OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2015. Fitch Ratings has affirmed AllianceBernstein Global High Yield Portfolio's (AB GHY) 'Strong' Fund Quality Rating. The fund is managed by AllianceBernstein L.P. (AB; A+/Stable/F1).

AB GHY benefits from a robust and well balanced investment process that combines the independent inputs of credit and macro-economic research in a disciplined and formalised approach. The fund benefits from the depth of AB's fixed income and support resources, and a robust IT platform.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
Fund Presentation
Launched in September 1997, AB GHY is a Luxemburg-domiciled fund (Fonds Commun de Placement), with USD21.9bn of assets as of end-February 2015, investing in high-yield debt securities of issuers localised throughout the world, including the US and emerging countries.

Investment Process
The fund's investment process combines the bottom-up and top-down inputs of independent fundamental and quantitative research in a disciplined approach, while allowing portfolio managers sufficient flexibility in the diversification of sources of risks and returns. Economic, credit and quantitative research are conducted by independent teams. Research recommendations are challenged in formal review meetings and a consensus is sought on portfolio investment decisions.

Resources
The portfolio management team consists of 11 individuals, with 23 years of experience and 14 years of company tenure on average. The team is supported by a credit research team of 37, an economic team of nine, a quantitative research team of nine and a fixed income trading desk of 20. The IT platform is built around integrated proprietary and third-party systems and risk analytics.

Track Record
The fund ranks first quintile in its category over three and five years with a volatility lower than peers as at end March 2015. It has outperformed its blended benchmark (33% Barclays Capital High Yield Index 2% Constrained 33% JP Morgan GBI-EM 33% JP Morgan EMBI Global Index) over three and five years. The fund's large size makes managing both capacity and liquidity critical to its ability to consistently outperform over the long term and in periods of stress.

Asset Manager
AB is a diversified asset manager (USD488bn assets under management as at end-February 2015). AB has been investing in high yield debt (HYD) and emerging market debt (EMD) since the mid-1980s and early 1990s, respectively. AB managed USD24bn in EMD and USD33bn HYD across all portfolios as at end-February 2015.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
The rating may be sensitive to material changes in the investment or operational processes, or resources dedicated to the fund. A material adverse deviation from Fitch's guidelines for any key rating drivers could result in a downgrade. For example, this may be manifested in significant structural deterioration in the fund's performance relative to its benchmark and peers. Key man risk is limited given the depth of the credit team and the process-driven investment approach.

Fitch considers there is little potential for an upgrade, due to the fund's already high rating and the specific nature of the fund (size and retail investor base).

Fitch's Fund Quality Ratings combine Fitch's experience in qualitative fund analysis with rankings and performance data from Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company. Fitch's Fund Quality Ratings offer an independent, forward-looking assessment of a fund's key performance and risk attributes and consistency of longer-term returns, relative to peer group or benchmarks. The ratings focus on the fund manager's investment process, key fund performance drivers, risk management, and the quality of the fund's operational infrastructure.

For more information, please see www.fundmanagement.fitchratings.com