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ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HOLDING LP

For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 14, 2025.

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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2024 · Filed Feb 14, 2025

AB$33.82-0.8%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”)

In this CD&A, we provide an overview and analysis of our executive compensation philosophy, address the principal elements used to compensate our executive officers and explain how our executive compensation program aligns with AB’s strategic objectives. Additionally, we discuss 2024 incentive compensation recommendations and decisions made by our Compensation Committee for our named executive officers (“NEOs”). This CD&A should be read together with the compensation tables that follow this section. Our NEOs for 2024(1) are:

Seth BernsteinPresident and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO“)Jackie MarksChief Financial Officer (“CFO“)Onur ErzanHead of Global Client Group and Private Wealth
Chris HogbinGlobal Head of InvestmentsKarl SprulesChief Operating Officer ("COO")

(1)Bill Siemers resigned from his position as Interim Chief Financial Officer on February 29, 2024, at which point he transitioned into the role of a Senior Advisor to AB. We have included information concerning Mr. Siemers in this CD&A and the compensatory tables that follow in accordance with applicable SEC rules and regulations.

Compensation Philosophy and Goals

Our employees are collectively the most important asset of our firm. We invest in our people – we hire highly talented individuals, develop them, recognize them for giving their best thinking to the firm and our clients, and reward them to motivate and retain them while aligning their interests with the interests of our Unitholders and clients.

Furthermore, our compensation practices are structured to help the firm realize its long-term growth strategy to Deliver, Diversify and Expand, Responsibly, with Equitable (the “Growth Strategy”), which includes firm-wide initiatives to:

Deliver superior investment solutions to our clients;

Develop high-quality differentiated services; and

Maintain strong incremental margins.

We also are focused on ensuring that our compensation practices are competitive with industry peers and within the geographies that we operate and provide sufficient opportunities for wealth creation for all our top performing senior staff, including our NEOs, which we believe will enable us to meet the following key compensation goals:

motivate and retain highly qualified executive talent;

reward current-year performance;

incentivize future contribution;

recognize distinct outstanding individual performance that foster our firm’s primary objective of helping our clients reach their financial goals; and

align our executives’ long-term interests with those of our Unitholders and clients.

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Deliver Superior Investment Solutions to our Clients:

Investment Performance

The firm’s investment teams remain focused on consistently delivering differentiated return streams to our clients. We believe that, over time, the ability to produce idiosyncratic returns that cannot be easily replicated will be central to sustaining our competitive advantage. In 2024, our fixed income performance declined, primarily due to long-term interest rates moving upwards, weighing on our longer duration exposure. 57% of fixed income assets were outperforming for the one-year period ended December 31, 2024, 61% outperforming over the three-year period and 57% outperforming for the five-year period. In Equities, our performance improved over the one-year and the five-year periods, but it remained relatively challenged due to both stock selection and highly concentrated benchmark returns led by a narrow set of growth-oriented stocks. Approximately 45% of equity assets were in outperforming services for the one-year period, 35% for the three-year period and 65% for the five-year period ended December 31, 2024. (This performance data reflects the percentage of active fixed income and equity assets in Institutional Services that outperformed their respective benchmarks, gross of fees, and of active fixed income and equity assets in Retail advisor and I share class funds ranked in the top half of their Morningstar category; if no advisor class exists, we used A share class. Performance for private client services included as available.)

Net Flows

Scaling our proven investment services remains a key focus of our firm. In 2024, we grew our actively managed platform organically, registering $4.3 billion annual net inflows across our active strategies. Additionally, we grew organically in two of our three distribution channels, retail and private wealth, while institutions saw net outflows.

By asset class, our active fixed income platform, consisting of our taxable and tax-exempt strategies, grew organically at a 9% annual rate. Active alternative/multi-asset strategies also grew organically at a 3% annual rate. Partially offsetting the above-mentioned trends, our actively managed equity strategies posted an attrition rate of nearly 10%, with outflows primarily concentrated within institutions. Across our passively managed platform, we registered $6.5 billion outflows. AB’s net firm-wide outflows totaled $2.2 billion in 2024, improving versus $7.0 billion net firm-wide outflows in 2023.

By channel, retail gross sales rose to $99.9 billion in 2024, up from $71.1 billion in 2023. The retail redemption rate also rose to 30% from 28% in 2023, and full-year inflows were $13.4 billion, driven by strong demand for our taxable and tax-exempt fixed income. Within our institutional channel, 2024 gross sales of $13.0 billion increased from the prior-year’s $11.8 billion. Net outflows of $16.5 billion were primarily concentrated within active equities. Our institutional pipeline was at $10.7 billion AUM at year-end 2024 versus $12.0 billion at year-end 2023. In private wealth, gross sales of $20.8 billion increased from the prior-year’s $18.6 billion, with the channel generating $0.9 billion net inflows, and remaining positive for four consecutive years.

Our Compensation Practices are Structured to Help the Firm Realize its Growth Strategy

Deliver superior investment solutions to clients
Develop, commercializeand scale our suiteof servicesExpanding our CoverageWe launched our first perpetual, retail-oriented alternative offering with CarVal, the AB CarVal Credit Opportunities Interval Fund, in addition to 5 new active ETFs, bringing the total to 17 active ETFs with $5.5 billion AUM.Diversifying our PlatformWe launched an insurance vertical and continued to grow our private markets capabilities, in partnership with Equitable, reaching $70 billion in AUM. Enhancing our MarginsWe delivered on transformative initiatives such as our Bernstein Research Joint Venture and the relocation of our New York City office, which contributed to our 410 bps margin expansion in 2024.Growing Organically Our actively managed assets grew organically in 2024, registering $4.3 billion in net active annual inflows, led by $24.6 billion in active fixed income inflows, across taxable and tax-exempt.
Fixed Income and Equity Performance
Maintain strong incremental margins(1)
AB Adjusted Operating Margin
Total Unitholder Return (2020 - 2024; assumes dividend reinvestment)

Overview

Record Retail SalesActive Fixed IncomeOrganic GrowthBeneficial Pipeline Mix
AB’s retail channel tops record 2021 salesRecord annual active fixed income inflowsTwo of three channels grew organically in 2024Alternatives represented over
$99.9B$24.6B5% & 1%88%
in gross sales in 2024, in-line with our record 2021 salesnet inflows in taxable and tax-exemptRetail & Private Wealth grew organically 5% & 1% in 2024of institutional pipeline fee base at year-end

(1)We provide additional information regarding our adjusted operating margin in MD&A above in Item 7.

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Overview of 2024 Incentive Compensation Program

When reflecting on 2024 performance and pay, each of our NEOs received a portion of his year-end incentive compensation in the form of an annual cash bonus and a portion in the form of long-term incentive compensation awards. The split between annual cash bonus and long-term incentive compensation varied depending on the NEO's total compensation, with lower-paid executives receiving a greater percentage of their incentive compensation as cash bonuses than more highly-paid executives. (For additional information about these compensatory elements, see “Compensation Elements for NEOs”below.)

In 2024, we utilized performance scorecards for senior leaders of the firm, including our NEOs. These scorecards require our senior leaders to develop and maintain a broad leadership mindset with priorities, such as accelerating strategic initiatives and our firm's alternatives platform, that are aligned with firm-wide goals of creating long-term value for all of our stakeholders. The scorecard for each NEO reflected our Growth Strategy and included actual results relative to target metrics across the following measures:

Financial performance, including peer results, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net revenue growth and operating efficiency targets (see our discussion of “Management Operating Metrics” in Item 7 for a reconciliation between our results pursuant to U.S. GAAP and our adjusted results);

Investment performance, by delivering competitive returns across services and time periods;

Strategic, aligned with our strategy of delivering core investment solutions, while developing high-quality differentiated services, in faster-growing geographies, responsibly, in partnership with Equitable;

Organizational, including organizational effectiveness and efficiency, leadership impact, succession planning, developing talent, innovating and automating, and real estate utilization; and

Cultural, including purpose, employee engagement, diversity, retention and safety.

The scorecards support management and the Compensation Committee in assessing each executive's performance relative to business, operational and cultural goals established at the beginning of the year and reviewed in the context of the current-year financial performance of the firm. The amount of incentive compensation paid to our NEOs continues to be determined on a discretionary basis by the Compensation Committee. (For additional information, please see "Compensation Committee; Process for Determining Executive Compensation" below in this CD&A.)

Mr. Bernstein, with the Compensation Committee, continue to believe that the appropriate metric to consider in determining the amount of incentive compensation paid to all employees, including our NEOs, in respect of 2024 performance is the ratio of adjusted employee compensation and benefits expense to adjusted net revenues, which termsare described immediately below:

Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expense is our total employee compensation and benefits expense minus other employment costs such as recruitment, training, temporary help and meals, and excludes the impact of mark-to-market vesting expense, as well as dividends and interest expense, associated with employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments. Also, we adjust for certain performance-based fees passed through to our investment professionals.

Adjusted net revenues (see our discussion of“Management Operating Metrics” in Item 7 for a reconciliation between our results pursuant to U.S. GAAP and our adjusted results) exclude investment gains and losses and dividends and interest on employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments. In addition, adjusted net revenues offset distribution-related payments to third parties as well as amortization of deferred sales commissions against distribution revenues. We also exclude additional pass-through expenses we incur (primarily through our transfer agent) that are reimbursed and recorded as fees in revenues. Additionally, 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 funds, and AB’s investment gains and losses on its investment in such funds, that were eliminated in consolidation. We also adjust for certain acquisition-related pass-through performance-based fees and certain other performance-based fees passed through to our investment professionals.

In addition, Mr. Bernstein, along with the Compensation Committee, continue to believe that the firm’s adjusted employee compensation and benefits expense, excluding the impact of performance-based fees, generally should not exceed 50.0% of our adjusted net revenues annually, except in unexpected or unusual circumstances. As the table below indicates, in 2024, adjusted employee compensation and benefits expense amounted to approximately 47.9% of our adjusted net revenues (in thousands):

Net Revenues$4,475,139
Adjustments (see above)(946,741)
Adjusted Net Revenues$3,528,398
Employee Compensation & Benefits Expense1,801,767
Adjustments (see above)(110,729)
Adjusted Employee Compensation & Benefits Expense$1,691,038
Adjusted Compensation Ratio47.9%

Our 2024 adjusted compensation ratio of approximately 47.9% reflects a balancing of the need to keep compensation levels competitive with industry peers in order to attract, motivate and retain highly-qualified talent with the need to maintain strong operating leverage in our business. The Compensation Committee works with management to help ensure both needs are sufficiently addressed.

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We have described below each NEO’s individual achievements in 2024 given each officer’s role, the contents of their respective performance scorecards and the firm's business and operational goals:

Seth BernsteinPresident and Chief Executive OfficerSummary of Achievements: As President and CEO, Mr. Bernstein achieved organic growth in two of three distribution channels. Under Mr. Bernstein’s leadership, revenues increased, and operating margin expanded from 28% to 32%. Mr. Bernstein executed on multiple strategic initiatives, including the close of Bernstein Research Services joint ventures with Societe Generale, the continued strengthening of flows into retail products like Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), the creation of an insurance vertical, the launch of AB’s first onshore fund in China, the expansion of operations in India, and the development of AB’s private alternative platform. Mr. Bernstein enhanced the AB executive leadership team with the appointment of Chris Hogbin as Global Head of Investments and Jackie Marks as Chief Financial Officer, while fostering the development of managers, and cultivating a strong firm culture.Individual Achievements Financial and Investment Performance•Maintained flows in a difficult fundraising environment; two of the firm’s three distribution channels grew organically year-over-year. •2024 adjusted EPU of $3.25 increased 21% versus 2023 and adjusted operating margin increased 410 bps to 32.3%.•Despite challenging markets, maintained strong performance in Fixed Income, outperforming applicable peers or benchmarks, while our equities franchise underperformed due to both stock selection as well as strong benchmark returns narrowly led by a small number of mega-cap technology stocks (both measured by the percentage of assets outperforming). Strategic•Closed the Bernstein Research Services joint ventures with Societe Generale and enhanced the longer-term financial flexibility for AB to invest in core businesses of investment and wealth management. •Capitalized on strategic investments and deepened market share for key products. Oversaw the growth of the ETF and SMA platforms; the ETF business expanded to 17 funds and over $5B in AUM, while SMAs generated $6B in net flows. Gained share and built track record in Europe via newly acquired Global & European Growth Equities Team which has reached over $713M in AUM.•Created an insurance vertical to capitalize on momentum and grow AB’s brand in the insurance space. Hired Geoff Cornell as AB’s first Chief Investment Officer of Insurance. Oversaw the $100M commitment to Reinsurance Group of America’s (RGA) sidecar, Ruby Re, gaining access to investment management agreements with RGA for $1B of private market AUM.•After receiving Fund Management Company license in December of 2023, launched AB’s first onshore fund in China. Appointed Dengpan Luo as Chief Executive Officer and laid plans to hire a Chief Investment Officer of FMC to drive growth and flows in 2025.•Committed to the growth of the Private Alternatives platform. Raised over $8B in gross sales and made progress in retail distribution through the launch of the Credit Opportunities Fund and AB Lend. Navigated AB CarVal business through challenging markets and the finalization of the contingent earnout. Laid groundwork for further integration of AB CarVal and broader private alternatives platform.Organizational•Led a successful transition of New York midtown office to state-of-the-art building in Hudson Yards. •Bolstered the strength of the executive leadership team through the appointment of Chris Hogbin as Global Head of Investments and onboarding of Jackie Marks as Chief Financial Officer. •Invested in Pune office, expanded headcount to include over 500 roles across corporate, client group, and investment functions. Established local leadership and cultivated a strong culture with high engagement.•Navigated ESG headwinds and advanced firmwide sustainability goals. Strengthened controls and oversight to minimize risk and advanced corporate sustainability. Culture•Improved firmwide voluntary attrition and retention among our top performers.•Maintained strong engagement metrics in AB’s employee survey. Invested in competence initiatives to boost strength of AB managers.
2024 Compensation
Jackie MarksChief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2024*Summary of Achievements: As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ms. Marks oversaw the delivery of complete, accurate and timely financial results both internally and externally (in Forms 10-K and 10-Q and Earnings Releases) and ensured continuity and continuous improvement of a strong Finance function. Ms. Marks oversaw the prioritization of the firm’s strategic initiatives and Corporate Development activities.Individual Achievements Financial •Oversaw the achievement of improved margin growth from 28.2% to 32.3%.•Delivered on a short-term cost reduction plan to fund in-year strategic initiatives as well as co-led firm-wide efforts to develop a proactive approach to managing costs and creating capacity to improve economic margin and invest in the business.•Improved AB’s financial processes through enhanced budgeting; bringing improved financial discipline allowing for clear prioritization of spend and investment across the firm.Strategic•Formulated a Strategy and Corporate Development function to enable the acceleration of strategic initiatives. Proactively managed the assignment of investments in strategic initiatives.•Provided financial leadership to support the completion of the joint ventures between AB and Societe Generale.•Supported the $100M commitment to Reinsurance Group of America’s (RGA) sidecar, Ruby Re, to gain access to certain investment management agreements with RGA for $1B of private market AUM.•Maintained a strong relationship with Equitable, successfully partnering on the financial impacts of our strategic initiatives and investments.•Led the finance effort related to the finalization of the AB CarVal contingent earnout. Organizational•Strengthened the Finance function with several leadership hires and expanded roles for high potential talent.•Enhanced financial rigor around decision-making through additional management analytics providing greater actionable analysis.•Continued automation of processes within the Finance function, supporting innovation and allowing additional capacity for business partnering.•Began the roll out of a best-in-class ERP system estimated to be complete in 2025.Culture•Maintained strong Finance employee engagement, retention, in-office collaboration and diversity within our workforce.•Successfully completed a listening tour of Finance employees after joining the firm, enhanced collaboration within Finance with regular Town Halls and cross team events.•Introduced development opportunities to Finance employees through Power Hours: learning sessions to allow teams to improve knowledge of other business areas.
2024 Compensation
  • Jackie Marks joined AB on January 8, 2024, as a Senior Advisor and was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer as of March 1, 2024. Bill Siemers served as Interim Chief Financial Officer from January 1, 2024, to February 29, 2024.
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Onur ErzanGlobal Head of Client Group and Head of Private WealthSummary of Achievements: As Global Head of Client Group (CG) and Head of Private Wealth (PW), Mr. Erzan delivered strong results across both groups. Mr. Erzan created an insurance vertical and appointed AB’s first Chief Investment Officer of Insurance. Mr. Erzan co-led efforts to launch AB’s first onshore fund in China, and drove progress across other strategic initiatives, including surpassing $5B in ETF assets under management, fostering sales growth in retail channel, and establishing new leadership, talent review, and process enhancement efforts in institutional business. Additionally, Mr. Erzan oversaw the expansion of global family, family office, and ultra-high net worth teams within AB’s Private Wealth Management division.Individual AchievementsFinancial•Achieved solid results in CG with 2024 gross sales of $113B, including $100B retail and $13B institutional. US Retail, a key strategic growth area, grew sales by 26% year-over-year and achieved a sixth straight year of organic growth. •Realized positive PW net flows (+$862M), with 0.7% annualized net organic growth, the fourth straight year of organic growth. Grew advisor productivity by 10% and made progress towards advisor growth goals. Saw 3-year client retention above 95%.Strategic•Expanded ETF platform, adding five funds in 2024 for a total suite of 17 funds; surpassed $5B in total AUM across multiple client channels. ETF platform launched in September 2022 with two funds.•Co-led launch of first onshore fund in China after obtaining regulatory license for AB’s fund management company (FMC) in 2023. Implemented leadership changes at FMC to improve performance and build distribution relationships. Oversaw growth in sales in Asia Pacific region by 80% year-over-year. •Created an insurance vertical and appointed Geoff Cornell as AB’s first Chief Investment Officer of Insurance. Reorganized insurance investment, operations, marketing, and sales teams into the newly formed vertical. Led the $100M commitment to Reinsurance Group of America’s (RGA) sidecar, Ruby Re, to gain access to certain investment management agreements with RGA for $1B of private market AUM. In defined contribution, fostered capabilities with forums and consultant education roadshow. •Oversaw generation of $7B in gross alternatives sales for retail and institutional clients, and $1B for private wealth clients. •Revised organizational structure to enhance strategic planning across channels; launched new strategies including Credit Opportunities Fund and AB Lend.•Made progress toward Private Wealth advisor growth goals and client segmentation strategy. Increased total advisor by 5 to a total of 246 in 2024. Demonstrated success in key wealth client segments with UHNW Client Growth +~23%, outpacing the ~12% AUM growth for PWM overall.•Launched client experience program and a corresponding culture campaign, initiated pilots for various projects, and established an organizational structure for rolling out enhanced client experience.Organizational•Executed onboarding of several senior leadership roles within the CG globally across sales, business development, and product strategy.•Centered organizational structure to focus on new business growth within targeted client segments. (UHNW, Global Families, Family Offices, Women and Diverse Markets). Culture•Continued to foster a positive, results-driven culture of continuous learning and development across CG and PW. Supported a smooth transition to AB’s new office at the Spiral. Ensured collaboration across both organizations including cross-department partnerships in business management and marketing.•Prioritized a customer-centric approach across the organization via segmented client playbooks and client engagement surveys.
2024 Compensation
Chris HogbinGlobal Head of InvestmentsSummary of Achievements: As Global Head of Investments, Mr. Hogbin oversaw solid investment performance across AB’s investment platform and delivered organic growth across our actively managed services. He has engendered high levels of engagement amongst our investment professionals and driven a greater level of cohesiveness and collaboration among our investors. Mr. Hogbin has found opportunities to develop, deploy, and retain talent across the investment organization, to better leverage a common infrastructure, and has evaluated opportunities to invest in capabilities that deliver better outcomes for clients.Individual Achievements Financial and Investment Performance•Despite challenging markets, maintained strong performance in Fixed Income, outperforming applicable peers or benchmarks, while our equities franchise underperformed due to both stock selection as well as strong benchmark returns narrowly led by a small number of mega-cap technology stocks (both measured by the percentage of assets outperforming). •Worked to address areas of underperformance and developed plans to deliver improved investment performance.•Delivered organic growth across AB’s actively managed services.Strategic•Onboarded and started commercialization of new Global & European Growth Equities team launching two Lux vehicles and raising $713M AUM in first year.•Supported commercialization of innovative fixed income services, with significant organic growth in Muni SMA and new institutional clients in systematic Fixed Income services. •Directed rebuild of AB’s multi-manager long short equities service, Arya.•Oversaw continued build out of active ETF business, bringing total to 17 funds and surpassing $5B AUM.•Successfully launched first product in China FMC, and developed plan for future product launches.Organizational•Introduced new management structure with a single Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer across the investment teams, to drive more consistency and a greater focus on strategic planning, organizational effectiveness and operational excellence.•Introduced a variety of talent processes to better attract, develop and retain the best and most innovative investment talent. •Reorganized AB’s responsibility team and improved alignment with investment teams by implementing industry focused organization.•Made progress on researching and evaluating options to evolve AB’s investment infrastructure.Culture•Engendered high levels of engagement amongst investment professionals through various activities and initiatives geared toward employees developing an overall investments mindset.•Supported a smooth transition to Hudson Yards office, with the investment teams seated in close proximity to each other, fostering greater connectedness and interaction.•Oversaw numerous working groups and various other forums for investors across asset classes to come together to discuss investment topics, processes, industry trends and to raise ideas for creating greater cohesion amongst our investors.
2024 Compensation
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Karl SprulesChief Operating Officer (COO)Summary of Achievements: As COO, Mr. Sprules successfully completed the relocation of AB’s New York Midtown office to Hudson Yards, marking a significant advancement in AB’s real estate strategy. Mr. Sprules co-led cost savings efforts across the firm, spearheaded efforts to achieve 90% in-office compliance and drove the expansion of AB’s footprint in India, China, and Ireland.Individual AchievementsFinancial•Drove cost discipline efforts across corporate functions, resulting in reduced Global Technology and Operations costs, lower Legal and Compliance expenditures, and savings from the early termination of AB’s New York Midtown real estate lease.•Co-led firm-wide efforts to develop a continuous and proactive approach to managing costs and creating capacity to improve economic margin and invest in the business. Identified and kicked off a multi-year scoping and planning process across a number of initiatives focused on enhancing financial rigor, location strategy, talent development, business and system improvement, and artificial intelligence. Strategic•Established a new entity in Dublin, Ireland and obtained necessary regulatory approval allowing AB to provide portfolio management services in all offices across the European Union, enabling us to support the growth of AB's newly acquired Global & European Growth equities business.•Supported the completion of AB’s joint ventures with Societe Generale of Bernstein Research and oversaw a significant transfer of technology and operations functions; continues to play an active role in the executive oversight of the joint ventures.•Ensured operational readiness for the launch and post-launch of AB’s first equity fund in China, championed the establishment of the local business, and actively advised on organizational and leadership changes.Organizational•Led AB’s location strategy, consolidating the firm’s real estate footprint, including moving nearly 800 New York employees to Hudson Yards while decommissioning nearly 1 million square feet of real estate.•Expanded AB India functions across all major units of the firm, adding an additional 137 roles in 2024, managed staff attrition lower than market rates, and obtained regulatory approval to perform investment advisory activities allowing us to support future growth.•Established the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer role to drive the strategic use of AI to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and transform operational and business processes across the firm.Culture•Led the change management of AB’s relocation to Hudson Yards by regularly collaborating with leadership and establishing a committee to maintain engagement and seamless integration into the new space.•Drove the firm to 90% in-office compliance and partnered to create simplified and accessible reporting for managers to enhance workplace collaboration.•Organized various employee gatherings, including the firm’s first all-employee events in New York and Nashville, to foster staff unity and engagement across business units.
2024 Compensation
Bill SiemersInterim Chief Financial Officer effective May 31, 2023 through February 29, 2024Summary of Achievements: As Interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Siemers oversaw the delivery of complete, accurate and timely financial results both internally and externally (in Forms 10-K and 10-Q and Earnings Releases), supported the transition to a new CFO, and ensured continuity and continuous improvement of a strong Finance function. Mr. Siemers held the role of Controller and Chief Accounting Officer through August 20, 2023.Individual AchievementsFinancial•Contributed to cost reduction and containment initiatives in a restricted revenue growth environment.Strategic•Supported the contribution of our cash equities and research business into a planned joint venture between AB and Societe Generale.Organizational•Led the Finance function and executed all CFO responsibilities for approximately nine months. •Supported the integration plans and processes of financial functions relating to the 2022 CarVal acquisition. •Supported the successful recruitment process to identify and hire a new CFO as well as facilitated transition and onboarding.Culture•Maintained strong Finance employee engagement, retention and in-office collaboration and grew diversity within our workforce.
2024 Compensation

The compensation of each of these NEOs reflected the Compensation Committee’s judgment (and Mr. Bernstein’s judgment, with respect to each executive other than himself) in assessing the importance of the executive's achievements in the context of our firm’s adjusted financial results and progress in advancing our Growth Strategy.

Compensation Committee; Process for Determining Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Stonehill (Chair), Mr. Kaye and Mr. Pearson. The Compensation Committee held five regular meetings in 2024.

As discussed in “NYSE Governance Matters” in Item 10, AB Holding, as a limited partnership, is exempt from NYSE rules that require public companies to have a compensation committee consisting solely of independent directors. EQH owns, directly and through various subsidiaries, an approximate 61.9% interest in AB (as of December 31, 2024), and compensation expense is a significant component of our financial results. For these reasons, Mr. Pearson, director and President and CEO of EQH, is a member of the Compensation Committee, and any action taken by the Compensation Committee requires his affirmative vote or consent. Given this structure, the Compensation Committee has established a sub-committee consisting entirely of non-management directors (i.e., Mr. Stonehill and Mr. Kaye). This “Section 16 Sub-Committee” approves awards of restricted AB Holding Units to NEOs to ensure we can utilize the short-swing trading exemption set forth in Section 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Under this exemption, equity grants to our firm's executive officers are exempt from short-swing trading rules if each such grant is approved by the full Board or a committee of the Board consisting entirely of “non-employee” directors (generally, directors who are not officers of the company or an affiliate).

The Compensation Committee has general oversight of compensation and compensation-related matters, including:

determining cash bonuses;

determining contributions and awards under incentive plans or other compensation arrangements (whether qualified or non-qualified) for employees of AB and its subsidiaries, and amending or terminating such plans or arrangements or any welfare benefit plan or arrangement or making recommendations to the Board with respect to adopting any new incentive compensation plan, including equity-based plans;

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reviewing and approving the compensation of our CEO, evaluating his performance, and determining and approving his compensation level based on this evaluation; and

reviewing and discussing the CD&A and recommending to the Board its inclusion in each of AB’s and AB Holding’s Form 10-K and, and when applicable, proxy statements.

The Compensation Committee has developed a comprehensive process for:

reviewing our executive compensation program to ensure it is aligned with our firm’s philosophy and strategic objectives;

evaluating performance by our NEOs against goals and objectives established in each executive's performance scorecard at the beginning of the year; and

setting compensation for the NEOs and other senior executives.

The Compensation Committee’s year-end process generally focuses on the cash bonuses and long-term incentive compensation awards granted to NEOs and other senior executives. Mr. Bernstein, working with the other senior executives, provides recommendations for individual executive awards to the Compensation Committee for its consideration. As part of this process, and as we discuss more fully below in "Compensation Consultant; Benchmarking Data," the Chief People Officer provides the Compensation Committee with competitive market data from one or more compensation consultants.

Management periodically reviews, with the Compensation Committee, the firm’s expected adjusted financial and operating results, the firm’s actual adjusted financial and operating results and management’s year-end compensation expectations, as they evolve throughout the year. Management accomplished these reviews during regular meetings of the Compensation Committee held in February, May, September, October and November 2024. The Compensation Committee approved the firm's final year-end compensation recommendations during its regular meeting held in November 2024.

Additional information regarding the Compensation Committee’s functions can be found in the Committee's charter, which is available online in the “Responsibility - Corporate Governance” section of our Internet Site.

Compensation Consultant; Benchmarking Data

In 2024, we retained McLagan Partners (“McLagan”) as an independent consultant to provide competitive market data and trend forecasting for our NEOs and other senior executives, for which we paid McLagan $50,000 (the "2024 Benchmarking Data"). McLagan has an extensive database on compensation for most asset management companies, including private companies for which information is not otherwise available.

The 2024 Benchmarking Data summarized 2023 compensation levels and 2024 salaries, which helps form a reasonable estimation of compensation levels in the industry for executive positions like those held by our NEOs at selected asset management companies comparable to ours in terms of size and business mix (the“Comparable Companies”) and, in so doing, assists in determining the appropriate level of compensation for our NEOs.

The Comparable Companies, which management selected with input from McLagan, included:

BaringsColumbia ThreadneedleFranklin Templeton Investments
Goldman Sachs Asset ManagementInvescoJanus Henderson Investors
Loomis, Sayles & CompanyMFS Investment ManagementMorgan Stanley Investment Management
Neuberger Berman GroupNuveen InvestmentsPacific Investment Management
Prudential Global Investment Mgmt.Schroder Investment ManagementT. Rowe Price

The 2024 Benchmarking Data indicated that, as a group, our NEOs fall within market range. Please note that we excluded Mr. Siemers from this analysis as he resigned from his position as Interim Chief Financial Officer on February 29, 2024, at which point he transitioned into the role of a Senior Advisor to AB.

The Compensation Committee considered this information in concluding that the compensation levels paid in 2024 to our NEOs were appropriate and reasonable.

Compensation Elements for NEOs

We utilize a variety of compensation elements to achieve the goals described above, consisting of base salary, annual short-term incentive compensation awards (cash bonuses), a long-term incentive compensation award program, a defined contribution plan, a defined benefit plan and certain other benefits, each of which wediscuss below:

Base Salaries

Base salaries comprise a relatively small portion of our NEOs’ total compensation. We consider individual experience, responsibilities and tenure with the firm when determining the narrow range of base salaries paid to our NEOs (please refer to “Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement” belowfor information relating to Mr. Bernstein’s base salary and other compensation elements).

Annual Short-Term Incentive Compensation Awards (Cash Bonuses)

We provide our NEOs with annual short-term incentive compensation awards in the form of cash bonuses.

We believe that annual cash bonuses, which generally reflect individual performance and the firm’s current year adjusted financial performance, provide a short-term retention mechanism for our NEOs because such bonuses typically are paid in December.

Annual cash bonuses for the 2024 performance for each NEO were determined in November 2024 and paid in December 2024. These bonuses, and the 2024 long-term incentive compensation awards described immediately below, were based on management’s evaluation, subject to the Compensation Committee’s review and approval, of each NEO’s performance during the year, the firm's progress in advancing its Growth Strategy during the year, the performance of the NEO’s business unit or function compared to business and operational goals established in each NEO's performance scorecard at the beginning of the year, and the firm’s current-year adjusted financial performance.

In 2024, Mr. Bernstein received a cash bonus of $5,425,000 in accordance with the terms of the employment agreement into which he entered with the General Partner, AB and AB Holding as of May 1, 2017 (the “CEO Employment Agreement”) and after review of Mr. Bernstein's performance during 2024 by the Compensation Committee. Please refer to “Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement” below for additional information relating to Mr. Bernstein’s cash bonus and other compensation elements.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards

Long-term incentive compensation awards generally are denominated in restricted AB Holding Units. We utilize this structure to align our NEOs’ long-term interests directly with the interests of our Unitholders and indirectly with the interests of our clients, as strong performance for our clients generally contributes directly to increases in AUM and improved financial performance for the firm.

We believe that annual long-term incentive compensation awards provide a long-term retention mechanism for our NEOs because such awards generally vest ratably over three years. We also believe that certain long term incentive compensation awards can be used for recruitment or retention purposes when it includes a required service period. In January 2025, Mr. Erzan received a long term incentive award of $5,000,016 which cliff vests December 2028 subject to Mr. Erzan's continued service.

For 2024 performance, awards were granted in December 2024 to each of Mr. Bernstein, Ms. Marks. Messrs. Erzan, Hogbin and Sprules pursuant to the AB 2024 Incentive Compensation Award Program (the "ICAP"), an unfunded, non-qualified incentive compensation plan, and the AB 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan, our equity compensation plan (the “2017 Plan”).

Prior to the date on which an award vests, the AB Holding Units underlying an award are restricted and are not permitted to be transferred. Upon vesting, the AB Holding Units underlying an award generally are delivered, unless the award recipient has, in advance, voluntarily elected to defer receipt to future periods or the award is structured with a delayed delivery date. Quarterly cash distributions on vested and unvested restricted AB Holding Units are delivered to award recipients when cash distributions are paid generally to Unitholders.

An award recipient who resigns or is terminated without cause prior to the vesting date is eligible to continue to vest in his or her long-term incentive compensation award subject to compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in the applicable award agreement, including restrictions on competition, and restrictions on employee and client solicitation. Additionally, the award agreement provides for continued vesting in the event of an award recipient's retirement, subject to applicable restrictive covenants. To be eligible for retirement, an award recipient must provide notice of retirement, enter into a retirement agreement and satisfy a "Rule of 70," whereby the sum of the recipient's age and full years of service must equal at least 70.

Clawbacks

The award agreement contained in the AB Incentive Compensation Award Program ("ICAP") permits AB to claw-back the unvested portion of an award if the recipient fails to adhere to our risk management policies. As such, for accounting purposes, there is no employee service requirement and awards are fully expensed when granted. As used in this Item 11, “vest” refers to the time at which the awards are no longer subject to forfeiture for breach of these restrictions or risk management policies, which wediscuss further below in “Consideration of Risk Matters in Determining Compensation.”

150AllianceBernstein

Further, pursuant to Rule 10D-1 of the Exchange Act and Section 303A.14 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the Board has adopted a Compensation Recovery Policy (the"Policy") effective November 15, 2023. Pursuant to the Policy, the Company will promptly recover erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation (as defined by section 10D(b)(1) to include any compensation that is granted, earned or vested wholly or in part upon attainment of a financial reporting measure) from any current or former Executive Officer of the Company as defined by Rule 10D-1 of the Exchange Act as required under the Exchange Act and the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The company does not currently award incentive-based compensation as defined by the Act. We have filed the Policy as Exhibit 97.01 to this Form 10-K.

The portion of incentive-based compensation received from EQH specific to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan is covered under the Compensation Recovery Policy adopted by our parent EQH and will be applicable to any current or previous incentive-based compensation received directly from our parent company by Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan. See "Summary Compensation Table" EQH for stock awards received by Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan for which the EQH Compensation Recovery Policy is applicable.

Former Interim CFO Resignation

As announced in a Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2024, Mr. Siemers resigned from his position as Interim Chief Financial Officer on February 29, 2024, a position he held since June 2023. Upon resignation, he transitioned into the role of a Senior Advisor to AB. His responsibilities as Interim CFO were promptly transferred to Jackie Marks on March 1, 2024 as the current CFO on an ongoing basis.

Defined Contribution Plan

U.S. employees of AB, including each of our NEOs, are eligible to participate in the Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of AB (as amended and restated as of January 1, 2015, and as further amended as of January 1, 2017, as of April 1, 2018, and as of June 28, 2022, the “AB Profit Sharing Plan”), a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan. The Compensation Committee determines the amount of company contributions (both the level of annual matching by the firm of an employee’s pre-tax salary deferral contributions and the annual company profit sharing contribution, if any).

With respect to 2024, the Compensation Committee determined in November 2024 that employee deferral contributions would be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 5% of eligible compensation and that there would be no profit sharing contribution paid by AB.

Defined Benefit Plan

The retirement plan (the "Retirement Plan") is a qualified, noncontributory, defined benefit retirement plan covering current and former employees who were employed in the United States prior to October 2, 2000. Each participant’s benefits are determined under a formula which takes into account years of credited service through December 31, 2008, the participant’s average compensation over prescribed periods and Social Security covered compensation. The maximum annual benefit payable under the Retirement Plan may not exceed the lesser of $100,000 or 100% of a participant’s average aggregate compensation for the three consecutive years in which he or she received the highest aggregate compensation from us or such lower limit as may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") on certain participants by reason of their coverage under another qualified retirement plan we maintain. For additional information regarding interest rates and actuarial assumptions, see Note 18 to AB's consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

During 2024, the Compensation Committee of the AB Board of Directors approved the termination of the Retirement Plan, effective May 22, 2024. We began the process of settling benefits with vested participants and all lump sum disbursements elected by plan participants were distributed in December 2024. The remaining retirement plan participants who did not elect a lump sum disbursement elected to roll over their benefit to a group annuity contract from a qualified insurance company to administer all future payments. The company will elect the qualified insurance company to administer all future payments during the first quarter of 2025 at which point, the remaining benefit obligation will be purchased by the insurance carrier and we will fully terminate the plan. As of December 31, 2024 the Retirement Plan was underfunded with a benefit obligation of $68.6 million and plan assets of $63.3 million.

Our policy is to satisfy our funding obligation for each year in an amount not less than the minimum required by ERISA and not greater than the maximum amount we can deduct for federal income tax purposes. We did not make a contribution to the Retirement Plan during 2024. The Company expects to make a contribution to the Retirement Plan during the first quarter of 2025 in the amount of $5.3 million to fully fund the Retirement Plan, purchase the group annuity contract and settle the remaining termination costs associated with the Retirement Plan.

Other Benefits

Change in Control Plan

In December 2020, the Compensation Committee approved the AllianceBernstein Change in Control Plan for Executive Officers (the "CIC Plan"). The purpose of the CIC Plan is to provide certain benefits for each individual designated by our CEO as an executive officer (an "Executive Officer") in the event of a change in control ("CIC") of AB. The CIC Plan contains a change in control provision substantially similar to the change in control provision included in Mr. Bernstein's employment agreement (as described below in "Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement"). The provisions under the CIC Plan also are described in a compensatory table below entitled, “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

The CIC Plan provides that, in the event of a CIC, unless prior to the CIC, any unvested restricted unit awards (including ICAP awards) then held by an Executive Officer are honored or assumed, or new rights are substituted therefore, so that the Executive Officer's rights and entitlements after the CIC are substantially equivalent to or better than the Executives Officer's rights and entitlements under the award, each award will, prior to the CIC, immediately and fully vest and no longer be subject to forfeiture.

In addition, (i) if the Executive Officer's employment is terminated by AB, other than for cause, (ii) the Executive Officer resigns with good reason (as defined in the CIC Plan), or (iii) the Executive Officer dies or becomes disabled, within 12 months following a CIC, the Executive Officer will be entitled to receive the sum of (a) the Executives Officer's annual base salary at the time of his or her termination, and (b) the Executive Officer's most recent annual cash incentive compensation award, multiplied by two.

The CIC Plan defines CIC to include any transaction as a result of which EQH ceases to control AB, or a successor entity that conducts the business of AB. However, there would not be a CIC unless, as a result of the transaction, an entity other than EQH controls AB (or a successor to its business).

Life Insurance

Our firm pays the premiums associated with life insurance policies purchased on behalf of our NEOs.

Consideration of Risk Matters in Determining Compensation

In 2024, we considered whether our compensation practices for employees, including our NEOs, encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking and whether any risks arising from our compensation practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our firm. For the reasonsset forth below, we have determined that our current compensation practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our firm.

As described above in “Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards,” long-term incentive compensation awards generally are denominated in AB Holding Units that are not distributed until subsequent years, so the ultimate value that the employee derives from the award depends on the long-term performance of the firm. Denominating the award in restricted AB Holding Units and deferring their delivery is intended to sensitize employees to risk outcomes and discourage them from taking excessive risks, whether relating to investments, operations, regulatory compliance and/or cyber security, that could lead to a decrease in the value of the AB Holding Units and/or an adverse effect on the firm's long-term prospects. Furthermore, and as noted above in “Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards,” generally all outstanding long-term incentive compensation awards include a provision permitting us to “claw-back” the unvested portion of an employee’s long-term incentive compensation award if the Compensation Committee determines that (i) the employee failed to adhere to existing risk management policies and (ii) as a result of the employee’s failure, there has been or reasonably could be expected to be a material adverse impact on our firm or the employee’s business unit.

Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement

Employment Agreement Overview

Mr. Bernstein began his role as President and CEO on May 1, 2017, with an initial term ending on May 1, 2020, automatically extending each year thereafter unless the CEO Employment Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms (the “Employment Term”). The terms were approved by the Board considering various factors including compensation of Mr. Bernstein’s predecessor, the 2016 compensation and 2017 expected compensation of AB’s other executive officers and Mr. Bernstein’s compensation at his former employer. Amendments in December 2018 and 2019 included aligning equity awards with AB's practices, increasing severance payments, redefining change in control, and narrowing the definition of good reason.

Compensation Elements

Base Salary

Mr. Bernstein’s annual base salary under the CEO Employment Agreement has been, and continues to be, $500,000. This amount is consistent with our firm’s policy to keep base salaries of executives and other highly-compensated employees low in relation to total compensation. Any future increase to Mr. Bernstein's base salary is entirely at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

Cash Bonus

Mr. Bernstein is entitled to a target cash bonus of $3,000,000 annually, subject to review. For 2024, he received a $5,425,000 bonus based on performance evaluations. See description of the performance metrics and individual achievement for Mr. Bernstein above.

152AllianceBernstein

Restricted AB Holding Units

Starting in 2018, Mr. Bernstein is eligible for annual equity awards with a grant date fair value of $3,500,000, subject to review and increase by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, in accordance with AB’s compensation practices and policies generally applicable to the firm’s executive officers as in effect from time to time. During November 2024, the Compensation Committee approved an equity award to Mr. Bernstein with a grant date fair value equal to $5,075,000, subject to the same terms as other executive officers, which terms and conditions are described above in "Compensation Elements for NEOs - Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards."

Perquisites and Benefits

Mr. Bernstein is eligible for all executive benefit plans and, for his safety and accessibility, is provided with a company car and driver for business and personal use and cybersecurity protection services contracted through a third party.

Severance and Change in Control Benefits

If Mr. Bernstein is terminated without cause, or because of his death or disability, or resigns for good reason, and he signs and does not revoke a waiver and release of claims, he will receive the following severance benefits:

A cash payment based on a multiple of his base salary and bonus opportunity (1x for resignation for good reason, 1.5x for termination without cause or because of death or disability).

A pro rata bonus based on actual performance for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs.

COBRA coverage costs and following the COBRA coverage period, access to AB’s medical plans at his (or his spouse’s) sole expense.

If terminated within 12 months following a change in control (as defined in the amended CEO Employment Agreement), he will receive the same severance benefits as described above, except that his cash payment will be equal to 2x the sum of his base salary and bonus opportunity. In the event any payments made to Mr. Bernstein upon a change in control of AB constitute “golden parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code and would be subject to an excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, such payments will be reduced to the maximum amount that does not result in the imposition of such excise tax, but only if such reduction results in Mr. Bernstein receiving a higher net-after tax amount than he would receive absent such reduction.

For additional information on severance and change in control benefits for Mr. Bernstein as of December 31, 2024, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control below.

Mr. Bernstein is subject to confidentiality, non-competition during employment and six months after, and non-solicitation of customers and employees for 12 months post-termination.

Mr. Bernstein negotiated the severance and change-in-control provisions described immediately above to have the security and flexibility to focus on the business and preserve the value of his long-term incentive compensation. The Board and EQH determined that these provisions were reasonable and appropriate because they were necessary to recruit and retain Mr. Bernstein and provided Mr. Bernstein with effective incentives for future performance, aligning his interests with those of AB’s Unitholders and clients, and providing effective incentives for future performance.

Compensation awarded by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan

In February 2024, EQH granted to Mr. Bernstein, in connection with his membership on and service to the EQH Management Committee:

a restricted stock unit award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $400,006; and

a total shareholder return ("TSR") performance share award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $300,019, which can be earned subject to EQH’s total shareholder return relative to its peer group.

a EPS performance share award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $300,021, which can be earned subject to EQH's average of annual performance against Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS targets assigned each year.

Additionally, in February 2024, EQH granted to Mr. Erzan, in connection with their membership on and service to the EQH Management Committee:

a restricted stock unit award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $40,007; and

a TSR performance share award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $30,013, which can be earned subject to EQH’s total shareholder return relative to its peer group.

a EPS performance share award (for EQH common stock) with a grant date fair value of $30,006, which can be earned subject to EQH's average of annual performance against Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS targets assigned each year.

Assumptions made in determining the EQH restricted stock unit and performance share figures discussed above are described in footnotes to the compensatory tables below entitled "Summary Compensation Table for 2024" and "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024."

Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan may receive additional equity or cash compensation from EQH in the future related to their continued membership on and service to the EQH Management Committee.

CEO Pay Ratio

In 2024, the compensation of Mr. Bernstein, our President and CEO, was approximately 82 times the median pay of our employees, resulting in a 82:1 CEO Pay Ratio.

We identified our median employee by examining 2024 total compensation for all individuals, excluding Mr. Bernstein, who were employed by our firm as of December 31, 2024, the last day of our payroll year. We included all of our employees in this process, whether employed on a full-time or part-time basis. We did not make any assumptions or estimates with respect to total compensation, but we did adjust compensation paid to our non-U.S. employees during our 2024 fiscal year based on the average daily exchange rates for the three-month period ending September 30, 2024 (data compiled in fourth quarter) between the local currencies in which such employees are paid and U.S. dollars. We define “total compensation” as the aggregate of base salary (plus overtime, as applicable), commissions (as applicable), cash bonus and the grant date fair value of long-term incentive compensation awards.

After identifying the median employee based on total compensation, we calculated total compensation in 2024 for such employee using the same methodology we use for our NEOsas set forth below in the "Summary Compensation Table for 2024."

As illustrated in the table below, our 2024 CEO Pay Ratio is 82:1:

Seth BernsteinMedian Employee
Base salary ($)500,000127,000
Cash bonus ($)5,425,00014,000
Stock awards ($)(1)6,075,046—
All other compensation ($)(2)127,1486,779
Total ($)12,127,194147,779
2024 CEO Pay Ratio82:1

(1)Includes (i) an award granted by AB of restricted AB Holding Units with a grant date fair value of $5,075,000 and (ii) awards granted by EQH with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1,000,046, as more fully described above in “Compensation awarded by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan”For additional information, please refer to the compensatory tables below in this Item 11.

(2)For a description of Mr. Bernstein’s other compensation, please refer to the "Summary Compensation Table for 2024 below." The median employee's other compensation consists of a $6,345 contribution match under the AB Profit Sharing Plan, a $360 mobile phone stipend which is paid to employees generally as well, and a employer-paid group term life insurance premium of $74 .

Other Compensation-Related Matters

AB and AB Holding are, respectively, private and public limited partnerships. They are subject to taxes other than federal and state corporate income tax (see“Structure-related Risks” in Item 1A and Note 21 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8). Accordingly, Section 162(m) of the Code, which limits tax deductions relating to executive compensation otherwise available to an entity taxed as a corporation, is not applicable to either AB or AB Holding for 2024.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Pearson is a director and the President and CEO of EQH, the parent company of the General Partner.

No executive officer of AB serves as (i) a member of a compensation committee or (ii) a director of another entity, an executive officer of which serves as a member of AB’s Compensation Committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The members of the Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysisset forth aboveand, based on such review and discussion, recommended to the Board its inclusion in this Form 10-K.

Charles Stonehill (Chair)Daniel Kaye
Mark Pearson
154AllianceBernstein

Summary Compensation Table for 2024

Total compensation of our NEOs for 2024, 2023 and 2022, as applicable, is as follows:

Name and Principal Position · Year · Salary($) · Bonus($) · StockAwards(1)(2)($) · OptionAwards($) · Pension($) · All OtherCompensation($) · Total($)
Seth Bernstein(3)(4)President and CEO2024500,0005,425,0006,075,046——127,14812,127,194
2023500,0004,515,0004,995,054——114,20110,124,255
2022500,0004,925,0005,575,062——277,77711,277,839
Jackie MarksCFO2024383,0771,428,825971,175——5822,783,659
Onur Erzan(5)Head of Global Client Group and Private Wealth2024400,0003,080,8512,730,877——19,3026,231,030
2023400,0002,905,8512,555,887——17,5445,879,282
2022400,0001,955,8511,605,886——11,0173,972,754
Chris Hogbin(6)Global Head of Investments2024400,0003,025,0002,575,000——19,6946,019,694
Karl SprulesCOO2024400,0002,225,0001,775,000—123,93259,1094,583,041
2023400,0002,025,0001,575,000—3,01832,2944,035,312
2022400,0001,555,0001,105,000—122,83517,8603,200,695
Bill Siemers (7)Former Interim CFO2024300,000150,000———17,340467,340
2023300,000645,000255,000——17,3401,217,340
2022300,000525,0001,175,034——17,3402,017,374

(1)The figures in the “Stock Awards” column provide the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For the assumptions made in determining the AB Holding Unit award values, see Note 19 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Assumptions made in determining the EQH restricted stock unit, TSR performance share, and EPS performance share figures in the "Stock Awards" column are set forth in the EQH 2024 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program and described in a footnote to the "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024" table below.

(2)See “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024” below.

(3)See "Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement" and "Compensation Awarded by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan" above in CD&A for a description of Mr. Bernstein's compensatory elements. Please be advised that Mr. Bernstein's compensation also is disclosed by EQH.

(4)The "Stock Awards" column for 2024 includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock award (grant date fair value of $400,006), the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $300,019), and the EPS performance share award (grant date fair value of $300,021) Mr. Bernstein received from EQH in February 2024. For 2023, this column includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award (grant date fair value of $332,029) and the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $498,025) Mr. Bernstein received from EQH in February 2023. For 2022, this column includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award (grant date fair value of $400,033) and the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $600,029) Mr. Bernstein received from EQH in February 2022.

(5)The "Stock Awards" column for 2024 includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award (grant date fair value of $40,007), the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $30,013), and EPS performance share award (grant date fair value of $30,006) Mr. Erzan received from EQH in February 2024. For 2023, this column includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award (grant date fair value of $40,024) and the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $60,012) Mr. Erzan received from EQH in February 2023. For 2022, this column includes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock unit award (grant date fair value of $40,021) and the TSR performance share award (grant date fair value of $60,014) received from EQH in February 2022.

(6)We have not provided 2023 and 2022 compensation for Mr. Hogbin as he was not deemed to be a NEO in those years.

(7)Mr. Siemers resigned from his position as Interim CFO on February 29, 2024, at which point he transitioned into the role of a Senior Advisor to AB. The "Bonus" column for 2024 includes a stub bonus in recognition of the duties performed through February 2024 as Interim CFO.

The “All Other Compensation” column includes the aggregate incremental cost to our company of certain other expenses and perquisites. For 2024, this column includes the following:

Name · PersonalUse of Carand Driver($) · Contributionsto ProfitSharing Plan($) · LifeInsurancePremiums($) · Other(2)($)
Seth Bernstein104,787(1)17,2503,5641,547
Jackie Marks——582—
Onur Erzan—17,2506301,422
Chris Hogbin—17,2509661,478
Karl Sprules—17,2504,00237,857
Bill Siemers—15,0001,980360

(1)Mr. Bernstein is entitled to the use of a dedicated car and driver pursuant to his employment agreement for security and business purposes. The amount reflects Mr. Bernstein's personal use for commuting and other non-business use. Car and driver services were contracted through a third party. The cost of providing a car is determined annually and includes, as applicable, the cost of the driver, annual car lease, insurance cost and various miscellaneous expenses such as fuel and car maintenance.

(2)These amounts represent (i) mobile phone stipends paid to Messrs. Bernstein, Erzan, Hogbin, and Siemers which are paid to employees generally as well; (ii) a stipend paid to Mr. Sprules to help cover a portion of the housing cost in New York while traveling for business; and (iii) partial year cybersecurity protection services contracted through a third party for Messrs. Bernstein, Erzan, Hogbin, and Sprules to help mitigate against cyber, privacy, identity theft and reputational threats, which are available to executive officers, directors, and employees whose role includes representing AB publicly or processing significant financial transactions.

156AllianceBernstein

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024

Grants of awards under the 2017 Plan, our equity compensation plan, during 2024 made to our NEOs are as follows (we also discuss awards issued by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan below):

Grant Date · Estimated Future Payouts Under EquityIncentive Plan Awards(3) · All OtherStock Awards:Number of Sharesof Stockor Units(#) · Grant DateFair Valueof StockAwards(1)($)
Name · Threshold(#) · Target(#) · Maximum(#)
Seth Bernstein(2)(3)12/11/2024140,2325,075,000
2/14/202411,838400,006
2/14/20241,9847,93715,8747,937300,019
2/14/20242,2208,87917,7588,879300,021
Jackie Marks(2)12/11/202426,835971,175
Onur Erzan(2)(3)12/11/202472,6952,630,851
2/14/20241,18440,007
2/14/20241997941,58879430,013
2/14/20242228881,77688830,006
Chris Hogbin(2)12/11/202471,1532,575,000
Karl Sprules(2)12/11/202449,0471,775,000

(1)This column provides the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For the assumptions made in determining the AB Holding Unit values, see Note 19 to AB's consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

(2)As discussed above in “Overview of 2024 Incentive Compensation Program” and “Compensation Elements for NEOs—Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards,”long-term incentive compensation awards granted in December 2024 to our NEOs were denominated in restricted AB Holding Units. These awards vest in equal annual increments on each of December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027. These awards are shown in the “All Other Stock Awards” column of this table, the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2024 and the “AB Holding Unit and/or EQH Awards” columns of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End table.

(3)In February 2024, EQH granted to each of Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan (i) a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of $400,006 and $40,007, respectively, (ii) a TSR performance share award with a grant date fair value of $300,019 and $30,013, respectively, which can be earned subject to EQH's TSR relative to its peer group, and (iii) a EPS performance share award with a grant date fair value of $300,021 and $30,006, respectively, which can be earned subject to EQH's average of annual performance against Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS targets assigned each year. TSR is the total amount a company returns to investors during a designated period, including both share price appreciation and dividends. The number of TSR performance shares that are earned, which cliff vest on February 28, 2027, subject to continued service, will be determined at the end of the performance period (December 2026) by multiplying the number of unearned TSR performance shares by one of the following performance factors: 200% if EQH's TSR relative to its peers is in the 87.5 th percentile or greater; 100% if in the 50 th percentile; 25% if in the 30 th percentile; and nothing if falls below the 30 th percentile. Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS is the Non-GAAP Operating Earnings (subject to certain adjustments) divided by Diluted Common Shares Outstanding. The number of EPS performance shares that are earned, which cliff vest on February 28, 2027, subject to continued service, will be determined at the end of the performance period (December 2026) by multiplying the number of unearned EPS performance shares by the three-year average of the following initial EPS performance factors: 200% if Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS increase is 18% or greater over the Starting EPS Amount; 100% if increase is 12% over the Starting EPS Amount; 25% if increase is 3% over Starting EPS Amount; and nothing if increase is less than 3%. The Starting EPS Amount is assigned each year based on the comparative increase in Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS for each calendar year, over the Non-GAAP Operating EPS for the calendar year immediately preceding each calendar year. EQH performance shares receive dividend equivalents subject to the same vesting schedule and performance conditions as the performance shares themselves. The restricted stock unit awards, which vest in equal annual increments on each of February 28, 2025, 2026 and 2027, subject to continued service, increase or decrease in value depending on the price of an EQH common share. EQH restricted stock units receive dividend equivalents subject to the same vesting schedule as the restricted stock units themselves.

In 2024, the number of restricted AB Holding Units comprising year-end long-term incentive compensation awards granted to each NEO was determined based on the closing price of an AB Holding Unit as reported for NYSE composite transactions on December 11, 2024, the eighth business day of December as determined by the Compensation Committee. At the time of these awards, the Compensation Committee consisted of Mr. Stonehill (Chair) and Messrs. Kaye and Pearson; the Section 16 Subcommittee, which approved awards to our NEOs, consisted of Mr. Stonehill (Chair) and Mr. Kaye. For further information regarding the material terms of such awards, including the vesting terms and the formulas or criteria to be applied in determining the amounts payable, please refer to "Overview of 2024 Incentive Compensation Program" and "Compensation Elements for NEOs" above.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End

Outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2024 are as follows:

Option Awards · AB Holding Unit and/or EQH Awards
NameNumber ofSecuritiesUnderlyingUnexercisedOptionsExercisable(#)Number ofSecuritiesUnderlyingUnexercisedOptionsUnexercisable(#)OptionExercisePrice($)OptionExpirationDateNumber ofSharesor Units of Stock ThatHave NotVested (#)Market Value of Shares orUnits ofStock That Have NotVested(10)($)
Seth Bernstein(1)(2)(4)————270,35510,027,477
————23,4111,104,320
————68,6833,239,777
————18,184857,739
Jackie Marks(5)————26,835995,327
Onur Erzan(3)(4)(6)————139,1935,162,686
————2,487117,319
————7,422350,096
————1,81985,802
Chris Hogbin(7)————131,2234,867,051
Karl Sprules(8)————92,8893,445,241
Bill Siemers(9)————7,065262,030

(1)Mr. Bernstein was awarded: (i) 140,232 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2024 that are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027; (ii) 136,289 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2023, one-third of which vested on December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025 and 2026; (iii) 117,791 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2022, one-third of which vested on each of December 1, 2023 and 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest on December 1, 2025. For further information, see “Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement” above.

(2)EQH restricted stock unit awards, which are described for Mr. Bernstein in the second line of data in the above table, will vest ratably over a three-year vesting period subject to continued employment during the vesting period. EQH TSR performance share awards, which are described in the third line of data in the above table, and EQH EPS performance share awards, which are described in the fourth line of data in the above table, cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date subject to continued employment during the vesting period and meeting the applicable performance criteria. In February 2024, 2023 and 2022, EQH granted to Mr. Bernstein (i) a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of $400,006, $332,029 and $400,033, respectively; (ii) a TSR performance share award with a grant date fair value of $300,019, $498,025 and $600,029, respectively; and (iii) a EPS performance share award with a grant date fair value of $300,021, respectively. The TSR performance share awards granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 can be earned subject to EQH's TSR relative to its peer group. The EPS performance share award granted in 2024 can be earned subject to EQH's average of annual performance against Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS targets assigned each year. Actual and projected performance factors have been applied to the TSR performance share and EPS performance share awards reflected in the "Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End" table above. Please see the table above entitled "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024" for additional information regarding the EQH awards.

(3)EQH restricted stock unit awards, which are described for Mr. Erzan in the second line of data in the above table, will vest ratably over a three-year vesting period subject to continued employment during the vesting period. EQH TSR performance share awards, which are described in the third line of data in the above table, and EQH EPS performance share awards, which are described in the fourth line of data in the above table, cliff vest on the third anniversary of grant date subject to continued employment during the vesting period and meeting the applicable performance criteria. In February 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, EQH granted to Mr. Erzan (i) a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of $40,007, $40,024 and $40,021, respectively; (ii) a TSR performance share award with a grant date fair value of $30,013, $60,012 and $60,014, respectively; and (iii) a EPS performance share award with a grant date fair value of $30,006, respectively. The TSR performance share awards granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 can be earned subject to EQH's TSR relative to its peer group. The EPS performance share award granted in 2024 can be earned subject to EQH's average of annual performance against Non-GAAP Common Operating EPS targets assigned each year. Actual and projected performance factors have been applied to the TSR performance share and EPS performance share awards reflected in the "Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End" table above. Please see the table above entitled "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024" for additional information regarding the EQH awards.

(4)For further information regarding the equity awards granted to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan by EQH, please see "Compensation awarded by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan" above in CD&A.

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(5)Ms. Marks was awarded 26,835 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2024 that are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

(6)Mr. Erzan was awarded: (i) 72,695 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2024 that are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027; and (ii) 80,362 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2023, of which one-third vested on December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025 and 2026; and (iii) 38,771 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2022, one-third of which vested on December 1, 2023 and December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest on December 1, 2025.

(7)Mr. Hogbin was awarded 71,153 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2024 that are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027. The total AB Holding Unit figure set forth in the table includes AB Holding Units granted in years prior to when Mr. Hogbin was deemed to be a NEO.

(8)Mr. Sprules was awarded (i) 49,047 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2024 that are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025 2026 and 2027; and (ii) 51,538 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2023, of which one-third vested on December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025 and 2026; and (iii) 28,450 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2022, one-third of which vested on December 1, 2023 and December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest on December 1, 2025.

(9)Mr. Siemers was awarded: (i) 8,344 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2023, of which one-third vested on December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest in equal increments on each of December 1, 2025 and 2026; and (ii) 4,506 restricted AB Holding Units in December 2022, one-third of which vested on December 1, 2023 and December 1, 2024, and the remainder of which is scheduled to vest on December 1, 2025.

(10)The market values of restricted AB Holding Units (rounded to the nearest whole unit) set forth in this column were calculated assuming a price per AB Holding Unit of $37.09, which was the closing price on the NYSE of an AB Holding Unit on December 31, 2024, the last trading day of AB's last completed fiscal year. The market values of EQH shares set forth in this column were calculated assuming a price per share of $47.17, which was the closing price on the NYSE of an EQH share on December 31, 2024.

Option Exercises and AB Holding Units and EQH Shares Vested in 2024

AB Holding Units and EQH shares held by our NEOs that vested during 2024 are as follows:

AB Holding Unit and EQH Option Awards · AB Holding Unit and EQH Share Awards
NameNumber of ABHolding Unitsor EQHOptionsAcquired onExercise(#)Value Realizedon Exercise($)Number of ABHolding Unitsor EQH SharesAcquired onVesting(#)Value Realizedon Vesting ($)
Seth Bernstein (1)122,6552,115,306169,3546,100,635
Jackie Marks————
Onur Erzan (2)——128,9144,670,899
Chris Hogbin——60,4392,192,128
Karl Sprules——44,0401,597,334
Bill Siemers——28,224956,107

(1)Includes 20,602 EQH shares acquired with a value of $705,416 that vested during 2024.

(2)Includes 2,362 EQH shares acquired with a value of $80,857 that vested during 2024.

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Pension Benefits

NamePlan NameNumber of Years ofCredited Service(2)Present Value ofAccumulated Benefit ($)(3)Payments During LastFiscal Year
Karl Sprules (1)AB Retirement Plan11123,932—

(1)We have provided information for Mr. Sprules; he is the only one of our NEOs who participates in the AB Retirement Plan. For additional information regarding the AB Retirement Plan, see "Defined Benefit Plan" above in CD&A and Note 18 to AB's consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

(2)Effective December 31, 2008, benefit accruals were frozen under the AB Retirement Plan.

(3)During 2024, the Compensation Committee of the AB Board of Directors approved the termination of the Retirement Plan, effective May 22, 2024. Certain participants elected lump sum disbursements. Mr. Sprules elected to receive a lump sum disbursement from the Retirement Plan which was distributed to him on December 3, 2024 in the amount of $123,932. For further discussion, see "Defined Benefit Plan" above in CD&A and Note 18 to AB's consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

Estimated payments and benefits to which our NEOs would have been entitled upon a change in control of AB or the specified qualifying events of termination of employment as of December 31, 2024 are as follows:

Name and Trigger EventCashPayments(1)($)Acceleration ofRestrictedAB Holding UnitAwards(2)($)OtherBenefits(3)($)
Seth Bernstein
Change in control—10,027,477—
Termination by Mr. Bernstein for good reason(4)3,500,00010,027,47721,440
Termination of Mr. Bernstein's employment by AB other than for Cause or due to Death or Disability(5)(6)(7)5,250,00010,027,47721,440
Change in control + termination by Mr. Bernstein for good reason or termination of Mr. Bernstein's employment without cause(4)7,000,00010,027,47721,440
Resignation (complies with applicable agreements and restrictive covenants) under ICAP(8)—10,027,477—
Death or disability(7)—10,027,47721,440
Jackie Marks
Change in control—995,327—
Change in control + employment terminated by AB other than for cause, termination by Ms. Marks for good reason, or termination due to death or disability3,657,650995,327—
Resignation, retirement or termination by AB without cause (complies with applicable agreements and restrictive covenants) under ICAP; death or disability under ICAP(7)(8)—995,327—
Onur Erzan
Change in control—5,162,686—
Change in control + employment terminated by AB other than for cause, termination by Mr. Erzan for good reason, or termination due to death or disability6,961,7025,162,686—
Resignation, retirement or termination by AB without cause (complies with applicable agreements and restrictive covenants) under ICAP; death or disability under ICAP(7)(8)—5,162,686—
Name and Trigger EventCashPayments(1)($)Acceleration ofRestrictedAB Holding UnitAwards(2)($)OtherBenefits(3)($)
Chris Hogbin
Change in control—4,867,051—
Change in control + employment terminated by AB other than for cause, termination by Mr. Hogbin for good reason, or termination due to death or disability6,850,0004,867,051—
Resignation, retirement or termination by AB without cause (complies with applicable agreements and restrictive covenants) under ICAP; death or disability under ICAP(7)(8)—4,867,051—
Karl Sprules
Change in control—3,445,241—
Change in control + employment terminated by AB other than for cause, termination by Mr. Sprules for good reason, or termination due to death or disability5,250,0003,445,241—
Resignation, retirement or termination by AB without cause (complies with applicable agreements and restrictive covenants) under ICAP; death or disability under ICAP(7)(8)—3,445,241—
Bill Siemers(9)———

(1)It is possible that each NEO could receive a cash severance payment on the termination of his or her employment that is not contemplated in the CIC Plan. The amounts of any such cash severance payments would be determined at the time of such termination (other than for Mr. Bernstein), so we are unable to estimate such amounts. The amounts shown for Mr. Bernstein are described in the CEO Employment Agreement. The amounts shown for Ms. Marks, Mr. Erzan, Mr. Hogbin, and Mr. Sprules in the event of a change in control coupled with termination of employment are described in the CIC Plan.

(2)See Notes 2 and 19 in AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8 and “Long-Term Incentive Compensation Awards” above in CD&A for a discussion of the terms set forth in long-term incentive compensation award agreements relating to termination of employment.

(3)Reflects the value of group medical coverage to which Mr. Bernstein would be entitled.

(4)See "Overview of Mr. Bernstein's Employment Agreement" above for a discussion of the terms set forth in the CEO Employment Agreement relating to termination of employment.

(5)The CEO Employment Agreement defines “Disability” as a good faith determination by AB that Mr. Bernstein is physically or mentally incapacitated and has been unable for a period of 180 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period to perform substantially all of the duties for which he is responsible immediately before the commencement of the incapacity.

(6)Under the CEO Employment Agreement, upon termination of Mr. Bernstein’s employment due to death or disability, and after the COBRA period, AB will provide Mr. Bernstein and his spouse with access to participation in AB’s medical plans at Mr. Bernstein’s (or his spouse’s) sole expense based on a reasonably determined fair market value premium rate.

(7)“Disability” is defined in the ICAP award agreements of each NEO as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as determined by the carrier of the long-term disability insurance program maintained by AB or its affiliate that covers the NEO.

(8)Applicable agreements and restrictive covenants in the ICAP award agreement include restrictions on competition and restrictions on employee and client solicitation.

(9)Mr. Siemers resigned from his position as Interim CFO on February 29, 2024, at which point he transitioned into the role of a Senior Advisor to AB. As a result, he was ineligible for any potential payment or benefit upon a change in control of AB as of December 31, 2024.

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Additionally, estimated payments and benefits to which Mr. Bernstein or Mr. Erzan would have been entitled upon a change in control of EQH or the specified qualifying events of termination of employment as of December 31, 2024 are as follows (these amounts would be payable by EQH):

Reason for Employment TerminationAcceleration of EQH Optionand Share Awards(5)($)
Seth Bernstein
Retirement(1)1,994,206
Death(2)3,378,171
Disability(2)3,378,171
Involuntary termination (no change in control)(3)1,994,206
Change in control (without termination of employment)(4)3,006,232
Onur Erzan
Death(2)357,734
Disability(2)357,734
Involuntary termination (no change in control)(3)174,352
Change in control (without termination of employment)(4)318,568

(1)Reflects, as of December 31, 2024 the full value of the restricted stock unit and TSR performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein in 2022 and 2023. Excludes restricted stock unit, TSR performance share, and EPS performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein in 2024 due to minimum vesting requirements.

(2)Reflects, as of December 31, 2024, the full value associated with awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan; restricted stock unit awards (to each officer since 2022); TSR performance share awards (to each officer since 2022); and EPS performance share awards (to each officer since 2024). For additional information regarding these awards, please see the Summary Compensation Table for 2024, Grants of Plan-based Awards in 2024 and Outstanding Equity at 2024 Fiscal Year End above in this Item 11.

(3)Reflects, as of December 31, 2024, (i) the full value of the restricted stock unit and TSR performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein in 2022 and 2023, and (ii) the prorated value of the restricted stock unit and TSR performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Erzan in 2022 and 2023. Restricted stock unit, TSR performance share, and EPS performance share awards granted to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan in 2024 are excluded until a minimum of one year of vesting is reached.

(4)Reflects, as of December 31, 2024, (i) the full value of the restricted stock unit awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and (ii) the target prorated value of 2024 TSR performance share and EPS performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan in 2024 and (iii) the prorated value of the TSR performance share awards granted by EQH to Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Erzan in 2022 and 2023, with actual and projected performance factors applied.

(5)Acceleration of EQH awards is contingent on the award recipient's compliance with various agreements and restrictive covenants set forth in the applicable award agreement under the EQH 2024 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, including protection of confidential information, non-competition, non-solicitation of employees and non-solicitation of customers.

Director Compensation in 2024

During 2024, we compensated our directors, who satisfied applicable NYSE and SEC standards relating to independence (“Independent Directors”), as follows:

NameFees Earned orPaid in Cash($)StockAwards(1)(2)($)Total($)
Nella Domenici(3)4,506—4,506
Bruce Holley68,288170,000238,288
Daniel Kaye102,875170,000272,875
Joan Lamm-Tennant143,875170,000313,875
Das Narayandas110,218170,000280,218
Charles Stonehill151,375170,000321,375
Todd Walthall109,375170,000279,375

(1)The aggregate number of restricted AB Holding Units underlying awards outstanding but not yet distributed at December 31, 2024, was: Ms. Domenici, zero AB Holding Units as she departed the Board in January of 2024; or Mr. Holley, 4,992 AB Holding Units; for Mr. Kaye, 10,787 AB Holding Units; for Ms. Lamm-Tennant, 10,259 AB Holding Units; for Mr. Narayandas, 10,787 AB Holding Units; for Mr. Stonehill, 10,787 AB Holding Units; and for Mr. Walthall, 10,359 AB Holding Units.

(2)Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For the assumptions made in determining these values, see Note 19 to AB’s consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

(3)Ms. Domenici resigned from her position as Director effective January 16, 2024.

Independent Director Compensation Elements

The Board approved the compensation elements described immediately below for Independent Directors during its regular meeting held in May 2024 and has agreed to re-consider such compensation elements bi-annually:

an annual retainer of $97,750 (paid quarterly after any quarter during which an Independent Director serves on the Board; annual retainers relating to Committee service, as described below, are paid quarterly in arrears as well);

an annual retainer of $50,000 for acting as Independent Chair of the Board;

an annual retainer of $37,500 for acting as Chair of the Audit Committee;

an annual retainer of $20,000 for acting as Chair of the Compensation Committee;

an annual retainer of $13,500 for acting as Chair of the Governance Committee;

an annual retainer of $12,500 for serving as a member of the Audit Committee;

an annual retainer of $9,000 for serving as a member of the Compensation Committee;

an annual retainer of $3,000 for serving as a member of the Governance Committee; and

an annual equity-based grant under an equity compensation plan consisting of restricted AB Holding Units with a grant date fair value of $170,000.

In 2024, the Board granted to each Independent Director then serving (which included Ms. Lamm-Tennant and Messrs. Holley, Kaye, Narayandas, Stonehill and Walthall) 4,992 restricted AB Holding Units. The number of AB Holding Units granted was determined by dividing the $170,000 grant date fair value noted above by the closing price of an AB Holding Unit on the date of the May 2024 Board Meeting, or $34.06 per unit, rounded up to the nearest whole unit. These awards are scheduled to vest in equal increments on each May 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Further, in order to avoid any perception that our directors’ exercise of their fiduciary duties might be impaired, restricted AB Holding Unit grants to Independent Directors are not forfeitable, except if the director is terminated for “Cause,” as that term is defined in the 2017 Plan or the applicable award agreement. Accordingly, restricted AB Holding Units generally are delivered as soon as administratively feasible following an Independent Director’s resignation from the Board.

Equity grants to Independent Directors generally are made at the May meeting of the Board. The date of the May meeting is set by the Board at least a year in advance.

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The General Partner may reimburse any director for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings as well as additional Board responsibilities. AB Holding and AB, in turn, reimburse the General Partner for expenses incurred by the General Partner on their behalf, including amounts in respect of directors’ fees and expenses. These reimbursements are subject to any relevant provisions of the AB Holding Partnership Agreement and the AB Partnership Agreement.

Independent Director AB Holding Unit Ownership Guidelines

Each Independent Director, by the later of five years from the initial implementation date of these guidelines (February 2018) and the date as of which the director's tenure on the Board begins, shall accumulate, either through accumulating AB Holding Units awarded by the Board or purchasing Units on the open market, AB Holding Units with a market value equal to five (5) times the director's annual retainer. Each Independent Director must maintain this ownership level for the duration of the director's tenure on the Board.

As of December 31, 2024, each Independent Director then serving either complied with this policy or was on track to do so within the allotted time.

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