N-CSR 1 d264351dncsr.htm ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, INC. AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-09687

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

1345 Avenue of the Americas,

New York, New York 10105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Joseph J. Mantineo

AllianceBernstein L.P.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 221-5672

Date of fiscal year end: November 30, 2011

Date of reporting period: November 30, 2011

 

 

 

ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

ANNUAL REPORT

 

AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2011

 

Annual Report

 

LOGO

 

 

 

  

Investment Products Offered

• Are Not FDIC Insured

• May Lose Value

• Are Not Bank Guaranteed

   

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.alliancebernstein.com or contact your AllianceBernstein Investments representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

This shareholder report must be preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s prospectus for individuals who are not current shareholders of the Fund.

You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AllianceBernstein’s website at www.alliancebernstein.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AllianceBernstein at (800) 227-4618.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330. AllianceBernstein publishes full portfolio holdings for the Fund monthly at www.alliancebernstein.com.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AllianceBernstein family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the manager of the funds.

AllianceBernstein® and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.

January 20, 2012

 

Annual Report

This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) for the annual reporting period ended November 30, 2011.

Investment Objective and Policies

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Fund invests primarily in the equity securities of U.S. companies that AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) believes are undervalued. The Adviser believes that, over time, a company’s stock price will come to reflect its intrinsic economic value. The Fund may invest in companies of any size and in any industry. The Adviser anticipates that the Fund’s portfolio normally will include approximately 50-60 companies. The Fund may invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The Fund may enter into forward commitments. The Fund may enter into derivatives transactions, such as options, futures, forwards and swap agreements.

Investment Results

The table on page 4 shows the Fund’s performance compared to its benchmark, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index, for the six- and 12-month periods ended November 30, 2011. Also included in the table are returns for the Fund’s peer group, as represented by the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average (the “Lipper Average”). Funds in the Lipper Average have generally similar investment objectives to the Fund, although some

may have different investment policies and sales and management fees.

Class A shares of the Fund outperformed their benchmark and the Lipper Average during the 12-month period, before sales charges. Stock selection was the main driver of returns, and was particularly strong in the consumer staples, technology and materials sectors. An underweight in the defensive utility sector detracted, as did stock selection in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors.

For the six-month period, Class A shares of the Fund declined but outperformed their benchmark and the Lipper Average, before sales charges. Stock selection again contributed to returns, particularly in the materials, consumer staples and technology sectors. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary and healthcare sectors detracted, as did an underweight in the utilities and consumer staples sectors.

During both the six- and 12-month periods, performance was driven by the Fund’s focus on companies with low, cash-flow based valuations, strong balance sheets and transparent business models. The Relative Value Investment Team (the “Team”) believes macro uncertainty will be slow to recede, and a fully formed and enduring value opportunity resides in many of the companies that currently populate the Fund.

The Fund did not utilize leverage or derivatives during the six- or 12-month periods ended November 30, 2011.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     1   

Market Review and Investment Strategy

The Fund’s investment process is designed to balance a company’s valuation, quality and fundamental success. The Team also seeks to align client interests in companies that are responsible stewards of shareholder capital. The Fund is dominated by companies with high accounting integrity and highly transparent business models. These basic tenets of the Team’s philosophy and process have served the Fund well during the 12-month period ended November 30, 2011.


While valuation is the single most important component of the Fund’s investment process, the Team does not buy stocks simply because they appear cheap or inexpensive, as they are often priced this way for a reason. For example, some issues the Team regularly confronts when researching stock ideas may include high levels of: financial leverage, business volatility, off-balance sheet liabilities, or pension obligations. In many cases it is difficult to ascertain what call equity investors have on the economic earnings of the firm. The Team seeks stocks that are attractively valued relative to their fundamental prospects, not inexpensive because they are risky.

 

2   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

An Important Note About Historical Performance

The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown on the following pages represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. You may obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end by visiting www.alliancebernstein.com.

All fees and expenses related to the operation of the Fund have been deducted. NAV returns do not reflect sales charges; if sales charges were reflected, the Fund’s quoted performance would be lower. SEC returns reflect the applicable sales charges for each share class: a 4.25% maximum front-end sales charge for Class A shares; the applicable contingent deferred sales charge for Class B shares (4% year 1, 3% year 2, 2% year 3, 1% year 4); a 1% 1-year contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares. Returns for the different share classes will vary due to different expenses associated with each class. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.

Benchmark Disclosure

The unmanaged S&P® 500 Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. The S&P 500 Index includes 500 U.S. stocks and is a common representation of the performance of the overall U.S. stock market. An investor cannot invest directly in an index or average, and their results are not indicative of the performance for any specific investment, including the Fund.

A Word About Risk

Market Risk: The market values of the portfolio’s holdings rise and fall from day to day, so investments may lose value.

Foreign (non-U.S.) Risk: Non-U.S. securities may be more volatile because of political, regulatory, market and economic uncertainties associated with such securities. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the investment or reduce returns. These risks are magnified in emerging or developing markets.

Diversification/Focused Portfolio Risk: Portfolios that hold a smaller number of securities may be more volatile than more diversified portfolios, since gains or losses from each security will have a greater impact on the portfolio’s overall value.

These risks are more fully discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     3   

Historical Performance

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

        

THE FUND VS. ITS BENCHMARKS

PERIODS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2011

   NAV Returns      
  6 Months        12 Months       

AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund*

         

 

Class A

     -6.08%           9.95%     

 

Class B**

     -6.31%           9.51%     

 

Class C

     -6.39%           9.22%     

 

Advisor Class†

     -5.91%           10.30%     

 

Class R†

     -6.15%           9.78%     

 

Class K†

     -5.99%           10.11%     

 

Class I†

     -5.87%           10.42%     

 

S&P 500 Index

     -6.25%           7.83%     

 

Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Average

     -9.77%           3.59%     

 

*    Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Fund resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the performance of all share classes of the Fund for the six- and 12-month periods ended November 30, 2011, by 0.03% and 0.29%, respectively.

 

**  Effective January 31, 2009, Class B shares are no longer available for purchase to new investors. Please see Note A for additional information.

 

†     Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Funds.

 

      Please keep in mind that high, double-digit returns are highly unusual and cannot be sustained. Investors should also be aware that these returns were primarily achieved during favorable market conditions.

        

 

 

See Historical Performance and Benchmark disclosures on previous page.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

4   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Historical Performance

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND

11/30/01 TO 11/30/11

LOGO

This chart illustrates the total value of an assumed $10,000 investment in AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund Class A shares (from 11/30/01 to 11/30/11) as compared to its benchmark. The chart reflects the deduction of the maximum 4.25% sales charge from the initial $10,000 investment in the Fund and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.

 

See Historical Performance and Benchmark disclosures on page 3.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     5   

Historical Performance

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2011

  
     NAV Returns        SEC Returns  
       
Class A Shares        

1 Year

      9.95 %         5.25 % 

5 Years

      0.62 %         -0.25 % 

10 Years

      3.22 %         2.78 % 
       
Class B Shares        

1 Year

      9.51 %         5.51 % 

5 Years

      0.35 %         0.35 % 

10 Years(a)

      2.79 %         2.79 % 
       
Class C Shares        

1 Year

      9.22 %         8.22 % 

5 Years

      -0.08 %         -0.08 % 

10 Years

      2.49 %         2.49 % 
       
Advisor Class Shares†        

1 Year

      10.30 %         10.30 % 

Since Inception*

      9.00 %         9.00 % 
       
Class R Shares†        

1 Year

      9.78 %         9.78 % 

5 Years

      0.46 %         0.46 % 

Since Inception*

      3.75 %         3.75 % 
       
Class K Shares†        

1 Year

      10.11 %         10.11 % 

5 Years

      0.72 %         0.72 % 

Since Inception*

      2.31 %         2.31 % 
       
Class I Shares†        

1 Year

      10.42 %         10.42 % 

5 Years

      1.07 %         1.07 % 

Since Inception*

      2.65 %         2.65 % 

The Fund’s prospectus fee table shows the Fund’s total annual operating expense ratios as 1.65%, 2.41%, 2.37%, 1.33%, 1.75%, 1.49% and 1.08% for Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively, gross of any fee waivers or expense reimbursements. Contractual fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements limit the Fund’s annual operating expense ratios to 1.35%, 2.05%, 2.05%, 1.05%, 1.55%, 1.30% and 1.05% for Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively. These waivers/reimbursements extend through the Fund’s current fiscal year and may be extended by the Adviser for additional one-year terms. Absent reimbursements or waivers, performance would have been lower.

 

*   Inception dates: 11/3/03 for Class R shares; 3/1/05 for Class K and Class I shares; 3/31/10 for Advisor Class shares.

 

(a)    Assumes conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares after eight years.

 

†    These share classes are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) to eligible investors and their SEC returns are the same as the NAV returns. Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Funds. The inception dates for these classes are listed above.

See Historical Performance disclosures on page 3.

(Historical Performance continued on next page)

 

6   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Historical Performance

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

(continued from previous page)

 

SEC AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (WITH ANY APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)

AS OF THE MOST RECENT CALENDAR QUARTER-END (DECEMBER 31, 2011)

  
            SEC Returns  
       
Class A Shares        

1 Year

           0.58 % 

5 Years

           -0.85 % 

10 Years

           2.83 % 
       
Class B Shares        

1 Year

           0.62 % 

5 Years

           -0.26 % 

10 Years(a)

           2.85 % 
       
Class C Shares        

1 Year

           3.20 % 

5 Years

           -0.71 % 

10 Years

           2.54 % 
       
Advisor Class Shares†        

1 Year

           5.29 % 

Since Inception*

           8.80 % 
       
Class R Shares†        

1 Year

           4.74 % 

5 Years

           -0.16 % 

Since Inception*

           3.76 % 
       
Class K Shares†        

1 Year

           5.02 % 

5 Years

           0.08 % 

Since Inception*

           2.33 % 
       
Class I Shares†        

1 Year

           5.43 % 

5 Years

           0.45 % 

Since Inception*

           2.67 % 

 

 

*   Inception dates: 11/3/03 for Class R shares; 3/1/05 for Class K and Class I shares; 3/31/10 for Advisor Class shares.

 

(a)    Assumes conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares after eight years.

 

†    Please note that these share classes are for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certain fee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Funds. The inception dates for these classes are listed above.

See Historical Performance disclosures on page 3.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     7   

Historical Performance

FUND EXPENSES

(unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution (12b-l) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.

Actual Expenses

The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The table below also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
June 1, 2011		      Ending
Account Value
November 30, 2011		      Expenses
Paid During
Period*		      Annualized
Expense
Ratio*		  
Class A            

Actual

    $     1,000       $ 939.20       $ 6.56         1.35 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $     1,018.30       $ 6.83         1.35 % 
Class B            

Actual

    $ 1,000       $ 936.90       $ 8.30         1.71 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $ 1,016.50       $ 8.64         1.71 % 
Class C            

Actual

    $ 1,000       $ 936.10       $ 9.95         2.05 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $ 1,014.79       $     10.35         2.05 % 
Advisor Class            

Actual

    $ 1,000       $ 940.90       $ 5.11         1.05 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $ 1,019.80       $ 5.32         1.05 % 
Class R            

Actual

    $ 1,000       $ 938.50       $ 7.53         1.55 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $ 1,017.30       $ 7.84         1.55 % 

 

8   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Fund Expenses

FUND EXPENSES

(unaudited)

(continued from previous page)

 

     Beginning
Account Value
June 1, 2011		      Ending
Account Value
November 30, 2011		      Expenses
Paid During
Period*		      Annualized
Expense
Ratio*		  
Class K            

Actual

    $     1,000       $ 940.10       $ 6.32         1.30 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $     1,018.55       $ 6.58         1.30 % 
Class I            

Actual

    $ 1,000       $ 941.30       $ 5.11         1.05 % 

Hypothetical**

    $ 1,000       $ 1,019.80       $     5.32         1.05 % 
*   Expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

**   Assumes 5% return before expenses.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     9   

Fund Expenses

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

November 30, 2011 (unaudited)

 

PORTFOLIO STATISTICS

Net Assets ($mil): $98.3

LOGO

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS**

November 30, 2011 (unaudited)

 

Company    U.S. $ Value        Percent of
Net Assets		  

Apple, Inc.

    $ 4,123,938           4.2 % 

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

      3,499,247           3.5   

Amgen, Inc.

      3,451,436           3.5   

Google, Inc. – Class A

      3,206,736           3.3   

Microsoft Corp.

      3,008,208           3.1   

Chevron Corp.

      2,525,259           2.6   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

      2,493,048           2.5   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

      2,470,700           2.5   

CVS Caremark Corp.

      2,356,811           2.4   

Lorillard, Inc.

      2,152,034           2.2   
   $   29,287,417           29.8 % 

 

*   All data are as of November 30, 2011. The Fund’s sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time.

 

**   Long-term investments.

 

     Please note: The sector classifications presented herein are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International and Standard & Poor’s. The components are divided into sector, industry group, and industry sub-indices as classified by the GICS for each of the market capitalization indices in the broad market. These sector classifications are broadly defined. The “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report reflects more specific industry information and is consistent with the investment restrictions discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

10   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Portfolio Summary and Ten Largest Holdings

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

November 30, 2011

 

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

  
    

COMMON STOCKS – 84.9%

     

Information Technology – 24.7%

     

Communications Equipment – 0.7%

     

ADTRAN, Inc.

      21,710      $ 717,081   
    

 

 

  

Computers & Peripherals – 4.2%

     

Apple, Inc.(a)

      10,790        4,123,938   
    

 

 

  

Internet Software & Services – 3.3%

     

Google, Inc. – Class A(a)

      5,350        3,206,736   
    

 

 

  

IT Services – 1.7%

     

Accenture PLC

      14,511        840,622   

Global Payments, Inc.

      19,200        849,216   
    

 

 

  
       1,689,838   
    

 

 

  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment – 2.9%

     

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.(a)

      136,826        1,931,983   

NVIDIA Corp.(a)

      60,760        949,679   
    

 

 

  
       2,881,662   
    

 

 

  

Software – 11.9%

     

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

      70,300        873,126   

Adobe Systems, Inc.(a)

      30,250        829,455   

Aspen Technology, Inc.(a)

      43,850        782,723   

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(a)

      76,330        835,050   

Informatica Corp.(a)

      27,920        1,255,144   

MICROS Systems, Inc.(a)

      35,940        1,695,290   

Microsoft Corp.

      117,600        3,008,208   

Oracle Corp.

      37,430        1,173,430   

TIBCO Software, Inc.(a)

      44,800        1,227,520   
    

 

 

  
       11,679,946   
    

 

 

  
       24,299,201   
    

 

 

  

Health Care – 13.6%

     

Biotechnology – 6.0%

     

Amgen, Inc.

      59,600        3,451,436   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a)

      62,000        2,470,700   
    

 

 

  
       5,922,136   
    

 

 

  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 2.3%

     

Baxter International, Inc.

      26,100        1,348,326   

St Jude Medical, Inc.

      23,500        903,340   
    

 

 

  
       2,251,666   
    

 

 

  

Health Care Providers & Services – 4.2%

     

Cardinal Health, Inc.

      13,530        574,484   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

      71,750        3,499,247   
    

 

 

  
       4,073,731   
    

 

 

  

Life Sciences Tools & Services – 1.1%

     

Covance, Inc.(a)

      23,040        1,057,767   
    

 

 

  
       13,305,300   
    

 

 

  

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     11   

Portfolio of Investments

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

  
    

Energy – 11.3%

     

Energy Equipment & Services – 4.5%

     

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.(b)

      14,664      $ 882,040   

Halliburton Co.

      41,510        1,527,568   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

      27,080        1,941,636   
    

 

 

  
       4,351,244   
    

 

 

  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 6.8%

     

Chevron Corp.

      24,560        2,525,259   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

      22,300        1,793,812   

Newfield Exploration Co.(a)

      16,160        740,128   

Noble Energy, Inc.

      16,580        1,631,306   
    

 

 

  
       6,690,505   
    

 

 

  
       11,041,749   
    

 

 

  

Industrials – 11.2%

     

Aerospace & Defense – 1.8%

     

Raytheon Co.

      38,160        1,738,951   
    

 

 

  

Commercial Services & Supplies – 0.3%

     

Corrections Corp. of America(a)

      15,451        324,471   
    

 

 

  

Electrical Equipment – 1.6%

     

AMETEK, Inc.

      36,400        1,559,376   
    

 

 

  

Industrial Conglomerates – 1.9%

     

Danaher Corp.

      38,000        1,838,440   
    

 

 

  

Machinery – 4.7%

     

Actuant Corp. – Class A

      31,784        728,489   

Dover Corp.

      13,040        716,809   

Gardner Denver, Inc.

      19,040        1,632,109   

IDEX Corp.

      25,320        923,167   

Valmont Industries, Inc.

      7,300        621,814   
    

 

 

  
       4,622,388   
    

 

 

  

Professional Services – 0.9%

     

Towers Watson & Co.

      14,160        922,666   
    

 

 

  
       11,006,292   
    

 

 

  

Consumer Discretionary – 7.9%

     

Automobiles – 0.9%

     

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

      24,960        917,779   
    

 

 

  

Internet & Catalog Retail – 2.5%

     

HSN, Inc.

      24,040        860,632   

Liberty Interactive Corp.(a)

      95,862        1,558,716   
    

 

 

  
       2,419,348   
    

 

 

  

Media – 4.5%

     

Comcast Corp. – Class A

      65,630        1,487,832   

DIRECTV(a)

      16,910        798,490   

 

12   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Portfolio of Investments

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

  
    

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. – Class A

      32,370      $ 1,288,974   

Viacom, Inc. – Class B

      19,500        872,820   
    

 

 

  
       4,448,116   
    

 

 

  
       7,785,243   
    

 

 

  

Financials – 7.9%

     

Commercial Banks – 1.5%

     

Wells Fargo & Co.

      57,800        1,494,708   
    

 

 

  

Diversified Financial Services – 1.6%

     

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

      51,440        1,593,097   
    

 

 

  

Insurance – 4.8%

     

ACE Ltd.

      24,100        1,675,673   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

      47,467        1,515,621   

MetLife, Inc.

      47,571        1,497,535   
    

 

 

  
       4,688,829   
    

 

 

  
       7,776,634   
    

 

 

  

Consumer Staples – 7.7%

     

Food & Staples Retailing – 2.4%

     

CVS Caremark Corp.

      60,680        2,356,811   
    

 

 

  

Food Products – 0.6%

     

Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a)

      24,120        590,699   
    

 

 

  

Tobacco – 4.7%

     

Lorillard, Inc.

      19,280        2,152,034   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

      32,700        2,493,048   
    

 

 

  
       4,645,082   
    

 

 

  
       7,592,592   
    

 

 

  

Materials – 0.6%

     

Chemicals – 0.6%

     

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

      4,096        572,621   
    

 

 

  

Total Common Stocks
(cost $74,749,903)

        83,379,632   
    

 

 

  
    

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 12.4%

     

Investment Companies – 12.4%

     

AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc. – Government STIF Portfolio, 0.09%(c)
(cost $12,214,471)

      12,214,471        12,214,471   
    

 

 

  

Total Investments Before Security Lending Collateral for Securities Loaned – 97.3%
(cost $86,964,374)

        95,594,103   
    

 

 

  

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     13   

Portfolio of Investments

Company    Shares     U.S. $ Value  

 

  
    

INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES LOANED – 0.9%

     

Investment Companies – 0.9%

     

AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves –
Class I, 0.15%(c)
(cost $876,174)

      876,174      $ 876,174   
    

 

 

  

Total Investments – 98.2%
(cost $87,840,548)

        96,470,277   

Other assets less liabilities – 1.8%

        1,780,947   
    

 

 

  

Net Assets – 100.0%

      $ 98,251,224   
    

 

 

  

 

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Represents entire or partial securities out on loan. See Note E for securities lending information.

 

(c)   Investment in affiliated money market mutual fund. The rate shown represents the 7-day yield as of period end.

See notes to financial statements.

 

14   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Portfolio of Investments

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

November 30, 2011

 

Assets   

Investments in securities, at value

   

Unaffiliated issuers (cost $74,749,903)

    $ 83,379,632 (a) 

Affiliated issuers (cost $13,090,645—including investment of cash collateral for securities loaned of $876,174)

      13,090,645   

Receivable for investment securities sold

      3,010,339   

Receivable for capital stock sold

      643,570   
Dividends receivable      180,714   
  

 

 

  

Total assets

      100,304,900   
  

 

 

  
Liabilities   

Payable for capital stock redeemed

      974,347   

Payable for collateral received on securities loaned

      876,174   

Distribution fee payable

      34,687   

Advisory fee payable

      24,792   

Transfer Agent fee payable

      12,687   

Administrative fee payable

      11,147   

Accrued expenses

      119,842   
  

 

 

  

Total liabilities

      2,053,676   
  

 

 

  

Net Assets

    $ 98,251,224   
  

 

 

  
Composition of Net Assets   

Capital stock, at par

    $ 8,335   

Additional paid-in capital

      113,893,948   

Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions

      (24,280,788 ) 

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

      8,629,729   
  

 

 

  
   $     98,251,224   
  

 

 

  

Net Asset Value Per Share—21 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value

 

Class   Net Assets        Shares
Outstanding		        Net Asset
Value		  
A   $   68,927,261           5,724,087         $   12.04 * 

 

  
B   $ 9,397,031           832,177         $ 11.29   

 

  
C   $ 18,023,811           1,619,945         $ 11.13   

 

  
Advisor   $ 693,438           57,319         $ 12.10   

 

  
R   $ 734,815           61,750         $ 11.90   

 

  
K   $ 434,494           35,951         $ 12.09   

 

  
I   $ 40,374           3,313         $ 12.19   

 

  

 

(a)   Includes securities on loan with a value of $882,040 (see Note E).

 

*   The maximum offering price per share for Class A shares was $12.57 which reflects a sales charge of 4.25%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     15   

Statement of Assets & Liabilities

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended November 30, 2011

 

Investment Income     

Dividends

     

Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $1,471)

    $ 1,532,383     

Affiliated issuers

      9,904     

Interest

      16,594     

Securities lending income

      674      $ 1,559,555   
  

 

 

    
Expenses     

Advisory fee (see Note B)

      567,178     

Distribution fee—Class A

      207,732     

Distribution fee—Class B

      143,464     

Distribution fee—Class C

      183,545     

Distribution fee—Class R

      1,849     

Distribution fee—Class K

      1,083     

Transfer agency—Class A

      183,487     

Transfer agency—Class B

      47,858     

Transfer agency—Class C

      52,302     

Transfer agency—Advisor Class

      1,011     

Transfer agency—Class R

      891     

Transfer agency—Class K

      867     

Transfer agency—Class I

      6     

Registration fees

      109,513     

Custodian

      99,505     

Administrative

      54,396     

Directors’ fees

      54,285     

Legal

      44,158     

Audit

      37,170     

Printing

      31,915     

Miscellaneous

      9,944     
  

 

 

    

Total expenses

          1,832,159     

Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B)

      (174,413 )   

Less: expenses waived by the Distributor
(see Note C)

      (86,079 )   
  

 

 

    

Net expenses

        1,571,667   
    

 

 

  

Net investment loss

        (12,112 ) 
    

 

 

  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions     

Net realized gain on investment transactions

            12,321,239   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

        (2,465,831 ) 
    

 

 

  

Net gain on investment transactions

        9,855,408   
    

 

 

  

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

      $ 9,843,296   
    

 

 

  

See notes to financial statements.

 

16   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Statement of Operations

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Year Ended
November 30,
2011		     Year Ended
November 30,
2010		  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations     

Net investment loss

    $ (12,112 )    $ (363,685 ) 

Net realized gain on investment transactions

      12,321,239        10,978,457   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

      (2,465,831 )      1,851,102   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Net increase in net assets from operations

      9,843,296        12,465,874   
Capital Stock Transactions     

Net decrease

      (13,167,519 )      (29,763,942 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total decrease

      (3,324,223 )      (17,298,068 ) 
Net Assets     

Beginning of period

      101,575,447        118,873,515   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively)

    $     98,251,224      $     101,575,447   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     17   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

November 30, 2011

 

NOTE A

Significant Accounting Policies

AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), organized as a Maryland corporation on July 6, 1999, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class (effective March 31, 2010), Class R, Class K and Class I shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4.25% for purchases not exceeding $1,000,000. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more, Class A shares redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%. Class B shares are currently sold with a contingent deferred sales charge which declines from 4% to zero depending on the period of time the shares are held. Effective January 31, 2009, sales of Class B shares of the Fund to new investors were suspended. Class B shares will only be issued (i) upon the exchange of Class B shares from another AllianceBernstein Mutual Fund, (ii) for purposes of dividend reinvestment, (iii) through the Fund’s Automatic Investment Program (the “Program”) for accounts that established the Program prior to January 31, 2009, and (iv) for purchases of additional shares by Class B shareholders as of January 31, 2009. The ability to establish a new Program for accounts containing Class B shares was suspended as of January 31, 2009. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% on redemptions made within the first year after purchase. Class R and Class K shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. Advisor Class and Class I shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge and are not subject to ongoing distribution expenses. All seven classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, except that the classes bear different distribution and transfer agency expenses. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.

1. Security Valuation

Portfolio securities are valued at their current market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors.

In general, the market value of securities which are readily available and deemed reliable are determined as follows: Securities listed on a national securities

 

18   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

 

exchange (other than securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”)) or on a foreign securities exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange or foreign securities exchange. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and ask prices on such day. Securities listed on more than one exchange are valued by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded; securities listed only on NASDAQ are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price; listed or over the counter market (“OTC”) put or call options are valued at the mid level between the current bid and ask prices. If either a current bid or current ask price is unavailable, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) will have discretion to determine the best valuation (e.g. last trade price); open futures contracts and options thereon are valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the most recent quoted bid price. If there are no quotations available for the day of valuation, the last available closing settlement price is used; U.S. government securities and other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60 days or less; or by amortizing their fair value as of the 61st day prior to maturity if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days; fixed-income securities, including mortgage backed and asset backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker/dealers. In cases where broker/dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security; and swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties, which are approved by the Board of Directors. Investments in money market funds are valued at their net asset value each day.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Fund may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded in non-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Fund may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.

2. Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     19   

Notes to Financial Statements

 

a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements establish a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

  •  

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

  •  

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

  •  

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of November 30, 2011:

 

Investments in Securities:

   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets:

        

Common Stocks*

   $ 83,379,632      $ – 0  –    $ – 0  –    $ 83,379,632   

Short-Term Investments

     12,214,471        – 0  –      – 0  –      12,214,471   

Investments of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned

     876,174        – 0  –      – 0  –      876,174   
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total Investments in Securities

     96,470,277        – 0  –      – 0  –      96,470,277   

Other Financial Instruments**

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total

   $   96,470,277      $   – 0  –    $   – 0  –    $   96,470,277   
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

*   See Portfolio of Investments for sector classifications.

 

**   Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swap contracts, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument.

3. Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.

 

20   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, foreign currency exchange contracts, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

4. Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken or expected to be taken on federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years (the current and the prior three tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as the Fund is informed of the dividend. Interest income is accrued daily. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains or losses are determined on the identified cost basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.

6. Class Allocations

All income earned and expenses incurred by the Fund are borne on a pro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Fund represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.

7. Dividends and Distributions

Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     21   

Notes to Financial Statements

 

determined in accordance with federal tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

NOTE B

Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .45% of the next $2.5 billion and .40% in excess of $5 billion, of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. As of March 1, 2010 the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis to 1.35%, 2.05%, 2.05%, 1.05%, 1.55%, 1.30% and 1.05% of the daily average net assets for the Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively (the “Expense Caps”). The Expense Caps will extend through March 1, 2012 and then may be extended by the Adviser for additional one year terms. For the year ended November 30, 2011, such reimbursement waivers amounted to $174,413.

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Fund may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser. For the year ended November 30, 2011, such fee amounted to $54,396.

The Fund compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Fund. ABIS may make payments to intermediaries that provide omnibus account services, sub-accounting services and/or networking services. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $152,436 for the year ended November 30, 2011.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, serves as the distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that it has retained front-end sales charges of $4,117 from the sale of Class A shares and received $1,560, $4,970 and $1,301 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by shareholders of Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2011.

The Fund may invest in the AllianceBernstein Fixed-Income Shares, Inc. – Government STIF Portfolio (“Government STIF Portfolio”), an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser. The Government STIF Portfolio is offered as a cash management option to mutual funds and

 

22   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

 

other institutional accounts of the Adviser, and is not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The Government STIF Portfolio pays no investment management fees but does bear its own expenses. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in shares of the Government STIF Portfolio for the year ended November 30, 2011 is as follows:

 

Market Value

November 30, 2010

(000)

     Purchases
at Cost
(000)		     Sales
Proceeds
(000)		     Market Value
November 30, 2011
(000)		     Dividend
Income
(000)		  
  $    14,130      $     82,823      $     84,738      $     12,215      $     10   

Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the year ended November 30, 2011 amounted to $161,240, of which $13 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.

NOTE C

Distribution Services Agreement

The Fund has adopted a Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Agreement, the Fund pays distribution and servicing fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares, 1% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to both Class B and Class C shares, .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares and .25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class K shares. There are no distribution and servicing fees on the Advisor Class and Class I shares. For the period February 1, 2007 through October 31, 2007, with respect to Class B shares, payments to the distributor were voluntarily limited to .30% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. As of November 1, 2007, with respect to Class B shares, payments to the distributor are voluntarily being limited to .40% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. For the year ended November 30, 2011, such waiver amounted to $86,079. The Agreement provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities. Since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, the Distributor has incurred expenses in excess of the distribution costs reimbursed by the Fund in the amounts of $77,837, $1,718,806, $175,221 and $32,536 for Class B, Class C, Class R and Class K shares, respectively. While such costs may be recovered from the Fund in future periods so long as the Agreement is in effect, the rate of the distribution and servicing fees payable under the Agreement may not be increased without a shareholder vote. In accordance with the Agreement, there is no provision for recovery of unreimbursed distribution costs incurred by the Distributor beyond the current fiscal year for Class A shares. The Agreement also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Fund’s shares.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     23   

Notes to Financial Statements

 

NOTE D

Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended November 30, 2011 were as follows:

 

     Purchases     Sales  

Investment securities (excluding
U.S. government securities)

    $     118,171,086      $     132,841,370   

U.S. government securities

      – 0  –      – 0  – 

The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:

 

Cost

    $     89,281,435   
  

 

 

  

Gross unrealized appreciation

    $ 10,603,909   

Gross unrealized depreciation

      (3,415,067 ) 
  

 

 

  

Net unrealized appreciation

    $     7,188,842   
  

 

 

  

1. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Fund may use derivatives to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio, to replace more traditional direct investments, or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets.

The Fund did not engage in derivatives transactions for the year ended November 30, 2011.

2. Currency Transactions

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. Dollar securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Fund may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Fund may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Fund and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Fund may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).

NOTE E

Securities Lending

The Fund may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Fund’s securities lending program, all securities loans will be collateralized continually by cash. The Fund will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net

 

24   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

 

return from the income earned on cash collateral after a rebate is paid to the borrower (in some cases, this rebate may be a “negative rebate” or fee paid by the borrower to the Fund in connection with the loan), and payments for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. It is the policy of the Fund to receive collateral consisting of cash in an amount exceeding the value of the securities loaned. A Fund will have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice to the borrower within the normal and customary settlement time for the securities. While the securities are on loan, the borrower is obligated to pay the Fund amounts equal to any income or other distributions from the securities. The Fund will not have the right to vote any securities during the existence of a loan, but will have the right to regain ownership of loaned securities in order to exercise voting or other ownership rights. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Fund in the case of default of any securities borrower. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent will invest the cash collateral received in AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Fund, and as approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. When the Fund lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. At November 30, 2011, the Fund had securities on loan with a value of $882,040 and had received cash collateral which has been invested into AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves of $876,174. The Fund received additional cash collateral on the next business day after period end to maintain the required collateral amount. The Fund earned securities lending income of $674 and $5 from the borrowers and AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2011; these amounts are reflected in the statement of operations. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower will fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in shares of AllianceBernstein Exchange Reserves for the year ended November 30, 2011 is as follows:

 

Market Value

November 30, 2010

(000)

     Purchases
at Cost
(000)		     Sales
Proceeds
(000)		     Market Value
November 30, 2011
(000)		     Dividend
Income
(000)		  
  $    – 0 –     $     2,955      $     2,079      $     876      $     0 * 

 

*   Amount is less than $500.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     25   

Notes to Financial Statements

 

NOTE F

Capital Stock

Each class consists of 3,000,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:

 

            
     Shares         Amount      
    

Year Ended

November 30,

2011

    

Year Ended

November 30,

2010

        

Year Ended

November 30,

2011

    

Year Ended

November 30,

2010

      
  

 

 

    
Class A             

Shares sold

      896,722        786,115        $ 10,777,925      $ 8,066,836     

 

    

Shares converted from Class B

      477,701        593,019          5,816,109        5,942,686     

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (1,733,130 )      (2,736,408 )        (20,699,946 )      (27,358,276 )   

 

    

Net decrease

      (358,707 )      (1,357,274 )      $ (4,105,912 )    $ (13,348,754 )   

 

    
            
Class B             

Shares sold

      43,975        54,651        $ 494,095      $ 522,050     

 

    

Shares converted to Class A

      (508,544 )      (628,136 )        (5,816,109 )      (5,942,686 )   

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (307,295 )      (584,208 )        (3,479,925 )      (5,592,040 )   

 

    

Net decrease

      (771,864 )      (1,157,693 )      $ (8,801,939 )    $ (11,012,676 )   

 

    
            
Class C             

Shares sold

      228,217        176,624        $ 2,551,644      $ 1,685,342     

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (360,968 )      (653,364 )        (4,020,036 )      (6,215,690 )   

 

    

Net decrease

      (132,751 )      (476,740 )      $ (1,468,392 )    $ (4,530,348 )   

 

    
            
Advisor Class(a)             

Shares sold

      89,293        5,110        $ 1,065,204      $ 54,050     

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (33,426 )      (3,658 )        (403,066 )      (40,085 )   

 

    

Net increase

      55,867        1,452        $ 662,138      $ 13,965     

 

    
            
Class R             

Shares sold

      50,790        8,859        $ 584,854      $ 89,700     

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (6,591 )      (91,304 )        (76,921 )      (931,229 )   

 

    

Net increase (decrease)

      44,199        (82,445 )      $ 507,933      $ (841,529 )   

 

    
            
Class K             

Shares sold

      9,724        4,548        $ 116,736      $ 45,341     

 

    

Shares redeemed

      (9,302 )      (8,797 )        (111,669 )      (89,941 )   

 

    

Net increase (decrease)

      422        (4,249 )      $ 5,067      $ (44,600 )   

 

    
            
Class I             

Shares sold

      2,655        – 0  –      $ 33,586      $ – 0  –   

 

    

Net increase

      2,655        – 0  –      $ 33,586      $ – 0  –   

 

    

 

(a)   

The Advisor Class commenced distributions on March 31, 2010.

 

26   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

 

NOTE G

Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund

Foreign Securities Risk—Investing in securities of foreign companies or foreign governments involve special risks which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the possibility of future political and economic developments which could adversely affect the value of such securities. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies or foreign governments and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or of the U.S. government.

Currency Risk—This is the risk that changes in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce the returns of the Fund. For example, the value of the Fund’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities or currencies may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar). Currency markets are generally not as regulated as securities markets. Independent of the Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund’s positions in various foreign currencies may cause the Fund to experience investment losses due to the changes in exchange rates and interest rates.

Focused Portfolio Risk—Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s NAV.

Derivatives Risk—The Fund may enter into derivative transactions such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. Derivatives may result in significant losses, including losses that are far greater than the value of the derivatives reflected in the statement of assets and liabilities.

Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Fund has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.

NOTE H

Joint Credit Facility

A number of open-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Fund, participate in a $140 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions in connection with abnormal redemption activity. Commitment fees

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     27   

Notes to Financial Statements

 

related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Fund did not utilize the Facility during the year ended November 30, 2011.

NOTE I

Components of Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)

As of November 30, 2011, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Accumulated capital and other losses

    $ (22,839,901 ) (a) 

Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

      7,188,842  (b) 
  

 

 

  

Total accumulated earnings/(deficit)

    $     (15,651,059 )  
  

 

 

  

 

(a)   

On November 30, 2011, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $22,839,901 of which $7,260,029 expires in the year 2016 and $15,579,872 expires in the year 2017. To the extent future capital gains are offset by capital loss carryforwards, such gains will not be distributed. During the fiscal year, the Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards of $13,361,732.

 

(b)   

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is primarily due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

During the current fiscal year, permanent differences primarily due to a net operating loss disallowance resulted in a net decrease in distributions in excess of net investment income and a net decrease in additional paid-in capital. This reclassification had no effect on net assets.

NOTE J

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) to develop common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The amendments are intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The ASU is effective during interim or annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. At this time, management is evaluating the implication of this ASU and its impact on the financial statements has not been determined.

NOTE K

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the date the financial statements are issued. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements through this date.

 

28   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class A  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.95        $  9.68        $  7.71        $  16.51        $  16.13   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (loss)(a)

     .02 (b)      (.01 )(b)      .01        .04        .11   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.07        1.28        2.00        (5.63 )      1.91   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     1.09        1.27        2.01        (5.59 )      2.02   
 

 

 

  

Less: Dividends and Distributions

          

Dividends from net investment income

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.04 )      (.11 )      (.08 ) 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 

Tax return of capital

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.00 )(c)      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

  

Total dividends and distributions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.04 )      (3.21 )      (1.64 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  12.04        $  10.95        $  9.68        $  7.71        $  16.51   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     9.95 %*      13.12  %*      26.20  %*      (42.15 )%*      13.59  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

     $68,927        $66,587        $72,024        $62,968        $136,849   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/ reimbursements

     1.35 %      1.41  %(e)      1.58  %      1.34  %      1.21  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     1.54 %      1.65  %(e)      1.58  %      1.34  %      1.21  %(f) 

Net investment income (loss)

     .17 %(b)      (.14 )%(b)(e)      .11  %      .38  %      .68  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124 %      99  %      147  %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     29   

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class B  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.31        $  9.15        $  7.29        $  15.77        $  15.43   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (loss)(a)(g)

     (.02 )      (.05 )      (.01 )      .02        .07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.00        1.21        1.89        (5.31 )      1.83   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     .98        1.16        1.88        (5.29 )      1.90   
 

 

 

  

Less: Dividends and Distributions

          

Dividends from net investment income

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.02 )      (.09 )      – 0  – 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 

Tax return of capital

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.00 )(c)      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

  

Total dividends and distributions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.02 )      (3.19 )      (1.56 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  11.29        $  10.31        $  9.15        $  7.29        $  15.77   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     9.51  %*      12.68  %*      25.82  %*      (42.20 )%*      13.37  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

     $9,397        $16,531        $25,273        $34,122        $92,156   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.71  %      1.81  %(e)      1.77  %      1.49  %      1.40  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     2.31  %      2.41  %(e)      2.37  %      2.09  %      1.96  %(f) 

Net investment income (loss)(g)

     (.21 )%      (.54 )%(e)      (.11 )%      .21  %      .49  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124  %      99  %      147  %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

30   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class C  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.19        $  9.07        $  7.24        $  15.68        $  15.42   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment loss(a)

     (.06 )(b)      (.08 )(b)      (.05 )      (.04 )      (.01 ) 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.00        1.20        1.88        (5.30 )      1.83   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     .94        1.12        1.83        (5.34 )      1.82   
 

 

 

  

Less: Distributions

          

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  11.13        $  10.19        $  9.07        $  7.24        $  15.68   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     9.22  %*      12.35  %*      25.28  %*      (42.57 )%*      12.80  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

     $18,024        $17,854        $20,225        $20,997        $49,598   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     2.05  %      2.12  %(e)      2.31  %      2.06  %      1.93  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     2.26  %      2.37  %(e)      2.31  %      2.06  %      1.93  %(f) 

Net investment loss

     (.54 )%(b)      (.85 )%(b)(e)      (.64 )%      (.35 )%      (.03 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124  %      99  %      147  %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     31   

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Advisor Class  
    Year Ended
November 30,
2011		    

March 31,
2010(h) to

November 30,
2010

  
 

 

 

  
   

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.97        $  10.48   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

    

Net investment income(a)(b)

     .06        .01   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investment transactions

     1.07        .48   
 

 

 

  

Net increase in net asset value from operations

     1.13        .49   
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  12.10        $  10.97   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

    

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)*

     10.30 %      4.68 % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

    

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

     $694        $16   

Ratio to average net assets of:

    

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.05 %      1.05 %(e)(i) 

Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements

     1.26 %      1.33 %(e)(i) 

Net investment income(b)

     .48 %      .17 %(e)(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124 %      99 % 

 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

32   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class R  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.84        $  9.60        $  7.64        $  16.39        $  16.06   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (loss)(a)

     (.00 )(b)(c)      (.04 )(b)      (.00 )(c)      .03        .07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.06        1.28        1.99        (5.58 )      1.90   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     1.06        1.24        1.99        (5.55 )      1.97   
 

 

 

  

Less: Dividends and Distributions

          

Dividends from net investment income

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.03 )      (.10 )      (.08 ) 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 

Tax return of capital

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.00 )(c)      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

  

Total dividends and distributions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.03 )      (3.20 )      (1.64 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  11.90        $  10.84        $  9.60        $  7.64        $  16.39   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     9.78  %*      12.92  %*      26.10  %*      (42.22 )%*      13.32  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period
(000’s omitted)

     $735        $190        $960        $1,141        $2,329   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.55  %      1.63  %(e)      1.69  %      1.49  %      1.43  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     1.73  %      1.75  %(e)      1.69  %      1.49  %      1.43  %(f) 

Net investment income (loss)

     (.02 )%(b)      (.39 )%(b)(e)      (.02 )%      .23  %      .46  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124  %      99  %      147  %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     33   

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class K  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  10.98        $  9.70        $  7.68        $  16.48        $  16.17   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (loss)(a)

     .03 (b)      (.00 )(b)(c)      .02        .04        .12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.08        1.28        2.00        (5.58 )      1.90   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     1.11        1.28        2.02        (5.54 )      2.02   
 

 

 

  

Less: Dividends and Distributions

          

Dividends from net investment income

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (.16 )      (.15 ) 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 
 

 

 

  

Total dividends and distributions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.26 )      (1.71 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  12.09        $  10.98        $  9.70        $  7.68        $  16.48   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     10.11 %*      13.20  %*      26.30 %*      (42.05 )%*      13.61  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

     $434        $390        $386        $352        $2,479   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.30 %      1.33  %(e)      1.40 %      1.22  %      1.13  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     1.43 %      1.49  %(e)      1.40 %      1.22  %      1.13  %(f) 

Net investment income (loss)

     .22 %(b)      (.05 )%(b)(e)      .27 %      .38  %      .78  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124 %      99  %      147 %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

34   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Financial Highlights

Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

    Class I  
    Year Ended November 30,  
    2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
 

 

 

  
         

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  11.04        $  9.72        $  7.77        $  16.61        $  16.25   
 

 

 

  

Income From Investment Operations

          

Net investment income(a)

     .07        .03 (b)      .06        .10        .14   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions

     1.08        1.29        1.99        (5.65 )      1.95   
 

 

 

  

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations

     1.15        1.32        2.05        (5.55 )      2.09   
 

 

 

  

Less: Dividends and Distributions

          

Dividends from net investment income

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.09 )      (.19 )      (.17 ) 

Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      – 0  –      (3.10 )      (1.56 ) 

Tax return of capital

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.01 )      – 0  –      – 0  – 
 

 

 

  

Total dividends and distributions

     – 0  –      – 0  –      (.10 )      (3.29 )      (1.73 ) 
 

 

 

  

Net asset value, end of period

     $  12.19        $  11.04        $  9.72        $  7.77        $  16.61   
 

 

 

  

Total Return

          

Total investment return based on net asset value(d)

     10.42 %*      13.58 %*      26.77  %*      (41.81 )%*      14.00  % 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

     $40        $7        $6        $5        $23   

Ratio to average net assets of:

          

Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements

     1.04 %      1.02 %(e)      .98  %      .83  %      .78  %(f) 

Expenses, before waivers/ reimbursements

     1.04 %      1.08 %(e)      .98  %      .83  %      .78  %(f) 

Net investment income

     .66 %      .25 %(b)(e)      .70  %      .77  %      .87  % 

Portfolio turnover rate

     124 %      99 %      147  %      339  %      154  % 

See footnote summary on page 36.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     35   

Financial Highlights

(a)   Based on average shares outstanding.

 

(b)   Net of fees and expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser.

 

(c)   Amount is less than $.005.

 

(d)   Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Initial sales charges or contingent deferred sales charges are not reflected in the calculation of total investment return. Total return does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

 

(e)   The ratio includes expenses attributable to costs of proxy solicitation.

 

(f)   Ratios reflect expenses grossed up, where applicable, for expense offset arrangement with the Transfer Agent. For the periods shown below, the net expense ratios were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
November 30, 2007		  

Class A

      1.20 % 

Class B

      1.39 % 

Class C

      1.92 % 

Class R

      1.42 % 

Class K

      1.12 % 

Class I

      0.77 % 

 

(g)   Net of fees and expenses waived by Distributor.

 

(h)   Commencement of distributions.

 

(i)   Annualized.

 

*   Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Fund resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Fund’s performance for the years ended November 30, 2011, November 30, 2010, November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008 by 0.29%, 0.70%, 1.94% and 0.02%, respectively. For the period ended November 30, 2010, these proceeds enhanced performance of the Advisor Class shares by 0.32%.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

36   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Financial Highlights

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc. (formerly AllianceBernstein Focused Growth & Income Fund, Inc.) (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of November 30, 2011, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2011 by correspondence with the custodian and others, or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc. at November 30, 2011, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the indicated periods, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

LOGO

New York, New York

January 26, 2012

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     37   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

William H. Foulk, Jr.(1), Chairman

John H. Dobkin(1)

Michael J. Downey(1)

D. James Guzy(1)

Nancy P. Jacklin(1)

Robert M. Keith, President and Chief Executive Officer

Garry L. Moody(1)

Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1)

Earl D. Weiner(1)

OFFICERS

Philip L. Kirstein, Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer

Frank V. Caruso(2) , Senior Vice President

Emilie D. Wrapp, Secretary

Joseph J. Mantineo, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Phyllis J. Clarke, Controller

 

Custodian and Accounting Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111

 

Principal Underwriter

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105

 

Transfer Agent

AllianceBernstein Investor
Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 786003
San Antonio, TX 78278-6003
Toll-Free (800) 221-5672

   

Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP
5 Times Square
New York, NY 10036

 

Legal Counsel

Seward & Kissel LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004

 

(1)   Member of the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Independent Directors Committee. Mr. Foulk is the sole member of the Fair Value Pricing Committee.

 

(2)   The management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund are made by the Adviser’s Relative Value Investment Team. While the members of the team work jointly to determine the investment strategy, including security selection, for the Fund, Mr. Frank Caruso CFA, who is CIO of the Adviser’s Relative Value Investment Team, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

38   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Board of Directors

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Board of Directors Information

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Certain information concerning the Fund’s Directors is set forth below.

 

NAME,
ADDRESS*, AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)		   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***		   PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR		     OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
INTERESTED DIRECTOR    

Robert M. Keith, †

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

51
(2010)

   Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and head of AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”) since July 2008; Director of ABI and President of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. Previously, he served as Executive Managing Director of ABI from December 2006 to June 2008. Prior to joining ABI in 2006, Executive Managing Director of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, and prior thereto, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Client Service and Sales of the Adviser’s institutional investment management business since 2004. Prior thereto, Managing Director and Head of North American Client Service and Sales in the Adviser’s institutional investment management business, with which he had been associated since prior to 2004.     102      None
     
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS    

Chairman of the Board

William H. Foulk, Jr., #, ##

79
(1999)

   Investment Adviser and an Independent Consultant since prior to 2007. Previously, he was Senior Manager of Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser. He was formerly Deputy Comptroller and Chief Investment Officer of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings. He has served as a director or trustee of various AllianceBernstein Funds since 1983 and has been Chairman of the AllianceBernstein Funds and of the Independent Directors Committee of such Funds since 2003. He is also active in a number of mutual fund related organizations and committees.     102      None

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     39   

Management of the Fund

 

NAME,
ADDRESS*, AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)		   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***		   PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR		     OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS
(continued)		    
John H. Dobkin, #
69
(1999)		   Independent Consultant since prior to 2007. Formerly, President of Save Venice, Inc. (preservation organization) from 2001-2002; Senior Advisor from June 1999-June 2000 and President of Historic Hudson Valley (historic preservation) from December 1989-May 1999. Previously, Director of the National Academy of Design. He has served as a director or trustee of various AllianceBernstein Funds since 1992, and as Chairman of the Audit Committees of a number of such Funds from 2001-2008.     102      None
     
Michael J. Downey, #
68
(2005)		   Private Investor since prior to 2007. Formerly, managing partner of Lexington Capital, LLC (investment advisory firm) from December 1997 until December 2003. From 1987 until 1993, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Mutual Fund Management, director of the Prudential mutual funds, and member of the Executive Committee of Prudential Securities, Inc. He has served as a director or trustee of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2005 and is a director of two other registered investment companies (and Chairman of one of them).     102      Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. and The Merger Fund since prior to 2007 and Prospect Acquisition Corp. (financial services) from 2007 until 2009
     

 

40   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Management of the Fund

 

NAME,
ADDRESS*, AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)		   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***		   PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR		     OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS
(continued)		    
D. James Guzy, #
75
(2005)		   Chairman of the Board of PLX Technology (semi-conductors) and of SRC Computers Inc., with which he has been associated since prior to 2007. He was a director of Intel Corporation (semi-conductors) from 1969 until 2008 and served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of such company for several years until May 2008. He has served as a director or trustee of one or more of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 1982.     102      Cirrus Logic Corporation (semi-conductors) and PLX Technology
(semi-conductors) since prior to 2007 and Intel Corporation (semi-conductors) since prior to 2007 until 2008
     
Nancy P. Jacklin, #
63
(2006)		   Professorial Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies since 2008. Formerly, U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (December 2002-May 2006); Partner, Clifford Chance (1992-2002); Sector Counsel, International Banking and Finance, and Associate General Counsel, Citicorp (1985-1992); Assistant General Counsel (International), Federal Reserve Board of Governors (1982-1985); and Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury (1973-1982). Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and of New York; and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has served as a director or trustee of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2006.     102      None
     

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     41   

Management of the Fund

 

NAME,
ADDRESS*, AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)		   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***		   PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR		     OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS
(continued)		    
Garry L. Moody, #
59
(2008)		   Independent Consultant. Formerly, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, (1995-2008) where he held a number of senior positions, including Vice Chairman, and U.S. and Global Investment Management Practice Managing Partner; President, Fidelity Accounting and Custody Services Company (1993-1995); and Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (1975-1993), where he served as the National Director of Mutual Fund Tax Services. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC), an organization of independent directors of mutual funds. He has served as a director or trustee, and as Chairman of the Audit Committee, of most of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2008.     102      None
     

Marshall C. Turner, Jr., #
70
(2005)

   Private Investor since prior to 2007. Interim CEO of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (semi-conductor and solar cell substrates) from November 2008 until March 2009. He was Chairman and CEO of Dupont Photomasks, Inc. (components of semi-conductor manufacturing), 2003-2005, and President and CEO, 2005-2006, after the company was acquired and renamed Toppan Photomasks, Inc. He has extensive experience in venture capital investing including prior service as general partner of three institutional venture capital partnerships, and serves on the boards of a number of education and science-related non-profit organizations. He has served as a director or trustee of one or more of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 1992.     102      Xilinx, Inc. (programmable logic semi-conductors) and MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (semi-conductor and solar cell substrates) since prior to 2007

 

42   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Management of the Fund

 

NAME,
ADDRESS*, AGE,
(FIRST YEAR ELECTED**)		   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
AND OTHER RELEVANT
QUALIFICATIONS***		   PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN BY
DIRECTOR		     OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
DIRECTOR IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS
DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS
(continued)		    

Earl D. Weiner, #

72

(2007)

   Of Counsel, and Partner prior to January 2007, of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; member of ABA Federal Regulation of Securities Committee Task Force to draft editions of the Fund Director’s Guidebook. He also serves as a director or trustee of various non-profit organizations and has served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of a number of them. He has served as a director or trustee of the AllianceBernstein Funds since 2007 and is Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committees of most of the Funds.     102      None

 

* The address for each of the Fund’s disinterested Directors is c/o AllianceBernstein L.P. Attention: Philip L. Kirstein, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

** There is no stated term of office for the Fund’s Directors.

 

***   The information above includes each Director’s principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to each Director’s qualifications to serve as a Director, which led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director for the Fund.

 

† Mr. Keith is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, due to his position as a Senior Vice President of the Adviser.

 

# Member of the Fair Value Pricing Committee.

 

## Member of the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Independent Directors Committee.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     43   

Management of the Fund

 

Officer Information

Certain information concerning the Fund’s Officers is listed below.

 

NAME, ADDRESS*
AND AGE		    POSITION(S)
HELD WITH FUND		    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS**

Robert M. Keith

51

    President and Chief Executive Officer    See biography above.
     
Philip L. Kirstein
66		    Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President and Independent Compliance Officer of the AllianceBernstein Funds, with which he has been associated since October 2004. Prior thereto, he was Of Counsel to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP from October 2003 to October 2004, and General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. since prior to March 2003.
     
Frank V. Caruso
55		    Senior Vice President    Senior Vice President of the Adviser**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2007.
     
Emilie D. Wrapp
56		    Secretary    Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2007.
     
Joseph J. Mantineo
52		    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Senior Vice President of AllianceBernstein Investor Services (“ABIS”)**, with which he has been associated since prior to 2007.
     
Phyllis J. Clarke
51		    Controller    Vice President of ABIS**, with which she has been associated since prior to 2007.

 

*   The address for each of the Fund’s Officers is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

 

**   The Adviser, ABI and ABIS are affiliates of the Fund.

 

    The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) has additional information about the Fund’s Directors and Officers and is available without charge upon request. Contact your financial representative or AllianceBernstein at (800) 227-4618, or visit www.alliancebernstein.com, for a free prospectus or SAI.

 

44   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Management of the Fund

 

THE FOLLOWING IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUMMARY OF SENIOR OFFICER’S EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT1

The following is a summary of the evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement between AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) and the AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”).2,3 The evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was prepared by Philip L. Kirstein, the Senior Officer of the Fund, for the Directors of the Fund, as required by a September 2004 agreement between the Adviser and the New York State Attorney General (the “NYAG”). The Senior Officer’s evaluation of the Investment Advisory Agreement is not meant to diminish the responsibility or authority of the Board of Directors of the Fund to perform its duties pursuant to Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and applicable state law. The purpose of the summary is to provide shareholders with a synopsis of the independent evaluation of the reasonableness of the advisory fees proposed to be paid by the Fund which was provided to the Directors in connection with their review of the proposed approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Senior Officer’s evaluation considered the following factors:

 

  1. Advisory fees charged to institutional and other clients of the Adviser for like services;

 

  2. Advisory fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services;

 

  3. Costs to the Adviser and its affiliates of supplying services pursuant to the advisory agreement, excluding any intra-corporate profit;

 

  4. Profit margins of the Adviser and its affiliates from supplying such services;

 

  5. Possible economies of scale as the Fund grows larger; and

 

  6. Nature and quality of the Adviser’s services including the performance of the Fund.

These factors, with the exception of the first factor, are generally referred to as the “Gartenberg factors,” which were articulated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1982. Gartenberg v. Merrill Lynch Asset Management, Inc., 694 F. 2d 923 (2d Cir. 1982). On March 30, 2010, the Supreme Court held the Gartenberg decision was correct in its basic formulation of what §36(b) requires: to face liability under §36(b), “an investment adviser must charge a fee that is so disproportionately large that it bears no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and could not have been the product of arms length

 

1   It should be noted that the information in the fee summary was completed on April 21, 2011 and discussed with the Board of Directors on May 3-5, 2011.

 

2   Future references to the Fund do not include “AllianceBernstein.” References in the fee summary pertaining to performance and expense ratio rankings refer to the Class A shares of the Fund.

 

3   Prior to March 1, 2010, the Fund was known as Focused Growth & Income Fund, Inc.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     45   

 

bargaining.” Jones v. Harris Associates L.P., (No. 08-586), 130 U.S. 1418 (2010). In the Jones decision, the Court stated the Gartenberg approach fully incorporates the correct understanding of fiduciary duty within the context of section 36(b) and noted with approval that “Gartenberg insists that all relevant circumstances be taken into account” and “uses the range of fees that might result from arms-length bargaining as the benchmark for reviewing challenged fees.”

FUND ADVISORY FEES, NET ASSETS & EXPENSE RATIOS

The Adviser proposed that the Fund pay the advisory fee set forth in the table below for receiving the services to be provided pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The fee schedule below, implemented in January 2004 in consideration of the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG in December 2003, is based on a master schedule that contemplates eight categories of funds with almost all funds in each category having the same advisory fee schedule.4

 

Category  

Advisory Fee Based on % of

Average Daily Net Assets

  

Net Assets

03/31/11

($MIL)

     Fund
Value  

55 bp on 1st $2.5 billion

45 bp on next $2.5 billion

40 bp on the balance

   $ 109.5      Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.

The Adviser is reimbursed as specified in the Investment Advisory Agreement for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services provided to the Fund. During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Adviser received $77,089 (0.07% of the Fund’s average daily net assets) for such services.

The Adviser has agreed to waive that portion of its management fees and/or reimburse the Fund for that portion of its total operating expenses to the degree necessary to limit the Fund’s expense ratios to the amounts set forth below for the Fund’s fiscal year. The waiver is terminable by the Adviser at the end of the Fund’s fiscal year upon at least 60 days written notice prior to the termination date of the undertaking. In addition, set forth below are the gross expense ratios of the Fund for the most recently completed fiscal year:

 

Fund   Expense Cap Pursuant to
Expense Limitation
Undertaking		        Gross
Expense
Ratio		     Fiscal
Year End
Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.5  

Advisor

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class R

Class K

Class I

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1.05%

1.35%

2.05%

2.05%

1.55%

1.30%

1.05%

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1.33%

1.65%

2.41%

2.37%

1.75%

1.49%

1.08%

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

   November 30

 

4   Most of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds, which the Adviser manages, were affected by the Adviser’s settlement with the NYAG.

 

5   Expense caps effective March 1, 2010.

 

46   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

 

I. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED TO INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER CLIENTS.

The advisory fees charged to investment companies which the Adviser manages and sponsors are normally higher than those charged to similar sized institutional accounts, including pension plans and sub-advised investment companies. The fee differential reflects, among other things, different services provided to such clients, and different liabilities assumed. Services provided by the Adviser to the Fund that are not provided to non-investment company clients and sub-advised investment companies include providing office space and personnel to serve as Fund Officers, who among other responsibilities make the certifications required under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and coordinating with and monitoring the Fund’s third party service providers such as Fund counsel, auditors, custodians, transfer agents and pricing services. The accounting, administrative, legal and compliance requirements for the Fund are more costly than those for institutional assets due to the greater complexities and time required for investment companies, although as previously noted, the Adviser is reimbursed for providing such services. Also, retail mutual funds managed by the Adviser are widely held. Servicing the Fund’s investors is more time consuming and labor intensive compared to institutional clients since the Adviser needs to communicate with a more extensive network of financial intermediaries and shareholders. The Adviser also believes that it incurs substantial entrepreneurial risk when offering a new mutual fund since establishing a new mutual fund requires a large upfront investment and it may take a long time for the fund to achieve profitability since the fund must be priced to scale from inception in order to be competitive and assets are acquired one account at a time. In addition, managing the cash flow of an investment company may be more difficult than managing that of a stable pool of assets, such as an institutional account with little cash movement in either direction, particularly, if a fund is in net redemption and the Adviser is frequently forced to sell securities to raise cash for redemptions. However, managing a fund with positive cash flow may be easier at times than managing a stable pool of assets. Finally, in recent years, investment advisers have been sued by institutional clients and have suffered reputational damage both by the attendant publicity and outcomes other than complete victories. Accordingly, the legal and reputational risks associated with institutional accounts are greater than previously thought, although still not equal to those related to the mutual fund industry.

Notwithstanding the Adviser’s view that managing an investment company is not comparable to managing other institutional accounts because the services provided are different and legal and reputational risks are greater, the Supreme Court has indicated consideration should be given to the advisory fees charged

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     47   

 

to institutional accounts with a similar investment style as the Fund.6 In addition to the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule, set forth below is what would have been the effective advisory fee of the Fund had the AllianceBernstein Institutional fee schedule been applicable to the Fund versus the Fund’s advisory fees based on March 31, 2011 net assets:7

 

Fund  

Net Assets

03/31/11

($MIL)

  

AllianceBernstein (“AB”)

Institutional (“Inst.”)

Fee Schedule

   Effective
AB Inst.
Adv. Fee		    

Fund

Advisory
Fee

Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.   $109.5  

Relative Value

65 bp on 1st $25 million

50 bp on next $25 million

40 bp on next $50 million

30 bp on next $100 million

25 bp on the balance

Minimum account size: $25m

     0.471%      0.550%

The Adviser represented that it does not sub-advise any registered investment company with a substantially similar investment style as the Fund.

 

II. MANAGEMENT FEES CHARGED BY OTHER MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR LIKE SERVICES.

Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), an analytical service that is not affiliated with the Adviser, compared the fees charged to the Fund with fees charged to other investment companies for similar services offered by other investment advisers.8 Lipper’s analysis included the Fund’s ranking with respect to the contractual

 

6   It should be noted that the Supreme Court stated that “courts may give such comparisons the weight that they merit in light of the similarities and differences between the services that the clients in question require, but the courts must be wary of inapt comparisons.” Among the significant differences the Supreme Court noted that may exist between services provided to mutual funds and institutional accounts are “higher marketing costs.” Jones v. Harris at 1428.

 

7   The Adviser has indicated that with respect to institutional accounts with assets greater than $300 million, it will negotiate a fee schedule. Discounts that are negotiated vary based upon each client relationship.

 

8   It should be noted that the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since “these comparisons are problematic because these fees, like those challenged, may not be the product of the negotiations conducted at arms length.” Jones v. Harris at 1429.

 

48   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

management fee relative to the median of the Fund’s Lipper Expense Group (“EG”)9 at the approximate current asset level of the Fund.10

Lipper describes an EG as a representative sample of comparable funds. Lipper’s standard methodology for screening funds to be included in an EG entails the consideration of several fund criteria, including fund type, investment classification/objective, load type and similar 12b-1/non-12b-1 service fees, asset (size) comparability, expense components and attributes. An EG will typically consist of seven to twenty funds.

 

Fund   Contractual
Management
Fee (%)11		    

Lipper Exp.

Group

Median (%)

     Rank  
Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.     0.550        0.755        1/10   

Lipper also compared the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and pro-forma12 total expense ratio in comparison to the Fund’s EG and Lipper Expense Universe (“EU”).13 The EU is a broader group compared to the EG, consisting of all funds that have the same investment classification/objective and load type as the subject Fund.

 

Fund  

Expense

Ratio (%)14

    

Lipper Exp.

Group

Median (%)

    

Lipper

Group

Rank

  

Lipper Exp.

Universe

Median (%)

    

Lipper
Universe

Rank

Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.     1.417        1.350      8/10     1.295      59/83

Pro-forma

     1.350        1.350      6/10     1.295      49/83

 

9   It should be noted that Lipper does not consider average account size when constructing EGs. Funds with relatively small average account sizes tend to have higher transfer agent expense ratio than comparable sized funds that have relatively large average account sizes. Note that there are limitations on Lipper expense category data because different funds categorize expenses differently.

 

10   The contractual management fee is calculated by Lipper using the Fund’s contractual management fee rate at a hypothetical asset level. The hypothetical asset level is based on the combined net assets of all classes of the Fund, rounded up to the next $25 million. Lipper’s total expense ratio information is based on the most recent annual report except as otherwise noted. A ranking of “1” would mean that the Fund had the lowest effective fee rate in the Lipper peer group.

 

11   The contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Fund to the Adviser for certain clerical, legal, accounting, administrative and other services. In addition, the contractual management fee does not reflect any expense reimbursements made by the Adviser to the Fund for the expense cap.

 

12   Pro-forma shows what the total expense ratio of the Fund would have been had the changes made to the expense cap been in effect during the Fund’s entire fiscal year.

 

13   Except for asset (size) comparability, Lipper uses the same criteria for selecting an EG when selecting an EU. Unlike the EG, the EU allows for the same adviser to be represented by more than just one fund.

 

14   Most recently completed fiscal year end Class A total expense ratio.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     49   

 

Based on this analysis, the Fund has a more favorable ranking on a management fee basis than it does on a total expense ratio basis.

 

III. COSTS TO THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES OF SUPPLYING SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE MANAGEMENT FEE ARRANGEMENT, EXCLUDING ANY INTRA-CORPORATE PROFIT.

The Adviser utilizes two profitability reporting systems, which operate independently but are aligned with each other, to estimate the Adviser’s profitability in connection with investment advisory services provided to the Fund. The Senior Officer has retained a consultant to provide independent advice regarding the alignment of the two profitability systems as well as the methodologies and allocations utilized by both profitability systems. See Section IV for additional discussion.

 

IV. PROFIT MARGINS OF THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FOR SUPPLYING SUCH SERVICES.

The Fund’s profitability information, prepared by the Adviser for the Board of Directors, was reviewed by the Senior Officer and the consultant. The Adviser’s profitability from providing investment advisory services to the Fund decreased during calendar year 2010, relative to 2009.15

In addition to the Adviser’s direct profits from managing the Fund, certain of the Adviser’s affiliates have business relationships with the Fund and may earn a profit from providing other services to the Fund. The courts have referred to this type of business opportunity as “fall-out benefits” to the Adviser and indicated that such benefits should be factored into the evaluation of the total relationship between the Fund and the Adviser. Neither case law nor common business practice precludes the Adviser’s affiliates from earning a reasonable profit on this type of relationship provided the affiliates’ charges and services are competitive. These affiliates provide transfer agent, distribution and brokerage related services to the Fund and receive transfer agent fees, Rule 12b-1 payments, front-end sales loads, contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) and brokerage commissions. In addition, the Adviser benefits from soft dollar arrangements which offset expenses the Adviser would otherwise incur.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (“ABI”), an affiliate of the Adviser, is the Fund’s principal underwriter. ABI and the Adviser have disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus that they may make revenue sharing payments from their own resources, in addition to resources derived from sales loads and Rule 12b-1 fees, to firms that sell shares of the Fund. In 2010, ABI paid approximately 0.04% of the average monthly assets of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds or approximately $13.8 million for distribution services and educational support (revenue sharing payments).

 

15   It should be noted that at the August 2, 2011 meeting, the Adviser presented to the Board revised profitability figures with the respect to the Fund.

 

50   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, ABI received from the Fund $4,011, $599,496 and $12,478 in front-end sales charges, Rule 12b-1 and CDSC fees, respectively.

Fees and reimbursements for out of pocket expenses charged by AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), the affiliated transfer agent for the Fund, are charged on a per account basis, based on the level of service provided and the class of share held by the account. ABIS also receives a fee per shareholder sub-account for each account maintained by an intermediary on an omnibus basis. During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, ABIS received $184,132 in fees from the Fund.16

The Fund did not effect brokerage transactions and pay commissions during the most recently completed fiscal year to the Adviser’s affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC (“SCB & Co.”) and/or its U.K. affiliate, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited (“SCB Ltd.”), collectively “SCB.” The Adviser represented that SCB’s profitability from any business conducted in the future with the Portfolio would be comparable to the profitability of SCB’s dealings with other similar third party clients. In the ordinary course of business, SCB receives and pays liquidity rebates from electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) derived from trading for its clients, including the Fund. These credits and charges are not being passed onto any SCB client. The Adviser also receives certain soft dollar benefits from brokers that execute agency trades for the Fund and other clients. These soft dollar benefits reduce the Adviser’s cost of doing business and increase its profitability.

 

V. POSSIBLE ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

The Adviser has indicated that economies of scale are being shared with shareholders through fee structures,17 subsidies and enhancement to services. Based on some of the professional literature that has considered economies of scale in the mutual fund industry, it is thought that to the extent economies of scale exist, they may more often exist across a fund family as opposed to a specific fund. This is because the costs incurred by the Adviser, such as investment research or technology for trading or compliance systems can be spread across a greater asset base as the fund family increases in size. It is also possible that as the level of services required to operate a successful investment company has increased over time, and advisory firms make such investments in their business to provide services, there may be a sharing of economies of scale without a reduction in advisory fees.

 

16   The fees disclosed are net of any expense offsets with ABIS. An expense offset is created by the interest earned on the positive cash balance that occurs within the transfer agent account as there is a one day lag with regards to money movement from the shareholder’s account to the transfer agent’s account and then the transfer agent’s account to the Fund’s account. There was no expense offset during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

17   Fee structures include fee reductions, pricing at scale and breakpoints in advisory fee schedules.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     51   

 

In February 2008, an independent consultant, retained by the Senior Officer, provided the Board of Directors an update of the Deli18 study on advisory fees and various fund characteristics.19 The independent consultant first reiterated the results of his previous two dimensional comparison analysis (fund size and family size) with the Board of Directors.20 The independent consultant then discussed the results of the regression model that was utilized to study the effects of various factors on advisory fees. The regression model output indicated that the bulk of the variation in fees predicted were explained by various factors, but substantially by fund AUM, family AUM, index fund indicator and investment style. The independent consultant also compared the advisory fees of the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds to similar funds managed by 19 other large asset managers, regardless of the fund size and each Adviser’s proportion of mutual fund assets to non-mutual fund assets.

 

VI. NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE ADVISER’S SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND.

With assets under management of approximately $477 billion as of March 31, 2011, the Adviser has the investment experience to manage and provide non-investment services (described in Section I) to the Fund.

The information prepared by Lipper shows the 1, 3, 5, and 10 year performance rankings of the Fund21 relative to its Lipper Performance Group (“PG”) and Lipper Performance Universe (“PU”)22 for the periods ended February 28, 2011.23

 

18   The Deli study was originally published in 2002 based on 1997 data.

 

19   As mentioned previously, the Supreme Court cautioned against accepting mutual fund fee comparisons without careful scrutiny since the fees may not be the product of negotiations conducted at arms length. See Jones V. Harris at 1429.

 

20   The two dimensional analysis showed patterns of lower advisory fees for funds with larger asset sizes and funds from larger family sizes compared to funds with smaller asset sizes and funds from smaller family sizes, which according to the independent consultant is indicative of a sharing of economies of scale and scope. However, in less liquid and active markets, such is not the case, as the empirical analysis showed potential for diseconomies of scale in those markets. The empirical analysis also showed diminishing economies of scale and scope as funds surpassed a certain high level of assets.

 

21   The performance rankings are for the Class A shares of the Fund. It should be noted that the performance returns of the Fund shown were provided by Lipper.

 

22   The Fund’s PG is identical to the Fund’s EG. The Fund’s PU is not identical to the Fund’s EU as the criteria for including/excluding a fund in a PU is somewhat different from that of an EU.

 

23   Note that the current Lipper investment classification/objective dictates the PG and PU throughout the life of the fund even if a fund had a different investment classification/objective at a different point in time.

 

52   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

 

     Fund Return
(%)		     PG Median
(%)		     PU Median
(%)		     PG Rank   PU Rank

1 year

     22.57        21.62        22.14      4/10   64/144

3 year

     0.58        0.50        2.18      3/9   97/130

5 year

     3.00        1.67        2.84      2/8   49/113

10 year

     3.49        3.03        3.25      3/6   22/50

Set forth below are the 1, 3, 5, and 10 year and since inception performance returns of the Fund (in bold)24 versus its benchmark.25 Fund and benchmark volatility and reward-to-variability ratio (“Sharpe Ratio”) information is also shown.26

 

    

Periods Ending February 28, 2011

Annualized Performance

  
     1 Year
(%)		     3 Year
(%)		     5 Year
(%)		     10 Year
(%)		     Since
Inception
(%)		     Annualized     Risk
Period
(Year)		  
            Volatility
(%)		     Sharpe
(%)		    
Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.     22.57        0.58        3.00        3.49        5.71        17.96        0.16        10   
S&P 500 Index     22.58        1.05        2.87        2.62        1.12        16.04        0.10        10   
Inception Date: December 22, 1999   

CONCLUSION:

Based on the factors discussed above the Senior Officer’s conclusion is that the proposed advisory fee for the Fund is reasonable and within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s-length in light of all the surrounding circumstances. This conclusion in respect of the Fund is based on an evaluation of all of these factors and no single factor was dispositive.

Dated: May 24, 2011

 

24   The performance returns and risk measures shown in the table are for the Class A shares of the Fund.

 

25   The Adviser provided Fund and benchmark performance return information for periods through February 28, 2011.

 

26   Fund and benchmark volatility and Sharpe Ratio information was obtained through Lipper LANA, a database maintained by Lipper. Volatility is a statistical measure of the tendency of a market price or yield to vary over time. A Sharpe Ratio is a risk adjusted measure of return that divides a fund’s return in excess of the riskless return by the fund’s standard deviation. A fund with a greater volatility would be regarded as more risky than a fund with equivalent performance but lower volatility; for that reason, a greater return would be demanded for the more risky fund. A fund with a higher Sharpe Ratio would be regarded as better performing than a fund with a lower Sharpe Ratio.

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     53   

THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

Wealth Strategies Funds

Balanced Wealth Strategy

Conservative Wealth Strategy

Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Tax-Managed Balanced Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Conservative Wealth Strategy

Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy

Asset Allocation/Multi-Asset

Emerging Markets Multi-Asset

International Portfolio

Real Asset Strategy

Tax-Managed International Portfolio

Growth Funds

Domestic

Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Select U.S. Equity Portfolio

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

U.S. Strategic Research Portfolio

Global & International

Global Thematic Growth Fund

Greater China ’97 Fund

International Discovery Equity Portfolio

International Focus 40 Portfolio

International Growth Fund

Value Funds

Domestic

Core Opportunities Fund

Equity Income Fund

Growth & Income Fund

Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

Value Fund

Global & International

Global Real Estate Investment Fund

Global Value Fund

International Value Fund

Taxable Bond Funds

Bond Inflation Strategy

Global Bond Fund

High Income Fund

Intermediate Bond Portfolio

Limited Duration High Income Portfolio

Short Duration Portfolio

Unconstrained Bond Fund*

Municipal Bond Funds

 

Arizona

California

High Income

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Municipal Bond

   Inflation Strategy

   

National

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Virginia

Intermediate Municipal Bond Funds

Intermediate California

Intermediate Diversified

Intermediate New York

Closed-End Funds

Alliance California Municipal Income Fund

Alliance New York Municipal Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund

AllianceBernstein Income Fund

AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund

Alternatives

Market Neutral Strategy-Global

Market Neutral Strategy-U.S.

Balanced

Balanced Shares

 

Retirement Strategies Funds

 

2000 Retirement Strategy

  

2020 Retirement Strategy

  

2040 Retirement Strategy

2005 Retirement Strategy

  

2025 Retirement Strategy

  

2045 Retirement Strategy

2010 Retirement Strategy

  

2030 Retirement Strategy

  

2050 Retirement Strategy

2015 Retirement Strategy

  

2035 Retirement Strategy

  

2055 Retirement Strategy

We also offer Exchange Reserves,** which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AllianceBernstein mutual funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.alliancebernstein.com or contact your AllianceBernstein Investments representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

*   Prior to February 3, 2011, Unconstrained Bond Fund was named Diversified Yield Fund.

 

** An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

54   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

AllianceBernstein Family of Funds

NOTES

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     55   

NOTES

 

 

56   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

NOTES

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     57   

NOTES

 

 

58   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

NOTES

 

 

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND  •     59   

NOTES

 

 

60   •  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

800.221.5672

LOGO

 

 

CO-0151-1111   LOGO

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A copy of the registrant’s code of ethics is filed herewith as Exhibit 12(a)(1).

(b) During the period covered by this report, no material amendments were made to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.

(c) During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above were granted.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that independent directors Garry L. Moody and William H. Foulk, Jr. qualify as audit committee financial experts.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) - (c) The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP, for the Fund’s last two fiscal years for professional services rendered for: (i) the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements included in the Fund’s annual report to stockholders; (ii) assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under (i), which include advice and education related to accounting and auditing issues and quarterly press release review (for those Funds which issue press releases), and preferred stock maintenance testing (for those Funds that issue preferred stock); and (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation.

 

          Audit Fees      Audit-Related
Fees		      Tax Fees  

AB Core Opportunities

    2010    $ 29,000       $ —         $ 11,631   
   2011    $ 29,000       $ 41       $ 11,631   

(d) Not applicable.

(e) (1) Beginning with audit and non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures require the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Fund’s Audit Committee policies and procedures also require pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Adviser and Service Affiliates to the extent that these services are directly related to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund.

(e) (2) All of the amounts for Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees in the table under Item 4 (a) – (c) are for services pre-approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The following table sets forth the aggregate non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Fund’s Adviser and entities that control, are controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund, which include preparing an annual internal control report pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70 (“Service Affiliates”):

 

            All Fees for
Non-Audit  Services
Provided to the
Portfolio, the Adviser
and Service
Affiliates		      Total Amount of
Foregoing  Column
Pre-approved by the
Audit Committee
(Portion Comprised of
Audit Related Fees)
(Portion Comprised of
Tax Fees)		  

AB Core Opportunities

      2010       $ 804,646       $
 139,346
   
         $ (127,715 ) 
         $ (11,631 ) 
     2011       $ 681,381       $
 11,672
   
         $ (41 ) 
         $ (11,631 ) 

(h) The Audit Committee of the Fund has considered whether the provision of any non-audit services not pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser and Service Affiliates is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Please see Schedule of Investments contained in the Report to Shareholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board of Directors since the Fund last provided disclosure in response to this item.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3 (c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:

 

EXHIBIT NO.

  

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

12(a)(1)   Code of Ethics that is subject to the disclosure of Item 2 hereof
12(b)(1)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12(b)(2)   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12(c)   Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant): AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

By:     /s/    Robert M. Keith
  Robert M. Keith
  President

Date: January 24, 2012

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:     /s/    Robert M. Keith
  Robert M. Keith
  President

Date: January 24, 2012

 

By:     /s/    Joseph J. Mantineo
  Joseph J. Mantineo
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 24, 2012