

    2,546       1,228,649  
                                                        

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

    2,066     103,509  

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

    4,219       128,307  

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

    2,403       403,848  

Henry Schein, Inc.(a)

    1,458       111,887  

Humana, Inc.

    1,336       625,342  

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings

    979       229,438  

McKesson Corp.

    1,535       500,732  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.(a)

    620       173,358  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    1,240       164,895  

Ramsay Health Care Ltd.(b)

    1,844       93,400  

Sonic Healthcare Ltd.

    4,591       104,644  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    9,908       5,089,046  

Universal Health Services, Inc.–Class B

    709       71,403  
   

 

 

 
      12,182,805  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–0.0%

   

M3, Inc.

    4,445       127,949  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.8%

   

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

    3,170       376,501  

Bachem Holding AG (REG)

    310       21,607  

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.–Class A(a)

    229       113,355  

Bio-Techne Corp.

    414       143,509  

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.(a)

    537       114,902  

Danaher Corp.

    6,834       1,732,556  

Eurofins Scientific SE

    1,409       111,280  

Illumina, Inc.(a)

    1,659       305,853  

IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(a)

    1,999       433,763  

Lonza Group AG (REG)

    757       404,342  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(a)

    240       275,705  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    1,332       189,437  

QIAGEN NV(a)

    2,325       109,317  

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

    294       92,762  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    4,134       2,245,920  

Waters Corp.(a)

    636       210,503  

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

    782       236,453  
   

 

 

 
      7,117,765  
   

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–3.5%

   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

    18,758       292,657  

AstraZeneca PLC

    15,748       2,077,503  

Bayer AG (REG)

    9,985       596,268  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    22,485       1,731,345  

Catalent, Inc.(a)

    1,893       203,100  

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(b)

    6,766       173,078  

Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

    17,839       453,690  

Eisai Co., Ltd.

    2,562       108,322  

Eli Lilly & Co.

    8,329       2,700,512  

 

5


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

GSK PLC

    51,669     $ 1,113,549  

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

    1,749       34,509  

Ipsen SA

    380       35,980  

Johnson & Johnson

    27,791       4,933,180  

Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.

    2,720       61,409  

Merck & Co., Inc.

    26,707       2,434,877  

Merck KGaA

    1,329       225,427  

Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

    495       30,215  

Novartis AG (REG)

    22,269       1,887,979  

Novo Nordisk A/S–Class B

    17,116       1,898,204  

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    3,726       95,718  

Organon & Co.

    2,679       90,416  

Orion Oyj–Class B

    1,070       47,887  

Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.

    3,934       140,431  

Pfizer, Inc.

    59,257       3,106,844  

Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica SpA

    1,053       45,921  

Roche Holding AG

    7,413       2,492,498  

Sanofi

    11,559       1,165,679  

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

    2,668       136,171  

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    15,278       429,133  

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(a)

    11,113       83,570  

UCB SA

    1,330       112,703  

Viatris, Inc.

    12,804       134,058  

Vifor Pharma AG(a)

    462       80,093  

Zoetis, Inc.

    4,970       854,293  
   

 

 

 
      30,007,219  
   

 

 

 
      70,286,975  
   

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–7.0%

   

BANKS–2.8%

   

ABN AMRO Bank NV

    4,261       47,879  

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

    28,402       432,583  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

    67,180       305,170  

Banco Santander SA

    174,712       494,332  

Bank Hapoalim BM

    12,904       108,358  

Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM

    14,638       130,952  

Bank of America Corp.

    74,879       2,330,983  

Barclays PLC

    168,832       315,709  

BNP Paribas SA

    11,332       542,032  

BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.

    37,283       148,050  

CaixaBank SA

    44,667       156,426  

Chiba Bank Ltd. (The)(b)

    5,340       29,229  

Citigroup, Inc.

    20,509       943,209  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

    5,180       184,874  

Comerica, Inc.

    1,381       101,338  

Commerzbank AG(a)

    10,819       76,762  

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    17,344       1,083,593  
                                                        

Concordia Financial Group Ltd.

    10,968     38,083  

Credit Agricole SA

    12,461       114,877  

Danske Bank A/S

    6,949       98,903  

DBS Group Holdings Ltd.

    18,471       395,231  

DNB Bank ASA

    9,372       169,666  

Erste Group Bank AG

    3,464       88,025  

Fifth Third Bancorp

    7,246       243,466  

FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA

    6,144       73,707  

First Republic Bank/CA

    1,895       273,259  

Hang Seng Bank Ltd.

    7,704       136,522  

HSBC Holdings PLC

    205,840       1,344,654  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc./OH

    15,199       182,844  

ING Groep NV

    39,334       387,503  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

    166,402       311,416  

Israel Discount Bank Ltd.–Class A

    12,463       65,261  

Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.

    4,155       32,349  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    31,018       3,492,937  

KBC Group NV

    2,598       146,166  

KeyCorp

    9,848       169,681  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC

    715,396       368,076  

M&T Bank Corp.

    1,895       302,044  

Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA

    5,771       50,050  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    121,496       650,009  

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd.

    1,577       52,499  

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

    24,304       276,699  

National Australia Bank Ltd.

    32,745       620,938  

NatWest Group PLC

    56,978       151,662  

Nordea Bank Abp

    33,632       297,089  

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.

    34,115       279,847  

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    4,368       689,139  

Regions Financial Corp.

    9,869       185,044  

Resona Holdings, Inc.

    20,759       77,649  

Shizuoka Bank Ltd. (The)

    4,497       27,076  

Signature Bank/New York NY

    665       119,175  

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB–Class A

    16,397       161,541  

Societe Generale SA

    7,980       176,435  

Standard Chartered PLC

    26,369       199,070  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    13,315       395,790  

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.

    3,403       105,173  

SVB Financial Group(a)

    622       245,684  

Svenska Handelsbanken AB–Class A

    14,695       126,140  

Swedbank AB–Class A

    9,124       115,716  

 

6


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Truist Financial Corp.

    14,061     $ 666,913  

UniCredit SpA

    21,307       203,617  

United Overseas Bank Ltd.

    11,890       224,627  

US Bancorp

    14,279       657,120  

Wells Fargo & Co.

    40,030       1,567,975  

Westpac Banking Corp.

    35,584       479,989  

Zions Bancorp NA

    1,599       81,389  
   

 

 

 
      24,750,204  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–1.6%

   

3i Group PLC

    9,805       132,895  

Abrdn PLC(b)

    21,971       42,886  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    1,161       275,946  

Amundi SA

    613       33,750  

ASX Ltd.(b)

    1,950       110,223  

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)

    7,849       327,382  

BlackRock, Inc.–Class A

    1,504       915,996  

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

    1,121       126,886  

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

    15,928       1,006,331  

CME Group, Inc.–Class A

    3,796       777,041  

Credit Suisse Group AG (REG)

    26,517       151,355  

Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.

    13,519       60,533  

Deutsche Bank AG (REG)

    20,823       182,986  

Deutsche Boerse AG

    1,943       326,282  

EQT AB

    2,981       61,269  

Euronext NV(c)

    863       70,777  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

    400       153,828  

Franklin Resources, Inc.

    2,957       68,928  

Futu Holdings Ltd. (ADR)(a)(b)

    656       34,250  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    3,627       1,077,292  

Hargreaves Lansdown PLC

    3,584       34,580  

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd.

    12,256       606,136  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    5,896       554,460  

Invesco Ltd.

    3,556       57,358  

Japan Exchange Group, Inc.

    4,811       69,734  

Julius Baer Group Ltd.

    2,228       103,357  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

    3,369       314,367  

Macquarie Group Ltd.

    3,705       421,836  

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

    399       102,148  

Moody’s Corp.

    1,695       460,989  

Morgan Stanley

    14,780       1,124,167  

MSCI, Inc.–Class A

    857       353,213  

Nasdaq, Inc.

    1,217       185,641  

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

    29,578       107,460  

Northern Trust Corp.

    2,201       212,352  
                                                        

Partners Group Holding AG

    233     210,422  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    2,053       183,559  

S&P Global, Inc.

    3,666       1,235,662  

SBI Holdings, Inc./Japan(b)

    2,467       48,204  

Schroders PLC

    1,252       40,899  

Singapore Exchange Ltd.

    8,097       55,164  

St. James’s Place PLC

    5,443       73,237  

State Street Corp.

    3,877       239,017  

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

    2,401       272,778  

UBS Group AG (REG)

    35,749       577,944  
   

 

 

 
      13,581,520  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER FINANCE–0.2%

   

American Express Co.

    6,442       892,990  

Capital One Financial Corp.

    4,151       432,493  

Discover Financial Services

    2,967       280,619  

Synchrony Financial

    5,296       146,275  
   

 

 

 
      1,752,377  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–0.7%

   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.–Class B(a)

    19,107       5,216,593  

EXOR NV

    1,092       68,239  

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA

    1,033       86,596  

Industrivarden AB–Class A

    1,313       29,683  

Industrivarden AB–Class C(b)

    1,637       36,594  

Investor AB–Class A

    5,024       90,486  

Investor AB–Class B

    18,356       302,723  

Kinnevik AB–Class B(a)

    2,439       39,478  

L E Lundbergforetagen AB–Class B

    765       31,194  

M&G PLC

    26,194       62,099  

Mitsubishi HC Capital, Inc.

    6,650       30,692  

ORIX Corp.

    12,038       201,755  

Sofina SA(b)

    177       36,282  

Wendel SE

    270       22,629  
   

 

 

 
      6,255,043  
   

 

 

 

INSURANCE–1.7%

 

Admiral Group PLC

    1,781       48,764  

Aegon NV(b)

    18,038       77,683  

Aflac, Inc.

    6,259       346,310  

Ageas SA/NV

    1,551       68,388  

AIA Group Ltd.

    122,955       1,343,476  

Allianz SE (REG)

    4,152       795,981  

Allstate Corp. (The)

    2,904       368,024  

American International Group, Inc.

    8,366       427,754  

Aon PLC–Class A

    2,243       604,892  

Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

    2,219       361,786  

 

7


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Assicurazioni Generali SpA

    11,150     $ 178,096  

Assurant, Inc.

    571       98,697  

Aviva PLC

    28,121       137,744  

AXA SA

    19,614       448,014  

Baloise Holding AG (REG)

    490       80,210  

Brown & Brown, Inc.

    2,474       144,333  

Chubb Ltd.

    4,475       879,695  

Cincinnati Financial Corp.

    1,575       187,394  

Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.

    10,128       187,321  

Everest Re Group Ltd.

    417       116,877  

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA

    2,015       41,018  

Globe Life, Inc.

    958       93,376  

Hannover Rueck SE

    641       93,493  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    3,473       227,238  

Insurance Australia Group Ltd.(b)

    24,836       74,894  

Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.

    24,675       176,548  

Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.

    2,013       32,217  

Legal & General Group PLC

    60,150       175,853  

Lincoln National Corp.

    1,707       79,836  

Loews Corp.

    2,053       121,661  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    5,301       822,980  

Medibank Pvt Ltd.

    27,747       62,408  

MetLife, Inc.

    7,300       458,367  

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.

    4,485       137,525  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen (REG)

    1,432       338,736  

NN Group NV

    2,908       131,712  

Phoenix Group Holdings PLC

    7,049       50,785  

Poste Italiane SpA

    5,263       49,243  

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

    2,482       165,773  

Progressive Corp. (The)

    6,177       718,200  

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    3,960       378,893  

Prudential PLC

    27,670       344,194  

QBE Insurance Group Ltd.

    14,876       125,001  

Sampo Oyj–Class A

    5,134       224,362  

Sompo Holdings, Inc.

    3,152       139,217  

Suncorp Group Ltd.

    12,721       97,007  

Swiss Life Holding AG (REG)

    326       159,143  

Swiss Re AG

    3,099       240,538  

T&D Holdings, Inc.

    5,340       63,923  

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.

    6,414       374,013  

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

    2,534       428,575  

Tryg A/S

    3,627       81,716  
                                                        

Willis Towers Watson PLC

    1,177     232,328  

WR Berkley Corp.

    2,213       151,059  

Zurich Insurance Group AG

    1,530       667,192  
   

 

 

 
      14,660,463  
   

 

 

 
      60,999,607  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–5.9%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–0.1%

   

Aisin Corp.

    1,484       45,931  

Aptiv PLC(a)

    2,861       254,829  

BorgWarner, Inc.

    2,530       84,426  

Bridgestone Corp.

    5,879       214,345  

Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA

    6,988       190,849  

Continental AG

    1,108       77,769  

Denso Corp.

    4,451       234,935  

Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    1,052       33,413  

Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

    7,148       78,989  

Valeo

    2,088       40,687  
   

 

 

 
      1,256,173  
   

 

 

 

AUTOMOBILES–1.3%

   

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

    3,394       263,105  

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Preference Shares)

    581       41,440  

Ferrari NV

    1,295       238,329  

Ford Motor Co.

    41,705       464,177  

General Motors Co.(a)

    15,398       489,040  

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

    16,629       400,943  

Isuzu Motors Ltd.

    5,874       64,975  

Mazda Motor Corp.

    5,729       46,763  

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

    8,156       473,687  

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

    23,388       91,602  

Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Preference Shares)

    1,606       106,817  

Renault SA(a)

    1,936       48,876  

Stellantis NV

    22,287       276,687  

Subaru Corp.

    6,199       109,651  

Suzuki Motor Corp.

    3,711       116,666  

Tesla, Inc.(a)

    8,863       5,968,521  

Toyota Motor Corp.

    107,784       1,663,032  

Volkswagen AG

    300       54,865  

Volkswagen AG (Preference Shares)

    1,900       255,815  

Volvo Car AB–Class B(a)(b)

    6,056       40,240  

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

    2,999       55,070  
   

 

 

 
      11,270,301  
   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTORS–0.1%

   

D’ieteren Group

    253       37,177  

Genuine Parts Co.

    1,495       198,835  

 

8


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

LKQ Corp.

    2,748     $ 134,900  

Pool Corp.

    423       148,570  
   

 

 

 
      519,482  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–0.0%

   

IDP Education Ltd.(b)

    2,103       34,437  
   

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–0.9%

   

Accor SA(a)

    1,714       46,761  

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.

    6,071       144,405  

Booking Holdings, Inc.(a)

    429       750,317  

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.(a)

    2,264       86,711  

Carnival Corp.(a)(b)

    8,571       74,139  

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.–Class A(a)

    295       385,642  

Compass Group PLC

    18,199       373,651  

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

    1,317       148,979  

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd.(b)

    610       28,673  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

    381       148,479  

Entain PLC(a)

    5,908       89,906  

Evolution AB

    1,859       170,063  

Expedia Group, Inc.(a)

    1,601       151,823  

Flutter Entertainment PLC(a)

    1,722       174,573  

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

    21,942       131,445  

Genting Singapore Ltd.

    60,925       31,598  

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

    2,939       327,522  

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC

    1,927       102,416  

La Francaise des Jeux SAEM

    1,096       38,058  

Las Vegas Sands Corp.(a)

    3,631       121,965  

Lottery Corp. Ltd. (The)(a)(b)

    22,425       69,964  

Marriott International, Inc./MD–Class A

    2,904       394,973  

McDonald’s Corp.

    7,810       1,928,133  

McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan Ltd.(b)

    929       33,840  

MGM Resorts International

    3,735       108,128  

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.(a)

    4,426       49,217  

Oriental Land Co., Ltd./Japan

    2,048       286,007  

Penn National Gaming, Inc.(a)

    1,726       52,505  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a)

    2,370       82,737  

Sands China Ltd.(a)

    24,462       58,848  

Sodexo SA

    891       63,024  

Starbucks Corp.

    12,113       925,312  

Whitbread PLC

    2,035       61,711  
                                                        

Wynn Resorts Ltd.(a)

    1,115     63,533  

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    3,012       341,892  
   

 

 

 
      8,046,950  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–0.3%

   

Barratt Developments PLC

    10,300       57,615  

Berkeley Group Holdings PLC

    1,131       51,420  

DR Horton, Inc.

    3,383       223,921  

Electrolux AB–Class B(b)

    2,272       30,688  

Garmin Ltd.

    1,611       158,281  

Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

    1,483       22,767  

Lennar Corp.–Class A

    2,731       192,727  

Mohawk Industries, Inc.(a)

    544       67,505  

Newell Brands, Inc.

    3,887       74,008  

NVR, Inc.(a)

    33       132,137  

Open House Group Co., Ltd.

    825       32,840  

Panasonic Holdings Corp.

    22,251       179,659  

Persimmon PLC

    3,215       73,147  

PulteGroup, Inc.

    2,510       99,471  

SEB SA

    278       26,829  

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

    3,800       52,098  

Sekisui House Ltd.

    6,208       108,984  

Sharp Corp./Japan(b)

    2,157       16,684  

Sony Group Corp.

    12,818       1,045,394  

Taylor Wimpey PLC

    36,740       52,334  

Whirlpool Corp.

    594       91,993  
   

 

 

 
      2,790,502  
   

 

 

 

INTERNET & DIRECT MARKETING RETAIL–1.3%

   

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

    92,412       9,815,079  

Delivery Hero SE(a)

    1,643       61,984  

eBay, Inc.

    5,913       246,395  

Etsy, Inc.(a)

    1,343       98,321  

Just Eat Takeaway.com NV(a)

    1,820       28,598  

Prosus NV(a)

    8,431       545,937  

Rakuten Group, Inc.(b)

    8,758       39,600  

Zalando SE(a)

    2,243       59,087  

ZOZO, Inc.

    1,255       22,706  
   

 

 

 
      10,917,707  
   

 

 

 

LEISURE PRODUCTS–0.1%

   

Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.

    2,080       146,833  

Hasbro, Inc.

    1,384       113,322  

Shimano, Inc.

    773       130,217  

Yamaha Corp.

    1,474       60,766  
   

 

 

 
      451,138  
   

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL–0.3%

   

Cie Financiere Richemont SA (REG)

    5,310       571,160  

Dollar General Corp.

    2,416       592,983  

 

9


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Dollar Tree, Inc.(a)

    2,377     $ 370,455  

Next PLC

    1,339       95,659  

Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp.

    3,794       60,489  

Target Corp.

    4,884       689,767  

Wesfarmers Ltd.

    11,577       334,853  
   

 

 

 
      2,715,366  
   

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–0.9%

   

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

    645       111,643  

AutoZone, Inc.(a)

    210       451,315  

Bath & Body Works, Inc.(d)

    2,519       67,811  

Best Buy Co., Inc.

    2,138       139,376  

CarMax, Inc.(a)

    1,695       153,364  

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd.

    20,150       38,061  

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

    598       314,116  

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB–Class B(b)

    7,358       88,315  

Hikari Tsushin, Inc.

    211       21,691  

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    10,914       2,993,383  

Industria de Diseno Textil SA

    10,990       249,753  

JD Sports Fashion PLC

    25,984       36,612  

Kingfisher PLC

    19,545       58,410  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    6,982       1,219,546  

Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd.

    807       76,796  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.(a)

    694       438,441  

Ross Stores, Inc.

    3,711       260,623  

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    12,403       692,708  

Tractor Supply Co.

    1,182       229,131  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

    552       212,785  

USS Co., Ltd.

    2,209       38,287  
   

 

 

 
      7,892,167  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.6%

   

adidas AG

    1,758       312,275  

Burberry Group PLC

    4,080       81,851  

EssilorLuxottica SA

    2,927       443,770  

Hermes International

    324       364,638  

Kering SA

    765       396,443  

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    2,822       1,729,541  

Moncler SpA

    2,068       89,102  

NIKE, Inc.–Class B

    13,400       1,369,480  

Pandora A/S

    1,007       63,977  

Puma SE

    1,063       70,526  

PVH Corp.

    713       40,570  

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    489       43,839  

Swatch Group AG (The)

    313       74,350  

Swatch Group AG (The) (REG)

    530       23,648  

Tapestry, Inc.

    2,659       81,153  

VF Corp.

    3,409       150,575  
   

 

 

 
      5,335,738  
   

 

 

 
      51,229,961  
   

 

 

 
                                                        

INDUSTRIALS–5.4%

   

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–0.9%

   

Airbus SE

    5,993     586,174  

BAE Systems PLC

    31,961       323,573  

Boeing Co. (The)(a)

    5,873       802,957  

Dassault Aviation SA

    252       39,353  

Elbit Systems Ltd.

    293       67,295  

General Dynamics Corp.

    2,434       538,522  

Howmet Aerospace, Inc.

    3,972       124,919  

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

    423       92,138  

Kongsberg Gruppen ASA

    909       32,692  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

    2,037       492,343  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    2,501       1,075,330  

MTU Aero Engines AG

    564       103,320  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

    1,543       738,434  

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

    15,707       1,509,600  

Rheinmetall AG

    443       102,229  

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC(a)(b)

    84,306       85,795  

Safran SA

    3,491       347,583  

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.

    15,730       46,306  

Textron, Inc.

    2,272       138,751  

Thales SA

    1,114       136,774  

TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)

    548       294,095  
   

 

 

 
      7,678,183  
   

 

 

 

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–0.4%

   

CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

    1,344       136,242  

Deutsche Post AG (REG)

    10,111       381,752  

DSV A/S

    1,952       274,485  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    1,772       172,699  

FedEx Corp.

    2,518       570,856  

Kuehne & Nagel International AG (REG)

    566       134,483  

SG Holdings Co., Ltd.

    2,929       49,529  

United Parcel Service, Inc.–Class B

    7,756       1,415,780  

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

    2,936       46,985  
   

 

 

 
      3,182,811  
   

 

 

 

AIRLINES–0.1%

   

Alaska Air Group, Inc.(a)

    1,332       53,347  

American Airlines Group, Inc.(a)

    6,860       86,985  

ANA Holdings, Inc.(a)

    1,610       29,739  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.(a)

    6,770       196,127  

Deutsche Lufthansa AG (REG)(a)

    6,022       35,471  

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.(a)

    1,453       24,965  

Qantas Airways Ltd.(a)

    9,311       28,816  

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Singapore Airlines Ltd.(a)(b)

    13,499     $ 49,602  

Southwest Airlines Co.(a)

    6,262       226,183  

United Airlines Holdings, Inc.(a)

    3,451       122,234  
   

 

 

 
      853,469  
   

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–0.3%

   

A O Smith Corp.

    1,373       75,076  

AGC, Inc.

    1,947       68,413  

Allegion PLC

    927       90,753  

Assa Abloy AB–Class B

    10,098       215,492  

Carrier Global Corp.

    8,958       319,442  

Cie de Saint-Gobain

    5,097       220,237  

Daikin Industries Ltd.

    2,543       408,302  

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

    1,381       82,694  

Geberit AG (REG)

    371       178,489  

Johnson Controls International PLC

    7,347       351,774  

Kingspan Group PLC

    1,616       97,172  

Lixil Corp.

    3,025       56,857  

Masco Corp.

    2,492       126,095  

Nibe Industrier AB–Class B

    15,403       116,112  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

    4,465       315,542  

ROCKWOOL A/S–Class B

    103       23,384  

TOTO Ltd.

    1,426       47,217  

Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd.

    18,257       44,050  
   

 

 

 
      2,837,101  
   

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.2%

   

Brambles Ltd.

    14,453       106,870  

Cintas Corp.

    919       343,274  

Copart, Inc.(a)

    2,257       245,246  

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

    2,237       48,119  

Rentokil Initial PLC

    18,733       108,594  

Republic Services, Inc.–Class A

    2,202       288,176  

Rollins, Inc.

    2,392       83,529  

Secom Co., Ltd.

    2,191       135,282  

Securitas AB–Class B

    3,154       27,269  

TOPPAN, Inc.

    2,642       44,079  

Waste Management, Inc.

    4,034       617,121  
   

 

 

 
      2,047,559  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–0.2%

   

ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA(b)

    2,170       52,887  

Bouygues SA

    2,312       71,356  

Eiffage SA

    839       75,896  

Epiroc AB–Class A

    6,639       102,938  
                                                        

Epiroc AB–Class B

    3,929     53,243  

Ferrovial SA

    4,942       125,743  

Kajima Corp.

    4,067       46,635  

Obayashi Corp.

    6,542       47,582  

Quanta Services, Inc.

    1,518       190,266  

Shimizu Corp.

    5,561       30,721  

Skanska AB–Class B

    3,427       52,726  

Taisei Corp.

    1,922       59,928  

Vinci SA

    5,425       486,956  
   

 

 

 
      1,396,877  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–0.4%

   

ABB Ltd. (REG)

    16,715       448,266  

AMETEK, Inc.

    2,439       268,022  

Eaton Corp. PLC

    4,214       530,922  

Emerson Electric Co.

    6,273       498,954  

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

    1,278       52,837  

Generac Holdings, Inc.(a)

    674       141,931  

Legrand SA

    2,752       204,332  

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

    19,641       211,124  

Nidec Corp.

    4,584       284,056  

Prysmian SpA

    2,566       70,495  

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

    1,228       244,753  

Schneider Electric SE

    5,495       654,759  

Siemens Energy AG(a)

    4,431       65,306  

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA(a)

    2,401       45,269  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

    10,174       216,320  
   

 

 

 
      3,937,346  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–0.5%

   

3M Co.

    6,010       777,754  

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

    27,053       183,527  

DCC PLC

    993       61,781  

General Electric Co.

    11,624       740,100  

Hitachi Ltd.

    9,852       468,660  

Honeywell International, Inc.

    7,189       1,249,520  

Investment AB Latour–Class B(b)

    1,491       29,616  

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.

    2,173       114,178  

Keppel Corp., Ltd.

    14,674       68,551  

Lifco AB–Class B(b)

    2,348       37,917  

Melrose Industries PLC

    44,053       80,804  

Siemens AG (REG)

    7,776       799,346  

Smiths Group PLC

    3,730       63,786  

Toshiba Corp.

    3,926       159,515  
   

 

 

 
      4,835,055  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–1.0%

   

Alfa Laval AB

    2,958       71,708  

Alstom SA

    3,196       72,979  

Atlas Copco AB–Class A

    27,060       253,283  

Atlas Copco AB–Class B

    15,724       131,750  

Caterpillar, Inc.

    5,633       1,006,955  

 

11


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

CNH Industrial NV

    10,310     $ 119,239  

Cummins, Inc.

    1,490       288,360  

Daifuku Co., Ltd.

    1,020       58,375  

Daimler Truck Holding AG(a)

    4,600       121,145  

Deere & Co.

    2,948       882,838  

Dover Corp.

    1,523       184,770  

FANUC Corp.

    1,964       307,836  

Fortive Corp.

    3,786       205,883  

GEA Group AG

    1,545       53,562  

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

    1,083       24,056  

Hoshizaki Corp.

    1,094       32,608  

Husqvarna AB–Class B

    4,217       31,083  

IDEX Corp.

    803       145,849  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    2,993       545,474  

Indutrade AB

    2,776       50,934  

Ingersoll Rand, Inc.

    4,287       180,397  

KION Group AG

    727       30,434  

Knorr-Bremse AG

    730       41,811  

Komatsu Ltd.

    9,396       209,222  

Kone Oyj–Class B

    3,424       163,651  

Kornit Digital Ltd.(a)

    468       14,836  

Kubota Corp.(b)

    10,350       155,106  

Kurita Water Industries Ltd.(b)

    1,130       40,904  

Makita Corp.(b)

    2,257       55,943  

MINEBEA MITSUMI, Inc.

    3,657       62,327  

MISUMI Group, Inc.

    2,864       60,486  

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

    3,229       112,859  

NGK Insulators Ltd.

    2,207       29,734  

Nordson Corp.

    569       115,188  

PACCAR, Inc.

    3,672       302,352  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

    1,356       333,644  

Pentair PLC

    1,747       79,960  

Rational AG

    60       34,979  

Sandvik AB(b)

    10,837       176,612  

Schindler Holding AG

    435       79,544  

Schindler Holding AG (REG)

    239       43,043  

SKF AB–Class B

    3,852       57,149  

SMC Corp.

    586       260,852  

Snap-on, Inc.

    564       111,125  

Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC

    782       94,316  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    1,594       167,147  

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

    13,862       144,749  

Toyota Industries Corp.

    1,477       91,585  

Trane Technologies PLC

    2,470       320,779  

VAT Group AG(c)

    291       69,594  

Volvo AB–Class A

    2,017       32,665  

Volvo AB–Class B

    15,337       238,634  

Wartsila OYJ Abp

    4,769       37,383  
                                                        

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

    1,929     158,332  

Xylem, Inc./NY

    1,902       148,698  
   

 

 

 
      8,844,727  
   

 

 

 

MARINE–0.1%

   

AP Moller–Maersk A/S–Class A

    33       76,591  

AP Moller–Maersk A/S–Class B

    55       129,118  

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.(b)

    3,463       79,665  

Nippon Yusen KK

    1,687       115,669  

SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.

    13,511       38,428  

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.(b)

    853       40,287  
   

 

 

 
      479,758  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.4%

   

Adecco Group AG (REG)

    1,610       54,877  

Bureau Veritas SA

    2,962       76,206  

Equifax, Inc.

    1,292       236,152  

Experian PLC

    9,450       277,459  

Intertek Group PLC

    1,626       83,576  

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

    1,358       172,642  

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

    1,443       145,324  

Nielsen Holdings PLC

    3,799       88,213  

Nihon M&A Center Holdings, Inc.

    3,051       32,524  

Persol Holdings Co., Ltd.

    1,788       32,645  

Randstad NV(b)

    1,204       58,190  

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

    14,652       431,508  

RELX PLC (London)

    19,667       533,986  

Robert Half International, Inc.

    1,167       87,397  

SGS SA (REG)

    65       149,089  

Teleperformance

    607       187,432  

Verisk Analytics, Inc.–Class A

    1,668       288,714  

Wolters Kluwer NV

    2,696       261,291  
   

 

 

 
      3,197,225  
   

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–0.5%

   

Aurizon Holdings Ltd.

    18,545       48,774  

Central Japan Railway Co.

    1,491       171,365  

CSX Corp.

    22,963       667,305  

East Japan Railway Co.

    3,046       155,800  

Grab Holdings Ltd.–Class A(a)

    10,936       27,668  

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

    2,305       62,957  

JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

    885       139,361  

Keio Corp.(b)

    1,036       37,165  

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

    1,302       35,951  

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

    1,728     $ 53,761  

MTR Corp., Ltd.

    15,600       81,787  

Nippon Express Holdings, Inc.

    773       42,108  

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    2,517       572,089  

Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

    2,970       40,070  

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

    970       248,592  

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.(b)

    1,902       43,416  

Tokyu Corp.(b)

    5,036       59,442  

Union Pacific Corp.

    6,633       1,414,686  

West Japan Railway Co.

    2,212       81,376  
   

 

 

 
      3,983,673  
   

 

 

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–0.3%

   

AerCap Holdings NV(a)

    1,356       55,515  

Ashtead Group PLC

    4,495       189,098  

Brenntag SE

    1,621       106,140  

Bunzl PLC

    3,399       112,883  

Fastenal Co.

    6,079       303,464  

Ferguson PLC

    2,227       249,474  

ITOCHU Corp.

    12,149       327,755  

Marubeni Corp.

    15,764       141,428  

Mitsubishi Corp.

    12,866       383,165  

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

    14,189       311,796  

MonotaRO Co., Ltd.(b)

    2,525       37,657  

Reece Ltd.(b)

    2,297       21,819  

Sumitomo Corp.

    11,347       154,245  

Toyota Tsusho Corp.

    2,140       69,770  

United Rentals, Inc.(a)

    756       183,640  

WW Grainger, Inc.

    453       205,857  
   

 

 

 
      2,853,706  
   

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE–0.1%

   

Aena SME SA(a)

    788       100,550  

Aeroports de Paris(a)

    299       38,117  

Atlantia SpA

    4,992       117,184  

Auckland International Airport Ltd.(a)

    12,611       56,492  

Getlink SE

    4,433       78,621  

Transurban Group

    30,928       307,712  
   

 

 

 
      698,676  
   

 

 

 
      46,826,166  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–4.5%

   

BEVERAGES–1.1%

   

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

    8,839       475,997  

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.

    4,597       151,174  

Brown-Forman Corp.–Class B

    1,930       135,409  

Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd.(c)

    17,346       52,050  

Carlsberg AS–Class B

    1,051       134,321  
                                                        

Coca-Cola Co., (The)

    41,205     2,592,207  

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC

    2,067       106,678  

Coca-Cola HBC AG

    2,025       45,120  

Constellation Brands, Inc.–Class A

    1,719       400,630  

Davide Campari-Milano NV

    5,266       55,555  

Diageo PLC

    23,596       1,019,175  

Heineken Holding NV

    1,025       74,461  

Heineken NV

    2,662       242,300  

Ito En Ltd.

    539       24,240  

Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

    7,790       275,688  

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.

    8,287       130,910  

Molson Coors Beverage Co.–Class B

    1,989       108,420  

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

    3,972       368,204  

PepsiCo, Inc.

    14,603       2,433,736  

Pernod Ricard SA

    2,137       395,077  

Remy Cointreau SA

    258       45,269  

Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd.

    1,400       52,868  

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd.

    7,272       57,029  
   

 

 

 
      9,376,518  
   

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–0.8%

   

Aeon Co., Ltd.

    6,588       114,434  

Carrefour SA

    6,253       110,999  

Coles Group Ltd.

    13,439       165,385  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    4,681       2,243,510  

Endeavour Group Ltd./Australia

    13,513       70,693  

HelloFresh SE(a)

    1,664       54,287  

J Sainsbury PLC

    17,625       43,863  

Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA

    2,853       61,848  

Kesko Oyj–Class B

    2,751       65,105  

Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.(b)

    1,597       39,256  

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV

    10,535       274,216  

Kroger Co. (The)

    6,929       327,950  

Ocado Group PLC(a)

    4,920       46,901  

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.

    7,713       299,267  

Sysco Corp.

    5,381       455,824  

Tesco PLC

    77,455       241,396  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

    7,572       286,979  

Walmart, Inc.

    14,827       1,802,667  

Welcia Holdings Co., Ltd.

    950       19,099  

Woolworths Group Ltd.(b)

    12,211       299,931  
   

 

 

 
      7,023,610  
   

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS–1.0%

 

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

    4,703       114,686  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

    5,943       461,177  

 

13


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Associated British Foods PLC

    3,589     $ 69,252  

Barry Callebaut AG (REG)

    38       85,022  

Campbell Soup Co.

    2,135       102,587  

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

    11       112,002  

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG (REG)

    2       209,710  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

    5,068       173,528  

Danone SA

    6,668       373,423  

General Mills, Inc.

    6,360       479,862  

Hershey Co. (The)

    1,542       331,777  

Hormel Foods Corp.

    2,993       141,748  

JDE Peet’s NV(b)

    1,011       28,785  

JM Smucker Co. (The)

    1,145       146,571  

Kellogg Co.

    2,676       190,906  

Kerry Group PLC–Class A

    1,652       157,984  

Kikkoman Corp.

    1,465       77,963  

Kraft Heinz Co. (The)

    7,497       285,936  

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.

    1,526       109,048  

McCormick & Co., Inc./MD

    2,643       220,030  

MEIJI Holdings Co., Ltd.

    1,230       60,440  

Mondelez International, Inc.–Class A

    14,616       907,507  

Mowi ASA

    4,205       96,159  

Nestle SA (REG)

    28,612       3,343,961  

Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc.

    1,993       23,324  

Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.

    638       44,067  

Orkla ASA

    7,567       60,617  

Salmar ASA

    599       42,407  

Tyson Foods, Inc.–Class A

    3,079       264,979  

WH Group Ltd.

    84,024       65,033  

Wilmar International Ltd.

    19,354       56,331  

Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

    1,292       74,522  
   

 

 

 
      8,911,344  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS–0.7%

   

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

    2,564       237,580  

Clorox Co. (The)

    1,300       183,274  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    8,850       709,239  

Essity AB–Class B

    6,133       160,320  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

    1,047       64,328  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Preference Shares)

    1,795       111,076  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    3,558       480,864  

Procter & Gamble Co., (The)

    25,339       3,643,495  

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC

    7,266       546,492  

Unicharm Corp.

    4,065       136,410  
   

 

 

 
      6,273,078  
   

 

 

 
                                                        

PERSONAL PRODUCTS–0.4%

   

Beiersdorf AG

    1,065     109,287  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The)–Class A

    2,448       623,432  

Kao Corp.

    4,785       194,029  

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(b)

    537       33,257  

Kose Corp.(b)

    335       30,531  

L’Oreal SA

    2,449       850,306  

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

    4,030       162,438  

Unilever PLC

    26,029       1,186,396  
   

 

 

 
      3,189,676  
   

 

 

 

TOBACCO–0.5%

   

Altria Group, Inc.

    19,121       798,684  

British American Tobacco PLC

    22,128       948,500  

Imperial Brands PLC

    9,177       205,452  

Japan Tobacco, Inc.(b)

    12,090       209,505  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    16,371       1,616,473  

Swedish Match AB

    15,918       162,404  
   

 

 

 
      3,941,018  
   

 

 

 
      38,715,244  
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.3%

   

DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.1%

   

AT&T, Inc.

    75,607       1,584,723  

BT Group PLC

    70,623       160,509  

Cellnex Telecom SA

    5,524       214,984  

Charter Communications, Inc.–Class A(a)

    1,223       573,012  

Comcast Corp.–Class A

    47,214       1,852,677  

Deutsche Telekom AG (REG)

    32,943       655,211  

Elisa Oyj

    1,433       80,674  

Eurazeo SE

    464       28,826  

HKT Trust & HKT Ltd.–Class SS

    38,163       51,255  

Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA

    3,386       34,423  

Koninklijke KPN NV

    32,499       115,636  

Lumen Technologies, Inc.

    9,819       107,125  

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    12,201       350,573  

Orange SA

    20,100       236,850  

Proximus SADP

    1,532       22,612  

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

    83,194       151,419  

Spark New Zealand Ltd.

    18,834       56,365  

Swisscom AG (REG)

    269       148,789  

Telecom Italia SpA/Milano(a)

    100,391       26,323  

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

    10,489     $ 30,247  

Telefonica SA(b)

    53,829       274,827  

Telenor ASA

    7,049       94,197  

Telia Co. AB

    26,782       102,792  

Telstra Corp., Ltd.

    41,750       111,046  

United Internet AG (REG)

    977       28,005  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    44,353       2,250,915  

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Co., Ltd.(b)

    2,181       35,519  
   

 

 

 
      9,379,534  
   

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT–0.6%

   

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

    8,258       642,968  

Bollore SE

    8,908       41,527  

Capcom Co., Ltd.

    1,774       43,154  

Electronic Arts, Inc.

    2,970       361,300  

Embracer Group AB(a)(b)

    6,492       49,866  

Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

    592       19,196  

Konami Holdings Corp.

    939       52,022  

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.(a)

    1,446       119,411  

Netflix, Inc.(a)

    4,692       820,490  

Nexon Co., Ltd.(b)

    4,977       102,201  

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

    1,124       483,383  

Sea Ltd. (ADR)(a)

    3,645       243,705  

Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

    864       38,350  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(a)

    1,670       204,625  

Toho Co., Ltd./Tokyo

    1,127       40,826  

Ubisoft Entertainment SA(a)

    945       41,678  

Universal Music Group NV(b)

    7,308       146,423  

Walt Disney Co., (The)(a)

    19,237       1,815,973  

Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.(a)

    23,323       312,995  
   

 

 

 
      5,580,093  
   

 

 

 

INTERACTIVE MEDIA & SERVICES–2.1%

   

Adevinta ASA(a)

    2,936       21,615  

Alphabet, Inc.–Class A(a)

    3,176       6,921,330  

Alphabet, Inc.–Class C(a)

    2,912       6,369,854  

Auto Trader Group PLC

    9,578       64,867  

Kakaku.com, Inc.

    1,344       22,323  

Match Group, Inc.(a)

    3,016       210,185  

Meta Platforms, Inc.–Class A(a)

    24,222       3,905,797  

REA Group Ltd.(b)

    532       41,081  

Scout24 SE

    842       43,376  

SEEK Ltd.(b)

    3,387       49,132  

Twitter, Inc.(a)

    8,056       301,214  

Z Holdings Corp.(b)

    26,998       78,512  
   

 

 

 
      18,029,286  
   

 

 

 
                                                        

MEDIA–0.2%

   

CyberAgent, Inc.

    4,076     40,835  

Dentsu Group, Inc.(b)

    2,179       65,692  

DISH Network Corp.–Class A(a)

    2,648       47,479  

Fox Corp.–Class A

    3,292       105,871  

Fox Corp.–Class B

    1,527       45,352  

Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc.

    2,354       21,624  

Informa PLC(a)

    15,144       97,839  

Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)

    4,158       114,470  

News Corp.–Class A

    4,103       63,925  

News Corp.–Class B

    1,271       20,196  

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    2,173       138,224  

Paramount Global–Class B

    6,425       158,569  

Pearson PLC

    6,926       63,425  

Publicis Groupe SA

    2,297       112,968  

Vivendi SE

    7,323       74,730  

WPP PLC

    11,331       114,457  
   

 

 

 
      1,285,656  
   

 

 

 

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–0.3%

   

KDDI Corp.

    16,394       516,974  

SoftBank Corp.

    28,939       321,296  

SoftBank Group Corp.(b)

    12,275       475,761  

T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)

    6,222       837,108  

Tele2 AB–Class B(b)

    5,769       65,783  

Vodafone Group PLC

    271,895       422,767  
   

 

 

 
      2,639,689  
   

 

 

 
      36,914,258  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–2.5%

   

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–0.2%

   

Baker Hughes Co.–Class A

    9,878       285,178  

Halliburton Co.

    9,526       298,735  

Schlumberger NV

    14,928       533,825  

Tenaris SA

    4,757       61,100  
   

 

 

 
      1,178,838  
   

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–2.3%

   

Aker BP ASA

    3,186       110,536  

Ampol Ltd.

    2,400       56,646  

APA Corp.

    3,572       124,663  

BP PLC

    197,917       929,318  

Chevron Corp.

    20,751       3,004,330  

ConocoPhillips

    13,660       1,226,805  

Coterra Energy, Inc.

    8,510       219,473  

Devon Energy Corp.

    6,482       357,223  

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    1,762       213,466  

ENEOS Holdings, Inc.

    30,918       116,338  

Eni SpA

    25,429       301,605  

EOG Resources, Inc.

    6,186       683,182  

Equinor ASA

    9,982       347,827  

 

15


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    44,489     $ 3,810,038  

Galp Energia SGPS SA

    5,050       59,090  

Hess Corp.

    2,926       309,980  

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

    2,100       50,166  

Inpex Corp.

    10,313       110,558  

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

    20,594       345,155  

Lundin Energy Mergerco AB(a)(e)(f)

    2,016       80,796  

Marathon Oil Corp.

    7,474       168,016  

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    5,713       469,666  

Neste Oyj

    4,372       194,471  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    9,403       553,649  

OMV AG

    1,483       69,747  

ONEOK, Inc.

    4,717       261,793  

Phillips 66

    5,081       416,591  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

    2,376       530,038  

Repsol SA

    14,619       215,513  

Santos Ltd.

    32,417       164,360  

Shell PLC

    77,331       2,013,914  

TotalEnergies SE

    25,187       1,325,767  

Valero Energy Corp.

    4,310       458,067  

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

    12,864       401,485  

Woodside Energy Group Ltd.(b)

    18,985       417,262  
   

 

 

 
      20,117,534  
   

 

 

 
      21,296,372  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–2.2%

   

CHEMICALS–1.2%

   

Air Liquide SA

    5,315       715,414  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    2,342       563,204  

Akzo Nobel NV

    1,888       123,471  

Albemarle Corp.

    1,237       258,508  

Arkema SA

    618       55,282  

Asahi Kasei Corp.

    12,639       96,150  

BASF SE

    9,345       408,865  

Celanese Corp.–Class A

    1,144       134,546  

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    2,203       188,863  

Chr Hansen Holding A/S

    1,062       77,524  

Clariant AG (REG)(a)(b)

    2,173       41,435  

Corteva, Inc.

    7,643       413,792  

Covestro AG

    1,946       67,621  

Croda International PLC

    1,464       115,717  

Dow, Inc.

    7,690       396,881  

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

    5,371       298,520  

Eastman Chemical Co.

    1,361       122,177  

Ecolab, Inc.

    2,625       403,620  

EMS-Chemie Holding AG (REG)

    77       57,465  

Evonik Industries AG

    2,112       45,294  

FMC Corp.

    1,330       142,323  

Givaudan SA (REG)

    95       334,848  

ICL Group Ltd.

    6,672       60,948  

IMCD NV(b)

    609       83,271  
                                                        

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

    2,691     320,552  

Johnson Matthey PLC

    1,949       45,959  

JSR Corp.

    1,839       47,789  

Koninklijke DSM NV

    1,795       257,135  

Linde PLC

    5,315       1,528,222  

LyondellBasell Industries NV–Class A

    2,733       239,028  

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.

    12,899       70,089  

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

    1,855       39,566  

Mosaic Co. (The)

    3,823       180,560  

Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)

    8,359       62,544  

Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp.

    1,792       28,692  

Nissan Chemical Corp.

    1,313       60,605  

Nitto Denko Corp.

    1,433       92,684  

Novozymes A/S–Class B

    2,069       124,519  

OCI NV

    1,071       35,231  

Orica Ltd.(b)

    4,105       44,912  

PPG Industries, Inc.

    2,494       285,164  

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

    2,527       565,821  

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

    3,812       428,510  

Sika AG (REG)

    1,479       341,408  

Solvay SA

    746       60,774  

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

    15,011       58,748  

Symrise AG

    1,383       150,837  

Toray Industries, Inc.

    13,972       78,646  

Tosoh Corp.

    2,620       32,589  

Umicore SA

    2,129       74,630  

Yara International ASA

    1,668       69,891  
   

 

 

 
      10,530,844  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS–0.1%

   

CRH PLC

    7,783       268,582  

HeidelbergCement AG

    1,499       72,374  

Holcim AG

    5,634       241,640  

James Hardie Industries PLC

    4,484       98,167  

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

    659       197,199  

Vulcan Materials Co.

    1,404       199,508  
   

 

 

 
      1,077,470  
   

 

 

 

CONTAINERS & PACKAGING–0.1%

   

Amcor PLC

    15,871       197,276  

Avery Dennison Corp.

    863       139,694  

Ball Corp.

    3,377       232,236  

International Paper Co.

    3,914       163,723  

Packaging Corp. of America

    990       136,125  

Sealed Air Corp.

    1,543       89,062  

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    2,479       83,597  

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Westrock Co.

    2,692     $ 107,249  
   

 

 

 
      1,148,962  
   

 

 

 

METALS & MINING–0.7%

   

Anglo American PLC

    12,889       460,763  

Antofagasta PLC

    3,973       56,103  

ArcelorMittal SA

    6,196       138,948  

BHP Group Ltd.

    51,453       1,473,285  

BlueScope Steel Ltd.

    4,980       54,873  

Boliden AB

    2,755       88,106  

Evolution Mining Ltd.(b)

    18,467       30,174  

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.(b)

    17,061       205,154  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    15,306       447,854  

Glencore PLC

    99,913       541,172  

Hitachi Metals Ltd.(a)

    2,160       32,699  

JFE Holdings, Inc.

    4,952       52,096  

Mineral Resources Ltd.

    1,712       57,459  

Newcrest Mining Ltd.

    8,969       127,774  

Newmont Corp.

    8,382       500,154  

Nippon Steel Corp.

    8,210       114,900  

Norsk Hydro ASA

    13,549       76,569  

Northern Star Resources Ltd.(b)

    11,147       52,287  

Nucor Corp.

    2,810       293,392  

Rio Tinto Ltd.

    3,804       271,373  

Rio Tinto PLC

    11,418       682,644  

South32 Ltd.

    46,987       127,320  

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

    2,490       77,201  

voestalpine AG

    1,169       24,984  
   

 

 

 
      5,987,284  
   

 

 

 

PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS–0.1%

   

Holmen AB–Class B

    954       38,860  

Mondi PLC

    4,892       86,834  

Oji Holdings Corp.

    8,176       35,421  

Stora Enso Oyj–Class R

    5,601       88,748  

Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA–Class B

    6,104       91,713  

UPM-Kymmene Oyj

    5,377       164,877  
   

 

 

 
      506,453  
   

 

 

 
      19,251,013  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–1.8%

   

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–1.1%

   

Acciona SA(b)

    251       46,249  

Alliant Energy Corp.

    2,649       155,258  

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

    5,424       520,379  

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

    6,491       65,360  

CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd.

    5,927       36,409  

CLP Holdings Ltd.

    16,545       137,494  

Constellation Energy Corp.

    3,450       197,547  

Duke Energy Corp.

    8,131       871,724  
                                                        

Edison International

    4,026     254,604  

EDP–Energias de Portugal SA

    27,968       130,340  

Electricite de France SA

    5,506       45,225  

Elia Group SA/NV

    363       51,553  

Endesa SA(b)

    3,200       60,536  

Enel SpA

    81,945       449,404  

Entergy Corp.

    2,148       241,951  

Evergy, Inc.

    2,424       158,166  

Eversource Energy

    3,642       307,640  

Exelon Corp.

    10,352       469,153  

FirstEnergy Corp.

    6,030       231,492  

Fortum Oyj

    4,474       67,624  

HK Electric Investments & HK Electric Investments Ltd.–Class SS(c)

    26,708       24,506  

Iberdrola SA

    58,688       611,024  

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The)

    7,093       70,211  

Mercury NZ Ltd.

    6,864       24,169  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    20,747       1,607,063  

NRG Energy, Inc.

    2,506       95,654  

Origin Energy Ltd.(b)

    17,744       70,436  

Orsted AS

    1,950       205,382  

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

    1,193       87,232  

Power Assets Holdings Ltd.

    13,977       88,054  

PPL Corp.

    7,772       210,854  

Red Electrica Corp. SA

    4,124       78,066  

Southern Co. (The)

    11,221       800,169  

SSE PLC

    10,737       211,898  

Terna–Rete Elettrica Nazionale(b)

    14,175       111,447  

Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc.(a)

    15,381       64,342  

Verbund AG

    686       67,433  

Xcel Energy, Inc.

    5,752       407,011  
   

 

 

 
      9,333,059  
   

 

 

 

GAS UTILITIES–0.1%

   

APA Group(b)

    11,887       92,573  

Atmos Energy Corp.

    1,468       164,563  

Enagas SA(b)

    2,507       55,446  

Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.

    112,802       121,738  

Naturgy Energy Group SA

    1,478       42,708  

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

    3,778       72,406  

Snam SpA(b)

    20,316       106,585  

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

    4,034       83,601  
   

 

 

 
      739,620  
   

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT POWER AND RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY PRODUCERS–0.0%

   

AES Corp. (The)

    7,053       148,184  

EDP Renovaveis SA

    2,903       68,576  

Meridian Energy Ltd.

    12,972       37,854  

 

17


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Uniper SE

    921     $ 13,764  
   

 

 

 
      268,378  
   

 

 

 

MULTI-UTILITIES–0.5%

   

Ameren Corp.

    2,727       246,412  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

    6,648       196,648  

CMS Energy Corp.

    3,064       206,820  

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    3,742       355,864  

Dominion Energy, Inc.

    8,568       683,812  

DTE Energy Co.

    2,046       259,330  

E.ON SE

    22,620       190,530  

Engie SA

    18,402       213,076  

National Grid PLC

    35,992       462,531  

NiSource, Inc.

    4,286       126,394  

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    5,273       333,675  

RWE AG

    6,584       243,516  

Sempra Energy

    3,319       498,746  

United Utilities Group PLC

    6,870       85,520  

Veolia Environnement SA

    6,781       166,225  

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

    3,331       335,232  
   

 

 

 
      4,604,331  
   

 

 

 

WATER UTILITIES–0.1%

   

American Water Works Co., Inc.

    1,920       285,638  

Severn Trent PLC

    2,521       83,698  
   

 

 

 
      369,336  
   

 

 

 
      15,314,724  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE–1.6%

   

EQUITY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–1.3%

   

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    1,569       227,552  

American Tower Corp.

    4,908       1,254,436  

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust

    33,812       69,394  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    1,477       286,907  

Boston Properties, Inc.

    1,506       134,004  

British Land Co. PLC (The)

    8,871       48,527  

Camden Property Trust

    1,125       151,290  

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

    53,735       84,000  

Covivio

    524       29,275  

Crown Castle International Corp.

    4,573       770,002  

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp.

    25       56,823  

Dexus

    10,836       66,635  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    3,006       390,269  

Duke Realty Corp.

    4,060       223,097  

Equinix, Inc.

    961       631,396  

Equity Residential

    3,614       261,003  

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

    690       180,442  

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

    1,418       241,230  
                                                        

Federal Realty OP LP

    755     72,284  

Gecina SA

    462       43,359  

GLP J-REIT

    46       56,371  

Goodman Group

    16,940       209,170  

GPT Group (The)

    19,300       56,408  

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    5,698       147,635  

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    7,549       118,368  

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    3,069       149,430  

Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest

    77       59,996  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

    13       59,860  

Kimco Realty Corp.

    6,527       129,039  

Klepierre SA

    2,069       40,039  

Land Securities Group PLC

    7,097       57,592  

Link REIT

    21,063       172,113  

Mapletree Commercial Trust

    21,757       28,675  

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    31,227       37,790  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    1,219       212,923  

Mirvac Group

    39,723       54,297  

Nippon Building Fund, Inc.

    16       79,851  

Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.

    22       54,185  

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.

    46       57,459  

Prologis, Inc.

    7,818       919,788  

Public Storage

    1,613       504,337  

Realty Income Corp.

    6,354       433,724  

Regency Centers Corp.

    1,638       97,150  

SBA Communications Corp.

    1,139       364,537  

Scentre Group

    52,294       93,896  

Segro PLC

    12,114       144,614  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    3,468       329,183  

Stockland

    24,051       60,050  

UDR, Inc.

    3,161       145,532  

Ventas, Inc.

    4,221       217,086  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    10,170       302,964  

Vicinity Centres

    38,985       49,525  

Vornado Realty Trust

    1,681       48,060  

Warehouses De Pauw CVA

    1,512       47,710  

Welltower, Inc.

    4,794       394,786  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    7,863       260,423  
   

 

 

 
      11,416,491  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–0.3%

   

Aroundtown SA

    10,065       32,192  

Azrieli Group Ltd.

    427       30,062  

Capitaland Investment Ltd./Singapore

    24,789       68,227  

CBRE Group, Inc.–Class A(a)

    3,452       254,102  

City Developments Ltd.

    4,093       24,040  

CK Asset Holdings Ltd.

    20,190       143,456  

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                        

Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.

    659     $ 57,008  

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.

    6,094       142,520  

ESR Group Ltd.(a)(c)

    19,958       54,119  

Fastighets AB Balder–Class B(a)

    6,354       30,440  

Hang Lung Properties Ltd.

    20,399       38,816  

Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.

    14,633       54,996  

Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd.

    10,533       52,898  

Hulic Co., Ltd.(b)

    3,868       30,001  

LEG Immobilien SE

    733       61,001  

Lendlease Corp., Ltd.(b)

    6,939       43,708  

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

    11,916       172,703  

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

    9,241       198,541  

New World Development Co., Ltd.

    15,213       54,799  

Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.

    1,195       29,236  

Sagax AB–Class B

    1,934       35,856  

Sino Land Co., Ltd.

    33,532       49,516  

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.

    3,117       82,285  

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.

    14,726       174,357  

Swire Pacific Ltd.–Class A

    5,016       29,957  

Swire Properties Ltd.

    11,788       29,348  

Swiss Prime Site AG (REG)

    814       71,521  

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield(a)

    1,186       60,466  

UOL Group Ltd.

    4,678       24,796  

Vonovia SE

    7,104       219,801  

Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.

    16,824       80,338  
   

 

 

 
      2,431,106  
   

 

 

 
      13,847,597  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $553,847,000)

      476,003,783  
   

 

 

 
    Principal
Amount
(000)
       
                                                          

INFLATION-LINKED SECURITIES–0.7%

     

JAPAN–0.7%

     

Japanese Government CPI Linked Bond
Series 22
0.10%, 03/10/2027
(cost $7,441,166)

    JPY       795,840       6,249,526  
     

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
  Notional
Amount
    U.S. $ Value  
                                                     

OPTIONS PURCHASED–PUTS–0.2%

     

OPTIONS ON INDICES–0.2%

     

Euro STOXX 50 Index
Expiration: Jul 2022; Contracts: 647; Exercise Price: EUR 3,375.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(a)

    EUR       21,836,250     340,029  

FTSE 100 Index
Expiration: Jul 2022; Contracts: 103; Exercise Price: GBP 6,950.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(a)

    GBP       7,158,500       71,467  

Nikkei 225 Index
Expiration: Jul 2022; Contracts: 61,000; Exercise Price: JPY 27,125.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(a)

    JPY       1,654,625,000       363,942  

S&P 500 Index
Expiration: Jul 2022; Contracts: 318; Exercise Price: USD 3,610.00;
Counterparty: Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.(a)

    USD       114,798,000       818,850  
     

 

 

 

Total Options Purchased–Puts
(premiums paid $3,361,041)

        1,594,288  
     

 

 

 
          Shares        
                                                          

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–41.4%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–41.4%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(g)(h)(i)
(cost $357,685,396)

      357,685,396       357,685,396  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–97.3%
(cost $922,334,603)

        841,532,993  
     

 

 

 

 

19


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

        Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                          

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.1%

     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.1%

     

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(g)(h)(i)
(cost $1,157,513)

      1,157,513     $ 1,157,513  
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–97.4%
(cost $923,492,116)

        842,690,506  

Other assets less liabilities–2.6%

        22,132,035  
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

      $ 864,822,541  
     

 

 

 

FUTURES (see Note D)

 

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

Purchased Contracts

           

10 Yr Canadian Bond Futures

     43        September 2022      $ 4,141,990      $ (128,350

10 Yr Mini Japan Government Bond Futures

     99        September 2022        10,846,366        (46,428

Euro-BOBL Futures

     78        September 2022        10,151,303        (56,208

Euro-BTP Futures

     154        September 2022        19,869,635        (42,474

Euro-Bund Futures

     70        September 2022        10,913,980        (73,428

Euro-OAT Futures

     156        September 2022        22,646,912        (218,229

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     41        September 2022        3,554,042        (67,010

Hang Seng Futures

     20        July 2022        2,771,066        (42,151

Japan 10 Yr Bond (OSE) Futures

     80        September 2022        87,623,821        (418,992

Long Gilt Futures

     273        September 2022        37,878,173          (1,107,047

MSCI EAFE Futures

     7        September 2022        649,810        (5,456

MSCI Emerging Market Futures

     255        September 2022        12,784,425        (198,237

Nikkei 225 (CME) Futures

     16        September 2022        2,115,200        (77,801

S&P 500 E-Mini Futures

     1        September 2022        189,475        2,504  

S&P Mid 400 E Mini Futures

     5        September 2022        1,134,000        (124,256

S&P/TSX 60 Index Futures

     64        September 2022        11,361,094        (975,674

SPI 200 Futures

     9        September 2022        1,003,434        6,902  

TOPIX Index Futures

     6        September 2022        827,167        (32,977

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

     296        September 2022        33,226,000        (201,493

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

     905        September 2022          107,270,781        (616,019

U.S. Ultra Bond (CBT) Futures

     58        September 2022        8,951,938        (267,350

Sold Contracts

           

Euro STOXX 50 Index Futures

     2        September 2022        72,120        135  

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     79        September 2022        6,848,032        (59,379

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

Sold Contracts (continued)

 

MSCI Singapore IX ETS Futures

     59        July 2022      $ 1,191,424      $ 48,986  

Nikkei 225 (CME) Futures

     31        September 2022        4,098,200              247,917  

OMXS 30 Index Futures

     159        July 2022        2,907,300        86,555  

S&P 500 E-Mini Futures

     181        September 2022          34,294,975        (678,778
           

 

 

 
            $ (5,044,738
           

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Bank of America, NA

     USD        820        CHF        820        07/13/2022      $ 39,529  

Bank of America, NA

     JPY        3,831,891        USD        29,559        07/15/2022        1,301,026  

Bank of America, NA

     USD        9,294        CAD        11,934        07/21/2022        (23,100

Bank of America, NA

     SEK        27,521        USD        2,707        09/22/2022        7,420  

Bank of America, NA

     USD        1,673        NOK        16,752        09/22/2022        31,050  

Bank of New York

     AUD        3,800        USD        2,744        07/21/2022        120,792  

Bank of New York

     CAD        5,727        USD        4,564        07/21/2022        114,371  

Bank of New York

     EUR        2,558        USD        2,746        07/28/2022        61,664  

Barclays Bank PLC

     SGD        1,908        USD        1,398        07/08/2022        24,997  

BNP Paribas SA

     CHF        2,661        USD        2,742        07/13/2022        (47,341

Deutsche Bank AG

     CHF        15,651        USD        15,633        07/13/2022        (768,951

Deutsche Bank AG

     EUR        4,130        CHF        4,125        07/13/2022        (6,838

Deutsche Bank AG

     AUD        6,454        USD        4,514        07/21/2022        58,443  

Deutsche Bank AG

     USD        3,777        AUD        5,319        07/21/2022        (105,420

Deutsche Bank AG

     EUR        8,258        USD        8,666        07/28/2022        (752

HSBC Bank USA

     USD        3,655        CHF        3,488        07/13/2022        1,015  

HSBC Bank USA

     JPY        362,469        USD        2,742        07/15/2022        68,711  

HSBC Bank USA

     AUD        6,189        USD        4,288        07/21/2022        15,419  

HSBC Bank USA

     CAD        7,193        USD        5,631        07/21/2022        43,190  

HSBC Bank USA

     CAD        1,131        USD        879        07/21/2022        (82

HSBC Bank USA

     EUR        4,212        USD        4,401        07/28/2022        (19,794

HSBC Bank USA

     GBP        2,182        USD        2,747        08/25/2022        88,526  

HSBC Bank USA

     GBP        2,817        USD        3,420        08/25/2022        (12,379

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     EUR        37,781        USD        39,909        07/28/2022        256,417  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     GBP        15,254        USD        19,146        08/25/2022        559,869  

Standard Chartered Bank

     USD        6,907        EUR        6,534        07/28/2022        (49,057

UBS AG

     JPY        880,922        USD        6,827        07/15/2022        330,718  

UBS AG

     USD        14,432        CAD        18,027        07/21/2022        (426,645
                 

 

 

 
                  $   1,662,798  
                 

 

 

 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN (see Note D)

 

Description   Counterparty     Contracts     Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Month
    Notional
(000)
    Premiums
Received
    U.S. $ Value  

Euro STOXX 50 Index(j)

   
Morgan Stanley &
Co., Inc.
 
 
    647       EUR       3,200.00       July 2022       EUR       20,704     $   229,425     $   (104,755

FTSE 100 Index(j)

   
Morgan Stanley &
Co., Inc.
 
 
    103       GBP       6,600.00       July 2022       GBP       6,798       68,339       (21,315

 

21


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Description   Counterparty     Contracts     Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Month
    Notional
(000)
    Premiums
Received
    U.S. $ Value  

Nikkei 225 Index(k)

   
Morgan Stanley &
Co., Inc.
 
 
    61,000       JPY       26,000.00       July 2022       JPY       1,586,000     $ 100,203     $ (86,406

S&P 500 Index(l)

   
Morgan Stanley &
Co., Inc.
 
 
    318       USD       3,410.00       July 2022       USD       108,438       1,036,028       (197,160
               

 

 

   

 

 

 
                $   1,433,995     $   (409,636
               

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration. At June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $271,046 or 0.0% of net assets.

 

(d)   When-Issued or delayed delivery security.

 

(e)   Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.

 

(f)   Fair valued by the Adviser.

 

(g)   Affiliated investments.

 

(h)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

(i)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(j)   One contract relates to 10 shares.

 

(k)   One contract relates to 1 share.

 

(l)   One contract relates to 100 shares.

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

EUR—Euro

GBP—Great British Pound

JPY—Japanese Yen

NOK—Norwegian Krone

SEK—Swedish Krona

SGD—Singapore Dollar

USD—United States Dollar

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

BOBL—Bundesobligationen

BTP—Buoni del Tesoro Poliennali

CBT—Chicago Board of Trade

CME—Chicago Mercantile Exchange

CPI—Consumer Price Index

EAFE—Europe, Australia, and Far East

ETS—Emission Trading Scheme

FTSE—Financial Times Stock Exchange

MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International

OAT—Obligations Assimilables du Trésor

OMXS—Stockholm Stock Exchange

OSE—Osaka Securities Exchange

REG—Registered Shares

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

SPI—Share Price Index

TOPIX—Tokyo Price Index

TSX—Toronto Stock Exchange

See notes to financial statements.

 

22


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $564,649,207)

   $ 483,847,597 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $358,842,909—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $1,157,513)

     358,842,909  

Cash

     4,890  

Cash collateral due from broker

     17,362,116  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $1,810,902)

     1,796,957  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     3,123,157  

Receivable for variation margin on futures

     2,347,377  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     596,987  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     438,121  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     289,763  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     868,649,874  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Options written, at value (premiums received $1,433,995)

     409,636  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     1,460,359  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     1,157,513  

Advisory fee payable

     305,330  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     188,602  

Distribution fee payable

     180,918  

Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions

     58,535  

Administrative fee payable

     21,237  

Directors’ fees payable

     705  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     90  

Accrued expenses

     44,408  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     3,827,333  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 864,822,541  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 81,771  

Additional paid-in capital

     937,322,738  

Accumulated loss

     (72,581,968
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 864,822,541  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $ 11,753          1,100        $ 10.68  
B      $   864,810,788          81,769,418        $   10.58  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $4,110,283 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

23


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $341,454)

   $ 6,100,794  

Affiliated issuers

     589,555  

Interest

     28,053  

Securities lending income

     15,295  
  

 

 

 
     6,733,697  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     2,220,243  

Distribution fee—Class B

     1,192,128  

Transfer agency—Class B

     1,212  

Administrative

     42,139  

Custody and accounting

     41,792  

Audit and tax

     23,483  

Directors’ fees

     15,403  

Legal

     15,234  

Printing

     13,730  

Miscellaneous

     18,481  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,583,845  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (187,822
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     3,396,023  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     3,337,674  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions

     1,041,852  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     11,199,459  

Futures

     (37,352,168

Options written

     4,282,287  

Swaps

     (15,806

Foreign currency transactions

     2,660,366  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Investments

     (121,640,329

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (19,797

Futures

     (4,806,441

Options written

     (379,040

Swaps

     53,550  

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (184,245
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (145,160,312
  

 

 

 

Contributions from Affiliates (see Note B)

     242,720  
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (141,579,918
  

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

24


    
GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

    

Net investment income

   $ 3,337,674     $ 517,926  

Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and foreign currency transactions

     (18,184,010     26,020,040  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (126,976,302     29,986,430  

Contributions from Affiliates (see Note B)

     242,720       1,736  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (141,579,918     56,526,132  

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

    

Net increase (decrease)

     (59,440,518     919,608,907  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (201,020,436     976,135,039  

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of period

     1,065,842,977       89,707,938  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 864,822,541     $ 1,065,842,977  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

25


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Global Risk Allocation—Moderate Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is to generate income and price appreciation without assuming what AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) considers undue risk. The Portfolio is non-diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. At June 30, 2022 the Adviser was the sole shareholder of Class A shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 Portfolio’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, 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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S.

 

26


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively, the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on an exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.

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

 

27


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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 Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Investments in Securities:

        

Assets:

        

Common Stocks:

        

Information Technology

   $ 90,644,491     $ 10,677,375     $ –0 –    $ 101,321,866  

Health Care

     51,368,367       18,918,608       –0 –      70,286,975  

Financials

     36,565,316       24,434,291       –0 –      60,999,607  

Consumer Discretionary

     35,577,377       15,652,584       –0 –      51,229,961  

Industrials

     26,437,979       20,388,187       –0 –      46,826,166  

Consumer Staples

     23,856,309       14,858,935       –0 –      38,715,244  

Communication Services

     30,129,493       6,784,765       –0 –      36,914,258  

Energy

     14,671,358       6,544,218       80,796       21,296,372  

Materials

     8,745,253       10,505,760       –0 –      19,251,013  

Utilities

     10,481,721       4,833,003       –0 –      15,314,724  

Real Estate

     9,913,445       3,934,152       –0 –      13,847,597  

Inflation-Linked Securities

     –0 –      6,249,526       –0 –      6,249,526  

Options Purchased—Puts

     –0 –      1,594,288       –0 –      1,594,288  

Short-Term Investments

     357,685,396       –0 –      –0 –      357,685,396  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

     1,157,513       –0 –      –0 –      1,157,513  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     697,234,018       145,375,692       80,796       842,690,506  

Other Financial Instruments(a):

        

Assets:

        

Futures

     392,999       –0 –      –0 –      392,999 (b) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

     –0 –      3,123,157       –0 –      3,123,157  

Liabilities:

        

Futures

     (5,437,737     –0 –      –0 –      (5,437,737 )(b) 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

     –0 –      (1,460,359     –0 –      (1,460,359

Put Options Written

     –0 –      (409,636     –0 –      (409,636
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 692,189,280     $ 146,628,854     $ 80,796     $ 838,898,930  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

(b)   Only variation margin receivable/(payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. Where applicable, centrally cleared swaps with upfront premiums are presented here at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and

 

28


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Portfolio are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .60% of the first $100 million, .45% of the excess over $100 million up to $1 billion and .40% of the excess over $1 billion of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. Prior to January 1, 2020, the Portfolio paid the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .60% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses, to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses (excluding interest expense, taxes, extraordinary expenses, expenses associated with securities sold short, and brokerage commissions and other transaction costs), inclusive of the Portfolio’s proportionate share of fees and expenses of registered investment companies or series thereof in which the Portfolio invests (“Acquired Fund Expenses”) on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to .75% and 1.00% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B, respectively. The Expense Caps may not be terminated by the Adviser before May 1, 2023. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no such operating expenses waived by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver for Acquired Fund Expenses for both affiliated and unaffiliated underlying portfolios amounted to $187,536 and $0, respectively.

 

29


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

  Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 

AB Government Money Market Portfolio

  $ 443,533     $ 84,948     $ 170,796     $ 357,685     $ 590  

AB Government Money Market Portfolio*

    3,248       11,524       13,614       1,158       1  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        $ 358,843     $ 591  
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Adviser reimbursed the Portfolio $242,720 for trading losses incurred due to a trade entry error. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Adviser reimbursed the Portfolio $1,736 for trading losses incurred due to a trade entry error.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $42,139.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 10,545,850      $ 4,729,986  

U.S. government securities

       –0 –       –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 23,046,358  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (106,205,549
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (83,159,191
  

 

 

 

 

30


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Futures

The Portfolio may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Portfolio bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Portfolio may purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

At the time the Portfolio enters into futures, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Use of long futures subjects the Portfolio to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Portfolio to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of futures can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held futures for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Option Transactions

For hedging and investment purposes, the Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Portfolio may use options transactions

 

31


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.

The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Portfolio pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. If a put or call option purchased by the Portfolio were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a loss to the Portfolio. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

When the Portfolio writes an option, the premium received by the Portfolio is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. The Portfolio’s maximum payment for written put options equates to the number of shares multiplied by the strike price. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Portfolio on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Portfolio has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Portfolio. In writing an option, the Portfolio bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Portfolio could result in the Portfolio selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held purchased options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held written options for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

 

   

Swaps

The Portfolio may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk, equity markets or currencies. The Portfolio may also enter into swaps for non-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures, making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions.” A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Portfolio in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and recourse to the Portfolio or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.

Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on a phased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

At the time the Portfolio enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Portfolio deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the clearinghouse on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Portfolio agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Portfolio as

 

32


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for centrally cleared swaps is generally less than non-centrally cleared swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each centrally cleared swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.

Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Portfolio, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Portfolio considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Portfolio to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Portfolio accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received for swaps are recognized as cost or proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.

Variance Swaps:

The Portfolio may enter into variance swaps to hedge equity market risk or adjust exposure to the equity markets. Variance swaps are contracts in which two parties agree to exchange cash payments based on the difference between the stated level of variance and the actual variance realized on underlying asset(s) or index(es). Actual “variance” as used here is defined as the sum of the square of the returns on the reference asset(s) or index(es) (which in effect is a measure of its “volatility”) over the length of the contract term. So the parties to a variance swap can be said to exchange actual volatility for a contractually stated rate of volatility.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held variance swaps for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

 

33


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value  

Interest rate contracts

  Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures   $                       Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures   $ 3,176,018

Equity contracts

  Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures     392,999   Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures     2,261,719

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts     3,123,157     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts     1,460,359  

Equity contracts

  Investments in securities, at value     1,594,288      

Equity contracts

      Options written, at value     409,636  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 5,110,444       $ 7,307,732  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*   Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities.

This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments.

 

Derivative Type

  

Location of Gain or (Loss) on

Derivatives Within Statement of Operations

   Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Interest rate contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures    $ (31,028,028   $ (1,879,944

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures      (6,324,140     (2,926,497

Foreign currency contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts      11,199,459       (19,797

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments      2,243,838       976,879  

Equity contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on options written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of options written      4,282,287       (379,040

Foreign exchange contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps      (15,806     53,550  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ (19,642,390   $ (4,174,849
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

34


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Futures:

 

Average notional amount of buy contracts

   $ 488,881,654  

Average notional amount of sale contracts

   $ 31,282,650  

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

 

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 63,854,701  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 181,811,241  

Purchased Options:

 

Average notional amount

   $ 190,389,185  

Options Written:

 

Average notional amount

   $ 180,943,429  

Variance Swaps:

 

Average notional amount

   $ 342,500 (a) 

 

(a)   Positions were open for three months during the period.

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative
Assets Subject
to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Assets
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 1,379,025      $ (23,100   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 1,355,925  

Bank Of New York

     296,827        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      296,827  

Barclays Bank PLC

     24,997        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      24,997  

Deutsche Bank AG

     58,443        (58,443     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

HSBC Bank USA

     216,861        (32,255     –0 –      –0 –      184,606  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     816,286        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      816,286  

Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc

     363,942        (86,406     –0 –      –0 –      277,536  

UBS AG

     330,718        (330,718     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,487,099      $ (530,922   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 2,956,177
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Counterparty

   Derivative
Liabilities Subject
to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 23,100      $ (23,100   $         –0 –    $         –0 –    $ –0 – 

BNP Paribas SA

     47,341        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      47,341  

Deutsche Bank AG

     881,961        (58,443     –0 –      –0 –      823,518  

HSBC Bank USA

     32,255        (32,255     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc

     86,406        (86,406     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Standard Chartered Bank

     49,057        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      49,057  

UBS AG

     426,645        (330,718     –0 –      –0 –      95,927  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,546,765      $ (530,922   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 1,015,843
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

 

35


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in AB Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and AB Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from AB Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in AB Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of AB Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value  of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

AB Government Money Market
Portfolio

 
 

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 4,110,283     $ 1,157,513     $ 3,304,354     $ 14,119     $ 1,176     $ 286  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

 

36


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    Shares           Amount  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class B

         

Shares sold

    1,049,076       86,522,189       $ 11,904,066     $ 1,011,606,507  

Shares redeemed

    (6,282,317     (7,720,431       (71,344,584     (91,997,600
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (5,233,241     78,801,758       $ (59,440,518   $ 919,608,907  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

There were no transactions in capital shares for Class A for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021.

At June 30, 2022, a shareholder of the Portfolio owned 97% of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholder, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s investments 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market.

Allocation Risk—The allocation of investments among asset classes may have a significant effect on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, when the asset classes in which the Portfolio has invested more heavily perform worse than the asset classes invested in less heavily.

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

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

High Yield Securities Risk—Investments in fixed-income securities with ratings below investment grade (commonly known as “junk bonds”) tend to have a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally, and may be more difficult to trade than other types of securities.

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk—As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, Contractholders of the Portfolio bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Portfolio (including advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies in which the Portfolio invests (to the extent these expenses are not waived or reimbursed by the Adviser).

 

37


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

Leverage Risk—When the Portfolio borrows money or otherwise leverages its investments, its performance may be volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio may create leverage through the use of reverse repurchase arrangements, forward currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, dollar rolls or futures or by borrowing money. The use of other types of derivative instruments by the Portfolio, such as options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage. Leverage may result in higher returns to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining.

Illiquid Investments Risk—Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments are or become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Portfolio. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes and large positions. Foreign fixed-income securities may have more illiquid investments risk because secondary trading markets for these securities may be smaller and less well developed and the securities may trade less frequently. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed-income securities generally decline.

Non-Diversification Risk—The Portfolio may have more risk because it is “non-diversified”, meaning that it can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. Accordingly, changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

 

38


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

       2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

       

Ordinary income

     $ –0 –     $ 1,703,669  

Net long-term capital gains

       –0 –       2,253,707  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions

     $         –0 –     $ 3,957,376  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 5,557,493  

Undistributed capital gains

     22,292,039 (a) 

Other losses

     (666,661 )(b) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     42,057,799 (c) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 69,240,670  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   During the fiscal year, the Portfolio utilized $715,878 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains.

 

(b)   As of December 31, 2021, the cumulative deferred loss on straddles was $666,661.

 

(c)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), the tax treatment of Treasury inflation-protected securities, the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, and the tax treatment of partnership investments.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

39


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.36       $11.02       $11.27       $9.79       $10.83       $9.78  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    .05       (.01     .03       .11       .09       .06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions and foreign currency transactions

    (1.73     1.35       .23       1.61       (.55     1.09  

Contributions from Affiliates

    .00 (c)      .00 (c)      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (1.68     1.34       .26       1.72       (.46     1.15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.17     (.24     –0 –      (.05

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.34     –0 –      (.58     (.05
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.51     (.24     (.58     (.10
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.68       $12.36       $11.02       $11.27       $9.79       $10.83  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)

    (13.59 )%      12.16     2.72     17.61     (4.62 )%      11.87
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $12       $14       $12       $12       $11       $12  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .44 %^      .68     .69     .68     .67     .63

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .48 %^      .72     .95     .95     .92     .94

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    .96 %^      (.09 )%      .27     1.05     .88     .55

Portfolio turnover rate

    1     18     31     29     67     59
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .04 %^      .03     .06     .07     .08     .11

 

 

See footnote summary on page 42.

 

40


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $12.25       $10.94       $11.19       $9.72       $10.78       $9.75  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .04       .01       .00 (c)      .08       .07       .03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions and foreign currency transactions

    (1.71     1.30       .23       1.60       (.55     1.09  

Contributions from Affiliates

    .00 (c)      .00 (c)      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (1.67     1.31       .23       1.68       (.48     1.12  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.14     (.21     –0 –      (.04

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.34     –0 –      (.58     (.05
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.48     (.21     (.58     (.09
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $10.58       $12.25       $10.94       $11.19       $9.72       $10.78  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)

    (13.63 )%      11.97     2.45     17.32     (4.84 )%      11.50
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $864,811       $1,065,829       $89,696       $95,350       $89,127       $98,502  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .71 %^      .75     .94     .94     .92     .89

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)(f)‡

    .75 %^      .78     1.20     1.20     1.16     1.17

Net investment income (b)

    .70 %^      .09     .01     .78     .64     .31

Portfolio turnover rate

    1     18     31     29     67     59
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .04 %^      .03     .06     .07     .08     .11

 

 

See footnote summary on page 42.

 

41


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(d)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(e)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of affiliated/unaffiliated acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, and the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, such waiver amounted to .04% (annualized), .03%, .06%, .07%, .08% and .11%, respectively.

 

(f)   The expense ratios presented below exclude interest/bank overdraft expense:

 

    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Class A

           

Net of waivers/reimbursements

    .44 %^      .68     .69     .68     .67     .63

Before waivers/reimbursements

    .48 %^      .72     .95     .95     .92     .94

Class B

           

Net of waivers/reimbursements

    .71 %^      .75     .94     .94     .92     .89

Before waivers/reimbursements

    .75 %^      .78     1.20     1.20     1.16     1.17

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

42


    
      
GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

43


      
GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Global Risk Allocation—Moderate Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held by video conference on August 3-4, 2021 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Analyst for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests a portion of its assets.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2019 and 2020 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts

 

44


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors noted that the Fund was not profitable to the Adviser in periods reviewed.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Fund’s unprofitability to the Adviser would be exacerbated without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended May 31, 2021 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Analyst and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

45


GLOBAL RISK ALLOCATION—MODERATE PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The directors noted that the Fund invests in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued, and rules adopted, by the SEC. The directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts, and that the Adviser had provided, and they had reviewed, information about the expense ratios of the relevant ETFs. The directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that the advisory fee for the Fund is for services that are in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year and the directors considered the Adviser’s expense cap for the Class A Shares of the Fund. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

46


VPS-GRA-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS

SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO (formerly, Global Thematic Growth Portfolio)

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The first line of each class’ table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of each class’ table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each classes’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 703.50      $ 3.72        0.88

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $   1,000      $   1,020.43      $   4.41        0.88
           

Class B

        

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 702.50      $ 4.77        1.13

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,019.19      $ 5.66        1.13

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE      PERCENT OF NET ASSETS

Waste Management, Inc.

     $ 4,428,312          2.9 %

Lumentum Holdings, Inc.

       4,045,257          2.7

Danaher Corp.

       4,036,038          2.7

NextEra Energy, Inc.

       3,613,509          2.4

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

       3,587,749          2.4

Deere & Co.

       3,587,651          2.4

SVB Financial Group

       3,539,111          2.3

Flex Ltd.

       3,532,272          2.3

Becton Dickinson and Co.

       3,482,236          2.3

STERIS PLC

       3,475,895          2.3
      

 

 

        

 

 

 
       $   37,328,030          24.7 %

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE      PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS

Information Technology

     $ 41,096,490          27.1 %

Industrials

       30,420,214          20.1

Health Care

       29,034,755          19.2

Financials

       25,066,753          16.5

Consumer Discretionary

       7,043,995          4.7

Utilities

       5,667,874          3.7

Materials

       4,681,590          3.1

Short-Term Investments

       8,455,755          5.6
      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Investments

     $   151,467,426          100.0 %

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
COUNTRY BREAKDOWN1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

COUNTRY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

United States

   $ 89,358,774          59.0

Netherlands

     8,881,064          5.9  

Germany

     6,433,543          4.3  

Denmark

     5,653,584          3.7  

Switzerland

     5,351,103          3.5  

India

     5,116,126          3.4  

Japan

     4,341,353          2.9  

Taiwan

     3,667,406          2.4  

United Kingdom

     3,633,024          2.4  

Hong Kong

     2,845,278          1.9  

Austria

     2,788,886          1.8  

France

     2,757,692          1.8  

Norway

     2,183,838          1.4  

Short-Term Investments

     8,455,755          5.6  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   151,467,426          100.0

 

 

 

1   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

 

3


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                 

COMMON STOCKS–94.5%

   
   

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–27.2%

   

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–4.2%

   

Calix, Inc.(a)

    65,549     $ 2,237,843  

Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(a)

    50,935       4,045,257  
   

 

 

 
      6,283,100  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–2.3%

   

Flex Ltd.(a)

    244,110       3,532,272  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–3.1%

   

Accenture PLC–Class A

    5,426       1,506,529  

Block, Inc.(a)

    20,969       1,288,755  

Visa, Inc.–Class A

    9,290       1,829,108  
   

 

 

 
      4,624,392  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–7.6%

   

ASML Holding NV

    4,250       2,007,861  

Infineon Technologies AG

    85,600       2,082,263  

MediaTek, Inc.

    78,000       1,712,192  

NXP Semiconductors NV

    17,120       2,534,274  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    122,000       1,955,214  

Wolfspeed, Inc.(a)

    18,490       1,173,191  
   

 

 

 
      11,464,995  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–6.8%

   

Adobe, Inc.(a)

    6,940       2,540,457  

Dassault Systemes SE

    74,450       2,757,692  

Intuit, Inc.

    4,089       1,576,064  

Microsoft Corp.

    13,470       3,459,500  
   

 

 

 
      10,333,713  
   

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE, STORAGE & PERIPHERALS–3.2%

   

Apple, Inc.

    24,650       3,370,148  

Dell Technologies, Inc.–Class C

    32,198       1,487,870  
   

 

 

 
      4,858,018  
   

 

 

 
      41,096,490  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–20.1%

 

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–1.1%

   

Hexcel Corp.

    30,315       1,585,778  
   

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–2.5%

   

Owens Corning

    26,270       1,952,124  

Trex Co., Inc.(a)

    32,830       1,786,608  
   

 

 

 
      3,738,732  
   

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–6.4%

   

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    22,830       3,117,437  

TOMRA Systems ASA

    116,360       2,183,838  
                                                 

Waste Management, Inc.

    28,947     4,428,312  
   

 

 

 
      9,729,587  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–3.7%

   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

    10,374       2,067,642  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

    168,740       3,587,749  
   

 

 

 
      5,655,391  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–5.4%

   

Deere & Co.

    11,980       3,587,651  

SMC Corp.

    6,200       2,759,865  

Xylem, Inc./NY

    22,790       1,781,722  
   

 

 

 
      8,129,238  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–1.0%

   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

    53,700       1,581,488  
   

 

 

 
      30,420,214  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–19.2%

   

BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.2%

   

Abcam PLC(a)

    128,770       1,850,772  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–7.7%

   

Alcon, Inc.

    42,440       2,975,958  

Becton Dickinson and Co.

    14,125       3,482,236  

Koninklijke Philips NV

    80,340       1,723,175  

STERIS PLC

    16,861       3,475,895  
   

 

 

 
      11,657,264  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–1.5%

   

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.

    47,019       2,191,213  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–8.8%

   

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.–Class A(a)

    5,570       2,757,150  

Bruker Corp.

    39,830       2,499,731  

Danaher Corp.

    15,920       4,036,038  

Gerresheimer AG

    25,710       1,679,566  

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

    7,815       2,363,021  
   

 

 

 
      13,335,506  
   

 

 

 
      29,034,755  
   

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–16.6%

   

BANKS–6.1%

   

Erste Group Bank AG

    109,750       2,788,886  

HDFC Bank Ltd.

    171,265       2,924,912  

SVB Financial Group(a)

    8,960       3,539,111  
   

 

 

 
      9,252,909  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–6.8%

   

Deutsche Boerse AG

    15,910       2,671,714  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

    19,100       1,782,252  

 

4


 
    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                 

MSCI, Inc.

    8,310     $ 3,424,966  

Partners Group Holding AG

    2,630       2,375,145  
   

 

 

 
      10,254,077  
   

 

 

 

INSURANCE–3.7%

   

Aflac, Inc.

    49,060       2,714,490  

AIA Group Ltd.

    260,400       2,845,277  
   

 

 

 
      5,559,767  
   

 

 

 
      25,066,753  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–4.6%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–1.0%

   

Aptiv PLC(a)

    17,120       1,524,878  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–1.9%

   

TopBuild Corp.(a)

    17,023       2,845,565  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–1.7%

   

NIKE, Inc.–Class B

    26,160       2,673,552  
   

 

 

 
      7,043,995  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–3.7%

 

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–2.4%

   

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    46,650       3,613,509  
   

 

 

 

WATER UTILITIES–1.3%

   

American Water Works Co., Inc.

    13,809       2,054,365  
   

 

 

 
      5,667,874  
   

 

 

 
                                                 

MATERIALS–3.1%

   

CHEMICALS–3.1%

   

Chr Hansen Holding A/S

    28,300     2,065,835  

Koninklijke DSM NV

    18,260       2,615,755  
   

 

 

 
      4,681,590  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $127,453,814)

      143,011,671  
   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–5.6%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–5.6%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(b)(c)(d)
(cost $8,455,755)

    8,455,755       8,455,755  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.1%
(cost $135,909,569)

      151,467,426  

Other assets less
liabilities–(0.1)%

      (214,742
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 151,252,684  
   

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Bank of America, NA

       USD        323          INR        24,881          07/07/2022        $ (7,904

Bank of America, NA

       JPY        87,871          USD        686          07/15/2022          38,338  

Barclays Bank PLC

       BRL        5,081          USD        965          07/05/2022          (5,818

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        970          BRL        5,081          07/05/2022          844  

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        1,747          JPY        226,965          07/15/2022          (73,636

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        439          TWD        13,011          07/27/2022          (1,111

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        957          BRL        5,081          08/02/2022          5,227  

BNP Paribas SA

       KRW        354,040          USD        273          07/27/2022          (1,529

BNP Paribas SA

       NOK        11,705          USD        1,171          09/22/2022          (19,746

Citibank, NA

       USD        256          INR        19,646          07/07/2022          (7,046

Deutsche Bank AG

       EUR        15,712          USD        16,600          07/28/2022          109,808  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        3,104          JPY        393,695          07/15/2022          (200,871

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       TWD        11,205          USD        385          07/27/2022          8,101  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       BRL        5,081          USD        970          07/05/2022          (843

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,036          BRL        5,081          07/05/2022          (64,991

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       INR        219,417          USD        2,866          07/07/2022          88,374  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        3,255          AUD        4,541          07/21/2022          (119,952

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        2,024          CNH        13,837          07/21/2022          43,252  

 

5


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        4,241          CNH        28,381          07/21/2022        $ (1,475

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       TWD        30,358          USD        1,046          07/27/2022          23,603  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,236          EUR        1,166          07/28/2022          (11,993

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       GBP        685          USD        836          08/25/2022          1,761  

Natwest Markets PLC

       USD        566          ZAR        9,091          08/18/2022          (9,598

Natwest Markets PLC

       USD        1,520          GBP        1,208          08/25/2022          (48,208

Standard Chartered Bank

       CNH        3,287          USD        492          07/21/2022          1,409  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        1,688          USD        1,817          07/13/2022          47,583  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        431          USD        447          07/13/2022          (4,293

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        813          CHF        803          07/13/2022          28,386  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        81,007          USD        618          07/15/2022          20,588  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        419          JPY        56,496          07/15/2022          (2,591

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       AUD        376          USD        259          07/21/2022          (563

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        845          USD        652          07/21/2022          (4,178

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       EUR        269          USD        288          07/28/2022          5,323  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        1,593          EUR        1,525          07/28/2022          7,205  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        845          EUR        795          07/28/2022          (10,735

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       GBP        296          USD        364          08/25/2022          3,514  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        364          NOK        3,589          09/22/2022          1,302  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        1,167          SEK        11,865          09/22/2022          (3,731

UBS AG

       USD        1,375          CHF        1,316          07/13/2022          3,822  

UBS AG

       USD        5,564          CAD        6,958          07/21/2022          (158,497

UBS AG

       USD        2,224          KRW        2,772,557          07/27/2022          (72,506

UBS AG

       USD        930          EUR        882          07/28/2022          (4,332
                         

 

 

 
     $   (397,707
                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Affiliated investments.

 

(c)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(d)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

6


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

BRL—Brazilian Real

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

CNH—Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)

EUR—Euro

GBP—Great British Pound

INR—Indian Rupee

JPY—Japanese Yen

KRW—South Korean Won

NOK—Norwegian Krone

SEK—Swedish Krona

TWD—New Taiwan Dollar

USD—United States Dollar

ZAR—South African Rand

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund    

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $127,453,814)

   $ 143,011,671  

Affiliated issuers (cost $8,455,755)

     8,455,755  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $159,822)

     159,650  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     438,440  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     410,424  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     69,304  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     6,258  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     152,551,502  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     836,147  

Foreign capital gains tax payable

     115,770  

Advisory fee payable

     90,379  

Custody and accounting fees payable

     67,133  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     60,039  

Distribution fee payable

     21,614  

Administrative fee payable

     21,127  

Directors’ fees payable

     469  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     90  

Accrued expenses

     86,050  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,298,818  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 151,252,684  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 4,827  

Additional paid-in capital

     111,695,833  

Distributable earnings

     39,552,024  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 151,252,684  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets       

Shares

Outstanding

      

Net Asset

Value

 
A      $ 50,903,353          1,566,026        $   32.50  
B      $   100,349,331          3,260,798        $   30.77  

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund    

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $155,578)

   $ 1,178,023  

Affiliated issuers

     9,813  

Securities lending income

     3,587  
  

 

 

 
     1,191,423  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     666,785  

Distribution fee—Class B

     148,861  

Transfer agency—Class A

     921  

Transfer agency—Class B

     1,870  

Custody and accounting

     43,519  

Administrative

     41,581  

Audit and tax

     26,000  

Legal

     14,590  

Printing

     10,658  

Directors’ fees

     10,333  

Miscellaneous

     8,856  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     973,974  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B)

     (46,427
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     927,547  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     263,876  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions(a)

     6,287,325  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     1,402,563  

Foreign currency transactions

     (248,332

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Investments(b)

     (71,959,764

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (612,830

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (13,561
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (65,144,599
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (64,880,723
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $137,546.
(b)   Net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains taxes on unrealized gains of $242,403.

See notes to financial statements.

 

9


   
SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund    

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

    

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 263,876     $ (792,836

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     7,441,556       18,109,516  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (72,586,155     24,070,256  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (64,880,723     41,386,936  

Distributions to Shareholders

    

Class A

     –0 –      (7,534,996

Class B

     –0 –      (17,177,009

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

    

Net increase (decrease)

     (4,397,731     18,478,020  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (69,278,454     35,152,951  

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of period

     220,531,138       185,378,187  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 151,252,684     $ 220,531,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Sustainable Global Thematic Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (formerly known as AB Global Thematic Growth Portfolio) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

11


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

            

Assets:

 

Common Stocks:

            

Information Technology

     $ 30,581,268      $ 10,515,222     $             –0 –     $ 41,096,490  

Industrials

       20,307,274        10,112,940       –0 –       30,420,214  

Health Care

       18,614,071        10,420,684       –0 –       29,034,755  

Financials

       9,678,567        15,388,186       –0 –       25,066,753  

Consumer Discretionary

       7,043,995        –0 –      –0 –       7,043,995  

Utilities

       5,667,874        –0 –      –0 –       5,667,874  

Materials

       –0 –       4,681,590       –0 –       4,681,590  

Short-Term Investments

       8,455,755        –0 –      –0 –       8,455,755  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       100,348,804        51,118,622 (a)      –0 –       151,467,426  

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Other Financial Instruments(b):

        

Assets:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

   $ –0 –    $ 438,440     $             –0 –    $ 438,440  

Liabilities:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

     –0 –      (836,147     –0 –      (836,147
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 100,348,804     $ 50,720,915     $ –0 –    $ 151,069,719  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)   A significant portion of the Portfolio’s foreign equity investments are categorized as Level 2 investments since they are valued using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available, see Note A.1.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

 

13


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or bear expenses of the Portfolio in order to reduce the Portfolio’s total operating expenses by an amount equal to .05% on an annual basis of the average net assets for Class A and Class B. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such reimbursements/waivers amounted to $44,452. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreement extends through May 1, 2023 and then may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,581.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $1,975.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

  Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
    Sales
Proceeds
(000)
    Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
    Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

  $ 6,674     $ 24,508     $ 22,726     $ 8,456     $ 10  

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 36,962,907      $ 41,953,648  

U.S. government securities

       –0 –       –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 29,056,025  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (13,895,875
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 15,160,150  
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal type of derivative utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

 

15


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value  

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 438,440     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 836,147  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 438,440       $ 836,147  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Derivative Type

  

Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives
Within Statement of Operations

   Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Foreign currency contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts    $ 1,402,563        $(612,830)  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 1,402,563      $ (612,830
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 35,894,477  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 35,957,024  

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
Subject to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative Assets
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 38,338      $ (7,904   $           –0 –    $           –0 –    $ 30,434  

Barclays Bank PLC

     6,071        (6,071     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Deutsche Bank AG

     109,808        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      109,808  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     8,101        (8,101     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     156,990        (156,990     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Standard Chartered Bank

     1,409        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      1,409  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     113,901        (26,091     –0 –      –0 –      87,810  

UBS AG

     3,822        (3,822     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 438,440      $ (208,979   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 229,461
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative Liabilities
 

Bank of America, NA

   $ 7,904      $ (7,904   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ –0 – 

Barclays Bank PLC

     80,565        (6,071     –0 –      –0 –      74,494  

BNP Paribas SA

     21,275        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      21,275  

Citibank, NA

     7,046        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      7,046  

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative Liabilities
 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $ 200,871      $ (8,101   $           –0 –    $           –0 –    $ 192,770  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     199,254        (156,990     –0 –      –0 –      42,264  

Natwest Markets PLC

     57,806        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      57,806  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     26,091        (26,091     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

UBS AG

     235,335        (3,822     –0 –      –0 –      231,513  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 836,147      $ (208,979   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 627,168
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to

 

17


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

  Government Money Market  
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities
on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income
Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 3,587     $ –0 –    $ –0 – 

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    120,605       168,391       $ 4,643,100     $ 7,542,892  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      173,059         –0 –      7,534,996  

Shares redeemed

    (85,363     (186,103       (3,226,336     (8,388,232
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

    35,242       155,347       $ 1,416,764     $ 6,689,656  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    167,374       519,440       $ 6,095,031     $ 22,261,300  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      415,707         –0 –      17,177,009  

Shares redeemed

    (327,213     (649,032       (11,909,526     (27,649,945
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (159,839     286,115       $ (5,814,495   $ 11,788,364  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 58% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing may underperform the market generally.

Sector Risk—The Portfolio may have more risk than a more diversified portfolio because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology or health care sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Portfolio’s investments.

ESG Risk—Applying ESG and sustainability criteria to the investment process may exclude securities of certain issuers for non-investment reasons and, therefore, the Portfolio may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Securities of companies with ESG practices may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, and the Portfolio’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Furthermore, “sustainability” is not a uniformly defined characteristic, and the Portfolio’s sustainability criteria may differ from those used by other funds. In addition, in evaluating an investment, the investment adviser is dependent upon information and data that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could adversely affect the analysis of the ESG and sustainability factors relevant to a particular investment.

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

Currency Risk—Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s 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- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

Focused Portfolio Risk—Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, than would be the case if the Portfolio were invested in a larger number of companies.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

 

19


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 1,797,950      $ 1,036,748  

Net long-term capital gains

     22,914,055        13,419,491  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 24,712,005      $ 14,456,239  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 175,923  

Undistributed capital gains

     17,205,843  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     87,050,981 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 104,432,747  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

20


 
SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $46.20       $42.40       $33.52       $27.35       $30.32       $22.29  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Income From Investment Operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    .09       (.10     (.10     .08       .11       .03  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (13.79     9.46       12.64       8.00       (3.08     8.13  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (13.70     9.36       12.54       8.08       (2.97     8.16  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Less: Dividends and Distributions

 

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.24     (.13     –0 –      (.13

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (5.56     (3.42     (1.78     –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (5.56     (3.66     (1.91     –0 –      (.13
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.50       $46.20       $42.40       $33.52       $27.35       $30.32  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Total Return

 

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (29.65 )%      22.87     39.41     30.16     (9.79 )%      36.66
           
Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $50,903       $70,723       $58,316       $43,237       $35,799       $40,121  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .88 %^      .88     .94     .99     .99     1.02

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .93 %^      .93     1.00     1.04     1.01     1.02

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    .48 %^      (.22 )%      (.29 )%      .27     .37     .09

Portfolio turnover rate

    21     24     44     43     32     40
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .00     .00     .00

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 23.

 

21


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $43.80       $40.54       $32.19       $26.33       $29.25       $21.52  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Income From Investment Operations

 

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    .04       (.20     (.18     .01       .04       (.04

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (13.07     9.02       12.11       7.68       (2.96     7.84  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (13.03     8.82       11.93       7.69       (2.92     7.80  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Less: Dividends and Distributions

 

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.16     (.05     –0 –      (.07

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (5.56     (3.42     (1.78     –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (5.56     (3.58     (1.83     –0 –      (.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.77       $43.80       $40.54       $32.19       $26.33       $29.25  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           
Total Return

 

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (29.75 )%      22.57     39.08     29.78     (9.98 )%      36.30
           
Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $100,350       $149,808       $127,062       $93,645       $80,949       $106,331  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    1.13 %^      1.13     1.19     1.24     1.24     1.26

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    1.18 %^      1.18     1.25     1.29     1.25     1.27

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    .21 %^      (.47 )%      (.54 )%      .02     .13     (.15 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    21     24     44     43     32     40
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .00     .00     .00

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 23.

 

22


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(d)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the year ended December 31, 2020, such waiver amounted to .01%.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 by .04%.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

23


 
 
SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

24


 
SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Sustainable Global Thematic Portfolio (formerly AB Global Thematic Growth Portfolio) (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is

 

25


SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and the directors took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another fund advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the

 

26


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to funds such as the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was above the medians, after giving effect to a voluntary waiver by the Adviser. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanations of the reasons for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

27


VPS-SGT-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each classes’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $   1,000      $ 878.60      $ 2.79        0.60

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $   1,021.82      $   3.01        0.60
           

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 877.60      $ 3.96        0.85

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,020.58      $ 4.26        0.85

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

Anthem, Inc.

   $ 34,676,751          4.4

Wells Fargo & Co.

     32,388,302          4.1  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

     30,582,148          3.9  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.—Class B

     28,519,942          3.7  

Roche Holding AG (Sponsored ADR)

     24,662,706          3.2  

Amgen, Inc.

     21,873,887          2.8  

Comcast Corp.—Class A

     21,699,838          2.8  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     19,635,581          2.5  

Cigna Corp.

     18,647,202          2.4  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

     17,234,077          2.2  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   249,920,434          32.0

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Health Care

   $   151,880,669          19.2

Industrials

     143,502,280          18.2  

Financials

     136,805,770          17.3  

Consumer Discretionary

     82,888,490          10.5  

Information Technology

     72,355,231          9.2  

Energy

     38,625,213          4.9  

Consumer Staples

     37,409,351          4.7  

Communication Services

     36,426,476          4.6  

Real Estate

     28,655,983          3.6  

Materials

     12,830,221          1.6  

Utilities

     7,270,878          0.9  

Short-Term Investments

     41,516,367          5.3  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 790,166,929          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time.

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

COMMON STOCKS–95.9%

   
   

HEALTH CARE–19.5%

   

BIOTECHNOLOGY–4.6%

   

Amgen, Inc.

    89,905     $ 21,873,887  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    22,880       13,525,054  
   

 

 

 
      35,398,941  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–7.9%

   

Anthem, Inc.

    71,857       34,676,751  

Cigna Corp.

    70,762       18,647,202  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    62,349       8,291,170  
   

 

 

 
      61,615,123  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–3.1%

   

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.–Class A(a)

    14,326       7,091,370  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    121,179       17,234,077  
   

 

 

 
      24,325,447  
   

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–3.9%

   

Pfizer, Inc.

    112,120       5,878,452  

Roche Holding AG (Sponsored ADR)

    591,290       24,662,706  
   

 

 

 
      30,541,158  
   

 

 

 
      151,880,669  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–18.4%

   

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–5.1%

   

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

    45,876       6,058,385  

Hexcel Corp.

    89,830       4,699,007  

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

    173,764       16,700,458  

Textron, Inc.

    205,963       12,578,160  
   

 

 

 
      40,036,010  
   

 

 

 

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS–1.4%

   

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    54,754       5,336,325  

FedEx Corp.

    26,210       5,942,069  
   

 

 

 
      11,278,394  
   

 

 

 

AIRLINES–1.6%

   

Alaska Air Group, Inc.(a)

    169,990       6,808,100  

Southwest Airlines Co.(a)

    162,550       5,871,306  
   

 

 

 
      12,679,406  
   

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–0.8%

   

Builders FirstSource, Inc.(a)

    110,110       5,912,907  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–0.9%

   

EMCOR Group, Inc.

    69,020       7,106,299  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–2.5%

   

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    36,003       5,545,902  

Emerson Electric Co.

    175,129       13,929,761  
   

 

 

 
      19,475,663  
   

 

 

 
                                                   

MACHINERY–2.4%

   

Altra Industrial Motion Corp.

    99,336     3,501,594  

Middleby Corp. (The)(a)

    22,211       2,784,371  

Toro Co. (The)

    72,590       5,501,596  

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

    81,767       6,711,435  
   

 

 

 
      18,498,996  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.9%

   

Robert Half International, Inc.

    95,997       7,189,215  
   

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–1.9%

   

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

    317,273       14,686,567  
   

 

 

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–0.9%

   

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.–Class A

    88,388       6,638,823  
   

 

 

 
      143,502,280  
   

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–17.5%

   

BANKS–7.4%

   

Bank OZK

    163,480       6,135,404  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    174,368       19,635,581  

Wells Fargo & Co.

    826,865       32,388,302  
   

 

 

 
      58,159,287  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–3.6%

   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    56,460       16,769,749  

Northern Trust Corp.

    114,413       11,038,567  
   

 

 

 
      27,808,316  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER FINANCE–0.9%

   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    65,743       6,849,763  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–3.6%

   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.–Class B(a)

    104,461       28,519,942  
   

 

 

 

INSURANCE–2.0%

   

Aflac, Inc.

    52,523       2,906,097  

Allstate Corp. (The)

    99,127       12,562,365  
   

 

 

 
      15,468,462  
   

 

 

 
      136,805,770  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–10.6%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–0.4%

   

BorgWarner, Inc.

    85,131       2,840,822  
   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTORS–2.1%

   

LKQ Corp.

    329,256       16,163,177  
   

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–0.5%

   

Booking Holdings, Inc.(a)

    2,350       4,110,127  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–1.5%

   

DR Horton, Inc.

    183,711       12,159,831  
   

 

 

 

 

3


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

MULTILINE RETAIL–1.5%

   

Target Corp.

    84,452     $ 11,927,156  
   

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–4.2%

   

AutoZone, Inc.(a)

    4,523       9,720,470  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    79,400       13,868,798  

Murphy USA, Inc.

    18,880       4,396,585  

Ulta Beauty, Inc.(a)

    12,550       4,837,774  
   

 

 

 
      32,823,627  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–0.4%

   

Deckers Outdoor Corp.(a)

    11,215       2,863,750  
   

 

 

 
      82,888,490  
   

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–9.3%

   

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.3%

   

Ciena Corp.(a)

    64,404       2,943,263  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    161,272       6,876,638  
   

 

 

 
      9,819,901  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–2.6%

   

IPG Photonics Corp.(a)

    79,020       7,438,153  

Keysight Technologies, Inc.(a)

    94,452       13,020,208  
   

 

 

 
      20,458,361  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–4.2%

   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.–Class A

    110,226       7,439,153  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc.(a)

    58,839       12,362,662  

Mastercard, Inc.–Class A

    41,480       13,086,110  
   

 

 

 
      32,887,925  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.2%

   

MKS Instruments, Inc.

    45,731       4,693,373  

NXP Semiconductors NV

    30,370       4,495,671  
   

 

 

 
      9,189,044  
   

 

 

 
      72,355,231  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–4.9%

   

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–0.8%

   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    141,222       6,081,019  
   

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–4.1%

   

Chevron Corp.

    38,474       5,570,266  

ConocoPhillips

    61,731       5,544,061  

EOG Resources, Inc.

    93,318       10,306,040  

Phillips 66

    125,000       10,248,750  

Woodside Energy Group Ltd. (ADR)

    40,588       875,077  
   

 

 

 
      32,544,194  
   

 

 

 
      38,625,213  
   

 

 

 
                                                   

CONSUMER STAPLES–4.8%

   

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–0.9%

   

Walmart, Inc.

    56,154     6,827,203  
   

 

 

 

TOBACCO–3.9%

   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    309,724       30,582,148  
   

 

 

 
      37,409,351  
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.7%

   

DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–4.3%

   

Comcast Corp.–Class A

    553,003       21,699,838  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    232,740       11,811,555  
   

 

 

 
      33,511,393  
   

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT–0.4%

   

Netflix, Inc.(a)

    16,670       2,915,083  
   

 

 

 
      36,426,476  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE–3.7%

   

EQUITY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–1.8%

   

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    430,120       14,245,574  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–1.9%

   

CBRE Group, Inc.–Class A(a)

    195,767       14,410,409  
   

 

 

 
      28,655,983  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–1.6%

   

CHEMICALS–0.5%

   

Mosaic Co. (The)

    79,760       3,767,065  
   

 

 

 

METALS & MINING–1.1%

   

BHP Group Ltd. (Sponsored ADR)(b)

    112,308       6,309,464  

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

    41,628       2,753,692  
   

 

 

 
      9,063,156  
   

 

 

 
      12,830,221  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–0.9%

   

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–0.9%

   

IDACORP, Inc.

    68,645       7,270,878  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (cost $673,270,153)

      748,650,562  
   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–5.3%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–5.3%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(c)(d)(e)
(cost $41,516,367)

    41,516,367       41,516,367  
   

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

Total Investments Before Security Lending Collateral for Securities Loaned–101.2% (cost $714,786,520)

    $ 790,166,929  
   

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.7%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.7%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio Class AB,
1.30%(c)(d)(e) (cost $5,311,922)

    5,311,922       5,311,922  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.9% (cost $720,098,442)

      795,478,851  

Other assets less liabilities–(1.9)%

      (15,070,548
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 780,408,303  
   

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Affiliated investments.

 

(d)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(e)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

See notes to financial statements.

 

5


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $673,270,153)

   $ 748,650,562 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $46,828,289—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $5,311,922)

     46,828,289  

Cash

     7  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     5,332,034  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     1,134,861  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     794,266  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     28,279  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     802,768,298  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payable for investment securities purchased

     15,093,852  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     5,311,922  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     1,043,784  

Advisory fee payable

     360,774  

Distribution fee payable

     134,754  

Administrative fee payable

     21,128  

Directors’ fees payable

     724  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     89  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     392,968  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     22,359,995  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 780,408,303  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 24,523  

Additional paid-in capital

     515,137,390  

Distributable earnings

     265,246,390  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 780,408,303  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $   144,854,019          4,475,554        $   32.37  
B      $ 635,554,284          20,047,454        $ 31.70  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $6,246,317 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $82,527)

   $ 9,633,978  

Affiliated issuers

     53,232  

Securities lending income

     20,081  
  

 

 

 
     9,707,291  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     2,384,724  

Distribution fee—Class B

     883,444  

Transfer agency—Class A

     825  

Transfer agency—Class B

     3,637  

Custody and accounting

     68,331  

Administrative

     41,580  

Printing

     38,396  

Legal

     35,442  

Audit and tax

     20,329  

Directors’ fees

     14,876  

Miscellaneous

     15,787  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,507,371  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (13,352
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     3,494,019  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     6,213,272  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     40,899,116  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (156,645,777
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment transactions

     (115,746,661
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (109,533,389
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


 
GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income

   $ 6,213,272     $ 9,759,874  

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     40,899,116       232,012,332  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (156,645,777     23,259,079  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (109,533,389     265,031,285  

Distributions to Shareholders

 

Class A

     –0 –      (1,352,804

Class B

     –0 –      (6,060,547

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (32,810,125     (346,850,196
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (142,343,514     (89,232,262

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     922,751,817       1,011,984,079  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 780,408,303     $ 922,751,817  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Growth and Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

9


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

             

Assets:

             

Common Stocks(a)

     $ 748,650,562      $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 748,650,562  

Short-Term Investments

       41,516,367        –0 –                   –0 –       41,516,367  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       5,311,922                    –0 –       –0 –       5,311,922  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       795,478,851        –0 –       –0 –       795,478,851  

Other Financial Instruments(b)

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

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 795,478,851      $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 795,478,851  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,580.

 

11


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $13,128.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 16,507      $ 188,624      $ 163,615      $ 41,516      $ 53  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     6,838        45,111        46,637        5,312        2  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

            $ 46,828      $ 55  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

   $ 271,997,738     $ 313,706,555  

U.S. government securities

     –0 –      –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 108,173,923  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (32,793,514
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 75,380,409  
  

 

 

 

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio 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 Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

    Government Money Market    

Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 6,246,317     $ 5,311,922     $ 1,303,332     $ 18,495     $ 1,586     $ 224  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

 

13


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    320,502       519,539       $ 11,348,367     $ 17,715,000  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      38,563         –0 –      1,352,804  

Shares redeemed

    (466,156     (881,629       (16,650,939     (29,886,720
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (145,654     (323,527     $ (5,302,572   $ (10,818,916
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    926,769       1,732,963       $ 31,890,646     $ 57,304,403  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      175,974         –0 –      6,060,547  

Shares redeemed

    (1,715,349     (11,625,535       (59,398,199     (399,396,230
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (788,580     (9,716,598     $ (27,507,553   $ (336,031,280
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 49% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s value approach, may be underperforming the market generally.

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligation to the Portfolio.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     2021     2020  

Distributions paid from:

    

Ordinary income

   $ 7,413,351     $ 17,089,865  

Net long-term capital gains

     –0 –      45,091,707  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 7,413,351     $ 62,181,572  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 21,192,615  

Undistributed capital gains

     125,605,762 (a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     227,981,402 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 374,779,779  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   During the fiscal year, the Portfolio utilized $35,158,323 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains.

 

(b)   The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

 

15


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

16


 
GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $36.83       $28.97       $30.30       $27.78       $33.35       $31.21  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .29       .38       .40       .43       .41       .31  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (4.75     7.76       .13       5.84       (1.84     5.21  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (4.46     8.14       .53       6.27       (1.43     5.52  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.28     (.42     (.39     (.34     (.49

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (1.44     (3.36     (3.80     (2.89
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.28     (1.86     (3.75     (4.14     (3.38
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.37       $36.83       $28.97       $30.30       $27.78       $33.35  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)*

    (12.14 )%      28.15     2.72     23.91     (5.61 )%      18.93
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $144,854       $170,190       $143,269       $155,765       $133,188       $159,324  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .60 %^      .59     .61     .61     .59     .60

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .61 %^      .59     .62     .62     .60     .60

Net investment income (b)

    1.64 %^      1.13     1.53     1.43     1.28     .97

Portfolio turnover rate

    32     51     54     66     96     85
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .01     .01     .00

 

 

See footnote summary on page 19.

 

17


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $36.12       $28.43       $29.76       $27.34       $32.88       $30.82  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .24       .29       .33       .35       .33       .23  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (4.66     7.61       .13       5.74       (1.81     5.14  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (c) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (4.42     7.90       .46       6.09       (1.48     5.37  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.21     (.35     (.31     (.26     (.42

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (1.44     (3.36     (3.80     (2.89
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.21     (1.79     (3.67     (4.06     (3.31
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $31.70       $36.12       $28.43       $29.76       $27.34       $32.88  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (d)*

    (12.24 )%      27.84     2.47     23.61     (5.84 )%      18.59
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $635,554       $752,562       $868,715       $922,603       $772,904       $906,790  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .85 %^      .84     .86     .86     .84     .85

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (e)‡

    .86 %^      .85     .87     .87     .85     .85

Net investment income (b)

    1.39 %^      .87     1.28     1.18     1.03     .72

Portfolio turnover rate

    32     51     54     66     96     85
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .01     .01     .00

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 19.

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(d)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(e)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, such waiver amounted to .01%, .01% and .01%, respectively.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 by .15%, .02% and .68%, respectively.

 

       Includes the impact of a reimbursement from the Adviser as a result of an error made by the Adviser in processing a claim for class action settlement, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 by .01%.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

19


 
 
GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

20


 
GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Growth and Income Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the

 

21


GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Fund’s profitability to the Adviser would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another fund advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

 

22


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

23


VPS-GI-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS

SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO

   (formerly, International Growth Portfolio)

 

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value

June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $   1,000      $ 712.70      $   5.78        1.36

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,018.05      $ 6.80        1.36
           

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 711.30      $ 6.83        1.61

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $   1,016.81      $ 8.05        1.61

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE                PERCENT OF NET ASSETS           

STERIS PLC

   $ 1,137,948          2.9

Alcon, Inc.

     1,100,908          2.8  

HDFC Bank Ltd.

     1,066,112          2.7  

Nestle SA (REG)

     1,043,790          2.6  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

     941,701          2.4  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

     940,631          2.4  

Partners Group Holding AG

     927,481          2.3  

Svenska Handelsbanken AB—Class A

     927,096          2.3  

STMicroelectronics NV

     900,397          2.3  

Danaher Corp.

     897,714          2.3  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $     9,883,778          25.0

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Financials

   $ 8,101,777          20.2

Information Technology

     8,047,447          20.0  

Health Care

     7,185,010          17.9  

Industrials

     4,681,993          11.7  

Materials

     2,852,340          7.1  

Consumer Staples

     2,413,872          6.0  

Consumer Discretionary

     1,699,986          4.2  

Energy

     863,509          2.2  

Utilities

     755,699          1.9  

Communication Services

     480,717          1.2  

Short-Term Investments

     3,052,783          7.6  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   40,135,133          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
COUNTRY BREAKDOWN1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COUNTRY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

United States

   $ 4,798,249          12.0

Switzerland

     4,269,114          10.6  

France

     3,283,355          8.2  

United Kingdom

     3,040,395          7.6  

Netherlands

     2,895,239          7.2  

Germany

     2,470,006          6.2  

Denmark

     2,316,372          5.8  

Sweden

     1,906,424          4.8  

India

     1,839,997          4.5  

Finland

     1,627,111          4.1  

Japan

     1,526,408          3.8  

Ireland

     1,333,639          3.3  

Taiwan

     1,141,754          2.8  

Other

     4,634,287          11.5  

Short-Term Investments

     3,052,783          7.6  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   40,135,133          100.0

 

 

 

 

1   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. “Other” country weightings represent 2.1% or less in the following: Austria, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Norway and Spain. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

 

3


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company       
    
    
Shares
    U.S. $ Value  
                                            

COMMON STOCKS–93.2%

   
   

FINANCIALS–20.4%

   

BANKS–8.6%

   

Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT

    1,049,000     $ 560,182  

Erste Group Bank AG

    33,851       860,197  

HDFC Bank Ltd.

    62,425       1,066,112  

Svenska Handelsbanken AB–Class A

    108,004       927,096  
   

 

 

 
      3,413,587  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–6.7%

   

Deutsche Boerse AG

    4,814       808,399  

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

    10,092       941,701  

Partners Group Holding AG

    1,027       927,481  
   

 

 

 
      2,677,581  
   

 

 

 

INSURANCE–5.1%

   

Aflac, Inc.

    15,075       834,100  

AIA Group Ltd.

    78,800       861,013  

Prudential PLC

    25,363       315,496  
   

 

 

 
      2,010,609  
   

 

 

 
      8,101,777  
   

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–20.2%

   

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–3.4%

   

Flex Ltd.(a)

    42,876       620,416  

Halma PLC

    29,439       722,790  
   

 

 

 
      1,343,206  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–3.9%

   

Accenture PLC–Class A

    2,874       797,966  

Edenred

    16,250       769,773  
   

 

 

 
      1,567,739  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–10.8%

   

ASML Holding NV

    1,480       699,208  

Infineon Technologies AG

    26,509       644,845  

MediaTek, Inc.

    25,000       548,779  

NXP Semiconductors NV

    6,060       897,062  

STMicroelectronics NV

    28,471       900,397  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    37,000       592,975  
   

 

 

 
      4,283,266  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–2.1%

   

Dassault Systemes SE

    23,035       853,236  
   

 

 

 
      8,047,447  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–18.0%

   

BIOTECHNOLOGY–1.4%

   

Abcam PLC(a)(b)

    39,566       568,670  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–8.3%

   

Alcon, Inc.

    15,700       1,100,908  
                                            

ConvaTec Group PLC(c)

    179,402     491,737  

Koninklijke Philips NV

    25,819       553,780  

STERIS PLC

    5,520       1,137,948  
   

 

 

 
      3,284,373  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–1.9%

   

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.

    16,606       773,885  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–4.8%

   

Danaher Corp.

    3,541       897,714  

Gerresheimer AG

    7,094       463,432  

Tecan Group AG (REG)

    1,912       556,752  
   

 

 

 
      1,917,898  
   

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–1.6%

   

Roche Holding AG

    1,915       640,184  
   

 

 

 
      7,185,010  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–11.8%

   

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–1.7%

   

TOMRA Systems ASA

    35,446       665,249  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–1.6%

   

WSP Global, Inc.

    5,590       632,045  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–3.6%

   

Schneider Electric SE

    4,281       510,104  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

    44,240       940,631  
   

 

 

 
      1,450,735  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–3.3%

   

Husqvarna AB–Class B(b)

    55,293       407,555  

SMC Corp.

    2,000       890,279  
   

 

 

 
      1,297,834  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–1.6%

   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

    21,600       636,130  
   

 

 

 
      4,681,993  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–7.2%

   

CHEMICALS–3.4%

   

Chr Hansen Holding A/S

    8,494       620,043  

Koninklijke DSM NV

    5,202       745,189  
   

 

 

 
      1,365,232  
   

 

 

 

CONTAINERS & PACKAGING–3.8%

   

Huhtamaki Oyj

    19,195       763,602  

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    21,455       723,506  
   

 

 

 
      1,487,108  
   

 

 

 
      2,852,340  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–6.0%

   

FOOD PRODUCTS–6.0%

   

Danone SA

    13,570       759,950  

Kerry Group PLC–Class A

    6,380       610,132  

Nestle SA (REG)

    8,931       1,043,790  
   

 

 

 
      2,413,872  
   

 

 

 

 

4


 
    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company       
    
    
Shares
    U.S. $ Value  
                                            

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–4.3%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–1.5%

   

Autoliv, Inc.

    7,989     $ 571,773  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–2.8%

   

Puma SE

    8,340       553,329  

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd.

    47,100       574,884  
   

 

 

 
      1,128,213  
   

 

 

 
      1,699,986  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–2.2%

   

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–2.2%

   

Neste Oyj

    19,413       863,509  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–1.9%

   

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–1.9%

   

Orsted AS

    7,175       755,699  
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.2%

   

DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.2%

   

Cellnex Telecom SA

    12,352       480,717  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $35,605,320)

      37,082,350  
   

 

 

 
                                            

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–7.7%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–7.7%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB,
1.30%(d)(e)(f)
(cost $3,052,783)

    3,052,783     3,052,783  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–100.9%
(cost $38,658,103)

      40,135,133  
   

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.2%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.2%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio Class AB,
1.30%(d)(e)(f)
(cost $84,744)

    84,744       84,744  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.1%
(cost $38,742,847)

      40,219,877  
   

 

 

 

Other assets less liabilities–(1.1)%

      (445,190
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 39,774,687  
   

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Barclays Bank PLC

       BRL        3,231          USD        614          07/05/2022        $ (3,700

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        617          BRL        3,231          07/05/2022          536  

Barclays Bank PLC

       KRW        119,953          USD        93          07/27/2022          142  

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        91          KRW        114,599          07/27/2022          (1,765

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        103          TWD        3,052          07/27/2022          (261

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        609          BRL        3,231          08/02/2022          3,324  

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        704          GBP        562          08/25/2022          (19,677

BNP Paribas SA

       TWD        2,061          USD        70          07/27/2022          452  

Deutsche Bank AG

       EUR        5,738          USD        6,064          07/28/2022               42,283  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        4,024          JPY        510,362          07/15/2022          (260,397

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        388          TWD        11,278          07/27/2022          (8,154

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       USD        172          CNH        1,156          07/21/2022          346  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       KRW        105,364          USD        84          07/27/2022          1,918  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       BRL        3,231          USD        617          07/05/2022          (536

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        659          BRL        3,231          07/05/2022          (41,327

 

5


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        2,343          AUD        3,269          07/21/2022        $ (86,352

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        2,295          CNH        15,638          07/21/2022          41,325  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,217          CNH        8,143          07/21/2022          (423

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       KRW        99,109          USD        78          07/27/2022          804  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       KRW        86,088          USD        67          07/27/2022          (69

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        150          TWD        4,340          07/27/2022          (3,374

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       EUR        610          USD        643          07/28/2022          2,614  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       SGD        91          USD        66          07/08/2022          19  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        347          SGD        475          07/08/2022          (5,282

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        1,959          USD        2,108          07/13/2022               55,222  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        94          USD        96          07/13/2022          (2,907

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        885          CHF        857          07/13/2022          13,118  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        97,379          USD        746          07/15/2022          27,646  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        10,356          USD        76          07/15/2022          (48

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        126          JPY        17,149          07/15/2022          509  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        897          JPY        116,665          07/15/2022          (36,431

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       MXN        1,212          USD        59          07/20/2022          (620

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        264          MXN        5,349          07/20/2022          954  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       AUD        409          USD        288          07/21/2022          5,464  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       AUD        139          USD        96          07/21/2022          (208

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        200          USD        156          07/21/2022          826  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        992          USD        765          07/21/2022          (5,242

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        88          CAD        114          07/21/2022          453  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        107          CAD        138          07/21/2022          (279

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        181          ILS        602          07/25/2022          (8,257

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       EUR        573          USD        611          07/28/2022          9,292  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        415          EUR        397          07/28/2022          1,876  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        922          EUR        872          07/28/2022          (6,872

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        374          ZAR        5,981          08/18/2022          (8,358

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       GBP        160          USD        196          08/25/2022          1,511  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       NOK        2,809          USD        282          09/22/2022          (3,789

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       SEK        3,666          USD        361          09/22/2022          1,063  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        107          NOK        1,058          09/22/2022          384  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        95          SEK        959          09/22/2022          (964

UBS AG

       USD        3,350          CAD        4,187          07/21/2022          (97,613

UBS AG

       USD        1,636          KRW        2,039,103          07/27/2022          (53,325

UBS AG

       EUR        620          USD        654          07/28/2022          3,045  
                         

 

 

 
                          $ (441,104
                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. This security is considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration. At June 30, 2022, the market value of this security amounted to $491,737 or 1.2% of net assets.

 

(d)   Affiliated investments.

 

(e)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(f)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

 

6


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

BRL—Brazilian Real

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

CNH—Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)

EUR—Euro

GBP—Great British Pound

ILS—Israeli Shekel

JPY—Japanese Yen

KRW—South Korean Won

MXN—Mexican Peso

NOK—Norwegian Krone

SEK—Swedish Krona

SGD—Singapore Dollar

TWD—New Taiwan Dollar

USD—United States Dollar

ZAR—South African Rand

Glossary:

REG—Registered Shares

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $35,605,320)

   $ 37,082,350 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $3,137,527—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $84,744)

     3,137,527  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $53,760)

     53,910  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     215,126  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     180,600  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     26,490  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     2,151  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     40,698,154  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     656,230  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     84,744  

Custody and accounting fees payable

     52,481  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     38,248  

Foreign capital gains tax payable

     34,297  

Advisory fee payable

     23,668  

Administrative fee payable

     21,128  

Distribution fee payable

     4,566  

Directors’ fees payable

     360  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     90  

Accrued expenses

     7,655  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     923,467  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 39,774,687  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 2,083  

Additional paid-in capital

     29,997,681  

Distributable earnings

     9,774,923  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 39,774,687  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $   18,424,706          953,836        $   19.32  
B      $ 21,349,981          1,129,335        $ 18.90  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $514,635 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $68,141)

   $ 548,716  

Affiliated issuers

     3,654  

Interest (net of foreign taxes withheld of $219)

     1,104  

Securities lending income

     2,447  
  

 

 

 
     555,921  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     175,859  

Distribution fee—Class B

     31,402  

Transfer agency—Class A

     951  

Transfer agency—Class B

     1,097  

Administrative

     41,580  

Custody and accounting

     35,786  

Audit and tax

     28,053  

Printing

     15,288  

Legal

     14,614  

Directors’ fees

     9,410  

Miscellaneous

     8,066  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     362,106  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (12,527
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     349,579  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     206,342  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions(a)

     1,522,106  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     186,139  

Foreign currency transactions

     (30,809

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Investments(b)

     (17,677,269

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (539,853

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (7,952
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (16,547,638
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (16,341,296
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $37,798.

 

(b)   Net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains taxes on unrealized gains of $71,873.

 

     See notes to financial statements.

 

9


 
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 206,342     $ (131,178

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     1,677,436       7,230,514  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (18,225,074     (2,427,956
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (16,341,296     4,671,380  

Distributions to Shareholders

 

Class A

     –0 –      (2,543,196

Class B

     –0 –      (3,008,549

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (1,428,757     (1,053,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (17,770,053     (1,933,698

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     57,544,740       59,478,438  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 39,774,687     $ 57,544,740  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Sustainable International Thematic Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (formerly known as AB International Growth Portfolio) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

11


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2        Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

               

Assets:

               

Common Stocks:

               

Financials

     $ 834,100      $ 7,267,677        $             –0 –     $ 8,101,777  

Information Technology

       2,315,444        5,732,003          –0 –       8,047,447  

Health Care

       2,035,662        5,149,348          –0 –       7,185,010  

Industrials

       632,045        4,049,948          –0 –       4,681,993  

Materials

       –0 –       2,852,340          –0 –       2,852,340  

Consumer Staples

       –0 –       2,413,872          –0 –       2,413,872  

Consumer Discretionary

       571,773        1,128,213          –0 –       1,699,986  

Energy

       –0 –       863,509          –0 –       863,509  

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

       Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Utilities

     $ –0 –     $ 755,699     $ –0 –     $ 755,699  

Communication Services

       –0 –       480,717       –0 –       480,717  

Short-Term Investments

       3,052,783        –0 –      –0 –       3,052,783  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       84,744        –0 –      –0 –       84,744  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       9,526,551        30,693,326 (a)      –0 –       40,219,877  

Other Financial Instruments(b):

            

Assets:

            

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       215,126       –0 –       215,126  

Liabilities:

            

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       (656,230     –0 –       (656,230
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 9,526,551      $ 30,252,222     $             –0 –     $ 39,778,773  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   A significant portion of the Portfolio’s foreign equity investments are categorized as Level 2 investments since they are valued using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available, see Note A.1.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio is informed of the dividend. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at the fair value of the securities received. 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

 

13


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or bear expenses of the Portfolio in order to reduce the Portfolio’s total operating expenses by an amount equal to 0.05% on an annual basis of the average net assets for Class A and Class B. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such reimbursements/waivers amounted to $11,724. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreement extends through May 1, 2023 and then may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,580.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $769.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 2,635      $ 7,297      $ 6,879      $ 3,053      $ 4  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     1,024        3,900        4,839        85        0 ** 
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

            $ 3,138      $ 4  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

 

**   Amount is less than $500.

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 9,907,415      $ 11,600,391  

U.S. government securities

       –0 –       –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 5,715,552  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (4,679,626
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 1,035,926  
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.

The principal type of derivative utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

 

15


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
Location

  Fair Value  

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 215,126     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 656,230  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 215,126       $ 656,230  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Derivative Type

 

Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives
Within Statement of Operations

  Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
    Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Foreign currency contracts

  Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts   $ 186,139     $ (539,853
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ 186,139     $ (539,853
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 23,533,788  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 16,055,714  

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative
Assets Subject
to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Assets
 

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 4,002      $ (4,002   $             –0 –    $             –0 –    $ –0 – 

BNP Paribas SA

     452        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      452  

Deutsche Bank AG

     42,283        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      42,283  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

     2,264        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      2,264  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     44,743        (44,743     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     118,337        (79,257     –0 –      –0 –      39,080  

UBS AG

     3,045        (3,045     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 215,126      $ (131,047   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 84,079
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Counterparty

   Derivative
Liabilities Subject
to a MA
     Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities
 

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 25,403      $ (4,002   $             –0 –    $             –0 –    $ 21,401  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     268,551        –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      268,551  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

     132,081        (44,743     –0 –      –0 –      87,338  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     79,257        (79,257     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

UBS AG

     150,938        (3,045     –0 –      –0 –      147,893  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 656,230      $ (131,047   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 525,183
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

17


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                Government Money Market
Portfolio
Market Value of
Securities
on Loan*
  Cash Collateral*   Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*
  Income from
Borrowers
  Income
Earned
  Advisory Fee
Waived
$514,635   $84,744   $530,538   $2,289   $158   $34

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    24,375       25,160       $ 563,205     $ 699,611  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      93,984         –0 –      2,543,196  

Shares redeemed

    (53,158     (131,186       (1,212,350     (3,650,448
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (28,783     (12,042     $ (649,145   $ (407,641
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    45,070       69,412       $ 960,202     $ 1,884,980  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      113,359         –0 –      3,008,549  

Shares redeemed

    (78,964     (202,023       (1,739,814     (5,539,221
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (33,894     (19,252     $ (779,612   $ (645,692
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 79% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s growth approach, may underperform the market generally.

Focused Portfolio Risk—Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, than would be the case if the Portfolio were invested in a larger number of companies.

Sector Risk—The Portfolio may have more risk than a more diversified portfolio because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology or financial services sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Portfolio’s investments.

ESG Risk—Applying ESG and sustainability criteria to the investment process may exclude securities of certain issuers for non-investment reasons and, therefore, the Portfolio may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Securities of companies with ESG practices may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, and the Portfolio’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Furthermore, “sustainability” is not a uniformly defined characteristic, and the Portfolio’s sustainability criteria may differ from those used by other funds. In addition, in evaluating an investment, the investment adviser is dependent upon information and data that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could adversely affect the analysis of the ESG and sustainability factors relevant to a particular investment.

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

Currency Risk—Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s 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- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

 

19


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

       2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

       

Ordinary income

     $             –0 –     $ 1,009,224  

Net long-term capital gains

       5,551,745        4,091,499  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

     $ 5,551,745      $ 5,100,723  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed capital gains

   $ 7,065,749  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     19,050,470 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 26,116,219  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

20


 
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $27.11       $27.56       $23.49       $18.99       $23.15       $17.34  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    .11       (.02     (.10     .08       .15       .06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (7.90     2.29       6.65       5.08       (4.16     6.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (7.79     2.27       6.55       5.16       (4.01     6.06  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.34     (.13     (.15     (.25

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (2.72     (2.14     (.53     –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (2.72     (2.48     (.66     (.15     (.25
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $19.32       $27.11       $27.56       $23.49       $18.99       $23.15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (28.73 )%      8.25     29.94     27.53     (17.41 )%      35.02
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $18,425       $26,641       $27,410       $24,123       $21,522       $30,318  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    1.36 %^      1.23     1.31     1.36     1.27     1.24

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    1.41 %^      1.28     1.37     1.41     1.29     1.24

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    1.02 %^      (.09 )%      (.42 )%      .40     .69     .30

Portfolio turnover rate

    22     25     34     49     33     52

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 22.

 

21


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $26.57       $27.12       $23.15       $18.71       $22.80       $17.09  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    .08       (.09     (.15     .03       .09       .01  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (7.75     2.26       6.54       5.00       (4.09     5.90  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (7.67     2.17       6.39       5.03       (4.00     5.91  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      –0 –      (.28     (.06     (.09     (.20

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (2.72     (2.14     (.53     –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (2.72     (2.42     (.59     (.09     (.20
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $18.90       $26.57       $27.12       $23.15       $18.71       $22.80  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (28.87 )%      8.01     29.60     27.23     (17.60 )%      34.63
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $21,350       $30,904       $32,068       $29,756       $28,169       $41,007  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    1.61 %^      1.48     1.56     1.61     1.52     1.49

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    1.66 %^      1.53     1.62     1.66     1.54     1.49

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    .76 %^      (.34 )%      (.67 )%      .15     .43     .04

Portfolio turnover rate

    22     25     34     49     33     52

 

 

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 by .01%.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

22


 
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

23


    
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Sustainable International Thematic Portfolio (formerly AB International Growth Portfolio) (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts

 

24


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s total rate of compensation was above the median.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another fund advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

25


SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL THEMATIC PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was above the medians, after giving effect to a voluntary waiver by the Adviser. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanations of the reasons for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

26


VPS-SIT-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

        

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 820.60      $ 4.02        0.89

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,020.38      $ 4.46        0.89
           

Class B

        

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 819.50      $ 5.14        1.14

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $   1,000      $   1,019.14      $   5.71        1.14

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

Roche Holding AG

   $   12,061,537          4.4

Nestle SA (REG)

     9,460,843          3.4  

Melrose Industries PLC

     7,250,111          2.6  

Shell PLC

     6,985,595          2.5  

British American Tobacco PLC

     6,860,425          2.5  

Repsol SA

     6,818,838          2.5  

EDP—Energias de Portugal SA

     6,017,858          2.2  

Sanofi

     5,849,070          2.1  

Stellantis NV

     5,697,251          2.1  

Airbus SE

     5,363,893          1.9  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   72,365,421          26.2

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Consumer Discretionary

   $   53,297,883          19.3

Financials

     44,885,798          16.3  

Consumer Staples

     37,027,207          13.4  

Industrials

     33,585,695          12.2  

Health Care

     23,827,333          8.7  

Materials

     20,704,151          7.5  

Energy

     16,496,558          6.0  

Communication Services

     14,401,481          5.2  

Information Technology

     10,830,854          3.9  

Utilities

     9,351,167          3.4  

Real Estate

     5,844,364          2.1  

Short-Term Investments

     5,633,449          2.0  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   275,885,940          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details).

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
COUNTRY BREAKDOWN1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

COUNTRY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Japan

   $   56,036,903          20.3

United Kingdom

     49,698,116          18.0  

France

     23,524,789          8.5  

Switzerland

     21,522,381          7.8  

Italy

     12,915,301          4.7  

Germany

     11,956,491          4.3  

Spain

     10,502,640          3.8  

Sweden

     8,926,815          3.2  

Netherlands

     8,620,115          3.1  

Ireland

     8,477,772          3.1  

Portugal

     6,017,858          2.2  

South Korea

     5,698,117          2.1  

United States

     5,697,251          2.1  

Other

     40,657,942          14.8  

Short-Term Investments

     5,633,449          2.0  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   275,885,940          100.0

 

 

 

1   All data are as of June 30, 2022. The Portfolio’s country breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. The Portfolio also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). “Other” country weightings represent 1.9% or less in the following: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Luxembourg, Macau, Norway and South Africa.

 

3


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

COMMON STOCKS–97.8%

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–19.3%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–2.5%

   

Faurecia SE(a)

    185,204     $ 3,711,557  

Pirelli & C SpA(b)(c)

    780,330       3,175,964  
   

 

 

 
      6,887,521  
   

 

 

 

AUTOMOBILES–3.3%

 

Stellantis NV

    458,338       5,697,251  

Suzuki Motor Corp.

    113,300       3,561,916  
   

 

 

 
      9,259,167  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–1.4%

   

Benesse Holdings, Inc.

    237,400       3,841,588  
   

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–2.7%

   

Entain PLC(a)

    285,310       4,341,751  

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.(b)

    521,000       3,121,087  
   

 

 

 
      7,462,838  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–2.8%

   

Persimmon PLC

    140,940       3,206,652  

Sony Group Corp.

    55,300       4,510,089  
   

 

 

 
      7,716,741  
   

 

 

 

LEISURE PRODUCTS–1.1%

   

Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.

    42,400       2,993,141  
   

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–1.3%

   

Kingfisher PLC(b)

    1,199,870       3,585,791  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–4.2%

   

Burberry Group PLC

    219,810       4,409,713  

HUGO BOSS AG

    88,730       4,698,560  

Pandora A/S

    38,450       2,442,823  
   

 

 

 
      11,551,096  
   

 

 

 
      53,297,883  
   

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–16.2%

 

BANKS–13.3%

 

ABN AMRO Bank NV

    304,000       3,415,912  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

    810,950       3,683,802  

Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM

    382,800       3,424,537  

Bank of Ireland Group PLC

    743,781       4,701,129  

BNP Paribas SA

    78,950       3,776,333  

Erste Group Bank AG

    200,040       5,083,269  

KBC Group NV

    81,130       4,564,453  

Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA

    430,330       3,732,093  

NatWest Group PLC

    1,655,180       4,405,694  
   

 

 

 
      36,787,222  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES–1.1%

   

ORIX Corp.

    179,500       3,008,390  
   

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

INSURANCE–1.8%

   

Suncorp Group Ltd.(b)

    667,500     $ 5,090,186  
   

 

 

 
      44,885,798  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–13.4%

   

BEVERAGES–0.9%

   

Carlsberg AS–Class B

    19,350       2,472,983  
   

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–1.0%

   

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV

    104,850       2,729,141  
   

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS–7.1%

   

Morinaga & Co., Ltd./Japan

    72,100       2,310,291  

Nestle SA (REG)

    80,950       9,460,843  

Nomad Foods Ltd.(a)

    131,760       2,633,883  

Salmar ASA

    73,840       5,227,590  
   

 

 

 
      19,632,607  
   

 

 

 

TOBACCO–4.4%

   

British American Tobacco PLC

    160,050       6,860,425  

Swedish Match AB

    522,620       5,332,051  
   

 

 

 
      12,192,476  
   

 

 

 
      37,027,207  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–12.2%

 

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–3.3%

   

Airbus SE

    54,840       5,363,893  

Saab AB–Class B

    86,930       3,594,764  
   

 

 

 
      8,958,657  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–2.4%

   

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

    93,500       3,865,647  

Prysmian SpA

    97,330       2,673,937  
   

 

 

 
      6,539,584  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES–2.6%

   

Melrose Industries PLC

    3,952,630       7,250,111  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–2.3%

 

Alstom SA

    110,050       2,512,939  

Amada Co., Ltd.

    529,000       3,899,949  
   

 

 

 
      6,412,888  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–0.8%

   

UT Group Co., Ltd.

    133,800       2,219,085  
   

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–0.8%

   

Sankyu, Inc.

    76,600       2,205,370  
   

 

 

 
      33,585,695  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–8.6%

   

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–1.1%

   

ConvaTec Group PLC(c)

    1,140,899       3,127,180  
   

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

PHARMACEUTICALS–7.5%

   

Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

    45,700     $ 2,789,546  

Roche Holding AG

    36,080       12,061,537  

Sanofi

    58,000       5,849,070  
   

 

 

 
      20,700,153  
   

 

 

 
      23,827,333  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–7.5%

 

CHEMICALS–2.7%

 

Tosoh Corp.

    402,000       5,000,366  

Zeon Corp.

    257,400       2,496,932  
   

 

 

 
      7,497,298  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS–1.4%

   

CRH PLC

    109,440       3,776,642  
   

 

 

 

METALS & MINING–3.4%

   

Anglo American PLC

    99,820       3,568,422  

ArcelorMittal SA

    132,460       2,970,467  

Endeavour Mining PLC

    139,553       2,891,322  
   

 

 

 
      9,430,211  
   

 

 

 
      20,704,151  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–6.0%

 

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.5%

   

Shell PLC

    269,220       6,985,595  
   

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–3.5%

   

Cameco Corp.

    128,060       2,692,125  

Repsol SA(b)

    462,545       6,818,838  
   

 

 

 
      9,510,963  
   

 

 

 
      16,496,558  
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–5.2%

   

DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.9%

   

Deutsche Telekom AG (REG)

    262,880       5,228,485  
   

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT–1.9%

   

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

    149,800       2,657,666  

Konami Holdings Corp.

    45,900       2,542,928  
   

 

 

 
      5,200,594  
   

 

 

 

INTERACTIVE MEDIA & SERVICES–0.6%

   

Dip Corp.

    59,700       1,661,405  
   

 

 

 

MEDIA–0.8%

   

Criteo SA (Sponsored ADR)(a)

    94,713       2,310,997  
   

 

 

 
      14,401,481  
   

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–3.9%

   

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–0.9%

   

Horiba Ltd.

    62,300       2,657,676  
   

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.9%

   

NXP Semiconductors NV

    16,720     $ 2,475,061  

SK Hynix, Inc.

    39,050       2,757,480  
   

 

 

 
      5,232,541  
   

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE, STORAGE & PERIPHERALS–1.1%

   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

    66,670       2,940,637  
   

 

 

 
      10,830,854  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–3.4%

 

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–3.4%

   

EDP–Energias de Portugal SA

    1,291,294       6,017,858  

Enel SpA

    607,800       3,333,309  
   

 

 

 
      9,351,167  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE–2.1%

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT–2.1%

   

Aroundtown SA

    634,520       2,029,446  

Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.

    44,100       3,814,918  
   

 

 

 
      5,844,364  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $295,750,206)

      270,252,491  
   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–2.1%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–2.1%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(d)(e)(f)
(cost $5,633,449)

    5,633,449       5,633,449  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–99.9%
(cost $301,383,655)

      275,885,940  
   

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.5%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.5%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(d)(e)(f)
(cost $1,398,249)

    1,398,249       1,398,249  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.4%
(cost $302,781,904)

      277,284,189  

Other assets less liabilities–(0.4)%

      (1,053,093
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 276,231,096  
   

 

 

 

 

5


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)

 

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

Bank of America, NA

       USD        950          CHF          909          07/13/2022        $ 2,968  

Bank of America, NA

       JPY        515,741          USD          3,975          07/15/2022          172,079  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        6,378          JPY          827,206          07/15/2022            (278,018

Bank of America, NA

       HKD        9,610          USD          1,227          07/22/2022          1,395  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        446          KRW          574,892          07/27/2022          546  

Bank of America, NA

       EUR        1,564          USD          1,658          07/28/2022          16,174  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        1,567          EUR          1,502          07/28/2022          9,368  

Bank of America, NA

       USD        2,004          EUR          1,878          07/28/2022          (33,211

Bank of America, NA

       GBP        1,116          USD          1,369          08/25/2022          9,484  

Barclays Bank PLC

       USD        1,297          JPY          168,379          07/15/2022          (54,996

BNP Paribas SA

       USD        3,545          SGD          4,849          07/08/2022          (54,630

BNP Paribas SA

       USD        1,676          MXN          33,905          07/20/2022          5,867  

BNP Paribas SA

       ILS        6,931          USD          2,080          07/25/2022          93,966  

BNP Paribas SA

       EUR        734          USD          774          07/28/2022          3,465  

BNP Paribas SA

       NOK        15,877          USD          1,588          09/22/2022          (26,784

Citibank, NA

       EUR        2,555          USD          2,719          07/28/2022          37,467  

Citibank, NA

       USD        687          EUR          653          07/28/2022          (2,442

Credit Suisse International

       AUD        1,402          USD          986          07/21/2022          17,887  

Deutsche Bank AG

       CAD        1,898          USD          1,482          07/21/2022          7,368  

Deutsche Bank AG

       EUR        19,357          USD          20,458          07/28/2022          142,638  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       CHF        1,550          USD          1,558          07/13/2022          (66,522

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        1,234          CHF          1,179          07/13/2022          1,744  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        1,814          JPY          232,651          07/15/2022          (98,764

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       EUR        846          USD          906          07/28/2022          17,813  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       USD        1,317          EUR          1,259          07/28/2022          3,974  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       GBP        908          USD          1,128          08/25/2022          22,322  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

       CAD        817          USD          639          07/21/2022          4,053  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       BRL        9,756          USD          1,863          07/05/2022          (1,619

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,989          BRL          9,756          07/05/2022          (124,788

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        8,827          CHF          8,208          07/13/2022          (225,404

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       JPY        100,037          USD          735          07/15/2022          (2,248

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        3,392          JPY          443,883          07/15/2022          (118,560

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       AUD        1,094          USD          757          07/21/2022          1,312  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       CAD        804          USD          628          07/21/2022          3,764  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        20,339          AUD          28,410          07/21/2022          (726,808

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        1,295          CNH          8,856          07/21/2022          27,682  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        633          KRW          816,972          07/27/2022          655  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       EUR        1,236          USD          1,304          07/28/2022          6,813  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       EUR        861          USD          899          07/28/2022          (4,767

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        848          EUR          805          07/28/2022          (3,193

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       GBP        1,823          USD          2,290          08/25/2022          68,013  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       USD        581          GBP          481          08/25/2022          4,695  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

       SEK        8,015          USD          791          09/22/2022          5,030  

Natwest Markets PLC

       USD        4,814          CHF          4,618          07/13/2022          25,575  

Natwest Markets PLC

       JPY        140,091          USD          1,030          07/15/2022          (3,256

Natwest Markets PLC

       EUR        1,330          USD          1,406          07/28/2022          9,714  

Natwest Markets PLC

       USD        913          EUR          848          07/28/2022          (23,349

Standard Chartered Bank

       BRL        9,756          USD          1,857          07/05/2022          (7,440

Standard Chartered Bank

       USD        1,863          BRL          9,756          07/05/2022          1,619  

 

6


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CHF        1,089          USD          1,136          07/13/2022        $ (4,824

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       JPY        111,360          USD          873          07/15/2022          52,149  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       CAD        96          USD          75          07/21/2022          389  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        865          AUD          1,199          07/21/2022          (37,328

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        339          CAD          443          07/21/2022          5,238  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       EUR        1,905          USD          2,046          07/28/2022          46,579  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        410          EUR          390          07/28/2022          (1,527

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       GBP        754          USD          941          08/25/2022          24,063  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       GBP        602          USD          724          08/25/2022          (9,391

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

       USD        418          GBP          347          08/25/2022          3,810  

UBS AG

       CHF        888          USD          928          07/13/2022          (2,294

UBS AG

       JPY        107,835          USD          813          07/15/2022          18,263  

UBS AG

       AUD        2,561          USD          1,791          07/21/2022          23,242  

UBS AG

       CAD        2,022          USD          1,597          07/21/2022          25,730  

UBS AG

       USD        1,595          CAD          1,994          07/21/2022          (45,422

UBS AG

       KRW        9,081,586          USD          7,286          07/27/2022          237,494  

UBS AG

       USD        315          KRW          394,485          07/27/2022          (9,280

UBS AG

       EUR        491          USD          526          07/28/2022          11,144  

UBS AG

       USD        1,792          EUR          1,699          07/28/2022          (9,332

UBS AG

       USD        1,143          GBP          942          08/25/2022          4,856  

UBS AG

       USD        3,008          SEK          30,628          09/22/2022          (3,746
                           

 

 

 
     $   (801,536
                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration. At June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $6,303,144 or 2.3% of net assets.

 

(d)   Affiliated investments.

 

(e)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(f)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD—Australian Dollar

BRL—Brazilian Real

CAD—Canadian Dollar

CHF—Swiss Franc

CNH—Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)

EUR—Euro

GBP—Great British Pound

HKD—Hong Kong Dollar

ILS—Israeli Shekel

JPY—Japanese Yen

KRW—South Korean Won

MXN—Mexican Peso

NOK—Norwegian Krone

SEK—Swedish Krona

SGD—Singapore Dollar

USD—United States Dollar

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

REG—Registered Shares

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $295,750,206)

   $ 270,252,491 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $7,031,698—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $1,398,249)

     7,031,698  

Foreign currencies, at value (cost $679,623)

     679,085  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     1,351,993  

Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     1,178,407  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     69,178  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     4,002  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     280,566,854  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts

     1,979,943  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     1,398,249  

Cash collateral due to broker

     259,000  

Advisory fee payable

     178,367  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     166,365  

Distribution fee payable

     51,507  

Administrative fee payable

     21,422  

Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions

     652  

Directors’ fees payable

     413  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     89  

Accrued expenses

     279,751  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,335,758  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 276,231,096  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 21,553  

Additional paid-in capital

     297,674,965  

Accumulated loss

     (21,465,422
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 276,231,096  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets       

Shares

Outstanding

      

Net Asset

Value

 
A      $ 37,578,177          2,912,584        $ 12.90  
B      $   238,652,919          18,640,076        $   12.80  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $4,989,812 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $977,016)

   $ 6,932,148  

Affiliated issuers

     10,872  

Securities lending income

     81,718  
  

 

 

 
     7,024,738  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     1,183,969  

Distribution fee—Class B

     341,693  

Transfer agency—Class A

     389  

Transfer agency—Class B

     2,512  

Custody and accounting

     65,328  

Administrative

     42,122  

Printing

     35,943  

Audit and tax

     27,554  

Legal

     18,440  

Directors’ fees

     11,157  

Miscellaneous

     14,761  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,743,868  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (2,821
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     1,741,047  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     5,283,691  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investment transactions(a)

     3,581,801  

Forward currency exchange contracts

     2,452,979  

Foreign currency transactions

     (376,470

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of:

  

Investments

     (71,558,488

Forward currency exchange contracts

     (1,078,600

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (75,901
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment and foreign currency transactions

     (67,054,679
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (61,770,988
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $77,257.

See notes to financial statements.

 

9


 
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

    

Net investment income

   $ 5,283,691     $ 7,387,127  

Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions

     5,658,310       30,673,480  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities

     (72,712,989     (2,073,096
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (61,770,988     35,987,511  

Distributions to Shareholders

    

Class A

     –0 –      (884,118

Class B

     –0 –      (5,171,597

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

    

Net decrease

     (11,909,733     (21,428,971
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (73,680,721     8,502,825  

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of period

     349,911,817       341,408,992  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 276,231,096     $ 349,911,817  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB International Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

11


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

            

Assets:

            

Common Stocks:

            

Consumer Discretionary

     $ –0 –     $ 53,297,883     $             –0 –     $ 53,297,883  

Financials

       –0 –       44,885,798       –0 –       44,885,798  

Consumer Staples

       2,633,883        34,393,324       –0 –       37,027,207  

Industrials

       –0 –       33,585,695       –0 –       33,585,695  

Health Care

       –0 –       23,827,333       –0 –       23,827,333  

Materials

       –0 –       20,704,151       –0 –       20,704,151  

Energy

       2,692,125        13,804,433       –0 –       16,496,558  

Communication Services

       2,310,997        12,090,484       –0 –       14,401,481  

Information Technology

       2,475,061        8,355,793       –0 –       10,830,854  

Utilities

       –0 –       9,351,167       –0 –       9,351,167  

Real Estate

       –0 –       5,844,364       –0 –       5,844,364  

Short-Term Investments

       5,633,449        –0 –      –0 –       5,633,449  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       1,398,249        –0 –      –0 –       1,398,249  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       17,143,764        260,140,425 (a)      –0 –       277,284,189  

Other Financial Instruments(b):

            

Assets:

            

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       1,178,407       –0 –       1,178,407  

Liabilities:

            

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

       –0 –       (1,979,943     –0 –       (1,979,943
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 17,143,764      $ 259,338,889     $ –0 –     $ 276,482,653  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   A significant portion of the Portfolio’s foreign equity investments are categorized as Level 2 investments since they are valued using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available, see Note A.1.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and

 

13


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to 1.20% and 1.45% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no expenses waived by the Adviser.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $42,122.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $2,173.

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 2,076      $ 38,395      $ 34,837      $ 5,634      $ 11  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     3,295        40,530        42,427        1,398        3  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

            $ 7,032      $ 14  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

   $ 53,039,777     $ 61,213,348  

U.S. government securities

     –0 –      –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 23,979,840  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (50,279,091
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (26,299,251
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio 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.

 

15


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The principal type of derivative utilized by the Portfolio, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:

 

   

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

The Portfolio may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.

A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Portfolio. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio held forward currency exchange contracts for non-hedging purposes.

The Portfolio typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Portfolio typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Portfolio’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.

The Portfolio’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Portfolio decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Portfolio’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Portfolio to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Portfolio had entered into the following derivatives:

 

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Liability Derivatives

 

Derivative Type

 

Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value    

Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

Location

  Fair Value  

Foreign currency contracts

  Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 1,178,407     Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts   $ 1,979,943  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    $ 1,178,407       $ 1,979,943  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Derivative Type

  

Location of Gain or
(Loss) on Derivatives Within
Statement of Operations

   Realized Gain or
(Loss) on
Derivatives
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation or
(Depreciation)
 

Foreign currency contracts

   Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts    $ 2,452,979      $ (1,078,600
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 2,452,979      $ (1,078,600
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Portfolio’s derivative transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2022:

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts:

  

Average principal amount of buy contracts

   $ 88,826,257  

Average principal amount of sale contracts

   $ 85,752,793  

For financial reporting purposes, the Portfolio does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.

All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Portfolio as of June 30, 2022. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.

 

Counterparty

  Derivative Assets
Subject to a MA
    Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Received*
    Security Collateral
Received*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Assets
 

Bank of America, NA

  $ 212,014     $ (212,014   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ –0 – 

BNP Paribas SA

    103,298       (81,414     –0 –      –0 –      21,884  

Citibank, NA

    37,467       (2,442     –0 –      –0 –      35,025  

Credit Suisse International

    17,887       –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      17,887  

Deutsche Bank AG

    150,006       –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      150,006  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

    45,853       (45,853     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

    4,053       –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      4,053  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

    117,964       (117,964     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Natwest Markets PLC

    35,289       (26,605     –0 –      –0 –      8,684  

Standard Chartered Bank

    1,619       (1,619     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

    132,228       (53,070     –0 –      –0 –      79,158  

UBS AG

    320,729       (70,074     (250,655     –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,178,407     $ (611,055   $ (250,655   $ –0 –    $ 316,697
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Counterparty

  Derivative Liabilities
Subject to a MA
    Derivatives
Available for
Offset
    Cash Collateral
Pledged*
    Security Collateral
Pledged*
    Net Amount of
Derivative
Liabilities
 

Bank of America, NA

  $ 311,229     $ (212,014   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 99,215  

Barclays Bank PLC

    54,996       –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      54,996  

BNP Paribas SA

    81,414       (81,414     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Citibank, NA

    2,442       (2,442     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

    165,286       (45,853     –0 –      –0 –      119,433  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.

    1,207,387       (117,964     –0 –      –0 –      1,089,423  

Natwest Markets PLC

    26,605       (26,605     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

Standard Chartered Bank

    7,440       (1,619     –0 –      –0 –      5,821  

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

    53,070       (53,070     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 

UBS AG

    70,074       (70,074     –0 –      –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,979,943     $ (611,055   $ –0 –    $ –0 –    $ 1,368,888
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*   The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization.

 

^   Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty.

 

17


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

  Government Money Market  
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income
Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 4,989,812     $ 1,398,249     $ 4,464,148     $ 78,431     $ 3,287     $ 648  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    250,553       303,835       $ 3,816,262     $ 4,730,676  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      57,915         –0 –      884,118  

Shares redeemed

    (211,991     (394,359       (3,051,313     (6,206,137
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    38,562       (32,609     $ 764,949     $ (591,343
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    457,313       1,373,223       $ 6,442,887     $ 21,413,712  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      342,454         –0 –      5,171,597  

Shares redeemed

    (1,329,587     (3,078,043       (19,117,569     (47,422,937
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (872,274     (1,362,366     $ (12,674,682   $ (20,837,628
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 52% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s value approach, 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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

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

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligation to the Portfolio.

Leverage Risk—When the Portfolio borrows money or otherwise leverages its investments, its performance may be volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Portfolio’s investments. The Portfolio may create leverage through the use of reverse repurchase arrangements, forward currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, dollar rolls or futures or by borrowing money. The use of other types of derivative instruments by the Portfolio, such as options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage. Leverage may result in higher returns to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR,

 

19


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 6,055,715      $ 4,857,208  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 6,055,715      $ 4,857,208  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 4,241,740  

Accumulated capital and other losses

     (7,752,674 )(a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     43,816,500 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 40,305,566  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio had a net capital loss carryforward of $7,752,674. During the fiscal year, the Portfolio utilized $29,545,586 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains.

 

(b)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments, the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio had a net long-term capital loss carryforward of $7,752,674, which may be carried forward for an indefinite period.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

21


 
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $15.72       $14.45       $14.37       $12.38       $16.30       $13.28  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .26       .37       .18       .28       .25       .31  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (3.08     1.22       .14       1.84       (3.94     3.06  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (2.82     1.59       .32       2.12       (3.69     3.37  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.32     (.24     (.13     (.23     (.35
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.90       $15.72       $14.45       $14.37       $12.38       $16.30  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (17.94 )%      11.08     2.46     17.14     (22.79 )%      25.42
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $37,578       $45,175       $41,994       $54,042       $57,234       $53,014  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    .89 %^      .90     .91     .90     .86     .85

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    .89 %^      .90     .92     .90     .87     .86

Net investment income (b)

    3.58 %^      2.34     1.47     2.10     1.65     2.05

Portfolio turnover rate

    17     43     54     44     42     45

 

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 23.

 

22


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $15.62       $14.34       $14.24       $12.29       $16.15       $13.16  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .24       .32       .14       .24       .23       .27  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions

    (3.06     1.23       .15       1.82       (3.92     3.02  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (2.82     1.55       .29       2.06       (3.69     3.29  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.27     (.19     (.11     (.17     (.30
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $12.80       $15.62       $14.34       $14.24       $12.29       $16.15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (18.05 )%      10.86     2.21     16.79     (22.98 )%      25.09
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $238,653       $304,737       $299,415       $323,582       $309,576       $432,885  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    1.14 %^      1.15     1.16     1.15     1.11     1.10

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    1.14 %^      1.15     1.17     1.15     1.11     1.11

Net investment income (b)

    3.31 %^      2.08     1.18     1.84     1.50     1.83

Portfolio turnover rate

    17     43     54     44     42     45

 

 

 

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017 by .04%, .18% and .01%, respectively.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

23


 
 
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

24


 
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB International Value Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous

 

25


INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Fund’s underperformance in the periods reviewed, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s total compensation was equal to the median.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with those for two other funds advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the

 

26


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The Adviser had agreed to cap the Fund’s expenses, but the directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was currently below the level of the Adviser’s cap. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was above a median. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanations of the reasons for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

27


VPS-IV-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS

SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $   1,000      $ 715.40      $ 2.76        0.65

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $   1,021.57      $   3.26        0.65
           

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 714.60      $ 3.83        0.90

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,020.33      $ 4.51        0.90

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

Microsoft Corp.

   $ 57,715,351          9.7

Alphabet, Inc.—Class C

     48,977,005          8.2  

Visa, Inc.—Class A

     31,043,056          5.2  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     30,236,884          5.1  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     25,933,264          4.4  

Zoetis, Inc.

     24,128,715          4.1  

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     23,255,001          3.9  

Amazon.com, Inc.

     22,345,522          3.8  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     19,814,394          3.3  

Monster Beverage Corp.

     17,665,931          3.0  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   301,115,123          50.7

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Information Technology

   $   252,363,625          42.2

Health Care

     137,600,723          23.0  

Consumer Discretionary

     67,851,307          11.4  

Communication Services

     54,708,798          9.2  

Consumer Staples

     37,480,325          6.3  

Industrials

     23,705,985          3.9  

Materials

     4,336,465          0.7  

Short-Term Investments

     19,420,678          3.3  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   597,467,906          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time.

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

COMMON STOCKS–97.0%

 

 
   

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–42.3%

   

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–2.7%

   

Arista Networks, Inc.(a)

    112,631     $ 10,558,030  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    26,646       5,585,002  
   

 

 

 
      16,143,032  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–2.7%

   

Amphenol Corp.–Class A

    105,082       6,765,179  

Cognex Corp.

    46,157       1,962,596  

Zebra Technologies Corp.–Class A(a)

    24,582       7,225,879  
   

 

 

 
      15,953,654  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–6.9%

   

EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)

    29,219       8,613,177  

PayPal Holdings, Inc.(a)

    24,272       1,695,156  

Visa, Inc.–Class A(b)

    157,667       31,043,056  
   

 

 

 
      41,351,389  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–9.9%

   

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(a)

    115,248       8,813,014  

ASML Holding NV

    8,650       4,116,362  

Entegris, Inc.

    72,051       6,638,059  

NVIDIA Corp.

    88,146       13,362,052  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    203,016       25,933,264  
   

 

 

 
      58,862,751  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–20.1%

   

Adobe, Inc.(a)

    38,761       14,188,852  

Atlassian Corp. PLC–Class A(a)

    13,319       2,495,981  

Autodesk, Inc.(a)

    32,009       5,504,268  

Fortinet, Inc.(a)

    205,850       11,646,993  

Manhattan Associates, Inc.(a)

    20,753       2,378,294  

Microsoft Corp.

    224,722       57,715,351  

PTC, Inc.(a)

    52,692       5,603,267  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

    28,124       11,099,136  

ServiceNow, Inc.(a)

    8,620       4,098,982  

Tyler Technologies, Inc.(a)

    16,006       5,321,675  
   

 

 

 
      120,052,799  
   

 

 

 
      252,363,625  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–23.1%

   

BIOTECHNOLOGY–3.9%

   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    82,526       23,255,001  
   

 

 

 

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–7.6%

   

ABIOMED, Inc.(a)

    11,093     $ 2,745,628  

Align Technology, Inc.(a)

    16,685       3,948,839  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)

    150,973       14,356,023  

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)

    27,960       9,806,411  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

    71,816       14,414,189  
   

 

 

 
      45,271,090  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–5.1%

   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    58,869       30,236,884  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–1.6%

   

Veeva Systems, Inc.–Class A(a)

    48,117       9,529,091  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–0.9%

   

Illumina, Inc.(a)

    8,500       1,567,060  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(a)

    3,145       3,612,882  
   

 

 

 
      5,179,942  
   

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–4.0%

   

Zoetis, Inc.

    140,373       24,128,715  
   

 

 

 
      137,600,723  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–11.4%

   

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–0.9%

   

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(a)

    4,196       5,485,263  
   

 

 

 

INTERNET & DIRECT MARKETING RETAIL–4.5%

   

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

    210,390       22,345,522  

Etsy, Inc.(a)

    63,155       4,623,577  
   

 

 

 
      26,969,099  
   

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–3.2%

   

Burlington Stores, Inc.(a)

    14,451       1,968,660  

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    61,630       16,903,260  
   

 

 

 
      18,871,920  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–2.8%

   

NIKE, Inc.–Class B

    161,693       16,525,025  
   

 

 

 
      67,851,307  
   

 

 

 

 

3


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–9.2%

   

INTERACTIVE MEDIA & SERVICES–9.2%

   

Alphabet, Inc.–Class C(a)

    22,390     $ 48,977,005  

Meta Platforms, Inc.–Class A(a)

    35,546       5,731,793  
   

 

 

 
      54,708,798  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–6.3%

 

 

BEVERAGES–3.0%

   

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

    190,571       17,665,931  
   

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–3.3%

   

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    41,342       19,814,394  
   

 

 

 
      37,480,325  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–4.0%

   

BUILDING PRODUCTS–0.5%

   

Trex Co., Inc.(a)

    51,054       2,778,359  
   

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–1.9%

   

Copart, Inc.(a)

    102,731       11,162,750  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–0.8%

   

AMETEK, Inc.

    45,300       4,978,017  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–0.8%

   

IDEX Corp.

    26,355       4,786,859  
   

 

 

 
      23,705,985  
   

 

 

 

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                                   

MATERIALS–0.7%

   

CHEMICALS–0.7%

   

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

    19,367     $ 4,336,465  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $378,021,545)

   

 

578,047,228

 

   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–3.3%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–3.3%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB,
1.30%(c)(d)(e)
(cost $19,420,678)

    19,420,678       19,420,678  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.3%
(cost $397,442,223)

      597,467,906  

Other assets less liabilities–(0.3)%

      (1,763,518
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $   595,704,388  
   

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Affiliated investments.

 

(d)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(e)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

See notes to financial statements.

 

4


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $378,021,545)

   $ 578,047,228 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $19,420,678)

     19,420,678  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     229,598  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     97,461  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     16,583  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     597,811,548  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payable for investment securities purchased

     1,414,823  

Advisory fee payable

     299,494  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     98,866  

Distribution fee payable

     69,981  

Administrative fee payable

     21,127  

Directors’ fees payable

     928  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     91  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     201,850  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,107,160  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 595,704,388  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 9,384  

Additional paid-in capital

     282,321,381  

Distributable earnings

     313,373,623  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 595,704,388  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $   263,017,762          3,949,204        $ 66.60  
B      $ 332,686,626          5,434,667        $   61.22  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $29,822,338 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

5


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $5,777)

   $ 1,720,219  

Affiliated issuers

     34,675  

Securities lending income

     23,164  
  

 

 

 
     1,778,058  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     2,099,721  

Distribution fee—Class B

     488,150  

Transfer agency—Class A

     1,772  

Transfer agency—Class B

     2,238  

Custody and accounting

     50,023  

Administrative

     41,581  

Legal

     28,716  

Audit and tax

     19,849  

Printing

     17,286  

Directors’ fees

     14,118  

Miscellaneous

     11,891  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     2,775,345  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B)

     (10,902
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     2,764,443  
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (986,385
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     33,307,435  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (277,519,490
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment transactions

     (244,212,055
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (245,198,440
  

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


 
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

    

Net investment loss

   $ (986,385   $ (2,891,775

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     33,307,435       83,376,380  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (277,519,490     123,567,078  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (245,198,440     204,051,683  

Distributions to Shareholders

    

Class A

     –0 –      (24,139,212

Class B

     –0 –      (32,992,991

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (38,258,901     (12,320,424
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (283,457,341     134,599,056  

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     879,161,729       744,562,673  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 595,704,388     $ 879,161,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

8


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

             

Assets:

             

Common Stocks(a)

     $ 578,047,228      $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 578,047,228  

Short-Term Investments

       19,420,678                    –0 –                   –0 –       19,420,678  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       597,467,906        –0 –       –0 –       597,467,906  

Other Financial Instruments(b)

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

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 597,467,906      $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 597,467,906  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

 

9


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .60% of the first $2.5 billion, .50% of the next $2.5 billion and .45% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,581.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $10,902.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 40,409      $ 81,813      $ 102,801      $ 19,421      $ 35  

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.    

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

   $ 123,450,761     $ 140,807,009  

U.S. government securities

     –0 –      –0 – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 225,345,076  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (25,319,393
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 200,025,683  
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio 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 Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The

 

11


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

    Government Money Market    
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 29,822,338     $ –0 –    $ 30,826,922     $ 23,164     $ –0 –    $ –0 – 

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    75,285       286,696       $ 5,653,065     $ 24,946,001  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      275,153         –0 –      24,139,212  

Shares redeemed

    (305,379     (681,760       (23,917,063     (58,481,060
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (230,094     (119,911     $ (18,263,998   $ (9,395,847
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    273,421       433,548       $ 19,273,816     $ 33,926,340  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      408,228         –0 –      32,992,991  

Shares redeemed

    (559,696     (897,846       (39,268,719     (69,843,908
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (286,275     (56,070     $ (19,994,903   $ (2,924,577
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 68% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s growth approach, may underperform the market generally.

Focused Portfolio Risk—Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Portfolio’s net asset value, or NAV, than would be the case if the Portfolio were invested in a larger number of companies.

Sector Risk—The Portfolio may have more risk than a more diversified portfolio because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology or health care sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Portfolio’s investments.

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their

 

13


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income

   $ 830,314      $ 2,813,054  

Net long-term capital gains

     56,301,889        47,581,253  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

   $ 57,132,203      $ 50,394,307  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed capital gains

   $ 81,212,377  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     477,359,685 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 558,572,062  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

15


 
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $93.09       $77.09       $61.26       $51.75       $56.34       $45.22  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (loss) (a)(b)

    (.05     (.19     (.06     .05       .02       .02  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (26.44     22.16       21.18       17.18       2.09       14.10  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (26.49     21.97       21.12       17.23       2.11       14.12  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (5.97     (5.29     (7.72     (6.70     (3.00
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $66.60       $93.09       $77.09       $61.26       $51.75       $56.34  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (28.46 )%      28.98     35.49     34.70     2.58     31.98
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

    $263,018       $389,051       $331,436       $264,234       $190,899       $208,392  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .65 %^      .65     .66     .67     .68     .70

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .65 %^      .65     .67     .68     .68     .70

Net investment income (loss) (b)

    (.14 )%^      (.22 )%      (.08 )%      .09     .04     .03

Portfolio turnover rate

    18     17     33     38     46     48
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .01     .00     .00

 

 

See footnote summary on page 17.

 

16


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $85.67       $71.51       $57.28       $48.91       $53.70       $43.32  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss (a)(b)

    (.14     (.37     (.21     (.09     (.12     (.11

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (24.31     20.50       19.73       16.18       2.03       13.49  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (24.45     20.13       19.52       16.09       1.91       13.38  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (5.97     (5.29     (7.72     (6.70     (3.00
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $61.22       $85.67       $71.51       $57.28       $48.91       $53.70  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (28.54 )%      28.65     35.15     34.37     2.32     31.67
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

    $332,686       $490,111       $413,127       $322,688       $218,027       $220,934  

Ratio to average net assets of:

 

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .90 %^      .90     .91     .92     .93     .95

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (d)‡

    .90 %^      .90     .92     .93     .93     .95

Net investment loss (b)

    (.39 )%^      (.47 )%      (.33 )%      (.16 )%      (.21 )%      (.21 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    18     17     33     38     46     48
           

‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying

  

portfolios

    .00 %^      .00     .01     .01     .00     .00

 

 

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(d)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, such waiver amounted to .01% and .01%, respectively.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017 by .04% and .03%, respectively.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

17


 
 
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

18


 
LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the

 

19


LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another funds advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

21


VPS-LCG-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO

 

 

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each classes’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $   1,000      $ 610.40      $   3.59        0.90

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $   1,020.33      $ 4.51        0.90
           

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 609.40      $ 4.59        1.15

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,019.09      $ 5.76        1.15

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE                PERCENT OF NET ASSETS           

Novanta, Inc.

   $   900,066          1.8

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.

     855,447          1.7  

John Bean Technologies Corp.

     850,234          1.7  

Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (The)

     846,674          1.7  

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

     837,697          1.7  

Matador Resources Co.

     829,908          1.6  

Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.

     823,862          1.6  

Insperity, Inc.

     813,714          1.6  

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

     798,006          1.6  

Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

     788,895          1.6  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   8,344,503          16.6

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Information Technology

   $ 12,233,054          24.2

Health Care

     9,833,773          19.5  

Industrials

     8,358,636          16.6  

Consumer Discretionary

     7,959,069          15.8  

Financials

     5,042,288          10.0  

Energy

     2,899,672          5.7  

Consumer Staples

     1,965,167          3.9  

Materials

     699,660          1.3  

Short-Term Investments

     1,512,788          3.0  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   50,504,107          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time.

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company   Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                            

COMMON STOCKS–97.1%

 

   

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–24.2%

   

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–4.1%

   

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.(a)

    22,981     $ 475,477  

Littelfuse, Inc.

    2,667       677,524  

Novanta, Inc.(a)

    7,422       900,066  
   

 

 

 
      2,053,067  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–3.3%

 

BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.(a)

    20,710       335,502  

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.(a)

    10,060       416,082  

Shift4 Payments, Inc.–Class A(a)(b)

    11,932       394,472  

Switch, Inc.–Class A

    16,499       552,716  
   

 

 

 
      1,698,772  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–7.4%

   

Lattice Semiconductor Corp.(a)

    15,230       738,655  

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.(a)

    15,678       722,756  

Onto Innovation, Inc.(a)

    7,064       492,643  

Semtech Corp.(a)

    8,181       449,710  

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(a)

    5,038       706,428  

Synaptics, Inc.(a)

    5,315       627,436  
   

 

 

 
      3,737,628  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–9.4%

 

Blackline, Inc.(a)

    10,480       697,968  

Braze, Inc.–Class A(a)

    12,688       459,686  

Elastic NV(a)

    6,140       415,494  

Enfusion, Inc.–Class A(a)

    19,581       199,922  

Manhattan Associates, Inc.(a)

    6,681       765,642  

Monday.com Ltd.(a)

    4,006       413,259  

Rapid7, Inc.(a)

    10,892       727,586  

Smartsheet, Inc.–Class A(a)

    13,746       432,037  

Varonis Systems, Inc.(a)

    21,555       631,993  
   

 

 

 
      4,743,587  
   

 

 

 
      12,233,054  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–19.5%

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY–8.2%

 

ADC Therapeutics SA(a)

    13,340       106,053  

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    11,299       397,838  

Ascendis Pharma A/S (ADR)(a)

    2,865       266,330  

Blueprint Medicines Corp.(a)

    6,750       340,943  

Coherus Biosciences, Inc.(a)

    25,008       181,058  

Erasca, Inc.(a)(b)

    18,450       102,767  

Insmed, Inc.(a)

    17,569       346,461  

Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

    7,432       384,680  

iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

    4,760       98,056  

Legend Biotech Corp. (ADR)(a)

    5,534       304,370  

Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.–Class A(a)

    25,457       207,220  

Relay Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)

    13,603       227,850  

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a)

    4,228       252,242  
    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                            

Vir Biotechnology, Inc.(a)

    11,829     $ 301,285  

Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.(a)

    20,664       312,646  

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

    10,087       283,445  
   

 

 

 
      4,113,244  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–5.5%

   

AtriCure, Inc.(a)

    16,884       689,880  

iRhythm Technologies, Inc.(a)

    4,834       522,217  

Silk Road Medical, Inc.(a)

    15,836       576,272  

Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.(a)

    9,953       589,118  

Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.(a)

    25,982       372,582  
   

 

 

 
      2,750,069  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–2.5%

   

Certara, Inc.(a)

    24,506       525,899  

Inari Medical, Inc.(a)

    11,142       757,544  
   

 

 

 
      1,283,443  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–1.0%

   

Health Catalyst, Inc.(a)

    34,144       494,747  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–1.3%

   

Repligen Corp.(a)

    4,115       668,276  
   

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS–1.0%

   

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.(a)

    9,180       523,994  
   

 

 

 
      9,833,773  
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS–16.6%

 

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–2.3%

 

Axon Enterprise, Inc.(a)

    6,763       630,109  

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

    4,160       549,369  
   

 

 

 
      1,179,478  
   

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–2.0%

 

AZEK Co., Inc. (The)(a)

    23,428       392,185  

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

    5,983       601,949  
   

 

 

 
      994,134  
   

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–1.5%

   

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    5,632       769,050  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–1.2%

   

Hayward Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)

    41,151       592,163  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–4.0%

   

ITT, Inc.

    8,685       583,980  

John Bean Technologies Corp.

    7,700       850,234  

Middleby Corp. (The)(a)

    4,425       554,718  
   

 

 

 
      1,988,932  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–1.6%

   

Insperity, Inc.

    8,151       813,714  
   

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–1.5%

   

Saia, Inc.(a)

    4,126       775,688  
   

 

 

 

 

3


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                            

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–2.5%

   

Herc Holdings, Inc.

    7,733     $ 697,130  

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.(a)

    4,613       548,347  
   

 

 

 
      1,245,477  
   

 

 

 
      8,358,636  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–15.8%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–1.7%

   

Fox Factory Holding Corp.(a)

    10,401       837,697  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–0.6%

   

European Wax Center, Inc.–Class A

    18,318       322,763  
   

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–5.6%

   

Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.(a)

    23,058       823,862  

Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.(a)

    39,197       504,858  

Planet Fitness, Inc.–Class A(a)

    10,993       747,634  

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

    10,390       760,548  
   

 

 

 
      2,836,902  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–2.1%

   

Lovesac Co. (The)(a)

    11,781       323,978  

Skyline Champion Corp.(a)

    15,255       723,392  
   

 

 

 
      1,047,370  
   

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL–1.7%

 

Driven Brands Holdings, Inc.(a)

    31,062       855,447  
   

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL–4.1%

 

Five Below, Inc.(a)

    3,947       447,708  

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.–Class A(a)

    6,702       421,958  

Lithia Motors, Inc.

    2,675       735,117  

National Vision Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)

    16,513       454,107  
   

 

 

 
      2,058,890  
   

 

 

 
      7,959,069  
   

 

 

 

FINANCIALS–10.0%

 

BANKS–2.4%

 

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

    20,321       798,006  

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.

    11,399       386,312  
   

 

 

 
      1,184,318  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–4.5%

 

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

    8,841       697,820  

P10, Inc.–Class A

    22,891       254,548  

StepStone Group, Inc.–Class A

    24,736       643,878  

Stifel Financial Corp.

    12,134       679,747  
   

 

 

 
      2,275,993  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER FINANCE–0.4%

 

Fisker, Inc.(a)(b)

    24,976       214,044  
   

 

 

 
    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                            

INSURANCE–2.7%

 

Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.(a)

    20,130     $ 788,895  

Trupanion, Inc.(a)

    9,609       579,038  
   

 

 

 
      1,367,933  
   

 

 

 
      5,042,288  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–5.7%

 

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–2.7%

   

ChampionX Corp.

    36,158       717,736  

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    15,120       651,067  
   

 

 

 
      1,368,803  
   

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–3.0%

   

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp.–Class A

    33,395       700,961  

Matador Resources Co.

    17,813       829,908  
   

 

 

 
      1,530,869  
   

 

 

 
      2,899,672  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–3.9%

   

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING–2.6%

   

Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (The)(a)

    21,771       846,674  

Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.(a)

    10,670       454,862  
   

 

 

 
      1,301,536  
   

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS–1.3%

 

Freshpet, Inc.(a)

    9,631       499,752  

Vital Farms, Inc.(a)

    18,729       163,879  
   

 

 

 
      663,631  
   

 

 

 
      1,965,167  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–1.4%

 

CHEMICALS–1.1%

 

Element Solutions, Inc.

    31,311       557,336  
   

 

 

 

CONTAINERS & PACKAGING–0.3%

   

Ranpak Holdings Corp.(a)

    20,332       142,324  
   

 

 

 
      699,660  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $54,264,731)

      48,991,319  
   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–3.0%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–3.0%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(c)(d)(e) (cost $1,512,788)

    1,512,788       1,512,788  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–100.1%
(cost $55,777,519)

      50,504,107  
   

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

    
    
    
Company
  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                                            

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED–0.6%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.6%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(c)(d)(e)
(cost $299,766)

    299,766     $ 299,766  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–100.7%
(cost $56,077,285)

      50,803,873  

Other assets less liabilities–(0.7)%

      (339,257
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 50,464,616  
   

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Affiliated investments.

 

(d)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(e)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

See notes to financial statements.

 

5


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

  

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $54,264,731)

   $ 48,991,319 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $1,812,554—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $299,766)

     1,812,554  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     151,354  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     133,851  

Unaffiliated dividends receivable

     12,610  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     1,372  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     51,103,060  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     299,766  

Payable for investment securities purchased

     154,521  

Custody and accounting fees payable

     77,010  

Administrative fee payable

     21,128  

Advisory fee payable

     15,622  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     11,027  

Distribution fee payable

     6,873  

Directors’ fees payable

     452  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     91  

Accrued expenses

     51,954  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     638,444  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 50,464,616  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

  

Capital stock, at par

   $ 3,666  

Additional paid-in capital

     34,030,665  

Distributable earnings

     16,430,285  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 50,464,616  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $   18,202,901          1,186,658        $   15.34  
B      $ 32,261,715          2,478,861        $ 13.01  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $1,555,022 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers

   $ 108,981  

Affiliated issuers

     2,474  

Securities lending income

     11,900  
  

 

 

 
     123,355  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     233,750  

Distribution fee—Class B

     49,544  

Transfer agency—Class A

     738  

Transfer agency—Class B

     1,286  

Custody and accounting

     45,439  

Administrative

     41,580  

Audit and tax

     19,909  

Printing

     18,811  

Legal

     12,661  

Directors’ fees

     9,597  

Miscellaneous

     4,292  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     437,607  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (108,222
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     329,385  
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (206,030
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSS ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized loss on investment transactions

     (2,746,627

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (30,005,986
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment transactions

     (32,752,613
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (32,958,643
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


 
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

    

Net investment loss

   $ (206,030   $ (923,010

Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     (2,746,627     27,157,393  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (30,005,986     (16,424,739
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (32,958,643     9,809,644  

Distributions to Shareholders

    

Class A

     –0 –      (6,896,383

Class B

     –0 –      (12,934,512

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

    

Net decrease

     (2,950,673     (22,734,728
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease

     (35,909,316     (32,755,979

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of period

     86,373,932       119,129,911  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 50,464,616     $ 86,373,932  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

The Portfolio may (i) make additional exceptions that, in the Adviser’s judgment, do not adversely affect the Adviser’s ability to manage the Portfolio; (ii) reject any investment or refuse any exception, including those detailed above, that the Adviser believes will adversely affect its ability to manage the Portfolio; and (iii) close and/or reopen the Portfolio to new or existing Contractholders at any time.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

 

9


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

       Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

             

Assets:

 

Common Stocks(a)

     $ 48,991,319      $             –0 –     $             –0 –     $ 48,991,319  

Short-Term Investments

       1,512,788        –0 –       –0 –       1,512,788  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

       299,766        –0 –       –0 –       299,766  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

       50,803,873        –0 –       –0 –       50,803,873  

Other Financial Instruments(b)

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

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 50,803,873      $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 50,803,873  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses (excluding expenses associated with acquired fund fees and expenses other than the advisory fees of any AB mutual funds in which the Portfolio may invest, interest expense, taxes, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage commissions and other transaction costs) on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to .90% and 1.15% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such

 

11


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

reimbursements/waivers amounted to $107,564. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreement extends through May 1, 2023 and then may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $41,580.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $614.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
    Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 540     $ 8,910      $ 7,937      $ 1,513      $ 2  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     –0 –      5,010        4,710        300        1  
          

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           $ 1,813      $ 3  
          

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 17,468,307      $ 21,689,389  

U.S. government securities

       –0 –       –0 – 

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 5,187,500  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (10,460,912
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (5,273,412
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio 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 Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

13


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

  Government Money Market  
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 1,555,022     $ 299,766     $ 1,325,084     $ 11,340     $ 560     $ 44  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

         

Shares sold

    53,387       66,661       $ 980,770     $ 1,842,053  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      276,519         –0 –      6,896,383  

Shares redeemed

    (151,899     (251,156       (2,989,930     (7,040,357
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

    (98,512     92,024       $ (2,009,160   $ 1,698,079  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

         

Shares sold

    340,290       739,631       $ 5,285,840     $ 18,335,639  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    –0 –      609,831         –0 –      12,934,512  

Shares redeemed

    (394,797     (2,160,255       (6,227,353     (55,702,958
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (54,507     (810,793     $ (941,513   $ (24,432,807
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 67% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s growth approach, may underperform the market generally.

Sector Risk—The Portfolio may have more risk than a more diversified portfolio because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology or health care sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Portfolio’s investments.

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

       2021        2020  

Distributions paid from:

         

Ordinary income

     $ 2,673,240        $ –0 – 

Net long-term capital gains

       17,157,655          7,088,231  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

     $ 19,830,895        $ 7,088,231  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

15


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 3,793,099  

Undistributed capital gains

     22,091,262  

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     23,504,567 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 49,388,928  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

16


 
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.13       $28.76       $19.92       $16.58       $17.53       $13.07  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss (a)(b)

    (.05     (.20     (.13     (.08     (.13     (.18

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (9.74     2.87       10.49       6.02       .14 (c)      4.64  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (d)      –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (9.79     2.67       10.36       5.94       .01       4.46  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (6.30     (1.52     (2.60     (.96     –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $15.34       $25.13       $28.76       $19.92       $16.58       $17.53  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (e)*

    (38.96 )%      9.46     53.98     36.40     (.89 )%      34.12
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $18,203       $32,295       $34,314       $27,167       $22,724       $26,039  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (f)(g)

    .90 %^      .91     .90     .90     1.06     1.38

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (f)(g)

    1.24 %^      1.08     1.09     1.16     1.15     1.38

Net investment loss (b)

    (.50 )%^      (.71 )%      (.60 )%      (.39 )%      (.65 )%      (1.19 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    28     67     103     69     73     69

 

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 19.

 

17


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.35       $25.36       $17.75       $15.03       $16.00       $11.96  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment loss (a)(b)

    (.06     (.24     (.16     (.11     (.16     (.20

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (8.28     2.53       9.29       5.43       .15 (c)      4.24  

Contributions from Affiliates

    –0 –      –0 –      –0 –      .00 (d)      –0 –      –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (8.34     2.29       9.13       5.32       (.01     4.04  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Distributions

           

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      (6.30     (1.52     (2.60     (.96     –0 – 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $13.01       $21.35       $25.36       $17.75       $15.03       $16.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (e)*

    (39.06 )%      9.20     53.64     36.01     (1.11 )%      33.78
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $32,262       $54,079       $84,816       $50,978       $40,096       $23,396  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements (f)(g)

    1.15 %^      1.15     1.15     1.15     1.30     1.61

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements (f)(g)

    1.50 %^      1.31     1.33     1.42     1.40     1.62

Net investment loss (b)

    (.75 )%^      (.96 )%      (.84 )%      (.64 )%      (.88 )%      (1.42 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    28     67     103     69     73     69

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 19.

 

18


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Due to timing of sales and repurchase of capital shares, the net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share is not in accordance with the Portfolio’s change in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions for the period.

 

(d)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(e)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(f)   In connection with the Portfolio’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Portfolio incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, such waiver amounted to .01% and .01%, respectively.

 

(g)   The expense ratios presented below exclude interest/bank overdraft expense:

 

    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021      2020      2019      2018      2017  

Class A

               

Net of waivers/reimbursements

    .90 %^      .90      .90      .90      1.06      1.38

Before waivers/reimbursements

    1.24 %^      1.07      1.09      1.16      1.15      1.38

Class B

               

Net of waivers/reimbursements

    1.15 %^      1.15      1.15      1.15      1.30      1.61

Before waivers/reimbursements

    1.50 %^      1.31      1.33      1.42      1.40      1.62

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 by .03%, .05% and .03%, respectively.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

19


 
 
SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

20


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in-person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous

 

21


SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s total rate of compensation was equal to the median.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with those for two other funds advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

22


 
 
    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year and the directors considered the Adviser’s expense cap for the Fund. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was above a median. After reviewing and discussing the Adviser’s explanation for this, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

23


VPS-SCG-0152-0622


JUN    06.30.22

 

LOGO

 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

AB VARIABLE PRODUCTS

SERIES FUND, INC.

 

+  

SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

As of May 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you may not be receiving paper copies of the Portfolio’s shareholder reports from the insurance company that offers your contract unless you specifically requested paper copies from the insurance company or from your financial intermediary. Instead of delivering paper copies of the reports, the insurance company may choose to make the reports available on a website, and will notify you by mail each time a report is posted and provide you with a website link to access the report. Instructions for requesting paper copies will be provided by your insurance company.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge from the insurance company. You can inform the insurance company or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions provided by the insurance company or by contacting your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies available under your contract with the insurance company.


 

 

 

Investment Products Offered

 

   

Are Not FDIC Insured

   

May Lose Value

   

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

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

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

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


 
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
EXPENSE EXAMPLE (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds. The estimate of expenses does not include fees or other expenses of any variable insurance product. If such expenses were included, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher and your ending account value would be lower.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the second line of each class’ table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2022
     Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2022
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
     Annualized
Expense Ratio*
 

Class A

        

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 802.60      $ 3.58        0.80

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $ 1,000      $ 1,020.83      $ 4.01        0.80
           

Class B

        

Actual

   $ 1,000      $ 801.90      $ 4.69        1.05

Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)

   $   1,000      $   1,019.59      $   5.26        1.05

 

 

 

*   Expenses are equal to each classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

1


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS1  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

 

COMPANY    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF NET ASSETS  

IDACORP, Inc.

   $ 11,582,776          1.8

Physicians Realty Trust

     11,344,612          1.7  

Berry Global Group, Inc.

     11,161,313          1.7  

First Citizens BancShares, Inc./NC—Class A

     10,852,748          1.7  

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.

     10,709,211          1.7  

Change Healthcare, Inc.

     10,560,096          1.6  

Comerica, Inc.

     10,017,838          1.5  

Syneos Health, Inc.

     10,006,528          1.5  

Camden Property Trust

     9,899,476          1.5  

Dycom Industries, Inc.

     9,770,037          1.5  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $   105,904,635          16.2

SECTOR BREAKDOWN2

June 30, 2022 (unaudited)

 

 

SECTOR    U.S. $ VALUE        PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS  

Industrials

   $ 142,197,307          21.5

Financials

     129,539,852          19.6  

Consumer Discretionary

     95,547,217          14.5  

Health Care

     58,390,981          8.9  

Information Technology

     54,031,278          8.2  

Real Estate

     50,155,032          7.6  

Materials

     44,567,399          6.8  

Energy

     33,907,728          5.1  

Utilities

     19,147,415          2.9  

Consumer Staples

     16,427,109          2.5  

Communication Services

     6,804,404          1.0  

Short-Term Investments

     9,352,131          1.4  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $   660,067,853          100.0

 

 

 

1   Long-term investments.

 

2   The Portfolio’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time.

Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Portfolio’s prospectus.

 

2


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                              

COMMON STOCKS–99.8%

   
   

INDUSTRIALS–21.8%

   

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE–1.2%

   

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.–Class A

    258,060     $ 7,561,158  
   

 

 

 

AIRLINES–0.7%

   

SkyWest, Inc.(a)

    207,274       4,404,572  
   

 

 

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS–1.0%

   

Masonite International Corp.(a)

    82,949       6,372,972  
   

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES–0.9%

   

MillerKnoll, Inc.

    232,730       6,113,817  
   

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING–5.1%

   

AECOM

    145,380       9,481,684  

Arcosa, Inc.

    153,797       7,140,795  

Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)

    105,009       9,770,037  

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.(a)

    215,600       6,989,752  
   

 

 

 
      33,382,268  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT–3.0%

   

Regal Rexnord Corp.

    60,145       6,827,660  

Sensata Technologies Holding PLC

    169,150       6,987,587  

Vertiv Holdings Co.

    719,350       5,913,057  
   

 

 

 
      19,728,304  
   

 

 

 

MACHINERY–1.8%

   

Oshkosh Corp.

    76,290       6,266,460  

Timken Co. (The)

    106,480       5,648,764  
   

 

 

 
      11,915,224  
   

 

 

 

MARINE–2.2%

   

Kirby Corp.(a)

    142,146       8,648,163  

Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

    238,400       5,957,616  
   

 

 

 
      14,605,779  
   

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES–1.8%

   

Korn Ferry

    111,880       6,491,278  

Robert Half International, Inc.

    70,015       5,243,423  
   

 

 

 
      11,734,701  
   

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL–2.8%

   

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

    204,091       9,447,372  

XPO Logistics, Inc.(a)

    175,150       8,435,224  
   

 

 

 
      17,882,596  
   

 

 

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS–1.3%

   

GATX Corp.

    19,064       1,795,066  

Herc Holdings, Inc.

    74,330       6,700,850  
   

 

 

 
      8,495,916  
   

 

 

 
      142,197,307  
   

 

 

 
                              

FINANCIALS–19.9%

   

BANKS–12.1%

   

Comerica, Inc.

    136,520     $ 10,017,838  

First BanCorp./Puerto Rico

    699,170       9,026,285  

First Citizens BancShares, Inc./NC–Class A

    16,600       10,852,748  

First Hawaiian, Inc.

    341,920       7,765,003  

Synovus Financial Corp.

    212,922       7,675,838  

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.(a)

    152,412       8,022,968  

Webster Financial Corp.

    175,832       7,411,319  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

    114,510       9,177,976  

Zions Bancorp NA

    167,908       8,546,517  
   

 

 

 
      78,496,492  
   

 

 

 

CAPITAL MARKETS–2.0%

   

Moelis & Co.–Class A

    173,295       6,819,158  

Stifel Financial Corp.

    114,787       6,430,368  
   

 

 

 
      13,249,526  
   

 

 

 

INSURANCE–4.6%

   

American Financial Group, Inc./OH

    58,680       8,145,371  

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)

    58,140       8,502,975  

Kemper Corp.

    121,230       5,806,917  

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

    85,715       7,452,062  
   

 

 

 
      29,907,325  
   

 

 

 

THRIFTS & MORTGAGE FINANCE–1.2%

   

BankUnited, Inc.

    221,718       7,886,509  
   

 

 

 
      129,539,852  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY–14.7%

   

AUTO COMPONENTS–1.9%

   

Dana, Inc.

    371,968       5,233,590  

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)(a)

    662,300       7,093,233  
   

 

 

 
      12,326,823  
   

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER SERVICES–0.9%

   

ADT, Inc.(b)

    908,460       5,587,029  
   

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE–3.6%

   

Dine Brands Global, Inc.(b)

    109,810       7,146,435  

Hilton Grand Vacations, Inc.(a)

    144,910       5,177,634  

Papa John’s International, Inc.

    81,502       6,807,047  

Scientific Games Corp./DE–Class A(a)

    97,640       4,588,104  
   

 

 

 
      23,719,220  
   

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES–3.0%

   

KB Home

    209,430       5,960,378  

PulteGroup, Inc.

    222,900       8,833,527  

Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(a)

    192,499       4,496,777  
   

 

 

 
      19,290,682  
   

 

 

 

 

3


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                              

SPECIALTY RETAIL–2.1%

   

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.(a)

    471,900     $ 5,625,048  

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.(b)

    71,954       7,983,296  
   

 

 

 
      13,608,344  
   

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS–3.2%

   

Carter’s, Inc.(b)

    105,720       7,451,145  

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    73,040       6,548,036  

Tapestry, Inc.

    229,880       7,015,938  
   

 

 

 
      21,015,119  
   

 

 

 
      95,547,217  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE–9.0%

   

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES–2.7%

   

Envista Holdings Corp.(a)

    230,740       8,892,719  

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.(a)

    161,890       8,746,917  
   

 

 

 
      17,639,636  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES–3.1%

   

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.(a)

    158,350       10,709,211  

MEDNAX, Inc.(a)

    451,000       9,475,510  
   

 

 

 
      20,184,721  
   

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY–1.6%

   

Change Healthcare, Inc.(a)

    457,940       10,560,096  
   

 

 

 

LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS & SERVICES–1.6%

   

Syneos Health, Inc.(a)

    139,600       10,006,528  
   

 

 

 
      58,390,981  
   

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY–8.3%

   

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT–1.3%

   

Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(a)

    112,230       8,913,307  
   

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS–2.2%

   

Avnet, Inc.

    183,070       7,850,042  

Belden, Inc.

    117,894       6,280,213  
   

 

 

 
      14,130,255  
   

 

 

 

IT SERVICES–0.7%

   

Genpact Ltd.

    107,311       4,545,694  
   

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT–1.6%

   

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

    89,578       3,834,834  

ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)

    127,490       6,414,022  
   

 

 

 
      10,248,856  
   

 

 

 

SOFTWARE–2.5%

   

ACI Worldwide, Inc.(a)

    299,510       7,754,314  
                              

CommVault Systems, Inc.(a)

    134,163     $ 8,438,852  
   

 

 

 
      16,193,166  
   

 

 

 
      54,031,278  
   

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE–7.7%

   

EQUITY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)–7.7%

   

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    48,985       3,158,063  

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.–Class A

    324,280       6,650,983  

Camden Property Trust

    73,613       9,899,476  

Cousins Properties, Inc.

    222,530       6,504,552  

CubeSmart

    176,452       7,538,029  

Physicians Realty Trust

    650,121       11,344,612  

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    163,838       5,059,317  
   

 

 

 
      50,155,032  
   

 

 

 

MATERIALS–6.8%

   

CHEMICALS–1.8%

   

Huntsman Corp.

    236,990       6,718,666  

Innospec, Inc.

    55,330       5,300,061  
   

 

 

 
      12,018,727  
   

 

 

 

CONTAINERS & PACKAGING–2.5%

   

Berry Global Group, Inc.(a)

    204,270       11,161,313  

Sealed Air Corp.

    87,007       5,022,044  
   

 

 

 
      16,183,357  
   

 

 

 

METALS & MINING–2.5%

   

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.(a)

    304,101       6,906,134  

Carpenter Technology Corp.

    118,081       3,295,641  

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

    36,286       6,163,540  
   

 

 

 
      16,365,315  
   

 

 

 
      44,567,399  
   

 

 

 

ENERGY–5.2%

   

ENERGY EQUIPMENT & SERVICES–1.7%

   

Cactus, Inc.–Class A

    89,450       3,602,151  

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    171,850       7,399,861  
   

 

 

 
      11,002,012  
   

 

 

 

OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS–3.5%

   

Cameco Corp.

    281,210       5,911,034  

Coterra Energy, Inc.

    148,961       3,841,704  

HF Sinclair Corp.

    175,185       7,911,355  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp.–Class A

    249,720       5,241,623  
   

 

 

 
      22,905,716  
   

 

 

 
      33,907,728  
   

 

 

 

UTILITIES–2.9%

   

ELECTRIC UTILITIES–1.8%

   

IDACORP, Inc.

    109,354       11,582,776  
   

 

 

 

 

4


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Company

  Shares     U.S. $ Value  
                              

GAS UTILITIES–1.1%

   

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

    86,870     $ 7,564,639  
   

 

 

 
      19,147,415  
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES–2.5%

   

FOOD PRODUCTS–2.5%

   

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (The)(a)

    299,564       7,111,649  

Nomad Foods Ltd.(a)

    466,006       9,315,460  
   

 

 

 
      16,427,109  
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION SERVICES–1.0%

   

MEDIA–1.0%

   

Criteo SA (Sponsored ADR)(a)

    278,869       6,804,404  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost $643,212,475)

      650,715,722  
   

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS–1.4%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–1.4%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(c)(d)(e)
(cost $9,352,131)

    9,352,131       9,352,131  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES
LOANED–101.2%
(cost $652,564,606)

      660,067,853  
   

 

 

 
                              

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES
LOANED–0.4%

   

INVESTMENT COMPANIES–0.4%

   

AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc.–Government Money Market Portfolio–Class AB, 1.30%(c)(d)(e)
(cost $2,423,896)

    2,423,896     $ 2,423,896  
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS–101.6%
(cost $654,988,502)

      662,491,749  

Other assets less liabilities–(1.6)%

      (10,480,860
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS–100.0%

    $ 652,010,889  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Affiliated investments.

 

(d)   The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

 

(e)   To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227-4618.

Glossary:

ADR—American Depositary Receipt

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

See notes to financial statements.

 

5


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

ASSETS

 

Investments in securities, at value

  

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $643,212,475)

   $ 650,715,722 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $11,776,027—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $2,423,896)

     11,776,027  

Receivable for investment securities sold

     947,487  

Unaffiliated dividends and interest receivable

     678,521  

Receivable for capital stock sold

     184,903  

Affiliated dividends receivable

     2,573  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     664,305,233  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Payable for investment securities purchased

     8,538,802  

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

     2,423,896  

Payable for capital stock redeemed

     621,237  

Advisory fee payable

     421,592  

Distribution fee payable

     92,504  

Administrative fee payable

     21,424  

Directors’ fees payable

     488  

Transfer Agent fee payable

     89  

Accrued expenses

     174,312  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     12,294,344  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 652,010,889  
  

 

 

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS

 

Capital stock, at par

   $ 34,930  

Additional paid-in capital

     480,675,115  

Distributable earnings

     171,300,844  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 652,010,889  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share—1 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class      Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding
       Net Asset
Value
 
A      $ 223,347,526          11,858,521        $ 18.83  
B      $   428,663,363          23,071,284        $   18.58  

 

 

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $18,016,303 (see Note E).

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends

  

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $8,618)

   $ 5,345,592  

Affiliated issuers

     5,640  

Securities lending income

     12,402  
  

 

 

 
     5,363,634  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fee (see Note B)

     2,831,511  

Distribution fee—Class B

     623,338  

Transfer agency—Class A

     1,045  

Transfer agency—Class B

     2,033  

Custody and accounting

     58,233  

Administrative

     42,124  

Legal

     26,986  

Audit and tax

     22,351  

Printing

     14,970  

Directors’ fees

     13,928  

Miscellaneous

     11,703  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,648,222  

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E)

     (1,869
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     3,646,353  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     1,717,281  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

  

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     50,887,892  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (215,466,137
  

 

 

 

Net loss on investment transactions

     (164,578,245
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (162,860,964
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


 
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

 

Net investment income

   $ 1,717,281     $ 6,457,732  

Net realized gain on investment transactions

     50,887,892       128,124,776  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

     (215,466,137     91,844,970  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (162,860,964     226,427,478  

Distributions to Shareholders

 

Class A

     –0 –      (2,074,675

Class B

     –0 –      (3,152,352

CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS

 

Net decrease

     (35,259,475     (26,229,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease)

     (198,120,439     194,970,958  

NET ASSETS

 

Beginning of period

     850,131,328       655,160,370  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 652,010,889     $ 850,131,328  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

NOTE A: Significant Accounting Policies

The AB Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a series of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio is diversified as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland as an open-end series investment company. The Fund offers 10 separately managed pools of assets which have differing investment objectives and policies. The Portfolio offers Class A and Class B shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidating and other rights, except that Class B shares bear a distribution expense and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Class B distribution plan.

The Portfolio offers and sells its shares only to separate accounts of certain life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Sales are made without a sales charge at the Portfolio’s net asset value per share.

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 Portfolio is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Portfolio.

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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Portfolio may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Portfolio values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The

 

9


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Portfolio generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Unobservable inputs reflect the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolio’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of June 30, 2022:

 

     Level 1     Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Investments in Securities:

          

Assets:

 

Common Stocks(a)

   $ 650,715,722     $             –0 –     $             –0 –     $ 650,715,722  

Short-Term Investments

     9,352,131       –0 –       –0 –       9,352,131  

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned in Affiliated Money Market Fund

     2,423,896       –0 –       –0 –       2,423,896  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     662,491,749       –0 –       –0 –       662,491,749  

Other Financial Instruments(b)

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

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 662,491,749     $ –0 –     $ –0 –     $ 662,491,749  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)   See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

(b)   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value.

 

10


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolio’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Portfolio’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Portfolio’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 Portfolio’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Portfolio accounts for distributions received from REIT investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Portfolio are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Portfolio represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Fund are charged proportionately to each portfolio or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. 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 Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .75% of the first $2.5 billion, .65% of the next $2.5 billion and .60% in excess of $5 billion, of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to 1.20% and 1.45% of daily average net assets for Class A and Class B shares, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no expenses waived by the Adviser.

 

11


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Portfolio may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Portfolio by the Adviser. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $42,124.

The Portfolio compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Portfolio. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $873 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Portfolio may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. In connection with the investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount equal to the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, such waiver amounted to $1,852.

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

Portfolio

   Market Value
12/31/21
(000)
     Purchases
at Cost
(000)
     Sales
Proceeds
(000)
     Market Value
6/30/22
(000)
     Dividend
Income
(000)
 

Government Money Market Portfolio

   $ 1,852      $ 98,279      $ 90,779      $ 9,352      $ 6  

Government Money Market Portfolio*

     20        6,008        3,604        2,424        0 ** 
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

            $ 11,776      $ 6  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*   Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E).

 

**   Amount is less than $500.

NOTE C: Distribution Plan

The Portfolio has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) for Class B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Portfolio pays distribution and servicing fees to AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, at an annual rate of up to .50% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Board currently limits payments under the Plan to .25% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The Plan provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities.

The Portfolio is not obligated under the Plan to pay any distribution and servicing fees in excess of the amounts set forth above. The purpose of the payments to the Distributor under the Plan is to compensate the Distributor for its distribution services with respect to the sale of the Portfolio’s Class B shares. Since the Distributor’s compensation is not directly tied to its expenses, the amount of compensation received by it under the Plan during any year may be more or less than its actual expenses. For this reason, the Plan is characterized by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission as being of the “compensation” variety.

In the event that the Plan is terminated or not continued, no distribution or servicing fees (other than current amounts accrued but not yet paid) would be owed by the Portfolio to the Distributor.

The Plan also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Portfolio’s shares.

NOTE D: Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

       Purchases      Sales  

Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities)

     $ 178,335,371      $ 203,919,453  

U.S. government securities

       –0 –       –0 – 

 

12


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 79,460,033  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (71,956,786
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 7,503,247  
  

 

 

 

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Portfolio 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 Portfolio did not engage in derivatives transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

2. Currency Transactions

The Portfolio may invest in non-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Portfolio may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Portfolio may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Portfolio and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Portfolio may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E: Securities Lending

The Portfolio may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Portfolio’s securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cash collateral. Non-cash collateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Portfolio cannot sell or repledge any non-cash collateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Portfolio will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Portfolio in connection with the loan), and payments are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Portfolio receives non-cash collateral, the Portfolio will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The Portfolio will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Portfolio amounts equal to any dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Portfolio will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Portfolio, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Portfolio earns net securities lending income from Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Portfolio in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Portfolio’s share of the advisory fees of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Portfolio as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Portfolio lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

 

13


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions surrounding securities lending for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

                       

  Government Money Market  
Portfolio

 

Market Value of
Securities

on Loan*

   

Cash Collateral*

   

Market Value of
Non-Cash
Collateral*

   

Income from
Borrowers

   

Income

Earned

   

Advisory Fee
Waived

 
$ 18,016,303     $ 2,423,896     $ 16,522,092     $ 12,347     $ 55     $ 17  

 

*   As of June 30, 2022.

NOTE F: Capital Stock

Each class consists of 500,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

    SHARES           AMOUNT  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
          Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 

Class A

 

Shares sold

    515,379       1,695,215       $ 11,155,108     $ 36,964,186  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      95,343         –0 –      2,074,675  

Shares redeemed

    (865,402     (2,370,503       (18,946,666     (50,998,841
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (350,023     (579,945     $ (7,791,558   $ (11,959,980
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

 

Shares sold

    1,099,276       5,030,121       $ 23,434,189     $ 108,632,675  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends

    –0 –      146,485         –0 –      3,152,352  

Shares redeemed

    (2,358,668     (6,011,642       (50,902,106     (126,054,540
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

    (1,259,392     (835,036     $ (27,467,917   $ (14,269,513
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At June 30, 2022, certain shareholders of the Portfolio owned 71% in aggregate of the Portfolio’s outstanding shares. Significant transactions by such shareholders, if any, may impact the Portfolio’s performance.

NOTE G: Risks Involved in Investing in the Portfolio

Market Risk—The value of the Portfolio’s 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, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing, such as the Portfolio’s value approach, may underperform the market generally.

Capitalization Risk—Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

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 more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.

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

Derivatives Risk—Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. Derivatives, especially over-the-counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio.

LIBOR Transition and Associated Risk—A Portfolio may be exposed to debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR,

 

14


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, have since announced that most LIBOR settings (which reflect LIBOR rates quoted in different currencies over various time periods) will no longer be published after the end of 2021 but that the most widely used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. However, banks were strongly encouraged to cease entering into agreements with counterparties referencing LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (referred to as SOFR), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates.

The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, potentially adversely affecting a Portfolio’s performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The potential effects of a phase out of LIBOR on LIBOR-based investments are currently unknown.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Portfolio enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Portfolio has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Portfolio has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

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

NOTE H: Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Portfolio, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Portfolio did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

NOTE I: Distributions to Shareholders

The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending December 31, 2022 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

       2021      2020  

Distributions paid from:

       

Ordinary income

     $ 5,227,027      $ 4,931,851  

Net long-term capital gains

       –0 –       27,295,482  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxable distributions paid

     $ 5,227,027      $ 32,227,333  
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

15


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

As of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 53,849,918  

Undistributed capital gains

     59,656,656 (a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     220,655,234 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

   $ 334,161,808  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)   During the fiscal year, the Portfolio utilized $21,198,650 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains.

 

(b)   The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

NOTE J: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden due to the discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.

NOTE K: 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 Portfolio’s financial statements through this date.

 

16


 
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS A  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $23.46       $17.39       $17.91       $16.93       $21.68       $20.29  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .07       .21       .17       .16       .13       .10  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (4.70     6.03       .20       3.04       (3.04     2.41  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (4.63     6.24       .37       3.20       (2.91     2.51  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.17     (.16     (.11     (.11     (.09

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.73     (2.11     (1.73     (1.03
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.17     (.89     (2.22     (1.84     (1.12
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $18.83       $23.46       $17.39       $17.91       $16.93       $21.68  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (19.74 )%      35.95     3.37     20.10     (15.03 )%      13.15
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $223,348       $286,390       $222,441       $211,046       $188,052       $233,652  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    .80 %^      .80     .83     .82     .81     .81

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    .80 %^      .80     .83     .83     .81     .82

Net investment income (b)

    .62 %^      .98     1.17     .90     .61     .47

Portfolio turnover rate

    24     54     58     33     39     33

 

 

 

See footnote summary on page 18.

 

17


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

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

 

    CLASS B  
    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022

(unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $23.17       $17.19       $17.72       $16.75       $21.48       $20.12  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)(b)

    .04       .16       .13       .12       .07       .05  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

    (4.63     5.95       .18       3.02       (3.02     2.39  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

    (4.59     6.11       .31       3.14       (2.95     2.44  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Less: Dividends and Distributions

           

Dividends from net investment income

    –0 –      (.13     (.11     (.06     (.05     (.05

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

    –0 –      –0 –      (.73     (2.11     (1.73     (1.03
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

    –0 –      (.13     (.84     (2.17     (1.78     (1.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $18.58       $23.17       $17.19       $17.72       $16.75       $21.48  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
           

Total Return

           

Total investment return based on net asset value (c)*

    (19.81 )%      35.60     3.05     19.90     (15.29 )%      12.85
           

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $428,663       $563,741       $432,719       $423,246       $374,941       $469,501  

Ratio to average net assets of:

           

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

    1.05 %^      1.05     1.08     1.07     1.06     1.06

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

    1.05 %^      1.05     1.08     1.08     1.06     1.07

Net investment income (b)

    .37 %^      .73     .91     .65     .36     .22

Portfolio turnover rate.

    24     54     58     33     39     33

 

 

 

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Total return does not reflect (i) insurance company’s separate account related expense charges and (ii) the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Portfolio resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Portfolio’s performance for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 by .07% and .11%, respectively.

 

^   Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

18


 
 
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORTFOLIO’S LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule (the “Liquidity Rule”). In June 2018 the SEC adopted a requirement that funds disclose information about the operation and effectiveness of their Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) in their reports to shareholders.

One of the requirements of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio to designate an Administrator of the Portfolio’s Liquidity Risk Management Program. The Administrator of the Portfolio’s LRMP is AllianceBernstein L.P., the Portfolio’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to its Liquidity Risk Management Committee (the “Committee”).

Another requirement of the Liquidity Rule is for the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Fund Board”) to receive an annual written report from the Administrator of the LRMP, which addresses the operation of the Portfolio’s LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness. The Adviser provided the Fund Board with such annual report during the first quarter of 2022, which covered the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (the “Program Reporting Period”).

The LRMP’s principal objectives include supporting the Portfolio’s compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the Portfolio will be unable to meet its redemption obligations in a timely manner.

Pursuant to the LRMP, the Portfolio classifies the liquidity of its portfolio investments into one of the four categories defined by the SEC: Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid. These classifications are reported to the SEC on Form N-PORT.

During the Program Reporting Period, the Committee reviewed whether the Portfolio’s strategy is appropriate for an open-end structure, incorporating any holdings of less liquid and illiquid assets. If the Portfolio participated in derivative transactions, the exposure from such transactions were considered in the LRMP.

The Committee also performed an analysis to determine whether the Portfolio is required to maintain a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”). The Committee also incorporated the following information when determining the Portfolio’s reasonably anticipated trading size for purposes of liquidity monitoring: historical net redemption activity, a Portfolio’s concentration in an issuer, shareholder concentration, investment performance, total net assets, and distribution channels.

The Adviser informed the Fund Board that the Committee believes the Portfolio’s LRMP is adequately designed, has been implemented as intended, and has operated effectively since its inception. No material exceptions have been noted since the implementation of the LRMP. During the Program Reporting Period, liquidity in all markets was significantly recovered and improved compared to the prior reporting period which included extreme levels of price volatility and relative illiquidity beginning in March 2020 with COVID-19 impacts. As such, the program operated in a relatively robust and benign liquidity environment experienced in markets during the Program Reporting Period. There were no liquidity events that impacted the Portfolio or its ability to timely meet redemptions during the Program Reporting Period.

 

19


 
SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FUND’S ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Small/Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held in person on May 3-5, 2022 (the “Meeting”).

Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.

The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.

The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.

Costs of Services Provided and Profitability

The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2020 and 2021 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous

 

20


    AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.

Fall-Out Benefits

The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients); 12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of the Fund’s Class B shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.

Investment Results

In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.

At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended February 28, 2022 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.

Advisory Fees and Other Expenses

The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median. Taking into account the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, the directors noted that the Adviser’s total rate of compensation was equal to the median.

The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advised funds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another fund advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.

The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisory accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.

 

21


SMALL/MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO  
CONTINUANCE DISCLOSURE  
(continued)   AB Variable Products Series Fund

 

In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year. The Adviser had agreed to cap the Fund’s expenses, but the directors noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was currently below the level of the Adviser’s cap. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.

Economies of Scale

The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.

 

22


VPS-SMCV-0152-0622


ITEM 2.

CODE OF ETHICS.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

 

ITEM 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

 

ITEM 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.

 

ITEM 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 6.

INVESTMENTS.

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

 

ITEM 7.

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

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 8.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 9.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 10.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board of Directors since the Fund last provided disclosure in response to this item.


ITEM 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.

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

 

ITEM 12.

DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 13.

EXHIBITS.

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

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

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): AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
Date:   August 12, 2022

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

 

By:  

/s/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
Date:   August 12, 2022
By:  

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date:   August 12, 2022

Certifications Pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 12(b)(1)

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Onur Erzan, President of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

designed such internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 12, 2022

 

/s/ Onur Erzan

Onur Erzan
President


Exhibit 12(b)(2)

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

designed such internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 12, 2022

 

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

Joseph J. Mantineo
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Certifications Pursuant to Section 906

EXHIBIT 12(c)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, each of the undersigned, being the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. (the “Registrant”), hereby certifies that the Registrant’s report on Form N-CSR for the period ended June 30, 2022 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: August 12, 2022

 

By:  

/s/ Onur Erzan

  Onur Erzan
  President
By:  

/s/ Joseph J. Mantineo

  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.