Table of Contents
Annual report
Closed-end fund
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
September 30, 2022
The figures in the annual report for Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund represent past results, which are not a guarantee of future results. A rise or fall in interest rates can have a significant
impact on bond prices. Funds that invest in bonds can lose their value as interest rates rise.
Table of Contents
Table of contents
Macquarie Asset Management (MAM)
is the asset management division of Macquarie Group. MAM is a full-service asset manager offering a diverse range of products
across public and private markets including fixed income, equities, multi-asset solutions, private credit, infrastructure, renewables,
natural assets, real estate, and asset finance. The Public Investments business is a part of MAM and includes the following investment
advisers: Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT), Macquarie Funds Management Hong Kong Limited, Macquarie Investment
Management Austria Kapitalanlage AG, Macquarie Investment Management Global Limited, Macquarie Investment Management Europe Limited,
and Macquarie Investment Management Europe S.A. For more information, including press releases, please visit delawarefunds.com/closed-end.
Unless otherwise noted, views
expressed herein are current as of September 30, 2022, and subject to change for events occurring after such date.
The Fund is not FDIC insured and is not guaranteed. It is possible
to lose the principal amount invested. Advisory services provided by Delaware Management Company, a series of MIMBT, a US
registered investment advisor.
Other than Macquarie Bank
Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (“Macquarie Bank”), any Macquarie Group entity noted in this document is not an authorised
deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these other
Macquarie Group entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank. Macquarie Bank does not guarantee or
otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these other Macquarie Group entities. In addition, if this document
relates to an investment, (a) the investor is subject to investment risk including possible delays in repayment and loss of income
and principal invested and (b) none of Macquarie Bank or any other Macquarie Group entity guarantees any particular rate of return
on or the performance of the investment, nor do they guarantee repayment of capital in respect of the investment.
The Fund is governed by US laws
and regulations.
All third-party marks cited are
the property of their respective owners.
© 2022 Macquarie Management
Holdings, Inc.
Table of Contents
Portfolio management review (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Performance preview (for the year ended September 30, 2022) | |
| |
|
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ market price | |
1-year return | |
-20.69% |
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ NAV | |
1-year return | |
-19.18% |
ICE BofA US High Yield Index (benchmark) | |
1-year return | |
-14.06% |
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Performance at market price will differ from performance
at net asset value (NAV). Although market price returns tend to reflect investment results over time, during shorter periods returns
at market price can also be influenced by factors such as changing views about the Fund, market conditions, supply and demand
for the Fund’s shares, or changes in the Fund’s distribution rate.
For complete, annualized performance for Delaware Ivy
High Income Opportunities Fund, please see the table on page 3.
Market review
US high yield bonds, as measured by the ICE BofA US
High Yield Index, returned -14.06% for the year ended September 30, 2022.
Despite a healthy earnings environment, concerns around
the COVID-19 Omicron variant, supply-chain disruptions, inflation, and the future pace of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes
resulted in market participants dialing back on risk and taking a more cautious posture heading into 2022. As a result, higher-quality
BB-rated and B-rated bonds returned 0.72% and 0.82%, respectively, during the first quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year, outpacing
CCC-rated bonds, which returned just 0.25%.*
During the second quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year, the high yield market
faced its first significant bout of volatility since March 2020. Calendar year first quarter 2022 high yield returns (-4.53%)
were the second-worst results since the fourth quarter of 2018, and BB-rated bonds produced their second-worst quarterly returns
since the financial crisis. The negative sentiment surrounding risk assets also produced a significant quarterly outflow of $22.3
billion in the high yield market. When it was all said and done, the high yield market posted a -4.53% return, with BB-rated bonds
returning -5.37% for the fiscal second quarter, followed by returns of -3.79% and -3.46%, respectively, for CCC-rated bonds and
B-rated bonds.
The volatility experienced in the second quarter of
the Fund’s fiscal year continued to escalate during the fiscal third quarter. Headwinds driven by an extremely hawkish Fed,
persistent inflation, heightened geopolitical risks, weakening corporate profit outlooks, and waning consumer sentiment combined
to produce -9.92% high yield returns for the fiscal third quarter. Amid the volatility, market participants found no safe havens
as negative returns were non-discriminating. For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, BB-rated bonds returned -8.70%, while B-rated
and CCC-rated bonds returned -10.60% and -13.60%, respectively.
Throughout the fourth quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year, volatility
continued to be the persistent theme among high yield bonds as investors set and reset expectations around economic data and Fed
rhetoric. Despite these persistent negative headwinds, high yield bond spreads remained resilient during the quarter, resulting
in a -0.69% return for the period. BB-rated bonds returned -0.89%, followed by B-rated and CCC-rated bonds, with returns of -0.59%
and -0.19%, respectively.
The Fed’s hawkish approach to reining in inflation
has set the table for risk aversion within the high yield market. As a result, impacts on corporate profits and consumer sentiment
have introduced new debates around the depth and length of a recession. High-yield yields have moved well north of 9.00% and yield
spreads have settled in wide of the historical average of 5.25%. Despite these headwinds, corporate balance sheets remain healthy,
debt maturity walls are manageable, and default-rate outlooks are expected to remain at or below historical averages. Given this
backdrop, we believe valuations have become more in line with the fundamental outlook. Accordingly, we believe a disciplined approach
to adding risk is the best approach, with the understanding that short to intermediate volatility will persist.
*The bond returns cited in the market review are tied
to the ICE BofA US Cash Pay High Yield Index. This index was used as it provides a broad overview of the high yield market and
its performance over the fiscal period. The ICE BofA US Cash Pay High Yield Index is not the Fund’s benchmark. The ICE BofA US
Cash Pay High Yield Index tracks the performance of US dollar-denominated below-investment-grade corporate debt, currently in
a coupon paying period, that is publicly issued in the US domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least 18 months
to final maturity at the time of issuance, at least one year remaining term to final maturity as of the rebalancing date, a fixed
coupon schedule, and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million.
Within the Fund
On September 13, 2021, the Board of Trustees (Board)
of the Ivy Funds approved the appointment of the portfolio manager team of Adam H. Brown and John P. McCarthy of Delaware Management
1
Table of Contents
Portfolio management review (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
Company (DMC) as new Fund portfolio managers. All changes took effect on or about November 15, 2021.
The Fund performance discussed in this commentary pertains to the measurement
period of November 15, 2021 to September 30, 2022.
For the measurement period ended September 30, 2022, Delaware Ivy High
Income Opportunities Fund declined, underperforming its benchmark, the ICE BofA US High Yield Index, which also declined. The
Fund’s shares at market price declined 20.69%. The Fund’s shares at net asset value (NAV) fell 19.18%. These figures
reflect all distributions reinvested. During the same period, the Fund’s benchmark declined 14.06%. For complete, annualized
performance of Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund, please see the table on page 3.
For the measurement period, Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund’s
main contributors included security selection within the automotive, consumer goods, and real estate sectors. Within the energy
sector, an overweight position as well as security selection added to the Fund’s returns relative to the benchmark.
Among the Fund’s largest detractors were both overweight positions
and security selection within the media, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors. Security selection within the leisure sector
also had a detrimental effect on the Fund’s relative returns.
2
Table of Contents
Performance summary (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee
future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth
more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Please obtain the
most recent performance data by calling 866 437-0252 or visiting our website at delawarefunds.com/closed-end.
Fund performance | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Average annual total returns through September 30, 2022 | |
1 year | |
5 year | |
Lifetime |
At market price (inception date May 29, 2013) | |
| -20.69 | % | |
| -0.40 | % | |
| +2.38 | % |
At net asset value (inception date May 29, 2013) | |
| -19.18 | % | |
| +1.30 | % | |
| +4.07 | % |
ICE BofA US High Yield Index | |
| -14.06 | % | |
| +1.41 | % | |
| +3.34 | %* |
* The benchmark lifetime return is calculated using the last business
day in the month of the Fund’s inception date.
The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee
future results. Investment return, principal value, and market value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares may be worth
more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Investing in closed-end
investment companies involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Fixed income securities and bond funds can lose value, and investors
can lose principal as interest rates rise. They also may be affected by economic conditions that hinder an issuer’s ability
to make interest and principal payments on its debt. This includes prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a bond that
is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at the time when interest rates are lower than what the bond was paying.
A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
High yielding, non-investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve higher
risk than investment grade bonds. The high yield secondary market is particularly susceptible to liquidity problems when institutional
investors, such as mutual funds and certain other financial institutions, temporarily stop buying bonds for regulatory, financial,
or other reasons. In addition, a less liquid secondary market makes it more difficult to obtain precise valuations of the high
yield securities.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, which may involve additional expenses
and are subject to risk, including the risk that an underlying security or securities index moves in the opposite direction from
what the portfolio manager anticipated. A derivatives transaction depends upon the counterparties’ ability to fulfill their
contractual obligations.
International investments entail risks including fluctuation in currency
values, differences in accounting principles, or economic or political instability. Investing in emerging markets can be riskier
than investing in established foreign markets due to increased volatility, lower trading volume, and higher risk of market closures.
In many emerging markets, there is substantially less publicly available information and the available information may be incomplete
or misleading. Legal claims are generally more difficult to pursue.
IBOR risk is the risk that changes related to the use of the London interbank
offered rate (LIBOR) or similar rates (such as EONIA) could have adverse impacts on financial instruments that reference these
rates. The abandonment of these rates and transition to alternative rates could affect the value and liquidity of instruments
that reference them and could affect investment strategy performance.
The disruptions caused by natural disasters, pandemics, or similar events
could prevent the Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner and could negatively impact the Fund’s
ability to achieve its investment objective and the value of the Fund’s investments.
Closed-end fund shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and
are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered.
After being issued during a one time-only public offering, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a securities
exchange.
Net asset value (NAV) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities
from total assets, then dividing by the number of shares outstanding. At the time of sale, your shares may have a market price
that is above or below NAV, and may be worth more or less than your original investment. The Fund may be required to make higher
distributions of ordinary income and capital gains at calendar year end. Those distributions may temporarily cause extraordinarily
high yields. There is no assurance that a Fund will repeat that yield in the future. Subsequent monthly
3
Table of Contents
Performance summary (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
distributions that do not include ordinary income or capital gains in
the form of dividends will likely be lower. Each of these performance numbers is as calculated by the relevant providing entity
disclosed above and may be based on differing methodologies.
The Fund may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal
of a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity, at the time when interest rates are lower than what the
bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
The Fund may experience portfolio turnover in excess of 100%, which could
result in higher transaction costs and tax liability.
The Fund’s use of leverage may expose common shareholders to additional
volatility, and cause the Fund to incur certain costs. In the event that the Fund is unable to meet certain criteria (including,
but not limited to, maintaining certain ratings with Fitch Ratings, funding dividend payments or funding redemptions), the Fund
will pay additional fees with respect to the leverage.
Duration number will change as market conditions change. Therefore, duration
should not be solely relied upon to indicate a municipal bond fund’s potential volatility.
This document may mention bond ratings published by nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch, Inc. For securities
rated by an NRSRO other than S&P, the rating is converted to the equivalent S&P credit rating. Bonds rated AAA are rated
as having the highest quality and are generally considered to have the lowest degree of investment risk. Bonds rated AA are considered
to be of high quality, but with a slightly higher degree of risk than bonds rated AAA. Bonds rated A are considered to have many
favorable investment qualities, though they are somewhat more susceptible to adverse economic conditions. Bonds rated BBB are
believed to be of medium-grade quality and generally riskier over the long term. Bonds rated BB, B, and CCC are regarded as having
significant speculative characteristics, with BB indicating the least degree of speculation of the three.
Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction
costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index.
The “Fund performance” table and the “Performance of
a $10,000 investment” graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions
of Fund shares.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Market price versus net asset value (see notes on next page)
September 30, 2021 through September 30, 2022
For period beginning September 30, 2021 through September 30, 2022 | |
Starting value | |
Ending value |
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ NAV | |
|
$14.93 |
| |
|
$11.23 |
|
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ market price | |
|
$13.67 |
| |
|
$10.09 |
|
4
Table of Contents
Performance of a $10,000 investment
For the period May 29, 2013 (Fund’s inception) through September 30, 2022
| |
Starting value | |
Ending value |
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ NAV | |
|
$10,000 |
| |
|
$14,516 |
|
ICE BofA US High Yield Index | |
|
$10,000 |
| |
|
$13,554 |
|
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund @ market price | |
|
$10,000 |
| |
|
$12,456 |
|
The “Performance of a $10,000 investment”
graph assumes $10,000 invested in the Fund on May 29, 2013, and includes the reinvestment of all distributions at market value.
Performance of the Fund at market value is based on market performance during the period. Performance of the Fund at NAV is based
on the fluctuations in NAV during the period. For market price, performance shown in both graphs does not include fees, the initial
sales charge, or any brokerage commissions on purchases. For NAV, performance shown in both graphs includes fees, but does not
include the initial sales charge or any brokerage commissions for purchases. Investments in the Fund are not available at NAV.
The graph also assumes $10,000 in the ICE BofA US High
Yield Index. The ICE BofA US High Yield Index tracks the performance of US dollar-denominated below-investment-grade corporate
debt publicly issued in the US domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a below-investment-grade rating (based on an average
of Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch), at least 18 months to final maturity at the time of issuance, at least one year remaining
term to final maturity as of the rebalancing date, a fixed coupon schedule, and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million.
Index performance returns do not reflect any management
fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index.
Market price is the price an investor would pay for
shares of the Fund on the secondary market.
NAV is the total value of one fund share, generally
equal to a fund’s net assets divided by the number of shares outstanding.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
5
Table of Contents
Fund basics
As of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
Fund objective
The Fund seeks to provide total return through a combination of a high
level of current income and capital appreciation.
Total Fund net assets
$186 million
Number of holdings
228
Fund start date
May 29, 2013
NYSE symbol
IVH
CUSIP number
246107106
6
Table of Contents
Security type / sector allocations
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
As of September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Sector designations may be different from the sector designations presented
in other Fund materials.
Security type / sector | |
Percentage of net assets |
Convertible Bond | |
| 0.20 | % |
Corporate Bonds | |
| 102.26 | % |
Automotive | |
| 0.75 | % |
Banking | |
| 2.50 | % |
Basic Industry | |
| 4.60 | % |
Capital Goods | |
| 4.64 | % |
Consumer Goods | |
| 1.52 | % |
Energy | |
| 14.79 | % |
Financial Services | |
| 4.55 | % |
Healthcare | |
| 10.39 | % |
Insurance | |
| 2.51 | % |
Leisure | |
| 7.27 | % |
Media | |
| 15.31 | % |
Real Estate | |
| 0.06 | % |
Retail | |
| 4.82 | % |
Services | |
| 5.15 | % |
Technology & Electronics | |
| 5.88 | % |
Telecommunications | |
| 11.02 | % |
Transportation | |
| 3.17 | % |
Utilities | |
| 3.33 | % |
Municipal Bonds | |
| 0.85 | % |
Loan Agreements | |
| 19.07 | % |
Common Stocks | |
| 2.22 | % |
Preferred Stock | |
| 0.17 | % |
Exchange-Traded Fund | |
| 2.80 | % |
Warrant | |
| 0.02 | % |
Short-Term Investments | |
| 17.18 | % |
Securities Lending Collateral | |
| 4.07 | % |
Total Value of Securities | |
| 148.84 | % |
Borrowings Under Line of Credit | |
| (46.77 | %) |
Obligation to Return Securities Lending Collateral | |
| (4.07 | %) |
Receivables and Other Assets Net of Liabilities | |
| 2.00 | % |
Total Net Assets | |
| 100.00 | % |
7
Table of Contents
Schedule of investments
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
September 30, 2022
| |
Principal
amount° | | |
Value (US $) |
Convertible Bond 0.20% | |
| | |
|
Spirit Airlines 1.00% exercise price $49.07, maturity date 5/15/26 | |
| 426,000 | | |
$ | 364,869 |
Total Convertible Bond
(cost $378,167) | |
| | | |
| 364,869 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Corporate Bonds 102.26% | |
| | | |
| |
Automotive 0.75% | |
| | | |
| |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber 5.25% 7/15/31 | |
| 1,735,000 | | |
| 1,390,125 |
| |
| | | |
| 1,390,125 |
Banking 2.50% | |
| | | |
| |
Barclays 6.125% 12/15/25 µ, y | |
| 1,240,000 | | |
| 1,046,374 |
Deutsche Bank 6.00% 10/30/25 µ, y | |
| 3,200,000 | | |
| 2,416,000 |
SVB Financial Group 4.10% 2/15/31 µ, y | |
| 1,725,000 | | |
| 1,184,933 |
| |
| | | |
| 4,647,307 |
Basic Industry 4.60% | |
| | | |
| |
Cerdia Finanz 144A 10.50% 2/15/27 # | |
| 1,155,000 | | |
| 954,570 |
Chemours 144A 5.75% 11/15/28 # | |
| 1,665,000 | | |
| 1,365,650 |
Domtar 144A 6.75% 10/1/28 # | |
| 600,000 | | |
| 462,172 |
Eldorado Gold 144A 6.25% 9/1/29 # | |
| 1,170,000 | | |
| 893,997 |
First Quantum Minerals 144A 6.875% 10/15/27 # | |
| 465,000 | | |
| 419,537 |
FMG Resources August 2006 | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.875% 4/15/30 # | |
| 1,215,000 | | |
| 1,058,611 |
144A 6.125% 4/15/32 # | |
| 550,000 | | |
| 473,418 |
Novelis 144A 4.75% 1/30/30 # | |
| 2,285,000 | | |
| 1,879,481 |
Vibrantz Technologies 144A 9.00% 2/15/30 # | |
| 1,603,000 | | |
| 1,046,562 |
| |
| | | |
| 8,553,998 |
Capital Goods 4.64% | |
| | | |
| |
ARD Finance 144A PIK 6.50% 6/30/27 #, > | |
| 610,732 | | |
| 419,408 |
Bombardier 144A 6.00% 2/15/28 # | |
| 557,000 | | |
| 466,858 |
Clydesdale Acquisition Holdings 144A 6.625% 4/15/29 # | |
| 275,000 | | |
| 250,803 |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding 144A 5.50% 4/15/24 # | |
| 1,610,000 | | |
| 1,531,979 |
Sealed Air 144A 5.00% 4/15/29 # | |
| 795,000 | | |
| 710,599 |
TransDigm | |
| | | |
| |
4.625% 1/15/29 | |
| 95,000 | | |
| 76,714 |
5.50% 11/15/27 | |
| 2,591,000 | | |
| 2,259,261 |
Wesco Aircraft Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A 8.50% 11/15/24 # | |
| 2,414,000 | | |
| 1,267,350 |
144A 9.00% 11/15/26 #, * | |
| 2,572,000 | | |
| 1,551,688 |
144A 13.125% 11/15/27 # | |
| 343,000 | | |
| 103,757 |
| |
| | | |
| 8,638,417 |
Consumer Goods 1.52% | |
| | | |
| |
Kronos Acquisition Holdings 144A 5.00% 12/31/26 # | |
| 875,000 | | |
| 768,928 |
Performance Food Group 144A 4.25% 8/1/29 # | |
| 525,000 | | |
| 438,149 |
Pilgrim’s Pride 144A 4.25% 4/15/31 # | |
| 1,372,000 | | |
| 1,097,991 |
Scotts Miracle-Gro 4.00% 4/1/31 | |
| 60,000 | | |
| 42,372 |
Simmons Foods 144A 4.625% 3/1/29 # | |
| 594,000 | | |
| 486,938 |
| |
| | | |
| 2,834,378 |
Energy 14.79% | |
| | | |
| |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.875% 6/30/29 # | |
| 296,000 | | |
| 263,973 |
144A 7.00% 11/1/26 # | |
| 711,000 | | |
| 686,243 |
144A 8.25% 12/31/28 # | |
| 59,000 | | |
| 56,805 |
Bellatrix Exploration | |
| | | |
| |
8.50% 9/11/23 = | |
| 418,000 | | |
| 0 |
12.50% 12/15/23 = | |
| 456,000 | | |
| 0 |
Callon Petroleum | |
| | | |
| |
144A 7.50% 6/15/30 #, * | |
| 725,000 | | |
| 636,151 |
144A 8.00% 8/1/28 # | |
| 1,785,000 | | |
| 1,650,188 |
CNX Resources 144A 6.00% 1/15/29 # | |
| 1,755,000 | | |
| 1,605,430 |
Crestwood Midstream Partners | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.625% 5/1/27 # | |
| 597,000 | | |
| 541,565 |
144A 6.00% 2/1/29 # | |
| 319,000 | | |
| 285,939 |
EQM Midstream Partners 144A 4.75% 1/15/31 # | |
| 3,038,000 | | |
| 2,418,552 |
Genesis Energ | |
| | | |
| |
7.75% 2/1/28 | |
| 1,210,000 | | |
| 1,054,140 |
8.00% 1/15/27 | |
| 1,912,000 | | |
| 1,680,113 |
Hilcorp Energy I | |
| | | |
| |
144A 6.00% 4/15/30 # | |
| 1,910,000 | | |
| 1,668,885 |
144A 6.00% 2/1/31 # | |
| 275,000 | | |
| 239,287 |
144A 6.25% 4/15/32 # | |
| 1,011,000 | | |
| 897,030 |
Laredo Petroleum 10.125% 1/15/28 | |
| 1,161,000 | | |
| 1,117,364 |
Mesquite Energy 144A 7.25% 2/15/23 #, ‡ | |
| 257,000 | | |
| 2,570 |
Murphy Oil 6.375% 7/15/28 | |
| 3,028,000 | | |
| 2,865,835 |
8
Table of Contents
| |
Principal
amount° | | |
Value (US $) |
Corporate Bonds (continued) | |
| | |
|
Energy (continued) | |
| | | |
| |
NuStar Logistics | |
| | | |
| |
6.00% 6/1/26 | |
| 1,509,000 | | |
$ | 1,384,507 |
6.375% 10/1/30 | |
| 1,530,000 | | |
| 1,312,543 |
Occidental Petroleum | |
| | | |
| |
4.20% 3/15/48 | |
| 95,000 | | |
| 76,200 |
4.40% 4/15/46 | |
| 369,000 | | |
| 304,060 |
4.40% 8/15/49 | |
| 735,000 | | |
| 603,113 |
4.50% 7/15/44 | |
| 380,000 | | |
| 318,389 |
6.45% 9/15/36 | |
| 815,000 | | |
| 817,005 |
6.60% 3/15/46 | |
| 670,000 | | |
| 691,644 |
6.625% 9/1/30 | |
| 605,000 | | |
| 615,524 |
Southwestern Energy | |
| | | |
| |
5.375% 2/1/29 | |
| 280,000 | | |
| 254,495 |
5.375% 3/15/30 | |
| 2,785,000 | | |
| 2,515,426 |
Weatherford International 144A 8.625% 4/30/30 # | |
| 1,085,000 | | |
| 947,366 |
| |
| | | |
| 27,510,342 |
Financial Services 4.55% | |
| | | |
| |
Air Lease 4.65% 6/15/26 µ, Ψ | |
| 742,000 | | |
| 621,336 |
Castlelake Aviation Finance DAC 144A 5.00% 4/15/27 # | |
| 1,423,000 | | |
| 1,212,059 |
Compass Group Diversified Holdings 144A 5.25% 4/15/29 # | |
| 1,620,000 | | |
| 1,273,506 |
Highlands Holdings Bond Issuer 144A PIK 7.625% 10/15/25 #, > | |
| 1,518,011 | | |
| 1,434,505 |
Medline Borrower 144A 3.875% 4/1/29 # | |
| 1,805,000 | | |
| 1,450,038 |
New Cotai 5.00% 2/2/27 <<, = | |
| 1,042,759 | | |
| 1,040,154 |
StoneX Group 144A 8.625% 6/15/25 # | |
| 1,423,000 | | |
| 1,440,211 |
| |
| | | |
| 8,471,809 |
Healthcare 10.39% | |
| | | |
| |
Avantor Funding 144A 3.875% 11/1/29 # | |
| 4,110,000 | | |
| 3,346,218 |
Bausch Health 144A 6.125% 2/1/27 # | |
| 1,145,000 | | |
| 795,546 |
Cheplapharm Arzneimittel 144A 5.50% 1/15/28 # | |
| 1,655,000 | | |
| 1,369,082 |
CHS | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.75% 2/15/31 # | |
| 480,000 | | |
| 323,446 |
144A 5.25% 5/15/30 # | |
| 580,000 | | |
| 405,145 |
144A 8.00% 3/15/26 # | |
| 565,000 | | |
| 490,113 |
Consensus Cloud Solutions | |
| | | |
| |
144A 6.00% 10/15/26 # | |
| 661,000 | | |
| 586,086 |
144A 6.50% 10/15/28 # | |
| 897,000 | | |
| 763,124 |
Encompass Health | |
| | | |
| |
4.625% 4/1/31 | |
| 550,000 | | |
| 435,739 |
4.75% 2/1/30 | |
| 355,000 | | |
| 292,613 |
Hadrian Merger Sub 144A 8.50% 5/1/26 # | |
| 369,000 | | |
| 338,960 |
ModivCare Escrow Issuer 144A 5.00% 10/1/29 # | |
| 1,720,000 | | |
| 1,400,897 |
Organon & Co. 144A 5.125% 4/30/31 # | |
| 2,445,000 | | |
| 2,006,929 |
P&L Development 144A 7.75% 11/15/25 # | |
| 1,818,000 | | |
| 1,366,772 |
Par Pharmaceutical 144A 7.50% 4/1/27 #, ‡ | |
| 1,188,000 | | |
| 941,346 |
Tenet Healthcare | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.375% 1/15/30 # | |
| 1,385,000 | | |
| 1,159,051 |
144A 6.125% 10/1/28 # | |
| 2,600,000 | | |
| 2,282,030 |
US Renal Care 144A 10.625% 7/15/27 # | |
| 2,224,000 | | |
| 1,036,511 |
| |
| | | |
| 19,339,608 |
Insurance 2.51% | |
| | | |
| |
HUB International 144A 5.625% 12/1/29 # | |
| 2,420,000 | | |
| 2,025,480 |
NFP | |
| | | |
| |
144A 6.875% 8/15/28 # | |
| 2,541,000 | | |
| 1,986,185 |
144A 7.50% 10/1/30 # | |
| 690,000 | | |
| 655,633 |
| |
| | | |
| 4,667,298 |
Leisure 7.27% | |
| | | |
| |
Boyd Gaming | |
| | | |
| |
4.75% 12/1/27 * | |
| 1,605,000 | | |
| 1,423,635 |
144A 4.75% 6/15/31 # | |
| 1,345,000 | | |
| 1,091,172 |
Carnival | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.75% 3/1/27 # | |
| 1,750,000 | | |
| 1,229,856 |
144A 6.00% 5/1/29 # | |
| 1,340,000 | | |
| 882,102 |
144A 7.625% 3/1/26 # | |
| 640,000 | | |
| 487,370 |
144A 9.875% 8/1/27 # | |
| 573,000 | | |
| 562,594 |
144A 10.50% 2/1/26 # | |
| 1,458,000 | | |
| 1,444,812 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.50% 8/31/26 # | |
| 180,000 | | |
| 137,930 |
144A 5.50% 4/1/28 # | |
| 5,068,000 | | |
| 3,561,892 |
Scientific Games Holdings 144A 6.625% 3/1/30 # | |
| 1,645,000 | | |
| 1,321,289 |
Scientific Games International 144A 7.25% 11/15/29 # | |
| 1,490,000 | | |
| 1,388,680 |
| |
| | | |
| 13,531,332 |
Media 15.31% | |
| | | |
| |
Advantage Sales & Marketing 144A 6.50% 11/15/28 # | |
| 2,185,000 | | |
| 1,734,879 |
AMC Networks 4.25% 2/15/29 * | |
| 1,685,000 | | |
| 1,249,706 |
Arches Buyer | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.25% 6/1/28 # | |
| 1,768,000 | | |
| 1,382,903 |
144A 6.125% 12/1/28 # | |
| 1,715,000 | | |
| 1,330,771 |
Cars.com 144A 6.375% 11/1/28 # | |
| 881,000 | | |
| 752,718 |
9
Table of Contents
Schedule
of investments
Delaware
Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
| |
Principal
amount° | | |
Value (US $) |
Corporate Bonds (continued) | |
| | |
|
Media (continued) | |
| | | |
| |
CCO Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.50% 8/15/30 # | |
| 1,081,000 | | |
$ | 857,563 |
144A 4.75% 2/1/32 # | |
| 1,195,000 | | |
| 932,608 |
144A 6.375% 9/1/29 # | |
| 2,535,000 | | |
| 2,332,048 |
Clear Channel International 144A 6.625% 8/1/25 # | |
| 216,000 | | |
| 200,964 |
CMG Media 144A 8.875% 12/15/27 # | |
| 1,575,000 | | |
| 1,205,347 |
CSC Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.50% 11/15/31 # | |
| 619,000 | | |
| 465,983 |
144A 5.00% 11/15/31 # | |
| 862,000 | | |
| 570,994 |
144A 5.75% 1/15/30 # | |
| 4,480,000 | | |
| 3,192,448 |
Cumulus Media New Holdings 144A 6.75% 7/1/26 #, * | |
| 1,500,000 | | |
| 1,266,996 |
Directv Financing 144A 5.875% 8/15/27 # | |
| 2,445,000 | | |
| 2,113,397 |
DISH DBS 144A 5.75% 12/1/28 # | |
| 1,670,000 | | |
| 1,265,217 |
Nielsen Finance | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.625% 10/1/28 # | |
| 870,000 | | |
| 865,378 |
144A 5.875% 10/1/30 # | |
| 725,000 | | |
| 723,623 |
Sirius XM Radio 144A 4.125% 7/1/30 # | |
| 3,325,000 | | |
| 2,709,875 |
Stagwell Global 144A 5.625% 8/15/29 # | |
| 1,472,000 | | |
| 1,213,480 |
VTR Comunicaciones 144A 4.375% 4/15/29 # | |
| 1,182,000 | | |
| 735,411 |
VTR Finance 144A 6.375% 7/15/28 # | |
| 1,087,000 | | |
| 611,438 |
VZ Secured Financing 144A 5.00% 1/15/32 # | |
| 1,015,000 | | |
| 760,175 |
| |
| | | |
| 28,473,922 |
Real Estate 0.06% | |
| | | |
| |
Uniti Group 144A 4.75% 4/15/28 # | |
| 144,000 | | |
| 114,094 |
| |
| | | |
| 114,094 |
Retail 4.82% | |
| | | |
| |
Asbury Automotive Group | |
| | | |
| |
4.50% 3/1/28 | |
| 936,040 | | |
| 793,102 |
144A 4.625% 11/15/29 # | |
| 31,000 | | |
| 24,859 |
4.75% 3/1/30 | |
| 964,040 | | |
| 754,445 |
144A 5.00% 2/15/32 # | |
| 31,000 | | |
| 23,925 |
Bath & Body Works | |
| | | |
| |
6.875% 11/1/35 | |
| 1,000,000 | | |
| 837,795 |
6.95% 3/1/33 | |
| 1,000,000 | | |
| 805,857 |
Lithia Motors | |
| | | |
| |
144A 3.875% 6/1/29 # | |
| 602,000 | | |
| 484,107 |
144A 4.375% 1/15/31 # | |
| 466,000 | | |
| 382,202 |
LSF9 Atlantis Holdings 144A 7.75% 2/15/26 # | |
| 2,337,000 | | |
| 2,088,729 |
Michaels 144A 5.25% 5/1/28 #, * | |
| 1,009,000 | | |
| 710,452 |
PetSmart 144A 7.75% 2/15/29 # | |
| 2,300,000 | | |
| 2,059,742 |
| |
| | | |
| 8,965,215 |
Services 5.15% | |
| | | |
| |
Adtalem Global Education 144A 5.50% 3/1/28 # | |
| 1,851,000 | | |
| 1,669,870 |
Ahern Rentals 144A 7.375% 5/15/23 # | |
| 1,402,000 | | |
| 951,465 |
NESCO Holdings II 144A 5.50% 4/15/29 # | |
| 1,675,000 | | |
| 1,398,240 |
Sabre GLBL | |
| | | |
| |
144A 7.375% 9/1/25 # | |
| 114,000 | | |
| 102,256 |
144A 9.25% 4/15/25 # | |
| 288,000 | | |
| 276,124 |
Staples | |
| | | |
| |
144A 7.50% 4/15/26 # | |
| 1,930,000 | | |
| 1,623,236 |
144A 10.75% 4/15/27 #, * | |
| 2,982,000 | | |
| 2,214,269 |
White Cap Buyer 144A 6.875% 10/15/28 # | |
| 1,622,000 | | |
| 1,326,739 |
White Cap Parent 144A 8.25% 3/15/26 #, « | |
| 13,000 | | |
| 11,039 |
| |
| | | |
| 9,573,238 |
Technology & Electronics 5.88% | |
| | | |
| |
AthenaHealth Group 144A 6.50% 2/15/30 # | |
| 1,650,000 | | |
| 1,307,543 |
Entegris Escrow | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.75% 4/15/29 # | |
| 72,000 | | |
| 63,581 |
144A 5.95% 6/15/30 # | |
| 2,155,000 | | |
| 1,971,696 |
Iron Mountain Information Management Services 144A 5.00% 7/15/32 # | |
| 3,255,000 | | |
| 2,524,213 |
NCR | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.00% 10/1/28 # | |
| 856,000 | | |
| 675,151 |
144A 5.125% 4/15/29 # | |
| 3,172,000 | | |
| 2,385,471 |
144A 5.25% 10/1/30 # | |
| 285,000 | | |
| 215,616 |
144A 5.75% 9/1/27 # | |
| 307,000 | | |
| 278,906 |
144A 6.125% 9/1/29 # | |
| 393,000 | | |
| 339,041 |
Sensata Technologies 144A 4.00% 4/15/29 # | |
| 1,410,000 | | |
| 1,169,869 |
| |
| | | |
| 10,931,087 |
Telecommunications 11.02% | |
| | | |
| |
Altice Financing 144A 5.75% 8/15/29 # | |
| 2,086,000 | | |
| 1,601,234 |
Altice France | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.125% 7/15/29 # | |
| 866,000 | | |
| 649,041 |
144A 5.50% 10/15/29 # | |
| 469,000 | | |
| 354,050 |
144A 8.125% 2/1/27 # | |
| 2,659,000 | | |
| 2,382,451 |
Altice France Holding 144A 10.50% 5/15/27 # | |
| 4,582,000 | | |
| 3,599,370 |
Connect Finco 144A 6.75% 10/1/26 # | |
| 2,645,000 | | |
| 2,316,735 |
10
Table of Contents
| |
Principal
amount° | | |
Value (US $) |
Corporate Bonds (continued) | |
| | |
|
Telecommunications (continued) | |
| | | |
| |
Consolidated Communications | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.00% 10/1/28 # | |
| 417,000 | | |
$ | 290,801 |
144A 6.50% 10/1/28 # | |
| 2,244,000 | | |
| 1,683,000 |
Digicel Group Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A PIK 7.00% 10/21/22 #, >> | |
| 228,982 | | |
| 40,072 |
144A PIK 8.00% 4/1/25 #, >>> | |
| 257,124 | | |
| 101,823 |
Digicel International Finance | |
| | | |
| |
144A 8.00% 12/31/26 # | |
| 153,712 | | |
| 94,255 |
144A 8.75% 5/25/24 # | |
| 1,482,000 | | |
| 1,358,890 |
Frontier Communications Holdings | |
| | | |
| |
144A 5.875% 10/15/27 # | |
| 2,491,000 | | |
| 2,238,188 |
5.875% 11/1/29 | |
| 455,605 | | |
| 362,671 |
144A 8.75% 5/15/30 # | |
| 395,000 | | |
| 395,897 |
LCPR Senior Secured Financing DAC 144A 5.125% 7/15/29 # | |
| 337,000 | | |
| 254,250 |
Northwest Fiber 144A 4.75% 4/30/27 # | |
| 1,005,000 | | |
| 876,626 |
Telesat Canada 144A 5.625% 12/6/26 # | |
| 2,310,000 | | |
| 1,108,454 |
Windstream Escrow 144A 7.75% 8/15/28 # | |
| 954,000 | | |
| 791,867 |
| |
| | | |
| 20,499,675 |
Transportation 3.17% | |
| | | |
| |
American Airlines 144A 5.75% 4/20/29 # | |
| 290,000 | | |
| 253,540 |
Grupo Aeromexico 144A 8.50% 3/17/27 # | |
| 1,030,000 | | |
| 906,245 |
Seaspan 144A 5.50% 8/1/29 # | |
| 2,530,000 | | |
| 1,954,327 |
VistaJet Malta Finance 144A 6.375% 2/1/30 # | |
| 3,390,000 | | |
| 2,779,715 |
| |
| | | |
| 5,893,827 |
Utilities 3.33% | |
| | | |
| |
Calpine | |
| | | |
| |
144A 4.625% 2/1/29 # | |
| 1,205,000 | | |
| 984,250 |
144A 5.00% 2/1/31 # | |
| 135,000 | | |
| 107,461 |
144A 5.125% 3/15/28 #, * | |
| 2,000,000 | | |
| 1,721,883 |
Vistra | |
| | | |
| |
144A 7.00% 12/15/26 #, µ, y | |
| 2,465,000 | | |
| 2,157,504 |
144A 8.00% 10/15/26 #, µ, y | |
| 1,340,000 | | |
| 1,234,330 |
| |
| | | |
| 6,205,428 |
Total Corporate Bonds (cost $229,002,005) | |
| | | |
| 190,241,100 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Municipal Bonds 0.85% | |
| | | |
| |
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico(Restructured) Series A-1 2.986% 7/1/24^ | |
| 17,435 | | |
| 16,033 |
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico(Restructured) | |
| | | |
| |
Series A-1 4.00% 7/1/33 | |
| 52,400 | | |
| 46,197 |
Series A-1 4.00% 7/1/35 | |
| 38,057 | | |
| 32,626 |
Series A-1 4.00% 7/1/37 | |
| 40,425 | | |
| 33,277 |
Series A-1 4.362% 7/1/33^ | |
| 67,434 | | |
| 37,286 |
Series A-1 5.625% 7/1/29 | |
| 44,068 | | |
| 45,148 |
GDB Debt Recovery Authority of Puerto Rico 7.50% 8/20/40 | |
| 1,563,785 | | |
| 1,376,131 |
Total Municipal Bonds (cost $1,724,618) | |
| | | |
| 1,586,698 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Loan Agreements 19.07% | |
| | | |
| |
Advantage Sales & Marketing Tranche B-1 7.054% (LIBOR01M + 4.50%) 10/28/27 ● | |
| 2,943,294 | | |
| 2,639,766 |
Amynta Agency Borrower Tranche B 1st Lien 7.615% (LIBOR01M + 4.50%) 2/28/25 ● | |
| 3,236,379 | | |
| 3,146,029 |
Applied Systems 2nd Lien 8.462% (LIBOR03M + 5.50%) 9/19/25 ● | |
| 2,980,628 | | |
| 2,943,371 |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings 2nd Lien 11.455% (LIBOR03M + 9.00%) 11/1/25 ● | |
| 805,000 | | |
| 845,250 |
Bausch Health Tranche B 8.098% (SOFR01M + 5.35%) 2/1/27 ● | |
| 1,481,250 | | |
| 1,144,112 |
Clydesdale Acquisition Holdings 7.309% (SOFR01M + 4.18%) 4/13/29 ● | |
| 438,900 | | |
| 415,231 |
Covis Finco Tranche B 10.203% (SOFR03M + 6.65%) 2/18/27 ● | |
| 1,223,625 | | |
| 975,841 |
CP Atlas Buyer Tranche B 6.615% (LIBOR01M + 3.50%) 11/23/27 ● | |
| 1,712,954 | | |
| 1,500,738 |
Edelman Financial Engines Center 2nd Lien 9.865% (LIBOR01M + 6.75%) 7/20/26 ● | |
| 1,703,000 | | |
| 1,515,670 |
Epic Crude Services LP 7.08% (LIBOR03M + 5.00%) 3/2/26 ● | |
| 656 | | |
| 544 |
Epicor Software 2nd Lien 10.865% (LIBOR01M + 7.75%) 7/31/28 ● | |
| 3,000,000 | | |
| 2,938,500 |
Foresight Energy Operating Tranche A 11.674% (LIBOR03M + 8.00%) 6/30/27 ● | |
| 506,095 | | |
| 501,034 |
Form Technologies Tranche B 7.48% (LIBOR03M + 4.50%) 7/22/25 ● | |
| 3,718,111 | | |
| 3,299,823 |
Heartland Dental 8.553% (SOFR03M + 5.00%) 4/30/25 ● | |
| 1,226,925 | | |
| 1,153,309 |
11
Table of Contents
Schedule of investments
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
| |
Principal
amount° | | |
Value (US $) |
Loan Agreements (continued) | |
| | |
|
Hexion Holdings 1st Lien 7.263% (SOFR03M + 4.50%) 3/15/29 ● | |
| 329,175 | | |
$ | 282,432 |
Hexion Holdings 2nd Lien 10.556% (SOFR01M + 7.54%) 3/15/30 ● | |
| 1,325,000 | | |
| 1,093,125 |
Lealand Finance 6.115% (LIBOR01M + 3.00%) 6/28/24 ● | |
| 39,458 | | |
| 24,661 |
MLN US HoldCo Tranche B 1st Lien 8.252% (LIBOR03M + 4.50%) 11/30/25 ● | |
| 2,051,828 | | |
| 1,270,851 |
MLN US HoldCo Tranche B 2nd Lien 12.502% (LIBOR03M + 8.75%) 11/30/26 ● | |
| 1,214,000 | | |
| 455,250 |
Pre Paid Legal Services 2nd Lien 10.07% (LIBOR03M + 7.00%) 12/14/29 ● | |
| 820,000 | | |
| 774,900 |
SPX Flow 7.634% (SOFR01M + 4.50%) 4/5/29 ● | |
| 1,719,000 | | |
| 1,592,224 |
Swf Holdings I 7.602% (LIBOR03M + 4.00%) 10/6/28 ● | |
| 1,550,938 | | |
| 1,217,486 |
U.S. Renal Care Tranche B 1st Lien 7.563% (LIBOR01M + 5.00%) 6/26/26 ● | |
| 3,139,232 | | |
| 2,266,526 |
UKG 2nd Lien 7.535% (LIBOR03M + 5.25%) 5/3/27 ● | |
| 2,040,000 | | |
| 1,938,000 |
United PF Holdings 1st Lien 12.174% (LIBOR03M + 8.50%) 12/30/26 ● | |
| 391,020 | | |
| 375,379 |
West Corporation Tranche B 7.115% (LIBOR01M + 4.00%) 10/10/24 ● | |
| 1,354,311 | | |
| 1,168,335 |
Total Loan Agreements (cost $40,104,878) | |
| | | |
| 35,478,387 |
| |
| | | |
| |
| |
Number of
shares | | |
|
Common Stocks 2.22% | |
| | | |
| |
Basic Industry 0.61% | |
| | | |
| |
BIS Industries Holdings =, † | |
| 804,308 | | |
| 4,504 |
Foresight Energy =, † | |
| 74,057 | | |
| 1,101,975 |
Westmoreland Coal =, † | |
| 13,063 | | |
| 32,984 |
| |
| | | |
| 1,139,463 |
Energy 0.42% | |
| | | |
| |
KCA Deutag International = | |
| 11,090 | | |
| 765,210 |
Vantage Drilling International † | |
| 235 | | |
| 4,318 |
| |
| | | |
| 769,528 |
Leisure 0.35% | |
| | | |
| |
New Cotai <<, =, † | |
| 971,487 | | |
| 0 |
Studio City International Holdings ADR † | |
| 108,300 | | |
| 237,177 |
Studio City International Holdings ADR | |
| 183,525 | | |
| 401,920 |
| |
| | | |
| 639,097 |
Media 0.00% | |
| | | |
| |
Cumulus Media Class A † | |
| 5 | | |
| 35 |
| |
| | | |
| 35 |
Retail 0.76% | |
| | | |
| |
True Religion Apparel <<, =, † | |
| 61 | | |
| 1,419,877 |
| |
| | | |
| 1,419,877 |
Utilities 0.08% | |
| | | |
| |
Larchmont Resources =, † | |
| 1,661 | | |
| 152,020 |
| |
| | | |
| 152,020 |
Total Common Stocks (cost $16,125,500) | |
| | | |
| 4,120,020 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Preferred Stock 0.17% | |
| | | |
| |
True Religion Apparel 0.000% <<, =, ω | |
| 64 | | |
| 318,675 |
Total Preferred Stock (cost $1,048,855) | |
| | | |
| 318,675 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Exchange-Traded Fund 2.80% | |
| | | |
| |
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF* | |
| 73,000 | | |
| 5,211,470 |
Total Exchange-Traded Fund (cost $6,315,544) | |
| | | |
| 5,211,470 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Warrant 0.02% | |
| | | |
| |
California Resources † | |
| 3,140 | | |
| 32,656 |
Total Warrant (cost $273,250) | |
| | | |
| 32,656 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Short-Term Investments 17.18% | |
| | | |
| |
Money Market Mutual Funds 17.18% | |
| | | |
| |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund – Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 2.76%) | |
| 7,988,756 | | |
| 7,988,756 |
Fidelity Investments Money Market Government Portfolio – Class I (seven-day effective yield 2.74%) | |
| 7,988,755 | | |
| 7,988,755 |
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund – Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 2.98%) | |
| 7,988,755 | | |
| 7,988,755 |
12
Table of Contents
| |
Number of
shares | | |
Value
(US $) |
Short-Term Investments (continued) | |
| | |
|
Money Market Mutual Funds (continued) | |
| | |
|
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds Government Portfolio – Institutional Class (seven-day effective yield 2.80%) | |
| 7,988,756 | | |
$ | 7,988,756 |
Total Short-Term Investments
(cost $31,955,022) | |
| | | |
| 31,955,022 |
Total Value of Securities Before Securities Lending Collateral144.77%
(cost $326,927,839) | |
| | | |
| 269,308,897 |
| |
| | | |
| |
Securities Lending Collateral** 4.07% | |
| | | |
| |
Money Market Mutual Fund 4.07% | |
| | | |
| |
Dreyfus Institutional Preference Government Money Market Fund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 2.98%) | |
| 7,577,311 | | |
| 7,577,311 |
Total Securities Lending Collateral
(cost $7,577,311) | |
| | | |
| 7,577,311 |
Total Value of Securities148.84%
(cost $334,505,150) | |
| | | |
$ | 276,886,208■ |
|
|
° |
Principal amount shown is stated in USD unless noted that the security is denominated in another currency. |
ω |
Perpetual security with no stated maturity date. |
† |
Non-income producing security. |
● |
Variable rate investment. Rates reset periodically. Rate shown reflects the rate in effect at September 30, 2022. For
securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in their descriptions.
The reference rate descriptions (i.e. LIBOR03M, LIBOR06M, etc.) used in this report are identical for different securities,
but the underlying reference rates may differ due to the timing of the reset period. Certain variable rate securities are
not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market
conditions, or for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These
securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions. |
^ |
Zero-coupon security. The rate shown is the effective yield at the time of purchase. |
>>> |
PIK. 62.50% of the income received was in cash and 37.50% was in principal. |
>> |
PIK. 100% of the income received was in the form of principal. |
« |
PIK. The first payment of cash and/or principal will be made after September 30, 2022. |
<< |
Affiliated company. See Note 2 in “Notes to financial statements.” |
‡ |
Non-income producing security. Security is currently in default. |
= |
The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security
in the disclosure table located in Note 3 in “Notes to financial statements.” |
* |
Fully or partially on loan. |
> |
PIK. 100% of the income received was in the form of cash. |
# |
Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. At September 30, 2022, the
aggregate value of Rule 144A securities was $157,597,910, which represents 84.72% of the Fund’s net assets. See Note 10 in
“Notes to financial statements.” |
y |
Perpetual security. Maturity date represents next call date. |
µ |
Fixed to variable rate investment. The rate shown reflects the fixed rate in effect at September 30, 2022. Rate will reset
at a future date. |
** |
See Note 9 in “Notes to financial statements” for additional information on securities lending collateral. |
■ |
Includes $8,936,095 of securities loaned for which the counterparty pledged additional non-cash collateral valued at $1,670,899. |
Summary of abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
DAC – Designated Activity Company
ETF – Exchange-Traded Fund
ICE – Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate
LIBOR01M – ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month
LIBOR03M – ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month
LIBOR06M – ICE LIBOR USD 6 Month
PIK – Payment-in-kind
SOFR – Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SOFR01M – Secured Overnight Financing Rate 1 Month
SOFR03M – Secured Overnight Financing Rate 3 Month
USD – US Dollar
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.
13
Table of Contents
Statement of assets and liabilities
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
September 30, 2022
Assets: | |
| |
Investments, at value*,† | |
$ | 266,530,191 | |
Investments of affiliated issuers, at value** | |
| 2,778,706 | |
Short-term investments held as collateral for loaned securities, at value= | |
| 7,577,311 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | |
| 4,993,948 | |
Receivable for securities sold | |
| 1,323,412 | |
Securities lending income receivable | |
| 30,325 | |
Prepaid expenses | |
| 845 | |
Other assets | |
| 540 | |
Total Assets | |
| 283,235,278 | |
Liabilities: | |
| | |
Due to custodian | |
| 695,532 | |
Payable for borrowing | |
| 87,000,000 | |
Obligation to return securities lending collateral | |
| 7,577,311 | |
Payable for securities purchased | |
| 1,574,567 | |
Investment management fees payable to affiliates | |
| 234,036 | |
Interest expense payable on borrowing | |
| 82,674 | |
Other accrued expenses | |
| 40,877 | |
Administration expenses payable to affiliates | |
| 1,050 | |
Total Liabilities | |
| 97,206,047 | |
Total Net Assets | |
$ | 186,029,231 | |
| |
| | |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
| | |
Paid-in capital | |
$ | 315,693,315 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | |
| (129,664,084 | ) |
Total Net Assets | |
$ | 186,029,231 | |
| |
| | |
Common Shares: | |
| | |
Net assets | |
$ | 186,029,231 | |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | |
| 16,570,235 | |
Net asset value per share | |
$ | 11.23 | |
|
| |
| | |
*Investments,
at cost | |
$ | 313,312,041 | |
**Investments
of affiliated issuers, at cost | |
| 13,615,798 | |
†Including
securities on loan | |
| 8,936,095 | |
=Short-term
investments held as collateral for loaned securities, at cost | |
| 7,577,311 | |
See accompanying notes, which are
an integral part of the financial statements.
14
Table of Contents
Statement of operations
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Year ended September 30, 2022
Investment Income: | |
| |
Interest | |
$ | 19,120,837 | |
Dividends | |
| 732,614 | |
Securities lending income | |
| 276,239 | |
Interest from affiliated issuers | |
| 69,700 | |
| |
| 20,199,390 | |
| |
| | |
Expenses: | |
| | |
Management fees | |
| 3,115,241 | |
Interest expense | |
| 1,349,489 | |
Accounting and administration expenses | |
| 97,155 | |
Legal fees | |
| 79,572 | |
Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses | |
| 55,417 | |
Audit and tax fees | |
| 44,001 | |
Custodian fees | |
| 23,628 | |
Trustees’ fees and expenses | |
| 22,800 | |
Reports and statements to shareholders expenses | |
| 16,979 | |
Other | |
| 20,530 | |
Total operating expenses | |
| 4,824,812 | |
Net Investment Income (Loss) | |
| 15,374,578 | |
| |
| | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss): | |
| | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| (12,207,927 | ) |
Affiliated investments | |
| 9,563 | |
Payment by affiliates* | |
| 12,762 | |
Foreign currencies | |
| 21 | |
Foreign currency exchange contracts | |
| (28 | ) |
Futures contracts | |
| 789 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | |
| (12,184,820 | ) |
| |
| | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| (48,520,331 | ) |
Affiliated investments | |
| (1,407,719 | ) |
Futures contracts | |
| (15,508 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | |
| (49,943,558 | ) |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
| (62,128,378 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | |
$ | (46,753,800 | ) |
|
|
* |
See Note 2 in “Notes
to financial statements” for additional information. |
See accompanying notes, which are
an integral part of the financial statements.
15
Table of Contents
Statements of changes in net assets
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
| |
Year ended | |
| |
| 9/30/22 | | |
| 9/30/21 | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations: | |
| | | |
| | |
Net investment income (loss) | |
$ | 15,374,578 | | |
$ | 16,596,322 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | |
| (12,197,582 | ) | |
| (1,963,533 | ) |
Payment by affiliates* | |
| 12,762 | | |
| | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | |
| (49,943,558 | ) | |
| 23,904,510 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | |
| (46,753,800 | ) | |
| 38,537,299 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from: | |
| | | |
| | |
Distributable earnings | |
| (14,581,806 | ) | |
| (16,155,979 | ) |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders | |
| (14,581,806 | ) | |
| (16,155,979 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | |
| (61,335,606 | ) | |
| 22,381,320 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Net Assets: | |
| | | |
| | |
Beginning of year | |
| 247,364,837 | | |
| 224,983,517 | |
End of year | |
$ | 186,029,231 | | |
$ | 247,364,837 | |
|
|
* |
See Note 2 in “Notes
to financial statements” for additional information. |
See accompanying notes, which are
an integral part of the financial statements.
16
Table of Contents
Statement of cash flows
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Year ended September 30, 2022
Cash Flows Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities: | |
| |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | |
$ | (46,753,800 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: | |
| | |
Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments, net | |
| 462,248 | |
Proceeds from disposition of investment securities | |
| (171,241,045 | ) |
Purchase of investment securities | |
| (182,455,087 | ) |
Proceeds (purchase) from disposition of short-term investment securities, net | |
| 355,587,980 | |
Net realized (gain) loss on investments | |
| 12,207,927 | |
Net realized (gain) loss on affiliated investments | |
| (9,563 | ) |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of investments | |
| 48,520,331 | |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of affiliated investments | |
| 1,407,719 | |
(Increase) decrease in cash collateral due to broker | |
| 13,500 | |
Noncash adjustments for litigation settlement | |
| 29,000 | |
(Increase) decrease in receivable for securities sold | |
| 436,054 | |
(Increase) decrease in dividends and interest receivable | |
| (801,058 | ) |
(Increase) decrease in receivable from securities lending income | |
| (22,208 | ) |
(Increase) decrease in prepaid and other assets | |
| (575 | ) |
(Increase) decrease in variation margin receivable | |
| (94 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in payable for securities purchased | |
| (3,622,058 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in Trustees’ fees and expenses payable to affiliates | |
| (7,957 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in administration expenses to affiliates | |
| (7,057 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in investment management fees payable to affiliates | |
| 224,875 | |
Increase (decrease) in shareholder servicing payable | |
| (1,900 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in other accrued expenses payable | |
| (251,111 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in interest expense payable | |
| 58,491 | |
Total adjustments | |
| 60,528,412 | |
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | |
| 13,774,612 | |
|
| |
| | |
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities: | |
| | |
Cash received from borrowings | |
| 87,000,000 | |
Cash payments to reduce borrowings | |
| (87,000,000 | ) |
Cash dividends and distributions paid to shareholders | |
| (14,581,806 | ) |
Bank Overdraft | |
| 695,532 | |
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | |
| (13,886,274 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in cash | |
| (111,662 | ) |
Cash at beginning of year | |
| 111,662 | |
Cash at end of year | |
$ | | |
Cash paid for interest from borrowings | |
$ | 1,290,998 | |
See accompanying notes, which are
an integral part of the financial statements.
17
Table of Contents
Financial highlights
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Selected data for each share of
the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:
| |
Year
ended | |
| |
9/30/22 | | |
9/30/21 | | |
9/30/20 | | |
9/30/19 | | |
9/30/18 | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | |
$ | 14.93 | | |
$ | 13.58 | | |
$ | 15.05 | | |
$ | 15.96 | | |
$ | 16.34 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Income (loss) from investment operations | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net investment income | |
| 0.93 | 1 | |
| 1.00 | 2 | |
| 1.12 | 2 | |
| 1.25 | 2 | |
| 1.36 | 2 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
| (3.75 | ) | |
| 1.32 | | |
| (1.36 | ) | |
| (0.84 | ) | |
| (0.46 | ) |
Total from investment operations | |
| (2.82 | ) | |
| 2.32 | | |
| (0.24 | ) | |
| 0.41 | | |
| 0.90 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Less dividends and distributions from: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net investment income | |
| (0.88 | ) | |
| (0.97 | ) | |
| (1.23 | ) | |
| (1.32 | ) | |
| (1.28 | ) |
Total dividends and distributions | |
| (0.88 | ) | |
| (0.97 | ) | |
| (1.23 | ) | |
| (1.32 | ) | |
| (1.28 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net asset value, end of period | |
$ | 11.23 | | |
$ | 14.93 | | |
$ | 13.58 | | |
$ | 15.05 | | |
$ | 15.96 | |
Market value, end of period | |
$ | 10.09 | | |
$ | 13.67 | | |
$ | 11.90 | | |
$ | 13.71 | | |
$ | 14.26 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Total return based on:3 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net asset value | |
| (19.18% | ) | |
| 18.29% | | |
| (0.24% | ) | |
| 4.10% | | |
| 6.68% | |
Market value | |
| (20.69% | ) | |
| 23.59% | | |
| (4.04% | ) | |
| 6.07% | | |
| (2.47% | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Ratios and supplemental data: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | |
$ | 186,029 | | |
$ | 247 | 4 | |
$ | 225 | 4 | |
$ | 249 | 4 | |
$ | 264 | 4 |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets5 | |
| 2.15% | | |
| 1.82% | | |
| 2.60% | | |
| 3.16% | | |
| 2.77% | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expenses6 | |
| 1.55% | | |
| 1.50% | | |
| 1.82% | | |
| 1.73% | | |
| 1.59% | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets7 | |
| 6.85% | | |
| 6.80% | | |
| 8.18% | | |
| 8.27% | | |
| 8.50% | |
Portfolio turnover | |
| 51% | | |
| 55% | | |
| 45% | | |
| 34% | | |
| 46% | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
1 |
Calculated using average shares
outstanding. |
2 |
Based on average weekly shares outstanding. |
3 |
Total investment return is calculated assuming
a purchase of common stock on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported.
Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under
the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. |
4 |
Net assets reported in millions. |
5 |
The ratio of expenses to adjusted average net
assets (excluding debt outstanding) for the years ended September 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were 1.55%, 1.34%,
1.82%, 2.17%, and 1.90%, respectively. |
6 |
The ratio of expense to adjusted average net
assets excluding interest expense (excluding debt outstanding) for the years ended September 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and
2018 were 1.12%, 1.11%, 1.27%, 1.19%, and 1.09%, respectively. |
7 |
The ratio of net investment income to adjusted
average net assets (excluding debt outstanding) for the years ended September 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were 4.94%,
5.01%, 5.71%, 5.69%, and 5.81%, respectively. |
See accompanying notes, which are
an integral part of the financial statements.
18
Table of Contents
Notes to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
September 30,
2022
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund (formerly, Ivy High
Income Opportunities Fund) (Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act) as a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company. The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 30, 2013, pursuant to
an Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended and restated from time to time governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
The Fund commenced operations on May 29, 2013. The Fund’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol
IVH.
1. Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services Investment Companies.
The following accounting policies are in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and are consistently
followed by the Fund.
Security Valuation Equity securities and exchange-traded
funds (ETFs), except those traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq), are valued at the last quoted sales price as of the
time of the regular close of the NYSE on the valuation date. Equity securities and ETFs traded on the Nasdaq are valued in accordance
with the Nasdaq Official Closing Price, which may not be the last sales price. If, on a particular day, an equity security or
ETF does not trade, the mean between the bid and the ask prices will be used, which approximates fair value. Debt securities are
valued based upon valuations provided by an independent pricing service or broker and reviewed by management. To the extent current
market prices are not available, the pricing service may take into account developments related to the specific security, as well
as transactions in comparable securities. Valuations for fixed income securities utilize matrix systems, which reflect such factors
as security prices, yields, maturities, and ratings, and are supplemented by dealer and exchange quotations. Futures contracts
are valued at the daily quoted settlement prices. Open-end investment companies are valued at their published net asset value
(NAV). Generally, other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by the Fund’s valuation designee, Delaware Management Company (DMC). Subject to the oversight of the
Fund’s Board of Trustees (Board), DMC, as valuation designee, has adopted policies and procedures to fair value securities that
are not readily available consistent with the requirements of Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. In determining whether market quotations
are readily available or fair valuation will be used, various factors will be taken into consideration, such as market closures
or suspension of trading in a security. Restricted securities and private placements are valued at fair value.
Federal Income Taxes No provision for federal
income taxes has been made as the Fund intends to continue to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to shareholders.
The Fund evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine
whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions
not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold are recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year.
Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken or expected to be taken on the Fund’s federal income tax returns through
the year ended September 30, 2022, and for all open tax years (years ended September 30, 2019-September 30, 2021), and has concluded
that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest
accrued on unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in “Other” on the “Statement of operations.”
During the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund did not incur any interest or tax penalties.
Distributions Dividends to shareholders are declared
monthly. Distributions from net realized capital gains from investment transactions, if any, are declared and distributed to shareholders
at least annually. Net investment income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with income tax
regulations, which may differ from US GAAP. If the total dividends and distributions made in any tax year exceed net investment
income and accumulated realized capital gains, a portion of the total distribution may be treated as a return of capital for tax
purposes.
Underlying Funds The Fund may invest in other
investment companies (Underlying Funds) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Underlying Funds in which the Fund may invest
include ETFs. The Fund will indirectly bear the investment management fees and other expenses of any Underlying Funds.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents
include deposits held at financial institutions, which are available for the Fund’s use with no restrictions, with original
maturities of 90 days or less.
Derivative Financial Instruments The Fund may
invest in various derivative financial instruments. These instruments are used to obtain exposure to a security, commodity, index,
market, and/or other assets without owning or taking physical custody of securities, commodities and/
19
Table of Contents
Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
or other
referenced assets or to manage market, equity, credit, interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate, commodity and/or other risks.
Derivative financial instruments may give rise to a form of economic leverage and involve risks, including the imperfect correlation
between the value of a derivative financial instrument and the underlying asset, possible default of the counterparty to the transaction
or illiquidity of the instrument. Pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, the Fund must either use derivative
financial instruments with embedded leverage in a limited manner or comply with an outer limit on fund leverage risk based on
value-at-risk. The Fund’s successful use of a derivative financial instrument depends on the investment adviser’s ability to predict
pertinent market movements accurately, which cannot be assured. The use of these instruments may result in losses greater than
if they had not been used, may limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on an investment and/or may result in lower
distributions paid to shareholders. The Fund’s investments in these instruments, if any, are discussed in detail in the Notes
to Financial Statements.
Segregation and Collateralizations In certain
cases, based on requirements and agreements with certain exchanges and third-party broker-dealers, the Fund may deliver collateral
in connection with certain investments (e.g., futures contracts, foreign currency exchange contracts, options written, securities
with extended settlement periods, and swaps). Certain countries require that cash reserves be held while investing in companies
incorporated in that country. These cash reserves and cash collateral that has been pledged/received to cover obligations of the
Fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately on the “Statement of assets and liabilities” as
cash collateral due to/from broker. Securities collateral pledged for the same purpose, if any, is noted on the “Schedule
of investments.”
Statement of Cash Flows US GAAP requires entities providing financial statements that report
both financial position and results of operations to also provide a Statement of cash flows for each period for which results
of operations are provided, but exempts investment companies meeting certain conditions. One of the conditions is that the enterprise
had little or no debt, based on the average debt outstanding during the period, in relation to average total assets. Fund with
certain degrees of borrowing activity, typically through the use of borrowing arrangements, have been determined to be at a level
requiring a Statement of cash flows. The Statement of cash flows has been prepared using the indirect method which requires net
increase/decrease in net assets resulting from operations to be adjusted to reconcile to net cash flows from operating activities.
Use of Estimates The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the fair value of investments,
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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates and the differences could be material.
Other Expenses directly attributable to the Fund
are charged directly to the Fund. Other expenses common to various funds within the Delaware Funds by Macquarie® (Delaware
Funds) are generally allocated among such fund on the basis of average net assets. Management fees and certain other expenses
are paid monthly. Security transactions are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold (trade date) for financial
reporting purposes. Costs used in calculating realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are those of the
specific securities sold. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.
Income and capital gain distributions from any Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Discounts and premiums on debt securities are accreted or amortized to interest income, respectively, over the lives of the respective
securities using the effective interest method. Premiums on callable debt securities are amortized to interest income to the earliest
call date using the effective interest method.
2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements, and
Other Transactions with Affiliates
In accordance with the terms of its investment management agreement,
the Fund pays DMC, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, and the investment manager, an annual fee of 1.00%,
calculated daily and paid monthly, of the average daily value of the Fund’s Managed Assets. The term Managed Assets means
the Fund’s total assets, including the assets attributable to the proceeds from any borrowings or other forms of structural
leverage, minus liabilities, other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage.
20
Table of Contents
Prior to January 18, 2022, the Fund had an Accounting and Administrative
Services Agreement with Waddell & Reed Services Company (WRSC), doing business as WI Services Company (WISC). Under the agreement,
WISC acted as the agent in providing bookkeeping and accounting services and assistance to the Fund, including maintenance of
Fund records, pricing of Fund shares and preparation of certain shareholder reports. For these services, the Fund paid WISC a
monthly fee of one-twelfth of the annual fee based on the average managed asset levels shown in the following table:
(M - Millions) | |
Annual Fee Rate |
$0 to $10M | |
$0 |
$10 to $25M | |
11,496 |
$25 to $50M | |
23,100 |
$50 to $100M | |
35,496 |
$100 to $200M | |
48,396 |
$200 to $350M | |
63,204 |
$350 to $550M | |
82,500 |
$550 to $750M | |
96,300 |
$750 to $1,000M | |
121,596 |
Over $1,000M | |
148,500 |
The Fund also paid WISC a monthly administrative fee at the
annual rate of 0.01%, or one basis point, for the first $1 billion of managed assets with no fee charged for managed assets in
excess of $1 billion. This fee was voluntarily waived by WISC until the Fund’s managed assets were at least $10 million
and is included in “Accounting and administration expenses” on the “Statements of operations.”
Effective
January 18, 2022, Delaware Investments Fund Services Company (DIFSC), an affiliate of DMC, provides fund accounting and financial
administrative oversight services to the Fund. For these services, DIFSC’s fees are calculated daily and paid monthly, based
on the aggregate daily net assets of all funds within the Delaware Funds at the following annual rates: 0.00475% of the first
$35 billion; 0.0040% of the next $10 billion; 0.0025% of the next $45 billion; and 0.0015% of aggregate average daily net assets
in excess of $90 billion (Total Fee). Each fund in the Delaware Funds pays a minimum of $4,000, which, in aggregate, is subtracted
from the Total Fee. Each fund then pays its portion of the remainder of the Total Fee on a relative NAV basis. This amount is
included on the “Statement of operations” under “Accounting and administration expenses.” From January
18, 2022 through September 30, 2022, the Fund paid $11,858 for these services.
As provided in the investment management agreement, the Fund
bears a portion of the cost of certain resources shared with DMC, including the cost of internal personnel of DMC and/or its affiliates
that provide legal and regulatory reporting services to the Fund. This amount is included on the “Statement of operations”
under “Legal fees.” For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund paid $36,697 for internal legal and regulatory
reporting services provided by DMC and/or its affiliates’ employees.
Trustees’ fees include expenses accrued by the Fund for
each Trustee’s retainer and meeting fees. Certain officers of DMC and DIFSC are officers and/or Trustees of the Fund. These
officers and Trustees are paid no compensation by the Fund.
In addition to the management fees and other expenses of the
Fund, the Fund indirectly bears the investment management fees and other expenses of any Underlying Funds in which it invests.
The amount of these fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund will vary based upon the expense and fee levels of any Underlying
Funds and the number of shares that are owned of any Underlying Funds at different times.
During the year ended September 30, 2022, WRSC reimbursed the
Fund for losses due to net asset value corrections that impacted affiliated management fees and accounting and administration
expenses.
21
Table of Contents
Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements, and
Other Transactions with Affiliates (continued)
A summary of the transactions in affiliated companies during
the year ended September 30, 2022 as follows:
| |
Value,
beginning of period | | |
Gross
additions | | |
Gross
reductions | | |
Net
realized gain (loss) on affiliated securities | | |
Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on affiliated securities | | |
Value,
end of period | | |
Shares | | |
Interest
Income | |
Corporate
Bonds - 0.56% | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Larchmont
Resources LLC (9.000% Cash or 9.000% PIK), 9.000%, 8/7/22 | |
$ | 1,190,713 | | |
$ | | | |
$ | (1,249,673 | ) | |
$ | 9,563 | | |
$ | 49,397 | | |
$ | | | |
| | | |
$ | 33,528 | |
New
Cotai 5.00% 2/2/27 = |
| | | |
| 1,005,400 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| 34,754 | | |
| 1,040,154 | | |
| 1,042,759 | | |
| 36,172 | |
Common
Stocks - 0.76% | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Larchmont
Resources =, †,* | |
| 2,159 | | |
| | | |
| (445,251 | ) | |
| | | |
| 558,263 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
New
Cotai =,† | |
| 2,087,238 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| (2,087,238 | ) | |
| | | |
| 971,487 | | |
| | |
True
Religion Apparel =,† | |
| 1,382,772 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| 37,105 | | |
| 1,419,877 | | |
| 61 | | |
| | |
Preferred
Stock - 0.17% | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
True
Religion Apparel 0.000% =,ω | |
| 318,675 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| 318,675 | | |
| 64 | | |
| | |
| |
$ | 4,981,557 | | |
$ | 1,005,400 | | |
$ | (1,694,924 | ) | |
$ | 9,563 | | |
$ | (1,407,719 | ) | |
$ | 2,778,706 | | |
| | | |
$ | 69,700 | |
* Issuer is not an affiliated investment of the Fund at September 30, 2022.
† Non-income producing security.
= The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the disclosure table located in Note 3.
ω Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.
3. Investments
For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund made purchases
and sales of investment securities other than short-term investments as follows:
Purchases | |
$ | 182,455,087 | |
Sales | |
| 171,241,045 | |
The tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be the final tax cost basis adjustments but which approximate the tax basis
unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. At September 30, 2022, the cost and unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) of investments for federal income tax for the Fund were as follows:
22
Table of Contents
Cost of investments | |
$ | 344,711,509 | |
Aggregate unrealized appreciation of investments | |
$ | 460,767 | |
Aggregate unrealized depreciation of investments | |
| (68,286,068 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation of investments | |
$ | (67,825,301 | ) |
US GAAP defines fair value as the price that the Fund would
receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
date under current market conditions. A three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements has been established based upon the
transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to
the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions
market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the
reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants
would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available under the circumstances. The Fund’s investment
in its entirety is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation.
The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized as follows:
Level 1 |
– |
Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. (Examples: equity
securities, open-end investment companies, futures contracts, and exchange-traded options contracts) |
|
|
|
Level 2 |
– |
Other observable inputs, including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities
in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs
other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities,
prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs. (Examples: debt
securities, government securities, swap contracts, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international
fair value pricing, broker-quoted securities, and fair valued securities) |
|
|
|
Level 3 |
– |
Significant unobservable inputs, including the Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair
value of investments. (Examples: broker-quoted securities and fair valued securities) |
Level 3 investments are valued using significant unobservable
inputs. The Fund may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment
are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the
disposition of the investments. Valuations may also be based upon current market prices of securities that are comparable in coupon,
rating, maturity, and industry. The derived value of a Level 3 investment may not represent the value which is received upon disposition
and this could impact the results of operations.
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s
investments by fair value hierarchy levels as of September 30, 2022:
| |
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Total |
Securities | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
Assets: | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
Common Stocks | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
Basic Industry | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | 1,139,463 | | |
|
$ | 1,139,463 | |
Energy | |
|
| 4,318 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 765,210 | | |
|
| 769,528 | |
Leisure | |
|
| 639,097 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | 1 | |
|
| 639,097 | |
Media | |
|
| 35 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 35 | |
Retail | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 1,419,877 | | |
|
| 1,419,877 | |
Utilities | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 152,020 | | |
|
| 152,020 | |
Convertible Bond | |
|
| | | |
|
| 364,869 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 364,869 | |
Corporate Bonds2 | |
|
| | | |
|
| 189,200,946 | | |
|
| 1,040,154 | 1 | |
|
| 190,241,100 | |
Exchange-Traded Fund | |
|
| 5,211,470 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 5,211,470 | |
Loan Agreements | |
|
| | | |
|
| 35,478,387 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 35,478,387 | |
Municipal Bonds | |
|
| | | |
|
| 1,586,698 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 1,586,698 | |
Preferred Stock | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 318,675 | | |
|
| 318,675 | |
Warrant | |
|
| 32,656 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 32,656 | |
23
Table of Contents
Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
3. Investments (continued)
| |
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Total |
Short-Term Investments | |
|
$ | 31,955,022 | | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | 31,955,022 | |
Securities Lending Collateral | |
|
| 7,577,311 | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| 7,577,311 | |
Total Value of Securities | |
|
$ | 45,419,909 | | |
|
$ | 226,630,900 | | |
|
$ | 4,835,399 | | |
|
$ | 276,886,208 | |
1The security that has been valued at zero on the
“Schedule of investments” is considered to be Level 3 investments in this table.
2Security type is valued across multiple levels.
Level 1 investments represent exchange-traded investments, Level 2 investments represent investments with observable inputs or
matrix-priced investments, and Level 3 investments represent investments without observable inputs. The amounts attributed to
Level 1 investments, Level 2 investments, and Level 3 investments represent the following percentages of the total market value
of these security types:
| |
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Total | |
Corporate Bonds | |
| | | |
| 99.45 | % | |
| 0.55 | % | |
| 100.00 | % |
The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers into or out
of Level 3 investments based on fair value at the beginning of the reporting year.
A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when the
Fund has a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning or end of the year in relation to the Fund’s net assets.
Management has determined not to provide additional disclosure on Level 3 investments since the Level 3 investments are not considered
significant to the Fund’s net assets at the end of the year.
The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant
unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value for the Fund:
| |
Common Stocks | |
Corporate Bonds | |
Preferred Stock | |
Loans |
Balance as of 9/30/21 | |
|
$ | 5,035,585 | | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | 7,800,529 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | |
|
| (2,204,771 | ) | |
|
| 34,754 | | |
|
| (730,180 | ) | |
|
| (2,553,932 | ) |
Transfers in | |
|
| 645,756 | | |
|
| 1,005,400 | | |
|
| 1,048,855 | | |
|
| | |
Transfers out | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| (5,246,597 | ) |
Balance as of 9/30/22 | |
|
$ | 3,476,570 | | |
|
$ | 1,040,154 | | |
|
$ | 318,675 | | |
|
$ | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from Level 3 investments still held as of 9/30/22 | |
|
$ | (3,488,097 | ) | |
|
$ | 34,754 | | |
|
$ | (730,180 | ) | |
|
$ | (3,198,197 | ) |
A significant change to the inputs may result in a significant
change to the valuation. Quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements for the Fund is as follows:
Assets | |
Value | | |
Valuation Techniques | |
Unobservable Inputs | |
Input Value |
Common Stocks | |
$ | 765,210 | | |
Market approach | |
Broker quotes | |
N/A |
Common Stocks | |
| 1,101,975 | | |
Market approach | |
Discount for lack of marketability | |
30% |
Common Stocks | |
| 1,419,877 | | |
Market approach | |
EV/EBITDA multiple | |
2.82x |
| |
| | | |
| |
EV/Revenue multiple | |
0.45x |
Common Stocks | |
| 4,504 | | |
Market approach | |
EV/EBITDA multiple | |
5.67x |
Common Stocks | |
| 185,004 | | |
Market approach | |
Financials | |
N/A |
Corporate Bonds | |
| 1,040,154 | | |
Market approach | |
Financials | |
N/A |
Preferred Stock | |
| 318,675 | | |
Market approach | |
EV/EBITDA multiple | |
2.82x |
| |
| | | |
| |
EV/Revenue multiple | |
0.45x |
4. Dividend and Distribution Information
Income and long-term capital gain distributions are determined
in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from US GAAP. Additionally, distributions from net short-term
gains on sales of investment securities are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The tax character of dividends
and distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
24
Table of Contents
| |
Year ended | |
| |
| 9/30/22 | | |
| 9/30/21 | |
Ordinary income | |
$ | 14,581,806 | | |
$ | 16,155,979 | |
Total | |
$ | 14,581,806 | | |
$ | 16,155,979 | |
5. Components of Net Assets on a Tax Basis
As of September 30, 2022, the components of net assets on a
tax basis were as follows:
Shares of beneficial interest | |
$ | 315,693,315 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | |
| 1,242,058 | |
Capital loss carryforwards | |
| (63,073,353 | ) |
Other temporary differences | |
| (7,488 | ) |
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | |
| (67,825,301 | ) |
Net assets | |
$ | 186,029,231 | |
The differences between book basis and tax basis components
of net assets are primarily attributable to interest on defaulted bonds and partnership investments.
For financial reporting purposes, capital accounts are adjusted
to reflect the tax character of permanent book/tax differences. Reclassifications are primarily due to partnership non-deductible
expenses. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications. For the year ended September 30,
2022, the adjustments were to increase total distributable earnings and decrease paid-in capital in excess of par by $251.
At September 30, 2022, capital loss carryforwards available
to offset future realized capital gains are as follows:
Loss carryforward character | | |
| |
Short-term | | |
|
Long-term | | |
|
Total | |
$9,834,595 | | |
| $53,238,758 | | |
| $63,073,353 | |
6. Capital Stock
The Fund has authorized 18,750,000 of $0.001 par value common
shares of beneficial interest. There were no transactions in shares of beneficial interest during the years ended September 30,
2022 and 2021.
7. Borrowings/Line of Credit
For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund borrowed a portion
of the money (“Borrowings”) available to it pursuant to a $160,000,000 Credit Agreement (“Original Credit Agreement”)
with The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) as a means of financial leverage. Interest was charged on the Borrowings
at one month LIBOR plus 0.75% of the amount borrowed. There were no other fees associated with this borrowing arrangement. During
the year ended September 30, 2022, the average daily balance outstanding and weighted interest rate on the Borrowings were $87,000,000
and 1.57%, respectively. Borrowings outstanding are recognized as “Payable for borrowing” on the “Statement
of assets and liabilities.” Interest charged on the amount borrowing is recognized as a component of “Interest expense”
on the “Statement of operations.”
The Fund entered into the Original Credit Agreement on October 21, 2004 with Pershing
LLC, an affiliate of BNYM. The Original Credit Agreement was sold by Pershing LLC to BNYM on March 23, 2022. The Original Credit
Agreement was terminated as of May 11, 2022.
The Fund entered into a new $120,000,000 Credit Agreement with
BNYM on May 11, 2022 (“New Credit Agreement”) and borrowed $87,000,000 under the New Credit Agreement on that date.
The New Credit Agreement is scheduled to expire on May 10, 2023, but contains an evergreen feature that provides for automatic
day renewals subject to a 180 day termination notice. Depending on market conditions and amount borrowed, the amount borrowed
by the Fund pursuant to the New Credit Agreement may be reduced or possibly increased in the future.
25
Table of Contents
Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
7. Borrowings/Line of Credit (continued)
Interest on borrowings is based on a variable short-term rate
plus an applicable margin. The initial commitment fee under the New Credit Agreement is computed at a rate of: (1) 0.25% per annum
on the unused balance in the event that the average daily outstanding principal balance of the loans during a certain period is
less than 75% of the average daily aggregate commitments by BNYM during such period; or (2) 0.0% in all other events. The commitment
fee is subject to change in future periods. The loan is secured and collateralized by the Fund’s portfolio.
8. Derivatives
US GAAP requires disclosures that enable investors to understand:
(1) how and why an entity uses derivatives; (2) how they are accounted for; and (3) how they affect an entity’s results
of operations and financial position.
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts The Fund
may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign cross currency exchange contracts as a way of managing foreign
exchange rate risk. The Fund may enter into these contracts to fix the US dollar value of a security that it has agreed to buy
or sell for the period between the date the trade was entered into and the date the security is delivered and paid for. The Fund
may also enter into these contracts to hedge the US dollar value of securities it already owns that are denominated in foreign
currencies. In addition, the Fund may enter into these contracts to facilitate or expedite the settlement of portfolio transactions.
The change in value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded
equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
The use of foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign cross
currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities, but does establish a rate
of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign cross currency exchange
contracts limit the risk of loss due to an unfavorable change in the value of the hedged currency, they also limit any potential
gain that might result should the value of the currency change favorably. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the
counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty
credit risk is the value of its currency exchanged with the counterparty. The risk is generally mitigated by having a netting
arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the
Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. No foreign currency exchange contracts were outstanding at September 30, 2022.
During the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund entered into
foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge the US dollar value of securities it already owns that are denominated in foreign
currencies to increase/decrease exposure to foreign currencies.
Futures Contracts A futures contract is an agreement
in which the writer (or seller) of the contract agrees to deliver to the buyer an amount of cash or securities equal to a specific
dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific security or index at the close of the last trading day of the
contract and the price at which the agreement is made. The Fund may use futures contracts in the normal course of pursuing its
investment objective. The Fund may invest in futures contracts to hedge its existing portfolio securities against fluctuations
in value caused by changes in interest rates or market conditions. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund deposits cash
or pledges US government securities to a broker, equal to the minimum “initial margin” requirements of the exchange
on which the contract is traded. Subsequent payments are received from the broker or paid to the broker each day, based on the
daily fluctuation in the market value of the contract. These receipts or payments are known as “variation margin”
and are recorded daily by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses until the contracts are closed. When the contracts are closed,
the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and
the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts include potential imperfect correlation between
the futures contracts and the underlying securities and the possibility of an illiquid secondary market for these instruments.
When investing in futures, there is reduced counterparty credit risk to the Fund because futures are exchange-traded and the exchange’s
clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees against default. No futures contracts were outstanding
at September 30, 2022.
During the year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund used futures
contracts to hedge the Fund’s existing portfolio securities against fluctuations in value caused by changes in interest
rates or market conditions.
26
Table of Contents
The effect of derivative instruments on the “Statement
of operations” for the year ended September 30, 2022 was as follows:
| |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on: |
| |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | |
Futures Contracts | |
Total |
Currency contracts | |
|
$ | (28 | ) | |
|
$ | | | |
|
$ | (28 | ) |
Interest rate contracts | |
|
| | | |
|
| 789 | | |
|
| 789 | |
Total | |
|
$ | (28 | ) | |
|
$ | 789 | | |
|
$ | 761 | |
| |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
| |
Futures Contracts |
Interest rate
contracts | |
|
$ | (15,508 | ) |
The table below summarizes the average balance of derivative
holdings by the Fund during the year ended September 30, 2022:
| |
Long Derivative Volume | |
Short Derivative Volume |
Foreign currency exchange contracts (average notional value) | |
|
$ | 2,922 | | |
|
$ | | |
Futures contracts (average notional value) | |
|
| | | |
|
| (206,744 | ) |
9. Securities Lending
The Fund, along with other funds in Delaware Funds, may lend
its securities pursuant to a security lending agreement (Lending Agreement) with BNY Mellon. At the time a security is loaned,
the borrower must post collateral equal to the required percentage of the market value of the loaned security, including any accrued
interest. The required percentage is: (1) 102% with respect to US securities and foreign securities that are denominated and payable
in US dollars; and (2) 105% with respect to foreign securities. With respect to each loan, if on any business day the aggregate
market value of securities collateral plus cash collateral held is less than the aggregate market value of the securities which
are the subject of such loan, the borrower will be notified to provide additional collateral by the end of the following business
day, which, together with the collateral already held, will be not less than the applicable initial collateral requirements for
such security loan. If the aggregate market value of securities collateral and cash collateral held with respect to a security
loan exceeds the applicable initial collateral requirement, upon the request of the borrower, BNY Mellon must return enough collateral
to the borrower by the end of the following business day to reduce the value of the remaining collateral to the applicable initial
collateral requirement for such security loan. As a result of the foregoing, the value of the collateral held with respect to
a loaned security on any particular day, may be more or less than the value of the security on loan. The collateral percentage
with respect to the market value of the loaned security is determined by the security lending agent.
Cash collateral received by the Fund is generally invested in
an individual separate account. The investment guidelines permit each separate account to hold certain securities that would be
considered eligible securities for a money market fund. Cash collateral received is generally invested in government securities;
certain obligations issued by government sponsored enterprises; repurchase agreements collateralized by US Treasury securities;
obligations issued by the central government of any Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country or its
agencies, instrumentalities, or establishments; obligations of supranational organizations; commercial paper, notes, bonds, and
other debt obligations; certificates of deposit, time deposits, and other bank obligations; certain money market funds; and asset-backed
securities. The Fund can also accept US government securities and letters of credit (non-cash collateral) in connection with securities
loans.
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Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
9. Securities Lending (continued)
In the event of default or bankruptcy by the lending agent,
realization and/or retention of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings. In the event the borrower fails to return
loaned securities and the collateral received is insufficient to cover the value of the loaned securities and provided such collateral
shortfall is not the result of investment losses, the lending agent has agreed to pay the amount of the shortfall to the Fund
or, at the discretion of the lending agent, replace the loaned securities. The Fund continues to record dividends or interest,
as applicable, on the securities loaned and is subject to changes in value of the securities loaned that may occur during the
term of the loan. The Fund has the right under the Lending Agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. With
respect to security loans collateralized by non-cash collateral, the Fund receives loan premiums paid by the borrower. With respect
to security loans collateralized by cash collateral, the earnings from the collateral investments are shared among the Fund, the
security lending agent, and the borrower. The Fund records security lending income net of allocations to the security lending
agent and the borrower.
The Fund may incur investment losses as a result of investing
securities lending collateral. This could occur if an investment in the collateral investment account defaulted or became impaired.
Under those circumstances, the value of the Fund’s cash collateral account may be less than the amount the Fund would be
required to return to the borrowers of the securities and the Fund would be required to make up for this shortfall.
The following table reflects a breakdown of transactions accounted
for as secured borrowings, the gross obligation by the type of collateral pledged, and the remaining contractual maturity of those
transactions as of September 30, 2022:
Securities Lending Transactions | |
Overnight and continuous | |
Under 30 days | |
Between 30 & 90 days | |
Over 90 Days | |
Total |
Money Market Mutual Fund | |
$7,577,311 | |
$ | |
$ | |
$ | |
$7,577,311 |
At September 30, 2022, the value of securities on loan was $8,936,095
for which the Fund received non-cash collateral of $1,670,899. At September 30, 2022, the value of invested collateral was $7,577,311.
Investments purchased with cash collateral are presented on the “Schedule of investments” under the caption “Securities
Lending Collateral.”
10. Credit and Market Risk
An outbreak of infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel
coronavirus known as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and has now been detected globally. This coronavirus
has resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere,
disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, prolonged quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions,
and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks
that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, individual issuers
and capital markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses in emerging market
countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. Public health crises caused by the COVID-19 outbreak
may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally. The duration of the COVID-19
outbreak and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
When interest rates rise, fixed income securities (i.e. debt
obligations) generally will decline in value. These declines in value are greater for fixed income securities with longer maturities
or durations.
IBOR is the risk that changes related to the use of the London
interbank offered rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rate (collectively, IBORs) could have adverse impacts on financial
instruments that reference LIBOR (or the corresponding IBOR). The abandonment of LIBOR could affect the value and liquidity of
instruments that reference LIBOR. The use of alternative reference rate products may impact investment strategy performance. These
risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other IBORs, such as the euro overnight index average, which are
also the subject of recent reform.
Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market
risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests
will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate.
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The Fund’s use of leverage creates the possibility of
higher volatility for the Fund’s NAV, market price and distributions. Leverage risk can be introduced through structural
leverage (borrowings) or portfolio leverage through the use of certain derivative instruments held in the Fund’s portfolio.
Leverage typically magnifies the total return of the Fund’s portfolio, whether that return is positive or negative. The
use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased net income per share, but there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging
strategy will be successful.
The Fund invests in certain obligations that may have liquidity
protection designed to ensure that the receipt of payments due on the underlying security is timely. Such protection may be provided
through guarantees, insurance policies, or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor through third parties, through
various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. The Fund will not pay any additional
fees for such credit support, although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.
The Fund invests in bank loans and other securities that may
subject it to direct indebtedness risk, the risk that the Fund will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts
due in connection with these investments and will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower. Loans that are
fully secured offer the Fund more protection than unsecured loans in the event of nonpayment of scheduled interest or principal,
although there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s
obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Some loans or claims may be in default at the time of purchase. Certain
of the loans and the other direct indebtedness acquired by the Fund may involve revolving credit facilities or other standby financing
commitments that obligate the Fund to pay additional cash on a certain date or on demand. These commitments may require the Fund
to increase its investment in a company at a time when the Fund might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when
the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To the extent that the Fund is committed
to advance additional funds, it will at all times hold and maintain cash or other high grade debt obligations in an amount sufficient
to meet such commitments. When a loan agreement is purchased, the Fund may pay an assignment fee. On an ongoing basis, the Fund
may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a loan agreement. Prepayment
penalty fees are received upon the prepayment of a loan agreement by a borrower. Prepayment penalty, facility, commitment, consent
and amendment fees are recorded to income as earned or paid.
As the Fund may be required to rely upon another lending institution
to collect and pass on to the Fund amounts payable with respect to the loan and to enforce the Fund’s rights under the loan
and other direct indebtedness, an insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the lending institution may delay or prevent the
Fund from receiving such amounts. The highly leveraged nature of many loans may make them especially vulnerable to adverse changes
in economic or market conditions. Investments in such loans and other direct indebtedness may involve additional risk to the Fund.
The Fund invests a portion of its assets in high yield fixed
income securities, which are securities rated lower than BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch, Inc. and
Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
Investments in these higher yielding securities are generally accompanied by a greater degree of credit risk than higher rated
securities. Additionally, lower rated securities may be more susceptible to adverse economic and competitive industry conditions
than investment grade securities.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in illiquid
securities, which may include securities with contractual restrictions on resale, securities exempt from registration under Rule
144A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and other securities which may not be readily marketable. The relative
illiquidity of these securities may impair the Fund from disposing of them in a timely manner and at a fair price when it is necessary
or desirable to do so. While maintaining oversight, the Board has delegated to DMC the day-to-day functions of determining whether
individual securities are liquid for purposes of the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Securities
eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, which are determined to be liquid, are not subject to the Fund’s 25% limit on
investments in illiquid securities. Rule 144A securities have been identified on the “Schedule of investments.”
11. Contractual Obligations
The Fund enters into contracts in the normal course of business
that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund
has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects
the risk of loss to be remote.
29
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Notes
to financial statements
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
12. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU),
ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.
The amendments in ASU 2020-04 provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract
modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021.
In March 2021, the administrator for LIBOR announced the extension of the publication of a majority of the USD LIBOR settings
to June 30, 2023. ASU 2020-04 is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period
March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. As of the financial reporting period, Management is evaluating the impact of applying
this ASU.
13. Subsequent Events
On August 11, 2022, the Board of Trustees of Delaware Ivy High
Income Opportunities Fund (“Acquired Fund”) approved the reorganization of the Acquired Fund into abrdn Income Credit
Strategies Fund (“Acquiring Fund”). It is currently expected that the reorganization will be completed in the first
quarter of 2023 subject to (i) approval of the reorganization by the Acquired Fund shareholders, (ii) approval by Acquiring Fund
shareholders of the issuance of shares of the Acquiring Fund, and (iii) the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Management has determined that no other material events or transactions
occurred subsequent to September 30, 2022, that would require recognition or disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements.
30
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Report of
independent registered public accounting firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of Delaware Ivy
High Income Opportunities Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and
liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) as of September
30, 2022, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year ended September 30, 2022, the statements of changes in net
assets for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for
each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2022 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In
our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of September 30,
2022, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years
in the period ended September 30, 2022, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2022,
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year
ended September 30, 2020 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or prior to September 30, 2020 (not presented
herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 24, 2020, expressed an unqualified
opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We
are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to
be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in
accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks
of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2022,
by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agents, agent banks, brokers and portfolio company investees; when replies were not received
from agent banks or brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 30, 2022
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies
in Delaware Funds by Macquarie® since 2010.
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Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
Tax information
The information set forth below is for the Fund’s fiscal
year as required by federal income tax laws. Shareholders, however, must report distributions on a calendar year basis for income tax
purposes, which may include distributions for portions of two fiscal years of the Fund. Accordingly, the information needed by shareholders
for income tax purposes will be sent to them in January of each year. Please consult your tax advisor for proper treatment of this information.
All disclosures are based on financial information available
as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly are subject to change. For any and all items requiring reporting, it is the intention
of the Fund to report the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund reports
distributions paid during the year as follows:
(A) Ordinary Income Distributions
(Tax Basis) |
100.00% |
(A) is based on a percentage of the Fund’s total distributions.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, certain distributions
paid by the Fund, determined to be Qualified Interest Income may be subject to relief from US tax withholding for foreign shareholders,
as provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004; the Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creations Act of
2010; and as extended by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund have reported
maximum distributions of Qualified Interest Income of $12,613,358.
The percentage of the ordinary dividends reported by the
Fund that is treated as a Section 163(j) interest dividend and thus is eligible to be treated as interest income for purposes of Section
163(j) and the regulations thereunder is 100.00%.
Fund management
Adam H. Brown, CFA
Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
Adam H. Brown is a senior portfolio manager for the firm’s
high yield strategies within Macquarie Asset Management Fixed Income (MFI). He manages MFI’s bank loan portfolios and is a co-portfolio
manager for the high yield, fixed rate multisector, and core plus strategies. Brown joined Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) in April
2011 as part of the firm’s integration of Macquarie Four Corners Capital Management, where he had worked since 2002. At Four Corners,
he was a co-portfolio manager on the firm’s collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and a senior research analyst supporting noninvestment
grade portfolios. Before that, Brown was with the predecessor of Wells Fargo Securities, where he worked in the leveraged finance group
arranging senior secured bank loans and high yield bond financings for financial sponsors and corporate issuers. He earned an MBA from
the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Florida.
Mr. Brown has been a co-portfolio manager of the Fund since
November 2021.
John P. McCarthy, CFA
Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
John P. McCarthy is a senior portfolio manager for the Macquarie
Asset Management Fixed Income (MFI) high yield strategies, a role he assumed in July 2016. From December 2012 to June 2016, he was co-head
of credit research for MFI. McCarthy rejoined Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) in March 2007 as a senior research analyst, after he worked
in the firm’s fixed income area from 1990 to 2000 as a senior high yield analyst and high yield trader, and from 2001 to 2002 as
a municipal bond trader. Prior to rejoining the firm, he was a senior high yield analyst/trader at Chartwell Investment Partners. McCarthy
earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Babson College, and he is a member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia.
Mr. McCarthy has been a co-portfolio manager of the Fund
since November 2021.
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Dividend reinvestment plan
Pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the
“DRIP”), unless you elect to receive distributions in cash (i.e., opt-out), all dividends, including any capital gain dividends,
on your common shares will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for the shareholders (the “DRIP
Agent”), in additional common shares under the DRIP. You may elect not to participate in the DRIP by contacting the DRIP Agent.
If you do not participate, you will receive all cash distributions paid by check mailed directly to you by Computershare, Inc. as dividend
paying agent.
If you participate in the DRIP, the number of common shares
you will receive will be determined as follows:
(1) If the market price of the common shares on the record
date (or, if the record date is not a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) trading day, the immediately preceding trading day)
for determining shareholders eligible to receive the relevant dividend or distribution (the “determination date”) is equal
to or exceeds 98% of the net asset value per share of the common shares, the Fund will issue new common shares at a price equal to the
greater of:
(a) 98% of the net asset value per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the determination date or
(b) 95% of the
market price of the common shares on the determination date.
(2) If 98% of the net asset value per share of the common
shares exceeds the market price of the common shares on the determination date, the DRIP Agent will receive the dividend or distribution
in cash and will buy common shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for your account as soon as practicable commencing on
the trading day following the determination date and terminating no later than the earlier of (a) 30 days after the dividend or distribution
payment date, or (b) the record date for the next succeeding dividend or distribution to be made to the shareholders; except when necessary
to comply with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. If during this period: (i) the market price rises so that it equals
or exceeds 98% of the net asset value per share of the common shares at the close of trading on the NYSE on the determination date before
the DRIP Agent has completed the open market purchases, or (ii) if the DRIP Agent is unable to invest the full amount eligible to be
reinvested in open market purchases, the DRIP Agent will cease purchasing common shares in the open market and the Fund shall issue the
remaining common shares at a price per share equal to the greater of (a) 98% of the net asset value per share at the close of trading
on the NYSE on the determination date, or (b) 95% of the then-current market price per share.
Common shares in your account will be held by the DRIP Agent
in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all shares of common shares you have received under the DRIP.
You may withdraw from the DRIP (i.e., opt-out) by notifying
the DRIP Agent in writing at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if notice
is received by the DRIP Agent prior to any dividend or distribution record date; otherwise such withdrawal will be effective as soon
as practicable after the DRIP Agent’s investment of the most recently declared dividend or distribution on the common shares. The
DRIP may be amended or supplemented by the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to shareholders at least 30 days prior to the record date
for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund for which the termination is to be effective. Upon any termination, the DRIP
Agent will continue to hold whole shares for you in non-certificated form until otherwise notified by you, and will cause a cash adjustment
for any fractional shares to be delivered to you after deducting brokerage commissions actually incurred. You may elect to notify the
DRIP Agent in advance of such termination, or at any time following termination, to have the DRIP Agent sell part or all of your common
shares on your behalf. You will be charged a service charge and the DRIP Agent is authorized to deduct brokerage charges actually incurred
for this transaction from the proceeds.
There is no service charge for reinvestment of your dividends
or distributions in common shares. However, all participants will pay a per share processing fee, which includes any brokerage commissions
incurred by the DRIP Agent when it makes open market purchases. Because all dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested
in additional common shares, this allows you to add to your investment through dollar cost averaging, which may lower the average cost
of your common shares over time. Dollar cost averaging is a technique for lowering the average cost per share over time if the Fund’s
net asset value declines. While dollar cost averaging has definite advantages, it cannot assure profit or protect against loss in declining
markets.
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does
not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Investors will be subject to income
tax on amounts reinvested under the DRIP.
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Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Dividend reinvestment plan (continued)
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the DRIP
if, in the judgment of the Board, the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the DRIP; however, the
Fund reserves the right to amend the DRIP to include a service charge payable by the participants.
Additional information about the DRIP and your account may
be obtained from the DRIP Agent at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078 or by calling the DRIP Agent at (800)-426-5523.
Fund strategies and risks
What are the Fund’s principal investment strategies?
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a portfolio of high yield corporate bonds of varying maturities and other fixed income instruments of predominantly
corporate issuers, including first- and second-lien secured loans (“Secured Loans”). Under normal circumstances, the Fund
will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in a portfolio of US and foreign bonds, loans and other fixed income
instruments, as well as other investments (including derivatives) with similar economic characteristics. The Fund will invest primarily
in instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)
or below BBB- by either Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or
comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”)), or unrated but judged by the
Advisor, to be of comparable quality. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s total assets, including the assets attributable
to the proceeds from any borrowings or other forms of structural leverage (as defined below), minus liabilities other than the aggregate
indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. The Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its assets in foreign securities that
are denominated in US dollars or foreign currencies. The Fund will seek to dynamically adjust and hedge its duration depending on the
market opportunities available. Under normal circumstances, the dollar-weighted average portfolio duration of the Fund will generally
range between zero and seven years.
The Fund may invest without limit in corporate fixed income
instruments, and may focus its investments in one or more types of corporate fixed income instruments to seek to adapt to market conditions.
For example, if the Advisor believes that market conditions are favorable for a particular type of fixed income instrument, such as high
yield bonds, most or all of the fixed income instruments in which the Fund invests may be high yield bonds. Similarly, if the Advisor
believes that market conditions are favorable for Secured Loans, most or all of the fixed income instruments in which the Fund invests
may be Secured Loans. Under normal circumstances, the Advisor expects the Fund’s investments incorporate fixed income instruments
will consist predominantly of high yield bonds and/or Secured Loans; however, the Fund’s investments in fixed income instruments
also may include, to a lesser extent, debentures, notes, commercial paper, investment grade bonds, loans other than Secured Loans, including
unsecured loans and mezzanine loans, and other similar types of debt instruments, as well as derivatives related to or referencing these
types of securities and instruments. The Fund will not invest in collateralized loan obligations or collateralized debt obligations.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100%
of its Managed Assets in fixed income instruments and securities issued by foreign issuers, and up to 25% of its Managed Assets in fixed
income instruments and securities of issuers in emerging markets. Such foreign instruments may be US currency denominated or foreign
currency denominated.
The Fund may not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets
in instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid (determined using the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”)
standard applicable to registered investment companies, i.e. securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary
course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities). The Fund also may not invest more than 25%
of its Managed Assets in restricted securities, including private placement securities that are unregistered (but are eligible for purchase
and sale by certain qualified institutional buyers) or are held by control persons of the issuer and securities that are subject to contractual
restrictions on their resale (“restricted securities”). For purposes of this limitation, restricted securities do not include
securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that have been
deemed to be liquid by the Advisor.
The Fund may invest in assignments or participations of Secured
Loans made to US, and non-US corporations, partnerships, and other business entities (“Borrowers”) which operate in various
industries and geographical regions. Most Secured Loans pay interest at rates that are determined periodically on the basis of a floating
base lending rate, primarily the London-Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus a premium. Secured Loans are secured by collateral.
The Fund also may invest in unsecured loans and mezzanine loans.
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The Fund may use derivatives for investment or hedging purposes,
or as a form of effective leverage (as defined below). The Fund’s principal investments in derivative instruments may include investments
in total return swaps and credit default swaps, but the Fund also may invest in futures transactions, options, and options on futures
as well as certain currency instruments such as foreign currency forward contracts, currency exchange transactions on a spot basis (i.e.
cash), put and call options on foreign currencies, and interest rate instruments such as interest rate swaps. The market value of the
Fund’s investments in derivatives will be included under the 80% policy noted above so long as the underlying assets of such derivatives
are one or more corporate fixed income instruments.
As part of its investments in corporate fixed income instruments,
the Fund may not invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in fixed income instruments of distressed issuers. Such instruments may be
rated in the lower rating categories (Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, or CCC+ or lower by S&P or Fitch, or comparably rated by another
NRSRO) or unrated but judged by the Advisor to be of comparable quality. Such instruments are subject to very high credit risk. The Fund
may not invest in issues (such as secured debt and/or corporate debt) that are in default at the time of purchase.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in credit-linked
notes.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in other
investment companies, including other closed-end funds, open-end funds and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), to the extent
permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules thereunder.
The Fund may invest in fixed income instruments that are,
at the time of purchase, rated investment grade (Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, BBB- or higher by S&P or Fitch, or comparably rated
by another NRSRO) or unrated but judged by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.
From time to time, the Fund may invest in or hold common
stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, and other equity securities or warrants incidental to the purchase or ownership of a
fixed income instrument or in connection with a reorganization of an issuer. These investments could arise from time to time in connection
with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument. Depending upon, among other things, the Advisor’s evaluation
of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof,
the Fund may determine to hold these equity securities in its portfolio.
Leverage The Fund anticipates using leverage
as part of its investment strategy. Depending on market conditions, the Fund currently intends to incur leverage of up to 33 1/3% of
its Managed Assets primarily through borrowings in one or more credit facilities (including prime brokerage facilities). The Fund intends
to enter into a prime brokerage facility with one or more financial institutions. Although the Fund has no current intention to do so,
it also may issue preferred shares, debt securities or commercial paper, or enter into similar transactions to add leverage to its portfolio
(collectively, together with borrowing money, “structural leverage”). The Fund also may incur leverage through derivative
instruments including total return swaps, securities lending arrangements, credit default swaps, or other derivative transactions (collectively,
“effective leverage”). The Fund’s use of effective leverage will not comprise more than 25% of its Managed Assets.
Although certain forms of effective leverage the Fund may use may not be considered senior securities under the 1940 Act, such effective
leverage would be considered leverage for the Fund’s total leverage limit noted below. The Fund’s total leverage, through
structural leverage and effective leverage, will not comprise more than 40% of the Fund’s Managed Assets.
What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?
Investing in any closed-end fund involves the risk that you
may lose part or all of the money you invest. Over time, the value of your investment in the Fund will increase and decrease according
to changes in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
The Fund’s principal risks include:
Net asset value discount risk The risk that a closed-end investment company
will trade at a discount from its net asset value (NAV).
Market risk The risk that all or a majority of the securities
in a certain market — such as the stock or bond market — will decline in value because of factors such as adverse political
or economic conditions, future expectations, investor confidence, or heavy institutional selling. For additional information, see Note
10 in “Notes to financial statements.”
Active management and selection risk The risk that the securities selected
by a fund’s management will underperform the markets, the relevant indices, or the securities selected by other funds with similar
investment objectives and investment strategies. The securities and sectors selected may vary from the securities and sectors included
in the relevant index.
35
Table of Contents
Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Fund strategies and risks (continued)
High yield (junk bond) risk The risk that
high yield securities, commonly known as “junk bonds,” are subject to reduced creditworthiness of issuers, increased risk
of default, and a more limited and less liquid secondary market. High yield securities may also be subject to greater price volatility
and risk of loss of income and principal than are higher-rated securities. High yield bonds are sometimes issued by municipalities that
have less financial strength and therefore have less ability to make projected debt payments on the bonds.
Distressed securities risk The risk that a
fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed securities or may be required to accept cash, securities,
or other property with a value less than its original investment. Distressed debt securities are speculative and involve substantial
risks in addition to the risks of investing in lower-grade debt securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in
the markets for distressed securities. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements
and above average price volatility, and it may be difficult to value such securities.
Fixed income risk The risk that bonds may
decrease in value if interest rates increase; an issuer may not be able to make principal and interest payments when due; a bond may
be prepaid prior to maturity; and, in the case of high yield bonds (“junk bonds”), such bonds may be subject to an increased
risk of default, a more limited secondary market than investment grade bonds, and greater price volatility. Interest rate changes are
influenced by a number of factors, such as government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, and the supply and demand of bonds.
Bonds and other fixed income securities with longer maturities or duration generally are more sensitive to interest rate changes. A fund
may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low interest rates.
Credit risk — The risk that an issuer of a debt
security, including a governmental issuer or an entity that insures a bond, may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal
in a timely manner. For additional information, see Note 10 in “Notes to financial statements.”
Issuer risk — The
risk that the value of an issuer’s securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as
management performance, financial leverage, and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services.
Interest rate risk — The risk that the prices
of bonds and other fixed income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Interest rate changes
are influenced by a number of factors, such as government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, and the supply and demand
of bonds. Bonds and other fixed income securities with longer maturities or duration generally are more sensitive to interest rate changes.
A fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low interest rates.
Prepayment risk — The risk that the principal
on a bond that is held by a fund will be prepaid prior to maturity at a time when interest rates are lower than what that bond was paying.
A fund may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
Loans and other indebtedness risk — The risk
that a fund will not receive payment of principal, interest, and other amounts due in connection with these investments and will depend
primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and the lending institution. A fund’s ability to sell its loans or to realize
their full value upon sale may also be impaired due to the lack of an active trading market, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ ask
spreads, contractual restrictions, and extended trade settlement periods. In addition, certain loans in which a fund invests may not
be considered securities. A fund therefore may not be able to rely upon the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws with
respect to these investments.
Duration risk — The risk that longer-duration
debt securities are more likely to decline in price than shorter duration debt securities in a rising interest rate environment. Duration
is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes.
Leveraging risk — The risk that certain fund
transactions using leveraging techniques may give rise to leverage, causing a fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged,
which may result in increased losses to a fund. Leveraging techniques, such as borrowing, will pose certain risks for shareholders, including
the possibility of higher volatility of both the NAV and market value of the shares. There can be no assurance that a fund would be able
to realize a higher net return on its investment portfolio than the then current dividend interest rate on any senior securities. In
such event, the fund leveraged capital structure would result in a lower yield to the shareholders than if the fund were not leveraged.
Accordingly, the effect of leverage in a declining market is likely to be a greater decline in the NAV of shares than if a fund were
not leveraged, which may be reflected in a greater decline in the market price of the shares. For additional information, see Note 7
in “Notes to financial statements.”
36
Table of Contents
Derivatives risk — Derivatives contracts, such
as futures, forward foreign currency contracts, options, and swaps, may involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums)
and are subject to significant loss if a security, index, reference rate, or other asset or market factor to which a derivatives contract
is associated, moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. When used for hedging, the change in value
of the derivatives instrument may also not correlate specifically with the currency, rate, or other risk being hedged, in which case
a fund may not realize the intended benefits. Derivatives contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to perform
its obligations under the contract due to, among other reasons, financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).
Counterparty risk — The risk that a counterparty
to a derivatives contract (such as a swap, futures, or options contract) or a repurchase agreement may fail to perform its obligations
under the contract or agreement due to, among other reasons, financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).
Liquidity risk — The possibility that investments
cannot be readily sold within seven calendar days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them. Where registration is required
to sell a security, a fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between
the decision to sell and the time the fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during
such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided
to sell. Restricted securities for which no market exists and other illiquid investments are valued at fair value as determined in accordance
with procedures approved and periodically reviewed by the Trustees of the fund.
Industry and sector risk — The risk that the
value of securities in a particular industry or sector (such as communication services) will decline because of changing expectations
for the performance of that industry or sector.
Nondiversification risk — Nondiversified investment
companies have the flexibility to invest as much as 50% of their assets in as few as two issuers, with no single issuer accounting for
more than 25% of the fund. The remaining 50% of the fund must be diversified so that no more than 5% of a fund’s assets are invested
in the securities of a single issuer. Because a nondiversified fund may invest its assets in fewer issuers, the value of fund shares
may increase or decrease more rapidly than if the fund were fully diversified.
IBOR risk — The risk that changes related to
the use of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or similar interbank offered rates (“IBORs,” such as the Euro Overnight
Index Average (EONIA)) could have adverse impacts on financial instruments that reference LIBOR or a similar rate. While some instruments
may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR or a similar rate is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate setting methodology,
not all instruments have such fallback provisions and the effectiveness of replacement rates is uncertain. The abandonment of LIBOR and
similar rates could affect the value and liquidity of instruments that reference such rates, especially those that do not have fallback
provisions. The use of alternative reference rate products may impact investment strategy performance.
Foreign risk — The risk that foreign securities
(particularly in emerging markets) may be adversely affected by political instability, changes in currency exchange rates, inefficient
markets and higher transaction costs, foreign economic conditions, the imposition of economic or trade sanctions, or inadequate or different
regulatory and accounting standards.
Foreign government/supranational risk — The
risk that a foreign government or government-related issuer may be unable to make timely payments on its external debt obligations.
Emerging markets risk — The risk associated
with international investing will be greater in emerging markets than in more developed foreign markets because, among other things,
emerging markets may have less stable political and economic environments. In addition, there often is substantially less publicly available
information about issuers and such information tends to be of a lesser quality. Economic markets and structures tend to be less mature
and diverse and the securities markets may also be smaller, less liquid, and subject to greater price volatility.
Currency risk — The risk that fluctuations in
exchange rates between the US dollar and foreign currencies and between various foreign currencies may cause the value of an investment
to decline.
Credit-linked notes risk — The risk that the
value of a credit-linked note may be impacted by its underlying reference obligation. Risks associated with underlying reference obligations,
include but are not limited to market risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, default risk, and foreign currency risk. The buyer of a
credit-linked note assumes the risk of default by the issuer and the underlying reference asset or entity. If the underlying investment
defaults, the payments and principal received by the Fund will be reduced or eliminated. Also, in the event the issuer defaults or there
is a credit event that relates to the reference asset, the recovery rate generally is less than a fund’s initial investment, and
a fund may lose money.
37
Table of Contents
Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Fund strategies and risks (continued)
Investment company securities risk — Investment in other investment companies typically reflects the risks of the types of securities in which the investment companies invest.
When the Fund invests in another investment company, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the other investment
company’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses, which could result in the
duplication of certain fees.
Board Consideration of Investment Management Agreement
at a Meeting Held August 9-11, 2022
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
At a meeting held on August 9-11, 2022 (the “Annual
Contract Renewal Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Trustees each of whom is not
an “interested person” as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Independent Trustees”), approved
the renewal of the Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) Investment Management Agreement with Delaware
Management Company (“DMC”).
Prior to the Meeting, including at a Board meeting held in
May 2022, the Trustees conferred extensively among themselves and with representatives of DMC about these matters. Also, the Board was
assisted by the applicable Investment Committee, with each Investment Committee assisting the full Board in the discharge of its duties
in reviewing investment performance and other matters throughout the year. The Independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation
of the Investment Management Agreement by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they
met separately.
In providing information to the Board, DMC was guided by
a detailed set of requests for information submitted to them by independent legal counsel on behalf of the Independent Trustees at the
start of the Board’s annual contract renewal process earlier in 2022. In considering and approving the Investment Management Agreement,
the Trustees considered the information they believed relevant, including but not limited to the information discussed below. The Board
considered not only the specific information presented in connection with the Meeting, but also the knowledge gained over time through
interaction with DMC about various topics. In this regard, the Board reviewed reports of DMC at each of its quarterly meetings, which
included information about, among other things, Fund performance, investment strategies, and expenses. In addition, the Investment Committees
confer with portfolio managers at various times throughout the year. In considering information relating to the approval of the Fund’s
Investment Management Agreement, the Independent Trustees also received information from an independent fund consultant, JDL Consultants,
LLC (“JDL”).
The Board did not identify any particular information or
consideration that was all-important or controlling, and each individual Trustee may have attributed different weights to various factors.
After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the
continuation of the Investment Management Agreement for a one-year term. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily
all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approval.
Nature, extent, and quality of services. The Board
received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of the advisory services provided to the Fund by
DMC under its Investment Management Agreement, and the experience of the officers and employees of DMC who provide these services, including
the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Board’s review included consideration of DMC’s investment process and oversight
and research and analysis capabilities, and its ability to attract and retain qualified investment professionals. The Board considered
information regarding DMC’s programs for risk management, including investment, operational, liquidity, valuation, and compliance
risks. The Board also considered the additional services provided to the Fund due to the fact that the Fund is a closed-end fund, including,
but not limited to, leverage management and monitoring, evaluating, and, where appropriate, making recommendations with respect to the
Fund’s trading discount, managed distribution program and distribution rates. The Board received information with respect to the
cybersecurity program and business continuity plans of DMC and its affiliates. The Board also considered non-advisory services that DMC
and its affiliates provide to the Delaware Funds, including third party oversight, transfer agent, internal audit, valuation, portfolio
trading, and legal and compliance. The Board took into account the benefits to shareholders of investing in a Fund that is part of a
family of funds managed by an affiliate of Macquarie Group Ltd. (“Macquarie”), the parent company of DMC, and the resources
available to DMC as part of Macquarie’s global asset management business.
The Board concluded that, overall, it was satisfied with
the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Fund by DMC.
38
Table of Contents
Investment performance. The Board received and considered
information with respect to the investment performance of the Fund, including performance reports and discussions with portfolio managers
at meetings of the Board’s Investment Committees throughout the year as well as reports provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions,
an independent investment company data provider (“Broadridge”), furnished for the Annual Contract Renewal Meeting. The Broadridge
reports prepared for the Fund showed its investment performance in comparison to a group of similar funds (the “Performance Universe”).
The Board received a description of the methodology used by Broadridge to select the funds in the Performance Universe. Comparative annualized
performance for the Fund was shown for the past 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-year periods and since inception, as applicable, ended December 31, 2021.
The Board considered that the Fund was managed by Ivy Investment Management Company prior to the acquisition of its parent company, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Transaction”), and that the Fund’s performance prior to the closing
of the Transaction on April 30, 2021 is that of its predecessor manager.
The Performance Universe for the Fund consisted of the
Fund and all leveraged closed-end high yield (leveraged) funds, regardless of asset size. The Board noted that the Broadridge report
comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods was in second quartile of its Performance
Universe. The Broadridge report comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods was above the
median of its Performance Universe. The Broadridge report also showed that the Fund outperformed its benchmark for the 1-, 3- and
5-year periods. The Board noted that the Fund is performing in line with its Performance Universe and benchmark during the periods
under review. The Board, however, noted that the investment performance of the current portfolio management team only began as of
November 2021.
Comparative expenses. The Board received and considered
expense data for the Fund. Management provided the Board with information on pricing levels and fee structures for the Fund as of its
most recently completed fiscal year. The Board also considered on the comparative analysis of contractual management fees and actual
total expense ratios of the Fund versus contractual management fees and actual total expense ratios of a group of similar funds as selected
by Broadridge (the “Expense Group”). In reviewing comparative costs, the Fund’s contractual management fee and the
actual management fee (for common and leveraged assets) incurred by the Fund were compared with the contractual management fees (assuming
all funds were similar in size to the Fund) and actual management fees, taking into account any applicable breakpoints and fee waivers,
with the Fund’s expense universe, which is comprised of the Fund, its Expense Group and all other leveraged closed-end high yield
funds, excluding outliers (the “Expense Universe”). The Fund’s total expenses were also compared with those of its
Expense Universe.
The expense comparisons for the Fund showed that its actual
management fee (for both common and leveraged assets) was above the median of its Expense Universe and its actual total expenses (for
common and leveraged assets) were below the Expense Group average.
The Board also received and considered information about
the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by DMC to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to
those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance,
reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing registered investment companies compared with those associated with managing
assets of other types of clients, including third-party sub-advised fund clients, unregistered funds and separately managed accounts.
Based on its consideration of the factors and information
it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to DMC under the Investment Management
Agreement was reasonable.
Economies of scale. The Board received and considered
information about the potential for DMC to realize economies of scale in the provision of management services to the Fund, the difficulties
of calculating economies of scale at an individual Fund level and the extent to which potential scale benefits are shared with shareholders.
The Board reviewed the Fund’s advisory fee pricing and structure. The Board noted that the Fund may also benefit from economies
of scale through DMC’s investment in its business, including investments in business infrastructure, technology and cybersecurity.
Management profitability. The Board received and considered
the Investment Management Profitability Analysis that addressed the overall profitability of DMC’s business in providing management
and other services to the Fund and the Delaware Funds as a whole, including the methodology used by DMC in allocating costs for the purpose
of determining profitability. The Board also reviewed a report prepared by JDL regarding DMC’s profitability as compared to certain
peer fund complexes and the Independent Trustees discussed DMC’s profitability in such context with representatives from JDL. Based
on its review, the Board determined that DMC’s profitability was not excessive in light of the nature, extent and quality of the
services provided to the Fund.
39
Table of Contents
Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund
Board Consideration of Investment Management Agreement
at a Meeting Held August 9-11, 2022
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
Ancillary benefits. The Board received and considered
information regarding the extent to which DMC and its affiliates might derive ancillary benefits from fund operations, including the
potential for procuring additional business as a result of the prestige and visibility associated with its role as investment manager
to the Delaware Funds; the benefits from allocation of fund brokerage to improve trading efficiencies; and the fees that various affiliates
received for serving as transfer agent and for overseeing fund accounting and financial administration services to the Delaware Funds.
The Board received information from DMC regarding its view of the performance of its affiliates in providing transfer agent and fund
accounting and financial administration oversight services and the organizational structure employed to provide these services pursuant
to their contracts with the Fund.
Based on its consideration of the factors and information
it deemed relevant, including the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund and the ongoing commitment
of DMC and its affiliates to the Fund, the Board did not find that any ancillary benefits received by DMC and its affiliates were unreasonable.
Conclusion. Based on its review, consideration and
evaluation of all factors it believed relevant, including the above-described factors and conclusions, the Board, including all of the
Independent Trustees, approved the continuation of DMC’s Investment Management Agreement for an additional one-year period.
40
Table of Contents
Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum
Delaware Funds by Macquarie®
A fund is governed by a Board of Trustees / Directors (“Trustees”),
which has oversight responsibility for the management of a fund’s business affairs. Trustees establish procedures and oversee
and review the performance of the investment manager and others who perform services for the fund. The independent fund trustees,
in particular, are advocates for shareholder interests. Each trustee has served in that capacity since he or she was elected to
or appointed to the Board of Trustees, and will continue to serve until his or her retirement or the election of a new trustee
in his or her place. The following is a list of the Trustees and Officers with certain background and related information.
Name,
Address,
and Birth Date |
|
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust |
|
Length of Time
Served1 |
|
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex Overseen
by Trustee |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the
Past Five Years |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the
Past Five Years |
|
Interested
Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shawn K. Lytle2
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
February 1970 |
|
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Trustee |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer since August 2015
Trustee since September 2015 |
|
128 |
|
Macquarie Asset Management3
(2015–Present)
-Global Head of Macquarie Asset
Management Public Investments
(2019–Present)
-Head of Americas of Macquarie Group
(2017–Present)
-Deputy Global
Head of Macquarie Asset Management
(2017–2019)
-Head of Macquarie Asset Management Americas
(2015–2017) |
|
None |
|
Independent
Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerome D. Abernathy
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
July 1959 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since January 2019 |
|
128 |
|
Stonebrook Capital Management, LLC (financial
technology: macro factors and databases)
-Managing
Member
(1993-Present) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas L. Bennett
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
October 1947 |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee since March 2005 Chair from March 2015 to August 2022 |
|
128 |
|
Private Investor
(2004–Present) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann D. Borowiec
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
November 1958 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since March 2015 |
|
128 |
|
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
(1987-2013)
-Chief Executive Officer, Private Wealth Management
(2011– 2013) |
|
Banco Santander International
(2016–2019)
Santander Bank, N.A.
(2016-2019) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph W. Chow
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
January 1953 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since January 2013 |
|
128 |
|
Private Investor
(2011–Present) |
|
None |
|
41
Table of Contents
Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum
Delaware Funds by Macquarie®
Name,
Address,
and Birth Date |
|
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust |
|
Length of Time
Served1 |
|
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex Overseen
by Trustee |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the
Past Five Years |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the
Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Jeffrey Dobbs
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
May 1955 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since April 20194 |
|
128 |
|
KPMG LLP
(2002-2015)
-Global Sector Chairman, Industrial Manufacturing
(2010-2015) |
|
TechAccel LLC (2015–Present) PatientsVoices, Inc.
(2018–Present) Valparaiso University Board (2012-Present)
Ivy Funds Complex (2019- 2021) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John A. Fry
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
May 1960 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since January 2001 |
|
128 |
|
Drexel University-President
(2010–Present) |
|
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
(2020–Present) FS Credit Real Estate Income Trust, Inc.
(2018–Present)
vTv Therapeutics Inc.
(2017–Present) Community Health Systems
(2004–Present) Drexel Morgan & Co.
(2015–2019) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
January 1967 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since November 19984 |
|
128 |
|
University of Oklahoma -President
(2020–Present)
-Interim President
(2019–2020)
-Vice President and Dean,
College of Law
(2010–2019)
Brookhaven Investments LLC (commercial enterprises)
-Managing Member
(2019–Present)
St. Clair, LLC (commercial enterprises)
-Managing Member
(2019–Present) |
|
OU Medicine, Inc. (2020–Present) Big 12 Athletic Conference (2019-Present) Valliance Bank
(2007–Present) Ivy
Funds Complex (1998-2021) |
|
42
Table of Contents
Name,
Address,
and Birth Date |
|
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust |
|
Length of Time
Served1 |
|
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex Overseen
by Trustee |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the
Past Five Years |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the
Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra A.J. Lawrence
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
September 1957 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since April 20194 |
|
128 |
|
Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
(2005–2019)
-Chief Administrative Officer
(2016–2019) |
|
Brixmor Property Group Inc.
(2021-Present) Sera Prognostics Inc. (biotechnology)
(2021-Present)
Recology (resource recovery)
(2021-Present) Evergy, Inc., Kansas City Power & Light Company, KCP&L Greater Missouri
Operations Company, Westar Energy, Inc. and Kansas Gas and Electric Company (related utility companies)
(2018-Present) National
Association of Corporate Directors (2017-Present) Ivy Funds Complex (2019-2021) American Shared Hospital Services (medical
device) (2017-2021) Westar Energy (utility) (2004-2018) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frances A.
Sevilla-Sacasa
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
January 1956 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since September 2011 |
|
128 |
|
Banco Itaú International
-Chief Executive Officer
(2012–2016) |
|
Florida Chapter of National Association of Corporate Directors (2021-Present) Callon Petroleum
Company (2019-Present) Camden Property Trust (2011-Present) New Senior Investment Group Inc. (2021) Carrizo Oil &
Gas, Inc. (2018-2019) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas K. Whitford
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
March 1956 |
|
Chair and Trustee |
|
Since January 2013 Chair since August 2022 |
|
128 |
|
PNC Financial Services Group
(1983–2013)
-Vice Chairman
(2009- 2013) |
|
HSBC USA Inc. (2014–2022) HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
(2013–2022) HSBC Finance
Corporation
(2013–2018) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christianna Wood
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
August 1959 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since January 2019 |
|
128 |
|
Gore Creek Capital, Ltd.
-Chief Executive Officer and President
(2009– Present) |
|
The Merger Fund (2013–2021), The Merger Fund VL (2013–2021), WCM Alternatives:
Event- Driven Fund
(2013–2021), and WCM Alternatives: Credit Event Fund
(2017–2021) Grange Insurance
(2013–Present)
H&R Block Corporation (2008–Present) |
|
43
Table of Contents
Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum
Delaware Funds by Macquarie®
Name,
Address,
and Birth Date |
|
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust |
|
Length of Time
Served1 |
|
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex Overseen
by Trustee |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During the
Past Five Years |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the
Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Janet L. Yeomans
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
July 1948 |
|
Trustee |
|
Since April 1999 |
|
128 |
|
3M Company
(1995-2012)
-Vice President and Treasurer
(2006–2012) |
|
Okabena Company (2009–2017) |
|
Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David F. Connor
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
December 1963 |
|
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary |
|
Senior Vice President, since May 2013; General Counsel since May 2015; Secretary since October 2005 |
|
128 |
|
David F. Connor has served in various capacities at different times at Macquarie Asset Management. |
|
None5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel V. Geatens
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
October 1972 |
|
Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
|
Senior Vice President and Treasurer since October 2007 |
|
128 |
|
Daniel V. Geatens has served in various capacities at different times at Macquarie Asset Management. |
|
None5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard Salus
100 Independence
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106-2354
October 1963 |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2006 |
|
128 |
|
Richard Salus has served in various capacities at different times at Macquarie Asset Management. |
|
None |
|
1 “Length
of Time Served” refers to the time since the Trustee or officer began serving one or more of the Trusts in the Delaware
Funds complex.
2 Shawn K. Lytle
is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he is an executive officer of the Funds investment advisor.
3 Macquarie Asset
Management is the marketing name for certain companies comprising the asset management division of Macquarie Group, including
the Funds’ investment advisor, principal underwriter, and transfer agent.
4 Includes time
served on the Board of Ivy Funds prior to the date when Ivy Funds joined the Delaware Funds complex.
5 David F. Connor serves as Senior Vice President and Secretary,
and Daniel V. Geatens serves as Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer, for the six portfolios of the Optimum
Fund Trust, which have the same investment manager, principal underwriter, and transfer agent as the Funds. Mr. Geatens also serves
as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Macquarie Global Infrastructure Total Return Fund Inc., which has the same investment
manager as the Funds.
44
Table of Contents
About the organization
This annual report is for the information of Delaware Ivy High Income
Opportunities Fund shareholders. The figures in this report represent past results that are not a guarantee of future results.
The return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less
than their original cost.
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may, from time to time, purchase shares of its common shares on the open market at market prices.
The Fund may purchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares.
Board of directors/trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shawn K. Lytle
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Delaware Funds by Macquarie®
Jerome D. Abernathy
Managing Member
Stonebrook Capital Management, LLC
Thomas L. Bennett
Private Investor
Ann D. Borowiec
Former Chief Executive Officer
Private Wealth Management
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Joseph W. Chow
Private Investor
H. Jeffrey Dobbs+
Former Global Sector Chairman
of Industrial Manufacturing
KPMG LLP
John A. Fry+
President
Drexel University
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
University of Oklahoma
Sandra A.J. Lawrence+
Former Chief Administrative Officer
Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa+
Former Chief Executive Officer
Banco Itaú International
+Audit Committee member |
|
Thomas K. Whitford
Chairman of the Board
Delaware Funds by Macquarie Former Vice Chairman PNC Financial Services
Group
Christianna Wood
Chief Executive Officer and President Gore Creek Capital, Ltd.
Janet L. Yeomans
Former Vice President and Treasurer 3M Company
Affiliated officers
David F. Connor
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary Delaware Funds by Macquarie
Daniel V. Geatens
Senior Vice President and Treasurer Delaware Funds by Macquarie
Richard Salus
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Delaware Funds by Macquarie
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT, as well as a description
of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities are
available without charge (i) upon request, by calling 866 437-0252; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. In addition,
a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies (if any) relating to portfolio
securities and the Schedule of Investments included in the Fund’s most recent Form N-PORT are available without charge on
the Fund’s website at delawarefunds.com/closed-end. Information (if any) regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to
portfolio securities during the most recently disclosed 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (i) through the
Fund’s website at delawarefunds.com/proxy; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
|
|
Investment manager Delaware Management Company, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT) Philadelphia, PA
Principal office of the Fund
610 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2354
Independent registered public accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Two Commerce Square Suite 1800
2001 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042
Registrar and stock transfer agent
Computershare, Inc. 480 Washington Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07310
866 437-0252
computershare.com/investor
Website
delawarefunds. com/closed-end
Your reinvestment options
Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund offers an automatic dividend reinvestment program. If you would like to
change your reinvestment option, and shares are registered in your name, contact Computershare, Inc. at 866 437-0252.
You will be asked to put your request in writing. If you have shares registered in “street” name, contact
the broker/dealer holding the shares or your financial advisor.
If you choose to receive your dividends in cash, you may
now elect to receive them by ACH transfer. Contact Computershare at the phone number above for more information. |
45