"Our first quarter results reflect continued underlying momentum in many areas of our business," said
(US $ Thousands except per Unit amounts) |
1Q 2019 |
1Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
4Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
||||||||||||
U.S. GAAP Financial Measures |
|||||||||||||||||
Net revenues |
$ |
795,462 |
$ |
867,787 |
(8.3) |
% |
$ |
804,660 |
(1.1) |
% |
|||||||
Operating income |
$ |
168,151 |
$ |
222,671 |
(24.5) |
% |
$ |
199,359 |
(15.7) |
% |
|||||||
Operating margin |
19.9 |
% |
23.0 |
% |
(310 bps) |
25.0 |
% |
(510 bps) |
|||||||||
AB Holding Diluted EPU |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.60 |
(18.3) |
% |
$ |
0.63 |
(22.2) |
% |
|||||||
Adjusted Financial Measures (1) |
|||||||||||||||||
Net revenues |
$ |
657,884 |
$ |
782,349 |
(15.9) |
% |
$ |
696,418 |
(5.5) |
% |
|||||||
Operating income |
$ |
158,857 |
$ |
235,330 |
(32.5) |
% |
$ |
204,227 |
(22.2) |
% |
|||||||
Operating margin |
24.1 |
% |
30.1 |
% |
(600 bps) |
29.3 |
% |
(520 bps) |
|||||||||
AB Holding Diluted EPU |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.73 |
(32.9) |
% |
$ |
0.64 |
(23.4) |
% |
|||||||
AB Holding cash distribution per Unit |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.73 |
(32.9) |
% |
$ |
0.64 |
(23.4) |
% |
|||||||
(US $ Billions) |
|||||||||||||||||
Assets Under Management |
|||||||||||||||||
Ending AUM |
$ |
554.7 |
$ |
549.5 |
0.9 |
% |
$ |
516.4 |
7.4 |
% |
|||||||
Average AUM |
$ |
539.2 |
$ |
557.1 |
(3.2) |
% |
$ |
532.5 |
1.3 |
% |
|||||||
(1) The adjusted financial measures are all non-GAAP financial measures. See page 11 for reconciliations of GAAP Financial Results to Adjusted Financial Results and pages 12-13 for notes describing the adjustments. |
Bernstein continued, "In Retail, 85% of our rated-assets were rated 4- or 5-stars by
Bernstein concluded, "The diversity and global composition of our business allows us to compete in a variety of market environments and I'm proud of the accomplishments we achieved in the first quarter. Our talented people at AB continue to work relentlessly to make progress on our long-term strategy and consistently deliver for our clients."
The firm's cash distribution per unit of
Market Performance
US and global equity and fixed income markets were higher in the first quarter. The
Assets Under Management ($ Billions)
Total assets under management as of
Institutional |
Retail |
Private |
Total |
||||||||||||
Assets Under Management 3/31/2019 |
$256.6 |
$201.9 |
$96.2 |
$554.7 |
|||||||||||
Net Flows for Three Months Ended 3/31/19: |
|||||||||||||||
Active |
$(4.6) |
$6.3 |
$0.5 |
$2.2 |
|||||||||||
Passive |
(0.1) |
(1.0) |
— |
(1.1) |
|||||||||||
Total |
$(4.7) |
$5.3 |
$0.5 |
$1.1 |
|||||||||||
Total net inflows were
Institutional channel first quarter net outflows of
Retail channel first quarter net inflows of
Private Wealth channel first quarter net inflows of
First Quarter Financial Results
We are presenting both earnings information derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
US GAAP Earnings
Revenues
First quarter net revenues of
Sequentially, net revenues decreased 1% from
First quarter
Expenses
First quarter operating expenses of
Sequentially, operating expenses increased 4% due to higher total employee compensation and benefits and G&A expenses, partly offset by lower promotion and servicing expense. Employee compensation and benefits expense increased due to higher incentive compensation, fringes and commissions, partly offset by lower base compensation and other employment costs. Within promotion and servicing, lower marketing and travel and entertainment expenses, transfer fees and trade execution costs were partly offset by higher distribution related payments. Within G&A, portfolio servicing fees, errors and professional fees were all higher.
Operating Income and Net Income Per Unit
First quarter operating income of
Sequentially, operating income decreased 16% from
First quarter diluted net income per Unit of
Non-GAAP Earnings
This section discusses our first quarter 2019 compared to the first quarter and the fourth quarter of 2018. The phrases "adjusted net revenues", "adjusted operating expenses", "adjusted operating income", "adjusted operating margin" and "adjusted diluted net income per Unit" are used in the following earnings discussion to identify non-GAAP information.
Revenues
First quarter adjusted net revenues of
Sequentially, adjusted net revenues decreased 5%. Lower performance-based fees and
Expenses
First quarter adjusted operating expenses of
Sequentially, adjusted operating expenses increased 1%. Higher employee compensation and benefits and G&A expenses were partially offset by lower promotion and servicing expense. Employee compensation and benefits expense increased due to higher incentive compensation, commissions and fringes, partially offset by lower base compensation and other employment costs. Within G&A, the increase was due to higher professional fees and errors. Promotion and servicing expense decreased due to lower marketing and travel and entertainment expenses, trade execution costs and transfer fees.
Operating Income, Margin and Net Income Per Unit
First quarter adjusted operating income of
Sequentially, adjusted operating income decreased 22% from
First quarter adjusted diluted net income per Unit of
Our adjusted financial results for the first quarter of 2018 included
Headcount
As of
Unit Repurchases
During the three months ended
First Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call Information
Management will review First Quarter 2019 financial and operating results during a conference call beginning at
Parties may access the conference call by either webcast or telephone:
- To listen by webcast, please visit AB's Investor Relations website at http://alliancebernstein.com/investorrelations at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
- To listen by telephone, please dial (866) 556-2265 in the U.S. or (973) 935-8521 outside the
U.S. 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. The conference ID# is 5153458.
The presentation management will review during the conference call will be available on AB's Investor Relations website shortly after the release of First Quarter 2019 financial and operating results on April 25, 2019.
A replay of the webcast will be made available beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference call and will be available on AB's website for one week. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available for one week. To access the audio replay, please call (855) 859-2056 in the US, or (404) 537-3406 outside the US, and provide the conference ID #: 5153458.
Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements provided by management in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The most significant of these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of sponsored investment products and separately-managed accounts, general economic conditions, industry trends, future acquisitions, competitive conditions, and current and proposed government regulations, including changes in tax regulations and rates and the manner in which the earnings of publicly-traded partnerships are taxed. AB cautions readers to carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made; AB undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. For further information regarding these forward-looking statements and the factors that could cause actual results to differ, see "Risk Factors" and "Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in AB's Form 10-K for the year ended
The forward-looking statements referred to in the preceding paragraph include statements regarding:
- The pipeline of new institutional mandates not yet funded: Before they are funded, institutional mandates do not represent legally binding commitments to fund and, accordingly, the possibility exists that not all mandates will be funded in the amounts and at the times currently anticipated.
- The possibility that AB will engage in open market purchases of AB Holding Units to help fund anticipated obligations under our incentive compensation award program: The number of
AB Holding Units AB may decide to buy in future periods, if any, to help fund incentive compensation awards is dependent upon various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the fluctuation in the price of a Holding Unit and the availability of cash to make these purchases.
Qualified Tax Notice
This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation §1.1446-4(b). Please note that 100% of
About
As of
Additional information about
AB (The Operating Partnership) |
|||||||||||||||||
US GAAP Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||||
(US $ Thousands) |
1Q 2019 |
1Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
4Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
||||||||||||
GAAP revenues: |
|||||||||||||||||
Base fees |
$ |
552,230 |
$ |
567,856 |
(2.8) |
% |
$ |
544,484 |
1.4 |
% |
|||||||
Performance fees |
4,364 |
6,260 |
(30.3) |
% |
35,440 |
(87.7) |
% |
||||||||||
Bernstein research services |
90,235 |
114,400 |
(21.1) |
% |
115,240 |
(21.7) |
% |
||||||||||
Distribution revenues |
100,509 |
108,004 |
(6.9) |
% |
100,952 |
(0.4) |
% |
||||||||||
Dividends and interest |
27,346 |
28,215 |
(3.1) |
% |
26,875 |
1.8 |
% |
||||||||||
Investments gains (losses) |
15,735 |
26,082 |
(39.7) |
% |
(24,207) |
n/m |
|||||||||||
Other revenues |
22,206 |
26,510 |
(16.2) |
% |
22,128 |
0.4 |
% |
||||||||||
Total revenues |
812,625 |
877,327 |
(7.4) |
% |
820,912 |
(1.0) |
% |
||||||||||
Less: interest expense |
17,163 |
9,540 |
79.9 |
% |
16,252 |
5.6 |
% |
||||||||||
Total net revenues |
795,462 |
867,787 |
(8.3) |
% |
804,660 |
(1.1) |
% |
||||||||||
GAAP operating expenses: |
|||||||||||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
339,309 |
343,825 |
(1.3) |
% |
319,297 |
6.3 |
% |
||||||||||
Promotion and servicing |
|||||||||||||||||
Distribution-related payments |
105,993 |
110,154 |
(3.8) |
% |
104,359 |
1.6 |
% |
||||||||||
Amortization of deferred sales commissions |
3,502 |
6,598 |
(46.9) |
% |
3,981 |
(12.0) |
% |
||||||||||
Trade execution, marketing, T&E and other |
49,648 |
54,043 |
(8.1) |
% |
58,535 |
(15.2) |
% |
||||||||||
General and administrative |
|||||||||||||||||
General & administrative |
117,848 |
121,234 |
(2.8) |
% |
111,401 |
5.8 |
% |
||||||||||
Real estate charges (credits) |
— |
(264) |
n/m |
670 |
n/m |
||||||||||||
Contingent payment arrangements |
54 |
53 |
1.9 |
% |
(2,376) |
n/m |
|||||||||||
Interest on borrowings |
3,983 |
2,612 |
52.5 |
% |
2,407 |
65.5 |
% |
||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
6,974 |
6,861 |
1.6 |
% |
7,027 |
(0.8) |
% |
||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
627,311 |
645,116 |
(2.8) |
% |
605,301 |
3.6 |
% |
||||||||||
Operating income |
168,151 |
222,671 |
(24.5) |
% |
199,359 |
(15.7) |
% |
||||||||||
Income taxes |
8,921 |
15,825 |
(43.6) |
% |
13,033 |
(31.6) |
% |
||||||||||
Net income |
159,230 |
206,846 |
(23.0) |
% |
186,326 |
(14.5) |
% |
||||||||||
Net income (loss) of consolidated entities attributable to non-controlling interests |
10,116 |
22,650 |
(55.3) |
% |
(1,727) |
n/m |
|||||||||||
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders |
$ |
149,114 |
$ |
184,196 |
(19.0) |
% |
$ |
188,053 |
(20.7) |
% |
|||||||
AB Holding L.P. (The Publicly-Traded Partnership) |
|||||||||||||||||
SUMMARY STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
|||||||||||||||||
(US $ Thousands) |
1Q 2019 |
1Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
4Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
||||||||||||
Equity in Net Income Attributable to AB Unitholders |
$ |
52,638 |
$ |
65,698 |
(19.9) |
% |
$ |
66,759 |
(21.2) |
% |
|||||||
Income Taxes |
6,199 |
7,538 |
(17.8) |
% |
6,879 |
(9.9) |
% |
||||||||||
Net Income |
46,439 |
58,160 |
(20.2) |
% |
59,880 |
(22.4) |
% |
||||||||||
Additional Equity in Earnings of Operating Partnership (1) |
26 |
145 |
(82.1) |
% |
71 |
(63.4) |
% |
||||||||||
Net Income - Diluted |
$ |
46,465 |
$ |
58,305 |
(20.3) |
% |
$ |
59,951 |
(22.5) |
% |
|||||||
Diluted Net Income per Unit |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.60 |
(18.3) |
% |
$ |
0.63 |
(22.2) |
% |
|||||||
Distribution per Unit |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.73 |
(32.9) |
% |
$ |
0.64 |
(23.4) |
% |
|||||||
(1) To reflect higher ownership in the Operating Partnership resulting from application of the treasury stock method to outstanding options. |
|||||||||||||||||
Units Outstanding |
1Q 2019 |
1Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
4Q 2018 |
1Q 2019 |
||||||||||||
AB L.P. |
|||||||||||||||||
Period-end |
267,186,102 |
269,839,937 |
(1.0) |
% |
268,850,276 |
(0.6) |
% |
||||||||||
Weighted average - basic |
267,336,134 |
269,184,109 |
(0.7) |
% |
267,611,568 |
(0.1) |
% |
||||||||||
Weighted average - diluted |
267,408,249 |
269,520,000 |
(0.8) |
% |
267,771,111 |
(0.1) |
% |
||||||||||
AB Holding L.P. |
|||||||||||||||||
Period-end |
94,994,404 |
97,643,743 |
(2.7) |
% |
96,658,278 |
(1.7) |
% |
||||||||||
Weighted average - basic |
95,144,146 |
96,986,828 |
(1.9) |
% |
95,418,778 |
(0.3) |
% |
||||||||||
Weighted average - diluted |
95,216,261 |
97,322,719 |
(2.2) |
% |
95,578,321 |
(0.4) |
% |
AllianceBernstein L.P. |
|||||
ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT | March 31, 2019 |
|||||
($ billions) |
|||||
Ending and Average |
Three Months Ended |
||||
3/31/19 |
12/31/18 |
||||
Ending Assets Under Management |
$554.7 |
$516.4 |
|||
Average Assets Under Management |
$539.2 |
$532.5 |
|||
Three-Month Changes By Distribution Channel |
||||||||||||||||
Institutions |
Retail |
Private Wealth |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Beginning of Period |
$ |
246.3 |
$ |
180.8 |
$ |
89.3 |
$ |
516.4 |
||||||||
Sales/New accounts |
3.4 |
16.4 |
3.3 |
23.1 |
||||||||||||
Redemption/Terminations |
(5.2) |
(10.1) |
(2.9) |
(18.2) |
||||||||||||
Net Cash Flows |
(2.9) |
(1.0) |
0.1 |
(3.8) |
||||||||||||
Net Flows |
(4.7) |
5.3 |
0.5 |
1.1 |
||||||||||||
Transfers |
0.1 |
— |
(0.1) |
— |
||||||||||||
Investment Performance |
14.9 |
15.8 |
6.5 |
37.2 |
||||||||||||
End of Period |
$ |
256.6 |
$ |
201.9 |
$ |
96.2 |
$ |
554.7 |
Three-Month Changes By Investment Service |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity |
Equity |
Fixed |
Fixed |
Fixed |
Other (2) |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of Period |
$ |
136.2 |
$ |
50.2 |
$ |
219.7 |
$ |
41.7 |
$ |
9.4 |
$ |
59.2 |
$ |
516.4 |
||||||||||||||
Sales/New accounts |
7.9 |
— |
11.5 |
2.6 |
— |
1.1 |
23.1 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption/Terminations |
(6.2) |
(0.1) |
(9.2) |
(1.6) |
(0.1) |
(1.0) |
(18.2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net Cash Flows |
(0.7) |
(0.7) |
(3.0) |
(0.1) |
(0.3) |
1.0 |
(3.8) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net Flows |
1.0 |
(0.8) |
(0.7) |
0.9 |
(0.4) |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Performance |
17.9 |
6.4 |
8.2 |
1.2 |
0.3 |
3.2 |
37.2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
End of Period |
$ |
155.1 |
$ |
55.8 |
$ |
227.2 |
$ |
43.8 |
$ |
9.3 |
$ |
63.5 |
$ |
554.7 |
Three-Month Net Flows By Investment Service (Active versus Passive) |
|||||||||||||
Actively |
Passively |
Total |
|||||||||||
Equity |
$ |
1.0 |
$ |
(0.8) |
$ |
0.2 |
|||||||
Fixed Income |
0.2 |
(0.4) |
(0.2) |
||||||||||
Other (2) |
1.0 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
||||||||||
Total |
$ |
2.2 |
$ |
(1.1) |
$ |
1.1 |
(1) Includes index and enhanced index services. |
(2) Includes certain multi-asset solutions and services and certain alternative investments. |
By Client Domicile |
||||||||||||||||
Institutions |
Retail |
Private Wealth |
Total |
|||||||||||||
U.S. Clients |
$ |
157.1 |
$ |
114.3 |
$ |
94.1 |
$ |
365.5 |
||||||||
Non-U.S. Clients |
99.5 |
87.6 |
2.1 |
189.2 |
||||||||||||
Total |
$ |
256.6 |
$ |
201.9 |
$ |
96.2 |
$ |
554.7 |
AB L.P. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS TO ADJUSTED FINANCIAL RESULTS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
US $ Thousands, unaudited |
3/31/2019 |
12/31/2018 |
9/30/2018 |
6/30/2018 |
3/31/2018 |
12/31/2017 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Revenues, GAAP basis |
$ |
795,462 |
$ |
804,660 |
$ |
850,176 |
$ |
844,738 |
$ |
867,787 |
$ |
919,141 |
||||||||||||||||
Exclude: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of adoption of revenue recognition standard ASC 606 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
77,844 |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution-related payments |
(105,993) |
(104,359) |
(106,372) |
(106,301) |
(110,154) |
(110,517) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred sales commissions |
(3,502) |
(3,981) |
(4,651) |
(6,113) |
(6,598) |
(6,871) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass-through fees & expenses |
(12,481) |
(9,039) |
(10,084) |
(10,487) |
(10,609) |
(10,664) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds |
(10,959) |
931 |
(1,543) |
(1,494) |
(36,037) |
(16,032) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term incentive compensation-related investment losses (gains) |
(4,496) |
7,104 |
(1,253) |
(542) |
209 |
(977) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term incentive compensation-related dividends and interest |
(147) |
(1,631) |
(130) |
(156) |
(93) |
(1,515) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss (gain) on sale of software technology |
— |
2,733 |
1,000 |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
— |
— |
— |
47 |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Net Revenues |
$ |
657,884 |
$ |
696,418 |
$ |
727,143 |
$ |
719,692 |
$ |
782,349 |
$ |
772,565 |
||||||||||||||||
Operating Income, GAAP basis |
$ |
168,151 |
$ |
199,359 |
$ |
213,819 |
$ |
189,464 |
$ |
222,671 |
$ |
283,035 |
||||||||||||||||
Exclude: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of adoption of revenue recognition standard ASC 606 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
35,156 |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate charges (credits) |
— |
670 |
(155) |
6,909 |
(264) |
(2,732) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term incentive compensation-related items |
357 |
243 |
1,820 |
585 |
417 |
(103) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
CEO's EQH award compensation |
465 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss (gain) on sale of software technology |
— |
2,733 |
1,000 |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition-related expenses |
— |
1,924 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Contingent payment arrangements |
— |
(2,429) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
— |
— |
— |
47 |
— |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-total of non-GAAP adjustments |
822 |
3,141 |
2,665 |
7,541 |
35,309 |
(2,835) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net (loss) income of consolidated entities attributable to non-controlling interests |
10,116 |
(1,727) |
726 |
261 |
22,650 |
8,384 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Operating Income |
$ |
158,857 |
$ |
204,227 |
$ |
215,758 |
$ |
196,744 |
$ |
235,330 |
$ |
271,816 |
||||||||||||||||
Operating Margin, GAAP basis excl. non-controlling interests |
19.9 |
% |
25.0 |
% |
25.1 |
% |
22.4 |
% |
23.0 |
% |
29.9 |
% |
||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Operating Margin |
24.1 |
% |
29.3 |
% |
29.7 |
% |
27.3 |
% |
30.1 |
% |
35.2 |
% |
||||||||||||||||
AB Holding L.P. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EPU TO ADJUSTED EPU |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ Thousands except per Unit amounts, unaudited |
3/31/2019 |
12/31/2018 |
9/30/2018 |
6/30/2018 |
3/31/2018 |
12/31/2017 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income - Diluted, GAAP basis |
$ |
46,465 |
$ |
59,951 |
$ |
66,017 |
$ |
58,572 |
$ |
58,305 |
$ |
78,802 |
||||||||||||||||
Impact on net income of AB non-GAAP adjustments |
462 |
1,000 |
919 |
2,609 |
12,271 |
(599) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Net Income - Diluted |
$ |
46,927 |
$ |
60,951 |
$ |
66,936 |
$ |
61,181 |
$ |
70,576 |
$ |
78,203 |
||||||||||||||||
Diluted Net Income per Holding Unit, GAAP basis |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.63 |
$ |
0.68 |
$ |
0.59 |
$ |
0.60 |
$ |
0.84 |
||||||||||||||||
Impact of AB non-GAAP adjustments |
— |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.03 |
0.13 |
— |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Holding Unit |
$ |
0.49 |
$ |
0.64 |
$ |
0.69 |
$ |
0.62 |
$ |
0.73 |
$ |
0.84 |
AB
Notes to Consolidated Statements of Income and Supplemental Information
(Unaudited)
Adjusted Net Revenues
Adjusted net revenues offset distribution-related payments to third parties as well as amortization of deferred sales commissions against distribution revenues. We believe offsetting net revenues by distribution-related payments is useful for our investors and other users of our financial statements because such presentation appropriately reflects the nature of these costs as pass-through payments to third parties who perform functions on behalf of our sponsored mutual funds and/or shareholders of these funds. We offset amortization of deferred sales commissions against net revenues because such costs, over time, essentially offset our distribution revenues. We also exclude additional pass-through expenses we incur (primarily through our transfer agency) that are reimbursed and recorded as fees in revenues. These fees do not affect operating income, but they do affect our operating margin. As such, we exclude these fees from adjusted net revenues.
We adjust for the revenue impact of consolidating company-sponsored investment funds by eliminating the consolidated company-sponsored investment funds' revenues and including AB's fees from such consolidated company-sponsored investment funds and AB's investment gains and losses on its investments in such consolidated company-sponsored investment funds that were eliminated in consolidation.
Adjusted net revenues exclude investment gains and losses and dividends and interest on employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments.
On
Lastly, during 2017 we excluded a realized gain of
Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted operating income represents operating income on a US GAAP basis excluding (1) real estate charges (credits), (2) acquisition-related expenses, (3) the impact on net revenues and compensation expense of the investment gains and losses (as well as the dividends and interest) associated with employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments, (4) our CEO's EQH award compensation, as discussed below, (5) the impact of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds, (6) the loss (gain) on software technology investment, (7) adjustments to contingent payment arrangements, and (8) the revenues and expenses associated with the implementation of ASC 606 discussed above.
Real estate charges (credits) have been excluded because they are not considered part of our core operating results when comparing financial results from period to period and to industry peers.
Acquisition-related expenses have been excluded because they are not considered part of our core operating results when comparing financial results from period to period and to industry peers.
Prior to 2009, a significant portion of employee compensation was in the form of long-term incentive compensation awards that were notionally invested in AB investment services and generally vested over a period of four years. AB economically hedged the exposure to market movements by purchasing and holding these investments on its balance sheet. All such investments had vested as of year-end 2012 and the investments have been delivered to the participants, except for those investments with respect to which the participant elected a long-term deferral. Fluctuation in the value of these investments is recorded within investment gains and losses on the income statement and also impacts compensation expense. Management believes it is useful to reflect the offset achieved from economically hedging the market exposure of these investments in the calculation of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin. The non-GAAP measures exclude gains and losses and dividends and interest on employee longterm incentive compensation-related investments included in revenues and compensation expense.
The board of directors of EQH granted to
We adjusted for the operating income impact of consolidating certain company-sponsored investment funds by eliminating the consolidated company-sponsored funds' revenues and expenses and including AB's revenues and expenses that were eliminated in consolidation. We also excluded the limited partner interests we do not own.
Gains and losses on the software technology investment have been excluded due to its non-recurring nature and because it is not part of our core operating results.
The recording of changes in estimates of contingent consideration payable with respect to contingent payment arrangements associated with our acquisitions are not considered part of our core operating results and, accordingly, have been excluded.
Adjusted Operating Margin
Adjusted operating margin allows us to monitor our financial performance and efficiency from period to period without the volatility noted above in our discussion of adjusted operating income and to compare our performance to industry peers on a basis that better reflects our performance in our core business. Adjusted operating margin is derived by dividing adjusted operating income by adjusted net revenues.
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SOURCE
Hallie Elsner, Investors, 212.969.6943, hallie.elsner@alliancebernstein.com; Jen Will, Media, 212.969.1157, jen.will@alliancebernstein.com