AllianceBernstein's Dynamic Asset Allocation Services Selected by Several Major Insurance Companies

NEW YORK, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceBernstein today announced that the firm has been selected to provide its Dynamic Asset Allocation (DAA) services across a number of annuity products offered by several major insurance companies.  DAA is designed to reduce extreme outcomes in a portfolio in order to deliver more consistent returns.

"We are delighted to have DAA included so broadly within our insurance and subadvisory channels," said Michael Hart, managing director for subadvisory relationships at AllianceBernstein. "This demonstrates the tremendous potential for DAA in the insurance industry, where our risk management and asset allocation expertise can substantially improve the customer experience, especially given the periods of market volatility over the past several years."

Daniel Loewy, co-chief investment officer and director of research for the firm's DAA strategies, said, "DAA is the result of a multiyear firm-wide research effort to provide investors with a less volatile investment experience without sacrificing long-term return potential. Our approach seeks to de-risk portfolios when investors are not adequately compensated for bearing a high level of volatility in the market, and modestly increase exposure when opportunities outweigh the risks."

The insurance companies that have committed to AllianceBernstein's DAA services are:

• AXA Equitable, which is applying the DAA strategy in a new subadvised portfolio to further enhance investment choices in its variable annuity products with guaranteed living benefits.
• MetLife, through its affiliate MetLife Advisers, LLC, which created a customized portfolio incorporating DAA for its recent GMIB/EDB max rider launch.
• Ohio National and SunLife, each of which in the last several months committed to the firm’s new DAA Variable Insurance Trust (VIT), where we apply the Dynamic Asset Allocation tool set to an equity-tilted globally diversified portfolio.  
• Transamerica, which launched its partnership with the DAA service just under a year ago, making it available across a number of their variable annuity products.

Designed for all types of investors, DAA was initially launched within AllianceBernstein's Private Client business, where approximately 60% of eligible clients signed up for DAA in its first year.

About AllianceBernstein

AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private clients in major world markets.

At June 30, 2011, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB) owned approximately 37.8% of the issued and outstanding AllianceBernstein Units and AXA, one of the largest global financial services organizations, owned an approximate 62.4% economic interest in AllianceBernstein.

Additional information about AllianceBernstein may be found on our internet site, www.alliancebernstein.com.

SOURCE AllianceBernstein