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: 811-22438

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ  85258
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip code)

 

Huey P. Falgout Jr., 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-992-0180

 

Date of fiscal year end: February 28

 

Date of reporting period: March 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.30e-1):

 

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report

 

August 31, 2024

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports, like this semi-annual report, are not sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Voya funds’ website (www.voyainvestments.com/literature), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
 
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from a fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-800-992-0180 or by sending an e-mail request to Voyaim_literature@voya.com.
 
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you received this document in the mail, please follow the instructions to elect to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you received this document through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with us, you can call 1-800-992-0180 or send an email request to Voyaim_literature@voya.com to let a fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the Voya funds complex if you invest directly with the funds.

 

This report is submitted for general information to shareholders of the Voya mutual funds. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective shareholders unless accompanied or preceded by a prospectus which includes details regarding the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information. This information should be read carefully.

 

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

 

voyainvestments.com

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 1
Statement of Operations 2
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 3
Financial Highlights 4
Notes to Financial Statements 5
Portfolio of Investments 15
Shareholder Meeting Information 23
Additional Information 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities is available: (1) without charge, upon request, by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180; (2) on the Fund’s website at www.voyainvestments.com and (3) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC’s”) website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies related to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge on the Fund’s website at www.voyainvestments.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form NPORT-P. The Fund’s Forms NPORT-P are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings is available at: https://individuals.voya.com/product/mutual-fund/prospectuses-reports and without charge upon request from the Fund by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180.

 

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited)

 

 

ASSETS:    
Investments in securities at fair value*  $109,831,155 
Short-term investments at fair value†   313,000 
Cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives (Note 2)   880,000 
Foreign currencies at value‡   4,172,628 
Receivables:     
Investment securities and currencies sold   10,355,778 
Dividends   269,965 
Interest   569 
Foreign tax reclaims   26,981 
Prepaid expenses   838 
Reimbursement due from Investment Adviser   27,040 
Other assets   6,934 
Total assets   125,884,888 
      
LIABILITIES:     
Payable for investment securities and currencies purchased   8,778,700 
Payable for investment management fees   106,271 
Payable to custodian due to bank overdraft   4,347,459 
Payable to trustees under the deferred compensation plan (Note 6)   6,934 
Payable for trustee fees   276 
Payable for foreign capital gains tax   998,748 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities   84,675 
Written options, at fair value^   388,885 
Total liabilities   14,711,948 
NET ASSETS  $111,172,940 
      
NET ASSETS WERE COMPRISED OF:     
Paid-in capital  $179,501,418 
Total distributable loss   (68,328,478)
NET ASSETS  $111,172,940 
      
*        Cost of investments in securities  $95,888,088 
†       Cost of short-term investments  $313,000 
‡       Cost of foreign currencies  $4,172,084 
^        Premiums received on written options  $428,685 
      
Net assets  $111,172,940 
Shares authorized   unlimited 
Par value  $0.010 
Shares outstanding   18,082,008 
Net asset value  $6.15 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements 

1

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS for the six months ended August 31, 2024 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME:    
Dividends, net of foreign taxes withheld*  $2,557,985 
Interest   4,895 
Other   290 
Total investment income   2,563,170 
      
EXPENSES:     
Investment management fees   640,410 
Transfer agent fees   6,874 
Shareholder reporting expense   17,600 
Professional fees   81,300 
Custody and accounting expense   69,400 
Trustee fees   1,381 
Miscellaneous expense   16,890 
Total expenses   833,855 
Waived and reimbursed fees   (53,078)
Net expenses   780,777 
Net investment income   1,782,393 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):     
Net realized gain (loss) on:    
Investments (net of foreign capital gains taxes withheld^)   2,789,163 
Foreign currency related transactions   (88,260)
Written options   (844,360)
Net realized gain   1,856,543 
     
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:    
Investments (net of foreign capital gains taxes accrued#)   4,855,912 
Foreign currency related transactions   2,040 
Written options   129,543 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   4,987,495 
Net realized and unrealized gain   6,844,038 
Increase in net assets resulting from operations  $8,626,431 
      
*   Foreign taxes withheld  $288,013 
^   Foreign capital gains taxes withheld  $174,778 
#  Change in foreign capital gains taxes accrued  $262,980 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

2

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

   Six Months Ended     
   August 31, 2024   Year Ended 
   (Unaudited)   February 29, 2024 
FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income  $1,782,393   $2,245,095 
Net realized gain (loss)   1,856,543    (3,302,596)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   4,987,495    11,450,355 
Increase in net assets resulting from operations   8,626,431    10,392,854 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:          
Total distributions (excluding return of capital)   (1,256,375)   (3,784,919)
Return of capital   (5,162,738)   (6,054,963)
Total distributions   (6,419,113)   (9,839,882)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Cost of shares repurchased       (1,434,821)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions       (1,434,821)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets   2,207,318    (881,849)
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of year or period   108,965,622    109,847,471 
End of year or period  $111,172,940   $108,965,622 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

3

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year or period.

 

    Per Share Operating Performance   Ratios and Supplemental Data
       

Income

(loss) from

investment

operations

       Less Distributions                               Ratios to average
net assets
   
   

Net
asset
value,

beginning
of year

or period

  

Net

investment
income

(loss)

  

Net
realized

and
unrealized
gain
(loss)

   Total
from
investment
operations
   From
net
investment
income
   From
net
realized
gains
   From
return of
capital
   Total
distributions
   Accretion
to net
asset
value
due to
tender
offer
   Net
asset
value,
end of
year or
period
   Market
value,
end of
year or
period
   Total
investment
return
at net
asset
value(1)
   Total
investment
return
at market
value(2)
   Net
assets,
end of
year or
period
000’s
   Gross
expenses
prior to
expense
waiver/
recoupment(3)
   Net
expenses
after
expense
waiver/
recoupment(3),(4)
   Net
investment
income
(loss)(3),(4)
   Portfolio
turnover
rate
Year or
period ended
   ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)    (%)    (%)    ($000’s)  (%)    (%)    (%)    (%)
08-31-24+    6.03    0.10    0.38    0.48    0.07        0.29    0.36        6.15    5.44    9.10    12.56    111,173    1.50    1.40    3.20    37
02-29-24    5.98    0.12    0.47    0.59    0.21        0.33    0.54        6.03    5.17    12.05    9.43    108,966    1.47    1.40    2.08    80
02-28-23    7.57    0.18    (1.05)    (0.87)    0.18        0.54    0.72        5.98    5.25    (10.21)    (14.26)    109,847    1.43    1.40    2.85    70
02-28-22    8.49    0.14    (0.34)    (0.20)    0.11        0.61    0.72        7.57    6.96    (2.15)    (3.93)    144,187    1.35    1.35    1.68    66
02-28-21    7.61    0.11    1.49    1.60    0.09        0.63    0.72        8.49    7.95    24.24    32.34    161,564    1.36    1.36    1.46    55
02-29-20    8.89    0.19    (0.74)    (0.55)    0.28        0.45    0.73        7.61    6.69    (6.03)    (12.67)    144,923    1.39    1.39    2.29    103
02-28-19    9.87    0.20    (0.44)    (0.24)    0.17        0.57    0.74        8.89    8.41    (1.39)    (2.23)    169,189    1.47    1.47    2.21    53
02-28-18    9.24    0.18    1.19    1.37    0.18        0.56    0.74        9.87    9.42    15.77    22.67    187,770    1.44    1.44    1.82    41
02-28-17    7.81    0.18    2.13    2.31    0.19        0.69    0.88        9.24    8.32    32.30    38.66    175,716    1.43    1.43    2.06    39
02-29-16    11.57    0.20    (2.92)    (2.72)    0.21        0.83    1.04        7.81    6.71    (23.98)(5)    (28.30)    152,682    1.47    1.47    1.99    30
02-28-15    12.50    0.30    (0.08)    0.22    0.34        0.81    1.15        11.57    10.54    2.21    2.01    226,152    1.42    1.42    2.35    40

 

 
(1)   Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at net asset value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(2)   Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at market value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(3)   Annualized for periods less than one year.
(4)   The Investment Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund (excluding interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses) subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser within three years of being incurred.
(5)   Excluding amounts related to a foreign currency settlement recorded in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, total return would have been (24.08)%.
+   Unaudited.
  Calculated using average number of shares outstanding throughout the year or period.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

4

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 1 ORGANIZATION

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund is organized as a Delaware statutory trust.

 

Voya Investments, LLC (“Voya Investments” or the “Investment Adviser”), an Arizona limited liability company, serves as the Investment Adviser to the Fund. The Investment Adviser has engaged Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM” or the “Sub-Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company, to serve as the Sub-Adviser to the Fund.

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 946 Financial Services - Investment Companies.

 

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies.

 

A. Security Valuation. The Fund is open for business every day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) opens for regular trading (each such day, a “Business Day”). The net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund is determined each Business Day as of the close of the regular trading session (“Market Close”), as determined by the Consolidated Tape Association (“CTA”), the central distributor of transaction prices for exchange-traded securities (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time unless otherwise designated by the CTA). The NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by taking the value of the Fund’s assets, subtracting the Fund’s liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares that are outstanding. On days when the Fund is closed for business, Fund shares will not be priced and the Fund does not transact purchase and redemption orders. To the extent the Fund’s assets are traded in other markets on days when the Fund does not price its shares, the value of the Fund’s assets will likely change and you will not be able to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund.

 

Portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. Investments in open-end registered investment companies that do not trade on an exchange are valued at the end of day NAV per share. The prospectuses of the open-end registered investment companies in which the Fund may invest explain the

circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. Foreign securities’ prices are converted into U.S. dollar amounts using the applicable exchange rates as of Market Close.

 

When a market quotation for a portfolio security is not readily available or is deemed unreliable (for example when trading has been halted or there are unexpected market closures or other material events that would suggest that the market quotation is unreliable) and for purposes of determining the value of other Fund assets, the asset is priced at its fair value. The Board has designated the Investment Adviser, as the valuation designee, to make fair value determinations in good faith. In determining the fair value of the Fund’s assets, the Investment Adviser, pursuant to its fair valuation policy, may consider inputs from pricing service providers, broker-dealers, or the Fund’s sub-adviser(s). Issuer specific events, transaction price, position size, nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security, market trends, bid/ask quotes of brokers and other market data may be reviewed in the course of making a good faith determination of an asset’s fair value. Because trading hours for certain foreign securities end before Market Close, closing market quotations may become unreliable. The prices of foreign securities will generally be adjusted based on inputs from an independent pricing service that are intended to reflect valuation changes through the NYSE close. Because of the inherent uncertainties of fair valuation, the values used to determine the Fund’s NAV may materially differ from the value received upon actual sale of those investments. Thus, fair valuation may have an unintended dilutive or accretive effect on the value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund.

 

The Fund’s financial instruments are valued at the close of the NYSE and are reported at fair value, which GAAP defines as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

Various valuation techniques and inputs are used to determine the fair value of financial instruments. GAAP establishes the following fair value hierarchy that categorizes the inputs used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical financial instruments that the fund can access at the reporting date.

 

Level 2 – inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar financial instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar financial instruments in inactive markets, interest rates and yield curves, implied volatilities, and credit spreads).


5

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Level 3 – unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value).

 

Observable inputs are developed using market data, such as publicly available information about actual events or transactions, and reflect the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. Unobservable inputs are those for which market data are not available and are developed using the best information available about the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. GAAP requires valuation techniques to maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. When multiple inputs are used to derive fair value, the financial instrument is assigned to the level within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value of the financial instrument. Input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level but rather the degree of judgment used in determining those values.

 

A table summarizing the Fund’s investments under these levels of classification is included within the Portfolio of Investments.

 

Each investment asset or liability of the Fund is assigned a level at measurement date based on the significance and source of the inputs to its valuation. Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities are classified as “Level 1,” inputs other than quoted prices for an asset or liability that are observable are classified as “Level 2” and significant unobservable inputs, including the Sub-Adviser’s or Pricing Committee’s judgment about the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability are classified as “Level 3.” The inputs used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. Short-term securities of sufficient credit quality are generally considered to be Level 2 securities under applicable accounting rules. A table summarizing the Fund’s investments under these levels of classification is included within the Portfolio of Investments.

 

GAAP requires a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported fair values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchases and sales, and transfers in or out of the Level 3 category during the period. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments within the Portfolio of Investments is presented only when the Fund has a significant amount of Level 3 investments.

B. Securities Transactions and Revenue Recognition. Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses on sales of investments are calculated on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Premium amortization and discount accretion are determined using the effective yield method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, or in the case of some foreign dividends, when the information becomes available to the Fund.

 

C. Foreign Currency Translation. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Any foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:

 

(1)Market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rates prevailing at Market Close.

 

(2)Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

Although the net assets and the market values are presented at the foreign exchange rates at Market Close, the Fund does not isolate the portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments. For securities, which are subject to foreign withholding tax upon disposition, liabilities are recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the estimated tax withholding based on the securities’ current market value. Upon disposition, realized gains or losses on such securities are recorded net of foreign withholding tax.

 

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rate. Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies and U.S. government securities. These risks include, but are not limited to, revaluation of currencies and future adverse political and economic developments which could cause securities and their markets to be less liquid and prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies and U.S. government securities. The foregoing risks are even


6

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

greater with respect to securities of issuers in emerging markets.

 

D. Distributions to Shareholders. Effective May 1, 2024, the Fund makes monthly dividend distributions from its cash available for distribution, which consists of the Fund’s dividends and interest income after payment of Fund expenses, net option premiums and net realized and unrealized gains on investments. Such monthly distributions may also consist of return of capital. Prior to May 1, 2024, the Fund made quarterly distributions from its cash available for distribution, which consisted of the Fund’s dividends and interest income after payment of Fund expenses, net option premiums and net realized and unrealized gains on investments. Such quarterly distributions may also have consisted of return of capital. At least annually, the Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP for investment companies.

 

The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time depending on whether the Fund has gains or losses on the call options written in its portfolio versus gains or losses on the equity securities in the portfolio. Each month, the Fund will provide disclosures with distribution payments made that estimate the percentages of that distribution that represent net investment income, other income or capital gains, and return of capital, if any. The final composition of the tax characteristics of the distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the Fund’s tax year, and will be reported to shareholders at that time. A significant portion of the Fund’s distributions may constitute a return of capital. The amount of monthly distributions will vary, depending on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the common shares will change. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to declare a dividend in each period.

 

E. Federal Income Taxes. It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code that are applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, a federal income tax or excise tax provision is not required. Management has considered the sustainability of the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax

years in making this determination. The Fund may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes, whereby a portion of redemption payments are treated as distributions of income or gain.

 

F. Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

G. Risk Exposures and the Use of Derivative Instruments. The Fund’s investment objectives permit the Fund to enter into various types of derivatives contracts, including, but not limited to, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and purchased and written options. In doing so, the Fund will employ strategies in differing combinations to permit it to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the level or types of exposure to risk factors. This may allow the Fund to pursue its objectives more quickly and efficiently than if it were to make direct purchases or sales of securities capable of affecting a similar response to market or credit factors.

 

In pursuit of its investment objectives, the Fund may seek to increase or decrease its exposure to the following market or credit risk factors:

 

Credit Risk. The price of a bond or other debt instrument is likely to fall if the issuer’s actual or perceived financial health deteriorates, whether because of broad economic or issuer-specific reasons. In certain cases, the issuer could be late in paying interest or principal, or could fail to pay its financial obligations altogether.

 

Equity Risk. Stock prices may be volatile or have reduced liquidity in response to real or perceived impacts of factors including, but not limited to, economic conditions, changes in market interest rates, and political events. Stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. Any given stock market segment may remain out of favor with investors for a short or long period of time, and stocks as an asset class may underperform bonds or other asset classes during some periods. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax policies or developments in these areas may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

 

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests directly in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies, it is subject to the risk that those foreign


7

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(non-U.S.) currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged by the Fund through foreign currency exchange transactions.

 

Currency rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Currency rates may be affected by changes in market interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, by the imposition of currency controls, or other political or economic developments in the United States or abroad.

 

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in market interest rates generally results in a fall in the value of bonds and other debt instruments; conversely, values generally rise as market interest rates fall. Interest rate risk is generally greater for debt instruments than floating-rate instruments. The higher the credit quality of the instrument, and the longer its maturity or duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in market interest rates. Duration is a measure of sensitivity of the price of a debt instrument to a change in interest rate. The U.S. has recently experienced a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising market interest rates. Rising market interest rates have unpredictable effects on the markets and may expose debt and related markets to heightened volatility. To the extent that a mutual fund invests in debt instruments, an increase in market interest rates may lead to increased redemptions and increased portfolio turnover, which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. Increased redemptions may cause a fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. If dealer capacity in debt markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in debt markets. Further, recent and potential future changes in government policy may affect interest rates. Negative or very low interest rates could magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may expose debt and related markets to heightened volatility. Changes to monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory actions could expose debt and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity, and reduced liquidity, which may impact operations and return potential.

 

Risks of Investing in Derivatives. The Fund’s use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated

changes in the market or credit risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Fund is using derivatives to decrease, or hedge, exposures to market or credit risk factors for securities held by the Fund, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected, resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

 

Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying securities, credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates and liquidity and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by the Fund. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on the Fund and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the NAV. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Fund may not realize the intended benefits. When used for hedging purposes, the change in value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with the currency, security or other risk being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investments, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment. In addition, given their complexity, derivatives expose the Fund to the risk of improper valuation.

 

Generally, derivatives are sophisticated financial instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the performance of an underlying asset or assets. Derivatives include, among other things, swap agreements, options, forwards and futures. Investments in derivatives are generally negotiated over-the-counter (“OTC”), with a single counterparty and as a result are subject to credit risks related to the counterparty’s ability or willingness to perform its obligations; any deterioration in the counterparty’s creditworthiness could adversely affect the value of the derivative. In addition, derivatives and their underlying securities may experience periods of illiquidity which could cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell, or to sell a security it otherwise might hold at inopportune times or at an unanticipated price. A manager might imperfectly judge the direction of the market. For instance, if a derivative is used as a hedge to offset investment risk in another security, the hedge might not correlate to the market’s movements and may have unexpected or undesired results such as a loss or a reduction in gains.

 

Counterparty Credit Risk and Credit Related Contingent Features. Certain derivative positions are subject to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund. The Fund’s derivative counterparties are financial institutions who are subject to market conditions that may weaken their financial position. The Fund intends to enter into financial transactions with


8

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy at the time of the transaction. To reduce this risk, the Fund generally enters into master netting arrangements, established within the Fund’s International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements (“Master Agreements”). These agreements are with select counterparties and they govern transactions, including certain OTC derivative and forward foreign currency contracts, entered into by the Fund and the counterparty. The Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, and events of default or termination. The occurrence of a specified event of termination may give a counterparty the right to terminate all of its contracts and affect settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable Master Agreement.

 

The Fund may also enter into collateral agreements with certain counterparties to further mitigate counterparty credit risk associated with OTC derivative and forward foreign currency contracts. Subject to established minimum levels, collateral is generally determined based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on contracts with a certain counterparty. Collateral pledged to the Fund is held in a segregated account by a third-party agent and can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. government or related agencies.

 

The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally the aggregate unrealized gain in excess of any collateral pledged by the counterparty to the Fund. For purchased OTC options, the Fund bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid and the change in market value of the options should the counterparty not perform under the contracts. The Fund did not enter into any purchased OTC options during the period ended August 31, 2024.

 

The Fund’s master agreements with derivative counterparties have credit related contingent features that if triggered would allow its derivatives counterparties to close out and demand payment or additional collateral to cover their exposure from the Fund. Credit related contingent features are established between the Fund and its derivatives counterparties to reduce the risk that the Fund will not fulfill its payment obligations to its counterparties. These triggering features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets and/or a percentage decrease in the Fund’s NAV, which could cause the Fund to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty. The contingent features are established within the Fund’s Master Agreements.

 

Written options by the Fund do not give rise to counterparty credit risk, as written options obligate the Fund to perform

and not the counterparty. As of August 31, 2024, the total value of open written OTC call options subject to Master Agreements in a liability position was $388,885. If a contingent feature had been triggered, the Fund could have been required to pay this amount in cash to its counterparties. At August 31, 2024, the Fund pledged $880,000 in cash collateral for its open written OTC call options at period end. There were no credit events during the period ended August 31, 2024 that triggered any credit related contingent features.

 

H. Forward Foreign Currency Contracts and Futures Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts primarily to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate risks on its non-U.S. dollar denominated investment securities. When entering into a forward foreign currency contract, the Fund agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Fund’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward rates at the reporting date, is included in the statement of assets and liabilities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency contracts are included on the Statement of Operations. These instruments involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the statement of assets and liabilities. Risks arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movement in currency and securities values and interest rates.

 

The Fund did not enter into any forward foreign currency contracts during the period ended August 31, 2024.

 

The Fund may enter into futures contracts involving foreign currency, interest rates, securities and securities indices. A futures contract is a commitment to buy or sell a specific amount of a financial instrument at a negotiated price on a stipulated future date. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts. Futures contracts traded on a commodities or futures exchange will be valued at the final settlement price or official closing price on the principal exchange as reported by such principal exchange at its trading session ending at, or most recently prior to, the time when the Fund’s assets are valued.

 

Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the Fund each day. The variation margin payments are equal to the daily changes in the contract value and are recorded as unrealized gains and losses and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable or payable on


9

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

futures contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Open futures contracts are reported on a table following the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Securities held in collateralized accounts to cover initial margin requirements on open futures contracts are footnoted in the Portfolio of Investments. Cash collateral held by the broker to cover initial margin requirements on open futures contracts are noted in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The net change in unrealized appreciation and depreciation is reported in the Fund’s Statement of Operations. Realized gains (losses) are reported in the Fund’s Statement of Operations at the closing or expiration of futures contracts.

 

Futures contracts are exposed to the market risk factor of the underlying financial instrument. The Fund purchases and sells futures contracts on various equity indices to enable the Fund to make market directional tactical decisions to enhance returns, to protect against a decline in its assets or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of equity securities. Additional associated risks of entering into futures contracts include the possibility that there may be an illiquid market where the Fund is unable to liquidate the contract or enter into an offsetting position and, if used for hedging purposes, the risk that the price of the contract will correlate imperfectly with the prices of the Fund’s securities. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.

 

The Fund did not enter into any futures contracts during the period ended August 31, 2024.

 

I. Options Contracts. The Fund may purchase put and call options and may write (sell) put options and covered call options. The premium received by the Fund upon the writing of a put or call option is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability which is subsequently marked-to-market until it is exercised or closed, or it expires. The Fund will realize a gain or loss upon the expiration or closing of the option contract. When an option is exercised, the proceeds on sales of the underlying security for a written call option or purchased put option or the purchase cost of the security for a written put option or a purchased call option is adjusted by the amount of premium received or paid. The risk in writing a call option is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in buying an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Risks may also arise from an illiquid secondary market or from the inability of counterparties to meet the terms of the contract.

The Fund seeks to generate gains from the OTC call options writing strategy over a market cycle to supplement the dividend yield of its underlying portfolio of high dividend yield equity securities.

 

During the period ended August 31, 2024, the Fund had an average notional amount of $21,773,892 on written equity options. Please refer to the table within the Portfolio of Investments for open written equity options at August 31, 2024.

 

J. Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide certain indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, management considers the risk of loss from such claims remote.

 

NOTE 3 — INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

The cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of investments for the period ended August 31, 2024, excluding short-term securities, were $40,564,066 and $47,638,145, respectively.

 

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES

 

The Fund has entered into an investment management agreement (“Management Agreement”) with the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser has overall responsibility for the management of the Fund. The Investment Adviser oversees all investment management and portfolio management services for the Fund and assists in managing and supervising all aspects of the general day-to-day business activities and operations of the Fund, including custodial, transfer agency, dividend disbursing, accounting, auditing, compliance and related services. This Management Agreement compensates the Investment Adviser with a management fee, payable monthly, based on an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. For purposes of the Management Agreement, managed assets are defined as the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). As of August 31, 2024, there were no preferred shares outstanding.

 

The Investment Adviser has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Voya IM. Voya IM provides investment advice for the Fund and is paid by the Investment Adviser based on the average daily managed assets of the Fund. Subject to policies as the Board or the Investment Adviser


10

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES (continued)

 

may determine, Voya IM manages the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

NOTE 5 — EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

 

The Investment Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund, excluding interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses to 1.40% of average daily managed assets.

 

The Investment Adviser may at a later date recoup from the Fund for fees waived and/or other expenses reimbursed by the Investment Adviser during the previous 36 months, but only if, after such recoupment, the Fund’s expense ratio does not exceed the percentage described above. Waived and reimbursed fees net of any recoupment by the Investment Adviser of such waived and reimbursed fees are reflected on the accompanying Statement of Operations. Amounts payable by the Investment Adviser are reflected on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

As of August 31, 2024, the amounts of waived and/or reimbursed fees that are subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser and the related expiration dates are as follows:

 

August 31,    
2025   2026   2027   Total
$ 4,597   $ 41,256   $ 111,113   $ 156,966

 

The Expense Limitation Agreement is contractual through March 1, 2025 and shall renew automatically for one-year terms. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Board.

 

NOTE 6 — OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND RELATED PARTIES

 

The Fund has adopted a deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”), which allows eligible independent trustees, as described in the DC Plan, to defer the receipt of all or a portion of the trustees’ fees that they are entitled to receive from the Fund. For purposes of determining the amount owed to the trustee under the DC Plan, the amounts deferred are invested in shares of the funds selected by the trustee (the “Notional Funds”). When the Fund purchases shares of the Notional Funds, which are all advised by Voya Investments, in amounts equal to the trustees’ deferred fees, this results in a Fund asset equal to the deferred compensation liability. Such assets, if applicable, are included as a component of “Other assets” on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Deferral of trustees’ fees under the DC Plan will not affect net assets of the Fund, and will not materially affect the Fund’s assets, liabilities or net investment income per share. Amounts will be deferred until distributed in accordance with the DC Plan.


NOTE 7 — CAPITAL SHARES

 

Transactions in capital shares and dollars were as follows:

 

        Net increase        
        (decrease) in        
    Shares   shares   Shares   Net increase
    repurchased   outstanding   repurchased   (decrease)
Year or period ended   #   #   ($)   ($)
8/31/2024        
2/29/2024   (288,243)   (288,243)   (1,434,821)   (1,434,821)

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

Effective April 1, 2024, pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program, the Fund may purchase, over the period ending March 31, 2025, up to 10% of its stock in open-market transactions. Previously, pursuant to an open-

market share repurchase program effective April 1, 2023, the Fund could have purchased, over the one year period ended March 31, 2024, up to 10% of its stock in open-market transactions. The amount and timing of the repurchases will be at the discretion of the Fund’s management, subject


11

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 7 — CAPITAL SHARES (continued)

 

to market conditions and investment considerations. There is no assurance that the Fund will purchase shares at any particular discount level or in any particular amounts. Any repurchases made under this program would be made on a national securities exchange at the prevailing market price, subject to exchange requirements and volume, timing and other limitations under federal securities laws. The share repurchase program seeks to enhance shareholder value by purchasing shares trading at a discount from their NAV per share. The open-market share repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares of its stock.

 

 

For the period ended August 31, 2024, the Fund had no repurchases.

 

For the year ended February 29, 2024, the Fund repurchased 288,243 shares, representing approximately 1.59% of the Fund’s outstanding shares for a net purchase price of $1,434,821 (including commissions of $7,206). Shares were repurchased at a weighted-average discount from NAV per share of 14.64% and a weighted-average price per share of $4.95.


NOTE 8 — FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The amount of distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP for investment companies. These book/ tax differences may be either temporary or permanent. Permanent differences are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences are not reclassified. Key differences include the treatment of foreign currency transactions, income from passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) and wash sale deferrals. Distributions in excess of net investment income and/or net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as return of capital.

 

Dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term capital gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.

 

The tax composition of dividends and distributions in the current period will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end of December 31, 2024. The composition of distributions presented below may differ from amounts presented elsewhere in this report due to differences in calculations between GAAP (book) and tax. The tax composition of dividends and distributions paid as of the Fund’s most recent tax year-ends was as follows:

 

Tax Year Ended     Tax Year Ended  
December 31, 2023     December 31, 2022  
Ordinary     Return of     Ordinary     Return of  
Income     Capital     Income     Capital  
$ 3,784,919     $ 6,937,253     $ 3,318,963     $ 10,235,915  

 

The tax-basis components of distributable earnings and the capital loss carryforwards which may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2023 were:

 

Unrealized                 Total  
Appreciation/     Capital Loss Carryforwards           Distributable  
(Depreciation)     Amount     Character     Other     Earnings/(Loss)  
$ 5,310,743     $ (6,761,352)     Short-term     $ (2,713,395)     $ (79,074,719)  
          (74,910,715)     Long-term                  
        $ (81,672,067)                        

 

The Fund’s major tax jurisdictions are U.S. federal and Arizona state.

 

As of August 31, 2024, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements as a result of tax positions taken on federal and state income tax returns for open tax years. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state department of revenue. Generally, the preceding four tax years remain subject to examination by these jurisdictions.

12

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 9 — LONDON INTERBANK OFFERED RATE (“LIBOR”)

 

The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) was the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. The terms of investments, financings or other transactions (including certain derivatives transactions) to which the Fund may be a party have historically been tied to LIBOR. In connection with the global transition away from LIBOR led by regulators and market participants, LIBOR was last published on a representative basis at the end of June 2023. Alternative reference rates to LIBOR have been established in most major currencies and markets in these new rates are continuing to develop. The transition away from LIBOR to the use of replacement rates has gone relatively smoothly on the Fund and the financial instruments in which it invests; however, longer-term impacts are still uncertain.

 

In addition, interest rates or other types of rates and indices which are classed as “benchmarks” have been the subject of ongoing national and international regulatory reform, including under the European Union regulation on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts (known as the “Benchmarks Regulation”). The Benchmarks Regulation has been enacted into United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended), subject to amendments made by the Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/657) and other statutory instruments. Following the implementation of these reforms, the manner of administration of benchmarks has changed and may further change in the future, with the result that relevant benchmarks may perform differently than in the past, the use of benchmarks that are not compliant with the new standards by certain supervised entities may be restricted, and certain benchmarks may be eliminated entirely. Such changes could cause increased market volatility and disruptions in liquidity for instruments that rely on or are impacted by such benchmarks. Additionally, there could be other consequences which cannot be predicted.

 

NOTE 10 — MARKET DISRUPTION AND GEOPOLITICAL RISK

 

The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the United States. Wars, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events that have led, and may continue to lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or long-term effects on U.S. and global economies

and markets, generally. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant market volatility, exchange suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, supply chain disruptions, and a substantial economic downturn in economies throughout the world. The economic impacts of COVID-19 have created a unique challenge for real estate markets. Many businesses have either partially or fully transitioned to a remote-working environment and this transition may negatively impact the occupancy rates of commercial real estate over time. Natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations are also highly disruptive to economies and markets. In addition, military action by Russia in Ukraine has, and may continue to, adversely affect global energy and financial markets and therefore could affect the value of investments, including beyond the direct exposure to Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict and could be substantial. A number of U.S. domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks have recently experienced financial difficulties and, in some cases, failures. There can be no certainty that the actions taken by regulators to limit the effect of those financial difficulties and failures on other banks or other financial institutions or on the U.S. or foreign (non-U.S.) economies generally will be successful. It is possible that more banks or other financial institutions will experience financial difficulties or fail, which may affect adversely other U.S. or foreign (non-U.S.) financial institutions and economies. These events as well as other changes in foreign (non-U.S.) and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of the Fund and of the Fund’s service providers.

 

NOTE 11 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Dividends: Subsequent to August 31, 2024, the Fund made distributions of:

 

Per Share   Declaration   Payable   Record
Amount   Date   Date   Date
$0.055   8/15/2024   9/16/2024   9/3/2024
$0.055   9/16/2024   10/15/2024   10/1/2024
$0.055   10/15/2024   11/15/2024   11/1/2024

 

Each month, the Fund will provide disclosures with distribution payments made that estimate the percentages of that distribution that represent net investment income, capital gains, and return of capital, if any. A significant


13

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 11 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (continued)

 

portion of the monthly distribution payments made by the Fund may constitute a return of capital.

 

The Fund has evaluated events occurring after the Statement of Assets and Liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued (“subsequent events”) to determine whether any subsequent events necessitated adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements. Other than the above, no such subsequent events were identified.


14

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited)

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: 96.2%
    Brazil: 3.0%          
83,700   Banco do Brasil SA  $417,019    0.4 
22,900   Caixa Seguridade Participacoes S/A   66,718    0.1 
47,000   CCR SA   109,745    0.1 
107,331   Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA   225,481    0.2 
147,821   Cosan SA   348,835    0.3 
41,800   JBS S/A   258,026    0.2 
95,500   Natura & Co. Holding SA   230,449    0.2 
16,800   Rumo SA   64,864    0.0 
55,800 (1)    Sendas Distribuidora S/A   93,661    0.1 
5,400   Suzano SA   52,678    0.0 
38,664   Telefonica Brasil SA   356,458    0.3 
126,619   TIM SA/Brazil   400,350    0.4 
70,671   Vale SA - Foreign   743,080    0.7 
        3,367,364    3.0 
    Chile: 0.4%          
113,027 (1)    Falabella SA   399,550    0.4 
               
    China: 21.4%          
43,700   37 Interactive Entertainment Network Technology Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   85,874    0.1 
206,400   Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.   2,139,248    1.9 
14,700   Anhui Gujing Distillery Co. Ltd. - Class B   197,354    0.2 
8,100   Anhui Yingjia Distillery Co. Ltd. - Class A   57,225    0.0 
7,985   Autohome, Inc., ADR   200,903    0.2 
385,000   AviChina Industry & Technology Co. Ltd. - Class H   164,563    0.1 
1,468,000   Bank of China Ltd. - Class H   663,277    0.6 
131,500   Bank of Jiangsu Co. Ltd. - Class A   143,875    0.1 
17,400   Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp. Ltd. - Class A   58,316    0.0 
99,900   BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   54,378    0.0 
16,500   BYD Co. Ltd. - Class H   505,345    0.5 
572,000   China CITIC Bank Corp. Ltd. - Class H   330,045    0.3 
800,000   China Communications Services Corp. Ltd. - Class H   407,469    0.4 
1,300,000   China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H   912,782    0.8 
272,000   China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd. - Class H   97,766    0.1 
422,000   China Oilfield Services Ltd. - Class H   395,470    0.4 
572,000   China Railway Group Ltd. - Class H   264,157    0.2 
96,168   China Railway Signal & Communication Corp. Ltd. - Class A   70,548    0.1 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)          
157,500 (2)    China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.  $110,896    0.1 
73,100   China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd. - Class A   55,513    0.0 
2,772,000 (2)    China Tower Corp. Ltd. - Class H   339,502    0.3 
92,100   China XD Electric Co. Ltd. - Class A   89,868    0.1 
51,400   China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd. - Class A   213,049    0.2 
294,000   CMOC Group Ltd. - Class H   238,661    0.2 
89,360   CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.   54,864    0.0 
42,300   Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd. - Class A   297,607    0.3 
242,500   Fosun International Ltd.   125,481    0.1 
209,400   Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   243,819    0.2 
180,000   Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. - Class H   257,233    0.2 
212,100   GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd. - Class A   281,503    0.2 
620,000   Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   197,885    0.2 
18,400   Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd. - Class H   56,225    0.0 
23,500   Hengan International Group Co. Ltd.   75,270    0.1 
77,000   Hisense Home Appliances Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   198,531    0.2 
190,800 (2)    Huatai Securities Co. Ltd. - Class H   209,971    0.2 
28,200   Hubei Jumpcan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Class A   117,134    0.1 
256,592   Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. - Class H   146,750    0.1 
116,000   Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co. Ltd. - Class B   219,786    0.2 
171,200   Inner Mongolia Yuan Xing Energy Co. Ltd. - Class A   138,056    0.1 
32,502   JD.com, Inc. - Class A   439,301    0.4 
178,000   Jiangsu Expressway Co. Ltd. - Class H   175,539    0.2 
36,000   Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd. - Class H   60,425    0.1 
98,690   Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   64,987    0.1 
116,600   Kingsoft Corp. Ltd.   318,811    0.3 
346,000   Lenovo Group Ltd.   422,487    0.4 
22,900   Livzon Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. - Class A   116,106    0.1 
8,000   Luzhou Laojiao Co. Ltd. - Class A   134,029    0.1 
41,320 (1)(2)    Meituan - Class B   625,230    0.6 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 15

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)          
23,400   MINISO Group Holding Ltd.  $97,039    0.1 
17,600   NARI Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   60,957    0.1 
31,900   NetEase, Inc.   512,781    0.5 
27,200 (2)    Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd. - Class H   98,249    0.1 
81,100   Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd. - Class A   62,768    0.1 
1,119,000   People's Insurance Co. Group of China Ltd. - Class H   422,301    0.4 
366,000   PetroChina Co. Ltd. - Class H   330,102    0.3 
372,000   PICC Property & Casualty Co. Ltd. - Class H   481,776    0.4 
105,000   Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd. - Class H   497,095    0.4 
166,200   Shanghai Baosight Software Co. Ltd. - Class B   249,271    0.2 
211,900   Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd. - Class H   292,336    0.3 
2,800   Shenzhen Mindray Bio- Medical Electronics Co. Ltd. - Class A   98,813    0.1 
12,900   Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Class A   55,657    0.0 
15,200   Sieyuan Electric Co. Ltd. - Class A   140,252    0.1 
114,700   Sinoma International Engineering Co. - Class A   151,685    0.1 
82,800   Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   191,621    0.2 
80,500   Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd.   201,307    0.2 
43,100   TBEA Co. Ltd. - Class A   76,728    0.1 
102,700   Tencent Holdings Ltd.   4,980,941    4.5 
10,458   Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR   109,182    0.1 
251,700   Tian Di Science & Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   198,854    0.2 
434,000 (2)    Topsports International Holdings Ltd.   160,749    0.1 
23,609   Trina Solar Co. Ltd. - Class A   57,498    0.0 
18,005   Vipshop Holdings Ltd., ADR   225,783    0.2 
165,000   Weichai Power Co. Ltd. - Class H   252,374    0.2 
94,500   Western Mining Co. Ltd. - Class A   208,109    0.2 
3,700   Wuliangye Yibin Co. Ltd. - Class A   64,102    0.1 
12,100   Yealink Network Technology Corp. Ltd. - Class A   56,188    0.0 
100,500   Yutong Bus Co. Ltd. - Class A   302,090    0.3 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)          
82,500   Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co. Ltd. - Class H  $284,914    0.3 
57,200   ZTE Corp. - Class H   115,021    0.1 
        23,809,657    21.4 
    Colombia: 0.2%          
61,660   Interconexion Electrica SA ESP   267,818    0.2 
               
    Czechia: 0.1%          
18,185 (2)    Moneta Money Bank AS   87,521    0.1 
               
    Egypt: 0.1%          
178,171   Eastern Co. SAE   93,312    0.1 
               
    Greece: 1.3%          
168,142   Alpha Services and Holdings SA   287,408    0.3 
143,811   Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA   327,901    0.3 
4,759   Jumbo SA   120,363    0.1 
30,817   National Bank of Greece SA   267,871    0.2 
46,364   Piraeus Financial Holdings SA   200,012    0.2 
21,767   Public Power Corp. SA   279,575    0.2 
        1,483,130    1.3 
    Hong Kong: 1.2%          
60,000   Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd.   193,933    0.2 
564,000   Bosideng International Holdings Ltd.   277,017    0.2 
155,500   China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd.   244,457    0.2 
494,000   Far East Horizon Ltd.   345,264    0.3 
178,000   Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.   199,205    0.2 
184,000   Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd.   75,529    0.1 
        1,335,405    1.2 
    Hungary: 0.6%          
7,017   MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas PLC   53,171    0.0 
1,361   OTP Bank Nyrt   70,073    0.1 
17,421   Richter Gedeon Nyrt   527,735    0.5 
        650,979    0.6 
    India: 19.5%          
3,444   ABB India Ltd.   326,121    0.3 
17,540   Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd.   310,038    0.3 
1,799   Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.   148,686    0.1 
18,414   Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.   344,474    0.3 
75,590   Axis Bank Ltd.   1,060,114    1.0 
2,903   Bajaj Auto Ltd.   376,913    0.3 
2,381   Bajaj Finance Ltd.   204,433    0.2 
53,310   Bank of Baroda   159,040    0.1 
115,138   Bharat Electronics Ltd.   411,442    0.4 
27,035   Bharti Airtel Ltd.   512,356    0.5 
11,693   Cipla Ltd./India   230,918    0.2 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 16

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    India (continued)          
10,956   Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd.  $475,517    0.4 
8,671   DLF Ltd.   87,413    0.1 
16,228   Havells India Ltd.   367,601    0.3 
41,520   HCL Technologies Ltd.   868,156    0.8 
5,091 (2)    HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd.   268,395    0.2 
8,721   HDFC Bank Ltd.   170,538    0.2 
1,656   Hero MotoCorp Ltd.   107,830    0.1 
76,140   Hindalco Industries Ltd.   638,001    0.6 
902   Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.   50,379    0.0 
127,524   ICICI Bank Ltd.   1,870,236    1.7 
19,399   IndusInd Bank Ltd.   329,710    0.3 
19,748   Infosys Ltd.   458,483    0.4 
54,479   ITC Ltd.   325,921    0.3 
21,951   Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.   466,175    0.4 
25,432   Larsen & Toubro Ltd.   1,124,162    1.0 
11,190   Lupin Ltd.   299,089    0.3 
2,073   Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.   306,964    0.3 
180,154   Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd.   711,460    0.6 
1,502   Phoenix Mills Ltd.   67,552    0.1 
1,893   PI Industries Ltd.   101,559    0.1 
5,122   Pidilite Industries Ltd.   190,924    0.2 
74,259   Power Finance Corp. Ltd.   486,754    0.4 
177,055   Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd.   713,132    0.6 
74,956   REC Ltd.   553,898    0.5 
33,598   Reliance Industries Ltd.   1,208,830    1.1 
50,403   Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd.   117,524    0.1 
19,942   Shriram Finance Ltd.   763,265    0.7 
1,410   Siemens Ltd.   115,937    0.1 
12,842   Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.   279,001    0.3 
1,660   Supreme Industries Ltd.   104,647    0.1 
25,479   Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.   1,384,198    1.2 
4,251   Tata Motors Ltd.   56,348    0.0 
319,524   Tata Steel Ltd.   582,555    0.5 
14,913   Tech Mahindra Ltd.   291,497    0.3 
11,880   Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.   493,744    0.4 
40,697   UPL Ltd.   290,205    0.3 
119,725   Vedanta Ltd.   668,031    0.6 
18,478   Wipro Ltd.   118,676    0.1 
6,466   Zydus Lifesciences Ltd.   86,983    0.1 
        21,685,825    19.5 
    Indonesia: 1.0%          
786,600   Bank Central Asia Tbk PT   525,503    0.5 
1,290,300   Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT   429,613    0.4 
271,700   Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk PT   142,457    0.1 
        1,097,573    1.0 
    Ireland: 0.8%          
9,750 (1)    PDD Holdings, Inc., ADR   937,073    0.8 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    Luxembourg: 0.3%          
10,965   Reinet Investments SCA  $294,145    0.3 
               
    Malaysia: 2.2%          
144,200   AMMB Holdings Bhd   173,626    0.2 
300,100   CIMB Group Holdings Bhd   570,622    0.5 
360,100   Genting Bhd   359,803    0.3 
722,800   Genting Malaysia Bhd   421,786    0.4 
21,800   Hong Leong Bank Bhd   107,135    0.1 
67,800   Malayan Banking Bhd   169,146    0.1 
552,300   Public Bank Bhd   615,967    0.6 
        2,418,085    2.2 
    Mexico: 1.9%          
296,500   Alfa SAB de CV - Class A   172,833    0.2 
123,600 (2)    Banco del Bajio SA   308,023    0.3 
10,100   Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV   85,367    0.1 
313,478   Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV   369,598    0.3 
12,400   Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV - Class O   85,976    0.1 
165,509   Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV - Class A   271,699    0.2 
65,462   Operadora De Sites Mexicanos SAB de CV - Class 1   55,842    0.0 
92,100   Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV   99,095    0.1 
19,263   Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV   179,981    0.2 
153,614   Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV   488,900    0.4 
        2,117,314    1.9 
    Peru: 0.1%          
324   Credicorp Ltd.   57,785    0.1 
               
    Philippines: 0.5%          
222,300   Ayala Land, Inc.   139,696    0.1 
215,220   Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.   282,241    0.3 
3,875   PLDT, Inc.   103,517    0.1 
        525,454    0.5 
    Poland: 0.8%          
2,933   Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA   120,157    0.1 
47   L.P. SA   178,754    0.1 
19,549   Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA   292,761    0.3 
28,230   Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA   339,926    0.3 
        931,598    0.8 
    Qatar: 1.4%          
402,126   Barwa Real Estate Co.   308,512    0.3 
103,508   Commercial Bank PSQC   116,130    0.1 
534,426   Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co.   242,711    0.2 
111,396   Ooredoo QPSC   337,156    0.3 
58,251   Qatar Electricity & Water Co. QSC   251,178    0.2 
16,776   Qatar Fuel QSC   67,040    0.1 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 17

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Shares      Value  

Percentage

of Net

Assets

COMMON STOCK: (continued)          
    Qatar (continued)          
45,009   Qatar Islamic Bank SAQ  $ 242,254    0.2 
        1,564,981    1.4 
    Russia: —%          
354,185 (3)   Alrosa PJSC        
10,144,776 (3)   Inter RAO UES PJSC        
15,442 (3)   Lukoil PJSC        
9,459 (3)   Magnit PJSC        
116,758 (3)   Mobile TeleSystems PJSC        
4,585 (3)   Severstal PAO        
130,134 (3)   Surgutneftegas PJSC        
125,422 (3)   Tatneft PJSC        
             
    Saudi Arabia: 2.6%          
78,277   Arab National Bank   403,327    0.4 
47,709   Etihad Etisalat Co.   642,513    0.6 
41,053   Sahara International Petrochemical Co.   316,063    0.3 
46,258   Saudi Awwal Bank   430,505    0.4 
24,719   Saudi Basic Industries Corp.   492,720    0.4 
36,224   Saudi Electricity Co.   169,515    0.1 
116,171   Saudi Investment Bank   392,173    0.4 
5,170   Yanbu National Petrochemical Co.   55,489    0.0 
        2,902,305    2.6 
    Singapore: 0.4%          
54,500 (2)   BOC Aviation Ltd.   469,671    0.4 
               
    South Africa: 2.1%          
60,851   Absa Group Ltd.   600,225    0.5 
2,390   Bid Corp. Ltd.   60,209    0.1 
41,539   Exxaro Resources Ltd.   372,129    0.3 
3,790   Gold Fields Ltd.   52,538    0.0 
30,166   Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.   129,918    0.1 
2,021   Naspers Ltd. - Class N   416,896    0.4 
5,345   Nedbank Group Ltd.   88,478    0.1 
10,606   Shoprite Holdings Ltd.   183,771    0.2 
108,230   Sibanye Stillwater Ltd.   103,428    0.1 
15,418   Standard Bank Group Ltd.   207,093    0.2 
27,448   Woolworths Holdings Ltd./ South Africa   99,547    0.1 
        2,314,232    2.1 
    South Korea: 11.9%          
1,216   CJ CheilJedang Corp.   293,562    0.3 
4,507   DB Insurance Co. Ltd.   392,317    0.4 
5,237   GS Holdings Corp.   177,080    0.2 
1,263   Hana Financial Group, Inc.   58,635    0.0 
9,330   Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd.   303,708    0.3 
659   Hanmi Pharm Co. Ltd.   155,810    0.1 
7,635   HD Hyundai Co. Ltd.   462,821    0.4 
499   HD Hyundai Electric Co. Ltd.   114,237    0.1 
3,148 (1)   HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd.   451,708    0.4 
2,055   Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.   335,316    0.3 
417   Hyundai Motor Co.   79,989    0.1 

Shares      Value  

Percentage

of Net

Assets

COMMON STOCK: (continued)          
    South Korea (continued)          
6,942   Hyundai Steel Co.  $ 132,278    0.1 
7,915   KB Financial Group, Inc.   510,399    0.5 
7,634   Kia Corp.   606,513    0.5 
9,207 (1)   Korea Electric Power Corp.   149,636    0.1 
7,853   Korea Investment Holdings Co. Ltd.   428,655    0.4 
9,600   KT Corp.   278,204    0.2 
786   Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd.   80,605    0.1 
1,288   LG Chem Ltd.   310,730    0.3 
2,774   LG Electronics, Inc.   206,833    0.2 
861   LG H&H Co. Ltd.   228,604    0.2 
29,428   LG Uplus Corp.   214,810    0.2 
2,347   Lotte Chemical Corp.   145,685    0.1 
8,565   Mirae Asset Securities Co. Ltd.   53,702    0.0 
40,162   NH Investment & Securities Co. Ltd.   410,563    0.4 
72,458   Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.   4,024,196    3.6 
1,741   Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd.   452,262    0.4 
1,296   Samsung Life Insurance Co. Ltd.   94,663    0.1 
12,002   Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd.   508,035    0.5 
7,208   SK Hynix, Inc.   944,549    0.8 
6,986   SK Telecom Co. Ltd.   288,280    0.3 
3,209   SK, Inc.   344,628    0.3 
        13,239,013    11.9 
    Taiwan: 17.7%          
2,000   Alchip Technologies Ltd.   166,483    0.1 
73,000   ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd.   350,304    0.3 
9,000   Asustek Computer, Inc.   150,949    0.1 
77,000   Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd.   119,647    0.1 
289,000   China Steel Corp.   201,139    0.2 
328,000   Compal Electronics, Inc.   341,245    0.3 
48,000   Delta Electronics, Inc.   598,406    0.5 
48,000   Far Eastern New Century Corp.   54,256    0.0 
4,000   Fortune Electric Co. Ltd.   83,593    0.1 
229,000   Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd.   1,321,957    1.2 
103,000   Inventec Corp.   147,286    0.1 
34,000   MediaTek, Inc.   1,319,773    1.2 
74,000   Micro-Star International Co. Ltd.   425,221    0.4 
56,000   President Chain Store Corp.   492,317    0.4 
40,000   Quanta Computer, Inc.   336,039    0.3 
23,000   Realtek Semiconductor Corp.   385,207    0.3 
25,000   Synnex Technology International Corp.   56,285    0.1 
364,962   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.   10,804,837    9.7 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

18

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Shares      Value  

Percentage

of Net

Assets

COMMON STOCK: (continued)          
    Taiwan (continued)          
152,000   Uni-President Enterprises Corp.  $ 391,664    0.4 
425,000   United Microelectronics Corp.   738,592    0.7 
23,000   Wan Hai Lines Ltd.   59,672    0.1 
141,000   Winbond Electronics Corp.   106,071    0.1 
71,000   Wistron Corp.   226,169    0.2 
3,000   Wiwynn Corp.   178,993    0.2 
147,000   Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.   296,699    0.3 
5,940   Yuanta Financial Holding Co. Ltd.   5,929    0.0 
81,000   Zhen Ding Technology Holding Ltd.   343,105    0.3 
        19,701,838    17.7 
    Thailand: 1.9%          
31,100   Bumrungrad Hospital PCL   224,580    0.2 
400,800   Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL   290,444    0.3 
79,800   Kasikornbank PCL - Foreign   337,126    0.3 
428,900   Krung Thai Bank PCL   231,514    0.2 
57,600   PTT Exploration & Production PCL   240,909    0.2 
436,600   PTT Global Chemical PCL   321,685    0.3 
135,100   SCB X PCL - Foreign   426,935    0.4 
        2,073,193    1.9 
    Turkey: 0.1%          
11,863   KOC Holding AS   64,863    0.1 
               
    United Arab Emirates: 2.6%          
242,642   Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC   578,718    0.5 
38,390   Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC   131,909    0.1 
226,236   Aldar Properties PJSC   452,274    0.4 
198,450   Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC   333,580    0.3 
314,292   Emaar Properties PJSC   722,462    0.6 
134,772   Emirates NBD Bank PJSC   722,874    0.7 
        2,941,817    2.6 
    United Kingdom: 0.1%          
4,960   Anglogold Ashanti PLC   146,800    0.1 
    Total Common Stock
(Cost $93,683,731)
   106,978,301    96.2 
           
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS: 0.8%          
19,145   iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF   830,319    0.8 
    Total Exchange-Traded Funds
(Cost $727,759)
   830,319    0.8 
           
PREFERRED STOCK: 1.8%          
    Brazil: 1.8%          
46,300   Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA   378,635    0.3 
313,709   Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais   645,681    0.6 


Shares     Value  

Percentage

of Net

Assets

PREFERRED STOCK: (continued)          
    Brazil (continued)          
42,800   Itau Unibanco Holding SA  $277,413    0.3 
103,475   Petroleo Brasileiro SA   720,806    0.6 
        2,022,535    1.8 
    Total Preferred Stock
(Cost $1,476,598)
   2,022,535    1.8   
    Total Long-Term Investments
(Cost $95,888,088)
   109,831,155    98.8   
               
           
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS: 0.3%          
    Mutual Funds: 0.3%          
313,000 (4)   BlackRock Liquidity Funds, FedFund, Institutional Class, 5.190%
(Cost $313,000)
  $313,000    0.3 
               
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $313,000)
   313,000    0.3   
    Total Investments in Securities
(Cost $96,201,088)
  $110,144,155    99.1   
    Assets in Excess of Other Liabilities   1,028,785    0.9   
    Net Assets  $111,172,940    100.0   

 

ADR American Depositary Receipt

 

(1)Non-income producing security.

(2)Securities with purchases pursuant to Rule 144A or section 4(a)(2), under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers.

(3)For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, security is categorized as Level 3, whose value was determined using significant unobservable inputs.

(4)Rate shown is the 7-day yield as of August 31, 2024.

 

Sector Diversification 

Percentage

of Net Assets

Information Technology   24.6%
Financials   22.6 
Consumer Discretionary   9.8 
Communication Services   8.8 
Industrials   7.7 
Materials   6.5 
Energy   4.6 
Consumer Staples   4.4 
Health Care   3.9 
Utilities   2.9 
Real Estate   2.2 
Exchange-Traded Funds   0.8 
Short-Term Investments   0.3 
Assets in Excess of Other Liabilities   0.9 
Net Assets   100.0%

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

19

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

Fair Value Measurements^

 

The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of August 31, 2024 in valuing the assets and liabilities:

 

  

Quoted Prices

in Active Markets for Identical

Investments

(Level 1)

  

Significant Other

Observable

Inputs#

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

  

Fair Value

at

August 31, 2024

 
Asset Table
Investments, at fair value
                    
Common Stock                    
Brazil  $3,367,364   $   $   $3,367,364 
Chile   399,550            399,550 
China   1,622,224    22,187,433        23,809,657 
Colombia   267,818            267,818 
Czechia   87,521            87,521 
Egypt       93,312        93,312 
Greece   120,363    1,362,767        1,483,130 
Hong Kong   622,281    713,124        1,335,405 
Hungary   580,906    70,073        650,979 
India       21,685,825        21,685,825 
Indonesia   525,503    572,070        1,097,573 
Ireland   937,073            937,073 
Luxembourg   294,145            294,145 
Malaysia       2,418,085        2,418,085 
Mexico   2,117,314            2,117,314 
Peru   57,785            57,785 
Philippines   103,517    421,937        525,454 
Poland       931,598        931,598 
Qatar   771,504    793,477        1,564,981 
Russia                
Saudi Arabia   492,720    2,409,585        2,902,305 
Singapore   469,671            469,671 
South Africa   1,176,877    1,137,355        2,314,232 
South Korea       13,239,013        13,239,013 
Taiwan       19,701,838        19,701,838 
Thailand       2,073,193        2,073,193 
Turkey       64,863        64,863 
United Arab Emirates   1,433,501    1,508,316        2,941,817 
United Kingdom       146,800        146,800 
Total Common Stock   15,447,637    91,530,664        106,978,301 
Exchange-Traded Funds   830,319            830,319 
Preferred Stock   2,022,535            2,022,535 
Short-Term Investments   313,000            313,000 
Total Investments, at fair value  $18,613,491   $91,530,664      $110,144,155 
Liabilities Table                    
Other Financial Instruments+                    
Written Options  $   $(388,885)     $(388,885)
Total Liabilities  $   $(388,885)     $(388,885)

 

 

^See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Financial Statements for additional information.

#The earlier close of the foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Fund may frequently value many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available. Accordingly, a portion of the Fund’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments.

+Other Financial Instruments may include open forward foreign currency contracts, futures, centrally cleared swaps, OTC swaps and written options. Forward foreign currency contracts, futures and centrally cleared swaps are fair valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. OTC swaps and written options are valued at the fair value of the instrument.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

20

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

At August 31, 2024, the following OTC written equity options were outstanding for Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund:

 

Description  Counterparty 

Put/

Call

 

Expiration

Date

 

Exercise

Price

  

Number of

Contracts

  

Notional

Amount

  

Premiums

Received

   Fair Value 
iShares MSCI  Royal Bank of                                  
Emerging Markets ETF  Canada  Call  10/04/24   USD 43.370    253,632   USD 11,000,020   $215,055   $(215,055)
iShares MSCI                                     
Emerging Markets ETF  UBS AG  Call  09/20/24   USD 43.410    251,094   USD 10,889,947    213,630    (173,830)
                              $428,685   $(388,885)

 

Currency Abbreviations:

 

USD United States Dollar

  

A summary of derivative instruments by primary risk exposure is outlined in the following tables.

 

The fair value of derivative instruments as of August 31, 2024 was as follows:

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments 

Location on Statement

of Assets and Liabilities

  Fair Value
Liability Derivatives        
Equity contracts  Written options, at fair value  $388,885 
Total Liability Derivatives     $388,885 

 

The effect of derivative instruments on the Fund's Statement of Operations for the period ended August 31, 2024 was as follows:

 

Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments 

Written

options

Equity contracts  $(844,360)
Total  $(844,360)

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments 

Written

options

Equity contracts  $129,543 
Total  $129,543 

 

The following is a summary by counterparty of the fair value of OTC derivative instruments subject to Master Netting Agreements and collateral pledged (received), if any, at August 31, 2024:

 

  

Royal Bank of

Canada

   UBS AG   Total 
Liabilities:               
Written options  $215,055   $173,830   $388,885 
Total Liabilities  $215,055   $173,830   $388,885 
Net OTC derivative instruments by counterparty, at fair value  $(215,055)  $(173,830)  $(388,885)
Total collateral pledged by the Fund/(Received from counterparty)  $   $173,830   $173,830 
Net Exposure(1),(2)  $(215,055)  $   $(215,055)

 

 

(1)

 

Positive net exposure represents amounts due from each respective counterparty. Negative exposure represents amounts due from the Fund. Please refer to Note 2 for additional details regarding counterparty credit risk and credit related contingent features.

(2)At August 31, 2024, the Fund had pledged $880,000 in cash collateral to UBS AG. Excess cash collateral is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

21

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2024 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

At August 31, 2024, the aggregate cost of securities and other investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities and other investments on a tax basis were:

 

Cost for federal income tax purposes was $102,461,020.    
Net unrealized appreciation consisted of:    
Gross Unrealized Appreciation  $23,398,659 
Gross Unrealized Depreciation   (11,933,558)
Net Unrealized Appreciation  $11,465,101 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements 

22

 

 

SHAREHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Proposal:

 

1 At this meeting, a proposal was submitted to elect two members of the Board of Trustees to represent the interests of the holders of the Fund, with these individuals to serve as Class I Trustees, for a term of three years, and until the election and qualification of their successors.

 

An annual shareholder meeting of Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund was held virtually on July 18, 2024.

 

      Proposal   Shares voted for  

Shares voted

against or

withheld

  

Shares

abstained

  

Broker

non-vote

  

Total Shares

Voted

 
Class I Trustees  Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund                            
   Colleen D. Baldwin   1*   14,968,683.403    634,803.000    166,171.000    0.000   15,769,657.403  
   Christopher P. Sullivan   1*   14,979,731.403    624,394.000    165,532.000    0.000   15,769,657.403  

 

 

*Proposal Passed.

 

After the July 18, 2024 annual shareholder meeting, the following Trustees continued on as Trustees of the Trust: John V. Boyer, Martin J. Gavin, Joseph E. Obermeyer, and Sheryl K. Pressler.

 

23

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

 

The following information is a summary of certain changes as of August 31, 2024. The information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Fund. During the period, there were no material changes in the Fund’s investment objective or fundamental policies. There also have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio.

 

The Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount equal to up to 33 1/3% of its managed assets to broker dealers or other institutional borrowers, in exchange for cash collateral and fees. The Fund may use the cash collateral in connection with the Fund’s investment program as approved by the Investment Adviser, including generating cash to cover collateral posting requirements. Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, it may use the cash collateral to generate additional income. The use of cash collateral in connection with the Fund’s investment program may have a leveraging effect on the Fund, which would increase the volatility of the Fund and could reduce its returns and/or cause a loss.

 

The Fund intends to engage in lending portfolio securities only when such lending is secured by cash or other permissible collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund will maintain cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities holdings in an amount sufficient to cover its repayment obligation with respect to the collateral, marked to market on a daily basis.

 

Securities lending involves the risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the securities loaned if the borrower of the securities fails financially. Loans will be made only to organizations whose credit quality or claims paying ability is considered by the sub-advisers to be at least investment grade. The financial condition of the borrower will be monitored by the Investment Adviser on an ongoing basis. The Fund will not lend portfolio securities subject to a written American style covered call option contract. The Fund may lend portfolio securities subject to a written European style covered call option contract as long as the lending period is less than or equal to the term of the covered call option contract.

 

The Fund was granted exemptive relief by the SEC (the “Order”) which, under the 1940 Act, would permit the Fund, subject to Board approval, to include realized long-term capital gains as a part of its regular distributions to Common Shareholders more frequently than would otherwise be permitted by the 1940 Act (generally once per taxable year) (“Managed Distribution Policy”). The Fund may in the future adopt a Managed Distribution Policy.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan 

Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting Computershare Shareowner Services LLC (the “Plan Agent”), all dividends declared on Common Shares of the Fund will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Agent for shareholders in additional Common Shares of the Fund through the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Agent prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re-invest that cash in additional Common Shares of the Fund for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your Common Shares of the Fund to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.

 

The Plan Agent will open an account for each Common Shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such Common Shareholder’s Common Shares are registered. Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a “Dividend”) payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from the Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“Open-Market Purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. Open-market purchases and sales are usually made through a broker affiliated with the Plan Agent.

 

If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the NAV per Common Share, the Plan Agent will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the NAV per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the NAV is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the NAV per

 

24

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Common Share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases. In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Agent will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in Open-Market Purchases.

 

The Fund pays monthly* Dividends. Therefore, the period during which Open-Market Purchases can be made will exist only from the payment date of each Dividend through the date before the next “ex-dividend” date, which typically will be approximately ten days.

 

If, before the Plan Agent has completed its Open-Market Purchases, the market price per common share exceeds the NAV per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the NAV of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making Open-Market Purchases and will invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at the NAV per common share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the NAV is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.

 

The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.

 

In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified 

from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.

 

There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. Participants that request a partial or full sale of shares through the Plan Agent are subject to a $15.00 sales fee and a $0.10 per share brokerage commission on purchases or sales, and may be subject to certain other service charges.

 

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.

 

All questions concerning the Plan or a request to terminate participation should be directed to the Fund’s Shareholder Service Department at (800) 992-0180.

 

Application of Control Share Provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act

 

Under Delaware law, which became automatically applicable to listed closed-end funds such as the Fund upon its effective date of August 1, 2022 (the “DSTA Control Share Statute”), if a shareholder acquires direct or indirect ownership or power to direct the voting of shares of the Fund in an aggregate amount that equals or exceeds certain percentage thresholds specified under the DSTA Control Share Statute (beginning at 10% or more of the Fund’s shares) (“control share acquisitions”), the shareholder’s ability to vote certain of these shares will be limited by operation of state law unless action is taken by the Board of Trustees or by a vote of shareholders of the Fund to exempt such shares from the provisions of the statute. The DSTA Control Share Statute requires shareholders to disclose to the Fund any control share acquisition within 10 days of such acquisition. The Fund may have no or only a limited ability to identify when a control share acquisition has occurred absent notice from a shareholder of a control share acquisition. Shareholders should consult their own counsel with respect to the application of the DSTA Control Share Statute to any particular circumstance.

 

* Prior to May 1, 2024, the Fund made quarterly distributions

 

25

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Key Financial Dates — Calendar 2024 Distributions:

 

Declaration Date Ex Date Record Date Payable Date
March 15, 2024 April 1, 2024 April 2, 2024 April 15, 2024
April 15, 2024 May 1, 2024 May 2, 2024 May 15, 2024
May 15, 2024 June 3, 2024 June 3, 2024 June 17, 2024
June 17, 2024 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2024 July 15, 2024
July 15, 2024 August 1, 2024 August 1, 2024 August 15, 2024
August 15, 2024 September 3, 2024 September 3, 2024 September 16, 2024
September 16, 2024 October 1, 2024 October 1, 2024 October 15, 2024
October 15, 2024 November 1, 2024 November 1, 2024 November 15, 2024
November 15, 2024 December 2, 2024 December 2, 2024 December 16, 2024
December 16, 2024 December 30, 2024 December 30, 2024 January 15, 2025

 

Record date will be two business days after each Ex-Dividend Date. These dates are subject to change.

 

Stock Data

 

The Fund’s common shares are traded on the NYSE (Symbol: IHD).

 

Repurchase of Securities by Closed-End Companies

 

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act, and Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may from time to time purchase shares of beneficial interest of the Fund in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions and/ or purchase shares to correct erroneous transactions.

 

Number of Shareholders

 

The number of record holders of common stock as of August 31, 2024 was 7, which does not include approximately 6,160 beneficial owners of shares held in the name of brokers or other nominees.

 

Certifications

 

In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s CEO submitted the Annual CEO Certification on September 24, 2024 certifying that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE’s Corporate governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Fund’s principal executive and financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Form N-CSR, relating to, among other things, the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting.

 

 26

 

 

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Investment Adviser Custodian
Voya Investments, LLC The Bank of New York Mellon
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100 225 Liberty Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 New York, New York 10286
   
Transfer Agent Legal Counsel
Computershare, Inc. Ropes & Gray LLP
480 Washington Boulevard Prudential Tower
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1900 800 Boylston Street
  Boston, Massachusetts 02199

 

 

 

Toll-Free Shareholder Information

Call us from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on any business day for account or other information at (800) 992-0180.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RETIREMENT | INVESTMENTS | INSURANCE
   
voyainvestments.com 163320 (0824)

 

 

 

 

(b)            Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

 

(a)            Schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

(b)            Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9. Proxy Disclosures for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.

 

None.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Period*  (a) Total Number of Shares
(or Units) Purchased
   (b) Average Price
Paid per Share (or
Unit)
   (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs
   (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate
Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May
Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or
Programs
 
Mar 1-31, 2024               0   $0.00                0    1,640,305 
April 1-30, 2024   0   $0.00    0    1,640,305 
May 1-31, 2024   0   $0.00    0    1,640,305 
June 1-30, 2024   0   $0.00    0    1,640,305 
July 1-31, 2024   0   $0.00    0    1,640,305 
Aug 1-31, 2024   0   $0.00    0    1,640,305 
Total   0         0      

 

* Effective April 1, 2024, the Registrant announced the Fund could purchase up to 10% of its stock in open-market transactions through March 31, 2025.

 

 

 

 

Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

 

Item 16. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)Based on our evaluation conducted within 90 days of the filing date, hereof, the design and operation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to the certifying officers by others within the appropriate entities, particularly during the period in which Forms N-CSR are being prepared, and the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures allow timely preparation and review of the information for the registrant’s Form N-CSR and the officer certifications of such Form N-CSR.

 

(b)There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls 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-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 19. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)The Code of Ethics is not required for the semi-annual filing.

 

(a)(2)Not applicable.

 

(a)(3)A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant is required by Rule 30a-2 under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2) is attached hereto as EX-99.CERT.

 

(a)(3)(1)Not applicable

 

(a)(3)(2)Not applicable.

 

(b)The officer certifications required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as EX-99.906CERT.

 

 

 

 

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): Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

By /s/ Christian G. Wilson  
  Christian G. Wilson  
  Principal Executive Officer  

 

Date: November 6, 2024

 

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/ Christian G. Wilson  
  Christian G. Wilson  
  Principal Executive Officer  

 

Date: November 6, 2024

 

By / s/ Todd Modic  
  Todd Modic  
  Principal Financial Officer  

 

Date: November 6, 2024

 

 

 

 

EX-99.CERT

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Christian G. Wilson, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control 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; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 6, 2024 /s/ Christian G. Wilson
  Christian G. Wilson
  Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Todd Modic, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control 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; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 6, 2024 /s/ Todd Modic 
  Todd Modic
  Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

EX-99.906CERT

 

Certification

 

Pursuant to Section 906 

of the 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Name of Registrant:            Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

Date of Form N-CSR:         August 31, 2024

 

The undersigned, the principal executive officer of the above named registrant (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that, with respect to the Form N-CSR referred to above, to the best of his knowledge and belief, after reasonable inquiry:

 

1.such Form N-CSR fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.the information contained in such Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund and will be retained by Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification below, as of this 6th day of November, 2024.

 

  /s/ Christian G. Wilson
  Christian G. Wilson
  Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Certification

 

Pursuant to Section 906 

of the 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Name of Registrant:           Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

Date of Form N-CSR:        August 31, 2024

 

The undersigned, the principal financial officer of the above named registrant (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that, with respect to the Form N-CSR referred to above, to the best of his knowledge and belief, after reasonable inquiry:

 

1.such Form N-CSR fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.the information contained in such Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund and will be retained by Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification below, as of this 6th day of November, 2024.

 

  /s/ Todd Modic 
  Todd Modic 
  Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 


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