AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund (Managed Fund)—MVE Class

September 3, 2021 – Notice Relating to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) dated 19 March 2021 for the following class: AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund (Managed Fund) – MVE Class ARSN 099 739 447 APIR ACM0006AU CXA: AMVE that is not materially adverse to investors. AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund (Managed Fund) – MVE Class is a unit class of the AllianceBernstein Managed Volatility Equities Fund (Managed Fund) ARSN 099 739 447 (Fund). Only units in the MVE Class are offered under this PDS. This document is issued by AllianceBernstein Investment Management Australia Limited (ABIMAL) ABN 58 007 212 606 AFSL 230 683, the responsible entity of the Fund.

The purpose of this document is to advise you of an update to the investments in which the AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund (Managed) – MVE Class may invest. The PDS is updated as set out below.

In the Labour, environmental, social and ethical standards paragraph within Section 6. How we invest your money (page 13) add the words “and investments in entities directly involved in the manufacture of cluster munitions or controversial weapons,” after the words “(MSCI GICS industry 302030)” so that the paragraph reads as follows:

“Environmental, social, and governance (including ethical and labour) (“ESG”) factors can impact performance. As a result, ESG factors are integrated into our investment process in order to identify investment risks and opportunities. These factors are a component of our research process that help to inform whether we invest in, continue to hold or sell any particular security. Apart from tobacco industry sector companies (MSCI GICS industry 302030) and investments in entities directly involved in the manufacture of cluster munitions or controversial weapons, which are excluded from the MVE Class, we do not have a predetermined list of securities or industry sectors in which we will not invest. Instead we consider these factors, as we become aware of them and on a case by case basis, in our investment decisions. ESG factors also form part of our engagement with issuers and are considered when exercising voting rights. We are a signatory to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment.”

This information is current as at September 3, 2021. Please contact us on (02) 9255 1299 or by email on aust_clientservice@alliancebernstein.com with any queries.”

Global asset manager AllianceBernstein (AB) has partnered with Chi-X Australia (CXA) to make one of its leading funds available to Australian investors via the Chi-X Australia stock exchange.

The AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund—MVE Class (AMVE) joins a growing list of funds to commence trading on the Chi-X Australia platform amid strong demand for exchange traded products.

AllianceBernstein Australia Limited Chief Executive Officer Jen Driscoll said that AMVE had been designed for Australian investors who wanted actively-managed equity strategies with lower volatility. “We are excited to see AMVE now available to a wide range of investors on the Chi-X exchange. AB developed AMVE seven years ago in collaboration with a major Australian superannuation fund which wanted to give its members a smoother, but still rewarding, return profile in volatile markets. Our partnership with Chi-X is an opportunity to make this innovative and successful strategy more readily accessible,” she said.

“The launch of AMVE on Chi-X will give more equity investors, including pre-retirees and retirees, the potential benefits of an investment approach which aims to reduce exposure to market drawdowns while participating significantly in market recoveries.”

AMVE aims to achieve returns that exceed the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index after fees over the medium to long term. The Fund invests mainly in Australian listed shares, with up to 20% of its assets in global developed-market shares. It can also hold up to 20% in cash as a short-term defensive measure at times of heightened equity market volatility.

Since inception to the end of February 2021, the fund has delivered a total return after fees of 9.60% with lower volatility, compared to the 7.51% return for the S&P ASX 300 Index. AllianceBernstein Managing Director, Australia Client Group, Ben Moore said: “AB’s focus on bringing together a wide range of insights, expertise and innovations has resulted, in AMVE’s case, in a strategy which has delivered lower volatility than the index and won multiple industry awards. We are pleased to be partnering with Chi-X to deliver AMVE to a broader investing public.”

Chief Executive Officer of Chi-X Australia, Vic Jokovic, said the search for more stable returns in an uncertain environment and continuing market volatility is stronger than ever. “A challenging global investment landscape, including historically unusual policy settings and unforeseen events such as COVID-19, have added to the risks that Australian investors face,” Mr Jokovic said. “We are pleased to welcome AllianceBernstein and its AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund onto the Chi-X Australia exchange. This adds to a growing list of actively managed ETFs on our platform that aim to deliver greater diversity to the portfolios of Australian investors.”

The AB Managed Volatility Equities Fund is issued by AllianceBernstein Investment Management Australia Limited (ABIMAL). While ABIMAL will be responsible for market-making, Macquarie will act as ABIMAL’s agent for market-making services.

Chi-X Funds began trading on exchange in October 2019, enabling issuers to provide investors with access to managed funds together with the convenience of daily quotation and trading.