Customized Retirement Strategies Setting a Strong Pace in 2009 at Its SecondAnniversary with Nearly $1 Billion in New Funding

Customized Retirement Strategies Setting a Strong Pace in 2009 at Its SecondAnniversary with Nearly $1 Billion in New Funding NEW YORK, May 5 /PRNewswire/ — AllianceBernstein’s Customized RetirementStrategies (CRS) is off to a strong start in 2009, securing nearly $1 billionin new funding from defined-contribution (DC) plans.CRS is a unique, open-architecture target-date solution launched in April 2007by AllianceBernstein Defined Contribution Investments (“ABDC”), a businessunit of AllianceBernstein L.P (“AllianceBernstein”). AllianceBernstein manages or has commitments for nearly $5 billion in CRSassets for 16 DC clients with total plan assets of $50 billion. These CRSassets include $900 million in new funding so far in 2009 from three majorclients, as our target-date solution celebrates its two-year anniversary. “This is a powerful statement that plan sponsors aren’t taking a’wait-and-see’ approach in a difficult market environment, but rather they aremoving forward with enhancing their plans,” according to Thomas J Fontaine,Head of ABDC. AllianceBernstein can manage all of the target-date investment components ofCRS if the plan sponsor desires, or the solution’s open architecture allowsthe target-date fund to use any combination of active or passive managers. Infact, most of the new business is from plans that are replacing single-managertarget-date mutual-funds with the more flexible approach of CRS.The customizable elements of CRS go far beyond just asset allocation.

ABDCconsults with each client on aspects ranging from communication strategies andoperational support to legal and regulatory compliance, tailoring theimplementation strategy to the unique needs of each plan. “Many sponsors view customization purely as modifying the glide path and assetallocation to match plan demographics. This is important, but it’s only thestarting point,” said Richard A. Davies, ABDC’s Head of Product Strategy.”We’re seeing more and more plans that want to use specific managers–bothactive and passive–for each asset class.

They want to tailor asset managementto their needs using their existing core DC options or managers from their DBplans, and they usually incorporate institutional vehicles to reduceexpenses.”In addition, AllianceBernstein can work with any recordkeeper to make theimplementation and ongoing operations of CRS seamless and easy.In fact, CRShas already been implemented on six major recordkeeper’s platforms.ABDC continues to enhance CRS, planning to introduce a secure lifetime incomesolution that will also offer flexible, multi-insurer capabilities. ABDCrecently lowered minimum plan asset size for CRS to $50 million, broadeningits reach. The rapid growth and popularity of CRS in many industriesdemonstrates that plan sponsors appreciate its flexible nature. ABDC is a business unit of AllianceBernstein that offers a full range ofsolutions to meet the needs of DC plan sponsors and participants. For moreinformation on Customized Retirement Strategies and AllianceBernstein DefinedContribution Investments, please go to AllianceBernstein Defined Contribution Investments About AllianceBernstein AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offershigh-quality research and diversified investment services to institutionalclients, individuals and private clients in major markets around the world.AllianceBernstein employs more than 500 investment professionals withexpertise in growth equities, value equities, fixed income securities, blendstrategies and alternative investments and, through its subsidiaries and jointventures, operates in more than 20 countries. AllianceBernstein’s researchdisciplines include fundamental research, quantitative research, economicresearch and currency forecasting capabilities.

Through its integrated globalplatform, AllianceBernstein is well-positioned to tailor investment solutionsfor its clients. AllianceBernstein also offers independent research, portfoliostrategy and brokerage-related services to institutional investors At March 31, 2009, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (“Holding”) ownedapproximately 34.3% of the issued and outstanding AllianceBernstein Units. AXAFinancial was the beneficial owner of approximately 62.0% of theAllianceBernstein Units at December 31, 2008 (including those held indirectlythrough its ownership of approximately 1.6% of the issued and outstandingHolding Units) which, including the general partnership interests inAllianceBernstein and Holding, represent an approximate 62.4% economicinterest in AllianceBernstein.

AXA Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary ofAXA, one of the largest global financial services organizations. Investment Products Offered:Are Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | Are Not Bank GuaranteedInvestors should carefully consider the investment objectives and policies,sales charges, expenses, risks and other matters of importance beforeinvesting in any AllianceBernstein mutual fund.For a free copy of any Fund’sprospectus, which contains this and other information, call AllianceBernsteinInvestments at (800) 227-4618.Please read the prospectus carefully beforeyou invest.AllianceBernstein Defined Contribution Investments is a unit ofAllianceBernstein L.P and AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc is an affiliateof AllianceBernstein L.P. and member FINRA.(C)2009 AllianceBernstein L.P.SOURCEAllianceBernsteinJennifer DeLong, +1-212-969-6689, . Reuters has stopped distributing the full text of Moody’sInvestors Service press releases on ratings actions, effectiveApril 1, 2009. The text of this Moody’s Investor Service ratingis available at Stocks  |  Bonds  |  Global Markets Stocks Bonds Global Markets.