10/03/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2025 09:07
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: 811-03131
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
66 Hudson Boulevard East
New York, New York 10005
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Stephen M. Woetzel
AllianceBernstein L.P.
66 Hudson Boulevard East
New York, New York 10005
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (800) 221-5672
Date of fiscal year end: July 31, 2025
Date of reporting period: July 31, 2025
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
July 31, 2025
SCAN ME
Please scan QR code for
Fund Information
This annual shareholder report contains important information about the AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (the "Fund") for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEYX-A. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
(Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
|
Cost of a $10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
|
Advisor Class
|
$78
|
0.77%
|
During the 12-month period ended July 31, 2025, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (net) (the "benchmark"), before sales charges.
The Fund's underperformance was primarily driven by security selection, which detracted significantly across multiple sectors. Selection within health care, information technology and financials had the most negative impact. Sector allocation also detracted modestly from performance, particularly due to an underweight in communication services and an overweight to healthcare. Country selection further contributed to the Fund's relative weakness, with an overweight to Brazil and an underweight to China detracting from relative performance. Currency selection added slightly to returns, with positive impacts from certain exposures partially offset by negative effects elsewhere.
The Fund used derivatives in the form of currency forwards for hedging purposes, which detracted from absolute returns for the 12-month period.
Top contributors to performance:
During the 12-month period, both the underweight to energy and strong selection within the sector were leading contributors to performance. Our overweights in information technology also ranked among the top contributors.
Top detractors from performance:
During the 12-month period, an underweight to communication services, along with an overweight and weaker stock selection within health care, were the primary detractors from performance.
Advisor Class: ATEYX
1
The following graph shows the performance of hypothetical $10,000 investments in the Fund and a broad-based securities market index over the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or since inception, if shorter. The Fund's performance reflects sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
Advisor Class
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
|
07/15
|
$10,000
|
$10,000
|
07/16
|
$9,969
|
$9,956
|
07/17
|
$12,219
|
$11,654
|
07/18
|
$13,682
|
$12,932
|
07/19
|
$14,605
|
$13,313
|
07/20
|
$18,187
|
$14,272
|
07/21
|
$24,752
|
$19,007
|
07/22
|
$21,144
|
$17,014
|
07/23
|
$22,356
|
$19,211
|
07/24
|
$24,805
|
$22,480
|
07/25
|
$25,650
|
$26,049
|
AATR
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Advisor Class
|
3.41%
|
7.12%
|
9.88%
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
15.87%
|
12.79%
|
10.05%
|
The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of the Fund's future performance.
The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares.
Visit https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEYX-A for the most recent performance information.
Net Assets
|
$1,604,258,936
|
# of Portfolio Holdings
|
56
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
62%
|
Total Advisory Fees Paid (Net)
|
$10,820,888
|
Advisor Class: ATEYX
2
Company
|
U.S. $ Value
|
% of Net Assets
|
Microsoft Corp.
|
$72,020,900
|
4.5%
|
NVIDIA Corp.
|
$61,892,001
|
3.9%
|
Flex Ltd.
|
$55,948,106
|
3.5%
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
|
$43,311,659
|
2.7%
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
$41,617,845
|
2.6%
|
Visa, Inc. - Class A
|
$40,070,374
|
2.5%
|
Veralto Corp.
|
$38,871,383
|
2.4%
|
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H
|
$38,665,450
|
2.4%
|
Cameco Corp.
|
$37,836,653
|
2.3%
|
Broadcom, Inc.
|
$36,832,917
|
2.3%
|
Total
|
$467,067,288
|
29.1%
|
Value
|
Value
|
Information Technology
|
35.7%
|
Industrials
|
17.6%
|
Financials
|
15.7%
|
Health Care
|
12.7%
|
Consumer Discretionary
|
5.7%
|
Utilities
|
4.4%
|
Consumer Staples
|
3.5%
|
Energy
|
2.4%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
Value
|
Value
|
United States
|
62.9%
|
United Kingdom
|
5.2%
|
Canada
|
5.0%
|
Brazil
|
4.9%
|
Taiwan
|
2.7%
|
Switzerland
|
2.6%
|
Japan
|
2.5%
|
Hong Kong
|
2.4%
|
China
|
2.3%
|
Italy
|
2.1%
|
Germany
|
1.8%
|
France
|
1.4%
|
India
|
1.1%
|
Ireland
|
0.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
You can find additional information on the Fund's website at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEYX-A, including the Fund's:
• Prospectus
• Financial information
• Fund holdings
• Proxy voting information
You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
Shareholders who have consented to receive a single annual or semi-annual shareholder report at a shared address may revoke this consent by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
SGT-ADV-0153-0725
Advisor Class: ATEYX
3
July 31, 2025
SCAN ME
Please scan QR code for
Fund Information
This annual shareholder report contains important information about the AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (the "Fund") for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ALTFX-A. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
(Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
|
Cost of a $10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
|
Class A
|
$104
|
1.02%
|
During the 12-month period ended July 31, 2025, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (net) (the "benchmark"), before sales charges.
The Fund's underperformance was primarily driven by security selection, which detracted significantly across multiple sectors. Selection within health care, information technology and financials had the most negative impact. Sector allocation also detracted modestly from performance, particularly due to an underweight in communication services and an overweight to healthcare. Country selection further contributed to the Fund's relative weakness, with an overweight to Brazil and an underweight to China detracting from relative performance. Currency selection added slightly to returns, with positive impacts from certain exposures partially offset by negative effects elsewhere.
The Fund used derivatives in the form of currency forwards for hedging purposes, which detracted from absolute returns for the 12-month period.
Top contributors to performance:
During the 12-month period, both the underweight to energy and strong selection within the sector were leading contributors to performance. Our overweights in information technology also ranked among the top contributors.
Top detractors from performance:
During the 12-month period, an underweight to communication services, along with an overweight and weaker stock selection within health care, were the primary detractors from performance.
Class A: ALTFX
1
The following graph shows the performance of hypothetical $10,000 investments in the Fund and a broad-based securities market index over the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or since inception, if shorter. The Fund's performance reflects sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
Class A (with sales charges)
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
|
07/15
|
$9,575
|
$10,000
|
07/16
|
$9,522
|
$9,956
|
07/17
|
$11,642
|
$11,654
|
07/18
|
$13,003
|
$12,932
|
07/19
|
$13,845
|
$13,313
|
07/20
|
$17,197
|
$14,272
|
07/21
|
$23,347
|
$19,007
|
07/22
|
$19,895
|
$17,014
|
07/23
|
$20,982
|
$19,211
|
07/24
|
$23,222
|
$22,480
|
07/25
|
$23,952
|
$26,049
|
AATR
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Class A (without sales charges)
|
3.14%
|
6.85%
|
9.60%
|
Class A (with sales charges)
|
-1.24%
|
5.92%
|
9.13%
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
15.87%
|
12.79%
|
10.05%
|
The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of the Fund's future performance.
The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares.
Visit https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ALTFX-A for the most recent performance information.
Net Assets
|
$1,604,258,936
|
# of Portfolio Holdings
|
56
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
62%
|
Total Advisory Fees Paid (Net)
|
$10,820,888
|
Class A: ALTFX
2
Company
|
U.S. $ Value
|
% of Net Assets
|
Microsoft Corp.
|
$72,020,900
|
4.5%
|
NVIDIA Corp.
|
$61,892,001
|
3.9%
|
Flex Ltd.
|
$55,948,106
|
3.5%
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
|
$43,311,659
|
2.7%
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
$41,617,845
|
2.6%
|
Visa, Inc. - Class A
|
$40,070,374
|
2.5%
|
Veralto Corp.
|
$38,871,383
|
2.4%
|
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H
|
$38,665,450
|
2.4%
|
Cameco Corp.
|
$37,836,653
|
2.3%
|
Broadcom, Inc.
|
$36,832,917
|
2.3%
|
Total
|
$467,067,288
|
29.1%
|
Value
|
Value
|
Information Technology
|
35.7%
|
Industrials
|
17.6%
|
Financials
|
15.7%
|
Health Care
|
12.7%
|
Consumer Discretionary
|
5.7%
|
Utilities
|
4.4%
|
Consumer Staples
|
3.5%
|
Energy
|
2.4%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
Value
|
Value
|
United States
|
62.9%
|
United Kingdom
|
5.2%
|
Canada
|
5.0%
|
Brazil
|
4.9%
|
Taiwan
|
2.7%
|
Switzerland
|
2.6%
|
Japan
|
2.5%
|
Hong Kong
|
2.4%
|
China
|
2.3%
|
Italy
|
2.1%
|
Germany
|
1.8%
|
France
|
1.4%
|
India
|
1.1%
|
Ireland
|
0.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
You can find additional information on the Fund's website at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ALTFX-A, including the Fund's:
• Prospectus
• Financial information
• Fund holdings
• Proxy voting information
You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
Shareholders who have consented to receive a single annual or semi-annual shareholder report at a shared address may revoke this consent by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
SGT-A-0153-0725
Class A: ALTFX
3
July 31, 2025
SCAN ME
Please scan QR code for
Fund Information
This annual shareholder report contains important information about the AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (the "Fund") for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATECX-A. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
(Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
|
Cost of a $10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
|
Class C
|
$179
|
1.77%
|
During the 12-month period ended July 31, 2025, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (net) (the "benchmark"), before sales charges.
The Fund's underperformance was primarily driven by security selection, which detracted significantly across multiple sectors. Selection within health care, information technology and financials had the most negative impact. Sector allocation also detracted modestly from performance, particularly due to an underweight in communication services and an overweight to healthcare. Country selection further contributed to the Fund's relative weakness, with an overweight to Brazil and an underweight to China detracting from relative performance. Currency selection added slightly to returns, with positive impacts from certain exposures partially offset by negative effects elsewhere.
The Fund used derivatives in the form of currency forwards for hedging purposes, which detracted from absolute returns for the 12-month period.
Top contributors to performance:
During the 12-month period, both the underweight to energy and strong selection within the sector were leading contributors to performance. Our overweights in information technology also ranked among the top contributors.
Top detractors from performance:
During the 12-month period, an underweight to communication services, along with an overweight and weaker stock selection within health care, were the primary detractors from performance.
Class C: ATECX
1
The following graph shows the performance of hypothetical $10,000 investments in the Fund and a broad-based securities market index over the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or since inception, if shorter. The Fund's performance reflects sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
Class C (with sales charges)
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
|
07/15
|
$10,000
|
$10,000
|
07/16
|
$9,867
|
$9,956
|
07/17
|
$11,973
|
$11,654
|
07/18
|
$13,272
|
$12,932
|
07/19
|
$14,024
|
$13,313
|
07/20
|
$17,290
|
$14,272
|
07/21
|
$23,296
|
$19,007
|
07/22
|
$19,702
|
$17,014
|
07/23
|
$20,624
|
$19,211
|
07/24
|
$22,653
|
$22,480
|
07/25
|
$23,191
|
$26,049
|
AATR
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Class C (without sales charges)
|
2.37%
|
6.05%
|
8.78%
|
Class C (with sales charges)
|
1.45%
|
6.05%
|
8.78%
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
15.87%
|
12.79%
|
10.05%
|
The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of the Fund's future performance.
The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares.
Visit https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATECX-A for the most recent performance information.
Net Assets
|
$1,604,258,936
|
# of Portfolio Holdings
|
56
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
62%
|
Total Advisory Fees Paid (Net)
|
$10,820,888
|
Class C: ATECX
2
Company
|
U.S. $ Value
|
% of Net Assets
|
Microsoft Corp.
|
$72,020,900
|
4.5%
|
NVIDIA Corp.
|
$61,892,001
|
3.9%
|
Flex Ltd.
|
$55,948,106
|
3.5%
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
|
$43,311,659
|
2.7%
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
$41,617,845
|
2.6%
|
Visa, Inc. - Class A
|
$40,070,374
|
2.5%
|
Veralto Corp.
|
$38,871,383
|
2.4%
|
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H
|
$38,665,450
|
2.4%
|
Cameco Corp.
|
$37,836,653
|
2.3%
|
Broadcom, Inc.
|
$36,832,917
|
2.3%
|
Total
|
$467,067,288
|
29.1%
|
Value
|
Value
|
Information Technology
|
35.7%
|
Industrials
|
17.6%
|
Financials
|
15.7%
|
Health Care
|
12.7%
|
Consumer Discretionary
|
5.7%
|
Utilities
|
4.4%
|
Consumer Staples
|
3.5%
|
Energy
|
2.4%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
Value
|
Value
|
United States
|
62.9%
|
United Kingdom
|
5.2%
|
Canada
|
5.0%
|
Brazil
|
4.9%
|
Taiwan
|
2.7%
|
Switzerland
|
2.6%
|
Japan
|
2.5%
|
Hong Kong
|
2.4%
|
China
|
2.3%
|
Italy
|
2.1%
|
Germany
|
1.8%
|
France
|
1.4%
|
India
|
1.1%
|
Ireland
|
0.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
You can find additional information on the Fund's website at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATECX-A, including the Fund's:
• Prospectus
• Financial information
• Fund holdings
• Proxy voting information
You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
Shareholders who have consented to receive a single annual or semi-annual shareholder report at a shared address may revoke this consent by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
SGT-C-0153-0725
Class C: ATECX
3
July 31, 2025
SCAN ME
Please scan QR code for
Fund Information
This annual shareholder report contains important information about the AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (the "Fund") for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/AGTIX-A. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
(Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
|
Cost of a $10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
|
Class I
|
$81
|
0.80%
|
During the 12-month period ended July 31, 2025, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (net) (the "benchmark"), before sales charges.
The Fund's underperformance was primarily driven by security selection, which detracted significantly across multiple sectors. Selection within health care, information technology and financials had the most negative impact. Sector allocation also detracted modestly from performance, particularly due to an underweight in communication services and an overweight to healthcare. Country selection further contributed to the Fund's relative weakness, with an overweight to Brazil and an underweight to China detracting from relative performance. Currency selection added slightly to returns, with positive impacts from certain exposures partially offset by negative effects elsewhere.
The Fund used derivatives in the form of currency forwards for hedging purposes, which detracted from absolute returns for the 12-month period.
Top contributors to performance:
During the 12-month period, both the underweight to energy and strong selection within the sector were leading contributors to performance. Our overweights in information technology also ranked among the top contributors.
Top detractors from performance:
During the 12-month period, an underweight to communication services, along with an overweight and weaker stock selection within health care, were the primary detractors from performance.
Class I: AGTIX
1
The following graph shows the performance of hypothetical $10,000 investments in the Fund and a broad-based securities market index over the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or since inception, if shorter. The Fund's performance reflects sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
Class I
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
|
07/15
|
$10,000
|
$10,000
|
07/16
|
$9,995
|
$9,956
|
07/17
|
$12,279
|
$11,654
|
07/18
|
$13,764
|
$12,932
|
07/19
|
$14,707
|
$13,313
|
07/20
|
$18,321
|
$14,272
|
07/21
|
$24,936
|
$19,007
|
07/22
|
$21,309
|
$17,014
|
07/23
|
$22,535
|
$19,211
|
07/24
|
$25,006
|
$22,480
|
07/25
|
$25,843
|
$26,049
|
AATR
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Class I
|
3.36%
|
7.12%
|
9.96%
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
15.87%
|
12.79%
|
10.05%
|
The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of the Fund's future performance.
The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares.
Visit https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/AGTIX-A for the most recent performance information.
Net Assets
|
$1,604,258,936
|
# of Portfolio Holdings
|
56
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
62%
|
Total Advisory Fees Paid (Net)
|
$10,820,888
|
Class I: AGTIX
2
Company
|
U.S. $ Value
|
% of Net Assets
|
Microsoft Corp.
|
$72,020,900
|
4.5%
|
NVIDIA Corp.
|
$61,892,001
|
3.9%
|
Flex Ltd.
|
$55,948,106
|
3.5%
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
|
$43,311,659
|
2.7%
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
$41,617,845
|
2.6%
|
Visa, Inc. - Class A
|
$40,070,374
|
2.5%
|
Veralto Corp.
|
$38,871,383
|
2.4%
|
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H
|
$38,665,450
|
2.4%
|
Cameco Corp.
|
$37,836,653
|
2.3%
|
Broadcom, Inc.
|
$36,832,917
|
2.3%
|
Total
|
$467,067,288
|
29.1%
|
Value
|
Value
|
Information Technology
|
35.7%
|
Industrials
|
17.6%
|
Financials
|
15.7%
|
Health Care
|
12.7%
|
Consumer Discretionary
|
5.7%
|
Utilities
|
4.4%
|
Consumer Staples
|
3.5%
|
Energy
|
2.4%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
Value
|
Value
|
United States
|
62.9%
|
United Kingdom
|
5.2%
|
Canada
|
5.0%
|
Brazil
|
4.9%
|
Taiwan
|
2.7%
|
Switzerland
|
2.6%
|
Japan
|
2.5%
|
Hong Kong
|
2.4%
|
China
|
2.3%
|
Italy
|
2.1%
|
Germany
|
1.8%
|
France
|
1.4%
|
India
|
1.1%
|
Ireland
|
0.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
You can find additional information on the Fund's website at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/AGTIX-A, including the Fund's:
• Prospectus
• Financial information
• Fund holdings
• Proxy voting information
You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
Shareholders who have consented to receive a single annual or semi-annual shareholder report at a shared address may revoke this consent by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
SGT-I-0153-0725
Class I: AGTIX
3
July 31, 2025
SCAN ME
Please scan QR code for
Fund Information
This annual shareholder report contains important information about the AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (the "Fund") for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEZX-A. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
(Based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Class Name
|
Cost of a $10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
|
Class Z
|
$72
|
0.71%
|
During the 12-month period ended July 31, 2025, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the MSCI All Country World Index (net) (the "benchmark"), before sales charges.
The Fund's underperformance was primarily driven by security selection, which detracted significantly across multiple sectors. Selection within health care, information technology and financials had the most negative impact. Sector allocation also detracted modestly from performance, particularly due to an underweight in communication services and an overweight to healthcare. Country selection further contributed to the Fund's relative weakness, with an overweight to Brazil and an underweight to China detracting from relative performance. Currency selection added slightly to returns, with positive impacts from certain exposures partially offset by negative effects elsewhere.
The Fund used derivatives in the form of currency forwards for hedging purposes, which detracted from absolute returns for the 12-month period.
Top contributors to performance:
During the 12-month period, both the underweight to energy and strong selection within the sector were leading contributors to performance. Our overweights in information technology also ranked among the top contributors.
Top detractors from performance:
During the 12-month period, an underweight to communication services, along with an overweight and weaker stock selection within health care, were the primary detractors from performance.
Class Z: ATEZX
1
The following graph shows the performance of hypothetical $10,000 investments in the Fund and a broad-based securities market index over the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or since inception, if shorter. The Fund's performance reflects sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
Class Z
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
|
07/21
|
$10,000
|
$10,000
|
07/21
|
$10,077
|
$9,968
|
07/22
|
$8,614
|
$8,923
|
07/23
|
$9,114
|
$10,074
|
07/24
|
$10,119
|
$11,789
|
07/25
|
$10,467
|
$13,660
|
AATR
|
1 Year
|
Since Inception 7/27/21
|
Class Z
|
3.44%
|
1.15%
|
MSCI All Country World Index (net)
|
15.87%
|
8.08%
|
The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of the Fund's future performance.
The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares.
Visit https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEZX-A for the most recent performance information.
Net Assets
|
$1,604,258,936
|
# of Portfolio Holdings
|
56
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
62%
|
Total Advisory Fees Paid (Net)
|
$10,820,888
|
Class Z: ATEZX
2
Company
|
U.S. $ Value
|
% of Net Assets
|
Microsoft Corp.
|
$72,020,900
|
4.5%
|
NVIDIA Corp.
|
$61,892,001
|
3.9%
|
Flex Ltd.
|
$55,948,106
|
3.5%
|
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
|
$43,311,659
|
2.7%
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
$41,617,845
|
2.6%
|
Visa, Inc. - Class A
|
$40,070,374
|
2.5%
|
Veralto Corp.
|
$38,871,383
|
2.4%
|
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H
|
$38,665,450
|
2.4%
|
Cameco Corp.
|
$37,836,653
|
2.3%
|
Broadcom, Inc.
|
$36,832,917
|
2.3%
|
Total
|
$467,067,288
|
29.1%
|
Value
|
Value
|
Information Technology
|
35.7%
|
Industrials
|
17.6%
|
Financials
|
15.7%
|
Health Care
|
12.7%
|
Consumer Discretionary
|
5.7%
|
Utilities
|
4.4%
|
Consumer Staples
|
3.5%
|
Energy
|
2.4%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
Value
|
Value
|
United States
|
62.9%
|
United Kingdom
|
5.2%
|
Canada
|
5.0%
|
Brazil
|
4.9%
|
Taiwan
|
2.7%
|
Switzerland
|
2.6%
|
Japan
|
2.5%
|
Hong Kong
|
2.4%
|
China
|
2.3%
|
Italy
|
2.1%
|
Germany
|
1.8%
|
France
|
1.4%
|
India
|
1.1%
|
Ireland
|
0.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
2.3%
|
Other assets less liabilities
|
0.0%
|
You can find additional information on the Fund's website at https://www.abfunds.com/link/AB/ATEZX-A, including the Fund's:
• Prospectus
• Financial information
• Fund holdings
• Proxy voting information
You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
Shareholders who have consented to receive a single annual or semi-annual shareholder report at a shared address may revoke this consent by contacting us at (800) 227 4618.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
SGT-Z-0153-0725
Class Z: ATEZX
3
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 19(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, Jorge A. Bermudez, Jeffrey R. Holland, R. Jay Gerken and Ms. Carol C. McMullen 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, quarterly press release review (for those Funds that issue quarterly 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 Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
2024 | $ | 46,715 | $ | - | $ | 27,050 | |||||||||
2025 | $ | 46,715 | $ | - | $ | 26,110 |
(d) Not applicable.
(e) (1) Beginning with audit and non-auditservice contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund's Audit Committee policies and procedures require the pre-approvalof all audit and non-auditservices provided to the Fund by the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. The Fund's Audit Committee policies and procedures also require pre-approvalof all audit and non-auditservices 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) No percentage of services addressed by (b) and (c) of this Item 4 were approved pursuant to the waiver provision of paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01of Regulation S-X.No amounts are reported for Item 4 (d).
(f) Not applicable.
(g) The following table sets forth the aggregate non-auditservices 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:
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 Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
2024 | $ | 2,101,886 | $ | 27,050 | |||||||
$ | - | |||||||||||
$ | (27,050 | ) | ||||||||||
2025 | $ | 1,852,458 | $ | 26,110 | ||||||||
$ | - | |||||||||||
$ | (26,110 | ) |
(h) The Audit Committee of the Fund has considered whether the provision of any non-auditservices not pre-approvedby 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.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
The registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section (3)(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee members are as follows:
Jorge A. Bermudez |
Garry L. Moody | |
Carol C. McMullen |
Jeanette Loeb | |
R. Jay Gerken |
Jeffrey R. Holland | |
Emilie D. Wrapp |
ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS.
Please see Schedule of Investments contained in the Financial Statements included under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR OPEN-ENDMANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
July 31, 2025
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND
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.abfunds.com or contact your AB 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-monthperiod ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB's website at www.abfunds.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "Commission") website at www.sec.gov, or call AB 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 as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund's Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov. AB publishes full portfolio holdings for the Fund monthly at www.abfunds.com.
AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the Adviser of the funds.
The [A/B] logo and AllianceBernstein® are registered trademarks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2025
Company | Shares | U.S. $ Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS - 97.7% |
||||||||||||
Information Technology - 35.7% |
||||||||||||
Communications Equipment - 1.5% |
||||||||||||
Xiaomi Corp. - Class H(a) |
3,545,600 | $ | 23,854,621 | |||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components - 7.9% |
||||||||||||
Flex Ltd.(a) |
1,121,879 | 55,948,106 | ||||||||||
Halma PLC |
733,825 | 31,399,268 | ||||||||||
Keyence Corp. |
34,300 | 12,407,384 | ||||||||||
Zebra Technologies Corp. - Class A(a) |
82,040 | 27,813,201 | ||||||||||
127,567,959 | ||||||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor |
||||||||||||
Broadcom, Inc. |
125,410 | 36,832,917 | ||||||||||
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. |
23,020 | 16,372,745 | ||||||||||
NVIDIA Corp. |
347,962 | 61,892,001 | ||||||||||
NXP Semiconductors NV |
77,911 | 16,655,034 | ||||||||||
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
1,125,000 | 43,311,659 | ||||||||||
175,064,356 | ||||||||||||
Software - 13.0% |
||||||||||||
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(a) |
51,876 | 18,912,433 | ||||||||||
Microsoft Corp. |
134,997 | 72,020,900 | ||||||||||
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a) |
159,110 | 27,621,496 | ||||||||||
Salesforce, Inc. |
120,480 | 31,123,599 | ||||||||||
SAP SE |
100,920 | 28,858,631 | ||||||||||
ServiceNow, Inc.(a) |
31,770 | 29,962,922 | ||||||||||
208,499,981 | ||||||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals - 2.4% |
||||||||||||
Apple, Inc. |
126,030 | 26,160,047 | ||||||||||
Lenovo Group Ltd. - Class H |
9,582,000 | 12,286,510 | ||||||||||
38,446,557 | ||||||||||||
573,433,474 | ||||||||||||
Industrials - 17.6% |
||||||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies - 4.1% |
||||||||||||
Tetra Tech, Inc. |
737,810 | 27,107,140 | ||||||||||
Veralto Corp. |
370,804 | 38,871,383 | ||||||||||
65,978,523 | ||||||||||||
Construction & Engineering - 3.7% |
||||||||||||
AECOM |
284,984 | 32,129,096 | ||||||||||
WSP Global, Inc. |
133,259 | 27,438,505 | ||||||||||
59,567,601 | ||||||||||||
Electrical Equipment - 7.0% |
||||||||||||
Emerson Electric Co. |
248,830 | 36,207,253 | ||||||||||
Prysmian SpA |
431,080 | 34,427,524 | ||||||||||
Rockwell Automation, Inc. |
118,330 | 41,617,845 | ||||||||||
112,252,622 | ||||||||||||
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 1 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Company | Shares | U.S. $ Value | ||||||||
Professional Services - 2.8% |
||||||||||
Experian PLC |
503,745 | $ | 26,542,690 | |||||||
RELX PLC |
349,138 | 18,141,586 | ||||||||
44,684,276 | ||||||||||
282,483,022 | ||||||||||
Financials - 15.7% |
||||||||||
Banks - 0.7% |
||||||||||
NU Holdings Ltd./Cayman Islands - Class A(a) |
864,468 | 10,563,799 | ||||||||
Capital Markets - 7.6% |
||||||||||
Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. |
388,060 | 22,375,540 | ||||||||
London Stock Exchange Group PLC |
278,636 | 33,964,326 | ||||||||
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. |
85,230 | 33,728,068 | ||||||||
Partners Group Holding AG |
12,857 | 17,283,620 | ||||||||
TMX Group Ltd. |
368,340 | 14,977,104 | ||||||||
122,328,658 | ||||||||||
Financial Services - 3.6% |
||||||||||
Fiserv, Inc.(a) |
130,020 | 18,064,979 | ||||||||
Visa, Inc. - Class A |
115,988 | 40,070,374 | ||||||||
58,135,353 | ||||||||||
Insurance - 3.8% |
||||||||||
AIA Group Ltd. - Class H |
4,146,800 | 38,665,450 | ||||||||
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. - Class A |
110,840 | 21,331,158 | ||||||||
59,996,608 | ||||||||||
251,024,418 | ||||||||||
Health Care - 12.7% |
||||||||||
Biotechnology - 1.7% |
||||||||||
AbbVie, Inc. |
140,980 | 26,648,040 | ||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 9.0% |
||||||||||
Alcon AG |
401,344 | 35,185,014 | ||||||||
Becton Dickinson & Co. |
65,889 | 11,744,714 | ||||||||
GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. |
394,472 | 28,133,743 | ||||||||
Hologic, Inc.(a) |
280,074 | 18,714,545 | ||||||||
Stryker Corp. |
60,200 | 23,642,346 | ||||||||
Terumo Corp. |
1,629,332 | 27,629,018 | ||||||||
145,049,380 | ||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services - 1.1% |
||||||||||
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. |
203,811 | 17,396,924 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals - 0.9% |
||||||||||
Eli Lilly & Co. |
19,970 | 14,779,198 | ||||||||
203,873,542 | ||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary - 5.7% |
||||||||||
Automobile Components - 2.1% |
||||||||||
Aptiv PLC(a) |
487,745 | 33,478,817 | ||||||||
Broadline Retail - 2.1% |
||||||||||
MercadoLibre, Inc.(a) |
13,847 | 32,871,255 | ||||||||
2 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Company | Shares | U.S. $ Value | ||||||||||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods - 1.5% |
||||||||||||
On Holding AG - Class A(a) |
502,971 | $ | 24,429,301 | |||||||||
90,779,373 | ||||||||||||
Utilities - 4.4% |
||||||||||||
Electric Utilities - 2.2% |
||||||||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc. |
500,601 | 35,572,707 | ||||||||||
Water Utilities - 2.2% |
||||||||||||
Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP |
1,833,387 | 35,462,519 | ||||||||||
71,035,226 | ||||||||||||
Consumer Staples - 3.5% |
||||||||||||
Beverages - 1.3% |
||||||||||||
Primo Brands Corp. |
793,040 | 21,895,834 | ||||||||||
Food Products - 2.2% |
||||||||||||
Danone SA |
268,080 | 21,938,813 | ||||||||||
Kerry Group PLC - Class A |
138,790 | 12,820,027 | ||||||||||
34,758,840 | ||||||||||||
56,654,674 | ||||||||||||
Energy - 2.4% |
||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 2.4% |
||||||||||||
Cameco Corp. |
504,960 | 37,836,653 | ||||||||||
Total Common Stocks |
1,567,120,382 | |||||||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 2.3% |
||||||||||||
Investment Companies - 2.3% |
||||||||||||
AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc. - Government Money Market Portfolio - Class AB, 4.15%(b)(c)(d) |
37,790,256 | 37,790,256 | ||||||||||
Total Investments - 100.0% |
1,604,910,638 | |||||||||||
Other assets less liabilities - 0.0% |
(651,702 | ) | ||||||||||
Net Assets - 100.0% |
$ | 1,604,258,936 | ||||||||||
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
Counterparty |
Contracts to Deliver (000) |
In Exchange For (000) |
Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
BRL | 231,591 | USD | 41,301 | 08/04/2025 | $ | (57,531 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
USD | 41,340 | BRL | 231,591 | 08/04/2025 | 18,826 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
TWD | 554,648 | USD | 18,674 | 08/22/2025 | 117,285 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
CHF | 36,494 | USD | 46,162 | 09/10/2025 | 1,029,485 | ||||||||||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
BRL | 231,591 | USD | 41,340 | 08/04/2025 | (18,826 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
USD | 41,414 | BRL | 231,591 | 08/04/2025 | (55,100 | ) |
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 3 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Counterparty |
Contracts to Deliver (000) |
In Exchange For (000) |
Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
USD | 13,291 | INR | 1,143,569 | 08/14/2025 | $ | (231,708 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
CAD | 5,923 | USD | 4,330 | 08/28/2025 | 49,420 | ||||||||||||||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
BRL | 231,591 | USD | 41,098 | 09/03/2025 | 64,474 | ||||||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA |
USD | 4,236 | MXN | 81,096 | 08/22/2025 | 53,950 | ||||||||||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA |
USD | 31,892 | JPY | 4,627,858 | 08/27/2025 | (1,124,828 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Citibank NA |
USD | 16,018 | KRW | 21,966,262 | 10/14/2025 | (211,776 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
GBP | 47,895 | USD | 64,430 | 09/19/2025 | 1,148,766 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
USD | 4,720 | GBP | 3,569 | 09/19/2025 | (4,696 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank |
USD | 2,942 | ZAR | 52,878 | 08/07/2025 | (40,171 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank |
CAD | 5,590 | USD | 4,085 | 08/28/2025 | 44,929 | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. |
USD | 26,196 | AUD | 40,062 | 08/21/2025 | (442,998 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. |
USD | 11,040 | SEK | 104,399 | 09/04/2025 | (353,626 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. |
USD | 41,296 | EUR | 35,027 | 09/10/2025 | (1,224,695 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
NatWest Markets PLC |
CNH | 34,502 | USD | 4,823 | 08/07/2025 | 37,503 | ||||||||||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank |
USD | 11,983 | TWD | 351,817 | 08/22/2025 | (212,370 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
HKD | 226,302 | USD | 29,025 | 10/14/2025 | 25,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
UBS |
USD | 15,652 | CNH | 112,113 | 08/07/2025 | (100,484 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
UBS |
USD | 4,157 | JPY | 593,633 | 08/27/2025 | (210,561 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
UBS |
CAD | 40,170 | USD | 29,754 | 08/28/2025 | 724,712 | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | (974,951 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) |
Non-incomeproducing security. |
(b) |
The rate shown represents the 7-dayyield as of period end. |
(c) |
To obtain a copy of the fund's shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, shareholder reports for AB funds can be obtained by calling AB at (800) 227-4618. |
(d) |
Affiliated investments. |
Currency Abbreviations:
AUD - Australian Dollar
BRL - Brazilian Real
CAD - Canadian Dollar
CHF - Swiss Franc
CNH - Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)
EUR - Euro
GBP - Great British Pound
HKD - Hong Kong Dollar
INR - Indian Rupee
JPY - Japanese Yen
KRW - South Korean Won
MXN - Mexican Peso
SEK - Swedish Krona
TWD - New Taiwan Dollar
USD - United States Dollar
ZAR - South African Rand
See notes to financial statements.
4 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
July 31, 2025
Assets | ||||
Investments in securities, at value |
||||
Unaffiliated issuers (cost $1,237,341,588) |
$ | 1,567,120,382 | ||
Affiliated issuers (cost $37,790,256) |
37,790,256 | |||
Cash |
200,712 | |||
Cash collateral due from broker |
250,000 | |||
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $1,905,832) |
1,902,419 | |||
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts |
3,314,419 | |||
Unaffiliated dividends receivable |
3,276,218 | |||
Affiliated dividends receivable |
111,642 | |||
Receivable for capital stock sold |
107,611 | |||
Receivable due from Adviser |
5,417 | |||
Total assets |
1,614,079,076 | |||
Liabilities | ||||
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts |
4,289,370 | |||
Advisory fee payable |
2,552,186 | |||
Foreign capital gains tax payable |
1,121,098 | |||
Payable for capital stock redeemed |
857,126 | |||
Distribution fee payable |
156,512 | |||
Transfer Agent fee payable |
131,456 | |||
Administrative fee payable |
59,735 | |||
Directors' fees payable |
6,903 | |||
Accrued expenses |
645,754 | |||
Total liabilities |
9,820,140 | |||
Net Assets |
$ | 1,604,258,936 | ||
Composition of Net Assets | ||||
Capital stock, at par |
$ | 101,075 | ||
Additional paid-incapital |
1,125,622,050 | |||
Distributable earnings |
478,535,811 | |||
Net Assets |
$ | 1,604,258,936 | ||
Net Asset Value Per Share-24 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.01 par value
Class | Net Assets |
Shares Outstanding |
Net Asset Value |
|||||||||
A | $ | 661,588,449 | 4,365,701 | $ | 151.54 | * | ||||||
C | $ | 15,658,355 | 145,777 | $ | 107.41 | |||||||
Advisor | $ | 840,276,244 | 5,054,400 | $ | 166.25 | |||||||
I | $ | 48,172,104 | 288,599 | $ | 166.92 | |||||||
Z | $ | 38,563,784 | 252,996 | $ | 152.43 | |||||||
* |
The maximum offering price per share for Class A shares was $158.27 which reflects a sales charge of 4.25%. |
See notes to financial statements.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 5 |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended July 31, 2025
Investment Income | ||||||||
Dividends |
||||||||
Unaffiliated issuers (net of foreign taxes withheld of $843,651) |
$ | 15,894,449 | ||||||
Affiliated issuers |
2,057,306 | |||||||
Securities lending income, net |
24,584 | |||||||
Other income(a) |
548,144 | $ | 18,524,483 | |||||
Expenses | ||||||||
Advisory fee (see Note B) |
10,908,555 | |||||||
Distribution fee-Class A |
1,703,335 | |||||||
Distribution fee-Class C |
187,051 | |||||||
Transfer agency-Class A |
609,657 | |||||||
Transfer agency-Class C |
17,362 | |||||||
Transfer agency-Advisor Class |
829,840 | |||||||
Transfer agency-Class I |
61,413 | |||||||
Transfer agency-Class Z |
11,583 | |||||||
Printing |
264,341 | |||||||
Custody and accounting |
241,562 | |||||||
Registration fees |
107,600 | |||||||
Administrative |
103,766 | |||||||
Audit and tax |
74,372 | |||||||
Legal |
68,725 | |||||||
Directors' fees |
41,860 | |||||||
Miscellaneous |
36,540 | |||||||
Total expenses |
15,267,562 | |||||||
Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Notes B & E) |
(87,667 | ) | ||||||
Net expenses |
15,179,895 | |||||||
Net investment income |
3,344,588 | |||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment and Foreign Currency Transactions | ||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: |
||||||||
Investment transactions(b) |
241,632,883 | |||||||
Forward currency exchange contracts |
(7,186,268 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency transactions |
(634,124 | ) | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of: |
||||||||
Investments(c) |
(187,966,811 | ) | ||||||
Forward currency exchange contracts |
(2,263,202 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
136,082 | |||||||
Net gain on investment and foreign currency transactions |
43,718,560 | |||||||
Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations |
$ | 47,063,148 | ||||||
(a) |
Other income includes a non-recurringreimbursement for overpayment of prior years' omnibus account services, sub-accountingservices and related transfer agency expenses (see Note B). |
(b) |
Net of foreign realized capital gains taxes of $1,423,913. |
(c) |
Net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains taxes on unrealized gains of $924,308. |
See notes to financial statements.
6 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year Ended July 31, 2025 |
Year Ended July 31, 2024 |
|||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 3,344,588 | $ | 5,305,952 | ||||
Net realized gain on investment and foreign currency transactions |
233,812,491 | 95,417,384 | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
(190,093,931 | ) | 87,916,206 | |||||
Net increase in net assets from operations |
47,063,148 | 188,639,542 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
Class A |
(51,955,982 | ) | (241,387 | ) | ||||
Class C |
(2,061,157 | ) | - 0 | - | ||||
Advisor Class |
(66,657,205 | ) | (2,440,938 | ) | ||||
Class I |
(3,830,296 | ) | (135,686 | ) | ||||
Class Z |
(3,240,887 | ) | (182,235 | ) | ||||
Capital Stock Transactions | ||||||||
Net decrease |
(202,886,060 | ) | (283,960,939 | ) | ||||
Total decrease |
(283,568,439 | ) | (98,321,643 | ) | ||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period |
1,887,827,375 | 1,986,149,018 | ||||||
End of period |
$ | 1,604,258,936 | $ | 1,887,827,375 | ||||
See notes to financial statements.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 7 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
July 31, 2025
NOTE A
Significant Accounting Policies
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is organized as a Maryland corporation and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-endmanagement investment company. The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Advisor Class, Class I and Class Z shares. Class B, Class R, Class K and Class T shares have been authorized but currently are not offered. Effective May 20, 2024, Class R and Class K were liquidated. Class A shares are sold with a front-endsales 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 C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% on redemptions made within the first year after purchase, and 0% after the first year of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Advisor Class, Class I and Class Z shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge and are not subject to ongoing distribution expenses. All nine 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 Fund is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.
1. Security Valuation
Portfolio securities are valued at market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are unreliable, at "fair value" as determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the oversight of the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Pursuant to these procedures, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the "Adviser") serves as the Fund's valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5of the 1940 Act. In this capacity, the Adviser is responsible, among other things, for making all fair value determinations relating to the Fund's portfolio investments, subject to the Board's oversight.
In general, the market values of securities which are readily available and deemed reliable are determined as follows: securities listed on a national securities 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
8 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
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 last traded price from the previous 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 ("OTC") market 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, the Adviser will have discretion to determine the best valuation (e.g., last trade price in the case of listed options); open futures 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 any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short-term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short-term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the "Committee") must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. 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. 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. Open-endmutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange-traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. 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
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 9 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
the value of those securities. To account for this, the Fund generally values 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 a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes 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 (including those valued based on their market values as described in Note A.1 above). 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 fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, and over-the-counterderivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3.
Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management
10 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund's investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of July 31, 2025:
Investments in |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks: |
||||||||||||||||
Information Technology |
$ | 421,315,401 | $ | 152,118,073 | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 573,433,474 | |||||||
Industrials |
203,371,222 | 79,111,800 | - 0 | - | 282,483,022 | |||||||||||
Financials |
161,111,022 | 89,913,396 | - 0 | - | 251,024,418 | |||||||||||
Health Care |
123,662,586 | 80,210,956 | - 0 | - | 203,873,542 | |||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
90,779,373 | - 0 - | - 0 | - | 90,779,373 | |||||||||||
Utilities |
71,035,226 | - 0 - | - 0 | - | 71,035,226 | |||||||||||
Consumer Staples |
21,895,834 | 34,758,840 | - 0 | - | 56,654,674 | |||||||||||
Energy |
37,836,653 | - 0 - | - 0 | - | 37,836,653 | |||||||||||
Short-Term Investments |
37,790,256 | - 0 - | - 0 | - | 37,790,256 | |||||||||||
Total Investments in Securities |
1,168,797,573 | 436,113,065 | - 0 | - | 1,604,910,638 | |||||||||||
Other Financial Instruments(a): |
||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
- 0 | - | 3,314,419 | - 0 | - | 3,314,419 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
- 0 | - | (4,289,370 | ) | - 0 | - | (4,289,370 | ) | ||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,168,797,573 | $ | 435,138,114 | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 1,603,935,687 | |||||||
(a) |
Other financial instruments include derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps. Derivative instruments are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, written options and written swaptions which are valued at market value. |
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 ask 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.
Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, 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
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 11 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
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 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-dividenddate 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. Non-cashdividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividenddate at the fair value of the securities received. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income. The Fund accounts for distributions received from real estate investment trust ("REIT") investments or from regulated investment companies as dividend income, realized gain, or return of capital based on information provided by the REIT or the investment company.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Fund are borne on a pro-ratabasis 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-dividenddate. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are
12 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
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.
8. Cash and Short-Term Investments
Cash and short-term investments include cash on hand and short-term investments with maturities of less than one year when purchased.
9. Segment Information
The Fund represents a single operating segment. An operating segment is defined in U.S. GAAP as a component of a public entity that engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, has operating results that are regularly reviewed by the public entity's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and has discrete financial information available. The Fund's President is the CODM. The CODM monitors the operating results of the Fund as a whole and the pre-determinedFund's long term investment strategy, which is executed by the portfolio management group. The qualitative and quantitative information contained within the financial statements is used by the CODM to assess the segments performance versus the Fund's comparative benchmark and to make resource allocation decisions. Segment assets are reflected on the statement of assets and liabilities and segment expenses are listed on the statement of operations.
NOTE B
Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a quarterly advisory fee equal to the following percentages of the value of the Fund's aggregate net assets at the close of business on the last business day of the previous quarter: .25 of .65% of the first $2.5 billion, .25 of .55% of the next $2.5 billion, and .25 of .50% of the net assets in excess of $5 billion. The fee is accrued daily and paid quarterly.
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 July 31, 2025, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $103,766.
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-accountingservices and/or networking services. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $550,110 for the year ended July 31, 2025.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 13 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
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-endsales charges of $10,092 from the sale of Class A shares and received $651 and $299 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by shareholders of Class A and Class C shares, respectively, for the year ended July 31, 2025.
During the year ended July 31, 2025, the Adviser reimbursed the Fund $548,144 for overpayment of prior years' omnibus account services, sub-accountingservices and related transfer agency expenses.
The Fund may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio's average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. The Adviser had contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of AB Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2023. Effective September 1, 2023, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .05% of the advisory fee of AB Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .15%) until August 31, 2024. In connection with the investment by the Fund in AB Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund's pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of AB Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the year ended July 31, 2025, such waiver amounted to $86,659.
A summary of the Fund's transactions in AB mutual funds for the year ended July 31, 2025 is as follows:
Fund |
Market Value 7/31/24 (000) |
Purchases at Cost (000) |
Sales Proceeds (000) |
Market Value 7/31/25 (000) |
Dividend Income (000) |
|||||||||||||||
AB Government Money Market Portfolio |
$ | 71,501 | $ | 607,149 | $ | 640,860 | $ | 37,790 | $ | 2,057 | ||||||||||
AB Government Money Market Portfolio* |
- 0 | - | 64,646 | 64,646 | - 0 | - | 13 | |||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 37,790 | $ | 2,070 | ||||||||||||||||
* |
Investments of cash collateral for securities lending transactions (see Note E). |
NOTE C
Distribution Services Agreement
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Services Agreement (the "Agreement") pursuant to Rule 12b-1under the 1940 Act. 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 Class C shares. There are no distribution and servicing fees on the Advisor Class, Class I and Class Z shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. Payments under the
14 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Agreement in respect of Class A shares are currently limited to an annual rate of .25% of Class A shares' average daily net assets. 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 $8,443,384 for Class C shares. While such costs may be recovered from the Fund in future periods so long as the Agreement is in effect, and the share class is active, 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.
NOTE D
Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended July 31, 2025 were as follows:
Purchases | Sales | |||||||
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) |
$ | 1,045,126,754 | $ | 1,345,052,774 | ||||
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 |
$ | 1,279,927,209 | ||
Gross unrealized appreciation |
$ | 388,723,517 | ||
Gross unrealized depreciation |
(63,810,104 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation |
$ | 324,913,413 | ||
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, "investment purposes"), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.
The principal type of derivative utilized by the Fund, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
• |
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 15 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for non-hedgingpurposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under "Currency Transactions".
A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Fund. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
During the year ended July 31, 2025, the Fund held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes.
The Fund typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements ("ISDA Master Agreement") with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments' payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-outnetting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Fund's net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.
The Fund's ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Fund decline below specific levels ("net asset contingent features"). If these levels are triggered, the Fund's OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Fund to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty table below for additional details.
16 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
During the year ended July 31, 2025, the Fund had entered into the following derivatives:
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||||
Derivative Type |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location |
Fair Value |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location |
Fair Value | ||||||||||
Foreign currency contracts |
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts |
$ | 3,314,419 |
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts |
|
$ | 4,289,370 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 3,314,419 | $ | 4,289,370 | ||||||||||
Derivative Type |
Location of |
Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) |
|||||||||
Foreign currency contracts |
Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of forward currency exchange contracts | $ | (7,186,268 | ) | $ | (2,263,202 | ) | |||||
Total |
$ | (7,186,268 | ) | $ | (2,263,202 | ) | ||||||
The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Fund's derivative transactions during the year ended July 31, 2025: |
||||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts: |
||||
Average principal amount of buy contracts |
$ | 381,378,391 | ||
Average principal amount of sale contracts |
$ | 402,271,510 |
For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.
All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Fund's derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements ("MA") and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Fund as of July 31, 2025. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the table.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 17 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Counterparty |
Derivative Assets Subject to a MA |
Derivatives Available for Offset |
Cash Collateral Received* |
Security Collateral Received* |
Net Amount of Derivative Assets |
|||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
$ | 1,165,596 | $ | (57,531 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 1,108,065 | |||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
113,894 | (113,894 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA |
53,950 | (53,950 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
1,148,766 | (4,696 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 1,144,070 | ||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank |
44,929 | (40,171 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 4,758 | ||||||||||||
NatWest Markets PLC |
37,503 | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 37,503 | ||||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. |
25,069 | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 25,069 | ||||||||||||
UBS |
724,712 | (311,045 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 413,667 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 3,314,419 | $ | (581,287 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 2,733,132 | ^ | ||||||
Counterparty |
Derivative Liabilities Subject to a MA |
Derivatives Available for Offset |
Cash Collateral Pledged* |
Security Collateral Pledged* |
Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities |
|||||||||||||||
Bank of America NA |
$ | 57,531 | $ | (57,531 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | - 0 | - | $ | - 0 | - | ||||||
Barclays Capital, Inc. |
305,634 | (113,894 | ) | (191,740 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA |
1,124,828 | (53,950 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 1,070,878 | ||||||||||||
Citibank NA |
211,776 | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 211,776 | ||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
4,696 | (4,696 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank |
40,171 | (40,171 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. |
2,021,319 | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 2,021,319 | ||||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank |
212,370 | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | 212,370 | ||||||||||||
UBS |
311,045 | (311,045 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | |||||||||||
Total |
$ | 4,289,370 | $ | (581,287 | ) | $ | (191,740 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 3,516,343 | ^ | ||||||
* |
The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization. |
^ |
Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty. |
2. Currency Transactions
The Fund may invest in non-U.S.Dollar-denominated 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).
18 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE E
Securities Lending
The Fund may enter into securities lending transactions. Under the Fund's securities lending program, all loans of securities will be collateralized continually by cash collateral and/or non-cashcollateral. Non-cashcollateral will include only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. If the Fund cannot sell or repledge any non-cashcollateral, such collateral will not be reflected in the portfolio of investments. If a loan is collateralized by cash, the Fund will be compensated for the loan from a portion of the net 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 are made for fees of the securities lending agent and for certain other administrative expenses. If the Fund receives non-cashcollateral, the Fund will receive a fee from the borrower generally equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. The 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 dividend income or other distributions from the securities; however, these distributions will not be afforded the same preferential tax treatment as qualified dividends. The Fund will not be able to exercise voting rights with respect to 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. Collateral received and securities loaned are marked to market daily to ensure that the securities loaned are secured by collateral. The lending agent currently invests the cash collateral received in AB Government Money Market Portfolio, an eligible money market vehicle, in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Fund, and as approved by the Board. The collateral received on securities loaned is recorded as an asset as well as a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities. The collateral will be adjusted the next business day to maintain the required collateral amount. The amounts of securities lending income from the borrowers and AB Government Money Market Portfolio are reflected in the statement of operations. When the Fund earns net securities lending income from AB Government Money Market Portfolio, the income is inclusive of a rebate expense paid to the borrower. In connection with the cash collateral investment by the Fund in AB Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the Fund's share of the advisory fees of AB Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. When the Fund lends securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. A principal risk of lending portfolio securities is that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities upon termination of the loan and that the collateral will not be sufficient to replace the loaned securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Fund in the case of default of any securities borrower.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 19 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
A summary of the Fund's transactions surrounding securities lending for the year ended July 31, 2025 is as follows:
Market on Loan* |
Cash Collateral* |
Market Value of Non-Cash Collateral* |
Income from Borrowers |
AB Government Money Market Portfolio |
||||||||||||||||
Income Earned |
Advisory Fee Waived |
|||||||||||||||||||
$ - 0 - | $ | - 0 | - | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 11,650 | $ | 12,934 | $ | 1,008 |
* |
As of July 31, 2025. |
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 July 31, 2025 |
Year Ended July 31, 2024 |
Year Ended July 31, 2025 |
Year Ended July 31, 2024 |
|||||||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
73,914 | 98,233 | $ | 10,998,458 | $ | 14,063,802 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions |
309,293 | 1,542 | 45,852,627 | 212,076 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares converted from Class C |
8,774 | 11,721 | 1,286,629 | 1,644,589 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
(640,940 | ) | (606,767 | ) | (95,342,011 | ) | (87,749,155 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net decrease |
(248,959 | ) | (495,271 | ) | $ | (37,204,297 | ) | $ | (71,828,688 | ) | ||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
5,950 | 12,602 | $ | 630,930 | $ | 1,333,726 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions |
16,979 | - 0 | - | 1,792,679 | - 0 | - | ||||||||||||||
Shares converted to Class A |
(12,249 | ) | (15,872 | ) | (1,286,629 | ) | (1,644,589 | ) | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
(61,340 | ) | (51,548 | ) | (6,545,015 | ) | (5,379,622 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net decrease |
(50,660 | ) | (54,818 | ) | $ | (5,408,035 | ) | $ | (5,690,485 | ) | ||||||||||
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
502,076 | 655,006 | $ | 80,956,587 | $ | 101,449,015 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions |
360,071 | 13,266 | 58,464,727 | 1,980,035 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
(1,780,423 | ) | (1,820,817 | ) | (286,429,700 | ) | (285,456,098 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net decrease |
(918,276 | ) | (1,152,545 | ) | $ | (147,008,386 | ) | $ | (182,027,048 | ) | ||||||||||
20 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, 2025 |
Year Ended July 31, 2024 |
Year Ended July 31, 2025 |
Year Ended July 31, 2024 |
|||||||||||||||||
Class R | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
- 0 | - | 7,059 | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 951,740 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
- 0 | - | (59,987 | ) | - 0 | - | (8,704,294 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) |
- 0 | - | (52,928 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | (7,752,554 | ) | ||||||||||
Class K | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
- 0 | - | 1,290 | $ | - 0 | - | $ | 190,603 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
- 0 | - | (22,570 | ) | - 0 | - | (3,358,917 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) |
- 0 | - | (21,280 | ) | $ | - 0 | - | $ | (3,168,314 | ) | ||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
28,829 | 67,963 | $ | 4,692,314 | $ | 10,575,572 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions |
23,467 | 905 | 3,827,733 | 135,601 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
(99,825 | ) | (82,505 | ) | (16,347,114 | ) | (13,002,186 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net decrease |
(47,529 | ) | (13,637 | ) | $ | (7,827,067 | ) | $ | (2,291,013 | ) | ||||||||||
Class Z | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold |
44,364 | 99,069 | $ | 6,579,635 | $ | 14,126,053 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions |
21,042 | 1,277 | 3,132,524 | 175,675 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed |
(101,715 | ) | (177,357 | ) | (15,150,434 | ) | (25,504,565 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net decrease |
(36,309 | ) | (77,011 | ) | $ | (5,438,275 | ) | $ | (11,202,837 | ) | ||||||||||
NOTE G
Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund
Market Risk-The value of the Fund's assets will fluctuate as the market or markets in which the Fund invests fluctuate. The value of the Fund's investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness), terrorism, war, tariffs and trade disputes, and regional and global conflicts, that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing may be underperforming the market generally.
Sector Risk-The Fund may have more risk because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 21 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
ESG Risk-Applying ESG and sustainability criteria to the investment process may exclude securities of certain issuers for non-investmentreasons and, therefore, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Securities of companies with ESG practices may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, and the Fund's performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Furthermore, ESG and sustainability criteria are not uniformly defined, and the Fund's ESG and sustainability criteria may differ from those used by other funds. In addition, in evaluating an investment, the Adviser is dependent upon information and data that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could adversely affect the analysis of the ESG and sustainability factors relevant to a particular investment.
Foreign (Non-U.S.)Risk-Investments in securities of non-U.S.issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors. In addition, the value of the Fund's investments may decline because of factors such as unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction in government or central bank support, economic sanctions and tariffs and potential responses to those sanctions and tariffs.
Emerging-Market Risk-Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory, or other uncertainties.
Currency Risk-Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund's investments or reduce its returns.
Capitalization Risk-Investments in mid-capitalizationcompanies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in mid-capitalizationcompanies may have additional risks because these companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.
Derivatives Risk-Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate or index, which could cause the Fund to suffer a potentially unlimited loss. Derivatives, especially over-the-counterderivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Fund.
22 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
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 net asset value, or NAV.
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.
Management Risk-The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected.
NOTE H
Joint Credit Facility
A number of open-endmutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Fund, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the "Facility") intended to provide short-term financing related to redemptions and other short-term liquidity requirements, subject to certain restrictions. Commitment fees 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 July 31, 2025.
NOTE I
Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended July 31, 2025 and July 31, 2024 were as follows:
2025 | 2024 | |||||||
Distributions paid from: |
||||||||
Ordinary income |
$ | 6,549,987 | $ | 1,335,944 | ||||
Net long-term capital gains |
121,195,540 | 1,664,302 | ||||||
Total taxable distributions paid |
$ | 127,745,527 | $ | 3,000,246 | ||||
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 23 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
As of July 31, 2025, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed capital gain |
$ | 172,818,748 | ||
Other losses |
(18,221,873 | )(a)(b) | ||
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
323,938,936 | (c) | ||
Total accumulated earnings (deficit) |
$ | 478,535,811 | ||
(a) |
As of July 31, 2025, the Fund had a post-October short term capital loss deferral of $5,724,273. |
(b) |
As of July 31, 2025, the Fund had a qualified late-year ordinary loss deferral of $12,497,600. |
(c) |
The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) are attributable primarily to the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments and the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of July 31, 2025, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.
During the current fiscal year, there were no permanent differences that resulted in adjustments to distributable earnings or additional paid-in capital.
NOTE J
Subsequent Events
At meetings held on August 5-6,2025, the Board approved a reverse share split for Class C Shares of the Fund. The reverse share split will be completed on or about October 17, 2025. For more information on the reverse share split, please see the unaudited supplement to the Fund's unaudited statutory prospectus.
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 other material events that would require disclosure in the Fund's financial statements through this date.
24 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ 158.50 | $ 143.28 | $ 139.32 | $ 179.88 | $ 142.42 | |||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(a)(b) |
.09 | † | .20 | .18 | (.18 | ) | (.92 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions |
4.65 | 15.07 | 7.06 | (22.69 | ) | 49.90 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations |
4.74 | 15.27 | 7.24 | (22.87 | ) | 48.98 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
- 0 | - | (.05 | ) | (.33 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | ||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions |
(11.70 | ) | - 0 | - | (2.95 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.52 | ) | ||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions |
(11.70 | ) | (.05 | ) | (3.28 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.52 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ 151.54 | $ 158.50 | $ 143.28 | $ 139.32 | $ 179.88 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(c)* |
3.14 | %† | 10.65 | %+ | 5.47 | % | (14.79 | )% | 35.76 | % | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) |
$661,588 | $731,435 | $732,150 | $739,832 | $925,129 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
1.02 | % | 1.02 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.02 | % | 1.18 | % | ||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
1.03 | % | 1.03 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.02 | % | 1.18 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(b) |
.06 | %† | .14 | % | .14 | % | (.11 | )% | (.57 | )% | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
62 | % | 31 | % | 42 | % | 30 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios |
.01 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % |
See footnote summary on page 30.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 25 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ 116.54 | $ 106.11 | $ 104.49 | $ 139.98 | $ 113.84 | |||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(a)(b) |
(.77 | )† | (.64 | ) | (.60 | ) | (1.03 | ) | (1.65 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions |
3.34 | 11.07 | 5.17 | (16.77 | ) | 39.31 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations |
2.57 | 10.43 | 4.57 | (17.80 | ) | 37.66 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions |
(11.70 | ) | - 0 | - | (2.95 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.52 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ 107.41 | $ 116.54 | $ 106.11 | $ 104.49 | $ 139.98 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(c)* |
2.37 | %† | 9.84 | % | 4.68 | % | (15.43 | )% | 34.73 | % | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) |
$15,658 | $22,893 | $26,660 | $28,646 | $30,293 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
1.77 | % | 1.78 | % | 1.80 | % | 1.77 | % | 1.93 | % | ||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
1.78 | % | 1.78 | % | 1.80 | % | 1.77 | % | 1.93 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment loss(b) |
(.71 | )%† | (.61 | )% | (.62 | )% | (.85 | )% | (1.29 | )% | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
62 | % | 31 | % | 42 | % | 30 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios |
.01 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % |
See footnote summary on page 30.
26 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ 172.34 | $ 155.72 | $ 151.15 | $ 193.31 | $ 152.16 | |||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(a)(b) |
.49 | † | .61 | .55 | .25 | (.49 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions |
5.12 | 16.37 | 7.68 | (24.72 | ) | 53.40 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations |
5.61 | 16.98 | 8.23 | (24.47 | ) | 52.91 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
- 0 | - | (.36 | ) | (.71 | ) | - 0 | - | (.24 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions |
(11.70 | ) | - 0 | - | (2.95 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.52 | ) | ||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions |
(11.70 | ) | (.36 | ) | (3.66 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.76 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ 166.25 | $ 172.34 | $ 155.72 | $ 151.15 | $ 193.31 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(c)* |
3.41 | %† | 10.95 | %+ | 5.73 | % | (14.57 | )% | 36.11 | % | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) |
$840,277 | $1,029,339 | $1,109,550 | $1,137,575 | $1,360,500 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.77 | % | .77 | % | .80 | % | .77 | % | .93 | % | ||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.78 | % | .78 | % | .80 | % | .77 | % | .93 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(b) |
.30 | %† | .39 | % | .39 | % | .15 | % | (.28 | )% | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
62 | % | 31 | % | 42 | % | 30 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios |
.01 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % |
See footnote summary on page 30.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 27 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ 173.09 | $ 156.40 | $ 151.82 | $ 194.04 | $ 152.73 | |||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(a)(b) |
.42 | .64 | .61 | .33 | (.54 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions |
5.11 | 16.43 | 7.69 | (24.86 | ) | 53.66 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations |
5.53 | 17.07 | 8.30 | (24.53 | ) | 53.12 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
- 0 | - | (.38 | ) | (.77 | ) | - 0 | - | (.29 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions |
(11.70 | ) | - 0 | - | (2.95 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.52 | ) | ||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions |
(11.70 | ) | (.38 | ) | (3.72 | ) | (17.69 | ) | (11.81 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ 166.92 | $ 173.09 | $ 156.40 | $ 151.82 | $ 194.04 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(c)* |
3.36 | % | 10.96 | % | 5.77 | % | (14.54 | )% | 36.12 | % | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) |
$48,172 | $58,179 | $54,702 | $46,118 | $38,716 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.80 | % | .76 | % | .78 | % | .75 | % | .92 | % | ||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.80 | % | .76 | % | .78 | % | .75 | % | .92 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(b) |
.25 | % | .41 | % | .42 | % | .19 | % | (.31 | )% | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
62 | % | 31 | % | 42 | % | 30 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios |
.01 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % |
See footnote summary on page 30.
28 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class Z | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31, |
July 27, 2021(e) to July 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ 158.94 | $ 143.65 | $ 139.78 | $ 179.89 | $ 178.52 | |||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(a)(b) |
.51 | .66 | .61 | .55 | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions |
4.68 | 15.10 | 7.06 | (22.97 | ) | 1.39 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations |
5.19 | 15.76 | 7.67 | (22.42 | ) | 1.37 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
- 0 | - | (.47 | ) | (.85 | ) | - 0 | - | - 0 | - | ||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions |
(11.70 | ) | - 0 | - | (2.95 | ) | (17.69 | ) | - 0 | - | ||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions |
(11.70 | ) | (.47 | ) | (3.80 | ) | (17.69 | ) | - 0 | - | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ 152.43 | $ 158.94 | $ 143.65 | $ 139.78 | $ 179.89 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(c)* |
3.44 | % | 11.03 | % | 5.80 | % | (14.52 | )% | .77 | % | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000's omitted) |
$38,564 | $45,981 | $52,622 | $50,975 | $10 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.71 | % | .70 | % | .73 | % | .71 | % | .73 | %^ | ||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(d)‡ |
.72 | % | .71 | % | .73 | % | .71 | % | .73 | %^ | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)(b) |
.34 | % | .46 | % | .46 | % | .36 | % | (.73 | )%^ | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
62 | % | 31 | % | 42 | % | 30 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios |
.01 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | % | .00 | %^ |
See footnote summary on page 30.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 29 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
(a) |
Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) |
Net of expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser. |
(c) |
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 investment 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. |
(d) |
In connection with the Fund's investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund's pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the years ended July 31, 2025 such waiver amounted to .01%. |
(e) |
Commencement of distributions. |
* |
Includes the impact of proceeds received and credited to the Fund resulting from class action settlements, which enhanced the Fund's performance for the year ended July 31, 2024 by .03%. |
+ |
The net asset value and total return include adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for financial reporting purposes. As such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions may differ from financial statements. |
† |
During the year ended July 31, 2025, the Adviser reimbursed the Fund for overpayment of prior years' omnibus account services, sub-accountingservices and related transfer agency expenses. The impact of the reimbursement to the financial highlights is as follows: |
Net Investment Income Per Share |
Net Investment Income Ratio |
Total Return | ||||||||||
Class A | $ | .05 | .04 | % | .04 | % | ||||||
Class C | $ | .04 | .04 | % | .04 | % | ||||||
Advisor Class | $ | .06 | .04 | % | .04 | % | ||||||
^ |
Annualized. |
See notes to financial statements.
30 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of
Directors of AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), including the portfolio of investments, as of July 31, 2025, 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, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at July 31, 2025, 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 its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting 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.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2025, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and others; when replies were not received from brokers or others, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 31 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (continued)
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more of the AB investment companies since 1968.
New York, New York
September 26, 2025
32 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
2025 FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
(unaudited)
For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the earnings of the Fund for the taxable year ended July 31, 2025.
For individual shareholders, the Fund designates 100% of dividends paid as qualified dividend income. For corporate shareholders, 100% of dividends paid qualify for the dividends received deduction. The Fund designates $121,195,540 of dividends paid as long-term capital gain dividends.
Shareholders should not use the above information to prepare their income tax returns. The information necessary to complete your income tax returns will be included with your Form 1099-DIVwhich will be sent to you separately in January 2026.
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 33 |
Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund's Advisory Agreement
The disinterested director (the "directors") AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") unanimously approved the continuance of the Fund's Advisory Agreement with the Adviser at a meeting held in-personon May 6-8,2025 (the "Meeting").
Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Vice President of the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser's integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser's initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser's willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests a portion of its assets.
The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that was all-importantor controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors' determinations included the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided
The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment
34 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund's investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund's relative or absolute performance for the directors' consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund's portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser's role in coordinating the activities of the Fund's other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2023 and 2024 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant at the request of the directors. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser's level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.
Fall-OutBenefits
The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund and the money market fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 35 |
clients); 12b-1fees and sales charges received by the Fund's principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the Fund's shares; brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser's profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors have received detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.
At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the "15(c) service provider"), showing the performance of the Advisor Class shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds ("peer group") and a larger group of similar funds ("peer universe"), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Advisor Class shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the 1-, 3-, 5-and 10-yearperiods ended February 28, 2025. The directors discussed with the Adviser the reasons for the Fund's underperformance in the more recent periods reviewed and determined to continue to monitor the Fund's performance closely.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The directors compared the Fund's contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and noted that it was lower than the median. They also noted that the Adviser's total rate of compensation, taking into account the impact of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year, was lower than the median.
The directors also considered the Adviser's fee schedule for other clients utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser's Form ADV and in a report from the Fund's Senior Vice President and noted the differences between the Fund's fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser's institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to any sub-advisedfunds utilizing investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously
36 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also compared the advisory fee rate for the Fund with that for another fund advised by the Adviser utilizing similar investment strategies.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advisedfund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore or sub-advisoryaccounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund and sub-advisedfund clients as compared to the Fund, and the different risk profile, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
In connection with their review of the Fund's advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Advisor Class shares of the Fund in comparison to the medians for a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Advisor Class expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund's latest fiscal year. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund's category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds' investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser's services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. The directors noted that the Fund's expense ratio was lower than the medians. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund's expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 37 |
across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund's adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund's operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund's shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund's net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
38 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
NOTES
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund 39 |
NOTES
40 AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund |
ABFunds.com |
AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund
66 Hudson Boulevard East
New York, NY 10001
800 221 5672
SGT-0151-0725
ITEM 8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
There were no disagreements with accountants during the reporting period.
ITEM 9. PROXY DISCLOSURES FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
There were no shareholder meetings during the reporting period.
ITEM 10. REMUNERATION PAID TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND OTHERS OF OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Aggregate remuneration paid to all Directors and advisory board members are included within the Financial Statements under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 11. STATEMENT REGARDING BASIS FOR APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT.
Statement regarding basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract included within the Financial Statements under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-ENDMANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 13. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 14. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-ENDMANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AND AFFILIDATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 15. 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 16. 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-2(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 period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 17. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-ENDMANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 18. RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION.
Not applicable to the registrant
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:
EXHIBIT NO. |
DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT |
|
19(a)(1) | Code of Ethics that is subject to the disclosure of Item 2 hereof | |
19(b)(1) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
19(b)(2) | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
19(c) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-OxleyAct 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): AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund, Inc.
By: | /s/ Onur Erzan | |
Onur Erzan | ||
President | ||
Date: | September 29, 2025 |
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/ Onur Erzan | |
Onur Erzan | ||
President | ||
Date: | September 29, 2025 | |
By: | /s/ Stephen M. Woetzel | |
Stephen M. Woetzel | ||
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Date: | September 29, 2025 |