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As Of Filer Filing For·On·As Docs:Size Issuer Agent 7/28/15 Delaware Group Equity Funds IV 485BPOS 7/29/15 6:1.8M DG3/FA → Delaware Healthcare Fund ⇒ Class A (DLHAX) — Class C (DLHCX) — Class R (DLRHX) — Institutional Class (DLHIX) → Delaware Mid Cap Growth Equity Fund ⇒ Class A (DFCIX) — Class C (DEEVX) — Class R (DFRIX) — Institutional Class (DFDIX) |
Document/Exhibit Description Pages Size
1: 485BPOS Post-Effective Amendment Filed Pursuant to HTML 1.44M
Securities Act Rule 485(B)
2: EX-99.A.1.IV Executed Certificate of Amendment (May 21, 2015) HTML 12K
to the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust
3: EX-99.B Amended and Restated By-Laws (April 1, 2015) HTML 70K
4: EX-99.J Consent of Independent Registered Public HTML 6K
Accounting Firm (July 2015)
5: EX-99.P.2 Jackson Square Partners, LLC Code of Ethics HTML 78K
(January 2014)
6: EX-99.Q.5 Power of Attorney (April 23, 2015) HTML 11K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
| File No. 033-00442 | ||
| File No. 811-04413 | ||
| REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | /X/ | |
| Pre-Effective Amendment No. _____ | / / | |
| Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 | /X/ | |
| and/or | ||
| REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | /X/ | |
|
Amendment No. 54 |
||
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
| DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS IV | |
| (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) | |
| 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 19103-7094 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
| Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: | (800) 523-1918 |
| David F. Connor, Esq., 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094 |
| (Name and Address of Agent for Service) |
| Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: | July 29, 2015 |
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
| / / | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| /X/ | on July 29, 2015 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| / / | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| / / | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| / / | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
| / / | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. |
If appropriate check the following box:
| / / | this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
--- C O N T E N T S ---
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registration File No. 033-00442 includes the following:
| 1. | Facing Page | ||
| 2. | Contents Page | ||
| 3. | Part A - Prospectuses | ||
| 4. | Part B - Statement of Additional Information | ||
| 5. | Part C - Other Information | ||
| 6. | Signatures | ||
| 7. | Exhibits |
Prospectus
Alternative / specialty mutual fund
Delaware Healthcare Fund
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Nasdaq ticker symbols |
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Class A |
DLHAX |
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Class C |
DLHCX |
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Class R |
DLRHX |
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Institutional Class |
DLHIX |
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
Get shareholder reports and prospectuses online instead of in the mail.
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
Visit delawareinvestments.com/edelivery.
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| Table of contents | |
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What is the Fund's investment objective?
Delaware Healthcare Fund seeks maximum long-term capital growth through capital appreciation.
What are the Fund's fees and expenses?
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales-charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in the Fund's prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information (SAI) under the section entitled "Purchasing Shares."
| Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |||||||
| Class | A | C | R | Inst. | |||
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Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price |
5.75% | none | none | none | |||
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Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower |
none | 1.00%1 | none | none | |||
| Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | |||||||
| Class | A | C | R | Inst. | |||
| Management fees | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | |||
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% | none | |||
| Other expenses | 0.26% | 0.26% | 0.26% | 0.26% | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.36% | 2.11% | 1.61% | 1.11% | |||
| 1 |
Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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(if not redeemed) |
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| Class | A | C | C | R | Inst. |
| 1 year | $706 | $214 | $314 | $164 | $113 |
| 3 years | $981 | $661 | $661 | $508 | $353 |
| 5 years | $1,277 | $1,134 | $1,134 | $876 | $612 |
| 10 years | $2,116 | $2,441 | $2,441 | $1,911 | $1,352 |
Portfolio turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.
What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in the equity securities of healthcare companies, meaning companies that develop, produce, or distribute products or services related to the healthcare or medical industries and derive a substantial portion, that is, more than 50%, of their sales from products and services in the healthcare industry (80% policy). These products and services include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, medical device and supply companies, managed care companies, and healthcare information and service providers. The Fund invests in U.S. and non-U.S. companies across all market capitalizations. The Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in non-U.S. companies. The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its total assets in companies located in emerging markets.
The Fund's 80% policy is nonfundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. Fund shareholders would be given at least 60 days' notice prior to any such change.
What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?
Investing in any mutual 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. Principal risks include:
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.
Healthcare sector risk — The risk that the value of a fund's shares will be affected by factors particular to the healthcare and related sectors (such as government regulation) and may fluctuate more widely than that of a fund that invests in a broad range of sectors.
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.
Company size risk — The risk that investments in small- and/or medium-sized companies may be more volatile than those of larger companies because of limited financial resources or dependence on narrow product lines.
Nondiversification risk — A nondiversified fund has the flexibility to invest as much as 50% of its assets in as few as two issuers with no single issuer accounting for more than 25% of the fund. The remaining 50% of its assets must be diversified so that no more than 5% of its assets are invested in the securities of a single issuer. Because a nondiversified fund may invest its assets in fewer issuers, the value of its shares may increase or decrease more rapidly than if it were fully diversified.
Futures and options risk — The possibility that a fund may experience a loss if it employs an options or futures strategy related to a security or a market index and that security or index moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Futures and options also involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums), which could reduce any benefit or increase any loss that a fund gains from using the strategy.
Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a portfolio has valued them.
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 financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).
Government and regulatory risk — The risk that governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets and significantly affect fund performance.
Investments not guaranteed by Delaware Management Company (Manager) or its affiliates — Neither the Manager nor its affiliates noted in this document are authorized deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise.
How has Delaware Healthcare Fund performed?
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the 1-year, 5-year, and lifetime periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect any expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at delawareinvestments.com/performance.
Year-by-year total return (Class A)
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As of June 30, 2015, the Fund's Class A shares had a calendar year-to-date return of 15.52%. During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 22.95% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009 and its lowest quarterly return was -15.99% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011. The maximum Class A sales charge of 5.75%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this fee were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual total returns in the table below do include the sales charge.
Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2014
| 1 year | 5 years | Lifetime | |
| Class A return before taxes (lifetime: 09/28/07–12/31/14) | 10.31% | 18.67% | 18.36% |
| Class A return after taxes on distributions | 6.75% | 16.81% | 16.02% |
| Class A return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | 6.69% | 14.43% | 14.10% |
| Class C return before taxes (lifetime: 01/28/10–12/31/14) | 15.15% | __ | 19.35% |
| Class R return before taxes (lifetime: 01/28/10–12/31/14) | 16.74% | __ | 19.93% |
| Institutional Class return before taxes (lifetime: 9/28/07–12/31/14) | 17.32% | 20.39% | 19.54% |
| Russell 3000® Healthcare Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | 25.37% | 20.20% | 12.49% |
Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell is a trademark of the Russell Investment Group.
After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Who manages the Fund?
Investment manager
Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware Management Business Trust
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Portfolio manager |
Title with Delaware Management Company |
Start date on the Fund |
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Liu-Er Chen, CFA |
Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer — Emerging Markets and Healthcare |
September 2007 |
Purchase and redemption of Fund shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for business (Business Day). Shares may be purchased or redeemed: through your financial advisor; through the Fund's website at delawareinvestments.com; by calling 800 523-1918; by regular mail (c/o Delaware Investments, P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076); by overnight courier service (c/o Delaware Service Center, 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722); or by wire.
For Class A and Class C shares, the minimum initial investment is generally $1,000 and subsequent investments can be made for as little as $100. The minimum initial investment for IRAs, Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts, direct deposit purchase plans, and automatic investment plans is $250 and through Coverdell Education Savings Accounts is $500, and subsequent investments in these accounts can be made for as little as $25. For Class R and Institutional Class shares (except those shares purchased through an automatic investment plan), there is no minimum initial purchase requirement, but certain eligibility requirements must be met. The eligibility requirements are described in the prospectus under "Choosing a share class" and on the Fund's website. We may reduce or waive the minimums or eligibility requirements in certain cases.
Tax information
The Fund's distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing
through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
Payments to broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker/dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker/dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
We take a disciplined approach to investing, combining investment strategies and risk-management techniques that we believe can help shareholders meet their goals.
Our investment strategies
The Manager researches individual companies and analyzes economic and market conditions, seeking to identify the securities or market sectors that it believes are the best investments for the Fund. The following are descriptions of how the portfolio management team pursues the Fund's investment objective.
The Fund strives to achieve maximum long-term capital growth through capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities issued by healthcare companies. The Fund may invest in U.S. and non-U.S. companies of all market capitalizations.
The Manager will select growth-oriented and value-oriented investments on the basis of the investments' discount to intrinsic value. When selecting growth-oriented securities, the Manager typically seeks high growth caused by secular economic factors. These factors may include demographics, economic deregulation, and technological developments. When selecting value-oriented securities, the Manager typically seeks lower valuations caused by cyclical economic factors or temporary changes in business operations. Strong management and a sustainable business franchise are key considerations in selecting both growth-oriented and value-oriented securities.
To compare the value of different stocks, the Manager considers whether the future income stream on a stock is expected to increase faster than, slower than, or in line with the level of inflation. The Manager then estimates what it thinks the value of the anticipated future income stream would be if such income stream were being paid today. The Manager believes this gives it an estimate of the stock's intrinsic value. In addition, the Manager's process utilizes a customized quantitative screen and the Manager has created six custom healthcare subsectors that group companies according to common characteristics and are the basis for investment ideas.
The types of securities the Fund may invest in include, but are not limited to: common stocks; preferred stocks; securities having common stock characteristics, such as rights and warrants to purchase common stocks; and American, global, and European depositary receipts.
The Fund does not normally acquire securities for short-term purposes; however, the Manager may take advantage of short-term opportunities that are consistent with the Fund's investment objective.
The Fund's investment objective is nonfundamental. This means that the Fund's Board of Trustees (Board) may change the objective without obtaining shareholder approval. If the objective were changed, the Fund would notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change became effective.
The securities in which the Fund typically invests
Common or ordinary stocks
Common or ordinary stocks are securities that represent shares of ownership in a corporation. Stockholders participate in the corporation's profits proportionate to the number of shares they own.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund will focus its investments in common or ordinary stocks.
Foreign securities
Foreign securities are securities of issuers organized, having a majority of their assets, or deriving a majority of their operating income, in foreign countries. Investments in foreign securities include investments in American depositary receipts (ADRs), European depositary receipts (EDRs), and global depositary receipts (GDRs). ADRs are receipts issued by a depositary (usually a U.S. bank) and EDRs and GDRs are receipts issued by a depositary outside of the U.S. (usually a non-U.S. bank or trust company or a foreign branch of a U.S. bank). Depositary receipts represent an ownership interest in an underlying security that is held by the depositary. Generally, the underlying security represented by an ADR is issued by a foreign issuer and the underlying security represented by an EDR or GDR may be issued by a foreign or U.S. issuer. Sponsored depositary receipts are issued jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and the depositary, and unsponsored depositary receipts are issued by the depositary without the participation of the issuer of the underlying security. Generally, the holder of the depositary receipt is entitled to all payments of interest, dividends, or capital gains that are made on the underlying security.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, and GDRs, generally focusing on those whose underlying securities are issued by foreign entities. To determine whether to purchase a security in a foreign market or through a depositary receipt, the Manager evaluates the price levels, the transaction costs, taxes, and administrative costs, or other relevant factors involved with each security to try to identify the most efficient choice.
Futures and options
Futures contracts are agreements for the purchase or sale of a security or a group of securities at a specified price, on a specified date. Unlike purchasing an option, a futures contract must be executed unless it is sold before the settlement date.
Options represent a right to buy or sell a swap agreement or a security or a group of securities at an agreed upon price at a future date. The purchaser of an option may or may not choose to go through with the transaction. The seller of an option, however, must go through with the transaction if the purchaser exercises the option.
Certain options and futures may be considered derivatives securities.
Investing in futures and options may subject a fund to counterparty risk, which is the risk that a counterparty to such a contract or agreement may fail to perform its obligations under the contract or agreement due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization). As a result, the fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery, may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery at all.
How the Fund uses them:
If the Fund has stocks that have unrealized gains because of past appreciation, the Manager may want to protect those gains when it anticipates adverse conditions. The Manager might use options or futures to neutralize the effect of any price declines, without selling the security. The Manager might also use options or futures to gain exposure to a particular market segment without purchasing individual securities in that segment. The Manager might use this approach if the Fund had excess cash that the Manager wanted to invest quickly.
The Manager might use covered call options if it believes that doing so would help the Fund to meet its investment objective.
Use of these strategies can increase the operating costs of the Fund and can lead to loss of principal. Despite the ability to use futures and options as described above, the Manager does not currently intend to use such transactions often and may determine not to use futures and options at all.
The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.
Investment company securities
In some countries, investments by U.S. mutual funds are generally made by purchasing shares of investment companies that in turn invest in the securities of such countries.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may hold investment company securities if the Manager believes the country offers good investment opportunities. Such investment companies may be open-end or closed-end investment companies. These investments involve an indirect payment by the Fund's shareholders of a portion of the expenses of the other investment companies, including their advisory fees.
Foreign currency exchange contracts
A fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers and may hold foreign currency. In addition, a fund may enter into contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (a "forward foreign currency" contract or "forward" contract). A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract, agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.
How the Fund uses them:
Although the Manager values the Fund's assets daily in U.S. dollars, the Manager does not intend to convert the Fund's holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. The Manager is permitted to, however, from time to time, purchase or sell foreign currencies and/or engage in forward foreign currency exchange transactions. The Manager may conduct the Fund's foreign currency transactions on a cash basis at the rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through a forward foreign currency exchange contract or forward contract.
The Manager may use forward contracts for defensive hedging purposes to attempt to protect the value of the Fund's current security or currency holdings or to facilitate transactions in foreign securities. The Manager may also use forward contracts if it has agreed to sell a security and wants to "lock in" the price of that security, in terms of U.S. dollars. Investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. The Manager will not use forward contracts for speculative purposes. Despite the ability to utilize foreign currency transactions as described above, the Manager does not currently intend to use such transactions often and may determine not to use foreign currency transactions at all.
Repurchase agreements
A repurchase agreement is an agreement between a buyer of securities, such as a fund, and a seller of securities, in which the seller agrees to buy the securities back within a specified time at the same price the buyer paid for them, plus an amount equal to an agreed-upon interest rate. Repurchase agreements are often viewed as equivalent to cash.
How the Fund uses them: Typically, the Fund uses repurchase agreements as short-term investments for its cash position. In order to enter into these repurchase agreements, the Fund must have collateral of at least 102% of the repurchase price. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements in which the collateral is composed of U.S. government securities. At the Manager's discretion, the Fund may invest overnight cash balances in short-term discount notes issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or government-sponsored enterprises.
Restricted securities
Restricted securities are privately placed securities whose resale is restricted under U.S. securities laws.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest in privately placed securities, including those that are eligible for resale only among certain institutional buyers without registration, which are commonly known as "Rule 144A Securities." Restricted securities that are determined to be illiquid may not exceed the Fund's limit on investments in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities
Illiquid securities are securities that do not have a ready market and cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them. Illiquid securities include repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Borrowing from banks
The Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes or to facilitate redemptions. The Fund may also borrow money from banks to purchase investments for the Fund, which is a form of leverage. If the Fund borrows money to purchase securities and the Fund's investments decrease in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not borrow money for investment purposes. The Fund will be required to pay interest to the lending banks on the amounts borrowed. As a result, borrowing money could result in the Fund being unable to meet its investment objective.
Lending securities
The Fund may lend up to 25% of its assets to qualified broker/dealers or institutional investors for their use in securities transactions. Borrowers of the Fund's securities must provide collateral to the Fund and adjust the amount of collateral each day to reflect changes in the value of the loaned securities. These transactions, if any, may generate additional income for the Fund.
Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis
The Fund may buy or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis — that is, paying for securities before delivery or taking delivery at a later date. The Fund will designate cash or securities in amounts sufficient to cover its obligations, and will value the designated assets daily.
Initial public offerings (IPOs)
Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in companies at the times of their IPOs. Companies involved in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and prospects for future profitability are uncertain. Prices of IPOs may also be unstable because of the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading, and limited investor information. IPOs may be sold within 12 months of purchase. This may result in increased short-term capital gains, which will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
Temporary defensive positions
In response to unfavorable market conditions, the Fund may make temporary investments in cash or cash equivalents or other high-quality, short-term instruments. These investments may not be consistent with the Fund's investment objective. To the extent that the Fund holds such instruments, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
The risks of investing in the Fund
Investing in any mutual fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment, and the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks. Because of the nature of the Fund, you should consider your investment to be a long-term investment that typically provides the best results when held for a number of years. The information below describes the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of these risks and other risks not discussed here.
Healthcare sector risk
Healthcare sector risk is the risk that the value of a fund's shares will be affected by factors particular to the healthcare and related sectors (such as government regulation) and may fluctuate more widely than that of a fund that invests in a broad range of sectors.
How the Fund strives to manage it: To the extent the Fund invests in healthcare companies, it is subject to the risks associated with the healthcare industry. The Manager monitors the benchmark and its sector weightings to understand investment trends in the healthcare industry. Investors should carefully consider these risks before investing in the Fund.
Market risk
Market risk is 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.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund maintains a long-term investment approach and focuses on securities that the Manager believes can appreciate over an extended period of time regardless of interim market fluctuations. The Manager does not try to predict overall market movements. Although the Fund may hold securities for any amount of time, it generally does not trade for short-term purposes.
The Fund may hold a substantial part of its assets in cash or cash equivalents as a temporary, defensive strategy.
Industry and security risks
Industry risk is the risk that the value of securities in a particular industry (such as financial services or manufacturing) will decline because of changing expectations for the performance of that industry.
Security risk is the risk that the value of an individual stock or bond will decline because of changing expectations for the performance of the individual company issuing the stock or bond (due to situations that could range from decreased sales to events such as a pending merger or actual or threatened bankruptcy).
How the Fund strives to manage them: The Fund intends to hold a number of different individual securities, seeking to manage security risk. However, the Fund does concentrate on the healthcare industry. As a consequence, the share price of the Fund may fluctuate in response to factors affecting that industry, and may fluctuate more widely than a fund that invests in a broader range of industries. The Fund may be more susceptible to any single economic, political, or regulatory occurrence affecting the healthcare industry.
Foreign risk
Foreign risk is 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 or government conditions; the imposition of economic and/or trade sanctions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager attempts to reduce the risks presented by such investments by conducting worldwide fundamental research, including country visits. In addition, the Manager monitors current economic and market conditions and trends, the political and regulatory environment, and the value of currencies in different countries in an effort to identify the most attractive countries and securities.
Emerging markets risk
Emerging markets risk is the possibility that the risks 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, in many emerging markets there is substantially less publicly available information about issuers and the information that is available tends to be of a lesser quality. Economic markets and structures tend to be less mature and diverse and the securities markets, which are subject to less government regulation or supervision, may also be smaller, less liquid, and subject to greater price volatility.
How the Fund strives to manage it: Striving to manage this risk, the Manager carefully screens securities within emerging markets and attempts to consider material risks associated with an individual company or issuer.
Political risk
Political risk is the risk that countries or an entire region may experience political instability. This may cause greater fluctuation in the value and liquidity of investments due to changes in currency exchange rates, governmental seizures, or nationalization of assets.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager evaluates the political situations in the countries where it invests for the Fund and takes into account any potential risks before it selects securities for the Fund. However, there is no way to eliminate political risk when investing internationally. In emerging markets, political risk is typically more likely to affect the economy and share prices than in developed markets.
Currency risk
Currency risk is the risk that the value of a fund's investments may be negatively affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Adverse changes in exchange rates may reduce or eliminate any gains produced by investments that are denominated in foreign currencies and may increase any losses.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager may try to hedge the Fund's currency risk by purchasing foreign currency exchange contracts. If the Manager agrees to purchase or sell foreign securities at a preset price on a future date, it may attempt to protect the value of a security the Fund owns from future changes in currency exchange rates. If the Manager has agreed to purchase or sell a security for the Fund, it may also use foreign currency exchange contracts to "lock in" the security's price in terms of U.S. dollars or another applicable currency. The Fund may use forward foreign currency exchange contracts only for defensive or protective measures, not to enhance portfolio returns. However, there is no assurance that such strategies will be successful or that the Fund will necessarily utilize such strategies. Hedging may be less practical in emerging markets.
Information risk
Information risk is the risk that foreign companies may be subject to different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than U.S. companies. There may be less information available about foreign issuers than domestic issuers. Furthermore, regulatory oversight of foreign issuers may be less stringent or less consistently applied than in the United States.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager conducts fundamental research on the companies in which the Fund invests rather than relying solely on information available through financial reporting. As part of its worldwide research process, the Manager emphasizes meetings and direct contact with company officials. The Manager believes this will help to better uncover any potential weaknesses in individual companies.
Inefficient market risk
Inefficient market risk is the risk that foreign markets may be less liquid and have greater price volatility, less regulation, and higher transaction costs than U.S. markets.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager will attempt to reduce this risk by investing in a number of different countries, noting trends in the economy, industries, and financial markets.
Transaction costs risk
Transaction costs risk is the risk that the costs of buying, selling, and holding foreign securities, including brokerage, tax, and custody costs, may be higher than those involved in domestic transactions.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund is subject to this risk. The Manager strives to monitor transaction costs and to choose an efficient trading strategy for the Fund.
Company size risk
Company size risk is the risk that investments in small- and/or medium-sized companies typically exhibit higher volatility than larger, more established companies. Company size risk also comes from lower liquidity typically associated with small company stocks, which means the price may be affected by poorly executed trades, even if the underlying business of the company is unchanged.
How the Fund strives to manage it: Although the Fund typically holds a number of different stocks, in order to reduce the impact that one small company stock could have on it, because the Fund is nondiversified, it is possible that a single small company stock could be a significant holding and therefore subject the Fund to greater risk of volatility.
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.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund is a nondiversified fund and is subject to this risk. Nevertheless, the Fund typically holds securities from a variety of different issuers, representing different sectors of the healthcare industry. The Manager performs extensive analysis on all securities. The Manager is particularly diligent in reviewing securities that represent a larger percentage of portfolio assets.
Futures and options risk
Futures and options risk is the possibility that a fund may experience a significant loss if it employs an options or futures strategy related to a security or a market index and that security or index moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Futures and options also involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums), which could reduce any benefit or increase any loss to a fund from using the strategy.
Investing in derivatives may subject a fund to counterparty risk. Please refer to "Counterparty risk" for more information.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund may use futures contracts and options on futures contracts, as well as options on securities for hedging purposes. The Manager limits the amount of the Fund's assets that may be committed to these strategies. The Fund's obligations related to futures and options transactions will not exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets and the Fund will not enter into additional futures contracts or options on them if more than 5% of the Fund's assets would be required as margin deposits or premiums on the options. There is no assurance that such strategies will be successful or that the Fund will necessarily utilize such strategies.
Counterparty risk
Counterparty risk is the risk that if a fund enters into a derivatives contract (such as a swap, futures, or options contract) or a repurchase agreement, the counterparty to such a contract or agreement may fail to perform its obligations under the contract or agreement due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization). As a result, the fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery, may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery at all.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Manager seeks to minimize this risk by considering the creditworthiness of all counterparties before the Fund enters into transactions with them. The Fund may hold collateral from counterparties consistent with applicable regulations.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund limits its exposure to illiquid securities to no more than 15% of its net assets.
Government and regulatory risks
Governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets and significantly affect fund performance. Government involvement in the private sector may, in some cases, include government investment in, or ownership of, companies in certain commercial business sectors; wage and price controls; or imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures. For example, an economic or political crisis may lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, the creation of government monopolies, foreign exchange controls, the introduction of new currencies (and the redenomination of financial obligations into those currencies), or other measures that could be detrimental to the investments of a fund.
How the Fund strives to manage them: The Manager evaluates the economic and political climate in the relevant jurisdictions before selecting securities for the Fund. The Manager typically diversifies the Fund's assets among a number of different securities in order to minimize the impact to the Fund of any legislative or regulatory development affecting particular issuers or market sectors.
Disclosure of portfolio holdings information
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio securities is available in the SAI.
The Manager, located at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, is the Fund's investment manager. Together, the Manager and the subsidiaries of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (DMHI) manage, as of March 31, 2015 , more than $180 billion in assets, including mutual funds, separate accounts, and other investment vehicles. The Manager and its predecessors have been managing the Delaware Investments ® Funds since 1938. The Manager is a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, which is a subsidiary of DMHI. DMHI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited. The Manager makes investment decisions for the Fund, manages the Fund's business affairs, and provides daily administrative services. For its services to the Fund, the Manager was paid an aggregate fee, net of fee waivers (if applicable), of 0.85% of average daily net assets during the last fiscal year.
A discussion of the basis for the Board's approval of the Fund's investment advisory contract is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the period ended Sept. 30, 2014.
Liu-Er Chen has primary responsibility for making day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund.
Liu-Er Chen, CFA,
Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer — Emerging Markets and Healthcare
Liu-Er Chen heads the firm's global Emerging Markets team, and he is also the portfolio manager for Delaware Healthcare Fund, which launched in September 2007. Prior to joining Delaware Investments in September 2006 in his current position, he spent nearly 11 years at Evergreen Investment Management Company, where he most recently worked as managing director and senior portfolio manager. He co-managed the Evergreen Emerging Markets Growth Fund from 1999 to 2001, and became the Fund's sole manager in 2001. He was also the sole manager of the Evergreen Health Care Fund since its inception in 1999. Chen began his career at Evergreen in 1995 as an analyst covering Asian and global healthcare stocks, before being promoted to portfolio manager in 1998. Prior to his career in asset management, Chen worked for three years in sales, marketing, and business development for major American and European pharmaceutical and
medical device companies. He received his medical education in China and he has experience in medical research at both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Cornell Medical School. He holds an MBA with a concentration in management from Columbia Business School.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager's ownership of Fund shares.
The Fund and the Manager have received an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate under a manager of managers structure that permits the Manager, with the approval of the Board, to appoint and replace sub-advisors, enter into sub-advisory agreements, and materially amend and terminate sub-advisory agreements on behalf of the Fund without shareholder approval (Manager of Managers Structure). Under the Manager of Managers Structure, the Manager has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, for overseeing the Fund's sub-advisors and recommending to the Board their hiring, termination, or replacement. The SEC order does not currently apply to any sub-advisor that is affiliated with the Fund or the Manager. While the Manager does not currently expect to use the Manager of Managers Structure with respect to the Fund, the Manager may, in the future, recommend to the Board the establishment of the Manager of Managers Structure by recommending the hiring of one or more sub-advisors to manage all or a portion of the Fund's portfolio.
The Manager of Managers Structure enables the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approvals for matters relating to sub-advisors or sub-advisory agreements. The Manager of Managers Structure does not permit an increase in the overall management and advisory fees payable by the Fund without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified of any changes made to sub-advisors or sub-advisory agreements within 90 days of the changes.
The Fund and Manager are now seeking expanded exemptive relief with the SEC for a new manager of managers exemptive order (the "New MOM Order") that would permit the Manager, with the approval of the Fund's Board, to appoint and replace both affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisors, and to enter into, terminate, and make material amendments to the related sub-advisory contracts on behalf of the Fund without shareholder approval. If the Fund and Manager are granted the New MOM Order that includes relief related to any affiliated sub-advisors, it would permit the Manager to recommend and hire a broader universe of sub-advisors than it may hire currently. Shareholders of the Fund have approved the use of the New MOM Order subject to the SEC's granting such relief.
Board of trustees: A mutual fund is governed by a board of trustees, which has oversight responsibility for the management of the fund's business affairs. Trustees establish procedures and oversee and review the performance of the fund's service providers.
Investment manager: An investment manager is a company responsible for selecting portfolio investments consistent with the objective and policies stated in the mutual fund's prospectus. A written contract between a mutual fund and its investment manager specifies the services the investment manager performs and the fee the manager is entitled to receive.
Portfolio managers: Portfolio managers make investment decisions for individual portfolios.
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Distributor: Most mutual funds continuously offer new shares to the public through distributors that are regulated as broker/dealers and are subject to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules governing mutual fund sales practices.
Service agent: Mutual fund companies employ service agents (sometimes called transfer agents) to maintain records of shareholder accounts, calculate and disburse dividends and capital gains, and prepare and mail shareholder statements and tax information, among other functions. Many service agents also provide administrative services to a fund and oversight of other fund service providers.
Custodian/Fund accountant: Mutual funds are legally required to protect their portfolio securities, and most funds place them with a qualified bank custodian that segregates fund securities from other bank assets. The fund accountant provides services such as calculating a fund's net asset value (NAV) and providing financial reporting information for the fund.
Financial advisors: Financial advisors provide advice to their clients. They are associated with securities broker/dealers who have entered into selling and/or service arrangements with the distributor. Selling broker/dealers and financial advisors are compensated for their services generally through sales commissions, and through 12b-1 fees and/or service fees deducted from a fund's assets.
Shareholders: Mutual fund shareholders have specific voting rights on matters such as material changes in the terms of a fund's management contract and changes to fundamental investment policies.
You can choose from a number of share classes for the Fund. Because each share class has a different combination of sales charges, fees, and other features, you should consult your financial intermediary or your financial advisor (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "financial intermediary") to determine which share class best suits your investment goals and time frame. It is the responsibility of your financial intermediary to assist you in determining the most appropriate share class and to communicate such determination to us.
Information about existing sales charges and sales charge reductions and waivers is available free of charge on the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website at delawareinvestments.com, including hyperlinks to relevant information in fund offering documents. Additional information on sales charges can be found in the SAI, which is available upon request.
Each share class may be eligible for purchase through programs sponsored by financial intermediaries that require the purchase of a specific class
of shares.
Class A, Class C, and Class R shares have each adopted a separate 12b-1 plan that allows them to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of their shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Class A
Class A shares have an upfront sales charge of up to 5.75% that you pay when you buy the shares.
If you invest $50,000 or more, your front-end sales charge will be reduced.
You may qualify for other reduced sales charges, and, under certain circumstances, the sales charge may be waived, as described in "How to reduce your sales charge" below.
Class A shares are also subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 0.25% of average daily net assets. See "Dealer compensation" below for further information.
Class A shares generally are not subject to a CDSC, except in the limited circumstances described in the table below.
Class A shares generally are not available for purchase by anyone qualified to purchase Class R shares, except as described below.
Because of the higher 12b-1 fee, Class A shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Institutional Class shares.
Class A sales charges
The table below details your sales charges on purchases of Class A shares. The offering price for Class A shares includes the front-end sales charge. The sales charge as a percentage of the net amount invested is the maximum percentage of the amount invested rounded to the nearest hundredth. The actual sales charge that you pay as a percentage of the offering price and as a percentage of the net amount invested will vary depending on the then-current NAV, the percentage rate of the sales charge, and rounding.
| Amount of purchase |
Sales charge as % of offering price |
Sales charge as % of net amount invested |
||
| Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.54% | ||
| $50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.75% | 5.41% | ||
| $100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.75% | 4.31% | ||
| $250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.50% | 3.00% | ||
| $500,000 but less than $1 million | 2.00% | 2.44% | ||
| $1 million or more | none* | none* | ||
* There is no front-end sales charge when you purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares. However, if Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor) paid your financial intermediary a commission on your purchase of $1 million or more of Class A shares, you will have to pay a Limited CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem these shares within the first year after your purchase and 0.50% if you redeem shares within the second year, unless a specific waiver of the Limited CDSC applies. The Limited CDSC will be paid to the Distributor and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the NAV at the time the Class A shares being redeemed were purchased; or (2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption. For purposes of this formula, the "NAV at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of the Class A shares even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund and, in the event of an exchange of Class A shares, the "NAV of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares acquired in the exchange. In determining whether a Limited CDSC is payable, it will be assumed that shares not subject to the Limited CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. See "Dealer compensation" below for a description of the dealer commission that is paid.
Class C
Class C shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund. However, you will pay a CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem your shares within 12 months after you buy them.
In determining whether the CDSC applies to a redemption of Class C shares, it will be assumed that shares held for more than 12 months are redeemed first, followed by shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or distributions, and finally by shares held for 12 months or less. For further information on how the CDSC is determined, please see "Calculation of contingent deferred sales charges — Class C" below.
Under certain circumstances, the CDSC may be waived; please see "Waivers of contingent deferred sales charges" below for further information.
Class C shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 1.00% of average daily net assets (of which 0.25% is a service fee) paid to the Distributor, dealers, or others for providing services and maintaining shareholder accounts.
Class C shares do not automatically convert to another class.
You may purchase only up to $1 million of Class C shares at any one time. Orders that exceed $1 million will be rejected.
Because of their higher 12b-1 fee, Class C shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Class A, Class R, and Institutional Class shares.
Calculation of contingent deferred sales charges — Class C
CDSCs are charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject to the CDSC. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the NAV at the time the shares being redeemed were purchased or the NAV of those shares at the time of redemption. No CDSC will be imposed on increases in NAV above the initial purchase price, nor will a CDSC be assessed on redemptions of shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. For purposes of this formula, the "NAV at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of Class C shares of the Fund, even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund. In the event of an exchange of the shares, the "NAV of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares that were acquired in the exchange.
Class R
Class R shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund. Class R shares are not subject to a CDSC.
Class R shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 0.50% of average daily net assets.
Class R shares do not automatically convert to another class.
Class R shares generally are available only to: (i) qualified and nonqualified plan shareholders covering multiple employees (including 401(k),
401(a), 457, and noncustodial 403(b) plans, as well as certain other nonqualified deferred compensation plans); and (ii) individual retirement account (IRA) rollovers from legacy Delaware Investments
®
plans that were previously maintained on the Delaware Investments
®
retirement recordkeeping system or the retirement recordkeeping system of Ascensus (formerly, BISYS) that are offering Class R shares to participants.
Except as noted above, no other IRAs are eligible for Class R shares (for example, no traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SEPs, or SARSEPs). For purposes of determining plan asset levels, affiliated plans may be combined at the request of the plan sponsor.
Any account holding Class A shares of the Fund as of the date Class R shares were made available for the Fund continues to be eligible to purchase the Fund's Class A shares after that date. Any account holding the Fund's Class R shares is not eligible to purchase its Class A shares.
Because of their higher 12b-1 fee, Class R shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Class A and Institutional Class shares.
Institutional Class
Institutional Class shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund.
Institutional Class shares do not assess a CDSC or a 12b-1 fee.
Institutional Class shares are available for purchase only by the following:
rollover IRAs from retirement plans and retirement plans introduced by persons not associated with brokers or dealers that are primarily engaged in the retail securities business;
retirement plans or certain other programs that are maintained on platforms sponsored by financial intermediary firms, provided the financial intermediary firms or their trust companies (or entities performing similar trading/clearing functions) have entered into an agreement with the Distributor (or its affiliate) related to such plans or programs;
tax-exempt employee benefit plans of the Manager, its affiliates, and securities dealers that have a selling agreement with the Distributor;
institutional advisory clients (including mutual funds) of the Manager or its affiliates, as well as those clients' affiliates, and their corporate sponsors, subsidiaries, related employee benefit plans, and rollover IRAs of, or from, such institutional advisory clients;
a bank, trust company, or similar financial institution investing for its own account or for the account of its trust customers for whom the financial institution is exercising investment discretion in purchasing Institutional Class shares, except where the investment is part of a program that requires payment to the financial institution of a Rule 12b-1 Plan fee;
registered investment advisors (RIAs) investing on behalf of clients that consist solely of institutions and high net worth individuals whose assets are entrusted to an RIA for investment purposes for accounts requiring Institutional Class shares (use of the Institutional Class shares is restricted to RIAs who are not affiliated or associated with a broker or dealer and who derive compensation for their services exclusively from their advisory clients);
programs sponsored by, controlled by, and/or clearing transactions submitted through a financial intermediary where: (1) such programs allow or require the purchase of Institutional Class shares; (2) a financial intermediary has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent allowing certain purchases of Institutional Class shares; and (3) a financial intermediary (i) charges clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment consulting or similar services, or (ii) offers the Institutional Class shares through a no-commission network or platform; or
private investment vehicles, including, but not limited to, foundations and endowments.
The financial intermediary who sells you shares of the Fund may be eligible to receive the following amounts as compensation for your investment in the Fund. These amounts are paid by the Distributor to the securities dealer with whom your financial advisor is associated. Institutional Class shares do not have a 12b-1 fee or sales charge so they are not included in the table below.
| Class A1 | Class C2 | Class R3 | |
| Commission (%) | — | 1.00% | — |
| Investment less than $50,000 | 5.00% | — | — |
| $50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.00% | — | — |
| $100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.00% | — | — |
| $250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.00% | — | — |
| $500,000 but less than $1 million | 1.60% | — | — |
| $1 million but less than $5 million | 1.00% | — | — |
| $5 million but less than $25 million | 0.50% | — | — |
| $25 million or more | 0.25% | — | — |
| 12b-1 fee to dealer | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% |
1 On sales of Class A shares, the Distributor reallows to your securities dealer a portion of the front-end sales charge depending upon the amount you invested. Your securities dealer may be eligible to receive a 12b-1 fee up to 0.25% from the date of purchase.
2 On sales of Class C shares, the Distributor may pay your securities dealer an upfront commission of 1.00%. The upfront commission includes an advance of the first year's 12b-1 service fee of up to 0.25%. During the first 12 months, the Distributor retains the full 1.00% 12b-1 fee to partially offset the upfront commission and the prepaid 0.25% service fee advanced at the time of purchase. Starting in the 13th month, your securities dealer may be eligible to receive the full 1.00% 12b-1 fee applicable to Class C shares. Alternatively, certain intermediaries may not be eligible to receive the upfront commission of 1.00%, but may receive the 12b-1 fee for sales of Class C shares from the date of purchase.
3 On sales of Class R shares, the Distributor does not pay your securities dealer an upfront commission. Your securities dealer may be eligible to receive a 12b-1 fee of up to 0.50% from the date of purchase.
The Distributor and its affiliates may pay additional compensation at their own expense and not as an expense of the Fund to certain affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries (Financial Intermediaries) in connection with the sale or retention of Fund shares and/or shareholder servicing, including providing the Fund with "shelf space" or a higher profile with the Financial Intermediaries' consultants, salespersons, and customers (distribution assistance). For example, the Distributor or its affiliates may pay additional compensation to Financial Intermediaries for various purposes, including, but not limited to, promoting the sale of Fund shares, maintaining share balances and/or for subaccounting, administrative, or shareholder processing services, marketing, educational support, data, and ticket charges. Such payments are in addition to any distribution fees, service fees, subaccounting fees, and/or transfer agency fees that may be payable by the Fund. The additional payments may be based on factors, including level of sales (based on gross or net sales or some specified minimum sales or some other similar criteria related to sales of the Fund and/or some or all other Delaware Investments ® Funds), amount of assets invested by the Financial Intermediary's customers (which could include current or aged assets of the Fund and/or some or all other Delaware Investments ® Funds), the Fund's advisory fees, some other agreed-upon amount, or other measures as determined from time to time by the Distributor. The level of payments made to a qualifying Financial Intermediary in any given year may vary. To the extent permitted by SEC and FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Distributor may pay, or allow its affiliates to pay, other promotional incentives or payments to Financial Intermediaries.
Sub-transfer agent/recordkeeping payments may be made to third parties (including affiliates of DMC) that provide sub-transfer agent, recordkeeping and/or shareholder services with respect to certain shareholder accounts in lieu of the transfer agent providing such services.
If a mutual fund sponsor or distributor makes greater payments for distribution assistance to your Financial Intermediary with respect to distribution of shares of that particular mutual fund than sponsors or distributors of other mutual funds make to your Financial Intermediary with respect to the distribution of the shares of their mutual funds, your Financial Intermediary and its salespersons may have a financial incentive to favor sales of shares of the mutual fund making the higher payments over shares of other mutual funds or over other investment options. In addition, depending on the arrangements in place at any particular time, a Financial Intermediary may also have a financial incentive for recommending a particular share class over other share classes. You should consult with your Financial Intermediary and review carefully any disclosure provided by such Financial Intermediary as to compensation it receives in connection with investment products it recommends or sells to you. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase sales of the Fund's shares. The Manager or its affiliates may benefit from the Distributor's or its affiliates' payment of compensation to Financial Intermediaries through increased fees resulting from additional assets acquired through the sale of Fund shares through Financial Intermediaries. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your Financial Intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or the price of the Fund's shares.
How to reduce your sales charge
We offer a number of ways to reduce or eliminate the front-end sales charge on Class A shares. Please refer to the SAI for detailed information and eligibility requirements. You can also get additional information from your financial intermediary. You or your financial intermediary must notify us at the time you purchase shares if you are eligible for any of these programs. You may also need to provide information to your financial intermediary or the Fund in order to qualify for a reduction in sales charges. Such information may include your Delaware Investments® Funds holdings in any other accounts, including retirement accounts, held indirectly or through an intermediary, and the names of qualifying family members and their holdings. We reserve the right to determine whether any purchase is entitled, by virtue of the foregoing, to the reduced sales charge. Class R and Institutional Class shares have no upfront sales charge or CDSC so they are not included in the table below.
Letter of intent and rights of accumulation
Through a letter of intent you agree to invest a certain amount in Delaware Investments ® Funds (except money market funds with no sales charge) over a 13-month period to qualify for reduced front-end sales charges. Delaware Investments ® Funds no longer accept retroactive letters of intent.
You can combine your holdings or purchases of Class A and Class C shares of Delaware Investments ® Funds (as set forth in the SAI) as well as the holdings and purchases of your spouse — or equivalent, if recognized under local law — and children under the age of 21 to qualify for reduced front-end sales charges.
| Class A | Class C | ||
| Available. | Although the letter of intent does not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine your purchase of Class C shares with your purchase of Class A shares to fulfill your letter of intent. Although the rights of accumulation do not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine the value of your Class C shares with the value of your Class A shares to receive a reduced sales charge. | ||
Reinvestment of redeemed shares
Up to 12 months after you redeem shares, you can reinvest the proceeds without paying a sales charge.
| Class A | Class C | ||
| Available. | Not available. | ||
SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, 401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans
These investment plans may qualify for reduced sales charges by combining the purchases of all members of the group. Members of these groups may also qualify to purchase shares without a front-end sales charge and may qualify for a waiver of any CDSCs on Class A shares.
| Class A | Class C |
| Available. | Although front-end sales charges do not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine your purchase of Class A shares with your purchase of Class C shares in order to reduce your sales charge on Class A shares. |
Buying Class A shares at net asset value
Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at NAV under the following circumstances, provided that you notify the Fund in advance that the trade qualifies for this privilege. The Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate these arrangements at any time.
Shares purchased under the Delaware Investments ® dividend reinvestment plan and, under certain circumstances, the exchange privilege and the 12-month reinvestment privilege.
Purchases by: (i) current and former officers, Trustees/Directors, and employees of any Delaware Investments ® Fund, the Manager, or any of the Manager's current affiliates and those that may in the future be created; (ii) current employees of legal counsel to the Delaware Investments ® Funds; and (iii) registered representatives, employees, officers, and directors of broker/dealers who have entered into dealer's agreements with the Distributor. At the direction of such persons, their family members (regardless of age), and any employee benefit plan, trust, or other entity directly owned by, controlled by, or established by any of the foregoing may also purchase shares at NAV.
Shareholders who own Class A shares of Delaware Cash Reserve ® Fund as a result of a liquidation of a Delaware Investments ® Fund may exchange into Class A shares of another Delaware Investments ® Fund at NAV.
Purchases by bank employees who provide services in connection with agreements between the bank and unaffiliated brokers or dealers concerning sales of shares of the Delaware Investments ® Funds.
Purchases by certain officers, trustees, and key employees of institutional clients of the Manager or any of its affiliates.
Purchases by programs sponsored by, controlled by, and/or clearing transactions submitted through a financial intermediary where: (i) such programs allow or require the purchase of Class A shares; (ii) a financial intermediary has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent allowing certain purchases of Class A shares; and (iii) a financial intermediary (1) charges clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment consulting, or similar services, or (2) offers the Class A shares through a no-commission network or platform. Investors may be charged a fee by their financial intermediary when effecting transactions in Class A shares through a financial intermediary that offers these programs.
Purchases for the benefit of the clients of brokers, dealers, and other financial intermediaries if such brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries have entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing for the purchase of Class A shares at NAV through self-directed brokerage service platforms or programs. Investors may be charged a fee by their financial intermediary when effecting transactions in Class A shares at NAV through a self-directed investment brokerage service platform or program.
Purchases by financial institutions investing for the accounts of their trust customers if they are not eligible to purchase shares of the Institutional Class, if applicable.
Purchases by retirement plans or certain other programs that are maintained or sponsored by financial intermediary firms, provided the financial intermediary firms or their trust companies (or entities performing similar trading/clearing functions) have entered into an agreement with the Distributor (or its affiliate) related to such plans or programs.
Purchases by certain legacy bank-sponsored retirement plans and certain legacy retirement assets that meet requirements set forth in the SAI.
Investments made by plan level and/or participant retirement accounts that are for the purpose of repaying a loan taken from such accounts.
Purchases by certain participants in defined contribution plans and members of their households whose plan assets will be rolled over into IRA accounts (IRA Program) where the financial intermediary has entered into an agreement specifically relating to such IRA Program with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent.
Purchases by certain participants of particular group retirement plans as described in the SAI.
Waivers of contingent deferred sales charges
Certain sales charges may be based on historical cost. Therefore, you should maintain any records that substantiate these costs because the Fund, its transfer agent, and financial intermediaries may not maintain this information. Class R and Institutional Class shares do not have CDSCs so they are not included in the list below.
CDSCs for Class A and Class C shares may be waived under the following circumstances 1 :
Redemptions in accordance with a systematic withdrawal plan: Redemptions in accordance with a systematic withdrawal plan, provided the annual amount selected to be withdrawn under the plan does not exceed 12% of the value of the account on the date that the systematic withdrawal plan was established or modified.
Redemptions that result from the right to liquidate a shareholder's account: Redemptions that result from the right to liquidate a shareholder's account if the aggregate NAV of the shares held in the account is less than the then-effective minimum account size.
Section 401(a) qualified retirement plan distributions: Distributions to participants or beneficiaries from a retirement plan trading on a recordkeeping platform qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code).
Section 401(a) qualified retirement plan redemptions: Redemptions pursuant to the direction of a participant or beneficiary of a retirement plan trading on a recordkeeping platform qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to that retirement plan.
Periodic distributions or systematic withdrawals from a retirement account or qualified plan: Periodic distributions or systematic withdrawals from an individual retirement account (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, and Coverdell ESA) or a qualified plan2 (401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans) not subject to a penalty under Section 72(t)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code or a hardship or unforeseen emergency provision in the qualified plan as described in Treas. Reg. §1.401(k)-1(d)(3) and Section 457(d)(1)(A)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Returns of excess contributions due to any regulatory limit: Returns of excess contributions due to any regulatory limit from an individual retirement account (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, and Coverdell ESA) or a qualified plan2 (401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans).
Distributions by other employee benefit plans: Distributions by other employee benefit plans to pay benefits.
Distributions from an account of a redemption resulting from death or disability: Distributions from an account of a redemption resulting from the death or disability (as defined in Section 72(t)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code) of a registered owner or a registered joint owner occurring after the purchase of the shares being redeemed. In the case of accounts established under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or trust accounts, the waiver applies upon the death of all beneficial owners.
Redemptions by certain legacy retirement assets: Redemptions by certain legacy retirement assets that meet the requirements set forth in
the SAI.
Redemptions in connection with a fund liquidation: Redemptions subsequent to the fund liquidation notice to shareholders.
1 Please note that you or your financial intermediary will have to notify us at the time of the redemption that the trade qualifies for such waiver.
2 Qualified plans that are fully redeemed at the direction of the plan's fiduciary may be subject to any applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC, unless the redemption is due to the termination of the plan.
Through your financial intermediary
Your financial advisor can handle all the details of purchasing shares, including opening an account. Your financial advisor may charge a separate fee for this service.
By mail
Complete an investment slip and mail it with your check, made payable to the fund and class of shares you wish to purchase, to Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for investments by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for investments by overnight courier service. If you are making an initial purchase by mail, you must include a completed investment application (or an appropriate retirement plan application if you are opening a retirement account) with your check.
Please note that purchase orders submitted by mail will not be considered accepted until such purchase orders are received in good order by Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for investments by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for investments by overnight courier service. Purchase orders will not be accepted at any other address. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agent. Therefore, deposits in the mail or with such services or receipt at the Fund's post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests, do not constitute receipt by the Fund or its agent.
By wire
Ask your bank to wire the amount you want to invest to The Bank of New York Mellon, ABA #011001234, bank account #000073-6910. Include your account number, the name of the fund, registered account name, and class of shares in which you want to invest. If you are making an initial purchase by wire, you must first call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 so we can assign you an account number.
By exchange
You may exchange all or part of your investment in one or more Delaware Investments ® Funds for shares of other Delaware Investments ® Funds. Please keep in mind, however, that under most circumstances you may exchange between like classes of shares only. To open an account by exchange, call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Through automated shareholder services
You may purchase or exchange shares through our automated telephone service (for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares only), or through our website, delawareinvestments.com (for Class A and Class C shares only). For more information about how to sign up for these services, call our Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
The price you pay for shares will depend on when we receive your purchase order. If your order is received by an authorized agent or us before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will pay that day's closing share price, which is based on a fund's NAV. If your order is received after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, you will pay the next Business Day's price. We reserve the right to reject any purchase order.
We determine the NAV per share for each class of a Delaware Investments ® Fund at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on each Business Day. The NAV per share for each class of a fund is calculated by subtracting the liabilities of each class from its total assets and dividing the resulting number by the number of shares outstanding for that class. We generally price securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available at their market value. The value of foreign securities may change on days when a shareholder will not be able to purchase or redeem fund shares because foreign markets are open at times and on days when U.S. markets are not. We price fixed income securities on the basis of valuations provided to us by an independent pricing service that uses methods approved by the Board. For all other securities, we use methods approved by the Board that are designed to price securities at their fair market values.
When the Fund uses fair value pricing, it may take into account any factors it deems appropriate. The Fund may determine fair value based upon developments related to a specific security, current valuations of foreign stock indices (as reflected in U.S. futures markets), and/or U.S. sector or broad stock market indices. 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. The prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Fair value pricing may involve subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security.
The Fund anticipates using fair value pricing for securities primarily traded on U.S. exchanges only under very limited circumstances, such as the early closing of the exchange on which a security is traded or suspension of trading in the security. The Fund may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets because, among other things, most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities, normally at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim. To account for this, the Fund may frequently value many foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third-party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
The Board has delegated responsibility for valuing the Fund's assets to a Pricing Committee of the Manager, which operates under the policies and procedures approved by the Board and is subject to the Board's oversight.
In addition to being an appropriate investment for your IRA, Roth IRA, and Coverdell Education Savings Account, the Fund may be suitable for group retirement plans. You may establish your IRA account even if you are already a participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. For more information on how the Fund can play an important role in your retirement planning or for details about group plans, please consult your financial intermediary, or call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
To reduce fund expenses, we try to identify related shareholders in a household and send only one copy of a fund's financial reports and prospectus. This process, called "householding," will continue indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you prefer not to have these documents householded, please call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918. At any time you may view current prospectuses and financial reports on our website.
Please note that your account may be required to transfer to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in the account within the time period specified by state law.
Availability of these services may be limited by your financial intermediary and by the way your account is registered with the Delaware Investments
®
Fund.
When you send us a completed request in good order to redeem or exchange shares and the request is received by an authorized agent or us before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will receive the NAV next determined after we receive your request. If we receive your request after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV next determined on the next Business Day. We will deduct any applicable CDSCs. You may also have to pay taxes on the proceeds from your sale of shares. We will send you a check, normally the next Business Day, but no later than seven days after we receive your request to sell your shares. If you purchased your shares by check and sell them before your check has cleared, which can take up to 15 days, we will wait until your check has cleared before we send you your redemption proceeds.
If you are required to pay a CDSC when you redeem your shares, the amount subject to the fee will be based on the shares' NAV when you purchased them or their NAV when you redeem them, whichever is less. This arrangement ensures that you will not pay a CDSC on any increase in the value of your shares. You also will not pay the charge on any shares acquired by reinvesting dividends or capital gains. If you exchange shares of one fund for shares of another, you do not pay a CDSC at the time of the exchange. If you later redeem those shares, the purchase price for purposes of the CDSC formula will be the price you paid for the original shares, not the exchange price. The redemption price for purposes of this formula will be the NAV of the shares you are actually redeeming.
If you hold your shares in certificates, you must submit the certificates with your request to sell the shares. We recommend that you send your certificates by certified mail.
Redemption proceeds will be distributed promptly (except as noted above), but not later than seven days after receipt of a redemption request (except as noted above). Please see the SAI for additional information.
Through your financial intermediary
Your financial intermediary can handle all the details of redeeming your shares (selling them back to a Fund). Your financial intermediary may charge a separate fee for this service.
By mail
You may redeem your shares by mail by writing to: Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for redemption requests by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for redemption requests by overnight courier service. All owners of the account must sign the request. For redemptions of more than $100,000, you must include a signature guarantee for each owner. Signature guarantees are also required when redemption proceeds are going to an address other than the address of record on the account. Please contact the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 for more information about the signature guarantee requirements.
Please note that redemption orders submitted by mail will not be considered accepted until such orders are received in good order by Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for redemptions by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for redemptions by overnight courier service. Redemption requests will not be accepted at any other address. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposits in the mail or with such services or receipt at the Fund's post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests, do not constitute receipt by the transfer agent.
By telephone
You may redeem up to $100,000 of your shares by telephone. You may have the proceeds sent to you in the following ways:
By check — Sent to your address of record, provided there has not been an address change in the last 30 days.
By wire — Sent directly to your bank by wire, if you redeem at least $1,000 of shares. If you request a wire transfer, a bank wire fee may be deducted from your proceeds.
By ACH — Sent via Automated Clearing House (ACH), subject to a $25 minimum.
Bank information must be on file before you request a wire or ACH redemption. Your bank may charge a fee for these services.
Through automated shareholder services
You may redeem shares through our automated telephone service or through our website, delawareinvestments.com. For more information about how to sign up for these services, call our Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Redemptions-in-kind
The Fund has reserved the right to pay for redemptions with portfolio securities under certain conditions. See the SAI for more information on redemptions-in-kind.
For Class A and Class C shares, if you redeem shares and your account balance falls below the required account minimum of $1,000 ($250 for IRAs, Roth IRAs, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts, or accounts with automatic investing plans, and $500 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts) for three or more consecutive months, you will have until the end of the current calendar quarter to raise the balance to the minimum.
For Class R and Institutional Class shares, if you redeem shares and your account balance falls below $500, your shares may be redeemed after 60 days' written notice to you.
If your account is not at the minimum for low balance purposes by the required time, you may be charged a $9 fee for that quarter and each quarter after that until your account reaches the minimum balance, or it may be redeemed after 60 days' written notice to you. Any CDSC that would otherwise be applicable will not apply to such a redemption.
Certain accounts held in omnibus, advisory, or asset-allocation programs or programs offered by certain intermediaries may be opened below the minimum stated account balance and may maintain balances that are below the minimum stated account balance without incurring a service fee or being subject to involuntary redemption.
If the applicable account falls below the minimum due to market fluctuation, a Fund still reserves the right to liquidate the account.
To help make investing with us as easy as possible, and to help you build your investments, we offer the investor services described below. Information about the investor services we offer is available free of charge on the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website at delawareinvestments.com, including hyperlinks to relevant information in fund offering documents.
Automatic investment plan
The automatic investment plan allows you to make regular monthly or quarterly investments directly from your bank account.
Direct deposit
With direct deposit, you can make additional investments through payroll deductions, recurring government or private payments such as Social Security, or direct transfers from your bank account.
Electronic delivery
With Delaware Investments eDelivery, you can receive your fund documents electronically instead of via U.S. mail. When you sign up for eDelivery, you can access your account statements, shareholder reports, and other fund materials online, in a secure internet environment at any time.
Online account access
Online account access is a password-protected area of the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website that gives you access to your account information and allows you to perform transactions in a secure internet environment.
Systematic exchange option
With the systematic exchange option, you can arrange automatic monthly exchanges between your shares in one or more Delaware Investments ® Funds. These exchanges are subject to the same rules as regular exchanges (see below) and require a minimum monthly exchange of $100 per fund.
Dividend reinvestment plan
Through the dividend reinvestment plan, you can have your distributions reinvested in your account or the same share class in another Delaware Investments ® Fund. The shares that you purchase through the dividend reinvestment plan are not subject to a front-end sales charge or to a CDSC. Under most circumstances, you may reinvest dividends only into like classes of shares.
Exchanges
You may generally exchange all or part of your shares for shares of the same class of another Delaware Investments ® Fund without paying a front-end sales charge or a CDSC at the time of the exchange. However, if you exchange shares from a money market fund that does not have a sales charge, you will pay any applicable sales charge on your new shares. When exchanging Class C shares of one fund for the same class of shares in other funds, your new shares will be subject to the same CDSC as the shares you originally purchased. The holding period for the CDSC will also remain the same, with the amount of time you held your original shares being credited toward the holding period of your new shares. In certain other circumstances, you may also be permitted to exchange your shares for shares of a different class of the Fund, but such exchange may be subject to a sales charge for the new shares. (Please refer to the SAI for more details.) You do not pay sales charges on shares that you acquired through the reinvestment of dividends. You may have to pay taxes on your exchange. When you exchange shares, you are purchasing shares in another fund, so you should be sure to get a copy of the fund's prospectus and read it carefully before buying shares through an exchange. We may refuse the purchase side of any exchange request if, in the Manager's judgment, a fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected.
On demand service
The on demand service allows you or your financial advisor to transfer money between your Fund account and your predesignated bank account by telephone request. There is a minimum transfer of $25 and a maximum transfer of $100,000. Delaware Investments does not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may assess one.
Direct deposit service
Through the direct deposit service, you can have $25 or more in dividends and distributions deposited directly into your bank account. Delaware Investments does not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may assess one. This service is not available for retirement plans.
Systematic withdrawal plan
You can arrange a regular monthly or quarterly payment from your account made to you or someone you designate. If the value of your account is $5,000 or more, you can make withdrawals of at least $25 monthly, or $75 quarterly. You may also have your withdrawals deposited directly to your bank account through the direct deposit service.
The applicable Limited CDSC for Class A shares and the CDSC for Class C shares redeemed via a systematic withdrawal plan will be waived if the annual amount withdrawn in each year is less than 12% of the account balance on the date that the plan is established. If the annual amount withdrawn in any year exceeds 12% of the account balance on the date that the systematic withdrawal plan is established, all redemptions under the plan will be subject to the applicable CDSC, including an assessment for previously redeemed amounts under the plan.
Frequent trading of Fund shares
The Fund discourages purchases by market timers and purchase orders (including the purchase side of exchange orders) by shareholders identified as market timers may be rejected. The Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to detect, deter, and prevent trading activity detrimental to the Fund and its shareholders, such as market timing and disruptive trading. The Fund will consider anyone who follows a pattern of market timing in any Delaware Investments ® Fund or the Optimum Fund Trust to be a market timer and may consider anyone who has followed a similar pattern of market timing at an unaffiliated fund family to be a market timer.
Market timing of a fund occurs when investors make consecutive, rapid, short-term "round trips" — that is, purchases into a fund followed quickly by redemptions out of that fund. A short-term round trip is considered any redemption of fund shares within 20 Business Days of a purchase of that fund's shares. If you make a second such short-term round trip in a fund within 90 rolling calendar days of a previous short-term round trip in that fund, you may be considered a market timer. In determining whether market timing has occurred, the Fund will consider short-term round trips to include rapid purchases and sales of Fund shares through the exchange privilege. The Fund reserves the right to consider other trading patterns to be market timing.
Your ability to use the Fund's exchange privilege may be limited if you are identified as a market timer. If you are identified as a market timer, we will execute the redemption side of your exchange order but may refuse the purchase side of your exchange order. The Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject, without prior notice, any purchase order or exchange order for any reason, including any purchase order or exchange order accepted by any shareholder's financial intermediary or in any omnibus-type account. Transactions placed in violation of the Fund's market timing policy are not necessarily deemed accepted by the Fund and may be rejected by the Fund on the next Business Day following receipt by the Fund.
Redemptions will continue to be permitted in accordance with the Fund's then-current prospectus. A redemption of shares under these circumstances could be costly to a shareholder if, for example, the shares have declined in value, the shareholder recently paid a front-end sales charge, the shares are subject to a CDSC, or the sale results in adverse tax consequences. To avoid this risk, a shareholder should carefully monitor the purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares and avoid frequent trading in Fund shares.
The Fund reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without notice, including modifications to the Fund's monitoring procedures and the procedures to close accounts to new purchases. Although the implementation of this policy involves certain judgments that are inherently subjective and may be selectively applied, we seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund's shareholders. While we will take actions designed to detect and prevent market timing, there can be no assurance that such trading activity will be completely eliminated. Moreover, the Fund's market timing policy does not require the Fund to take action in response to frequent trading activity. If the Fund elects not to take any action in response to frequent trading, such frequent trading activity could continue.
Risks of market timing
By realizing profits through short-term trading, shareholders who engage in rapid purchases and sales or exchanges of the Fund's shares dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Volatility resulting from excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of Fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management. In particular, the Fund may have difficulty implementing its long-term investment strategies if it is forced to maintain a higher level of its assets in cash to accommodate significant short-term trading activity. Excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of the Fund's shares may also force the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times to raise cash to accommodate short-term trading activity. This could adversely affect the Fund's performance, if, for example, the Fund incurs increased brokerage costs and realization of taxable capital gains without attaining any investment advantage.
Any fund may be subject to disruptive trading activity. However, a fund that invests significantly in foreign securities may be particularly susceptible to short-term trading strategies. This is because foreign securities are typically traded on markets that close well before the time a fund calculates its NAV (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE). Developments that occur between the closing of the foreign market and a fund's NAV calculation may affect the value of these foreign securities. The time-zone differences among international stock markets can allow a shareholder engaging in a short-term trading strategy to exploit differences in fund share prices that are based on closing prices of foreign securities established some time before a fund calculates its own share price.
Any fund that invests in securities that are thinly traded, traded infrequently, or relatively illiquid has the risk that the securities prices used to calculate the fund's NAV may not accurately reflect current market values. A shareholder may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences. Funds that may be adversely affected by such arbitrage include, in particular, funds that significantly invest in small-cap securities, technology, and other specific industry sector securities, and in certain fixed income securities, such as high yield bonds, asset-backed securities, or municipal bonds.
Transaction monitoring procedures
The Fund, through its transfer agent, maintains surveillance procedures designed to detect excessive or short-term trading in Fund shares. This monitoring process involves several factors, which include scrutinizing transactions in Fund shares for violations of the Fund's market timing policy or other patterns of short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of these transaction monitoring procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity by multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence to be trading by a single entity. Trading activity identified by these factors, or as a result of any other available information, will be evaluated to determine whether such activity might constitute market timing. These procedures may be modified from time to time to help improve the detection of excessive or short-term trading or to address other concerns. Such changes may be necessary or appropriate, for example, to deal with issues specific to certain retirement plans; plan exchange limits; U.S. Department of Labor regulations; certain automated or pre-established exchange, asset-allocation, or dollar-cost-averaging programs; or omnibus account arrangements.
Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund, particularly among certain broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries, including sponsors of retirement plans and variable insurance products. The Fund will attempt to have financial intermediaries apply the Fund's monitoring procedures to these omnibus accounts and to the individual participants in such accounts. However, to the extent that a financial intermediary is not able or willing to monitor or enforce the Fund's frequent trading policy with respect to an omnibus account, the Fund's transfer agent may work with certain intermediaries (such as investment dealers holding shareholder accounts in street name, retirement plan recordkeepers, insurance company separate accounts, and bank trust companies) to apply their own procedures, provided that the Fund's transfer agent believes the intermediary's procedures are reasonably designed to enforce the Fund's frequent trading policies. You should refer to disclosures provided by the intermediaries with which you have an account to determine the specific trading restrictions that apply to you. If the Fund's transfer agent identifies any activity that may constitute frequent trading, it reserves the right to contact the intermediary and request that the intermediary either provide information regarding an account owner's transactions or restrict the account owner's trading. If the Fund's transfer agent is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the transfer agent may terminate the intermediary's ability to transact in Fund shares.
Limitations on ability to detect and curtail market timing
Shareholders seeking to engage in market timing may employ a variety of strategies to avoid detection and, despite the efforts of the Fund and its agents to detect market timing in Fund shares, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify these shareholders or curtail their trading practices. In particular, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing attributable to a particular investor who effects purchase, redemption,
and/or exchange activity in Fund shares through omnibus accounts. The difficulty of detecting market timing may be further compounded if these entities utilize multiple tiers or omnibus accounts.
Dividends, distributions, and taxes
Dividends and distributions
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. The Fund expects to declare and distribute all of its net investment income, if any, to shareholders as dividends at least annually. The Fund will distribute net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually, usually in November or December. The Fund may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution will vary, and there is no guarantee the Fund will pay either an income dividend or a capital gains distribution. We automatically reinvest all dividends and any capital gains, unless you direct us to do otherwise.
Annual statements
Each year, the Fund will send you an annual statement (Form 1099) of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state, and local tax returns. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December. Prior to issuing your statement, the Fund makes every effort to reduce the number of corrected forms mailed to you. However, if the Fund finds it necessary to reclassify its distributions or adjust the cost basis of any covered shares (defined below) sold or exchanged after you receive your tax statement, the Fund will send you a corrected Form 1099.
Avoid "buying a dividend"
At the time you purchase your Fund shares, the Fund's NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Fund. For taxable investors, a subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in the Fund just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as "buying a dividend."
Tax considerations
Fund distributions . The Fund expects, based on its investment objective and strategies, that its distributions, if any, will be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash.
For federal income tax purposes, Fund distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Fund distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A portion of income dividends reported by the Fund may be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.
If the Fund qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as foreign tax credit.
Sale or redemption of Fund shares . A sale or redemption of Fund shares is a taxable event and, accordingly, a capital gain or loss may be recognized. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Delaware Investments ® Fund is the same as a sale. The Fund is required to report to you and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annually on Form 1099-B not only the gross proceeds of Fund shares you sell or redeem but also the cost basis of Fund shares you sell or redeem that were purchased or acquired on or after Jan. 1, 2012 ("covered shares"). Cost basis will be calculated using the Fund's default method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different calculation method. Shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period, or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns. If your account is held by your investment representative (financial advisor or other broker), please contact that representative with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account. Tax-advantaged retirement accounts will not be affected. Additional information and updates regarding cost basis reporting and available shareholder elections will be on the Delaware Investments ® website at delawareinvestments.com as the information becomes available.
Medicare tax . An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person's "modified adjusted gross income" (in the case of an individual) or "adjusted gross income" (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount. This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
Backup withholding . By law, if you do not provide the Fund with your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale of your shares. The Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid.
State and local taxes . Fund distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your Fund shares generally are subject to state and local taxes.
Non-U.S. investors . Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and U.S. estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. An exemption from U.S. withholding tax is provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Fund from long-term capital gains, if any. The exemptions from U.S. withholding for interest-related dividends paid by a Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends have expired for taxable years of the Fund that begin on or after Jan. 1, 2015. It is unclear as of the date of this prospectus whether Congress will reinstate the exemptions for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends or, if reinstated, whether such exemptions would have retroactive effect. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
Other reporting and withholding requirements . Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014, and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after Dec. 31, 2016, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions or nonfinancial foreign entities, that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA or similar laws. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
This discussion of "Dividends, distributions, and taxes" is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone's tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Fund.
Certain management considerations
Investments by fund of funds and similar investment vehicles
The Fund may accept investments from funds of funds, as well as from similar investment vehicles, such as 529 Plans. A "529 Plan" is a college savings program that operates under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. From time to time, the Fund may experience large investments or redemptions due to allocations or rebalancings by these funds of funds and/or similar investment vehicles. While it is impossible to predict the overall impact of these transactions over time, there could be adverse effects on portfolio management. For example, the Fund may be required to sell securities or invest cash at times when it would not otherwise do so. These transactions could also have tax consequences if sales of securities result in gains, and could also increase transaction costs or portfolio turnover.
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). In 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. The information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request by calling 800 523-1918.
Delaware Healthcare Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Class A shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $20.610 | $17.190 | $11.940 | $10.350 | $10.410 | $10.070 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income (loss)2 | 0.006 | 0.001 | (0.007) | 0.059 | (0.006) | 0.027 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 1.828 | 3.839 | 5.294 | 2.288 | 0.606 | 1.615 |
| Total from investment operations | 1.834 | 3.840 | 5.287 | 2.347 | 0.600 | 1.642 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | (0.012) | — | (0.037) | (0.002) | (0.009) | (0.022) |
| Net realized gain | (2.072) | (0.420) | — | (0.755) | (0.651) | (1.280) |
| Total dividends and distributions | (2.084) | (0.420) | (0.037) | (0.757) | (0.660) | (1.302) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $20.360 | $20.610 | $17.190 | $11.940 | $10.350 | $10.410 |
| Total return3 | 9.31% | 22.68% | 44.50% | 23.96% | 5.89% | 17.38% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $218,427 | $185,734 | $165,780 | $41,425 | $36,584 | $7,610 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.36% | 1.35% | 1.38% | 1.55% | 1.60% | 1.52% |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived | 1.36% | 1.35% | 1.43% | 1.63% | 1.85% | 2.59% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.06% | 0.01% | (0.05%) | 0.52% | (0.06%) | 0.17% |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.06% | 0.01% | (0.10%) | 0.44% | (0.31%) | (0.90%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 19% | 60% | 29% | 88% | 101% | 199% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects waivers by the manager and/or distributor. Performance would have been lower had the waivers not been in effect. |
Delaware Healthcare Fund
| Period from | ||||||
| Class C shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 |
Year ended 9/30/11 |
1/28/102 to 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $19.970 | $16.800 | $11.710 | $10.240 | $10.370 | $10.020 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment loss3 | (0.066) | (0.139) | (0.117) | (0.026) | (0.089) | (0.026) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 1.768 | 3.729 | 5.207 | 2.251 | 0.610 | 0.376 |
| Total from investment operations | 1.702 | 3.590 | 5.090 | 2.225 | 0.521 | 0.350 |
| Less distributions from: | ||||||
| Net realized gain | (2.072) | (0.420) | — | (0.755) | (0.651) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (2.072) | (0.420) | — | (0.755) | (0.651) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $19.600 | $19.970 | $16.800 | $11.710 | $10.240 | $10.370 |
| Total return4 | 8.92% | 21.77% | 43.47% | 22.96% | 5.11% | 3.49% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $76,558 | $62,398 | $28,557 | $5,446 | $4,930 | $529 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 2.11% | 2.10% | 2.13% | 2.30% | 2.35% | 2.35% |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived | 2.11% | 2.10% | 2.13% | 2.33% | 2.55% | 3.29% |
| Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | (0.69%) | (0.74%) | (0.80%) | (0.23%) | (0.81%) | (0.66%) |
|
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets prior to fees waived |
(0.69%) | (0.74%) | (0.80%) | (0.26%) | (1.01%) | (1.60%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 19% | 60% | 29% | 88% | 101% | 199%5 |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
Date of commencement of operations; ratios have been annualized and total return has not been annualized. |
| 3 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 4 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect. |
| 5 |
Portfolio turnover is representative of the Fund for the entire annual period. |
Delaware Healthcare Fund
| Period from | ||||||
| Class R shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 |
Year ended 9/30/11 |
1/28/102 to 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $20.450 | $17.100 | $11.870 | $10.320 | $10.400 | $10.020 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income (loss)3 | (0.019) | (0.046) | (0.044) | 0.030 | (0.036) | 0.006 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 1.811 | 3.816 | 5.281 | 2.275 | 0.607 | 0.374 |
| Total from investment operations | 1.792 | 3.770 | 5.237 | 2.305 | 0.571 | 0.380 |
| Less distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | — | — | (0.007) | — | — | — |
| Net realized gain | (2.072) | (0.420) | — | (0.755) | (0.651) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (2.072) | (0.420) | (0.007) | (0.755) | (0.651) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $20.170 | $20.450 | $17.100 | $11.870 | $10.320 | $10.400 |
| Total return4 | 9.17% | 22.46% | 44.15% | 23.60% | 5.60% | 3.79% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $5,713 | $4,506 | $2,360 | $773 | $293 | $5 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.61% | 1.60% | 1.63% | 1.80% | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived | 1.61% | 1.60% | 1.73% | 1.93% | 2.15% | 2.89% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | (0.19%) | (0.24%) | (0.30%) | 0.27% | (0.31%) | (0.16%) |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
(0.19%) | (0.24%) | (0.40%) | 0.14% | (0.61%) | (1.20%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 19% | 60% | 29% | 88% | 101% | 199%5 |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
Date of commencement of operations; ratios have been annualized and total return has not been annualized. |
| 3 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 4 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects waivers by the manager and/or distributor. Performance would have been lower had the waivers not been in effect. |
| 5 |
Portfolio turnover is representative of the Fund for the entire annual period. |
Delaware Healthcare Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Institutional Class shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $20.700 | $17.230 | $11.960 | $10.370 | $10.430 | $10.070 |
| Income from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income2 | 0.031 | 0.050 | 0.031 | 0.086 | 0.022 | 0.034 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 1.843 | 3.840 | 5.304 | 2.290 | 0.602 | 1.628 |
| Total from investment operations | 1.874 | 3.890 | 5.335 | 2.376 | 0.624 | 1.662 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | (0.062) | — | (0.065) | (0.031) | (0.033) | (0.022) |
| Net realized gain | (2.072) | (0.420) | — | (0.755) | (0.651) | (1.280) |
| Total dividends and distributions | (2.134) | (0.420) | (0.065) | (0.786) | (0.684) | (1.302) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $20.440 | $20.700 | $17.230 | $11.960 | $10.370 | $10.430 |
| Total return3 | 9.49% | 23.00% | 44.86% | 24.26% | 6.13% | 17.61% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $179,357 | $186,791 | $85,535 | $8,566 | $8,643 | $3,133 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.11% | 1.10% | 1.13% | 1.30% | 1.35% | 1.35% |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived | 1.11% | 1.10% | 1.13% | 1.33% | 1.55% | 2.29% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.20% | 0.77% | 0.19% | 0.34% |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.31% | 0.26% | 0.20% | 0.74% | (0.01%) | (0.60%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 19% | 60% | 29% | 88% | 101% | 199% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect. |
How to read the financial highlights
Net investment income (loss)
Net investment income (loss) includes dividend and interest income earned from a fund's investments; it is calculated after expenses have
been deducted.
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
A realized gain occurs when we sell an investment at a profit, while a realized loss occurs when we sell an investment at a loss. When an investment increases or decreases in value but we do not sell it, we record an unrealized gain or loss. The amount of realized gain per share, if any, that we pay to shareholders would be listed under "Less dividends and distributions from: Net realized gain."
Net asset value (NAV)
This is the value of a mutual fund share, calculated by dividing the net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
Total return
This represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in a fund. In calculating this figure for the financial highlights table, we include applicable fee waivers, exclude front-end sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges, and assume the shareholder has reinvested all dividends and realized gains.
Net assets
Net assets represent the total value of all the assets in a fund's portfolio, less any liabilities, that are attributable to that class of the fund.
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
The expense ratio is the percentage of net assets that a fund pays annually for operating expenses and management fees. These expenses include accounting and administration expenses, services for shareholders, and similar expenses.
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets
We determine this ratio by dividing net investment income (loss) by average net assets.
Portfolio turnover
This figure tells you the amount of trading activity in a fund's portfolio. A turnover rate of 100% would occur if, for example, a fund bought and sold all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of a year or frequently traded a single security. A high rate of portfolio turnover in any year may increase brokerage commissions paid and could generate taxes for shareholders on realized investment gains.
Website: delawareinvestments.com
Shareholder Service Center: 800 523-1918 (representatives available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time)
For fund information, literature, price, yield, and performance figures.
For information on existing regular investment accounts and retirement plan accounts including wire investments, wire redemptions,
telephone redemptions, and telephone exchanges.
Automated telephone service: 800 523-1918 (seven days a week, 24 hours a day)
For convenient access to account information or current performance information on all Delaware Investments ® Funds, use this touch-tone service.
Written correspondence: P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 (by regular mail) or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 (by overnight courier service).
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Additional information about the Fund's investments
is available in its annual and semiannual shareholder reports. In the Fund's annual shareholder report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during the period covered by the report. You can find more information about the Fund in its current SAI, which is filed electronically with the SEC, and which is legally a part of this Prospectus (it is incorporated by reference). To receive a free copy of the SAI, or the annual or semiannual report, or if you have any questions about investing in the Fund, write to us at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076
by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 by overnight courier service, or call toll-free 800 523-1918. The SAI and shareholder reports are available,
You can find reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR database on the SEC website (sec.gov). You may obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplication fee, by e-mailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC,
PR-573 [3/15] PDF 20514 [7/15] Investment Company Act number: 811-04413 |
Prospectus
U.S. growth equity mutual fund
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
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Nasdaq ticker symbols |
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Class A |
DFCIX |
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Class C |
DEEVX |
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Class R |
DFRIX |
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Institutional Class |
DFDIX |
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
Get shareholder reports and prospectuses online instead of in the mail.
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
Visit delawareinvestments.com/edelivery.
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The Fund currently is closed to new investors.
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
What is the Fund's investment objective?
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
What are the Fund's fees and expenses?
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales-charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Delaware Investments® Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor, in the Fund's prospectus under the section entitled "About your account," and in the Fund's statement of additional information (SAI) under the section entitled "Purchasing Shares."
| Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |||||||
| Class | A | C | R | Inst. | |||
|
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases as a percentage of offering price |
5.75% | none | none | none | |||
|
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (load) as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption price, whichever is lower |
none | 1.00%1 | none | none | |||
| Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | |||||||
| Class | A | C | R | Inst. | |||
| Management fees | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.71% | |||
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | 0.25%2 | 1.00% | 0.50% | none | |||
| Other expenses | 0.26% | 0.26% | 0.26% | 0.26% | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.22% | 1.97% | 1.47% | 0.97% | |||
| 1 |
Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). |
| 2 |
The Fund's Class A shares are subject to a blended rate of 0.10% on all shares acquired prior to June 1, 1992 and 0.25% on all shares acquired on or after June 1, 1992. This method of calculating Class A 12b-1 fees may be discontinued at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| (if not | |||||
| redeemed) | |||||
| Class | A | C | C | R | Inst. |
| 1 year | $692 | $200 | $300 | $150 | $99 |
| 3 years | $940 | $618 | $618 | $465 | $309 |
| 5 years | $1,207 | $1,062 | $1,062 | $803 | $536 |
| 10 years | $1,967 | $2,296 | $2,296 | $1,757 | $1,190 |
Portfolio turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 8% of the average value of its portfolio.
What are the Fund's principal investment strategies?
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of growth-oriented companies that its portfolio managers believe have long-term capital appreciation potential and expect to grow faster than the U.S. economy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-and mid-capitalization companies (80% policy). For purposes of this Fund, small-market capitalization companies are those companies whose market capitalization is similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Growth Index, and mid-market capitalization companies are those companies whose market capitalization is similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index. The two indices listed above are for purposes of determining range and not for targeting portfolio management. As of Dec. 31, 2014, the Russell 2000 Growth Index had a market capitalization range between $30.69 million and $7.28 billion, and the Russell Midcap Growth Index had a market capitalization range between $274.56 million and $33.59 billion. The market capitalization range for the indices listed above will change on a periodic basis. A company's market capitalization is determined based on its current market capitalization. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell is a trademark of the Russell Investment Group.
Using a bottom-up approach, the portfolio managers seek to select securities of companies that they believe have attractive end market potential, dominant business models, and strong free cash flow generation that are attractively priced compared to intrinsic value of the securities. The portfolio managers also consider a company's operational efficiencies, management's plans for capital allocation, and the company's shareholder orientation. All of these factors give the portfolio managers insight into the outlook for a company, helping them identify companies poised for sustainable free cash flow growth. The portfolio managers believe that sustainable free cash flow growth, if it occurs, may result in price appreciation for the company's stock.
The Fund's 80% policy is nonfundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. Fund shareholders would be given at least 60 days' notice prior to any such change.
What are the principal risks of investing in the Fund?
Investing in any mutual 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. Principal risks include:
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.
Limited number of stocks risk — The possibility that a single security's increase or decrease in value may have a greater impact on the fund's value and total return because the fund may hold larger positions in fewer securities than other funds.
Company size risk — The risk that investments in small- and/or medium-sized companies may be more volatile than those of larger companies because of limited financial resources or dependence on narrow product lines.
Futures and options risk — The possibility that a fund may experience a loss if it employs an options or futures strategy related to a security or a market index and that security or index moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Futures and options also involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums), which could reduce any benefit or increase any loss that a fund gains from using the strategy.
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.
Liquidity risk — The possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a portfolio has valued them.
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 financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization).
Investments not guaranteed by Delaware Management Company (Manager) or its affiliates — Neither the Manager nor its affiliates noted in this document are authorized deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise.
How has Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund performed?
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. The returns reflect any expense caps in effect during these periods. The returns would be lower without the expense caps. You may obtain the Fund's most recently available month-end performance by calling 800 523-1918 or by visiting our website at delawareinvestments.com/performance.
Effective Jan. 21, 2010, the Fund transitioned to invest primarily in common stocks of small-to-medium-sized, growth-oriented companies. Small-market capitalization companies are those companies whose market capitalization is similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 Growth Index, and mid-market capitalization companies are those companies whose market capitalization is similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. Prior to this time, the Fund invested primarily in stocks of medium-sized companies whose total market capitalization at the time of investment was within the range of the Russell Midcap Growth Index. The returns reflected in the bar chart may not be indicative of future performance.
Year-by-year total return (Class A)
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As of June 30, 2015, the Fund's Class A shares had a calendar year-to-date return of 8.17%. During the periods illustrated in this bar chart, Class A's highest quarterly return was 16.94% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and its lowest quarterly return was -25.85% for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008. The maximum Class A sales charge of 5.75%, which is normally deducted when you purchase shares, is not reflected in the highest/lowest quarterly returns or in the bar chart. If this fee were included, the returns would be less than those shown. The average annual total returns in the table below do include the sales charge.
Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2014
| 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | |
| Class A return before taxes | -3.09% | 17.03% | 9.16% |
| Class A return after taxes on distributions | -6.08% | 15.31% | 7.78% |
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Class A return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares |
0.70% | 13.62% | 7.30% |
| Class C return before taxes | 1.24% | 17.57% | 9.01% |
| Class R return before taxes | 2.57% | 18.15% | 9.56% |
| Institutional Class return before taxes | 3.09% | 18.75% | 10.12% |
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Russell 2500™ Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) |
7.05% | 17.27% | 9.37% |
After-tax performance is presented only for Class A shares of the Fund. The after-tax returns for other Fund classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's individual tax situation and may differ from the returns shown. After-tax returns are not relevant for shares held in tax-deferred investment vehicles such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The after-tax returns shown are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect during the periods presented and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Who manages the Fund?
Investment manager
Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware Management Business Trust
Sub-advisor
Jackson Square Partners, LLC (JSP)
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Portfolio managers |
Title with JSP |
Start date on the Fund |
|
Christopher J. Bonavico, CFA |
Portfolio Manager, Equity Analyst |
January 2010 |
|
Kenneth F. Broad, CFA |
Portfolio Manager, Equity Analyst |
January 2010 |
Purchase and redemption of Fund shares
The Fund is closed to new investors. Existing shareholders of the Fund, certain retirement plans and IRA transfers and rollovers from these plans, and certain advisory or fee based programs sponsored by and/or controlled by financial intermediaries where the financial intermediary has entered into an arrangement with the Fund's Distributor or transfer agent (mutual fund wrap accounts) may continue to purchase shares.
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for business (Business Day). Shares may be purchased or redeemed: through your financial advisor; through the Fund's website at delawareinvestments.com; by calling 800 523-1918; by regular mail (c/o Delaware Investments, P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076); by overnight courier service (c/o Delaware Service Center, 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722); or by wire.
For Class A and Class C shares, the minimum initial investment is generally $1,000 and subsequent investments can be made for as little as $100. The minimum initial investment for IRAs, Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts, direct deposit purchase plans, and automatic investment plans is $250 and through Coverdell Education Savings Accounts is $500, and subsequent investments in these accounts can be made for as little as $25. For Class R and Institutional Class shares (except those shares purchased through an automatic investment plan), there is no minimum initial purchase requirement, but certain eligibility requirements must be met. The eligibility requirements are described in the prospectus under "Choosing a share class" and on the Fund's website. We may reduce or waive the minimums or eligibility requirements in certain cases.
Tax information
The Fund's distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing
through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
Payments to broker/dealers and otherfinancial intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker/dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker/dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
We take a disciplined approach to investing, combining investment strategies and risk-management techniques that we believe can help shareholders meet their goals.
Our investment strategies
The portfolio managers research individual companies and analyze economic and market conditions, seeking to identify the securities or market sectors that they believe are the best investments for the Fund. The following are descriptions of how the portfolio management team pursues the Fund's investment objective.
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks and generally focuses on small- to mid-sized companies that address large market opportunities.
The Fund's goal is to own companies that the portfolio managers expect to grow faster than the U.S. economy. Using a bottom-up approach, the portfolio managers look for companies that they believe:
have large end-market potential, dominant business models, and strong free cash flow generation;
demonstrate operational efficiencies;
have planned well for capital allocation; and
have governance policies that tend to be favorable to shareholders.
There are a number of catalysts that might increase a company's potential for free cash flow growth. The portfolio managers' disciplined, research-intensive selection process is designed to identify catalysts such as:
management changes;
new products;
structural changes in the economy; or
corporate restructurings and turnaround situations.
The Fund generally holds 25 to 30 stocks, although from time to time the Fund may hold fewer or more names depending on the portfolio managers' assessment of the investment opportunities available. The portfolio managers seek to maintain a diversified portfolio representing a number of different industries. Such an approach should help to minimize the impact that any one security or industry could have on the Fund if it were to experience a period of slow or declining growth.
The Fund's investment objective is nonfundamental. This means that the Fund's Board of Trustees (Board) may change the objective without obtaining shareholder approval. If the objective were changed, the Fund would notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change became effective.
The securities in which the Fund typically invests
Common stocks
Common stocks are securities that represent shares of ownership in a corporation. Stockholders may participate in a corporation's profits through its distribution of dividends to stockholders, proportionate to the number of shares they own.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund invests primarily in common stocks and generally focuses on small- to mid-sized companies that address large market opportunities.
Foreign securities and American depositary receipts (ADRs)
Foreign securities are issued directly by non-U.S. entities. ADRs are typically issued by a U.S. bank and represent the bank's holdings of a stated number of shares of a foreign corporation. An ADR entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign shares. ADRs are typically bought and sold on U.S. securities exchanges in the same way as other U.S. securities. Sponsored ADRs are issued jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and the depositary, and unsponsored ADRs are issued by the depositary without the participation of the issuer of the underlying security.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers. Such foreign securities may be traded on a foreign exchange, or they may be in the form of ADRs. Determinations to purchase depositary receipts will be based on relevant factor(s) in the portfolio managers' sole discretion.
Foreign currency exchange contracts
A fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers and may hold foreign currency. In addition, a fund may enter into contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (a "forward foreign currency" contract or "forward" contract). A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract, agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.
How the Fund uses them: Although the portfolio managers value the Fund's assets daily in U.S. dollars, they do not intend to convert the Fund's holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. The Fund is permitted to, however, from time to time, purchase or sell foreign currencies and/or engage in forward foreign currency exchange transactions. The portfolio managers may conduct the Fund's foreign currency transactions on a cash basis at the rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through a forward foreign currency exchange contract or forward contract.
The portfolio managers may use forward contracts for defensive hedging purposes to attempt to protect the value of the Fund's current security or currency holdings or to facilitate transactions in foreign securities. The portfolio managers may also use forward contracts for the Fund if they have agreed to sell a security and want to "lock in" the price of that security, in terms of U.S. dollars. Investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. The Fund will not use forward contracts for speculative purposes. Despite the ability to utilize foreign currency transactions as described above, the Fund does not currently intend to use such transactions often and may determine not to use foreign currency transactions at all.
Repurchase agreements
A repurchase agreement is an agreement between a buyer of securities, such as a fund, and a seller of securities, in which the seller agrees to buy the securities back within a specified time at the same price the buyer paid for them, plus an amount equal to an agreed-upon interest rate. Repurchase agreements are often viewed as equivalent to cash.
How the Fund uses them: Typically, the Fund uses repurchase agreements as short-term investments for its cash position. In order to enter into these repurchase agreements, the Fund must have collateral of at least 102% of the repurchase price. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements in which the collateral is composed of U.S. government securities. At the portfolio managers' discretion, the Fund may invest overnight cash balances in short-term discount notes issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or government-sponsored corporations.
Restricted securities
Restricted securities are privately placed securities whose resale is restricted under U.S. securities laws.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest in privately placed securities, including those that are eligible for resale only among certain institutional buyers without registration, which are commonly known as "Rule 144A Securities." Restricted securities that are determined to be illiquid may not exceed the Fund's limit on investments in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities
Illiquid securities are securities that do not have a ready market and cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them. Illiquid securities include repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Futures and options
Futures contracts are agreements for the purchase or sale of a security or a group of securities at a specified price, on a specified date. Unlike purchasing an option, a futures contract must be executed unless it is sold before the settlement date.
Options represent a right to buy or sell a swap agreement or a security or a group of securities at an agreed-upon price at a future date. The purchaser of an option may or may not choose to go through with the transaction. The seller of an option, however, must go through with the transaction if the purchaser exercises the option.
Certain options and futures may be considered derivatives securities.
How the Fund uses them:
If the Fund has stocks that have unrealized gains because of past appreciation, the portfolio managers may want to protect those gains when they anticipate adverse conditions. The Fund might use options or futures to neutralize the effect of any price declines, without selling the security. The Fund might also use options or futures to gain exposure to a particular market segment without purchasing individual securities in that segment. The portfolio managers might use this approach if the Fund had excess cash that the portfolio managers wanted to invest quickly.
The Fund might use covered call options if the portfolio managers believe that doing so would help the Fund to meet its investment objective.
Use of these strategies can increase the operating costs of the Fund and can lead to loss of principal.
The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate–related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs, or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments.
How the Fund uses them: The Fund may invest in REITs.
Borrowing from banks
The Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes or to facilitate redemptions. The Fund will be required to pay interest to the lending banks on the amount borrowed. As a result, borrowing money could result in the Fund being unable to meet its investment objective.
Lending securities
The Fund may lend up to 25% of its assets to qualified broker/dealers or institutional investors for their use in securities transactions. Borrowers of the Fund's securities must provide collateral to the Fund and adjust the amount of collateral each day to reflect changes in the value of the loaned securities. These transactions, if any, may generate additional income for the Fund.
Initial public offerings (IPOs)
Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in companies at the times of their IPOs. Companies involved in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and prospects for future profitability are uncertain. Prices of IPOs may also be unstable because of the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading, and limited investor information. IPOs may be sold within 12 months of purchase. This may result in increased short-term capital gains, which will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
Temporary defensive positions
In response to unfavorable market conditions, the Fund may make temporary investments in cash or cash equivalents or other high-quality, short-term instruments. These investments may not be consistent with the Fund's investment objective. To the extent that the Fund holds such instruments, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
The risks of investing in the Fund
Investing in any mutual fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment, and the risk that you may lose part or all of the money you invest. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks. Because of the nature of the Fund, you should consider your investment to be a long-term investment that typically provides the best results when held for a number of years. The information below describes the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of these risks and other risks not discussed here.
Market risk
Market risk is 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.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund maintains a long-term investment approach and focuses on securities that the portfolio managers believe can appreciate over an extended period of time regardless of interim market fluctuations. The portfolio managers do not try to predict overall stock market movements and though the Fund may hold securities for any amount of time, the portfolio managers generally do not trade for short-term purposes.
Industry and security risks
Industry risk is the risk that the value of securities in a particular industry (such as financial services or manufacturing) will decline because of changing expectations for the performance of that industry.
Security risk is the risk that the value of an individual stock or bond will decline because of changing expectations for the performance of the individual company issuing the stock or bond (due to situations that could range from decreased sales to events such as a pending merger or actual or threatened bankruptcy).
How the Fund strives to manage them: The portfolio managers limit the amount of the Fund's assets invested in any one industry and in any individual security. The portfolio managers also follow a rigorous selection process when choosing securities.
Limited number of stocks risk
Limited number of stocks risk is the possibility that a single security's increase or decrease in value may have a greater impact on the fund's value and total return because the fund may hold larger positions in fewer securities than other funds.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund maintains a diversified portfolio representing a number of different industries, which helps to minimize the impact that any one security or industry could have on the Fund if it were to experience a period of slow or declining growth.
Company size risk
Company size risk is the risk that investments in small- and/or medium-sized companies typically exhibit higher volatility than larger, more established companies. Company size risk also comes from lower liquidity typically associated with small company stocks, which means the price may be affected by poorly executed trades, even if the underlying business of the company is unchanged.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund may invest in small- and medium-sized companies. The portfolio managers believe medium-sized companies, in general, are more stable than smaller companies and involve less risk due to their larger size, greater experience, and more extensive financial resources. Nonetheless, medium-sized companies have many of the same risks as small companies and are considered to be riskier, in general, than large-sized companies. To address this risk, the portfolio managers seek a well-diversified portfolio, select stocks carefully, and monitor them frequently.
Futures and options risk
Futures and options risk is the possibility that a fund may experience a significant loss if it employs an options or futures strategy related to a security or a market index and that security or index moves in the opposite direction from what the portfolio manager anticipated. Futures and options also involve additional expenses (such as the payment of premiums), which could reduce any benefit or increase any loss to a fund from using the strategy.
Investing in derivatives may subject a fund to counterparty risk. Please refer to "Counterparty risk" for more information.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers may use options and futures to protect gains in the portfolio without actually selling a security. The portfolio managers may also use options and futures to quickly invest excess cash so that the portfolio is generally fully invested.
The portfolio managers try to minimize counterparty risk by researching and considering the creditworthiness of all parties before entering into transactions with them and continually monitoring their creditworthiness thereafter. The Fund will hold collateral from counterparties consistent with applicable regulations.
Counterparty risk
Counterparty risk is the risk that if a fund enters into a derivatives contract (such as a swap, futures, or options contract) or a repurchase agreement, the counterparty to such a contract or agreement may fail to perform its obligations under the contract or agreement due to financial difficulties (such as a bankruptcy or reorganization). As a result, the fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery, may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery at all.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers seek to minimize this risk by considering the creditworthiness of all counterparties before the Fund enters into transactions with them. The Fund may hold collateral from counterparties consistent with applicable regulations.
Foreign risk
Foreign risk is 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 or government conditions; the imposition of economic and/or trade sanctions; or inadequate or different regulatory and accounting standards.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers typically invest only a small portion of the Fund's portfolio in foreign corporations indirectly through ADRs. When the portfolio managers do purchase ADRs, they are generally denominated in U.S. dollars and traded on a U.S. exchange.
Emerging markets risk
Emerging markets risk is the possibility that the risks 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, in many emerging markets there is substantially less publicly available information about issuers and the information that is available tends to be of a lesser quality. Economic markets and structures tend to be less mature and diverse and the securities markets, which are subject to less government regulation or supervision, may also be smaller, less liquid, and subject to greater price volatility.
How the Fund strives to manage it: Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in emerging market securities. Striving to manage this risk for the Fund, the portfolio managers carefully screen securities within emerging markets and attempt to consider material risks associated with an individual company or bond issuer.
Political risk
Political risk is the risk that countries or an entire region may experience political instability. This may cause greater fluctuation in the value and liquidity of investments due to changes in currency exchange rates, governmental seizures, or nationalization of assets.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers evaluate the political situations in the countries where the Fund invests and take into account any potential risks before they select securities for the Fund. However, there is no way to eliminate political risk when investing internationally. In emerging markets, political risk is typically more likely to affect the economy and share prices than in developed markets.
Currency risk
Currency risk is the risk that the value of a fund's investments may be negatively affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Adverse changes in exchange rates may reduce or eliminate any gains produced by investments that are denominated in foreign currencies and may increase any losses.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers may try to hedge the Fund's currency risk by purchasing foreign currency exchange contracts. If the portfolio managers agree to purchase or sell foreign securities at a preset price on a future date, the portfolio managers may attempt to protect the value of a security the Fund owns from future changes in currency exchange rates. If the portfolio managers have agreed to purchase or sell a security for the Fund, they may also use foreign currency exchange contracts to "lock in" the security's price in terms of U.S. dollars or another applicable currency. The Fund may use forward foreign currency exchange contracts only for defensive or protective measures, not to enhance portfolio returns. However, there is no assurance that such a strategy will be successful. Hedging may be less practical in emerging markets.
Information risk
Information risk is the risk that foreign companies may be subject to different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than U.S. companies. There may be less information available about foreign issuers than domestic issuers. Furthermore, regulatory oversight of foreign issuers may be less stringent or less consistently applied than in the United States.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers conduct fundamental research on the companies that the Fund invests in rather than relying solely on information available through financial reporting. As part of their worldwide research process, the portfolio managers emphasize company visits. The portfolio managers believe this will help them to better uncover any potential weaknesses in individual companies.
Inefficient market risk
Inefficient market risk is the risk that foreign markets may be less liquid and have greater price volatility, less regulation, and higher transaction costs than U.S. markets.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers will attempt to reduce this risk by investing in a number of different countries, noting trends in the economy, industries, and financial markets.
Transaction costs risk
Transaction costs risk is the risk that the costs of buying, selling, and holding foreign securities, including brokerage, tax, and custody costs, may be higher than those involved in domestic transactions.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund is subject to this risk. The portfolio managers strive to monitor transaction costs and to choose an efficient trading strategy for the Fund.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the possibility that securities cannot be readily sold within seven days at approximately the price at which a fund has valued them.
How the Fund strives to manage it: The Fund limits its exposure to illiquid securities to no more than 15% of its net assets.
Government and regulatory risks
Governments or regulatory authorities have, from time to time, taken or considered actions that could adversely affect various sectors of the securities markets and significantly affect fund performance. Government involvement in the private sector may, in some cases, include government investment in, or ownership of, companies in certain commercial business sectors; wage and price controls; or imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures. For example, an economic or political crisis may lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, the creation of government monopolies, foreign exchange controls, the introduction of new currencies (and the redenomination of financial obligations into those currencies), or other measures that could be detrimental to the investments of a fund.
How the Fund strives to manage them: The portfolio managers evaluate the economic and political climate in the relevant jurisdictions before selecting securities for the Fund. The portfolio managers typically diversify the Fund's assets among a number of different securities in a variety of sectors in order to minimize the impact to the Fund of any legislative or regulatory development affecting particular countries, issuers, or market sectors.
Real estate industry risk
Real estate industry risk includes, among others: possible declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; overbuilding; extended vacancies of properties; increases in competition, property taxes, and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; costs resulting from the cleanup of, and liability to third parties resulting from, environmental problems; casualty for condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes, or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; and changes in interest rates. REITs are subject to substantial cash-flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the risk of failing to qualify for
tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code), or other similar statute in non-U.S. countries and/or to maintain exemptions from the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act).
How the Fund strives to manage it: The portfolio managers select REITs based on the quality of the REITs' management and the REITs' ability to generate substantial cash flow, which the portfolio managers believe can help to shield the Fund from some of the risks involved with real estate investing.
Disclosure of portfolio holdings information
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio securities is available in the SAI.
The Manager, located at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, is the Fund's investment manager. Together, the Manager and the subsidiaries of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (DMHI) manage, as of March 31, 2015, more than $180 billion in assets, including mutual funds, separate accounts, and other investment vehicles. The Manager and its predecessors have been managing the Delaware Investments ® Funds since 1938. The Manager is a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, which is a subsidiary of DMHI. DMHI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited. The Manager makes investment decisions for the Fund, manages the Fund's business affairs, and provides daily administrative services. For its services to the Fund, the Manager was paid an aggregate fee, net of fee waivers (if applicable), of 0.71% of average daily net assets during the last fiscal year.
A discussion of the basis for the Board's approval of the Fund's investment advisory contract is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the period ended Sept. 30, 2014.
Sub-advisor
Jackson Square Partners, LLC (JSP), located at 101 California Street, Suite 3750, San Francisco, CA 94111, is the sub-advisor to the Fund. JSP, a Delaware limited liability company, is a joint venture between Delaware Investments Advisers Partner, Inc., an affiliate of the Manager, and California Street Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership owned by certain JSP personnel. As of June 30, 2015, JSP manages over $9.6 billion in assets, including mutual funds, separate accounts and other investment vehicles. As sub-advisor, JSP is responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund's assets. Although JSP serves as sub-advisor, the Manager has ultimate responsibility for all investment advisory services. The Manager has entered into a separate sub-advisory agreement with JSP and compensates JSP out of the investment advisory fees it receives from the Fund.
A discusssion of the basis for the Board's approval of the Fund's sub-advisory contract with JSP is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the period ended Sept. 30, 2014.
Christopher J. Bonavico and Kenneth F. Broad have primary responsibility for making day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. Messrs. Bonavico and Broad assumed responsibility for the Fund in January 2010.
Christopher J. Bonavico, CFA,
Portfolio Manager, Equity Analyst — Jackson Square Partners, LLC
Christopher J. Bonavico became a member of Jackson Square Partners (JSP), at its inception in May 2014 as a portfolio manager and equity analyst. Jackson Square Partners manages large-cap growth, smid-cap growth, all-cap growth, and global growth portfolios. Prior to joining JSP, he was a portfolio manager and equity analyst on the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from April 2005 to April 2014. The Focus Growth Equity team managed large-cap growth, smid-cap growth, all-cap growth, and global growth portfolios. Prior to joining Delaware Investments, he was a principal and portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, where he managed sub-advised funds and institutional separate accounts. Before joining Transamerica in 1993, he was a research analyst for Salomon Brothers. Bonavico received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Delaware.
Kenneth F. Broad,
CFA,
Portfolio Manager, Equity Analyst — Jackson Square Partners, LLC
Kenneth F. Broad became a member of Jackson Square Partners (JSP), at its inception in May 2014 as a portfolio manager and equity analyst. Jackson Square Partners manages large-cap growth, smid-cap growth, all-cap growth, and global growth portfolios. Prior to joining JSP, he was a portfolio manager and equity analyst on the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from April 2005 to April 2014. The Focus Growth Equity team managed large-cap growth, smid-cap growth, all-cap growth, and global growth portfolios. Prior to joining Delaware Investments, he was a principal and portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, where he managed sub-advised funds and institutional separate accounts. Before joining Transamerica in 2000, he was a portfolio manager with The Franklin Templeton Group and was a consultant in the business valuation and merger and acquisition group at KPMG Peat Marwick. He received
an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles and his bachelor's degree in economics from Colgate University.
The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, and each portfolio manager's ownership of Fund shares.
The Fund and the Manager have received an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate under a manager of managers structure that permits the Manager, with the approval of the Board, to appoint and replace sub-advisors, enter into sub-advisory agreements, and materially amend and terminate sub-advisory agreements on behalf of the Fund without shareholder approval (Manager of Managers Structure). Under the Manager of Managers Structure, the Manager has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, for overseeing the Fund's sub-advisors and recommending to the Board their hiring, termination, or replacement. The SEC order does not currently apply to any sub-advisor that is affiliated with the Fund or the Manager. While the Manager does not currently expect to use the Manager of Managers Structure with respect to the Fund, the Manager may, in the future, recommend to the Board the establishment of the Manager of Managers Structure by recommending the hiring of one or more sub-advisors to manage all or a portion of the Fund's portfolio.
The Manager of Managers Structure enables the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approvals for matters relating to sub-advisors or sub-advisory agreements. The Manager of Managers Structure does not permit an increase in the overall management and advisory fees payable by the Fund without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified of any changes made to sub-advisors or sub-advisory agreements within 90 days of the changes.
The Fund and Manager are now seeking expanded exemptive relief with the SEC for a new manager of managers exemptive order (the "New MOM Order") that would permit the Manager, with the approval of the Fund's Board, to appoint and replace both affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisors, and to enter into, terminate, and make material amendments to the related sub-advisory contracts on behalf of the Fund without shareholder approval. If the Fund and Manager are granted the New MOM Order that includes relief related to any affiliated sub-advisors, it would permit the Manager to recommend and hire a broader universe of sub-advisors than it may hire currently. Shareholders of the Fund have approved the use of the New MOM Order subject to the SEC's granting such relief.
Board of trustees: A mutual fund is governed by a board of trustees, which has oversight responsibility for the management of the fund's business affairs. Trustees establish procedures and oversee and review the performance of the fund's service providers.
Investment manager: An investment manager is a company responsible for selecting portfolio investments consistent with the objective and policies stated in the mutual fund's prospectus. A written contract between a mutual fund and its investment manager specifies the services the investment manager performs and the fee the manager is entitled to receive.
Portfolio managers: Portfolio managers make investment decisions for individual portfolios.
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Distributor: Most mutual funds continuously offer new shares to the public through distributors that are regulated as broker/dealers and are subject to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules governing mutual fund sales practices.
Service agent: Mutual fund companies employ service agents (sometimes called transfer agents) to maintain records of shareholder accounts, calculate and disburse dividends and capital gains, and prepare and mail shareholder statements and tax information, among other functions. Many service agents also provide administrative services to a fund and oversight of other fund service providers.
Custodian/Fund accountant: Mutual funds are legally required to protect their portfolio securities, and most funds place them with a qualified bank custodian that segregates fund securities from other bank assets. The fund accountant provides services such as calculating a fund's net asset value (NAV) and providing financial reporting information for the fund.
Financial advisors: Financial advisors provide advice to their clients. They are associated with securities broker/dealers who have entered into selling and/or service arrangements with the distributor. Selling broker/dealers and financial advisors are compensated for their services generally through sales commissions, and through 12b-1 fees and/or service fees deducted from a fund's assets.
Shareholders: Mutual fund shareholders have specific voting rights on matters such as material changes in the terms of a fund's management contract and changes to fundamental investment policies.
You can choose from a number of share classes for the Fund. Because each share class has a different combination of sales charges, fees, and other features, you should consult your financial intermediary or your financial advisor (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "financial intermediary") to determine which share class best suits your investment goals and time frame. It is the responsibility of your financial intermediary to assist you in determining the most appropriate share class and to communicate such determination to us.
Information about existing sales charges and sales charge reductions and waivers is available free of charge on the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website at delawareinvestments.com, including hyperlinks to relevant information in fund offering documents. Additional information on sales charges can be found in the SAI, which is available upon request.
Each share class may be eligible for purchase through programs sponsored by financial intermediaries that require the purchase of a specific class
of shares.
Class A, Class C, and Class R shares have each adopted a separate 12b-1 plan that allows them to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of their shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Class A
Class A shares have an upfront sales charge of up to 5.75% that you pay when you buy the shares.
If you invest $50,000 or more, your front-end sales charge will be reduced.
You may qualify for other reduced sales charges, and, under certain circumstances, the sales charge may be waived, as described in "How to reduce your sales charge" below.
Class A shares are also subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 0.25% of average daily net assets. See "Dealer compensation" below for further information. The Board has adopted a formula for calculating 12b-1 plan expenses for the Class A shares of the Fund. The total 12b-1 fee to be paid by Class A shareholders of the Fund will be the sum of 0.10% of the average daily net assets representing the shares that were acquired prior to June 1, 1992 and 0.25% of the average daily net assets representing the shares that were acquired on or after June 1, 1992. All Class A shareholders will bear the Class A 12b-1 fee at the same rate, the blended rate based upon the allocation of the 0.10% and 0.25% described above. See "Dealer compensation" below for further information.
Class A shares generally are not subject to a CDSC, except in the limited circumstances described in the table below.
Class A shares generally are not available for purchase by anyone qualified to purchase Class R shares, except as described below.
Because of the higher 12b-1 fee, Class A shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Institutional Class shares.
Class A sales charges
The table below details your sales charges on purchases of Class A shares. The offering price for Class A shares includes the front-end sales charge. The sales charge as a percentage of the net amount invested is the maximum percentage of the amount invested rounded to the nearest hundredth. The actual sales charge that you pay as a percentage of the offering price and as a percentage of the net amount invested will vary depending on the then-current NAV, the percentage rate of the sales charge, and rounding.
| Amount of purchase |
Sales charge as % of offering price |
Sales charge as % of net amount invested |
||
| Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.54% | ||
| $50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.75% | 5.41% | ||
| $100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.75% | 4.31% | ||
| $250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.50% | 3.00% | ||
| $500,000 but less than $1 million | 2.00% | 2.44% | ||
| $1 million or more | none* | none* | ||
* There is no front-end sales charge when you purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares. However, if Delaware Distributors, L.P. (Distributor) paid your financial intermediary a commission on your purchase of $1 million or more of Class A shares, you will have to pay a Limited CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem these shares within the first year after your purchase and 0.50% if you redeem shares within the second year, unless a specific waiver of the Limited CDSC applies. The Limited CDSC will be paid to the Distributor and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the NAV at the time the Class A shares being redeemed were purchased; or (2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption. For purposes of this formula, the "NAV at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of the Class A shares even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund and, in the event of an exchange of Class A shares, the "NAV of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares acquired in the exchange. In determining whether a Limited CDSC is payable, it will be assumed that shares not subject to the Limited CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. See "Dealer compensation" below for a description of the dealer commission that is paid.
Class C
Class C shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund. However, you will pay a CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem your shares within 12 months after you buy them.
In determining whether the CDSC applies to a redemption of Class C shares, it will be assumed that shares held for more than 12 months are redeemed first, followed by shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or distributions, and finally by shares held for 12 months or less. For further information on how the CDSC is determined, please see "Calculation of contingent deferred sales charges — Class C" below.
Under certain circumstances, the CDSC may be waived; please see "Waivers of contingent deferred sales charges" below for further information.
Class C shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 1.00% of average daily net assets (of which 0.25% is a service fee) paid to the Distributor, dealers, or others for providing services and maintaining shareholder accounts.
Class C shares do not automatically convert to another class.
You may purchase only up to $1 million of Class C shares at any one time. Orders that exceed $1 million will be rejected.
Because of their higher 12b-1 fee, Class C shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Class A, Class R, and Institutional Class shares.
Calculation of contingent deferred sales charges — Class C
CDSCs are charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject to the CDSC. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the NAV at the time the shares being redeemed were purchased or the NAV of those shares at the time of redemption. No CDSC will be imposed on increases in NAV above the initial purchase price, nor will a CDSC be assessed on redemptions of shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. For purposes of this formula, the "NAV at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of Class C shares of the Fund, even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund. In the event of an exchange of the shares, the "NAV of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares that were acquired in the exchange.
Class R
Class R shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund. Class R shares are not subject to a CDSC.
Class R shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee no greater than 0.50% of average daily net assets.
Class R shares do not automatically convert to another class.
Class R shares generally are available only to: (i) qualified and nonqualified plan shareholders covering multiple employees (including 401(k),
401(a), 457, and noncustodial 403(b) plans, as well as certain other nonqualified deferred compensation plans); and (ii) individual retirement account (IRA) rollovers from legacy Delaware Investments
®
plans that were previously maintained on the Delaware Investments
®
retirement recordkeeping system or the retirement recordkeeping system of Ascensus (formerly, BISYS) that are offering Class R shares to participants.
Except as noted above, no other IRAs are eligible for Class R shares (for example, no traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SEPs, or SARSEPs). For purposes of determining plan asset levels, affiliated plans may be combined at the request of the plan sponsor.
Any account holding Class A shares of the Fund as of the date Class R shares were made available for the Fund continues to be eligible to purchase the Fund's Class A shares after that date. Any account holding the Fund's Class R shares is not eligible to purchase its Class A shares.
Because of their higher 12b-1 fee, Class R shares have higher expenses and any dividends paid on these shares are generally lower than dividends on Class A and Institutional Class shares.
Institutional Class
Institutional Class shares have no upfront sales charge, so the full amount of your purchase is invested in the Fund.
Institutional Class shares do not assess a CDSC or a 12b-1 fee.
Institutional Class shares are available for purchase only by the following:
rollover IRAs from retirement plans and retirement plans introduced by persons not associated with brokers or dealers that are primarily engaged in the retail securities business;
retirement plans or certain other programs that are maintained on platforms sponsored by financial intermediary firms, provided the financial intermediary firms or their trust companies (or entities performing similar trading/clearing functions) have entered into an agreement with the Distributor (or its affiliate) related to such plans or programs;
tax-exempt employee benefit plans of the Manager, its affiliates, and securities dealers that have a selling agreement with the Distributor;
institutional advisory clients (including mutual funds) of the Manager or its affiliates, as well as those clients' affiliates, and their corporate sponsors, subsidiaries, related employee benefit plans, and rollover IRAs of, or from, such institutional advisory clients;
a bank, trust company, or similar financial institution investing for its own account or for the account of its trust customers for whom the financial institution is exercising investment discretion in purchasing Institutional Class shares, except where the investment is part of a program that requires payment to the financial institution of a Rule 12b-1 Plan fee;
registered investment advisors (RIAs) investing on behalf of clients that consist solely of institutions and high net worth individuals whose assets are entrusted to an RIA for investment purposes for accounts requiring Institutional Class shares (use of the Institutional Class shares is restricted to RIAs who are not affiliated or associated with a broker or dealer and who derive compensation for their services exclusively from their advisory clients);
programs sponsored by, controlled by, and/or clearing transactions submitted through a financial intermediary where: (1) such programs allow or require the purchase of Institutional Class shares; (2) a financial intermediary has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent allowing certain purchases of Institutional Class shares; and (3) a financial intermediary (i) charges clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment consulting or similar services, or (ii) offers the Institutional Class shares through a no-commission network or platform; or
private investment vehicles, including, but not limited to, foundations and endowments.
The financial intermediary who sells you shares of the Fund may be eligible to receive the following amounts as compensation for your investment in the Fund. These amounts are paid by the Distributor to the securities dealer with whom your financial advisor is associated. Institutional Class shares do not have a 12b-1 fee or sales charge so they are not included in the table below.
| Class A1 | Class C2 | Class R3 | |
| Commission (%) | — | 1.00% | — |
| Investment less than $50,000 | 5.00% | — | — |
| $50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.00% | — | — |
| $100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.00% | — | — |
| $250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.00% | — | — |
| $500,000 but less than $1 million | 1.60% | — | — |
| $1 million but less than $5 million | 1.00% | — | — |
| $5 million but less than $25 million | 0.50% | — | — |
| $25 million or more | 0.25% | — | — |
| 12b-1 fee to dealer | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% |
1 On sales of Class A shares, the Distributor reallows to your securities dealer a portion of the front-end sales charge depending upon the amount you invested. Your securities dealer may be eligible to receive a 12b-1 fee up to 0.25% from the date of purchase.
Additionally, the Fund's Class A shares are subject to a blended 12b-1 fee of 0.10% on all shares acquired prior to June 1, 1992, and 0.25% on all shares acquired on or after June 1, 1992.
2
On sales of Class C shares, the Distributor may pay your securities dealer an upfront commission of 1.00%. The upfront commission includes an advance of the first year's 12b-1 service fee of up to 0.25%. During the first 12 months, the Distributor retains the full 1.00% 12b-1 fee to partially offset the upfront commission and the prepaid 0.25% service fee advanced at the time of purchase. Starting in the 13th month, your securities dealer may be eligible to receive the full 1.00% 12b-1 fee applicable to Class C shares. Alternatively, certain intermediaries may not be eligible to receive the upfront commission of 1.00%, but may receive the 12b-1 fee for sales of Class C shares from the date of purchase.
3
On sales of Class R shares, the Distributor does not pay your securities dealer an upfront commission. Your securities dealer may be eligible to receive a 12b-1 fee of up to 0.50% from the date of purchase.
The Distributor and its affiliates may pay additional compensation at their own expense and not as an expense of the Fund to certain affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries (Financial Intermediaries) in connection with the sale or retention of Fund shares and/or shareholder servicing, including providing the Fund with "shelf space" or a higher profile with the Financial Intermediaries' consultants, salespersons, and customers (distribution assistance). For example, the Distributor or its affiliates may pay additional compensation to Financial Intermediaries for various purposes, including, but not limited to, promoting the sale of Fund shares, maintaining share balances and/or for subaccounting, administrative, or shareholder processing services, marketing, educational support, data, and ticket charges. Such payments are in addition to any distribution fees, service fees, subaccounting fees, and/or transfer agency fees that may be payable by the Fund. The additional payments may be based on factors, including level of sales (based on gross or net sales or some specified minimum sales or some other similar criteria related to sales of the Fund and/or some or all other Delaware Investments ® Funds), amount of assets invested by the Financial Intermediary's customers (which could include current or aged assets of the Fund and/or some or all other Delaware Investments ® Funds), the Fund's advisory fees, some other agreed-upon amount, or other measures as determined from time to time by the Distributor. The level of payments made to a qualifying Financial Intermediary in any given year may vary. To the extent permitted by SEC and FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Distributor may pay, or allow its affiliates to pay, other promotional incentives or payments to Financial Intermediaries.
Sub-transfer agent/recordkeeping payments may be made to third parties (including affiliates of DMC) that provide sub-transfer agent, recordkeeping and/or shareholder services with respect to certain shareholder accounts in lieu of the transfer agent providing such services.
If a mutual fund sponsor or distributor makes greater payments for distribution assistance to your Financial Intermediary with respect to distribution of shares of that particular mutual fund than sponsors or distributors of other mutual funds make to your Financial Intermediary with respect to the distribution of the shares of their mutual funds, your Financial Intermediary and its salespersons may have a financial incentive to favor sales of shares of the mutual fund making the higher payments over shares of other mutual funds or over other investment options. In addition, depending on the arrangements in place at any particular time, a Financial Intermediary may also have a financial incentive for recommending a particular share class over other share classes. You should consult with your Financial Intermediary and review carefully any disclosure provided by such Financial Intermediary as to compensation it receives in connection with investment products it recommends or sells to you. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase sales of the Fund's shares. The Manager or its affiliates may benefit from the Distributor's or its affiliates' payment of compensation to Financial Intermediaries through increased fees resulting from additional assets acquired through the sale of Fund shares through Financial Intermediaries. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your Financial Intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or the price of the Fund's shares.
How to reduce your sales charge
We offer a number of ways to reduce or eliminate the front-end sales charge on Class A shares. Please refer to the SAI for detailed information and eligibility requirements. You can also get additional information from your financial intermediary. You or your financial intermediary must notify us at the time you purchase shares if you are eligible for any of these programs. You may also need to provide information to your financial intermediary or the Fund in order to qualify for a reduction in sales charges. Such information may include your Delaware Investments® Funds holdings in any other accounts, including retirement accounts, held indirectly or through an intermediary, and the names of qualifying family members and their holdings. We reserve the right to determine whether any purchase is entitled, by virtue of the foregoing, to the reduced sales charge. Class R and Institutional Class shares have no upfront sales charge or CDSC so they are not included in the table below.
Letter of intent and rights of accumulation
Through a letter of intent you agree to invest a certain amount in Delaware Investments ® Funds (except money market funds with no sales charge) over a 13-month period to qualify for reduced front-end sales charges. Delaware Investments ® Funds no longer accept retroactive letters of intent.
You can combine your holdings or purchases of Class A and Class C shares of Delaware Investments ® Funds (as set forth in the SAI) as well as the holdings and purchases of your spouse — or equivalent, if recognized under local law — and children under the age of 21 to qualify for reduced front-end sales charges.
| Class A | Class C | ||
| Available. | Although the letter of intent does not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine your purchase of Class C shares with your purchase of Class A shares to fulfill your letter of intent. Although the rights of accumulation do not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine the value of your Class C shares with the value of your Class A shares to receive a reduced sales charge. | ||
Reinvestment of redeemed shares
Up to 12 months after you redeem shares, you can reinvest the proceeds without paying a sales charge.
| Class A | Class C | ||
| Available. | Not available. | ||
SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, 401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans
These investment plans may qualify for reduced sales charges by combining the purchases of all members of the group. Members of these groups may also qualify to purchase shares without a front-end sales charge and may qualify for a waiver of any CDSCs on Class A shares.
| Class A | Class C |
| Available. | Although front-end sales charges do not apply to the purchase of Class C shares, you can combine your purchase of Class A shares with your purchase of Class C shares in order to reduce your sales charge on Class A shares. |
Buying Class A shares at net asset value
Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at NAV under the following circumstances, provided that you notify the Fund in advance that the trade qualifies for this privilege. The Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate these arrangements at any time.
Shares purchased under the Delaware Investments ® dividend reinvestment plan and, under certain circumstances, the exchange privilege and the 12-month reinvestment privilege.
Purchases by: (i) current and former officers, Trustees/Directors, and employees of any Delaware Investments ® Fund, the Manager, or any of the Manager's current affiliates and those that may in the future be created; (ii) current employees of legal counsel to the Delaware Investments ® Funds; and (iii) registered representatives, employees, officers, and directors of broker/dealers who have entered into dealer's agreements with the Distributor. At the direction of such persons, their family members (regardless of age), and any employee benefit plan, trust, or other entity directly owned by, controlled by, or established by any of the foregoing may also purchase shares at NAV.
Shareholders who own Class A shares of Delaware Cash Reserve ® Fund as a result of a liquidation of a Delaware Investments ® Fund may exchange into Class A shares of another Delaware Investments ® Fund at NAV.
Purchases by bank employees who provide services in connection with agreements between the bank and unaffiliated brokers or dealers concerning sales of shares of the Delaware Investments ® Funds.
Purchases by certain officers, trustees, and key employees of institutional clients of the Manager or any of its affiliates.
Purchases by programs sponsored by, controlled by, and/or clearing transactions submitted through a financial intermediary where: (i) such programs allow or require the purchase of Class A shares; (ii) a financial intermediary has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent allowing certain purchases of Class A shares; and (iii) a financial intermediary (1) charges clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment consulting, or similar services, or (2) offers the Class A shares through a no-commission network or platform. Investors may be charged a fee by their financial intermediary when effecting transactions in Class A shares through a financial intermediary that offers these programs.
Purchases for the benefit of the clients of brokers, dealers, and other financial intermediaries if such brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries have entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing for the purchase of Class A shares at NAV through self-directed brokerage service platforms or programs. Investors may be charged a fee by their financial intermediary when effecting transactions in Class A shares at NAV through a self-directed investment brokerage service platform or program.
Purchases by financial institutions investing for the accounts of their trust customers if they are not eligible to purchase shares of the Institutional Class, if applicable.
Purchases by retirement plans or certain other programs that are maintained or sponsored by financial intermediary firms, provided the financial intermediary firms or their trust companies (or entities performing similar trading/clearing functions) have entered into an agreement with the Distributor (or its affiliate) related to such plans or programs.
Purchases by certain legacy bank-sponsored retirement plans and certain legacy retirement assets that meet requirements set forth in the SAI.
Investments made by plan level and/or participant retirement accounts that are for the purpose of repaying a loan taken from such accounts.
Purchases by certain participants in defined contribution plans and members of their households whose plan assets will be rolled over into IRA accounts (IRA Program) where the financial intermediary has entered into an agreement specifically relating to such IRA Program with the Distributor and/or the transfer agent.
Purchases by certain participants of particular group retirement plans as described in the SAI.
Waivers of contingent deferred sales charges
Certain sales charges may be based on historical cost. Therefore, you should maintain any records that substantiate these costs because the Fund, its transfer agent, and financial intermediaries may not maintain this information. Class R and Institutional Class shares do not have CDSCs so they are not included in the list below.
CDSCs for Class A and Class C shares may be waived under the following circumstances 1 :
Redemptions in accordance with a systematic withdrawal plan: Redemptions in accordance with a systematic withdrawal plan, provided the annual amount selected to be withdrawn under the plan does not exceed 12% of the value of the account on the date that the systematic withdrawal plan was established or modified.
Redemptions that result from the right to liquidate a shareholder's account: Redemptions that result from the right to liquidate a shareholder's account if the aggregate NAV of the shares held in the account is less than the then-effective minimum account size.
Section 401(a) qualified retirement plan distributions: Distributions to participants or beneficiaries from a retirement plan trading on a recordkeeping platform qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code).
Section 401(a) qualified retirement plan redemptions: Redemptions pursuant to the direction of a participant or beneficiary of a retirement plan trading on a recordkeeping platform qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to that retirement plan.
Periodic distributions or systematic withdrawals from a retirement account or qualified plan: Periodic distributions or systematic withdrawals from an individual retirement account (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, and Coverdell ESA) or a qualified plan2 (401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans) not subject to a penalty under Section 72(t)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code or a hardship or unforeseen emergency provision in the qualified plan as described in Treas. Reg. §1.401(k)-1(d)(3) and Section 457(d)(1)(A)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Returns of excess contributions due to any regulatory limit: Returns of excess contributions due to any regulatory limit from an individual retirement account (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, and Coverdell ESA) or a qualified plan2 (401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, 403(b)(7), and 457 Retirement Plans).
Distributions by other employee benefit plans: Distributions by other employee benefit plans to pay benefits.
Distributions from an account of a redemption resulting from death or disability: Distributions from an account of a redemption resulting from the death or disability (as defined in Section 72(t)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code) of a registered owner or a registered joint owner occurring after the purchase of the shares being redeemed. In the case of accounts established under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or trust accounts, the waiver applies upon the death of all beneficial owners.
Redemptions by certain legacy retirement assets: Redemptions by certain legacy retirement assets that meet the requirements set forth in
the SAI.
Redemptions in connection with a fund liquidation: Redemptions subsequent to the fund liquidation notice to shareholders.
1 Please note that you or your financial intermediary will have to notify us at the time of the redemption that the trade qualifies for such waiver.
2 Qualified plans that are fully redeemed at the direction of the plan's fiduciary may be subject to any applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC, unless the redemption is due to the termination of the plan.
Through your financial intermediary
Your financial advisor can handle all the details of purchasing shares, including opening an account. Your financial advisor may charge a separate fee for this service.
By mail
Complete an investment slip and mail it with your check, made payable to the fund and class of shares you wish to purchase, to Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for investments by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for investments by overnight courier service. If you are making an initial purchase by mail, you must include a completed investment application (or an appropriate retirement plan application if you are opening a retirement account) with your check.
Please note that purchase orders submitted by mail will not be considered accepted until such purchase orders are received in good order by Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for investments by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for investments by overnight courier service. Purchase orders will not be accepted at any other address. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agent. Therefore, deposits in the mail or with such services or receipt at the Fund's post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests, do not constitute receipt by the Fund or its agent.
By wire
Ask your bank to wire the amount you want to invest to The Bank of New York Mellon, ABA #011001234, bank account #000073-6910. Include your account number, the name of the fund, registered account name, and class of shares in which you want to invest. If you are making an initial purchase by wire, you must first call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 so we can assign you an account number.
By exchange
You may exchange all or part of your investment in one or more Delaware Investments ® Funds for shares of other Delaware Investments ® Funds. Please keep in mind, however, that under most circumstances you may exchange between like classes of shares only. To open an account by exchange, call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Through automated shareholder services
You may purchase or exchange shares through our automated telephone service (for Class A, Class C, and Class R shares only), or through our website, delawareinvestments.com (for Class A and Class C shares only). For more information about how to sign up for these services, call our Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
The price you pay for shares will depend on when we receive your purchase order. If your order is received by an authorized agent or us before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will pay that day's closing share price, which is based on a fund's NAV. If your order is received after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, you will pay the next Business Day's price. We reserve the right to reject any purchase order.
We determine the NAV per share for each class of a Delaware Investments ® Fund at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on each Business Day. The NAV per share for each class of a fund is calculated by subtracting the liabilities of each class from its total assets and dividing the resulting number by the number of shares outstanding for that class. We generally price securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available at their market value. The value of foreign securities may change on days when a shareholder will not be able to purchase or redeem fund shares because foreign markets are open at times and on days when U.S. markets are not. We price fixed income securities on the basis of valuations provided to us by an independent pricing service that uses methods approved by the Board. For all other securities, we use methods approved by the Board that are designed to price securities at their fair market values.
When the Fund uses fair value pricing, it may take into account any factors it deems appropriate. The Fund may determine fair value based upon developments related to a specific security, current valuations of foreign stock indices (as reflected in U.S. futures markets), and/or U.S. sector or broad stock market indices. 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. The prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Fair value pricing may involve subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security.
The Fund anticipates using fair value pricing for securities primarily traded on U.S. exchanges only under very limited circumstances, such as the early closing of the exchange on which a security is traded or suspension of trading in the security. The Fund may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets because, among other things, most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities, normally at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim. To account for this, the Fund may frequently value many foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third-party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
The Board has delegated responsibility for valuing the Fund's assets to a Pricing Committee of the Manager, which operates under the policies and procedures approved by the Board and is subject to the Board's oversight.
In addition to being an appropriate investment for your IRA, Roth IRA, and Coverdell Education Savings Account, the Fund may be suitable for group retirement plans. You may establish your IRA account even if you are already a participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. For more information on how the Fund can play an important role in your retirement planning or for details about group plans, please consult your financial intermediary, or call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
To reduce fund expenses, we try to identify related shareholders in a household and send only one copy of a fund's financial reports and prospectus. This process, called "householding," will continue indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you prefer not to have these documents householded, please call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918. At any time you may view current prospectuses and financial reports on our website.
Please note that your account may be required to transfer to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in the account within the time period specified by state law.
Availability of these services may be limited by your financial intermediary and by the way your account is registered with the Delaware Investments
®
Fund.
When you send us a completed request in good order to redeem or exchange shares and the request is received by an authorized agent or us before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will receive the NAV next determined after we receive your request. If we receive your request after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV next determined on the next Business Day. We will deduct any applicable CDSCs. You may also have to pay taxes on the proceeds from your sale of shares. We will send you a check, normally the next Business Day, but no later than seven days after we receive your request to sell your shares. If you purchased your shares by check and sell them before your check has cleared, which can take up to 15 days, we will wait until your check has cleared before we send you your redemption proceeds.
If you are required to pay a CDSC when you redeem your shares, the amount subject to the fee will be based on the shares' NAV when you purchased them or their NAV when you redeem them, whichever is less. This arrangement ensures that you will not pay a CDSC on any increase in the value of your shares. You also will not pay the charge on any shares acquired by reinvesting dividends or capital gains. If you exchange shares of one fund for shares of another, you do not pay a CDSC at the time of the exchange. If you later redeem those shares, the purchase price for purposes of the CDSC formula will be the price you paid for the original shares, not the exchange price. The redemption price for purposes of this formula will be the NAV of the shares you are actually redeeming.
If you hold your shares in certificates, you must submit the certificates with your request to sell the shares. We recommend that you send your certificates by certified mail.
Redemption proceeds will be distributed promptly (except as noted above), but not later than seven days after receipt of a redemption request (except as noted above). Please see the SAI for additional information.
Through your financial intermediary
Your financial intermediary can handle all the details of redeeming your shares (selling them back to a Fund). Your financial intermediary may charge a separate fee for this service.
By mail
You may redeem your shares by mail by writing to: Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for redemption requests by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for redemption requests by overnight courier service. All owners of the account must sign the request. For redemptions of more than $100,000, you must include a signature guarantee for each owner. Signature guarantees are also required when redemption proceeds are going to an address other than the address of record on the account. Please contact the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 for more information about the signature guarantee requirements.
Please note that redemption orders submitted by mail will not be considered accepted until such orders are received in good order by Delaware Investments at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 for redemptions by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 for redemptions by overnight courier service. Redemption requests will not be accepted at any other address. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposits in the mail or with such services or receipt at the Fund's post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests, do not constitute receipt by the transfer agent.
By telephone
You may redeem up to $100,000 of your shares by telephone. You may have the proceeds sent to you in the following ways:
By check — Sent to your address of record, provided there has not been an address change in the last 30 days.
By wire — Sent directly to your bank by wire, if you redeem at least $1,000 of shares. If you request a wire transfer, a bank wire fee may be deducted from your proceeds.
By ACH — Sent via Automated Clearing House (ACH), subject to a $25 minimum.
Bank information must be on file before you request a wire or ACH redemption. Your bank may charge a fee for these services.
Through automated shareholder services
You may redeem shares through our automated telephone service or through our website, delawareinvestments.com. For more information about how to sign up for these services, call our Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Redemptions-in-kind
The Fund has reserved the right to pay for redemptions with portfolio securities under certain conditions. See the SAI for more information on redemptions-in-kind.
For Class A and Class C shares, if you redeem shares and your account balance falls below the required account minimum of $1,000 ($250 for IRAs, Roth IRAs, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts, or accounts with automatic investing plans, and $500 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts) for three or more consecutive months, you will have until the end of the current calendar quarter to raise the balance to the minimum.
For Class R and Institutional Class shares, if you redeem shares and your account balance falls below $500, your shares may be redeemed after 60 days' written notice to you.
If your account is not at the minimum for low balance purposes by the required time, you may be charged a $9 fee for that quarter and each quarter after that until your account reaches the minimum balance, or it may be redeemed after 60 days' written notice to you. Any CDSC that would otherwise be applicable will not apply to such a redemption.
Certain accounts held in omnibus, advisory, or asset-allocation programs or programs offered by certain intermediaries may be opened below the minimum stated account balance and may maintain balances that are below the minimum stated account balance without incurring a service fee or being subject to involuntary redemption.
If the applicable account falls below the minimum due to market fluctuation, a Fund still reserves the right to liquidate the account.
To help make investing with us as easy as possible, and to help you build your investments, we offer the investor services described below. Information about the investor services we offer is available free of charge on the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website at delawareinvestments.com, including hyperlinks to relevant information in fund offering documents.
Automatic investment plan
The automatic investment plan allows you to make regular monthly or quarterly investments directly from your bank account.
Direct deposit
With direct deposit, you can make additional investments through payroll deductions, recurring government or private payments such as Social Security, or direct transfers from your bank account.
Electronic delivery
With Delaware Investments eDelivery, you can receive your fund documents electronically instead of via U.S. mail. When you sign up for eDelivery, you can access your account statements, shareholder reports, and other fund materials online, in a secure internet environment at any time.
Online account access
Online account access is a password-protected area of the Delaware Investments ® Funds' website that gives you access to your account information and allows you to perform transactions in a secure internet environment.
Systematic exchange option
With the systematic exchange option, you can arrange automatic monthly exchanges between your shares in one or more Delaware Investments ® Funds. These exchanges are subject to the same rules as regular exchanges (see below) and require a minimum monthly exchange of $100 per fund.
Dividend reinvestment plan
Through the dividend reinvestment plan, you can have your distributions reinvested in your account or the same share class in another Delaware Investments ® Fund. The shares that you purchase through the dividend reinvestment plan are not subject to a front-end sales charge or to a CDSC. Under most circumstances, you may reinvest dividends only into like classes of shares.
Exchanges
You may generally exchange all or part of your shares for shares of the same class of another Delaware Investments ® Fund without paying a front-end sales charge or a CDSC at the time of the exchange. However, if you exchange shares from a money market fund that does not have a sales charge, you will pay any applicable sales charge on your new shares. When exchanging Class C shares of one fund for the same class of shares in other funds, your new shares will be subject to the same CDSC as the shares you originally purchased. The holding period for the CDSC will also remain the same, with the amount of time you held your original shares being credited toward the holding period of your new shares. In certain other circumstances, you may also be permitted to exchange your shares for shares of a different class of the Fund, but such exchange may be subject to a sales charge for the new shares. (Please refer to the SAI for more details.) You do not pay sales charges on shares that you acquired through the reinvestment of dividends. You may have to pay taxes on your exchange. When you exchange shares, you are purchasing shares in another fund, so you should be sure to get a copy of the fund's prospectus and read it carefully before buying shares through an exchange. We may refuse the purchase side of any exchange request if, in the Manager's judgment, a fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected.
On demand service
The on demand service allows you or your financial advisor to transfer money between your Fund account and your predesignated bank account by telephone request. There is a minimum transfer of $25 and a maximum transfer of $100,000. Delaware Investments does not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may assess one.
Direct deposit service
Through the direct deposit service, you can have $25 or more in dividends and distributions deposited directly into your bank account. Delaware Investments does not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may assess one. This service is not available for retirement plans.
Systematic withdrawal plan
You can arrange a regular monthly or quarterly payment from your account made to you or someone you designate. If the value of your account is $5,000 or more, you can make withdrawals of at least $25 monthly, or $75 quarterly. You may also have your withdrawals deposited directly to your bank account through the direct deposit service.
The applicable Limited CDSC for Class A shares and the CDSC for Class C shares redeemed via a systematic withdrawal plan will be waived if the annual amount withdrawn in each year is less than 12% of the account balance on the date that the plan is established. If the annual amount withdrawn in any year exceeds 12% of the account balance on the date that the systematic withdrawal plan is established, all redemptions under the plan will be subject to the applicable CDSC, including an assessment for previously redeemed amounts under the plan.
Frequent trading of Fund shares
The Fund discourages purchases by market timers and purchase orders (including the purchase side of exchange orders) by shareholders identified as market timers may be rejected. The Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to detect, deter, and prevent trading activity detrimental to the Fund and its shareholders, such as market timing and disruptive trading. The Fund will consider anyone who follows a pattern of market timing in any Delaware Investments ® Fund or the Optimum Fund Trust to be a market timer and may consider anyone who has followed a similar pattern of market timing at an unaffiliated fund family to be a market timer.
Market timing of a fund occurs when investors make consecutive, rapid, short-term "round trips" — that is, purchases into a fund followed quickly by redemptions out of that fund. A short-term round trip is considered any redemption of fund shares within 20 Business Days of a purchase of that fund's shares. If you make a second such short-term round trip in a fund within 90 rolling calendar days of a previous short-term round trip in that fund, you may be considered a market timer. In determining whether market timing has occurred, the Fund will consider short-term round trips to include rapid purchases and sales of Fund shares through the exchange privilege. The Fund reserves the right to consider other trading patterns to be market timing.
Your ability to use the Fund's exchange privilege may be limited if you are identified as a market timer. If you are identified as a market timer, we will execute the redemption side of your exchange order but may refuse the purchase side of your exchange order. The Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject, without prior notice, any purchase order or exchange order for any reason, including any purchase order or exchange order accepted by any shareholder's financial intermediary or in any omnibus-type account. Transactions placed in violation of the Fund's market timing policy are not necessarily deemed accepted by the Fund and may be rejected by the Fund on the next Business Day following receipt by the Fund.
Redemptions will continue to be permitted in accordance with the Fund's then-current prospectus. A redemption of shares under these circumstances could be costly to a shareholder if, for example, the shares have declined in value, the shareholder recently paid a front-end sales charge, the shares are subject to a CDSC, or the sale results in adverse tax consequences. To avoid this risk, a shareholder should carefully monitor the purchases, sales, and exchanges of Fund shares and avoid frequent trading in Fund shares.
The Fund reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without notice, including modifications to the Fund's monitoring procedures and the procedures to close accounts to new purchases. Although the implementation of this policy involves certain judgments that are inherently subjective and may be selectively applied, we seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund's shareholders. While we will take actions designed to detect and prevent market timing, there can be no assurance that such trading activity will be completely eliminated. Moreover, the Fund's market timing policy does not require the Fund to take action in response to frequent trading activity. If the Fund elects not to take any action in response to frequent trading, such frequent trading activity could continue.
Risks of market timing
By realizing profits through short-term trading, shareholders who engage in rapid purchases and sales or exchanges of the Fund's shares dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Volatility resulting from excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of Fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management. In particular, the Fund may have difficulty implementing its long-term investment strategies if it is forced to maintain a higher level of its assets in cash to accommodate significant short-term trading activity. Excessive purchases and sales or exchanges of the Fund's shares may also force the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times to raise cash to accommodate short-term trading activity. This could adversely affect the Fund's performance, if, for example, the Fund incurs increased brokerage costs and realization of taxable capital gains without attaining any investment advantage.
Any fund may be subject to disruptive trading activity. However, a fund that invests significantly in foreign securities may be particularly susceptible to short-term trading strategies. This is because foreign securities are typically traded on markets that close well before the time a fund calculates its NAV (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE). Developments that occur between the closing of the foreign market and a fund's NAV calculation may affect the value of these foreign securities. The time-zone differences among international stock markets can allow a shareholder engaging in a short-term trading strategy to exploit differences in fund share prices that are based on closing prices of foreign securities established some time before a fund calculates its own share price.
Any fund that invests in securities that are thinly traded, traded infrequently, or relatively illiquid has the risk that the securities prices used to calculate the fund's NAV may not accurately reflect current market values. A shareholder may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences. Funds that may be adversely affected by such arbitrage include, in particular, funds that significantly invest in small-cap securities, technology, and other specific industry sector securities, and in certain fixed income securities, such as high yield bonds, asset-backed securities, or municipal bonds.
Transaction monitoring procedures
The Fund, through its transfer agent, maintains surveillance procedures designed to detect excessive or short-term trading in Fund shares. This monitoring process involves several factors, which include scrutinizing transactions in Fund shares for violations of the Fund's market timing policy or other patterns of short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of these transaction monitoring procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity by multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence to be trading by a single entity. Trading activity identified by these factors, or as a result of any other available information, will be evaluated to determine whether such activity might constitute market timing. These procedures may be modified from time to time to help improve the detection of excessive or short-term trading or to address other concerns. Such changes may be necessary or appropriate, for example, to deal with issues specific to certain retirement plans; plan exchange limits; U.S. Department of Labor regulations; certain automated or pre-established exchange, asset-allocation, or dollar-cost-averaging programs; or omnibus account arrangements.
Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund, particularly among certain broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries, including sponsors of retirement plans and variable insurance products. The Fund will attempt to have financial intermediaries apply the Fund's monitoring procedures to these omnibus accounts and to the individual participants in such accounts. However, to the extent that a financial intermediary is not able or willing to monitor or enforce the Fund's frequent trading policy with respect to an omnibus account, the Fund's transfer agent may work with certain intermediaries (such as investment dealers holding shareholder accounts in street name, retirement plan recordkeepers, insurance company separate accounts, and bank trust companies) to apply their own procedures, provided that the Fund's transfer agent believes the intermediary's procedures are reasonably designed to enforce the Fund's frequent trading policies. You should refer to disclosures provided by the intermediaries with which you have an account to determine the specific trading restrictions that apply to you. If the Fund's transfer agent identifies any activity that may constitute frequent trading, it reserves the right to contact the intermediary and request that the intermediary either provide information regarding an account owner's transactions or restrict the account owner's trading. If the Fund's transfer agent is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the transfer agent may terminate the intermediary's ability to transact in Fund shares.
Limitations on ability to detect and curtail market timing
Shareholders seeking to engage in market timing may employ a variety of strategies to avoid detection and, despite the efforts of the Fund and its agents to detect market timing in Fund shares, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify these shareholders or curtail their trading practices. In particular, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing attributable to a particular investor who effects purchase, redemption,
and/or exchange activity in Fund shares through omnibus accounts. The difficulty of detecting market timing may be further compounded if these entities utilize multiple tiers or omnibus accounts.
Dividends, distributions, and taxes
Dividends and distributions
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. The Fund expects to declare and distribute all of its net investment income, if any, to shareholders as dividends annually. The Fund will distribute net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually, usually in November or December. The Fund may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution will vary, and there is no guarantee the Fund will pay either an income dividend or a capital gains distribution. We automatically reinvest all dividends and any capital gains, unless you direct us to do otherwise.
Annual statements
Each year, the Fund will send you an annual statement (Form 1099) of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state, and local tax returns. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December. Prior to issuing your statement, the Fund makes every effort to reduce the number of corrected forms mailed to you. However, if the Fund finds it necessary to reclassify its distributions or adjust the cost basis of any covered shares (defined below) sold or exchanged after you receive your tax statement, the Fund will send you a corrected Form 1099.
Avoid "buying a dividend"
At the time you purchase your Fund shares, the Fund's NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Fund. For taxable investors, a subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in the Fund just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as "buying a dividend."
Tax considerations
Fund distributions . The Fund expects, based on its investment objective and strategies, that its distributions, if any, will be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash.
For federal income tax purposes, Fund distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Fund distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A portion of income dividends reported by the Fund may be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.
Sale or redemption of Fund shares . A sale or redemption of Fund shares is a taxable event and, accordingly, a capital gain or loss may be recognized. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Delaware Investments ® Fund is the same as a sale. The Fund is required to report to you and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annually on Form 1099-B not only the gross proceeds of Fund shares you sell or redeem but also the cost basis of Fund shares you sell or redeem that were purchased or acquired on or after Jan. 1, 2012 ("covered shares"). Cost basis will be calculated using the Fund's default method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different calculation method. Shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period, or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns. If your account is held by your investment representative (financial advisor or other broker), please contact that representative with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account. Tax-advantaged retirement accounts will not be affected. Additional information and updates regarding cost basis reporting and available shareholder elections will be on the Delaware Investments website at delawareinvestments.com as the information becomes available.
Medicare tax . An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person's "modified adjusted gross income" (in the case of an individual) or "adjusted gross income" (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount. This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
Backup withholding . By law, if you do not provide the Fund with your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale of your shares. The Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid.
State and local taxes . Fund distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your Fund shares generally are subject to state and local taxes.
Non-U.S. investors . Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and U.S. estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by the Fund from long-term capital gains, if any, and, with respect to taxable years of the Fund that begin before Jan. 1, 2015 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
Other reporting and withholding requirements . Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014, and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after Dec. 31, 2016, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions or nonfinancial foreign entities, that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA or similar laws. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
This discussion of "Dividends, distributions, and taxes" is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone's tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Fund.
Certain management considerations
Investments by fund of funds and similar investment vehicles
The Fund may accept investments from funds of funds, as well as from similar investment vehicles, such as 529 Plans. A "529 Plan" is a college savings program that operates under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. From time to time, the Fund may experience large investments or redemptions due to allocations or rebalancings by these funds of funds and/or similar investment vehicles. While it is impossible to predict the overall impact of these transactions over time, there could be adverse effects on portfolio management. For example, the Fund may be required to sell securities or invest cash at times when it would not otherwise do so. These transactions could also have tax consequences if sales of securities result in gains, and could also increase transaction costs or portfolio turnover.
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). In 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. The information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request by calling 800 523-1918.
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Class A shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $29.120 | $28.960 | $24.930 | $21.180 | $19.650 | $15.560 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income (loss)2 | 0.076 | (0.106) | (0.064) | (0.070) | 0.158 | (0.094) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 4.336 | 1.345 | 5.676 | 4.766 | 2.515 | 4.184 |
| Total from investment operations | 4.412 | 1.239 | 5.612 | 4.696 | 2.673 | 4.090 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | — | — | — | — | (0.205) | — |
| Net realized gain | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (0.938) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (1.143) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $29.410 | $29.120 | $28.960 | $24.930 | $21.180 | $19.650 |
| Total return3 | 16.02% | 4.19% | 24.34% | 22.54% | 13.57% | 26.29% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $838,620 | $779,507 | $956,010 | $931,398 | $706,442 | $256,981 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.22% | 1.19% | 1.19% | 1.22% | 1.32% | 1.50% |
|
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived |
1.22% | 1.19% | 1.24% | 1.25% | 1.32% | 1.53% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.53% | (0.36%) | (0.25%) | (0.29%) | 0.68% | (0.54%) |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.53% | (0.36%) | (0.30%) | (0.32%) | 0.68% | (0.57%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 8% | 26% | 14% | 20% | 21% | 139% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects waivers by the manager and/or distributor. Performance would have been lower had the waivers not been in effect. |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Class C shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $22.340 | $22.620 | $19.970 | $17.250 | $16.210 | $12.930 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment loss2 | (0.024) | (0.254) | (0.201) | (0.198) | (0.003) | (0.177) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 3.266 | 1.053 | 4.433 | 3.864 | 2.083 | 3.457 |
| Total from investment operations | 3.242 | 0.799 | 4.232 | 3.666 | 2.080 | 3.280 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | — | — | — | — | (0.102) | — |
| Net realized gain | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (0.938) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (1.040) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $21.460 | $22.340 | $22.620 | $19.970 | $17.250 | $16.210 |
| Total return3 | 15.60% | 3.39% | 23.42% | 21.68% | 12.77% | 25.37% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $79,901 | $77,021 | $88,886 | $88,316 | $59,513 | $6,329 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.97% | 1.94% | 1.94% | 1.95% | 2.02% | 2.20% |
|
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived |
1.97% | 1.94% | 1.94% | 1.95% | 2.02% | 2.23% |
| Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | (0.22%) | (1.11%) | (1.00%) | (1.02%) | (0.02%) | (1.24%) |
|
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets prior to fees waived |
(0.22%) | (1.11%) | (1.00%) | (1.02%) | (0.02%) | (1.27%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 8% | 26% | 14% | 20% | 21% | 139% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect. |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Class R shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $28.150 | $28.100 | $24.290 | $20.700 | $19.240 | $15.270 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income (loss)2 | 0.038 | (0.175) | (0.125) | (0.123) | 0.109 | (0.125) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 4.174 | 1.304 | 5.517 | 4.659 | 2.455 | 4.095 |
| Total from investment operations | 4.212 | 1.129 | 5.392 | 4.536 | 2.564 | 3.970 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | — | — | — | — | (0.166) | — |
| Net realized gain | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (0.938) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (1.104) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $28.240 | $28.150 | $28.100 | $24.290 | $20.700 | $19.240 |
| Total return3 | 15.85% | 3.92% | 24.06% | 22.29% | 13.29% | 26.00% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $17,416 | $16,936 | $17,428 | $11,764 | $4,737 | $889 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 1.47% | 1.44% | 1.44% | 1.45% | 1.52% | 1.70% |
|
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived |
1.47% | 1.44% | 1.54% | 1.55% | 1.62% | 1.83% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.28% | (0.61%) | (0.50%) | (0.52%) | 0.48% | (0.74%) |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.28% | (0.61%) | (0.60%) | (0.62%) | 0.38% | (0.87%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 8% | 26% | 14% | 20% | 21% | 139% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects waivers by the manager and/or distributor. Performance would have been lower had the waivers not been in effect. |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund
| Year ended | ||||||
| Institutional Class shares | 10/1/14 to 3/31/151 | 9/30/14 | 9/30/13 | 9/30/12 | 9/30/11 | 9/30/10 |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $33.890 | $33.460 | $28.480 | $24.010 | $22.130 | $17.470 |
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||
| Net investment income (loss)2 | 0.132 | (0.040) | (0.001) | (0.006) | 0.257 | (0.049) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 5.080 | 1.549 | 6.563 | 5.422 | 2.824 | 4.709 |
| Total from investment operations | 5.212 | 1.509 | 6.562 | 5.416 | 3.081 | 4.660 |
| Less dividends and distributions from: | ||||||
| Net investment income | — | — | — | — | (0.263) | — |
| Net realized gain | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (0.938) | — |
| Total dividends and distributions | (4.122) | (1.079) | (1.582) | (0.946) | (1.201) | — |
| Net asset value, end of period | $34.980 | $33.890 | $33.460 | $28.480 | $24.010 | $22.130 |
| Total return3 | 16.13% | 4.44% | 24.66% | 22.90% | 13.90% | 26.67% |
| Ratios and supplemental data: | ||||||
| Net assets, end of period (000 omitted) | $364,740 | $337,183 | $224,829 | $217,946 | $134,974 | $36,212 |
| Ratio of expenses to average net assets | 0.97% | 0.94% | 0.94% | 0.95% | 1.02% | 1.20% |
|
Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.97% | 0.94% | 0.94% | 0.95% | 1.02% | 1.23% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.78% | (0.11%) | 0.00% | (0.02%) | 0.98% | (0.24%) |
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets prior to fees waived |
0.78% | (0.11%) | 0.00% | (0.02%) | 0.98% | (0.27%) |
| Portfolio turnover | 8% | 26% | 14% | 20% | 21% | 139% |
| 1 |
During the period ended March 31, 2015, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from September to March. Ratios have been annualized and portfolio turnover and total return have not been annualized. |
| 2 |
The average shares outstanding method has been applied for per share information. |
| 3 |
Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during some of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect. |
How to read the financial highlights
Net investment income (loss)
Net investment income (loss) includes dividend and interest income earned from a fund's investments; it is calculated after expenses have
been deducted.
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
A realized gain occurs when we sell an investment at a profit, while a realized loss occurs when we sell an investment at a loss. When an investment increases or decreases in value but we do not sell it, we record an unrealized gain or loss. The amount of realized gain per share, if any, that we pay to shareholders would be listed under "Less dividends and distributions from: Net realized gain."
Net asset value (NAV)
This is the value of a mutual fund share, calculated by dividing the net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
Total return
This represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in a fund. In calculating this figure for the financial highlights table, we include applicable fee waivers, exclude front-end sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges, and assume the shareholder has reinvested all dividends and realized gains.
Net assets
Net assets represent the total value of all the assets in a fund's portfolio, less any liabilities, that are attributable to that class of the fund.
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
The expense ratio is the percentage of net assets that a fund pays annually for operating expenses and management fees. These expenses include accounting and administration expenses, services for shareholders, and similar expenses.
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets
We determine this ratio by dividing net investment income (loss) by average net assets.
Portfolio turnover
This figure tells you the amount of trading activity in a fund's portfolio. A turnover rate of 100% would occur if, for example, a fund bought and sold all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of a year or frequently traded a single security. A high rate of portfolio turnover in any year may increase brokerage commissions paid and could generate taxes for shareholders on realized investment gains.
Website: delawareinvestments.com
Shareholder Service Center: 800 523-1918 (representatives available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time)
For fund information, literature, price, yield, and performance figures.
For information on existing regular investment accounts and retirement plan accounts including wire investments, wire redemptions,
telephone redemptions, and telephone exchanges.
Automated telephone service: 800 523-1918 (seven days a week, 24 hours a day)
For convenient access to account information or current performance information on all Delaware Investments ® Funds, use this touch-tone service.
Written correspondence: P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 (by regular mail) or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 (by overnight courier service).
|
Additional information about the Fund's investments
is available in its annual and semiannual shareholder reports. In the Fund's annual shareholder report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during the period covered by the report. You can find more information about the Fund in its current SAI, which is filed electronically with the SEC, and which is legally a part of this Prospectus (it is incorporated by reference). To receive a free copy of the SAI, or the annual or semiannual report, or if you have any questions about investing in the Fund, write to us at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076
by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 by overnight courier service, or call toll-free 800 523-1918. The SAI and shareholder reports are available,
You can find reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR database on the SEC website (sec.gov). You may obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplication fee, by e-mailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC,
PR-016 [3/15] PDF 20515 [7/15] Investment Company Act number: 811-04413 |
 |
Statement of Additional Information
Delaware Group® Equity Funds IV
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Nasdaq ticker symbols |
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Delaware Healthcare Fund |
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Class A |
DLHAX |
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Class C |
DLHCX |
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Class R |
DLRHX |
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Institutional Class |
DLHIX |
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Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
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Class A |
DFCIX |
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Class C |
DEEVX |
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Class R |
DFRIX |
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Institutional Class |
DFDIX |
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P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 (regular mail) For a Prospectus, Performance, and Information on Existing Accounts: 800 523-1918
4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 (overnight courier service)
For Dealer Services (Broker/Dealers only): 800 362-7500
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") supplements the information contained in the current prospectuses (each a
"Prospectus" and collectively, the "Prospectuses"), each dated July 29, 2015, as they may be amended from time to time, for
Delaware Healthcare Fund and Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds").
This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses. This SAI is not itself a prospectus but is, in its entirety,
incorporated by reference into the Prospectuses. The Prospectuses may be obtained through our website at delawareinvestments.com;
by writing or calling your financial adviser; or by contacting the Funds' distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor"),
at the above addresses, or by calling the above phone numbers. Please do not send any correspondence to 2005 Market Street,
Philadelphia, PA. The Funds' financial statements, the notes relating thereto, the financial highlights, and the report of
the independent registered public accounting firm are incorporated by reference from each Fund's annual report ("Annual Report")
into this SAI. An Annual Report will accompany any request for this SAI. An Annual Report can be obtained, without charge,
by calling 800 523-1918.
| Table of contents |
Organization and Classification
This SAI describes the Funds, which are series of Delaware Group® Equity Funds IV (the "Trust"). The Funds offer Class A, Class C, and Class R shares (collectively, the "Retail Classes"). Each Fund also offers an Institutional Class (collectively, the "Institutional Classes," and together with the Retail Classes, the "Classes"). All references to "shares" in this SAI refer to all classes of shares (each share class, the "Class") of the Funds, except where noted. The Funds' investment manager is Delaware Management Company (the "Manager"), a series of Delaware Management Business Trust. Jackson Square Partners, LLC ("JSP") serves as sub-advisor to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund. For purposes of the "Investment Strategies and Risks" section, a reference to the Manager may also include JSP with respect to its role as sub-advisor of Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund.
Organization
The Trust was originally organized as a Maryland corporation in 1985 and was subsequently re-domiciled as a Delaware statutory trust on Dec. 17, 1999.
Classification
The Trust is an open-end management investment company. Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund is a diversified fund as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The 1940 Act requires a "diversified" fund, with respect to 75% of the value of its total assets, to invest (1) no more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets in the securities of any one issuer and (2) in no more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. This limitation generally requires a diversified fund to invest in securities issued by a minimum of 16 issuers. Delaware Healthcare Fund is a "nondiversified" fund as defined by the 1940 Act. A nondiversified portfolio is believed to be subject to greater risk because adverse effects on an investment held by the Fund may affect a larger portion of its overall assets and subject it to greater risks and volatility.
Investment Objectives, Restrictions, and Policies
Investment Objectives
Each Fund's investment objective is described in the Prospectuses. Each Fund's investment objective is nonfundamental, and may be changed without shareholder approval. However, the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board") must approve any changes to nonfundamental investment objectives, and a Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days prior to a material change in the Fund's investment objective.
Fundamental Investment Restrictions
Each Fund has adopted the following restrictions that cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding shares, which is a vote by the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities present in person or by proxy at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities. The percentage limitations contained in the restrictions and policies set forth herein apply at the time of purchase of securities.
Each Fund shall not:
1. Make investments that will result in the concentration (as that term may be defined in the 1940 Act, any rule or order thereunder, or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff interpretation thereof) of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry, provided that this restriction does not limit: (i) Delaware Healthcare Fund from concentrating its investments in the healthcare and medical industries; or (ii) the Funds from investing in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or in tax-exempt obligations.
2. Borrow money or issue senior securities, except as the 1940 Act, any rule or order thereunder, or SEC staff interpretation thereof, may permit.
3. Underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition, or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").
4. Purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein.
5. Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving futures contracts and options thereon or investing in securities that are secured by physical commodities.
6. Make personal loans or loans of its assets to persons who control or are under common control with a Fund, except as the 1940 Act, any rule or order thereunder, or SEC staff interpretation thereof, may permit. This restriction does not prevent a Fund from, among other things, purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, loaning its assets to broker-dealers or institutional investors, or investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions
In addition to the fundamental investment policies and investment restrictions described above, and the various general investment policies described in the Prospectuses, each Fund will be subject to the following investment restriction, which is considered nonfundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval: Each Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities that it cannot sell or dispose of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value that the Fund has valued the investment.
In applying each Fund's policy on concentration (i.e., investing more than 25% of its net assets in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry) described above: (i) utility companies will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric, and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; (ii) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance, and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry; and (iii) asset-backed securities will be classified according to the underlying assets securing such securities.
In addition, in applying Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund's policy on concentration, it will divide the technology sector into various sub-categories (e.g., computers, internet, software, and telecommunication services). For purposes of Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund's concentration policy, the Fund intends to comply with the SEC staff position that securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by any single foreign government are considered to be securities of issuers in the same industry.
Except for the Funds' policy with respect to borrowing, any investment restriction or limitation that involves a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after an acquisition of securities or a utilization of assets and such excess results therefrom.
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio trading will be undertaken principally to accomplish each Fund's respective investment objective. The Funds are free to dispose of portfolio securities at any time, subject to complying with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"), and the 1940 Act, when changes in circumstances or conditions make such a move desirable in light of each Fund's respective investment objective. The Funds will not attempt to achieve or be limited to a predetermined rate of portfolio turnover. Such turnover always will be incidental to transactions undertaken with a view to achieving each Fund's respective investment objective.
The portfolio turnover rate tells you the amount of trading activity in a Fund's portfolio. A turnover rate of 100% would occur, for example, if all of a Fund's investments held at the beginning of a year were replaced by the end of the year, or if a single investment was frequently traded. The turnover rate also may be affected by cash requirements from redemptions and repurchases of a Fund's shares. A high rate of portfolio turnover in any year may increase brokerage commissions paid and could generate taxes for shareholders on realized investment gains. In investing to achieve its investment objective, a Fund may hold securities for any period of time.
For the fiscal years ended Sept. 30, 2013 and 2014, the Funds' portfolio turnover rates were as follows:
|
Fund |
2013 |
2014 |
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Delaware Healthcare Fund |
29% |
60% |
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|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
14% |
26% |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. For the period from Sept. 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015, the Funds' portfolio turnover rates were as follows:
|
Fund |
9/30/14–3/31/15 |
|
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Delaware Healthcare Fund |
19% |
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Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
8% |
Investment Strategies and Risks
The Funds' investment objectives, strategies, and risks are described in the Prospectuses. Certain additional information is provided below. The following discussion supplements the description of the Funds' investment strategies and risks that are included in the Prospectuses. The Funds' investment strategies are nonfundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
Bonds
The Funds may invest in fixed income securities. Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities and bonds and up to 15% of this portion in high yield, noninvestment-grade bonds if the Manager believes that doing so would help meet the Fund's investment objective; the Fund, however, does not currently anticipate investing, on a regular basis, a significant amount in such fixed income securities.
In general, a debt security represents a loan of money to the issuer by the purchaser of the security. A debt security typically has a fixed payment schedule that obligates the issuer to pay interest to the lender and to return the lender's money over a certain time period. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon bonds, do not make regular interest payments but are issued at a discount to their principal or maturity value. Debt securities include a variety of fixed income obligations, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds, government securities, municipal securities, convertible securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Debt securities include investment grade, below-investment-grade (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"), and unrated bonds. Debt securities are subject to a variety of risks, such as interest rate risk, default risk, call/prepayment risk, inflation risk, credit risk, and, in the case of foreign bonds, country risk and currency risk. The reorganization of a debt issuer under the federal bankruptcy laws may result in the issuer's debt securities being cancelled without repayment, repaid only in part, or repaid in part or in whole through an exchange thereof for any combination of cash, debt securities, convertible securities, equity securities, or other instruments or rights in respect of the same issuer or a related entity.
Borrowing
Delaware Healthcare Fund may maintain a negative cash balance with its custodian, which is considered a form of borrowing or leverage. If the Fund maintains a negative cash balance and its investments decrease in value, the Fund's losses will be greater than if the Fund did not maintain a negative cash balance. The Fund is required to pay interest to the custodian on negative cash balances.
The 1940 Act and the SEC's current rules, exemptions, and interpretations thereunder, permit a Fund to borrow up to one-third of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed, but less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) from banks. A Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to such borrowings and to reduce the amount of its respective borrowings (within three days excluding Sundays and holidays) to restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise. In the event that a Fund is required to reduce its borrowings, it may have to sell portfolio holdings, even if such sale of the Fund's holdings would be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. Investment securities will not be purchased while a Fund has an outstanding borrowing.
In addition to borrowings that are subject to 300% asset coverage and are considered by the SEC to be permitted "senior securities," a Fund is also permitted under the 1940 Act to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time when the loan is made. A loan will be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed.
Convertible Securities
A portion of the Funds' assets may be invested in convertible securities. Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund may invest in convertible bonds, preferred stocks, and convertible preferred stock, provided that these investments, when aggregated with the Fund's investments in debt securities and bonds, do not exceed 25% of the Fund's assets.
A convertible security is generally a debt obligation, preferred stock, or other security that may be converted within a specified period of time into a certain amount of common stock of the same or of a different issuer. The conversion may occur at the option of the investor in or issuer of the security, or upon a predetermined event. A convertible security typically provides a fixed income stream and the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation resulting from a market price advance in its underlying common stock. As with a straight fixed income security, a convertible security tends to increase in market value when interest rates decline and decrease in value when interest rates rise. Like common stock, the value of a convertible security also tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, and it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying stock declines. Because both interest rate and market movements can influence its value, a convertible security is usually not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar fixed income security, nor is it as sensitive to changes in share price as its underlying stock. Convertible securities are also subject to risks that affect debt securities in general.
Although less than an investment in the underlying stock, the potential for gain on an investment in a convertible security is greater than for similar nonconvertible securities. As a result, a lower yield is generally offered on convertible securities than on otherwise equivalent nonconvertible securities. There is no guarantee that a Fund will realize gains on a convertible security in excess of the foregone yield it accepts to invest in such convertible security.
A convertible security is usually issued either by an operating company or by an investment bank. When issued by an operating company, a convertible security tends to be senior to the company's common stock, but may be subordinate to other types of fixed income securities issued by that company. When a convertible security issued by an operating company is "converted," the operating company often issues new stock to the holder of the convertible security. However, if the convertible security is redeemable and the parity price of the convertible security is less than the call price, the operating company may pay out cash instead of common stock.
If the convertible security is issued by an investment bank or other sponsor, the security is an obligation of and is convertible through the issuing investment bank. However, the common stock received upon conversion is that of a company other than the investment bank or sponsor. The issuer of a convertible security may be important in determining the security's true value. This is because the holder of a convertible security will have recourse only to the issuer.
Convertible preferred stock. A convertible preferred stock is usually treated like a preferred stock for a Fund's financial reporting, credit rating, and investment policies, and limitations purposes. A preferred stock is subordinated to all debt obligations in the event of insolvency, and an issuer's failure to make a dividend payment is generally not an event of default entitling the preferred shareholder to take action. A preferred stock generally has no maturity date, so its market value is dependent on the issuer's business prospects for an indefinite period of time. Distributions from preferred stock are dividends, rather than interest payments, and are usually treated as such for tax purposes. Investments in convertible preferred stock, as compared to the debt obligations of an issuer, generally increase a Fund's exposure to the credit risk of the issuer and market risk generally, because convertible preferred stock will fare more poorly if the issuer defaults or markets suffer.
Risks. An investment in a convertible security may involve risks. A Fund may have difficulty disposing of such securities because there may be a thin trading market for a particular security at any given time. Reduced liquidity may have an adverse impact on market price and a Fund's ability to dispose of a security when necessary to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as the deterioration in the creditworthiness of an issuer. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain market quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio. Although a Fund intends to acquire convertible securities that the Manager considers to be liquid (i.e., those securities that the Manager determines may be sold on an exchange, or an institutional or other substantial market), there can be no assurances that this will be achieved. Certain securities and markets can become illiquid quickly, resulting in liquidity risk for the Fund. A Fund may also encounter difficulty valuing convertible securities due to illiquidity or other circumstances that make it difficult for the Fund to obtain timely market quotations based on actual trades for convertible securities.
Depositary Receipts
The Funds may invest in foreign companies through the purchase and sale of sponsored or unsponsored American depositary receipts ("ADRs") and Delaware Healthcare Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored European depositary receipts ("EDRs"), and global depositary receipts ("GDRs") that are actively traded in the United States.
Many securities of foreign issuers are represented by ADRs, GDRs, and EDRs (collectively, "depositary receipts"). Generally, depositary receipts in registered form are designed for use in the U.S. securities market and depositary receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the U.S. ADRs evidence ownership of, and represent the right to receive, securities of foreign issuers deposited in a domestic bank or trust company or a foreign correspondent bank. Prices of ADRs are quoted in U.S. dollars, and ADRs are traded in the U.S. on exchanges or over-the-counter. While ADRs do not eliminate all the risks associated with foreign investments, by investing in ADRs rather than directly in the stock of foreign issuers, a Fund will avoid currency and certain foreign market trading risks during the settlement period for either purchases or sales. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the U.S. for ADRs quoted on a national securities exchange. The information available for ADRs is subject to the accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards of the U.S. market or exchange on which they are traded, which standards are generally more uniform and more exacting than those to which many foreign issuers may be subject.
EDRs and GDRs are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a U.S. corporation. EDRs and GDRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer's home country. If the issuer's home country does not have developed financial markets, a Fund could be exposed to the credit risk of the custodian or financial institution and greater market risk. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. A Fund would be expected to pay a share of the additional fees, which it would not pay if investing directly in the foreign securities. A Fund may experience delays in receiving its dividend and interest payments or exercising rights as a shareholder.
Depositary receipts may reduce some but not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in the securities of foreign issuers. Depositary receipts are still subject to the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country and are still subject to foreign currency exchange risk. Depositary receipts will be issued under sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of depositary receipts. In unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, in some cases it may easier to obtain financial information about an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program. There may be an increased possibility of untimely responses to certain corporate actions of the issuer, such as stock splits and rights offerings, in an unsponsored program. Accordingly, there may be less information available regarding issuers of securities underlying unsponsored programs and there may not be a correlation between this information and the market value of the depositary receipts. If a Fund's investment depends on obligations being met by the arranger as well as the issuer of an unsponsored program, the Fund will be exposed to additional credit risk.
Derivatives Instruments
The Funds may invest in some or all of the following types of derivatives instruments: forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures, and options, all of which are described in more detail in this section of the SAI.
Generally, derivatives are financial instruments whose values depend on or are derived from the value of one or more underlying assets, reference rates, or indices (a "reference instrument") and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies, commodities, or related indices. Derivatives instruments allow a Fund to gain or reduce exposure to the value of a reference instrument without actually owning or selling the instrument. Because some derivatives instruments used by the Funds may oblige a Fund to make payments or incur additional obligations in the future, the SEC requires mutual funds to "cover" or segregate liquid assets equal to the potential exposure created by such derivatives. For more information about segregating assets, see "Segregation of Assets" in this section.
The Funds may value derivative instruments at market value, notional value, or full exposure value (i.e., the sum of the notional amount for the contract plus the market value). The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by the Funds may differ from the manner in which those investments are valued by other types of investors.
Exclusion from commodity pool operator definition. The Funds have claimed an exclusion from the definition of "commodity pool operator" ("CPO") under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and, therefore, are not subject to CFTC registration or regulation as a CPO. In addition, the Manager is relying upon a related exclusion from the definition of "commodity trading advisor" ("CTA") under the CEA and the rules of the CFTC.
The terms of the CPO exclusion require a Fund, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in "commodity interests." Commodity interests include commodity futures, commodity options, and certain swaps, which in turn include nondeliverable currency forwards, as further described below. Because the Manager and the Funds intend to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, each Fund may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment goal, to limit its investments in these types of instruments. The Funds are not intended as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options, or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Manager's reliance on these exclusions, or a Fund, its investment strategies, or this SAI.
Generally, the exclusion from CPO regulation on which the Manager relies requires a Fund to meet one of the following tests for its commodity interest positions, other than positions entered into for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined in the rules of the CFTC): either (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund's positions in commodity interests may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund's commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent such position was established, may not exceed the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of these trading limitations, a Fund may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options, or swaps markets. If, in the future, a Fund can no longer satisfy these requirements, the Manager would withdraw its notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of a CPO, and the Manager would be subject to registration and regulation as a CPO with respect to the Fund; in that case, the Manager and the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC disclosure, reporting, operational, and other regulations, which could increase Fund expenses.
Developing government regulation of derivatives. The regulation of cleared and uncleared swaps, as well as other derivatives, is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. In addition, the SEC, CFTC, and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits, and the suspension of trading.
It is not possible to predict fully the effects of current or future regulation. However, it is possible that developments in government regulation of various types of derivatives instruments, such as speculative position limits on certain types of derivatives, or limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivatives transactions, may limit or prevent the Fund from using or limit the Fund's use of these instruments effectively as a part of its investment strategy, and could adversely affect the Fund's ability to achieve its investment goal(s). The Manager will continue to monitor developments in this area. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to a Fund, may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business.
Foreign Investments
Each Fund may invest in securities of foreign companies. Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund will not invest, at the time of purchase, more than 20% of its nets assets in foreign securities (other than securities of Canadian issuers registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") or, as described above, in certain depositary receipts) and more than 10% of its net assets in emerging markets securities. Delaware Healthcare Fund may invest, at the time of purchase, up to 50% of its total assets in non-U.S. companies and up to 25% of its total assets in companies located in emerging markets.
Overview. Investors should consider carefully the substantial risks associated with investing in the securities of certain governments and companies located in, or having substantial operations in, foreign countries, which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments. As with U.S. securities, the value of foreign securities is affected by general economic conditions and individual issuer and industry earnings prospects. Investments in depositary receipts also involve some or all of the risks described below.
There is the possibility of cessation of trading on foreign exchanges, expropriation, nationalization of assets, confiscatory or punitive taxation, withholding and other foreign taxes on income or other amounts, foreign exchange controls (which may include suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a given country), restrictions on removal of assets, political or social instability, military action or unrest, or diplomatic developments that could affect investments in securities of issuers in foreign nations. There is no assurance that the Manager will be able to anticipate these potential events. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar to such foreign currencies.
There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers that is comparable to the reports and ratings published about issuers in the U.S. Foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting or financial reporting standards. Auditing practices and requirements may not be comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Certain countries' legal institutions, financial markets, and services are less developed than those in the U.S. or other major economies. A Fund may have greater difficulty voting proxies, exercising shareholder rights, securing dividends and obtaining information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis, pursuing legal remedies, and obtaining judgments with respect to foreign investments in foreign courts than with respect to domestic issuers in U.S. courts. The costs associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial costs, are generally higher than with U.S. investments.
Certain countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company. Some countries limit the investment of foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous terms than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals. Although securities subject to such restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions. In some countries the repatriation of investment income, capital, and proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in or a refusal to grant any required governmental registration or approval for repatriation.
From time to time, trading in a foreign market may be interrupted. Foreign markets also have substantially less volume than the U.S. markets and securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. A Fund, therefore, may encounter difficulty in obtaining market quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value ("NAV").
In many foreign countries there is less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the U.S., which may result in greater potential for fraud or market manipulation. Foreign over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than foreign stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated. Brokerage commission rates in foreign countries, which generally are fixed rather than subject to negotiation as in the U.S., are likely to be higher. Foreign security trading, settlement, and custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement where assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are often less developed than those in U.S. markets, may be cumbersome, and may result in increased risk or substantial delays. This could occur in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker/dealer, securities depository, or foreign subcustodian.
To the extent that a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region or country, the Fund will have more exposure to economic risks related to such region or country than a fund whose investments are more geographically diversified. Adverse conditions or changes in policies in a certain region or country can affect securities of other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated but are otherwise connected. In the event of economic or political turmoil, a deterioration of diplomatic relations or a natural or man-made disaster in a region or country where a substantial portion of a Fund's assets are invested, the Fund may have difficulty meeting a large number of shareholder redemption requests.
The holding of foreign securities may be limited by a Fund to avoid investment in certain Passive Foreign Investment Companies ("PFICs") and the imposition of a PFIC tax on the Fund resulting from such investments.
Developing markets or emerging markets. Investments in companies domiciled or with significant operations in developing market or emerging market countries may be subject to potentially higher risks than investments in developed countries. These risks include, among others (i) less social, political, and economic stability; (ii) smaller securities markets with low or nonexistent trading volume, which result in greater illiquidity and greater price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict a Fund's investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (iv) foreign taxation, including less transparent and established taxation policies; (v) less developed regulatory or legal structures governing private or foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property; (vi) the absence, until recently in many developing market countries, of a capital market structure or market-oriented economy; (vii) more widespread corruption and fraud; (viii) the financial institutions with which a Fund may trade may not possess the same degree of financial sophistication, creditworthiness, or resources as those in developed markets; and (ix) the possibility that recent favorable economic developments in some developing market countries may be slowed or reversed by unanticipated economic, political, or social events in such countries.
In addition, many developing market countries have experienced substantial, and during some periods, extremely high rates of inflation, for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some developing market countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, currency depreciation, debt burden, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments position. The economies of some developing market countries may be based on only a few industries, and may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions.
Settlement systems in developing market countries may be less organized than in developed countries. Supervisory authorities may also be unable to apply standards which are comparable with those in more developed countries. There may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities belonging to a Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the settlement systems. Market practice may require that payment be made prior to receipt of the security which is being purchased or that delivery of a security must be made before payment is received. In such cases, default by a broker or bank (the "counterparty") through whom the relevant transaction is effected might result in a loss being suffered by a Fund. A Fund seeks, where possible, to use counterparties whose financial status reduces this risk. However, there can be no certainty that the Fund will be successful in eliminating or reducing this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in developing market countries frequently lack the substance, capitalization, and/or financial resources of those in developed countries. Uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets may increase the risk of competing claims to securities held by or to be transferred to a Fund. Legal compensation schemes may be nonexistent, limited, or inadequate to meet a Fund's claims in any of these events.
Securities trading in developing markets presents additional credit and financial risks. A Fund may have limited access to, or there may be a limited number of, potential counterparties that trade in the securities of developing market issuers. Governmental regulations may restrict potential counterparties to certain financial institutions located or operating in the particular developing market. Potential counterparties may not possess, adopt, or implement creditworthiness standards, financial reporting standards, or legal and contractual protections similar to those in developed markets. Currency and other hedging techniques may not be available or may be limited.
The local taxation of income and capital gains accruing to nonresidents varies among developing market countries and may be comparatively high. Developing market countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and procedures and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that a Fund could in the future become subject to local tax liabilities that had not been anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets.
Many developing market countries suffer from uncertainty and corruption in their legal frameworks. Legislation may be difficult to interpret and laws may be too new to provide any precedential value. Laws regarding foreign investment and private property may be weak or nonexistent. Investments in developing market countries may involve risks of nationalization, expropriation, and confiscatory taxation. For example, the Communist governments of a number of Eastern European countries expropriated large amounts of private property in the past, in many cases without adequate compensation, and there can be no assurance that similar expropriation will not occur in the future. In the event of expropriation, a Fund could lose all or a substantial portion of any investments it has made in the affected countries. Accounting, auditing, and reporting standards in certain countries in which a Fund may invest may not provide the same degree of investor protection or information to investors as would generally apply in major securities markets. In addition, it is possible that purported securities in which a Fund invested may subsequently be found to be fraudulent and as a consequence the Fund could suffer losses.
Finally, currencies of developing market countries are subject to significantly greater risks than currencies of developed countries. Some developing market currencies may not be internationally traded or may be subject to strict controls by local governments, resulting in undervalued or overvalued currencies and associated difficulties with the valuation of assets, including a Fund's securities, denominated in that currency. Some developing market countries have experienced balance of payment deficits and shortages in foreign exchange reserves. Governments have responded by restricting currency conversions. Future restrictive exchange controls could prevent or restrict a company's ability to make dividend or interest payments in the original currency of the obligation (usually U.S. dollars). In addition, even though the currencies of some developing market countries, such as certain Eastern European countries, may be convertible into U.S. dollars, the conversion rates may be artificial to the actual market values and may be adverse to a Fund's shareholders.
Foreign governmental and supranational debt securities. Investments in debt securities of foreign governmental or supranational issuers are subject to all the risks associated with investments in U.S. and foreign securities and certain additional risks.
Foreign government debt securities, sometimes known as sovereign debt securities, include debt securities issued, sponsored, or guaranteed by: governments or governmental agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions located in emerging or developed market countries; government owned, controlled, or sponsored entities located in emerging or developed market countries; and entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of instruments issued by any of the above issuers.
A supranational entity is a bank, commission, or company established or financially supported by the national governments of one or more countries to promote reconstruction, trade, harmonization of standards or laws; economic development; and humanitarian, political, or environmental initiatives. Supranational debt obligations include: Brady Bonds (which are debt securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan as a means for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external indebtedness); participations in loans between emerging market governments and financial institutions; and debt securities issued by supranational entities such as the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and the European Economic Community.
Foreign government debt securities are subject to risks in addition to those relating to debt securities generally. Governmental issuers of foreign debt securities may be unwilling or unable to pay interest and repay principal, or otherwise meet obligations, when due and may require that the conditions for payment be renegotiated. As a sovereign entity, the issuing government may be immune from lawsuits in the event of its failure or refusal to pay the obligations when due. The debtor's willingness or ability to repay in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its non-U.S. reserves, the availability of sufficient non-U.S. exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the issuing country's economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor's policy toward principal international lenders, such as the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, and the political considerations or constraints to which the sovereign debtor may be subject. Governmental debtors also will be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments or multinational agencies and the country's access to, or balance of, trade. Some governmental debtors have in the past been able to reschedule or restructure their debt payments without the approval of debt holders or declare moratoria on payments, and similar occurrences may happen in the future. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which a Fund may collect in whole or in part on debt subject to default by a government.
Foreign currency exchange rates. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the U.S. dollar market value of securities denominated in such foreign currencies and any income received or expenses paid by a Fund in that foreign currency. This may affect a Fund's share price, income, and distributions to shareholders. Some countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. It will be more difficult for the Manager to value securities denominated in currencies that are fixed or managed. Certain currencies may not be internationally traded, which could cause illiquidity with respect to a Fund's investments in that currency and any securities denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. A Fund endeavors to buy and sell foreign currencies on as favorable a basis as practicable. Some price spread in currency exchanges (to cover service charges) may be incurred, particularly when a Fund changes investments from one country to another or when proceeds of the sale of securities in U.S. dollars are used for the purchase of securities denominated in foreign currencies. Some countries may adopt policies that would prevent a Fund from transferring cash out of the country or withhold portions of interest and dividends at the source.
Certain currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. Any devaluations in the currencies in which a Fund's portfolio securities are denominated may have a detrimental impact on the Fund. Where the exchange rate for a currency declines materially after a Fund's income has been accrued and translated into U.S. dollars, the Fund may need to redeem portfolio securities to make required distributions. Similarly, if an exchange rate declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, a Fund will have to convert a greater amount of the currency into U.S. dollars in order to pay the expenses.
Investing in foreign currencies for purposes of gaining from projected changes in exchange rates further increases a Fund's exposure to foreign securities losses.
The Funds do not consider currencies or other financial commodities or contracts and financial instruments to be physical commodities (which include, for example, oil, precious metals, and grains). Accordingly, the Funds interpret the fundamental restriction to permit them (subject to their investment goals and general investment policies) to invest directly in foreign currencies and other financial commodities and to purchase, sell, or enter into foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency options, currency, commodity- and financial instrument-related swap agreements, hybrid instruments, interest rate, securities-related or foreign currency-related futures contracts or other currency-, commodity- or financial instrument-related derivatives, subject to compliance with any applicable provisions of the federal securities or commodities laws. The Funds also interpret their fundamental restriction regarding purchasing and selling physical commodities to permit the Funds to invest in exchange-traded funds or other entities that invest in physical and/or financial commodities.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
The Funds may engage in forward foreign currency transactions. The Funds may use currency forward contracts to hedge currency risks, to facilitate transactions in foreign securities, and to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. The Funds' dealings in forward contracts will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or Fund positions.
The Funds value their assets daily in U.S. dollars. They do not intend to convert the value of their foreign holdings into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. The Funds will, however, from time to time, purchase or sell foreign currencies and/or engage in forward foreign currency transactions in order to facilitate or expedite settlement of Fund transactions and to minimize currency value fluctuations. The Funds may conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (i.e., a "forward foreign currency" contract or "forward" contract). The Funds will convert currency on a spot basis from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion.
When a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividends or interest payments on a security that it holds, the Fund may desire to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions, a Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such payments are made or received.
Additionally, when the Manager believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, a Fund may enter into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars, to sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the securities of the Fund denominated in such foreign currency.
The Funds may use forward currency contracts to manage currency risks and to facilitate transactions in foreign securities. The following discussion summarizes the principal currency management strategies involving forward contracts that could be used by the Funds.
In connection with purchases and sales of securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Funds may enter into forward currency contracts to fix a definite price for the purchase or sale in advance of the trade's settlement date. This technique is sometimes referred to as a "settlement hedge" or "transaction hedge." The Manager expects to enter into settlement hedges in the normal course of managing the Funds' foreign investments. A Fund could also enter into forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in a foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected by the Manager.
The Funds may also use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For example, if a Fund owned securities denominated in pounds sterling, it could enter into a forward contract to sell pounds sterling in return for U.S. dollars to hedge against possible declines in the pound's value. Such a hedge (sometimes referred to as a "position hedge") would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. A Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the pound sterling — for example, by entering into a forward contract to sell euros in return for U.S. dollars. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a "proxy hedge," could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally will not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a simple hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
Under certain conditions, SEC guidelines require mutual funds to set aside cash and appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodian account to cover forward currency contracts. As required by SEC guidelines, the Funds will segregate assets to cover forward currency contracts, if any, whose purpose is essentially speculative.
Under definitions adopted by the CFTC and the SEC, nondeliverable forwards are considered swaps, and therefore are included in the definition of "commodity interests." A nondeliverable forward is a cash-settled, short-term forward contract on a thinly traded or nonconvertible foreign currency, where the profit or loss at the time at the settlement date is calculated by taking the difference between the agreed upon exchange rate and the spot rate at the time of settlement, for an agreed upon notional amount of funds. Although nondeliverable forwards have historically been traded in the over-the-counter ("OTC") market, as swaps they may in the future be required to be centrally cleared and traded on public facilities. Currency and cross currency forwards that qualify as deliverable forwards are not regulated as swaps for most purposes, and are not included in the definition of "commodity interests." However these forwards are subject to some requirements applicable to swaps, including reporting to swap data repositories, documentation requirements, and business conduct rules applicable to swap dealers.
Risks of forward foreign contracts. The successful use of these transactions will usually depend on the Manager's ability to accurately forecast currency exchange rate movements. Should exchange rates move in an unexpected manner, a Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction, or it may realize losses. In addition, these techniques could result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised, for example, due to bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. While a Fund uses only counterparties that meet its credit quality standards, in unusual or extreme market conditions, a counterparty's creditworthiness and ability to perform may deteriorate rapidly, and the availability of suitable replacement counterparties may become limited. Moreover, investors should bear in mind that a Fund is not obligated to actively engage in hedging or other currency transactions. For example, a Fund may not have attempted to hedge its exposure to a particular foreign currency at a time when doing so might have avoided a loss.
Currency forward contracts may limit potential gain from a positive change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it had not engaged in such contracts. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Fund's portfolio holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the currencies bought or sold in the forward contracts entered into by the Fund. This imperfect correlation may cause a Fund to sustain losses that will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign exchange loss.
Futures and Options on Futures
Each Fund may enter into contracts for the purchase or sale for future delivery of securities or foreign currencies. Each Fund may enter into such futures contracts to protect against the adverse effects of fluctuations in interest or foreign exchange rates without actually buying or selling the securities or foreign currency. With respect to options on futures contracts, when the Funds are not fully invested, they may purchase a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a market advance.
Futures contracts. Generally, a futures contract is a standard binding agreement to buy or sell a specified quantity of an underlying reference instrument, such as a specific security, currency or commodity, at a specified price at a specified later date. A "sale" of a futures contract means the acquisition of a contractual obligation to deliver the underlying reference instrument called for by the contract at a specified price on a specified date. A "purchase" of a futures contract means the acquisition of a contractual obligation to acquire the underlying reference instrument called for by the contract at a specified price on a specified date. The purchase or sale of a futures contract will allow a Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to the underlying reference instrument without having to buy the actual instrument.
The underlying reference instruments to which futures contracts may relate include non-U.S. currencies, interest rates, stock and bond indices, and debt securities, including U.S. government debt obligations. In most cases the contractual obligation under a futures contract may be offset, or "closed out," before the settlement date so that the parties do not have to make or take delivery. The closing out of a contractual obligation is usually accomplished by buying or selling, as the case may be, an identical, offsetting futures contract. This transaction, which is effected through a member of an exchange, cancels the obligation to make or take delivery of the underlying instrument or asset. Although some futures contracts by their terms require the actual delivery or acquisition of the underlying instrument or asset, some require cash settlement.
Futures contracts may be bought and sold on U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts in the U.S. have been designed by exchanges that have been designated "contract markets" by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission merchant ("FCM"), which is a brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant contract market. Each exchange guarantees performance of the contracts as between the clearing members of the exchange, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default. Futures contracts may also be entered into on certain exempt markets, including exempt boards of trade and electronic trading facilities, available to certain market participants. Because all transactions in the futures market are made, offset, or fulfilled by an FCM through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, a Fund will incur brokerage fees when it buys or sells futures contracts.
The Funds generally buy and sell futures contracts only on contract markets (including exchanges or boards of trade) where there appears to be an active market for the futures contracts, but there is no assurance that an active market will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. An active market makes it more likely that futures contracts will be liquid and bought and sold at competitive market prices. In addition, many of the futures contracts available may be relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active market will develop or continue to exist.
When a Fund enters into a futures contract, it must deliver to an account controlled by the FCM (that has been selected by the Fund), an amount referred to as "initial margin" that currently ranges from 1% to 15% of the contract amount. Initial margin requirements are determined by the respective exchanges on which the futures contracts are traded and the FCM. Thereafter, a "variation margin" amount may be required to be paid by a Fund or received by the Fund in accordance with margin controls set for such accounts, depending upon changes in the price of the underlying reference instrument subject to the futures contract. The account is marked-to-market daily and the variation margin is monitored by the Manager and the Funds' custodian on a daily basis. When the futures contract is closed out, if a Fund has a loss equal to or greater than the margin amount, the margin amount is paid to the FCM along with any loss in excess of the margin amount. If a Fund has a loss of less than the margin amount, the excess margin is returned to the Fund. If a Fund has a gain, the full margin amount and the amount of the gain are paid to the Fund.
Some futures contracts provide for the delivery of securities that are different than those that are specified in the contract. For a futures contract for delivery of debt securities, on the settlement date of the contract, adjustments to the contract can be made to recognize differences in value arising from the delivery of debt securities with a different interest rate from that of the particular debt securities that were specified in the contract. In some cases, securities called for by a futures contract may not have been issued when the contract was written.
Risks of futures contracts. The Funds' use of futures contracts is subject to the risks associated with derivatives instruments generally. In addition, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses to a Fund in excess of the amount that the Fund delivered as initial margin. Because of the relatively low margin deposits required, futures trading involves a high degree of leverage; as a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, or gain, to a Fund. In addition, if a Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements or close out a futures position, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. Adverse market movements could cause a Fund to experience substantial losses on an investment in a futures contract.
There is a risk of loss by a Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract. The assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM's customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, a Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund's assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM's other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty.
A Fund may not be able to properly hedge or effect its strategy when a liquid market is unavailable for the futures contract the Fund wishes to close, which may at times occur. In addition, when futures contracts are used for hedging, there may be an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the underlying reference instrument on which the futures contract is based and movements in the prices of the assets sought to be hedged.
If the Manager's investment judgment about the general direction of market prices or interest or currency exchange rates is incorrect, a Fund's overall performance will be poorer than if it had not entered into a futures contract. For example, if a Fund has purchased futures to hedge against the possibility of an increase in interest rates that would adversely affect the price of bonds held in its portfolio and interest rates instead decrease, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of the bonds which it has hedged. This is because its losses in its futures positions will offset some or all of its gains from the increased value of the bonds.
The difference (called the "spread") between prices in the cash market for the purchase and sale of the underlying reference instrument and the prices in the futures market is subject to fluctuations and distortions due to differences in the nature of those two markets. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to initial deposit and variation margin requirements. Rather than meeting additional variation margin requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions that could distort the normal pricing spread between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery of the underlying instrument. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, resulting in pricing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the margin deposit requirements that apply in the futures market are less onerous than similar margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions. When such distortions occur, a correct forecast of general trends in the price of an underlying reference instrument by the Manager may still not necessarily result in a profitable transaction.
Futures contracts that are traded on non-U.S. exchanges may not be as liquid as those purchased on CFTC-designated contract markets. In addition, non-U.S. futures contracts may be subject to varied regulatory oversight. The price of any non-U.S. futures contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss thereon, may be affected by any change in the non-U.S. exchange rate between the time a particular order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised.
The CFTC and the various exchanges have established limits referred to as "speculative position limits" on the maximum net long or net short position that any person, such as a Fund, may hold or control in a particular futures contract. Trading limits are also imposed on the maximum number of contracts that any person may trade on a particular trading day. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. The regulation of futures, as well as other derivatives, is a rapidly changing area of law.
Futures exchanges may also limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. This daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
Options on futures contracts. Options on futures contracts trade on the same contract markets as the underlying futures contract. When a Fund buys an option, it pays a premium for the right, but does not have the obligation, to purchase (call) or sell (put) a futures contract at a set price (called the exercise price). The purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract, whereby the Fund has the right to purchase or sell, respectively, a particular futures contract, is similar in some respects to the purchase of a call or put option on an individual security or currency. Depending on the premium paid for the option compared to either the price of the futures contract upon which it is based or the price of the underlying reference instrument, the option may be less risky than direct ownership of the futures contract or the underlying reference instrument. For example, a Fund could purchase a call option on a long futures contract when seeking to hedge against an increase in the market value of the underlying reference instrument, such as appreciation in the value of a non-U.S. currency against the U.S. dollar.
The seller (writer) of an option becomes contractually obligated to take the opposite futures position if the buyer of the option exercises its rights to the futures position specified in the option. In return for the premium paid by the buyer, the seller assumes the risk of taking a possibly adverse futures position. In addition, the seller will be required to post and maintain initial and variation margin with the FCM. One goal of selling (writing) options on futures may be to receive the premium paid by the option buyer.
For more general information about the mechanics of purchasing and writing options, see "Options" below.
Risks of options on futures contracts. A Fund's use of options on futures contracts is subject to the risks related to derivatives instruments generally. In addition, the amount of risk a Fund assumes when it purchases an option on a futures contract is the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs. The purchase of an option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased. The seller (writer) of an option on a futures contract is subject to the risk of having to take a possibly adverse futures position if the purchaser of the option exercises its rights. If the seller were required to take such a position, it could bear substantial losses. An option writer has potentially unlimited economic risk because its potential loss, except to the extent offset by the premium received, is equal to the amount the option is "in-the-money" at the expiration date. A call option is in-the-money if the value of the underlying futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option. A put option is in-the-money if the exercise price of the option exceeds the value of the underlying futures contract.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
Each Fund is permitted to invest up to 15% of its respective net assets in illiquid securities. An investment is generally deemed to be illiquid if it cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which a Fund is valuing the investment. Illiquid securities, for purposes of this policy, include repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.
Each Fund may purchase privately placed debt and other securities whose resale is restricted under applicable securities laws. Such restricted securities generally offer a higher return than comparable registered securities but involve some additional risk since they can be resold only in privately negotiated transactions or after registration under applicable securities laws. The registration process may involve delays which could result in a Fund obtaining a less favorable price on a resale.
Each Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities eligible for resale without registration pursuant to Rule 144A ("Rule 144A Securities") under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A exempts many privately placed and legally restricted securities from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and permits such securities to be freely traded among certain institutional buyers such as the Funds. Restricted securities generally offer a higher return potential than comparable registered securities but involve some additional risk since they can be resold only in privately negotiated transactions or after registration under applicable securities laws. The registration process may involve delays which would result in a Fund obtaining a less favorable price on a resale.
While maintaining oversight, the Board has delegated to the Manager the day-to-day functions of determining whether or not individual Rule 144A Securities are liquid for purposes of a Fund's limitation on investments in illiquid assets. The Board has instructed the Manager to consider the following factors in determining the liquidity of a Rule 144A Security: (i) the frequency of trades and trading volume for the security; (ii) whether at least three dealers are willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; (iii) whether at least two dealers are making a market in the security; and (iv) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer).
If the Manager determines that a Rule 144A Security which was previously determined to be liquid is no longer liquid and, as a result, a Fund's holdings of illiquid securities exceed its limit on investment in such securities, the Manager will determine what action shall be taken to ensure that the Fund continues to adhere to such limitation.
Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, SEC rules thereunder and exemptions thereto.
With respect to unaffiliated funds in which a Fund may invest, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act requires that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets will be invested in securities of investment companies as a group, and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. A Fund will limit its investments in unaffiliated funds in accordance with the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limitations set forth above, except to the extent that any rules, regulations or no-action or exemptive relief under the 1940 Act permits the Fund's investments to exceed such limits in unaffiliated underlying funds. To the extent that a Fund invests in another investment company, because other investment companies pay advisory, administrative and service fees that are borne indirectly by investors, such as the Fund, there may be duplication of investment management and other fees. A Fund may also invest its cash balances in affiliated money market funds to the extent permitted by its investment policies and rules and exemptions granted under the 1940 Act.
A Fund may invest in securities issued by closed-end funds, subject to any of its investment policies. If a Fund invests in shares issued by leveraged closed-end funds, it will face certain risks associated with leveraged investments. Investments in closed-end funds are subject to additional risks. For example, the price of the closed-end fund's shares quoted on an exchange may not reflect the NAV of the securities held by the closed-end fund, and the premium or discount the share prices represent versus NAV may change over time based on a variety of factors, including supply of and demand for the closed-end fund's shares, that are outside the closed-end fund's control or unrelated to the value of the underlying portfolio securities. If a Fund invests in the closed-end fund to gain exposure to the closed-end fund's investments, the lack of correlation between the performance of the closed-end fund's investments and the closed-end fund's share price may compromise or eliminate any such exposure.
To the extent that a Fund invests in an exchange traded fund ("ETF"), the market value of the ETF shares may differ from their NAV because the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying securities. Also, ETFs that track particular indices typically will be unable to match the performance of the index exactly due to the ETFs' operating expenses and transaction costs.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Delaware Healthcare Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS").
Overview. MBS, also referred to as mortgage securities or mortgage-related securities, represent an ownership interest in a pool of mortgage loans, usually originated by mortgage bankers, commercial banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks and credit unions to finance purchases of homes, commercial buildings or other real estate. The individual mortgage loans are packaged or "pooled" together for sale to investors. These mortgage loans may have either fixed or adjustable interest rates. A guarantee or other form of credit support may be attached to a MBS to protect against default on obligations.
As the underlying mortgage loans are paid off, investors receive principal and interest payments, which "pass-through" when received from individual borrowers, net of any fees owed to the administrator, guarantor or other service providers. Some MBS make payments of both principal and interest at a range of specified intervals; others make semiannual interest payments at a predetermined rate and repay principal at maturity (like a typical bond).
MBS are based on different types of mortgages, including those on commercial real estate or residential properties. The primary issuers or guarantors of MBS have historically been Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Other issuers of MBS include commercial banks and other private lenders.
Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned U.S. government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ginnie Mae guarantees the principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers). Ginnie Mae also guarantees the principal and interest on securities backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the "FHA"), or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the "VA"). Ginnie Mae's guarantees are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of MBS nor do they extend to the value of a Fund's shares which will fluctuate daily with market conditions.
Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation, but its common stock is owned by private stockholders. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions, and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks but now its common stock is owned entirely by private stockholders. Freddie Mac issues Participation Certificates ("PCs"), which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Although the MBS of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by purchasing limited amounts of their respective obligations. The yields on these MBS have historically exceeded the yields on other types of U.S. government securities with comparable maturities due largely to their prepayment risk. The U.S. government, in the past, provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will continue to do so.
On Sept. 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers, and privileges of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and of any stockholder, officer, or director of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Also, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement imposing various covenants that severely limit each enterprise's operations.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remains liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations associated with its MBS. The FHFA has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac prior to FHFA's appointment as conservator or receiver, including the guaranty obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Accordingly, securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will involve a risk of nonpayment of principal and interest.
MBS that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to a Fund's industry concentration restrictions, set forth under "Fundamental Investment Policies," by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. In the case of privately issued MBS, a Fund categorizes, where possible, the securities by the issuer's industry for purposes of the Fund's industry concentration restrictions.
Additional risks. In addition to the special risks described below, MBS are subject to many of the same risks as other types of debt securities. The market value of MBS, like other debt securities, will generally vary inversely with changes in market interest rates, declining when interest rates rise and rising when interest rates decline. MBS differ from conventional debt securities in that most MBS are pass-through securities. This means that they typically provide investors with periodic payments (typically monthly) consisting of a pro rata share of both regular interest and principal payments, as well as unscheduled early prepayments, on the underlying mortgage pool (net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities and any applicable loan servicing fees). As a result, the holder of the MBS (i.e., a Fund) receives scheduled payments of principal and interest and may receive unscheduled principal payments representing prepayments on the underlying mortgages. The rate of prepayments on the underlying mortgages generally increases as interest rates decline, and when a Fund reinvests the payments and any unscheduled prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the existing MBS. For this reason, pass-through MBS may have less potential for capital appreciation as interest rates decline and may be less effective than other types of U.S. government or other debt securities as a means of "locking in" long-term interest rates. In general, fixed rate MBS have greater exposure to this "prepayment risk" than variable rate securities.
An unexpected rise in interest rates could extend the average life of a MBS because of a lower than expected level of prepayments or higher than expected amounts of late payments or defaults. In addition, to the extent MBS are purchased at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and unscheduled principal prepayments may result in some loss of the holder's principal investment to the extent of the premium paid. On the other hand, if MBS are purchased at a discount, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal will increase current and total returns and will accelerate the recognition of income that, when distributed to shareholders, will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Regulatory or tax changes may also adversely affect the MBS market as a whole.
Guarantees. The existence of a guarantee or other form of credit support on a MBS usually increases the price that a Fund pays for the security. There is always the risk that the guarantor will default on its obligations. When the guarantor is the U.S. government, there is minimal risk of guarantor default. However, the risk remains if the credit support or guarantee is provided by a private party or a U.S. government agency or sponsored enterprise. Even if the guarantor meets its obligations, there can be no assurance that the type of guarantee or credit support provided will be effective at reducing losses or delays to investors, given the nature of the default. A guarantee only assures timely payment of interest and principal, not a particular rate of return on a Fund's investment or protection against prepayment or other risks. The market price and yield of the MBS at any given time are not guaranteed and are likely to fluctuate.
Options
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund may write call options (without limit) and purchase put options on a covered basis only, and Delaware Healthcare Fund may purchase call options or put options. The Funds may purchase or write options on securities, securities indexes, and currencies. The Funds will not engage in option writing strategies for speculative purposes. Each Fund intends to purchase put options in order to protect against a decline in the market value of the underlying security below the exercise price less the premium paid for the option ("protective puts"). The Funds also may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter) for hedging purposes to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign securities held by the Funds and against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of such securities to be acquired. Call options on foreign currency written by the Funds will be covered, which means that the Funds will own the underlying foreign currency. The Funds may invest in options that are either exchange listed or traded over-the-counter. Options written by the Fund will normally have expiration dates between one and nine months from the date written. Certain over-the-counter options may be illiquid. Thus, it may not be possible to close options positions and this may have an adverse impact on a Fund's ability to effectively hedge its securities. Each Fund will not invest more than 15% of its assets in illiquid securities.
Overview. An option is a contract that gives the purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to buy an underlying reference instrument, such as a specified security, currency, index, or other instrument, from the writer of the option (in the case of a call option), or to sell a specified reference instrument to the writer of the option (in the case of a put option) at a designated price during the term of the option. The premium paid by the buyer of an option will reflect, among other things, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price and the volatility of the underlying reference instrument, the remaining term of the option, supply, demand, interest rates, and/or currency exchange rates. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. Put and call options are traded on national securities exchanges and in the OTC market.
Options traded on national securities exchanges are within the jurisdiction of the SEC or other appropriate national securities regulator, as are securities traded on such exchanges. As a result, many of the protections provided to traders on organized exchanges will be available with respect to such transactions. In particular, all option positions entered into on a national securities exchange in the U.S. are cleared and guaranteed by the Options Clearing Corporation, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default. Furthermore, a liquid secondary market in options traded on a national securities exchange may be more readily available than in the OTC market, potentially permitting a Fund to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse market movements. There is no assurance, however, that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not temporarily render the capabilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the exchange instituting special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of a Fund's orders to close out open options positions.
Purchasing call and put options. As the buyer of a call option, a Fund has a right to buy the underlying reference instrument (e.g., a currency or security) at the exercise price at any time during the option period (for American style options). A Fund may enter into closing sale transactions with respect to call options, exercise them, or permit them to expire. For example, a Fund may buy call options on underlying reference instruments that it intends to buy with the goal of limiting the risk of a substantial increase in their market price before the purchase is effected. Unless the price of the underlying reference instrument changes sufficiently, a call option purchased by a Fund may expire without any value to the Fund, in which case the Fund would experience a loss to the extent of the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs.
As the buyer of a put option, a Fund has the right to sell the underlying reference instrument at the exercise price at any time during the option period (for American style options). As with a call option, a Fund may enter into closing sale transactions with respect to put options, exercise them or permit them to expire. A Fund may buy a put option on an underlying reference instrument owned by the Fund (a protective put) as a hedging technique in an attempt to protect against an anticipated decline in the market value of the underlying reference instrument. Such hedge protection is provided only during the life of the put option when a Fund, as the buyer of the put option, is able to sell the underlying reference instrument at the put exercise price, regardless of any decline in the underlying instrument's market price. A Fund may also seek to offset a decline in the value of the underlying reference instrument through appreciation in the value of the put option. A put option may also be purchased with the intent of protecting unrealized appreciation of an instrument when the Manager deems it desirable to continue to hold the instrument because of tax or other considerations. The premium paid for the put option and any transaction costs would reduce any short-term capital gain that may be available for distribution when the instrument is eventually sold. Buying put options at a time when the buyer does not own the underlying reference instrument allows the buyer to benefit from a decline in the market price of the underlying reference instrument, which generally increases the value of the put option.
If a put option were not terminated in a closing sale transaction when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying reference instrument remains equal to or greater than the exercise price during the life of the put option, the buyer would not make any gain upon exercise of the option and would experience a loss to the extent of the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs. In order for the purchase of a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying reference instrument must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs.
Writing call and put options. Writing options may permit the writer to generate additional income in the form of the premium received for writing the option. The writer of an option may have no control over when the underlying reference instruments must be sold (in the case of a call option) or purchased (in the case of a put option) because the writer may be notified of exercise at any time prior to the expiration of the option (for American style options). Whether or not an option expires unexercised, the writer retains the amount of the premium. Writing "covered" call options means that the writer owns the underlying reference instrument that is subject to the call option. A Fund will write call options on a covered basis only.
If a Fund writes a covered call option, any underlying reference instruments that are held by the Fund and subject to the call option will be earmarked on the books of the Fund as segregated to satisfy its obligations under the option. A Fund will be unable to sell the underlying reference instruments that are subject to the written call option until the Fund either effects a closing transaction with respect to the written call, or otherwise satisfies the conditions for release of the underlying reference instruments from segregation. As the writer of a covered call option, a Fund gives up the potential for capital appreciation above the exercise price of the option should the underlying reference instrument rise in value. If the value of the underlying reference instrument rises above the exercise price of the call option, the reference instrument will likely be "called away," requiring a Fund to sell the underlying instrument at the exercise price. In that case, a Fund will sell the underlying reference instrument to the option buyer for less than its market value, and the Fund will experience a loss (which will be offset by the premium received by the Fund as the writer of such option). If a call option expires unexercised, a Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium received. If the market price of the underlying reference instrument decreases, the call option will not be exercised and a Fund will be able to use the amount of the premium received to hedge against the loss in value of the underlying reference instrument. The exercise price of a call option will be chosen based upon the expected price movement of the underlying reference instrument. The exercise price of a call option may be below, equal to (at-the-money), or above the current value of the underlying reference instrument at the time the option is written.
As the writer of a put option, a Fund has a risk of loss should the underlying reference instrument decline in value. If the value of the underlying reference instrument declines below the exercise price of the put option and the put option is exercised, the Fund, as the writer of the put option, will be required to buy the instrument at the exercise price, which will exceed the market value of the underlying reference instrument at that time. A Fund will incur a loss to the extent that the current market value of the underlying reference instrument is less than the exercise price of the put option. However, the loss will be offset in part by the premium received from the buyer of the put. If a put option written by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium received.
Closing out options (exchange traded options). As the writer of an option, if a Fund wants to terminate its obligation, the Fund may effect a "closing purchase transaction"
by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. The effect of the purchase is that the clearing corporation
will cancel the Fund's position. However, a writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after being notified of the
exercise of an option.
Likewise, the buyer of an option may recover all or a portion of the premium that it paid by effecting a "closing sale transaction"
by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased and receiving a premium on the sale. There is no
guarantee that either a closing purchase or a closing sale transaction may be made at a time desired by a Fund. Closing transactions
allow a Fund to terminate its positions in written and purchased options. A Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction
if the price of the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the original option (in the case of written
options) or is more than the premium paid by the Fund to buy the option (in the case of purchased options). For example, increases
in the market price of a call option sold by a Fund will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying
reference instrument. As a result, any loss resulting from a closing transaction on a written call option is likely to be
offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying instrument owned by a Fund.
Over-the-counter ("OTC") options. Like exchange traded options, OTC options give the holder the right to buy from the writer, in the case of OTC call options, or sell to the writer, in the case of OTC put options, an underlying reference instrument at a stated exercise price. OTC options, however, differ from exchange traded options in certain material respects.
OTC options are arranged directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation or exchange. Consequently, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer, including because of the dealer's bankruptcy or insolvency. While a Fund uses only counterparties, such as dealers, that meet its credit quality standards, in unusual or extreme market conditions, a counterparty's creditworthiness and ability to perform may deteriorate rapidly, and the availability of suitable replacement counterparties may become limited. Because there is no exchange, pricing is typically done based on information from market makers or other dealers. OTC options are available for a greater variety of underlying reference instruments and in a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than exchange traded options.
There can be no assurance that a continuous liquid secondary market will exist for any particular OTC option at any specific time. A Fund may be able to realize the value of an OTC option it has purchased only by exercising it or entering into a closing sale transaction with the dealer that issued it. When a Fund writes an OTC option, it generally can close out that option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer with which the Fund originally wrote the option. A Fund may suffer a loss if it is not able to exercise (in the case of a purchased option) or enter into a closing sale transaction on a timely basis.
Risks of options. A Fund's options investments involve certain risks, including general risks related to derivatives instruments. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and a Fund may have difficulty effecting closing transactions in particular options. Therefore, a Fund would have to exercise the options it purchased in order to realize any profit, thus taking or making delivery of the underlying reference instrument when not desired. A Fund could then incur transaction costs upon the sale of the underlying reference instruments. Similarly, when a Fund cannot effect a closing transaction with respect to a put option it wrote, and the buyer exercises, the Fund would be required to take delivery and would incur transaction costs upon the sale of the underlying reference instruments purchased. If a Fund, as a covered call option writer, is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying reference instrument until the option expires, it delivers the underlying instrument upon exercise, or it segregates enough liquid assets to purchase the underlying reference instrument at the marked-to-market price during the term of the option. When trading options on non-U.S. exchanges or in the OTC market, many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available. For example, there may be no daily price fluctuation limits, and adverse market movements could therefore continue to an unlimited extent over an indefinite period of time.
The effectiveness of an options strategy for hedging depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying reference instruments correlate with price movements in the relevant portion of a Fund's portfolio that is being hedged. In addition, a Fund bears the risk that the prices of its portfolio investments will not move in the same amount as the option it has purchased or sold for hedging purposes, or that there may be a negative correlation that would result in a loss on both the investments and the option. If the Manager is not successful in using options in managing a Fund's investments, the Fund's performance will be worse than if the Manager did not employ such strategies.
Preferred Securities
Each Fund may invest in preferred securities. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default (such as a covenant default or filing of a bankruptcy petition) or other noncompliance by the issuer with the terms of the preferred stock. Often, however, on the occurrence of any such event of default or noncompliance by the issuer, preferred stockholders will be entitled to gain representation on the issuer's board of directors or increase their existing board representation. In addition, preferred stockholders may be granted voting rights with respect to certain issues on the occurrence of any event of default.
Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs")
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund may invest in REITs.
REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or in mortgages and loans collateralized by real estate. "Equity" REITs are real estate companies that own and manage income-producing properties such as apartments, hotels, shopping centers, or office buildings. The income, primarily rent from these properties, is generally passed on to investors in the form of dividends. These companies provide experienced property management and generally concentrate on a specific geographic region or property type. "Mortgage" REITs make loans to commercial real estate developers and earn income from interest payments. A hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs, generally by holding both ownership interest and mortgage interests in real estate. Although not required, the Manager anticipates that under normal circumstances the Fund will invest primarily in Equity REITs. Although the REIT structure originated in the U.S., a number of countries around the world have adopted, or are considering adopting, similar REIT and REIT-like structures.
For U.S. federal tax law purposes, to qualify as a REIT, a company must derive at least 75% of its gross income from real estate sources (rents, mortgage interest, or gains from the sale of real estate assets), and at least 95% from real estate sources, plus dividends, interest, and gains from the sale of securities. Real property, mortgage loans, cash, and certain securities must comprise 75% of a company's assets. In order to qualify as a REIT, a company must also make distributions to shareholders aggregating annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income.
REIT risks. The Fund's investments in REITs present certain further risks that are unique and in addition to the risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by any changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REITs and other factors and their prices tend to go up and down, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are not diversified and are subject to the risks of financing projects. A REIT's performance depends on the types and locations of the properties it owns and on management skills. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties tenants' failure to pay rent, or poor management. REITs whose underlying assets include U.S. long-term healthcare properties, such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be impacted by U.S. federal regulations concerning the healthcare industry. A REIT's performance also depends on the company's ability to finance property purchases and renovations and manage its cash flows.
REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks — when interest rates decline, the value of a REIT's investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT's investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable-rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT's investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed-rate obligations.
Because REITs typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than other securities. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole.
Repurchase Agreements
Each Fund may, from time to time, enter into repurchase agreement transactions which are at least 102% collateralized by U.S. government securities.
Under a repurchase agreement, a Fund agrees to buy securities guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities from a qualified bank or broker/dealer and then to sell the securities back to the bank or broker/dealer on an agreed upon date (generally less than seven days) at a higher price, which reflects currently prevailing short-term interest rates. Entering into repurchase agreements allows a Fund to earn a return on cash in the Fund's portfolio that would otherwise remain uninvested. The bank or broker/dealer must transfer to a Fund's custodian, as collateral, securities with an initial market value of at least 102% of the dollar amount paid by the Fund to the counterparty. The Manager will monitor the value of such collateral daily to determine that the value of the collateral equals or exceeds the repurchase price.
Repurchase agreements may involve risks in the event of default or insolvency of the bank or broker/dealer, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund's ability to sell the underlying securities and additional expenses in seeking to enforce the Fund's rights and recover any losses. A Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with parties who meet certain creditworthiness standards, i.e., banks or broker/dealers that the Manager has determined, based on the information available at the time, present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the repurchase agreement. Although a Fund seeks to limit the credit risk under a repurchase agreement by carefully selecting counterparties and accepting only high-quality collateral, some credit risk remains. The counterparty could default which may make it necessary for a Fund to incur expenses to liquidate the collateral. In addition, the collateral may decline in value before it can be liquidated by a Fund. A repurchase agreement with more than seven days to maturity is considered an illiquid security and is subject to a Fund's investment restriction on illiquid securities.
The funds in the Delaware Investments® family of mutual funds (each a "Delaware Investments® Fund" and collectively, the "Delaware Investments® Funds") have obtained an exemption (the "Order") from the joint-transaction prohibitions of Section 17(d) of the 1940 Act to allow Delaware Investments® Funds jointly to invest cash balances. A Fund may invest cash balances in a joint repurchase agreement in accordance with the terms of the Order and subject generally to the conditions described above.
Securities Lending
Each Fund may loan up to 25% of its assets to qualified broker/dealers or institutional investors for their use relating to short sales or other security transactions.
A Fund, along with other funds in the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds, may lend its securities pursuant to a security lending agreement ("Lending Agreement") with The Bank of New York Mellon ("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: (i) 102% with respect to U.S. securities and foreign securities that are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars; and (ii) 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 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 may be temporarily more or less than the value of the security on loan.
Cash collateral received is generally invested in the Delaware Investments Collateral Fund No. 1 (Collective Trust) established by BNY Mellon for the purpose of investment on behalf of funds managed by DMC that participate in BNY Mellon's securities lending program. The Collective Trust may invest in U.S. government securities and high quality corporate debt, asset-backed and other money market securities and in repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities, provided that the Collective Trust will generally have a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 60 days or less. A Fund can also accept U.S. government securities and letters of credit (non-cash collateral) in connection with securities loans. 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 a Fund or, at the discretion of the lending agent, replace the loaned securities. A 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. A 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, a 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 a Fund, the security lending agent, and the borrower. A Fund records security lending income net of allocations to the security lending agent and the borrower.
The Collective Trust used for the investment of cash collateral received from borrowers of securities seeks to maintain a net asset value per unit of $1.00, but there can be no assurance that it will always be able to do so. A Fund may incur investment losses as a result of investing securities lending collateral in the Collective Trust or another collateral investment pool. This could occur if an investment in a collateral investment pool defaulted or if it were necessary to liquidate assets in the collateral investment pool to meet returns on outstanding security loans at a time when the collateral investment pool's net asset value per unit was less than $1.00. Under those circumstances, a Fund may not receive an amount from the collateral investment pool that is equal in amount to the collateral the Fund would be required to return to the borrower of the securities and the Fund would be required to make up for this shortfall.
Segregation of Assets
Consistent with SEC staff guidance, financial instruments that involve a Fund's obligation to make future payments to third parties will not be viewed as creating any senior security provided that the Fund covers its obligations as described below. Those financial instruments can include, among others, (i) securities purchased on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or to be announced basis, (ii) futures contracts, (iii) forward currency contracts, (iv) swaps, (v) written options, (vi) unfunded commitments, (vii) securities sold short, and (viii) reverse repurchase agreements.
Consistent with SEC staff guidance, a Fund will consider its obligations involving such a financial instrument as "covered" when the Fund (1) maintains an offsetting financial position, or (2) segregates liquid assets (constituting cash, cash equivalents, or other liquid portfolio securities) equal to the Fund's exposures relating to the financial instrument, as determined on a daily basis. Dedicated Fund compliance policies and procedures, which the Board has approved, govern the kinds of transactions that can be deemed to be offsetting positions for purposes of (1) above, and the amounts of assets that need to be segregated for purposes of (2) above ("Asset Segregation Policies").
With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to "cash settle," a Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or "earmarking" liquid assets in an amount that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the market value of the instruments underlying the futures contract (sometimes referred to as the notional value of the contract). With respect to futures that are required to "cash settle," however, a Fund is permitted to set aside or "earmark" liquid assets in an amount that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the Fund's daily marked to market (net) obligation under the contract ( i.e., the daily market value of the contract itself), if any; in other words, the Fund may set aside its daily net liability, if any, rather than the notional value of the futures contract. By setting aside or "earmarking" assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, a Fund will have the ability to utilize these contracts to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or "earmark" assets equal to the full notional value of the futures contract.
A Fund's Asset Segregation Policies may require the Fund to sell a portfolio security or exit a transaction, including a transaction in a financial instrument, at a disadvantageous time or price in order for the Fund to be able to segregate the required amount of assets. If segregated assets decline in value, a Fund will need to segregate additional assets or reduce its position in the financial instruments. In addition, segregated assets may not be available to satisfy redemptions or for other purposes, until a Fund's obligations under the financial instruments have been satisfied. In addition, a Fund's ability to use the financial instruments identified above may under some circumstances depend on the nature of the instrument and amount of assets that the Asset Segregation Policies require the Fund to segregate.
Short-Term Debt Instruments and Temporary Investments
Each Fund may invest in money market securities (the types of which are discussed below) for liquidity and cash management purposes or if the Manager determines that securities meeting a Fund's investment objective and policies are not otherwise readily available for purchase. For temporary defensive purposes during periods when the Manager determines that conditions warrant, a Fund may increase this percentage up to 100%. For purposes of these policies, money market securities include (i) short-term U.S. government securities, including custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; (ii) commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a NRSRO, such as S&P or Moody's, or determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; (iii) short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits, and bankers' acceptances) of U.S. domestic banks, foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks, and commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and (iv) repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these types of money market securities is discussed in more detail below.
U.S. Government Securities. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations in which a Fund may invest include U.S. Treasury obligations and the obligations of U.S. government agencies such as Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the U.S., Small Business Administration, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, General Services Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Maritime Administration, and other similar agencies. Whether backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury or not, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to fluctuating interest rates.
U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes, and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities ("STRIPS") and Treasury Receipts ("TRs").
Receipts. Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.
U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities. STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.
U.S. Government Agencies. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities or to the value of a Fund's shares.
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days. Each Fund may invest in short-term promissory notes issued by corporations that, at the time of purchase, are rated P-1 and/or A-1. Commercial paper ratings P-1 by Moody's and A-1 by S&P are the highest investment grade category.
Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks. A Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks are not covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions that might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by a Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:
Bankers' Acceptances. Bankers' acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers' acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.
Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Unless they can be traded on a secondary market, certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.
Time Deposits. Time deposits are nonnegotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, they earn a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, they cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.
Small to Medium-Sized Companies
The Funds may invest in equity securities of small to medium-sized companies. These stocks have historically been more volatile in price than larger capitalization stocks, such as those included in the S&P 500® Index. This is because, among other things, smaller companies have a lower degree of liquidity and tend to have a greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions. These companies may have narrow product lines, markets or financial resources, or may depend on a limited management group. In addition, these companies are typically subject to a greater degree of change in their earnings and prospects. The companies' securities may trade less frequently and have a smaller trading volume. The securities may be traded only in the over-the-counter markets or on a regional securities exchange. In addition to exhibiting greater volatility, smaller capitalization securities may, to some degree, fluctuate independently of the stocks of larger capitalization companies. For example, the stocks of smaller capitalization companies may decline in price as the price of larger company stocks rise, or vice versa.
U.S. Government Securities
U.S. government securities include obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. federal government, its agencies, instrumentalities, or sponsored enterprises. Some U.S. government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. These include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued by Ginnie Mae. A second category of U.S. government securities is those supported by the right of the agency, instrumentality or sponsored enterprise to borrow from the U.S. government to meet its obligations. These include securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks.
A third category of U.S. government securities is those supported by only the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality or sponsored enterprise. These include securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In the event of a default, an investor like a Fund would only have legal recourse to the issuer, not the U.S. government. Although the U.S. government has provided support for these securities in the past, there can be no assurance that it will do so in the future. The U.S. government has also made available additional guarantees for limited periods to stabilize or restore a market in the wake of an economic, political, or natural crisis. Such guarantees, and the economic opportunities they present, are likely to be temporary and cannot be relied upon by a Fund. Any downgrade of the credit rating of the securities issued by the U.S. government may result in a downgrade of securities issued by its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored entities.
Warrants
Delaware Healthcare Fund may purchase warrants and similar rights.
Warrants and similar rights are privileges issued by corporations enabling the owners to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrant's expiration. Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security's market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities
Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. In such transactions, instruments are purchased with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous yield or price at the time of the transaction. Delivery of and payment for these securities may take as long as a month or more after the date of the purchase commitment. A Fund will designate cash or securities in amounts sufficient to cover its obligations and will value the designated assets daily. The payment obligation and the interest rates that will be received are each fixed at the time the Fund enters into the commitment and no interest accrues to the Fund until settlement. Thus, it is possible that the market value at the time of settlement could be higher or lower than the purchase price if the general level of interest rates has changed.
Zero Coupon and Pay-In-Kind Bonds
The Funds may invest in zero coupon bonds or payment-in-kind bonds.
The credit risk factors pertaining to lower-rated securities also apply to lower-rated zero coupon, deferred interest, and payment-in-kind bonds. These bonds carry an additional risk in that, unlike bonds that pay interest throughout the period to maturity, a Fund will realize no cash until the cash payment date and, if the issuer defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment.
Zero coupon, deferred interest, and payment-in-kind bonds involve additional special considerations. Zero coupon or deferred interest securities are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity or a specified date when the securities begin paying current interest (the "cash payment date") and therefore are generally issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts or par value. The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security, and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The discount, in the absence of financial difficulties of the issuer, typically decreases as the final maturity or cash payment date of the security approaches. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do non-zero coupon or deferred interest securities having similar maturities and credit quality. Current federal income tax law requires that a holder of a zero coupon security report as income each year the portion of the original issue discount on the security that accrues that year, even though the holder receives no cash payments of interest during the year.
Payment-in-kind bonds are securities that pay interest through the issuance of additional bonds. The Fund will be deemed to receive interest over the life of these bonds and be treated as if interest were paid on a current basis for federal income tax purposes, although no cash interest payments are received by the Fund until the cash payment date or until the bonds mature. Accordingly, during periods when the Fund receive no cash interest payments on its zero coupon securities or deferred interest or payment-in-kind bonds, it may be required to dispose of portfolio securities to meet the distribution requirements and these sales may be subject to the risk factors discussed above. A Fund is not limited in the amount of its assets that may be invested in these types of securities.
Special Risks related to Cybersecurity Issues
As an open-end management investment company, the Trust has delegated its operational activities to third-party service providers, subject to the oversight of the Board. Because the Trust operates its business through third-party service providers, it does not itself have any operational or security systems or infrastructure that are potentially subject to cyber attacks. The third-party service providers that facilitate the Trust's business activities, including, but not limited to, fund management, custody of Trust assets, fund accounting and financial administration, and transfer agent services, could be sources of operational and informational security risk to the Trust and its shareholders, including from breakdowns or failures of the third-party service providers' own systems or capacity constraints. A failure or breach of the operational or security systems or infrastructure of the Trust's third-party service providers could disrupt the Trust's operations, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, and cause losses. Although the Trust and its third-party service providers have business continuity plans and other safeguards in place, the operations of the Trust's third-party service providers may be adversely affected by significant disruption of the service providers' operating systems or physical infrastructure that support the Trust and its shareholders.
The proliferation of new technologies, the use of the internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct business, as well as the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, activists, and others, have significantly increased the information security risks to which the Trust's third-party service providers are subject. The third-party service providers rely on digital technologies, computer and email systems, software, and networks to conduct their business and the business of the Trust. The Trust's third-party service providers have robust information security procedures; however, their technologies may become the target of cyber attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss, or destruction of the Trust's or its shareholders' confidential and other information, or otherwise disrupt the business operations of the Trust or its third-party service providers. Although to date the Trust has not experienced any material losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches, there can be no assurance that the Trust or its third-party service providers will not suffer such losses in the future.
Disruptions or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Trust's third-party service providers, or cyber attacks or security breaches of the networks, systems, or devices that the Trust's third-party service providers use to service the Trust's operations, could result in financial losses, the inability of Trust shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The business continuity policies and procedures that the Trust and its third-party service providers have established seek to identify and mitigate the types of risk to which the Trust and its third-party service providers are subject. As with any risk-management system, there are inherent limitations to these business continuity policies and procedures as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that have not been anticipated or identified.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information
Each Fund has adopted a policy generally prohibiting the disclosure of portfolio holdings information to any person until after 30 calendar days have passed. The Trust posts a list of each Fund's portfolio holdings monthly, with a 30-day lag, on each Fund's website, delawareinvestments.com. In addition, on a 10-day lag, we also make available on the website a month-end summary listing of the number of each Fund's securities, country and asset allocations, and top 10 securities and sectors by percentage of holdings for the Fund. This information is available publicly to any and all shareholders free of charge once posted on the website or by calling 800 523-1918.
Other entities, including institutional investors and intermediaries that distribute the Funds' shares, are generally treated similarly and are not provided with the Funds' portfolio holdings in advance of when they are generally available to the public.
The Funds may, from time to time, provide statistical data derived from publicly available information to third parties, such as shareholders, prospective shareholders, financial intermediaries, consultants, and ratings and ranking organizations.
Third-party service providers and affiliated persons of the Funds are provided with the Funds' portfolio holdings only to the extent necessary to perform services under agreements relating to the Funds. In accordance with the policy, third-party service providers who receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis are: the Manager's affiliates (Delaware Management Business Trust, Delaware Investments Fund Services Company, and the Distributor), the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, the Funds' custodian, the Funds' legal counsel, the Funds' financial printer (DG3), and the Funds' proxy voting service. These entities are obligated to keep such information confidential.
Third-party rating and ranking organizations and consultants who have signed agreements ("Nondisclosure Agreements") with the Funds or the Manager may receive portfolio holdings information more quickly than the 30-day lag. The Nondisclosure Agreements require that the receiving entity hold the information in the strictest confidence and prohibit the receiving entity from disclosing the information or trading on the information (either in Fund shares or in shares of the Funds' portfolio securities). In addition, the receiving party must agree to provide copies of any research or reports generated using the portfolio holdings information in order to allow for monitoring of use of the information. Neither the Funds, nor the Manager, nor JSP, nor any affiliate receives any compensation or consideration with respect to these agreements.
To protect the shareholders' interests and to avoid conflicts of interest, Nondisclosure Agreements must be approved by a member of the Manager's Legal Department and Compliance Department and any deviation in the use of the portfolio holdings information by the receiving party must be approved in writing by the Funds' Chief Compliance Officer prior to such use.
The Board will be notified of any substantial changes to the foregoing procedures. The Board also receives an annual report from the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer that, among other things, addresses the operation of the Trust's procedures concerning the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.
Management of the Trust
Trustees and officers
The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees. Certain officers and Trustees of the Trust hold identical positions in each of the Delaware Investments® Funds. The Trust's Trustees and principal officers are noted below along with their birthdates and their business experience for the past five years. The Trustees serve for indefinite terms until their resignation, death, or removal.
As of June 30, 2015, the officers and Trustees of the Trust directly owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Class of each Fund, except for Class A shares of Delaware Healthcare Fund, in which they owned 7.4% of the outstanding shares.
|
Name, Address, and Birthdate |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
Independent Trustees |
|||||
|
Thomas L. Bennett October 1947 |
Chairman and Trustee |
Trustee since March 2005
Chairman since March 1, 2015 |
Private Investor |
64 |
Director — Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. (BMTC) |
|
Ann D. Borowiec November 1958 |
Trustee |
Since March 31, 2015 |
Chief Executive Officer, Private Wealth Management (2011-2103) and Market Manager, New Jersey Private Bank (2005-2011) — JP Morgan Chase & Co. |
64 |
None |
|
Joseph W. Chow January 1953 |
Trustee |
Since January 2013 |
Executive Vice President (Emerging Economies Strategies, Risks, and Corporate Administration) State Street Corporation (July 2004-March 2011) |
64 |
Director and Audit Committee Member — Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (2004–2014) |
|
John A. Fry May 1960 |
Trustee |
Since January 2001 |
President — Drexel University President — Franklin & Marshall College |
64 |
Director — Hershey Trust Company
Director, Audit Committee, and Governance Committee Member — Community Health Systems Director, Drexel Morgan & Co. |
|
Lucinda S. Landreth June 1947 |
Trustee |
Since March 2005 |
Private Investor |
64 |
None |
|
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa |
Trustee |
Since September 2011 |
Chief Executive Officer — Banco Itau International (April 2012–present)
Executive Advisor to Dean (August 2011–March 2012) and Interim Dean (January 2011–July 2011) — University of Miami School
of Business Administration President — U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management (Private Banking (July 2007–December 2008) |
64 |
Trust Manager and Audit Committee Member — Camden Property Trust |
|
Thomas K. Whitford March 1956 |
Trustee |
Since January 2013 |
Vice Chairman (2010–April 2013), |
64 |
Director — HSBC Finance Corporation and HSBC North American Holdings Inc.
Director — HSBC Bank |
|
Janet L. Yeomans July 1948 |
Trustee |
Since April 1999 |
Vice President and Treasurer |
64 |
Director, Audit and Compliance Committee Chair, Investment Committee Member, and Governance Committee Member — Okabena Company
Chair — 3M Investment Management Committee |
|
Officers |
|||||
|
Roger A. Early |
President and Chief Executive Officer of Delaware Investments® Family of Funds1 |
President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2015 |
Roger A. Early has served in various capacities at different times at Delaware Investments. |
64 |
None2 |
|
David F. Connor December 1963 |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary |
Senior Vice President since May 2013; General Counsel since May 2015; Secretary since October 2005 |
David F. Connor has served in various capacities at different times at Delaware Investments. |
64 |
None2 |
|
Daniel V. Geatens October 1972 |
Vice President and Treasurer |
Treasurer since October 2007 |
Daniel V. Geatens has served in various capacities at different times at Delaware Investments. |
64 |
None2 |
|
Richard Salus October 1963 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Chief Financial Officer since November 2006 |
Richard Salus has served in various executive capacities at different times at Delaware Investments. |
64 |
None2 |
|
1 |
Delaware Investments® is the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including the Funds' Manager, principal underwriter, and transfer agent. |
|
2 |
David F. Connor, Daniel V. Geatens, and Richard Salus serve in similar capacities for the six portfolios of the Optimum Fund Trust, which have the same investment manager, principal underwriter, and transfer agent as the Funds. |
The following table shows each Trustee's ownership of shares of the Funds and of shares of all Delaware Investments® Funds as of Dec. 31, 2014, unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies1 |
||
|
Independent Trustees |
||||
|
Thomas L. Bennett |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
Ann D. Borowiec2 |
None |
$50,001-100,000 |
||
|
Joseph W. Chow |
Over $100,000 (Delaware Healthcare Fund) |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
John A. Fry |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
Lucinda S. Landreth |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
Thomas K. Whitford |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
Janet L. Yeomans |
None |
Over $100,000 |
||
|
1 |
The ranges for equity securities ownership by each Trustee are: none; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000; or over $100,000. |
|
2 |
Ownership of shares information is as of Oct. 31, 2014. |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. The aggregate Trustee compensation and number of committee meetings shown below are for the fiscal year from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015.
The following table describes the aggregate compensation received by each Trustee from the Trust and the total compensation received from the Delaware Investments® Funds for which he or she served as a Trustee for the Trust's last fiscal year. Only the Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" as defined by the 1940 Act (the "Independent Trustees") receive compensation from the Trust.
|
Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation from the Trust |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses |
Total Compensation from the Investment Companies in the Delaware Investments® Complex* |
|||
|
Thomas L. Bennett |
$10,570 |
None |
$285,500 |
|||
|
Ann D. Borowiec1 |
$634 |
None |
$18,000 |
|||
|
Joseph W. Chow |
$8,850 |
None |
$239,250 |
|||
|
John A. Fry |
$8,598 |
None |
$232,250 |
|||
|
Lucinda S. Landreth |
$8,624 |
None |
$233,000 |
|||
|
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa |
$8,624 |
None |
$233,000 |
|||
|
Thomas K. Whitford |
$8,384 |
None |
$226,500 |
|||
|
Janet L. Yeomans |
$9,339 |
None |
$252,250 |
|||
|
J. Richard Zecher2 |
$8,346 |
None |
$225,250 |
|
* |
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, each Independent Trustee/Director will receive an annual retainer fee of $155,000 for serving as a Trustee/Director for all 26 investment companies in the Delaware Investments® family, plus $11,000 per meeting for attending each Board Meeting in person held on behalf of all investment companies in the complex. Each Trustee shall also receive a $2,500 fee for attending telephonic board meetings on behalf of the investment companies in the complex. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Audit Committee, and Investments Committee receive additional compensation of $3,500 for each Committee meeting attended. The Trustees may receive an additional fee if a committee meeting exceeds 4 hours. In addition, the chairperson for each of the Audit Committee, the Investments Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives an annual retainer of $25,000. The Board Chairman receives an additional annual retainer of $60,000. |
|
1 |
On Feb. 19, 2015, the Trustees approved a one-time $18,000 payment to Ms. Borowiec for trustee training and education. Ms. Borowiec was elected to the Board by shareholders on March 31, 2015. |
|
2 |
Mr. Zecher retired from the Board effective July 1, 2015. |
Board Leadership Structure
Common Board of Trustees/Directors: The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of its Board. The Trustees also serve on the Boards of all the other investment companies that comprise the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds. The Trustees believe that having a common Board for all funds in the complex is efficient and enhances the ability of the Board to address its responsibilities to each fund in the complex. The Trustees believe that the common board structure allows the Trustees to leverage their individual expertise and that their judgment is enhanced by being Trustees of all of the funds in the complex.
Board Chairman: Effective March 1, 2015, Mr. Bennett was named the Board's Chairman. As fund governance best practices have evolved, more and more fund boards have opted to have an independent trustee serve as chairperson. Among other reasons, the Board selected Mr. Bennett as Chairman due to his substantial financial industry experience and his tenure on the Board. As the Chairman, Mr. Bennett, in consultation with Fund management, legal counsel, and the other Trustees, proposes Board agenda topics, actively participates in developing Board meeting agendas, and ensures that appropriate and timely information is provided to the Board in connection with Board meetings. Mr. Bennett also conducts meetings of the Independent Trustees. He also generally serves as a liaison among outside Trustees, Fund officers, and legal counsel, and is an ex officio member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Size and composition of Board: The Board is currently comprised of eight Trustees. The Trustees believe that the current size of the Board is conducive to Board interaction, dialogue, and debate, resulting in an effective decision-making body. The Board is comprised of Trustees with a variety of professional backgrounds. The Board believes that the skill sets of its members are complementary and add to the overall effectiveness of the Board. The Trustees regard diversity as an important consideration in the present composition of the Board and the selection of qualified candidates to fill vacancies on the Board.
Committees: The Board has established several committees, each of which focuses on a particular substantive area and provides reports and recommendations to the full Board. The committee structure enables the Board to manage efficiently and effectively the large volume of information relevant to the Board's oversight of the Trust. The committees benefit from the professional expertise of their members. At the same time, membership on a committee enhances the expertise of its members and benefits the overall effectiveness of the Board.
The Board has the following committees:
Audit Committee: This committee monitors accounting and financial reporting policies, practices, and internal controls for the Trust. It also oversees the quality and objectivity of the Trust's financial statements and the independent audit thereof, and acts as a liaison between the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. The Trust's Audit Committee consists of the following Independent Trustees: Joseph W. Chow, Chairperson; Ann D. Borowiec; Lucinda S. Landreth; and Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa. The Audit Committee held six meetings during the Trust's last fiscal year.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: This committee recommends Board nominees, fills Board vacancies that arise in between meetings of shareholders, and considers the qualifications and independence of Board members. The committee also monitors the performance of counsel for the Independent Trustees. The committee will consider shareholder recommendations for nomination to the Board only in the event that there is a vacancy on the Board. Shareholders who wish to submit recommendations for nominations to the Board to fill a vacancy must submit their recommendations in writing to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Delaware Investments® Funds at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094. Shareholders should include appropriate information on the background and qualifications of any persons recommended (e.g., a resume), as well as the candidate's contact information and a written consent from the candidate to serve if nominated and elected. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration when there is a vacancy on the Board. The committee consists of the following Independent Trustees: John A. Fry, Chairperson; Thomas L. Bennett (ex officio); Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa; Thomas K. Whitford; and Janet L. Yeomans. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held five meetings during the Trust's last fiscal year.
In reaching its determination that an individual should serve or continue to serve as a Trustee of the Trust, the committee considers, in light of the Trust's business and structure, the individual's experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills (the "Selection Factors"). No one Selection Factor is determinative, but some of the relevant factors that have been considered include: (i) the Trustee's business and professional experience and accomplishments, including prior experience in the financial services industry or on other boards; (ii) the ability to work effectively and collegially with other people; and (iii) how the Trustee's background and attributes contribute to the overall mix of skills and experience on the Board as a whole. Below is a brief summary of the Selection Factors that relate to each Trustee as of the date of this SAI.
Thomas L. Bennett — Currently the Board's Chairman, Mr. Bennett has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry, particularly with fixed income portfolio management and credit analysis. He has served in senior management for a number of money management firms. Mr. Bennett has also served as a board member of another investment company, an educational institution, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Bennett has served on the Board since March 2005.
Ann D. Borowiec — Ms. Borowiec has over 25 years of experience in the banking and wealth management industry. Ms. Borowiec also serves as a board member on several nonprofit organizations. In nominating her to the Board in 2015, the Independent Trustees of the Trust found that her experience as a Chief Executive Officer in the private wealth management business at a leading global asset manager and private bank, including the restructuring of business lines and defining client recruitment strategies, complemented the skills of existing board members. Her experience would also provide additional oversight skill in the area of fund distribution. Ms. Borowiec holds a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Ms. Borowiec joined the Board in March 2015.
Joseph W. Chow — Mr. Chow has over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry. In electing him in 2013, the Independent Trustees of the Trust found that his extensive experience in business strategy in non-U.S. markets complemented the skills of existing Board members and also reflected the increasing importance of global financial markets in investment management. The Independent Trustees also found that Mr. Chow's management responsibilities as a former Executive Vice President of a leading global asset servicing and investment management firm as well as his experience as Chief Risk and Corporate Administration Officer would add helpful oversight skills to the Board's expertise. Mr. Chow holds a B.A. degree from Brandeis and M.C.P. and M.S. in Management degree from MIT. Mr. Chow has served on the Board since January 2013.
John A. Fry — Mr. Fry has over 25 years of experience in higher education. He has served in senior management for three major institutions of higher learning. Mr. Fry has also served as a board member of many nonprofit organizations and several for-profit companies. Mr. Fry has extensive experience in overseeing areas such as finance, investments, risk-management, internal audit and information technology. He holds a B.A. degree in American Civilization from Lafayette College and an M.B.A. from New York University. Mr. Fry has served on the Board since January 2001.
Lucinda S. Landreth — Ms. Landreth has over 35 years of experience in the investment management industry, particularly with equity management and analysis. She has served as Chief Investment Officer for a variety of money management firms including a bank, a broker, and an insurance company. Ms. Landreth has advised mutual funds, pension funds, and family wealth managers and has served on the board and executive committees of her college, two foundations and several nonprofit institutions. In addition to her B.A., she is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Ms. Landreth has served on the Board since March 2005.
Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa — Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa has over 30 years of experience in banking and wealth management. In electing her in 2011, the Independent Trustees of the Trust found that her extensive international wealth management experience, in particular, complemented the skills of existing Board members and also reflected the increasing importance of international investment management not only for dollar-denominated investors but also for investors outside the U.S. The Independent Trustees also found that Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa's management responsibilities as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of a major trust and wealth management company would add a helpful oversight skill to the Board's expertise, and her extensive nonprofit Board experience gave them confidence that she would make a meaningful, experienced contribution to the Board of Trustees. Finally, in electing Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa to the Board, the Independent Trustees valued her perceived dedication to client service as a result of her overall career experience. Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees. Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa has served on the Board since September 2011.
Thomas K. Whitford — Mr. Whitford has over 25 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry, and served as Vice Chairman of a major banking, asset management, and residential mortgage banking institution. In electing him in 2013, the Independent Trustees of the Trust found that Mr. Whitford's senior management role in wealth management and experience in the mutual fund servicing business would provide valuable current management and financial industry insight, in particular, and complemented the skills of existing Board members. The Independent Trustees also found that his senior management role in integrating company acquisitions, technology, and operations and his past role as Chief Risk Officer would add a helpful oversight skill to the Board's expertise. Mr. Whitford holds a B.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Mr. Whitford has served on the Board since January 2013.
Janet L. Yeomans — Ms. Yeomans has over 28 years of business experience with a large global diversified manufacturing company, including service as Treasurer for this company. In this role, Ms. Yeomans had significant broad-based financial experience, including global financial risk-management and mergers and acquisitions. She also serves as a board member of a for-profit company. She holds degrees in mathematics and physics from Connecticut College, an M.S. in mathematics from Illinois Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Ms. Yeomans has served on the Board since April 1999.
Independent Trustee Committee: This committee develops and recommends to the Board a set of corporate governance principles and oversees the evaluation of the Board, its committees, and its activities. The committee is comprised of all of the Trust's Independent Trustees. The Independent Trustee Committee held four meetings during the Trust's last fiscal year.
Investments Committee: The primary purposes of the Investments Committee are to: (i) assist the Board at its request in its oversight of the investment advisory services provided to the Trust by the Manager as well as any sub-advisors; (ii) review all proposed advisory and sub-advisory agreements for new funds or proposed amendments to existing agreements and to recommend what action the full Board and the Independent Trustees should take regarding the approval of all such proposed agreements; and (iii) review reports supplied by the Manager regarding investment performance, portfolio risk and expenses and to suggest changes to such reports. The Investments Committee consists of the following Independent Trustees: Janet L. Yeomans, Chairperson; Ann D. Borowiec; Joseph W. Chow; Lucinda S. Landreth; and Thomas K. Whitford. The Investments Committee held five meetings during the Trust's last fiscal year.
Board role in risk oversight: The Board performs a risk oversight function for the Trust consisting, among other things, of the following activities: (1) receiving and reviewing reports related to the performance and operations of the Trust; (2) reviewing, approving, or modifying as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust; (3) meeting with portfolio management teams to review investment strategies, techniques and the processes used to manage related risks; (4) addressing security valuation risk in connection with its review of fair valuation decisions made by Fund management pursuant to Board-approved procedures; (5) meeting with representatives of key service providers, including the Manager, the Distributor, the Funds' transfer agent, the custodian and the independent public accounting firm of the Trust, to review and discuss the activities of the Trust's series, and to provide direction with respect thereto; (6) engaging the services of the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer to test the compliance procedures of the Trust and its service providers; and (7) requiring management's periodic presentations on specified risk topics.
The Trustees perform this risk oversight function throughout the year in connection with each quarterly Board meeting. The Trustees/Directors routinely discuss certain risk-management topics with Fund management at the Board level and also through the standing committees of the Board. In addition to these recurring risk-management discussions, Fund management raises other specific risk-management issues relating to the Funds with the Trustees/Directors at Board and committee meetings. When discussing new product initiatives with the Board, Fund management also discusses risk — either the risks associated with the new proposals or the risks that the proposals are designed to mitigate. Fund management also provides periodic presentations to the Board to give the Trustees a general overview of how the Manager and its affiliates identify and manage risks pertinent to the Trust.
The Audit Committee looks at specific risk-management issues on an ongoing basis. The Audit Committee is responsible for certain aspects of risk oversight relating to financial statements, the valuation of the Trust's assets, and certain compliance matters. In addition, the Audit Committee meets with the Manager's internal audit and risk-management personnel on a quarterly basis to review the reports on their examinations of functions and processes affecting the Trust.
The Board's other committees also play a role in assessing and managing risk. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Independent Trustee Committee play a role in managing governance risk by developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance principles and, in the case of the Independent Trustee Committee, by overseeing the evaluation of the Board, its committees and its activities. The Investments Committee plays a significant role in assessing and managing risk through its oversight of investment performance, investment process, investment risk controls and fund expenses.
Because risk is inherent in the operation of any business endeavor, and particularly in connection with the making of financial investments, there can be no assurance that the Board's approach to risk oversight will be able to minimize or even mitigate any particular risk. The Funds are designed for investors that are prepared to accept investment risk, including the possibility that as yet unforeseen risks may emerge in the future.
Code of Ethics
The Trust, the Manager, JSP, and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics in compliance with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which govern personal securities transactions. Under the Codes of Ethics, persons subject to the Codes are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to the requirements set forth in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and certain other procedures set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.
Proxy Voting Policies — The Manager
The Trust has formally delegated to the Manager the responsibility for making all proxy voting decisions in relation to portfolio securities held by the Funds. If and when proxies need to be voted on behalf of the Funds, the Manager or JSP, as applicable, will vote such proxies pursuant to its Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the "Procedures"). The Manager has established a Proxy Voting Committee (the "Committee"), which is responsible for overseeing the Manager's proxy voting process for the Funds. One of the main responsibilities of the Committee is to review and approve the Procedures to ensure that the Procedures are designed to allow the Manager to vote proxies in a manner consistent with the goal of voting in the best interests of the Funds.
In order to facilitate the actual process of voting proxies, the Manager has contracted with Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS") to analyze proxy statements on behalf of the Funds and the Manager's other clients and vote proxies generally in accordance with the Procedures. The Committee is responsible for overseeing ISS's proxy voting activities. If a proxy has been voted for the Funds, ISS will create a record of the vote. By no later than Aug. 31 of each year, information (if any) regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recently disclosed 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (i) through the Funds' website at delawareinvestments.com; and (ii) on the SEC's website at sec.gov.
The Procedures contain a general guideline stating that recommendations of company management on an issue (particularly routine issues) should be given a fair amount of weight in determining how proxy issues should be voted. However, the Manager will normally vote against management's position when it runs counter to its specific Proxy Voting Guidelines (the "Guidelines"), and the Manager will also vote against management's recommendation when it believes that such position is not in the best interests of the Funds.
As stated above, the Procedures also list specific Guidelines on how to vote proxies on behalf of the Funds. Some examples of the Guidelines are as follows: (i) generally vote for shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be independent; (ii) generally vote against proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote; (iii) votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a case-by-case basis, determining whether the transaction enhances shareholder value; (iv) generally vote against proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class that has superior voting rights; (v) generally vote re-incorporation proposals on a case-by-case basis; (vi) votes with respect to equity-based compensation plans are generally determined on a case-by-case basis; and (vii) generally vote for proposals requesting reports on the level of greenhouse gas emissions from a company's operations and products.
Because the Trust has delegated proxy voting to the Manager, the Trust is not expected to encounter any conflict of interest issues regarding proxy voting and therefore does not have procedures regarding this matter. However, the Manager does have a section in its Procedures that addresses the possibility of conflicts of interest. Most proxies that the Manager receives on behalf of the Funds are voted by ISS in accordance with the Procedures. Because almost all of the Funds' proxies are voted by ISS pursuant to the predetermined Procedures, it normally will not be necessary for the Manager to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Manager during the proxy voting process. In the very limited instances where the Manager is considering voting a proxy contrary to ISS's recommendation, the Committee will first assess the issue to see if there is any possible conflict of interest involving the Manager or affiliated persons of the Manager. If a member of the Committee has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest, the Committee will normally use another independent third party to do additional research on the particular proxy issue in order to make a recommendation to the Committee on how to vote the proxy in the best interests of the Funds. The Committee will then review the proxy voting materials and recommendation provided by ISS and the independent third party to determine how to vote the issue in a manner that the Committee believes is consistent with the Procedures and in the best interests of the Funds.
Proxy Voting Policies — JSP
Voting Proxies
To help ensure that JSP votes client proxies in accordance with the Procedures and in the best interests of clients, JSP
has established a Proxy Voting Committee, which is responsible for overseeing each investment adviser's proxy voting process.
The Committee consists of the chief compliance officer, representatives of the Compliance support staff and representatives
from the portfolio management team.
To facilitate the process of voting proxies, JSP has contracted with ISS/RiskMetrics. Both ISS/RiskMetrics and the client's
custodian monitor corporate events for JSP. JSP gives an authorization and letter of instruction to the client's custodian
who then forwards proxy materials it receives to ISS/RiskMetrics so ISS/RiskMetrics may vote the proxies.
After receiving the proxy statements, ISS/RiskMetrics will review the proxy issues and vote them in accordance with JSP's
Procedures. When the Procedures state that a proxy issue will be decided on a case-by-case basis, ISS/RiskMetrics will look
at the relevant facts and circumstances and research the issue to determine how the proxy should be voted. If a client provides
JSP with its own recommendations on a given proxy vote, JSP will forward the client's recommendation to ISS/RiskMetrics who
will vote the client's proxy pursuant to the client's recommendation.
Company Management Recommendations
When determining whether to invest in a particular company, one of the factors JSP may consider is the quality and depth
of the company's management. As a result, JSP believes that recommendations of management on any issue (particularly routine
issues) should be given a fair amount of weight in determining how proxy issues should be voted. Thus, on many issues, JSP's
votes are cast in accordance with the recommendations of the company's management
Most of the proxies which JSP receives on behalf of its clients are voted by ISS/RiskMetrics in accordance with these pre-determined, pre-approved procedures. These procedures are reviewed and approved by the Committee at least annually.
Availability of Proxy Voting Information and Record Keeping
Clients of JSP will be directed to their client relationship manager to obtain information from JSP on how their securities
were voted.
JSP generally considers that clients' best interests are served by the promotion of high levels of corporate governance
and adequate disclosure of company policies and practices.
Investment Manager and Other Service Providers
Investment Manager
The Manager, located at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094, furnishes investment management services to the Funds, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board. The Manager also provides investment management services to all of the other Delaware Investments® Funds. Affiliates of the Manager also manage other investment accounts. While investment decisions for the Funds are made independently from those of the other funds and accounts, investment decisions for such other funds and accounts may be made at the same time as investment decisions for the Funds. The Manager pays the salaries of all Trustees, officers, and employees who are affiliated with both the Manager and the Trust.
As of March 31, 2015, the Manager and its affiliates within Delaware Investments were managing in the aggregate more than $180 billion in assets in various institutional or separately managed, investment company, and insurance accounts. The Manager is a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, which is a subsidiary of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. ("DMHI"). DMHI is a subsidiary, and subject to the ultimate control, of Macquarie Group Limited ("Macquarie"). Macquarie is a Sydney, Australia-headquartered global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. "Delaware Investments" is the marketing name for DMHI and its subsidiaries.
The Manager and its affiliates own the name "Delaware Group." Under certain circumstances, including the termination of the Trust's advisory relationship with the Manager or its distribution relationship with the Distributor, the Manager, and its affiliates could cause the Trust to remove the words "Delaware Group" from its name.
The Funds' Investment Management Agreement ("Investment Management Agreement") may be renewed each year only so long as such renewal and continuance are specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund, and only if the terms of, and the renewal thereof, have been approved by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust who are not parties thereto or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Management Agreement is terminable without penalty on 60 days' notice by the Trustees of the Trust or by the Manager. The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
As compensation for the services rendered under the Investment Management Agreement, the Funds shall pay the Manager an annual management fee as a percentage of average daily net assets equal to:
|
Fund Name |
Management Fee (annual rate as a percentage of average daily net assets) |
|
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
0.85% on the first $500 million |
|
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund1 |
0.75% on first $500 million |
|
1 |
As described in more detail below, the Manager has entered into a sub-advisory agreement ("Sub-Advisory Agreement") with JSP with respect to the Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund. As compensation for its services as sub-advisor to the Fund, JSP receives sub-advisory fees from the Manager. |
During the last three fiscal years, the Funds paid the following investment management fees to the Manager:
|
Fund |
9/30/14–3/31/151 |
9/30/14 |
9/30/13 |
9/30/12 |
||||
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
$1,926,316 earned |
$3,209,465 earned |
$1,071,483 earned |
$432,938 earned |
||||
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
$4,403,675 earned |
$9,226,889 earned |
$8,604,599 earned |
$8,782,428 earned |
|
1 |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. |
Except for those expenses borne by the Manager under the Investment Management Agreement, JSP under its Sub-Advisory Agreement, and the Distributor under the Distribution Agreement, each Fund is responsible for all of its own expenses. Among others, such expenses include the Funds' proportionate share of certain administrative expenses; investment management fees; transfer and dividend disbursing fees and costs; accounting services; custodian expenses; federal and state securities registration fees; proxy costs; and the costs of preparing prospectuses and reports sent to shareholders.
Sub-advisor
JSP, located at 101 California Street, Suite 3750, San Francisco, CA 94111, is responsible for the day-to-day management of Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund. Although JSP serves as sub-advisor, the Manager has ultimate responsibility for all investment advisory services. The Manager supervises JSP's performance and management services provided to the Fund subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement with JSP is dated June 13, 2014. The Sub-Advisory Agreement has an initial term of two years and may be further renewed after its initial term only so long as such renewal and continuance are specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and only if the terms of the renewal thereof have been approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties thereto or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Manager or the Trust at any time on written notice to JSP of the Manager's or the Trust's intention to do so, in the case of the Trust pursuant to action by the Board or pursuant to the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. JSP may terminate this Agreement at any time on sixty (60) days' written notice to the Manager and the Trust of its intention to do so. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. The Sub-Advisory Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the Agreement.
Distributor
The Distributor, Delaware Distributors, L.P., located at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094, serves as the national distributor of the Funds' shares under a Distribution Agreement dated May 15, 2003, as amended and restated Jan. 4, 2010. The Distributor is an affiliate of the Manager and bears all of the costs of promotion and distribution, except for payments by the Retail Classes under their respective Rule 12b-1 Plans. The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of DMHI and, therefore, of Macquarie. The Distributor has agreed to use its best efforts to sell shares of the Funds. See the Prospectuses for information on how to invest. Shares of the Funds are offered on a continuous basis by the Distributor and may be purchased through authorized investment dealers or directly by contacting the Distributor or the Trust. The Distributor also serves as the national distributor for the other Delaware Investments® Funds. The Board annually reviews fees paid to the Distributor.
During the Funds' last three fiscal years, the Distributor received net commissions from each Fund on behalf of its respective Class A shares, after reallowances to dealers, as follows:
Delaware Healthcare Fund Class A Shares
|
Fiscal Year Ended |
Total Amount of Underwriting Commissions |
Amounts Reallowed to Dealers |
Net Commission to Distributor |
|||
|
9/30/14–3/31/151 |
$754,128 |
$642,535 |
$111,593 |
|||
|
9/30/14 |
$1,372,966 |
$1,172,534 |
$200,432 |
|||
|
9/30/13 |
$992,824 |
$804,499 |
$188,325 |
|||
|
9/30/12 |
$266,407 |
$228,334 |
$38,073 |
|
1 |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund Class A Shares
|
Fiscal Year Ended |
Total Amount of Underwriting Commissions |
Amounts Reallowed to Dealers |
Net Commission to Distributor |
|||
|
9/30/14–3/31/151 |
$58,739 |
$49,201 |
$9,538 |
|||
|
9/30/14 |
$169,770 |
$142,113 |
$27,657 |
|||
|
9/30/13 |
$175,644 |
$136,413 |
$39,231 |
|||
|
9/30/12 |
$792,240 |
$677,469 |
$114,771 |
|
1 |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. |
During the Funds' last three fiscal years, the Distributor received, in the aggregate, limited contingent deferred sales charge ("Limited CDSC") payments with respect to Class A shares and contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") payments with respect to Class C shares as follows:
|
Fund/Fiscal Year Ended |
Class A |
Class C |
||
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
||||
|
9/30/14–3/31/15* |
$0 |
$1,620 |
||
|
9/30/14 |
$54 |
$0 |
||
|
9/30/13 |
$3 |
$704 |
||
|
9/30/12 |
$2 |
$12,151 |
||
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
||||
|
9/30/14–3/31/15* |
$121 |
$238 |
||
|
9/30/14 |
$34 |
$554 |
||
|
9/30/13 |
$21 |
$2,766 |
||
|
9/30/12 |
$68,946 |
$18,380 |
|
* |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. |
Transfer Agent
Delaware Investments Fund Services Company ("DIFSC"), an affiliate of the Manager, is located at 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094, and effective Nov. 1, 2014, serves as the Funds' shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") pursuant to a Shareholder Services Agreement. Prior to this time, Delaware Service Company, Inc. ("DSC"), an affiliate of the Manager, served as the Funds' shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent. The Transfer Agent is an indirect subsidiary of DMHI and, therefore, of Macquarie. The Transfer Agent also acts as shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent for the other Delaware Investments® Funds. The Transfer Agent is paid a fee by the Funds for providing these services consisting of an asset-based fee and certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Transfer Agent will bill, and the Funds will pay, such compensation monthly. Omnibus and networking fees charged by financial intermediaries and subtransfer agency fees are passed on to and paid directly by the Funds. The Transfer Agent's compensation is fixed each year and approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Each Fund has authorized, in addition to the Transfer Agent, one or more brokers to accept purchase and redemption orders on its behalf. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of each Fund. For purposes of pricing, each Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker's authorized designee, accepts the order.
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. ("BNYMIS") provides subtransfer agency services to the Funds. In connection with these services, BNYMIS administers the overnight investment of cash pending investment in the Funds or payment of redemptions. The proceeds of this investment program are used to offset the Funds' transfer agency expenses.
Fund Accountants
The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY Mellon"), One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286-0001, provides fund accounting and financial administration services to the Funds. Those services include performing functions related to calculating the Funds' NAVs and providing financial reporting information, regulatory compliance testing, and other related accounting services. For these services, the Funds pay BNY Mellon an asset-based fee, subject to certain fee minimums plus certain out-of-pocket expenses and transactional charges. Effective Nov. 1, 2014, DIFSC provides fund accounting and financial administration oversight services to the Funds. Those services include overseeing the Funds' pricing process, the calculation and payment of fund expenses, and financial reporting in shareholder reports, registration statements, and other regulatory filings. DIFSC also manages the process for the payment of dividends and distributions and the dissemination of Fund NAVs and performance data. For these services, the Funds pay DIFSC an asset-based fee, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses, and transactional charges. The fees payable to BNY Mellon and DIFSC under the service agreements described above will be allocated among all funds in the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds on a relative NAV basis. Prior to Nov. 1, 2014, DSC provided fund accounting and financial administration oversight services to the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds.
During the fiscal years ended Sept. 30, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Funds paid the following amounts to BNY Mellon for fund accounting and financial administration services: $440,289, $449,801, and $506,827, respectively. In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. During the fiscal period from Sept. 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015, the Funds paid the following amount to BNY Mellon for fund accounting and financial administration services: $202,982.
During the fiscal years ended Sept. 30, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Funds paid the following amounts to DSC/DIFSC for fund accounting and financial administration oversight services: $63,183, $64,709, and $80,815, respectively. In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. During the fiscal period from Sept. 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015, the Funds paid the following amount to DSC/DIFSC for fund accounting and financial administration oversight services: $40,168.
Custodian
BNY Mellon is the custodian of each Fund's securities and cash. As custodian for the Funds, BNY Mellon maintains a separate account or accounts for each Fund; receives, holds, and releases portfolio securities on account of each Fund; receives and disburses money on behalf of each Fund; and collects and receives income and other payments and distributions on account of each Fund's portfolio securities. BNY Mellon also serves as the Funds' custodian for their investments in foreign securities.
Legal Counsel
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as the Trust's legal counsel.
Portfolio Managers
I. The Manager
Other Accounts Managed
The following chart lists certain information about types of other accounts for which each portfolio manager is primarily
responsible as of
March 31, 2015 unless otherwise noted. Any accounts managed in a personal capacity appear under "Other Accounts" along with
the other accounts managed on a professional basis. The personal account information is current as of June 30, 2015.
|
No. of Accounts |
Total Assets Managed |
No. of Accounts with Performance-Based Fees |
Total Assets in Accounts with Performance-Based Fees |
|||||
|
Liu-Er Chen |
|
|
|
|
Description of Material Conflicts of Interest
Individual portfolio managers may perform investment management services for other funds or accounts similar to those provided to the Fund and the investment action for each such other fund or account and the Fund may differ. For example, an account or fund may be selling a security, while another account or fund may be purchasing or holding the same security. As a result, transactions executed for one fund or account may adversely affect the value of securities held by another fund, account, or the Fund. Additionally, the management of multiple other funds or accounts and the Fund may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, as a portfolio manager must allocate time and effort to multiple funds or accounts and the Fund. A portfolio manager may discover an investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one account or fund. The investment opportunity may be limited, however, so that all funds or accounts for which the investment would be suitable may not be able to participate. The Manager has adopted procedures designed to allocate investments fairly across multiple funds and accounts.
One of the accounts managed by the portfolio manager as set forth in the table above has performance-based fees. This compensation structure presents a potential conflict of interest because the portfolio manager has an incentive to manage this account so as to enhance his performance, to the possible detriment of other accounts for which the Manager does not receive a performance-based fee.
A portfolio manager's management of personal accounts also may present certain conflicts of interest. While the Manager's Code of Ethics is designed to address these potential conflicts, there is no guarantee that it will do so.
Compensation Structure
Each portfolio manager's compensation consists of the following:
Base Salary — Each named portfolio manager receives a fixed base salary. Salaries are determined by a comparison to industry data prepared by third parties to ensure that portfolio manager salaries are in line with salaries paid at peer investment advisory firms.
Bonus — Emerging Markets (Chen): The portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus. The bonus pool is determined by the revenues associated with the products the portfolio manager manages. Delaware Investments keeps a percentage of the revenues and the remaining percentage of revenues (minus appropriate expenses associated with relevant product and the investment management team) create the "bonus pool" for the product. Various members of the team have the ability to earn a percentage of the bonus pool with the most senior contributor generally having the largest share. The pool is allotted based on subjective factors (50%) and objective factors (50%). The primary objective factor is the one-, three-, and five-year performance of the funds managed relative to the performance of the appropriate Lipper peer groups and the performance of institutional composites relative to the appropriate indices. Three- and five-year performance are weighted more heavily and there is no objective award for a fund whose performance falls below the 50th percentile for a given time period.
Individual allocations of the bonus pool are based on individual performance measurements, both objective and subjective, as determined by senior management.
Portfolio managers participate in retention programs, including the Delaware Investments Incentive Unit Plan, the Delaware Investments Notional Investment Plan, and the Macquarie Group Employee Retained Equity Plan, for alignment of interest purposes.
Delaware Investments Incentive Unit Plan — Portfolio managers may be awarded incentive unit awards ("Awards") relating to the underlying shares of common stock of DMHI issuable pursuant to the terms of the Delaware Investments Incentive Unit Plan (the "Plan") adopted on Nov. 30, 2010.
The Plan was adopted in order to: assist the Manager in attracting, retaining, and rewarding key employees of the company; enable such employees to acquire or increase an equity interest in the company in order to align the interest of such employees and the Manager; and provide such employees with incentives to expend their maximum efforts. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable award agreements, Awards typically vest in 25% increments on a four-year schedule, and shares of common stock underlying the Awards are issued after vesting. The fair market value of the shares of DMHI, is normally determined as of each March 31, June 30, Sept. 30, and Dec. 31 by an independent appraiser. Generally, a stockholder may put shares back to the company during the put period communicated in connection with the applicable valuation.
Delaware Investments Notional Investment Plan — A portion of a portfolio manager's retained profit share may be notionally exposed to the return of certain funds within
the Delaware Investments Family of Funds-managed funds pursuant to the terms of the Delaware Investments Notional Investment
Plan. The retained amount will vest in three equal tranches in each of the first, second, and third years following the date
upon which the investment is made.
Macquarie Group Employee Retained Equity Plan — A portion of a portfolio manager's retained profit share may be invested in the Macquarie Group Employee Retained Equity
Plan ("MEREP"), which is used to deliver remuneration in the form of Macquarie equity. The main type of award currently being
offered under the MEREP is units comprising a beneficial interest in a Macquarie share held in a trust for the employee, subject
to the vesting and forfeiture provisions of the MEREP. Subject to vesting conditions, vesting and release of the shares occurs
in equal tranches two, three, and four years after the date of investment.
Other Compensation — Portfolio managers may also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees.
Ownership of Fund Shares
As of March 31, 2015, the portfolio manager owned shares of the Fund, as described below:
|
Portfolio Manager |
Fund |
Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned* |
||
|
Liu-Er Chen |
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
Over $1 million |
|
* |
The ranges for Fund share ownership by portfolio managers are: None; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000; $100,001-$500,000; $500,001-$1 million; or over $1 million. |
II. JSP
Other Accounts Managed
The following information was provided by JSP, the sub-advisor to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund. The other accounts managed chart lists certain information about types of other accounts for which the portfolio managers are primarily responsible as of March 31, 2015, unless otherwise noted. Any accounts managed in a personal capacity appear under "Other Accounts" along with the other accounts managed on a professional basis.
|
No. of Accounts |
Total Assets Managed |
No. of Accounts with Performance-Based Fees |
Total Assets in Accounts with Performance-Based Fees |
|||||
|
Christopher J. Bonavico |
25 |
|
2 |
|
||||
|
Kenneth F. Broad |
6 |
|
0 |
|
Description of Material Conflicts of Interest
Individual portfolio managers may perform investment management services for other funds or accounts similar to those provided to the fund, and the investment action for each other fund or account and the fund may differ. For example, one fund or account may be selling a security, while another fund or account may be purchasing or holding the same security. As a result, transactions executed for one fund or account or the fund may adversely affect the value of securities held by another fund or account or the fund. In addition, the management of multiple other funds or accounts and the fund may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, as a portfolio manager must allocate time and effort to multiple funds or accounts and the fund. A portfolio manager may discover an investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or account. The investment opportunity may be limited, however, so that all funds or accounts for which the investment would be suitable may not be able to participate. JSP has adopted procedures designed to allocate investments fairly across multiple funds or accounts. Certain of the accounts managed by the portfolio managers have performance-based fees. This compensation structure presents a potential conflict of interest. The portfolio managers have an incentive to manage such accounts so as to enhance their performance, to the possible detriment of other accounts for which the investment manager does not receive a performance-based fee. A portfolio manager's management of personal accounts also may present certain conflicts of interest. Although JSP's code of ethics is designed to address these potential conflicts, there is no guarantee that it will do so.
Compensation Structure
JSP's investment professionals have remained together, bound by culture and the unique nature of the team's research/portfolio manager role, for over a decade on average. Through various market and organizational circumstances over the years, the group has maintained a meritocracy and very strong pay-for-performance ethos that rewards positive impact to client portfolios. Each stock in each portfolio has two or more 'sponsors' who have mathematical ownership of those names for performance attribution purposes (e.g., 60/40 or 50/50-type responsibility splits). This stock-by-stock attribution can then be aggregated and the individual contributions of team members measured, down to the basis point, for each performance period measured: 1/3/5 year and since inception.
Aggregate compensation is ultimately driven by revenues, which — in turn — is correlated with assets under management, which ultimately correlates with performance over the long term, in a self-reinforcing cycle of better performance leading to more assets under management (both via flows and appreciation) and greater revenues/compensation. Additionally, qualitative factors such as contribution to debates of other team members' ideas are also considered in compensation. Certain employees, including eight members of the investment team, also have equity ownership as part of their compensation.
In terms of the composition of compensation paid to the investment team, it is expected to be a combination of base salary, partnership equity distributions, and discretionary annual bonuses. JSP believes this combination will have the proper incentives to award prudent long term focus on building a stable and sustainable business while also rewarding professionals for superior relative interim results.
Ownership of Fund Shares
As of March 31, 2015, the portfolio managers owned shares of the Fund, as described below:
|
Portfolio Manager |
Fund |
Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned,*,1 |
||
|
Christopher J. Bonavico |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
Over $1 million |
||
|
Kenneth F. Broad |
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
$100,001–$500,000 |
|
* |
The ranges for Fund share ownership by portfolio managers are: None; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000; $100,001-$500,000; $500,001-$1 million; or over $1 million. |
|
1 |
Includes Fund shares beneficially owned by portfolio manager and immediate family members sharing the same household. |
Trading Practices and Brokerage
The Manager, or JSP, as the case may be, selects broker/dealers to execute transactions on behalf of the Funds for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities on the basis of its judgment of their professional capability to provide the service. The primary consideration in selecting broker/dealers is to seek those broker/dealers who will provide best execution for the Funds. Best execution refers to many factors, including the price paid or received for a security, the commission charged, the promptness and reliability of execution, the confidentiality and placement accorded the order, and other factors affecting the overall benefit obtained by the account on the transaction. Some trades are made on a net basis where the Funds either buy securities directly from the dealer or sell them to the dealer. In these instances, there is no direct commission charged but there is a spread (the difference between the buy and sell price), which is the economic equivalent of a commission. When a commission is paid, the Funds pay reasonable brokerage commission rates based upon the professional knowledge of the Manager's trading department as to rates paid and charged for similar transactions throughout the securities industry. In some instances, a Fund pays a minimal share transaction cost when the transaction presents no difficulty.
During the last three fiscal years, the aggregate dollar amounts of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds were as follows:
|
9/30/14–3/31/15* |
9/30/14 |
9/30/13 |
9/30/12 |
|||||
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
$167,036 |
$417,349 |
$262,974 |
$118,940 |
||||
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
$240,974 |
$548,456 |
$504,990 |
$477,108 |
|
* |
In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. |
Subject to applicable requirements, such as seeking best execution and Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Manager or JSP may allocate out of all commission business generated by all of the funds and accounts under its management, brokerage business to broker/dealers who provide brokerage and research services. These services may include providing advice, either directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing of analyses and reports concerning issuers; securities or industries; providing information on economic factors and trends; assisting in determining portfolio strategy; providing computer software used in security analysis; and providing portfolio performance evaluation and technical market analyses. Such services are used by the Manager or JSP in connection with its investment decision-making process with respect to one or more mutual funds and separate accounts managed by it, and may not be used, or used exclusively, with respect to the mutual fund or separate account generating the brokerage.
As provided in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Funds' Investment Management Agreement, higher commissions are permitted to be paid to broker/dealers who provide brokerage and research services than to broker/dealers who do not provide such services, if such higher commissions are deemed reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. Although transactions directed to broker/dealers who provide such brokerage and research services may result in the Funds paying higher commissions, the Manager and JSP believe that such commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. In some instances, services may be provided to the Manager or JSP that constitute, in some part, brokerage and research services used by the Manager or JSP in connection with its investment decision-making process and constitute, in some part, services used by the Manager or JSP in connection with administrative or other functions not related to its investment decision-making process. In such cases, the Manager or JSP will make a good faith allocation of brokerage and research services and will pay out of its own resources for services used by the Manager in connection with administrative or other functions not related to its investment decision-making process. In addition, so long as a Fund is not disadvantaged, other than the potential for additional commissions/equivalents, portfolio transactions that generate commissions or their equivalent can be allocated to broker/dealers that provide services directly or indirectly to a Fund and/or to other Delaware Investments® Funds. Subject to best execution, commissions/equivalents allocated to brokers providing such services may or may not be generated by the funds receiving the service. In such instances, the commissions/equivalents would be being used for the advantage of a Fund or other funds and not for the advantage of the Manager.
During the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2014, brokerage commissions of $38,799 and $221,386 based on portfolio transactions of $38,306,987 and $266,873,792 were directed to brokers for brokerage and research services provided to Delaware Healthcare Fund and Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund, respectively. In 2015, the Funds changed their fiscal year end from Sept. 30 to March 31. During the fiscal period from Sept. 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015, brokerage commissions of $32,239 and $282,356 based on portfolio transactions of $28,778,176 and $341,351,576 were directed to brokers for brokerage and research services provided to Delaware Healthcare Fund and Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund, respectively.
As of March 31, 2015, the Funds did not hold securities of their regular broker/dealers, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, or such broker/dealers' parents.
The Manager or JSP may place a combined order for two or more accounts or funds engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will meet the requirement to seek best execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. When a combined order is executed in a series of transactions at different prices, each account participating in the order may be allocated an average price obtained from the executing broker. It is believed that the ability of the accounts to participate in volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the accounts and funds. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Manager or JSP and the Board that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions.
Consistent with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") rules, and subject to seeking best execution, the Manager may place orders with broker/dealers that have agreed to defray certain Fund expenses, such as custodian fees.
The Funds have the authority to participate in a commission recapture program. Under the program and subject to seeking best execution (as described in the first paragraph of this section), the Funds may direct certain security trades to brokers who have agreed to rebate a portion of the related brokerage commission to the Funds in cash. Any such commission rebates will be included as a realized gain on securities in the appropriate financial statements of the Funds. The Manager and its affiliates have previously acted, and may in the future act, as an investment manager to mutual funds or separate accounts affiliated with the administrator of the commission recapture program. In addition, affiliates of the administrator act as consultants in helping institutional clients choose investment managers and may also participate in other types of businesses and provide other services in the investment management industry.
Capital Structure
Capitalization
The Trust currently has authorized, and allocated to each Class of each Fund, an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value. All shares are, when issued in accordance with the Trust's registration statement (as amended from time to time), governing instruments and applicable law, fully paid, and nonassessable. Shareholders do not have preemptive rights. All shares of a Fund represent an undivided proportionate interest in the assets of such Fund. Shareholders of the Institutional Class may not vote on any matter that affects the Retail Classes' Distribution Plans under Rule 12b-1. Similarly, as a general matter, shareholders of the Retail Classes may vote only on matters affecting their respective Class, including the Retail Classes' Rule 12b-1 Plans that relate to the Class of shares that they hold. Except for the foregoing, each share Class has the same voting and other rights and preferences as the other Classes of a Fund. General expenses of each Fund will be allocated on a pro rata basis to the classes according to asset size, except that expenses of the Retail Classes' Rule 12b-1 Plans will be allocated solely to those classes.
On Sept. 25, 2014, all remaining Class B shares of the Funds (except Delaware Healthcare Fund, which did not offer Class B shares) were converted to Class A shares of their corresponding Fund.
Noncumulative Voting
The Trust's shares have noncumulative voting rights, meaning that the holders of more than 50% of the shares of the Trust voting for the election of Trustees can elect all of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any Trustees.
Purchasing Shares
General Information
Shares of the Funds are offered on a continuous basis by the Distributor and may be purchased through authorized financial intermediaries or directly by contacting the Trust. The Trust reserves the right to suspend sales of Fund shares, and reject any order for the purchase of Fund shares if, in the opinion of management, such rejection is in a Fund's best interest. The minimum initial investment generally is $1,000 for Class A shares and Class C shares. Subsequent purchases of such Classes generally must be at least $100. The initial and subsequent investment minimums for Class A shares will be waived for purchases by officers, Trustees, and employees of any Delaware Investments® Fund, the Manager, or any of the Manager's affiliates if the purchases are made pursuant to a payroll deduction program. There are no minimum purchase requirements for Class R and Institutional Class (except those purchased through an automatic investment plan), but certain eligibility requirements must be met.
You may purchase only up to $1 million of Class C shares of each Fund at one time. Orders that exceed $1 million or more will be rejected. See "Investment Plans" below for purchase limitations applicable to retirement plans. An investor should keep in mind that reduced front-end sales charges apply to investments of $50,000 or more in Class A shares, and that Class A shares are subject to lower annual Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses than Class C shares and generally are not subject to a CDSC.
Financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting orders promptly. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any order for the purchase of its shares if in the opinion of management such rejection is in the Fund's best interest. If a purchase is canceled because your check is returned unpaid, you are responsible for any loss incurred. Each Fund can redeem shares from your account(s) to reimburse itself for any loss, and you may be restricted from making future purchases in any Delaware Investments® Fund. Each Fund reserves the right to reject purchase orders paid by third-party checks or checks that are not drawn on a domestic branch of a U.S. financial institution. If a check drawn on a foreign financial institution is accepted, you may be subject to additional bank charges for clearance and currency conversion.
Each Fund also reserves the right, following shareholder notification, to charge a service fee on nonretirement accounts that, as a result of redemption, have remained below the minimum stated account balance for a period of three or more consecutive months. Holders of such accounts may be notified of their insufficient account balance and advised that they have until the end of the current calendar quarter to raise their balance to the stated minimum. If the account has not reached the minimum balance requirement by that time, the Funds may charge a $9 fee for that quarter and each subsequent calendar quarter until the account is brought up to the minimum balance. No fees will be charged without proper notice, and no CDSC will apply to such assessments.
In addition, each Fund reserves the right, upon 60 days' written notice, to involuntarily redeem accounts that remain under the minimum initial purchase amount as a result of redemptions. An investor making the minimum initial investment may be subject to involuntary redemption without the imposition of a CDSC or Limited CDSC if he or she redeems any portion of his or her account.
Minimum purchase and minimum balance requirements do not apply to accounts participating in advisory or asset-allocation programs covered by financial intermediaries. Certain accounts held in omnibus or programs covered by certain intermediaries may be opened with less than the minimum stated account balance and may maintain balances that are below the minimum stated account balance without incurring a service fee or being subject to involuntary redemption.
FINRA has adopted amendments to its Conduct Rules, relating to investment company sales charges. The Trust and the Distributor intend to operate in compliance with these rules.
Certificates representing shares purchased are not ordinarily issued. Certificates were previously issued for Class A and Institutional Class shares of the Funds. However, purchases not involving the issuance of certificates are confirmed to the investor and credited to the shareholder's account on the books maintained by the Transfer Agent. The investor will have the same rights of ownership with respect to such shares as if certificates had been issued. An investor will be permitted to obtain a certificate in certain limited circumstances that are approved by an appropriate officer of the Funds. No charge is assessed by the Trust for any certificate issued. The Funds do not intend to issue replacement certificates for lost or stolen certificates, except in certain limited circumstances that are approved by an appropriate officer of the Funds. In those circumstances, a shareholder may be subject to fees for replacement of a lost or stolen certificate, under certain conditions, including the cost of obtaining a bond covering the lost or stolen certificate. Please contact the Trust for further information. Investors who hold certificates representing any of their shares may only redeem those shares by written request. The investor's certificate(s) must accompany such request.
Contact your financial intermediary for specific information regarding the availability and suitability of various account options described throughout this SAI.
Comparison of Share Classes
The alternative purchase arrangements of Class A shares and Class C shares permit investors to choose the method of purchasing shares that is most suitable for their needs given the amount of their purchase, the length of time they expect to hold their shares and other relevant circumstances. Investors should determine whether, given their particular circumstances, it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares and incur a front-end sales charge and annual Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses to a maximum of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares of a Fund, or to purchase Class C shares and have the entire initial purchase amount invested in a Fund with the investment thereafter subject to a CDSC and annual Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC if the shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares are each subject to annual Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses of up to a maximum of 1.00% of average daily net assets of the Class, 0.25% of which is a service fee to be paid to the Distributor, dealers, or others for providing personal service and/or maintaining shareholder accounts.
The higher Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses on Class C shares will be offset to the extent a return is realized on the additional money initially invested upon the purchase of such shares. However, there can be no assurance as to the return, if any, that will be realized on such additional money. In addition, the effect of any return earned on such additional money will diminish over time.
Class R shares have no front-end sales charge and are not subject to a CDSC, but incur annual Rule 12b-1 expenses of up to a maximum of 0.50%. Class A shares generally are not available for purchase by anyone qualified to purchase Class R shares.
In comparing Class C shares to Class R shares, investors should consider the higher Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses on Class C shares. Investors also should consider the fact that Class R shares do not have a front-end sales charge and, unlike Class C shares, are not subject to a CDSC.
For the distribution and related services provided to, and the expenses borne on behalf of, the Funds, the Distributor and others will be paid, in the case of Class A shares, from the proceeds of the front-end sales charge and Rule 12b-1 Plan fees; in the case of Class C shares, from the proceeds of the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees and, if applicable, the CDSC incurred upon redemption; and in the case of Class R shares, from the proceeds of the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees. Financial intermediaries may receive different compensation for selling the Retail Classes. Investors should understand that the purpose and function of the respective Rule 12b-1 Plans (including for Class R shares) and the CDSC applicable to Class C shares are the same as those of the Rule 12b-1 Plan and the front-end sales charge applicable to Class A shares in that such fees and charges are used to finance the distribution of the respective Classes. See "Plans under Rule 12b-1 for the Retail Classes" below.
Dividends, if any, paid on the Retail Classes and Institutional Class shares will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time and on the same day and will be in the same amount, except that the additional amount of Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses relating to the Retail Classes will be borne exclusively by such shares. See "Determining Offering Price and Net Asset Value" for more information.
Class A Shares: Purchases of $50,000 or more of Class A shares at the offering price carry reduced front-end sales charges as shown in the table in the Prospectuses, and may include a series of purchases over a 13-month period under a letter of intent signed by the purchaser. See "Special Purchase Features — Class A shares," below for more information on ways in which investors can avail themselves of reduced front-end sales charges and other purchase features.
From time to time, upon written notice to dealers, the Distributor may hold special promotions for specified periods during which the Distributor may re-allow to dealers up to the full amount of the front-end sales charge. The Distributor should be contacted for further information on these requirements as well as the basis and circumstances upon which the additional commission will be paid.
Share Class Exchanges
If you wish to transfer your investment between share classes (within the same Fund or between different Funds), we generally will process your request as an exchange of the shares you currently hold for shares in the new class or Fund. Below is more information about how sales charges are handled for various scenarios.
Exchanges of shares for the same Fund generally will be tax-free for federal income tax purposes. You should consult with your tax advisor regarding the state and local tax consequences of such an exchange of Fund shares.
Each of these exchange privileges is subject to termination and may be amended from time to time.
Exchanging Class A shares for Institutional Class shares
Class A shares purchased by accounts participating (or intending to participate) in certain programs sponsored by and/or controlled by financial intermediaries ("Programs") may be exchanged by the financial intermediary on behalf of the shareholder for Institutional Class shares of another Fund under certain circumstances, depending on such Program's eligibility to purchase Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Such exchange will be on the basis of the NAVs per share, without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.
Holders of Class A shares that were sold without a front-end sales load but for which the Distributor has paid a commission to a financial intermediary are generally not eligible for this exchange privilege until two years after the purchase of such Class A shares.
Exchanging Class C shares for Class A shares or Institutional Class shares
Class C shares purchased by accounts participating (or intending to participate) in certain Programs may be exchanged by the financial intermediary on behalf of the shareholder for either Class A shares or Institutional Class shares of a Fund under certain circumstances, depending on such Program's eligibility to purchase either Class A shares or Institutional Class shares of the Fund. Such exchange will be on the basis of the NAVs per share, without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.
Holders of Class C shares that are subject to a CDSC are generally not eligible for this exchange privilege until the applicable CDSC period has expired. The applicable CDSC period is generally one year after the purchase of such Class C shares.
Exchanging Institutional Class shares for Class A shares
If a shareholder of Institutional Class shares has ceased his or her participation in a Program, or the financial intermediary has determined to utilize Class A shares in the Program or the shareholder transfers to a Program that utilizes Class A shares, the financial intermediary may exchange all such Institutional Class shares for Class A shares of a Fund. Such exchange will be on the basis of the relative NAVs of the shares, without imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge.
Dealer's Commission
For initial purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more, a dealer's commission may be paid by the Distributor to financial intermediaries through whom such purchases are effected.
In determining a financial intermediary's eligibility for the dealer's commission, purchases of Class A shares of other Delaware Investments® Funds to which a Limited CDSC applies (see "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares Purchased at Net Asset Value" under "Redemption and Exchange" below) may be aggregated with those of the Class A shares of another Fund. Financial intermediaries also may be eligible for a dealer's commission in connection with certain purchases made under a letter of intent or pursuant to an investor's right of accumulation. Financial intermediaries should contact the Distributor concerning the applicability and calculation of the dealer's commission in the case of combined purchases.
An exchange from other Delaware Investments® Funds will not qualify for payment of the dealer's commission, unless a dealer's commission or similar payment has not been previously paid on the assets being exchanged. The schedule and program for payment of the dealer's commission are subject to change or termination at any time by the Distributor at its discretion.
The Delaware Investments® Funds no longer offer a dealer's commission to financial intermediaries on sales eligible for purchase at NAV in Class A shares for retirement plan accounts as described in the Prospectuses.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge — Class C Shares
Class C shares are purchased without a front-end sales charge. Class C shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00%. CDSCs are charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject to the CDSC. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or the NAV of those shares at the time of redemption. No CDSC will be imposed on increases in NAV above the initial purchase price, nor will a CDSC be assessed on redemptions of shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. For purposes of this formula, the "net asset value at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of Class C shares, even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund. In the event of an exchange of the shares, the "net asset value of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares that were acquired in the exchange. See the Prospectuses for a list of the instances in which the CDSC is waived.
In determining whether a CDSC applies to a redemption of Class C shares, it will be assumed that shares held for more than 12 months are redeemed first followed by shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or distributions, and finally by shares held for 12 months or less.
Level Sales Charges Alternative — Class C Shares
Class C shares may be purchased at NAV without a front-end sales charge and, as a result, the full amount of the investor's purchase payment will be invested in Fund shares. The Distributor currently compensates financial intermediaries for selling Class C shares at the time of purchase from its own assets in an amount equal to no more than 1.00% of the dollar amount purchased. As discussed below, Class C shares are subject to annual Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses and, if redeemed within 12 months of purchase, a CDSC.
Proceeds from the CDSC and the annual Rule 12b-1 Plan fees are paid to the Distributor and others for providing distribution and related services, and bearing related expenses, in connection with the sale of Class C shares. These payments support the compensation paid to financial intermediaries for selling Class C shares. Payments to the Distributor and others under the Class C Rule 12b-1 Plan may be in an amount equal to no more than 1.00% annually.
Holders of Class C shares who exercise the exchange privilege described below will continue to be subject to the CDSC schedule for Class C shares as described in this SAI. See "Redemption and Exchange" below.
Plans under Rule 12b-1 for the Retail Classes
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Trust has adopted a plan for each of the Retail Classes (the "Plans"). Each Plan permits the relevant Fund to pay for certain distribution, promotional, and related expenses involved in the marketing of only the class of shares to which the Plan applies. The Plans do not apply to the Institutional Class shares. Such shares are not included in calculating the Plans' fees, and the Plans are not used to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Funds' Institutional Class shares. Shareholders of the Institutional Class may not vote on matters affecting the Plans.
The Plans permit a Fund, pursuant to its Distribution Agreement, to pay out of the assets of the Retail Classes monthly fees to the Distributor for its services and expenses in distributing and promoting sales of shares of such classes. These expenses include, among other things: preparing and distributing advertisements, sales literature, and prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes; compensating sales and marketing personnel; holding special promotions for specified periods of time; and paying distribution and maintenance fees to financial intermediaries and others. In connection with the promotion of shares of the Retail Classes, the Distributor may, from time to time, pay to participate in dealer-sponsored seminars and conferences, and reimburse dealers for expenses incurred in connection with preapproved seminars, conferences, and advertising. The Distributor may pay or allow additional promotional incentives to dealers as part of preapproved sales contests and/or to dealers who provide extra training and information concerning the Retail Classes and increase sales of the Retail Classes.
The Plans do not limit fees to amounts actually expended by the Distributor. It is therefore possible that the Distributor may realize a profit in any particular year. However, the Distributor currently expects that its distribution expenses will likely equal or exceed payments to it under the Plans. The Distributor may, however, incur such additional expenses and make additional payments to dealers from its own resources to promote the distribution of shares of the Retail Classes. The monthly fees paid to the Distributor under the Plans are subject to the review and approval of the Trust's Independent Trustees, who may reduce the fees or terminate the Plans at any time.
All of the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor and others, such as financial intermediaries, in excess of the amount paid on behalf of the Retail Classes would be borne by such persons without any reimbursement from such Retail Classes. Consistent with the requirements of Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act and subject to seeking best execution, a Fund may, from time to time, buy or sell portfolio securities from, or to, firms that receive payments under the Plans.
From time to time, the Distributor may pay additional amounts from its own resources to dealers for aid in distribution or for aid in providing administrative services to shareholders.
The Plans and the Distribution Agreement, as amended, have all been approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans and the Distribution Agreement, by a vote cast in person at a meeting duly called for the purpose of voting on the Plans and such Distribution Agreement. Continuation of the Plans and the Distribution Agreement, as amended, must be approved annually by the Board in the same manner as specified above.
Each year, the Board must determine that continuation of the Plans is in the best interest of shareholders of the Retail Classes and that there is a reasonable likelihood of each Plan providing a benefit to its respective Retail Class. The Plans and the Distribution Agreement, as amended, may be terminated with respect to a Retail Class at any time without penalty by a majority of Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans and the Distribution Agreement, or by a majority vote of the relevant Retail Class's outstanding voting securities. Any amendment materially increasing the percentage payable under the Plans must likewise be approved by a majority vote of the relevant Fund Class's outstanding voting securities, as well as by a majority vote of Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or Distribution Agreement. Also, any other material amendment to the Plans must be approved by a majority vote of the Board, including a majority of Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or Distribution Agreement. In addition, in order for the Plans to remain effective, the selection and nomination of Independent Trustees must be effected by the Trustees who are Independent Trustees and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or Distribution Agreement. Persons authorized to make payments under the Plans must provide written reports at least quarterly to the Board for its review.
With respect to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund, the Board determined that the annual fee, payable on a monthly basis, under the Plan relating to the Class A shares, will be equal to the sum of: (i) the amount obtained by multiplying 0.10% by the average daily net assets represented by the Class A shares that were originally purchased prior to June 1, 1992, and (ii) the amount obtained by multiplying 0.25% by the average daily net assets represented by all other Class A shares. While this is the method to be used to calculate the 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Fund's Class A shares under its Plan, the fee is a Class A share expense so that all shareholders of the Class A shares, regardless of when they originally purchased or received shares in the Fund, will bear Rule 12b-1 expenses at the same rate. This method of calculating Class A shares' 12b-1 fees may be discontinued at the discretion of the Board. While this describes the current formula for calculating the fees that will be payable under the Class A shares' Plan, the Plan permits a full 0.25% on all Class A share assets to be paid at any time following appropriate Board approval.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the Rule 12b-1 payments for Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund's Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class R shares were: $2,099,697, $802,907, and $87,125, respectively. Such amounts were used for the following purposes:
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
Class A Shares |
Class C Shares |
Class R Shares |
|||
|
Advertising |
- |
- |
$4 |
|||
|
Annual/Semiannual Reports |
$20 |
$20 |
$20 |
|||
|
Broker Sales Charge |
- |
$14,665 |
- |
|||
|
Broker Trails* |
$39,315 |
$695,000 |
$41,250 |
|||
|
Salaries & Commissions to Wholesalers |
$145,234 |
$27,708 |
$44,739 |
|||
|
Interest on Broker Sales Charge |
- |
$282 |
- |
|||
|
Promotion–Other |
- |
- |
- |
|||
|
Prospectus Printing |
$203 |
$37 |
$24 |
|||
|
Wholesaler Expenses |
$1,914,925 |
$65,195 |
$1,088 |
|||
|
Total Expenses |
$2,099,697 |
$802,907 |
$87,125 |
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the Rule 12b-1 payments for Delaware Healthcare Fund's Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class R shares were: $497,222, $621,979, and $23,115, respectively. Such amounts were used for the following purposes:
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
Class A Shares |
Class C Shares |
Class R Shares |
|||
|
Advertising |
$2,095 |
$553 |
$1 |
|||
|
Annual/Semiannual Reports |
$210 |
$95 |
$49 |
|||
|
Broker Sales Charge |
- |
$284,519 |
- |
|||
|
Broker Trails* |
- |
- |
$21,078 |
|||
|
Salaries & Commissions to Wholesalers |
$367,912 |
$281,815 |
$1,830 |
|||
|
Interest on Broker Sales Charge |
- |
$5,019 |
- |
|||
|
Promotion-Other |
- |
- |
- |
|||
|
Prospectus Printing |
$120 |
39 |
$21 |
|||
|
Wholesaler Expenses |
$126,885 |
$49,939 |
$136 |
|||
|
Total Expenses |
$497,222 |
$621,979 |
$23,115 |
* The broker trail amounts listed in this row are principally based on payments made to financial intermediaries monthly. However, certain financial intermediaries receive trail payments quarterly. The quarterly payments are based on estimates, and the estimates may be reflected in the amounts in this row.
Special Purchase Features — Class A Shares
Buying Class A Shares at Net Asset Value: As disclosed in the Prospectuses, participants of certain group retirement plans and members of their households may make purchases of Class A shares at NAV. The requirements are as follows: (i) the purchases must be made in a Delaware Investments® Individual Retirement Account ("Foundation IRA®") established by a participant from a group retirement plan or a member of their household distributed by an affiliate of the Manager; and (ii) purchases in a Foundation IRA® require a minimum initial investment of $5,000 per Fund. The Funds reserve the right to modify or terminate these arrangements at any time.
Letter of Intent: The reduced front-end sales charges described above with respect to Class A shares are also applicable to the aggregate amount of purchases made by any such purchaser within a 13-month period pursuant to a written letter of intent signed by the purchaser, and not legally binding on the signer or the Trust, which provides for the holding in escrow by the Transfer Agent or financial intermediary of 5.00% of the total amount of Class A shares intended to be purchased until such purchase is completed within the 13-month period. The minimum initial purchase amount to establish a letter of intent is $1,000. The Funds will no longer accept retroactive letters of intent. The 13-month period begins on the date of the earliest purchase. If the intended investment is not completed, except as noted below, the purchaser will be asked to pay an amount equal to the difference between the front-end sales charge on Class A shares purchased at the reduced rate and the front-end sales charge otherwise applicable to the total shares purchased. If such payment is not made within 20 days following the expiration of the 13-month period, the Transfer Agent or financial intermediary will surrender an appropriate number of the escrowed shares for redemption in order to realize the difference. Such purchasers may include the values (at offering price at the level designated in their letter of intent) of all their shares of the Funds and of any class of any of the other Delaware Investments® Funds previously purchased and still held as of the date of their letter of intent toward the completion of such letter, except as described below. Those purchasers cannot include shares that did not carry a front-end sales charge, CDSC, or Limited CDSC, unless the purchaser acquired those shares through an exchange from a Delaware Investments® Fund that did carry a front-end sales charge, CDSC, or Limited CDSC. For purposes of satisfying an investor's obligation under a letter of intent, Class C shares of the Funds and the corresponding classes of shares of other Delaware Investments® Funds that offer such shares may be aggregated with Class A shares of the Funds and the corresponding class of shares of the other Delaware Investments® Funds. Your financial intermediary may have different procedures for administering this feature.
Combined Purchases Privilege: When you determine the availability of the reduced front-end sales charges on Class A shares, you can include, subject to the exceptions described below, the total amount of any Class of shares you own of a Fund and all other Delaware Investments® Funds. However, you cannot include mutual fund shares that do not carry a front-end sales charge, CDSC, or Limited CDSC, unless you acquired those shares through an exchange from a Delaware Investments® Fund that did carry a front-end sales charge, CDSC, or Limited CDSC.
The privilege also extends to all purchases made at one time by any of the following:
an individual
an individual and his or her spouse, or equivalent, if recognized under local law, such as civil union, common law marriage, or domestic partnership
a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian, and their children or stepchildren who are under the age of 21
a trustee or other fiduciary of trust estates or fiduciary accounts for the benefit of such family members (including certain employee benefit programs).
Right of Accumulation: In determining the availability of the reduced front-end sales charge on Class A shares, purchasers may also combine any subsequent purchases of Class A shares and Class C shares of the Funds, as well as shares of any other class of any of the other Delaware Investments® Funds that offer such classes (except shares of any Delaware Investments® Fund that do not carry a front-end sales charge, CDSC, or Limited CDSC). If, for example, any such purchaser has previously purchased and still holds Class A shares of a Fund and/or shares of any other of the classes described in the previous sentence with a value of $40,000 and subsequently purchases $10,000 at offering price of additional Class A shares of a Fund, the charge applicable to the $10,000 purchase would currently be 4.75%. For the purpose of this calculation, the shares presently held shall be valued at the public offering price that would have been in effect had the shares been purchased simultaneously with the current purchase. Investors should refer to the table of sales charges for Class A shares in the Prospectuses to determine the applicability of the right of accumulation to their particular circumstances.
12-Month Reinvestment Privilege:Holders of Class A shares of the Funds (and of the Institutional Class shares of the Funds holding shares that were acquired through an exchange from one of the other Delaware Investments® Funds offered with a front-end sales charge) who redeem such shares have one year from the date of redemption to reinvest all or part of their redemption proceeds in the same Class of the Funds or in the same Class of any of the other Delaware Investments® Funds. In the case of Class A shares, the reinvestment will not be assessed a front-end sales charge. The reinvestment will be subject to applicable eligibility and minimum purchase requirements and must be in states where shares of such other funds may be sold. This reinvestment privilege does not extend to Class A shares where the redemption of the shares triggered the payment of a Limited CDSC. Persons investing redemption proceeds from direct investments in the Delaware Investments® Funds, offered without a front-end sales charge will be required to pay the applicable sales charge when purchasing Class A shares. The reinvestment privilege does not extend to a redemption of Class C shares.
Any such reinvestment cannot exceed the redemption proceeds (plus any amount necessary to purchase a full share). The reinvestment will be made at the NAV next determined after receipt of remittance.
Any reinvestment directed to a Delaware Investments® Fund in which the investor does not then have an account will be treated like all other initial purchases of such Fund's shares. Consequently, an investor should obtain and read carefully the prospectus for the Delaware Investments® Fund in which the investment is intended to be made before investing or sending money. The prospectus contains more complete information about the Delaware Investments® Fund, including charges and expenses.
Investors should consult their financial intermediaries or the Transfer Agent, which also serves as the Funds' shareholder servicing agent, about the applicability of the Class A Limited CDSC in connection with the features described above.
Group Investment Plans: Group Investment Plans (e.g., SEP/IRA, SAR/SEP, Profit Sharing, Pension, and 401(k) Defined Contribution Plans) that are not eligible to purchase shares of the Institutional Class may also benefit from the reduced front-end sales charges for investments in Class A shares set forth in the table in the Prospectuses, based on total plan assets. If a company has more than one plan investing in Delaware Investments® Funds, then the total amount invested in all plans would be used in determining the applicable front-end sales charge reduction upon each purchase, both initial and subsequent, upon notification to the Funds at the time of each such purchase. Employees participating in such Group Investment Plans may also combine the investments made in their plan account when determining the applicable front-end sales charge on purchases to nonretirement Delaware Investments® investment accounts if they so notify the Fund in which they are investing in connection with each purchase. See "Retirement Plans for the Retail Classes" under "Investment Plans" below for information about retirement plans.
The Limited CDSC may be applicable to any redemptions of NAV purchases made on behalf of a group investment plan on which a dealer's commission has been paid only if such redemption is made pursuant to a withdrawal of the entire plan from a Delaware Investments® Fund. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares Purchased at Net Asset Value" under "Redemption and Exchange" below.
Investment Plans
Reinvestment Plan
Unless otherwise designated by shareholders in writing, dividends and distributions, if any, will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the respective Fund Class in which an investor has an account (based on the NAV in effect on the reinvestment date) and will be credited to the shareholder's account on that date.
Reinvestment of Dividends in other Delaware Investments® Funds
Subject to applicable eligibility and minimum initial purchase requirements and the limitations set forth below, shareholders may automatically reinvest dividends and/or distributions in any of the other Delaware Investments® Funds, including the Funds, in states where their shares may be sold. Such investments will be at NAV at the close of business on the reinvestment date without any front-end sales charge or service fee. The shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in writing and must have established an account in the fund into which the dividends and/or distributions are to be invested. Any reinvestment directed to a fund in which the investor does not then have an account will be treated like all other initial purchases of the fund's shares. Consequently, an investor should obtain and read carefully the prospectus for the fund in which the investment is intended to be made before investing or sending money. The prospectus contains more complete information about the fund, including charges and expenses.
Subject to the following limitations, dividends, and/or distributions from other Delaware Investments® Funds may be invested in shares of the Funds, provided an account has been established. Dividends from Class A shares may only be directed to other Class A shares, dividends from Class C shares may only be directed to other Class C shares, dividends from Class R shares may only be directed to other Class R shares, and dividends from Institutional Class shares may only be directed to other Institutional Class shares.
Investing by Exchange
If you have an investment in another Delaware Investments® Fund, you may exchange part or all of your investment into shares of the Funds. If you wish to open an account by exchange, call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 for more information. All exchanges are subject to the eligibility and minimum purchase requirements and any additional limitations set forth in the Funds' Prospectuses. See "Redemption and Exchange" below for more complete information concerning your exchange privileges.
Investing by Electronic Fund Transfer
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan: Investors may arrange for the Funds to accept for investment through an agent bank, pre-authorized government, or private recurring payments. This method of investment assures the timely credit to the shareholder's account of payments such as social security, veterans' pension or compensation benefits, federal salaries, railroad retirement benefits, private payroll checks, dividends, and disability or pension fund benefits. It also eliminates the possibility and inconvenience of lost, stolen, and delayed checks.
Automatic Investing Plan: Shareholders may make automatic investments by authorizing, in advance, monthly or quarterly payments directly from their checking accounts for deposit into their Fund accounts. This type of investment will be handled in either of the following ways: (i) if the shareholder's bank is a member of the National Automated Clearing House Association ("NACHA"), the amount of the periodic investment will be electronically deducted from his or her checking account by Electronic Fund Transfer ("EFT") and such checking account will reflect a debit although no check is required to initiate the transaction; or (ii) if the shareholder's bank is not a member of NACHA, deductions will be made by pre-authorized checks, known as Depository Transfer Checks. Should the shareholder's bank become a member of NACHA in the future, his or her investments would be handled electronically through EFT.
Minimum Initial/Subsequent Investments by Electronic Fund Transfer: Initial investments under the direct deposit purchase plan and the automatic investing plan must be for $250 or more and subsequent investments under such plans must be for $25 or more. An investor wishing to take advantage of either service must complete an authorization form. Either service can be discontinued by the shareholder at any time without penalty by giving written notice.
Direct Deposit Purchase by Mail
Shareholders may authorize a third party, such as a bank or employer, to make investments directly to their Fund accounts. The Funds will accept these investments, such as bank-by-phone, annuity payments, and payroll allotments, by mail directly from the third party. Investors should contact their employers or financial institutions who in turn should contact the Trust for proper instructions.
On Demand Service
You or your financial intermediary may request purchases of Fund shares by phone using the on demand service. When you authorize the Funds to accept such requests from you or your financial intermediary, funds will be withdrawn (for share purchases) from your predesignated bank account. Your request will be processed the same day if you call prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. There is a $25 minimum and $100,000 maximum limit for on demand service transactions.
It may take up to four Business Days for the transactions to be completed. You can initiate this service by completing an Account Services form. If your name and address are not identical to the name and address on your Fund account, you must have your signature guaranteed. The Funds do not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may charge a fee.
Systematic Exchange Option
Shareholders can use the systematic exchange option to invest in the Funds through regular liquidations of shares in their accounts in other Delaware Investments® Funds. Shareholders may elect to invest in one or more of the other Delaware Investments® Funds through the systematic exchange option. If, in connection with the election of the systematic exchange option, you wish to open a new account to receive the automatic investment, such new account must meet the minimum initial purchase requirements described in the prospectus of the fund that you select. All investments under this option are exchanges and are therefore subject to the same conditions and limitations as other exchanges noted above.
Under this automatic exchange program, shareholders can authorize regular monthly investments (minimum of $100 per fund) to be liquidated from their account and invested automatically into other Delaware Investments® Funds, subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in the Prospectuses. The investment will be made on the 20th day of each month (or, if the fund selected is not open that day, the next Business Day) at the public offering price or NAV, as applicable, of the fund selected on the date of investment. No investment will be made for any month if the value of the shareholder's account is less than the amount specified for investment.
Periodic investment through the systematic exchange option does not ensure profits or protect against losses in a declining market. The price of the fund into which investments are made could fluctuate. Since this program involves continuous investment regardless of such fluctuating value, investors selecting this option should consider their financial ability to continue to participate in the program through periods of low fund share prices. This program involves automatic exchanges between two or more fund accounts and is treated as a purchase of shares of the fund into which investments are made through the program. Shareholders can terminate their participation in the systematic exchange option at any time by giving written notice to the fund from which exchanges are made.
Retirement Plans for the Retail Classes
An investment in the Funds may be suitable for tax-deferred retirement plans, such as: traditional IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP, SARSEP, 401(k), SIMPLE 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, or 457 Retirement Plans. In addition, the Funds may be suitable for use in Roth IRAs and Coverdell ESAs. For further details concerning these plans and accounts, including applications, contact your financial intermediary. To determine whether the benefits of a tax-sheltered retirement plan, Roth IRA, or Coverdell ESA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.
The CDSC may be waived on certain redemptions of Class C shares. See the Prospectuses for a list of the instances in which the CDSC is waived.
Minimum investment limitations generally applicable to other investors do not apply to retirement plans other than IRAs, for which there is a minimum initial purchase of $250 and a minimum subsequent purchase of $25, regardless of which Class is selected. Retirement plans may be subject to plan establishment fees, annual maintenance fees and/or other administrative or trustee fees. Additional information about fees is included in retirement plan materials. Fees are quoted upon request. Annual maintenance fees may be shared by the Custodian, the Transfer Agent, other affiliates of the Manager, and others that provide services to such Plans.
Certain shareholder investment services available to nonretirement plan shareholders may not be available to retirement plan shareholders. Certain retirement plans may qualify to purchase Institutional Class shares. For additional information, call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Determining Offering Price and Net Asset Value
Orders for purchases and redemptions of Class A shares are effected at the offering price next calculated after receipt of the order by the Funds, their agent, or certain other authorized persons. Orders for purchases and redemptions of all of the Funds' other share classes are effected at the NAV per share next calculated after receipt of the order by the Funds, their agent, or certain other authorized persons. See "Distributor" under "Investment Manager and Other Service Providers" above. Financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting orders promptly.
The offering price for Class A shares consists of the NAV per share plus any applicable sales charges. Offering price and NAV are computed as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, which is normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on days when the NYSE is open for business. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days when the following holidays are observed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. When the NYSE is closed, the Funds will generally be closed, pricing calculations will not be made, and purchase and redemption orders will not be processed.
The NAV per share for each share class of each Fund is calculated by subtracting the liabilities of each class from its total assets and dividing the resulting number by the number of shares outstanding for that class. In determining each Fund's total net assets, equity securities, except those traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (Nasdaq), are valued at the last quoted sales price as of the time of the regular close of the New York Stock Exchange on the valuation date. Securities 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 does not trade, then the mean between the bid and ask prices will be used, which approximates fair value. Debt securities and credit default swap ("CDS") contracts are valued based upon valuations provided by an independent pricing service or broker/counterparty 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. U.S. government and agency securities are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices, which approximates fair value. 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. For asset-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities, pricing vendors utilize matrix pricing which considers prepayment speed, attributes of the collateral, yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type as well as broker/dealer-supplied prices. Swap prices are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades, and values of the underlying reference instruments. Open-end investment company securities are valued at net asset value per share, as reported by the underlying investment company. Foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign cross currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices, which approximates fair value. Interpolated values are derived when the settlement date of the contract is an interim date for which quotations are not available. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are valued at the daily quoted settlement prices. Exchange-traded options are valued at the last reported sale price or, if no sales are reported, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, which approximates fair value. Generally, other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of the Board. 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. A Fund may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets because, among other things, most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities, generally as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, government actions or pronouncements, aftermarket trading, or news events may have occurred in the interim. To account for this, the Funds may frequently value foreign securities using fair value prices based on third-party vendor modeling tools (international fair value pricing). Foreign securities and the prices of foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at the mean between the bid and offer quotations of such currencies based on rates in effect as of the close of the NYSE.
Use of a pricing service has been approved by the Board. Prices provided by a pricing service take into account appropriate factors such as institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. Subject to the foregoing, securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith and in a method approved by the Board.
Each Class of a Fund will bear, pro rata, all of the common expenses of that Fund. The NAVs of all outstanding shares of each Class of a Fund will be computed on a pro rata basis for each outstanding share based on the proportionate participation in that Fund represented by the value of shares of that Class. All income earned and expenses incurred by a Fund, will be borne on a pro rata basis by each outstanding share of a Class, based on each Class' percentage in that Fund represented by the value of shares of such Classes, except that Institutional Classes will not incur any of the expenses under the Trust's Rule 12b-1 Plans, while the Retail Classes will bear the Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses payable under their respective Plans. Due to the specific distribution expenses and other costs that will be allocable to each Class, the NAV of each Class of a Fund will vary.
Redemption and Exchange
General Information
You can redeem or exchange your shares in a number of different ways that are described below. Your shares will be redeemed or exchanged at a price based on the NAV next determined after a Fund receives your request in good order, subject, in the case of a redemption, to any applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC. For example, redemption or exchange requests received in good order after the time the offering price and NAV of shares are determined will be processed on the next Business Day. See the Funds' Prospectuses. A shareholder submitting a redemption request may indicate that he or she wishes to receive redemption proceeds of a specific dollar amount. In the case of such a request, and in the case of certain redemptions from retirement plan accounts, a Fund will redeem the number of shares necessary to deduct the applicable CDSC in the case of Class C shares, and, if applicable, the Limited CDSC in the case of Class A shares and tender to the shareholder the requested amount, assuming the shareholder holds enough shares in his or her account for the redemption to be processed in this manner. Otherwise, the amount tendered to the shareholder upon redemption will be reduced by the amount of the applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC. Redemption proceeds will be distributed promptly, as described below, but not later than seven days after receipt of a redemption request.
Except as noted below, for a redemption request to be in "good order," you must provide the name of the Delaware Investments® Fund, your account number, account registration, and the total number of shares or dollar amount of the transaction. For exchange requests, you must also provide the name of the Delaware Investments® Fund in which you want to invest the proceeds. Exchange instructions and redemption requests must be signed by the record owner(s) exactly as the shares are registered. You may request a redemption or an exchange by calling the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918. The Funds may suspend, terminate, or amend the terms of the exchange privilege upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders.
Orders for the repurchase of Fund shares that are submitted to the Delaware Investments® Fund prior to the close of its Business Day will be executed at the NAV per share computed that day (subject to the applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC), if the repurchase order was received by the financial intermediary from the shareholder prior to the time the offering price and NAV are determined on such day. The financial intermediary has the responsibility of transmitting orders to the Delaware Investments® Fund promptly. Such repurchase is then settled as an ordinary transaction with the financial intermediary (who may make a charge to the shareholder for this service) delivering the shares repurchased.
Payment for shares redeemed will ordinarily be mailed the next Business Day, but in no case later than seven days, after receipt of a redemption request in good order by either the Funds or certain other authorized persons (see "Distributor" under "Investment Manager and Other Service Providers"); provided, however, that each commitment to mail or wire redemption proceeds by a certain time, as described below, is modified by the qualifications described in the next paragraph.
The Funds will process written and telephone redemption requests to the extent that the purchase orders for the shares being redeemed have already settled. The Funds will honor redemption requests as to shares for which a check was tendered as payment, but the Funds will not mail or wire the proceeds until they are reasonably satisfied that the purchase check has cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date. You can avoid this potential delay if you purchase shares by wiring Federal Funds. Each Fund reserves the right to reject a written or telephone redemption request or delay payment of redemption proceeds if there has been a recent change to the shareholder's address of record.
If a shareholder has been credited with a purchase by a check that is subsequently returned unpaid for insufficient funds or for any other reason, the Funds will automatically redeem from the shareholder's account the shares purchased by the check plus any dividends earned thereon. Shareholders may be responsible for any losses to the Funds or to the Distributor.
In case of a suspension of the determination of the NAV because the NYSE is closed for reasons other than weekends or holidays, or trading thereon is restricted or an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Funds of securities owned by them is not reasonably practical, or it is not reasonably practical for the Funds to value fairly their assets, or in the event that the SEC has provided for such suspension for the protection of shareholders, the Funds may postpone payment or suspend the right of redemption or repurchase. In such cases, the shareholder may withdraw the request for redemption or leave it standing as a request for redemption at the NAV next determined after the suspension has been terminated.
Payment for shares redeemed or repurchased may be made either in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind. Any portfolio securities paid or distributed in kind would be valued as described in "Determining Offering Price and Net Asset Value" above. Subsequent sale by an investor receiving a distribution in kind could result in the payment of brokerage commissions. However, the Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which each Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1.00% of the NAV of such Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder.
The value of each Fund's investments is subject to changing market prices. Thus, a shareholder redeeming shares of the Funds may sustain either a gain or loss, depending upon the price paid and the price received for such shares.
Certain redemptions of Class A shares purchased at NAV may result in the imposition of a Limited CDSC. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares Purchased at Net Asset Value" below. Class C shares are subject to CDSCs as described under "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge — Class C Shares" under "Purchasing Shares" above and in the Prospectuses. Except for the applicable CDSC or Limited CDSC and, with respect to the expedited payment by wire described below for which, in the case of the Retail Classes, there may be a bank wiring cost, neither the Funds nor the Distributor charge a fee for redemptions or repurchases, but such fees could be charged at any time in the future.
Holders of Class C shares that exchange their shares ("Original Shares") for shares of other Delaware Investments® Funds (in each case, "New Shares") in a permitted exchange will not be subject to a CDSC that might otherwise be due upon redemption of the Original Shares. However, such shareholders will continue to be subject to the CDSC and any CDSC assessed upon redemption of the New Shares will be charged by the Fund from which the Original Shares were exchanged. For purposes of computing the CDSC that may be payable upon a disposition of the New Shares, the period of time that an investor held the Original Shares is added to the period of time that an investor held the New Shares.
You may exchange all or part of your investment in one or more Delaware Investments® Funds for shares of other Delaware Investments® Funds. Please keep in mind, however, that under most circumstances you may exchange between like classes of shares only. Holders of Class R shares of the Funds are permitted to exchange all or part of their Class R shares only for Class R shares of other Delaware Investments® Funds or, if Class R shares are not available for a particular fund, for the Class A shares of such fund. To open an account by exchange, call your financial intermediary or the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918.
Permissible exchanges into Class A shares of the Funds will be made without a front-end sales charge, except for exchanges of shares that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge (unless such shares were acquired through the reinvestment of dividends). Permissible exchanges into Class C shares will be made without the imposition of a CDSC by the Delaware Investments® Fund from which the exchange is being made at the time of the exchange.
Each Fund also reserves the right to refuse the purchase side of an exchange request by any person, or group if, in the Manager's judgment, the Fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected. A shareholder's purchase exchanges may be restricted or refused if a Fund receives or anticipates simultaneous orders affecting significant portions of the Fund's assets.
The Funds discourage purchases by market timers and purchase orders (including the purchase side of exchange orders) by shareholders identified as market timers may be rejected. The Funds will consider anyone who follows a pattern deemed market timing in any Delaware Investments® Fund to be a market timer. Your ability to use the Funds' exchange privilege may be limited if you are identified as a market timer. If you are identified as a market timer, we will execute the redemption side of your exchange order but may refuse the purchase side of your exchange order. See the Funds' Prospectuses for more information on their market timing policies.
Contact your financial intermediary for specific information regarding the availability and suitability of various account options described throughout this SAI.
Written Redemption
You can write to the Funds (at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 by overnight courier service) to redeem some or all of your shares. The request must be signed by all owners of the account. For redemptions of more than $100,000, or when the proceeds are not sent to the shareholder(s) at the address of record, the Funds require a signature by all owners of the account and a signature guarantee for each owner. A signature guarantee can be obtained from a commercial bank, a trust company, or a member of a Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program ("STAMP"). Each Fund reserves the right to reject a signature guarantee supplied by an eligible institution based on its creditworthiness. The Funds may require further documentation from corporations, executors, retirement plans, administrators, trustees, or guardians.
Payment is normally mailed the next Business Day after receipt of your redemption request. If your Class A shares or Institutional Class shares are in certificate form, the certificate(s) must accompany your request and also be in good order. Certificates generally are no longer issued.
Written Exchange
You may also write to the Funds (at P.O. Box 9876, Providence, RI 02940-8076 by regular mail or 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722 by overnight courier service) to request an exchange of any or all of your shares into another Delaware Investments® Fund, subject to the same conditions and limitations as other exchanges noted above.
Telephonic Redemption and Exchange
To get the added convenience of the telephone redemption and exchange methods, you must have the Transfer Agent hold your shares (without charge) for you. If you hold your Class A shares or Institutional Class shares in certificate form, you may redeem or exchange only by written request and you must return your certificates.
Telephone Redemption: The "Check to Your Address of Record" service and the "Telephone Exchange" service, both of which are described below, are automatically provided unless you notify the Funds in which you have your account in writing that you do not wish to have such services available with respect to your account. Each Fund reserves the right to modify, terminate, or suspend these procedures upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders. It may be difficult to reach the Funds by telephone during periods when market or economic conditions lead to an unusually large volume of telephone requests.
The Funds and their Transfer Agent are not responsible for any shareholder loss incurred in acting upon written or telephone instructions for redemption or exchange of Fund shares that are reasonably believed to be genuine. With respect to such telephone transactions, a Fund will follow reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine (including verification of personal identification). Also, shareholders should verify their trade confirmations immediately upon receipt. Telephone instructions received by a Fund are generally recorded, and a written confirmation will be provided for all purchase, exchange, and redemption transactions initiated by telephone. By exchanging shares by telephone, you are acknowledging prior receipt of a prospectus for the Delaware Investments® Fund into which your shares are being exchanged.
Telephone Redemption — Check to Your Address of Record: The Telephone Redemption feature is a quick and easy method to redeem shares. You or your financial intermediary (where applicable) can have redemption proceeds of $100,000 or less mailed to you at your address of record. Checks will be payable to the shareholder(s) of record. Payment is normally mailed the next Business Day after receipt of the redemption request. This service is only available to individual, joint, and individual fiduciary-type accounts.
Telephone Redemption — Proceeds to Your Bank: Redemption proceeds of $1,000 or more can be transferred to your predesignated bank account by wire or by check. You should authorize this service when you open your account. If you change your predesignated bank account, you must complete an authorization form and have your signature guaranteed. For your protection, your authorization must be on file. If you request a wire, your funds will normally be sent the next Business Day. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder's account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in the crediting of the funds to the shareholder's bank account. A bank wire fee may be deducted from Fund Class redemption proceeds. If you ask for a check, it will normally be mailed the next Business Day after receipt of your redemption request to your predesignated bank account. There are no separate fees for this redemption method, but mailing a check may delay the time it takes to have your redemption proceeds credited to your predesignated bank account. Call the Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 prior to the time the offering price and NAV are determined, as noted above.
Telephone Exchange: The telephone exchange feature is a convenient and efficient way to adjust your investment holdings as your liquidity requirements and investment objectives change. You or your financial intermediary can exchange your shares into other Delaware Investments® Funds under the same registration, subject to the same conditions and limitations as other exchanges noted above. As with the written exchange service, telephone exchanges are subject to the requirements of the Funds, as described above. Telephone exchanges may be subject to limitations as to amount or frequency.
The telephone exchange privilege is intended as a convenience to shareholders and is not intended to be a vehicle to speculate on short-term swings in the securities market through frequent transactions into and out of the Delaware Investments® Funds. Telephone exchanges may be subject to limitations as to amount or frequency. The Transfer Agent and each Fund reserve the right to record exchange instructions received by telephone and to reject exchange requests at any time in the future.
On Demand Service
You or your financial intermediary may request redemptions of Fund Class shares by phone using the on demand service. When you authorize the Funds to accept such requests from you or your financial intermediary, funds will be deposited to your predesignated bank account. Your request will be processed the same day if you call prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. There is a $25 minimum and $100,000 maximum limit for on demand service transactions. For more information, see "On Demand Service" under "Investment Plans" above.
Systematic Withdrawal Plans
Shareholders who own or purchase $5,000 or more of shares at the offering price, or NAV, as applicable, for which certificates have not been issued may establish a systematic withdrawal plan for monthly withdrawals of $25 or more, or quarterly withdrawals of $75 or more, although the Funds do not recommend any specific amount of withdrawal. This is particularly useful to shareholders living on fixed incomes, since it can provide them with a stable supplemental amount. This $5,000 minimum does not apply to investments made through qualified retirement plans. Shares purchased with the initial investment and through reinvestment of cash dividends and realized securities profits distributions will be credited to the shareholder's account and sufficient full and fractional shares will be redeemed at the NAV calculated on the third Business Day preceding the mailing date.
Checks are dated either the 1st or the 15th of the month, as selected by the shareholder (unless such date falls on a holiday or a weekend), and are normally mailed within two Business Days. Both ordinary income dividends and realized securities profits distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Class at NAV. This plan is not recommended for all investors and should be started only after careful consideration of its operation and effect upon the investor's savings and investment program. To the extent that withdrawal payments from the plan exceed any dividends and/or realized securities profits distributions paid on shares held under the plan, the withdrawal payments will represent a return of capital, and the share balance may in time be depleted, particularly in a declining market. Shareholders should not purchase additional shares while participating in a systematic withdrawal plan.
The sale of shares for withdrawal payments constitutes a taxable event and a shareholder may incur a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. This gain or loss may be long-term or short-term depending on the holding period for the specific shares liquidated. Premature withdrawals from retirement plans may have adverse tax consequences.
Withdrawals under this plan made concurrently with the purchases of additional shares may be disadvantageous to the shareholder. Purchases of Class A shares through a periodic investment program in the Funds must be terminated before a systematic withdrawal plan with respect to such shares can take effect, except if the shareholder is a participant in a retirement plan offering Delaware Investments® Funds or is investing in Delaware Investments® Funds that do not carry a sales charge. Redemptions of Class A shares pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan may be subject to a Limited CDSC if the purchase was made at NAV and a dealer's commission has been paid on that purchase. The applicable Limited CDSC for Class A shares and CDSC for Class C shares redeemed via a systematic withdrawal plan will be waived if the annual amount withdrawn in each year is less than 12% of the account balance on the date that the plan was established. If the annual amount withdrawn in any year exceeds 12% of the account balance on the date that the systematic withdrawal plan was established, all redemptions under the plan will be subject to the applicable CDSC, including an assessment for previously redeemed amounts under the plan. Whether a waiver of the CDSC is available or not, the first shares to be redeemed for each systematic withdrawal plan payment will be those not subject to a CDSC because they have either satisfied the required holding period or were acquired through the reinvestment of distributions. See the Prospectuses for more information about the waiver of CDSCs.
An investor wishing to start a systematic withdrawal plan must complete an authorization form. If the recipient of systematic withdrawal plan payments is other than the registered shareholder, the shareholder's signature on this authorization must be guaranteed. Each signature guarantee must be supplied by an eligible guarantor institution. The Funds reserve the right to reject a signature guarantee supplied by an eligible institution based on its creditworthiness. This plan may be terminated by the shareholder or the Transfer Agent at any time by giving written notice.
Systematic withdrawal plan payments are normally made by check. In the alternative, you may elect to have your payments transferred from your Fund account to your predesignated bank account through the on demand service. Your funds will normally be credited to your bank account up to four Business Days after the payment date. There are no separate fees for this redemption method. It may take up to four Business Days for the transactions to be completed. You can initiate this service by completing an Account Services form. If your name and address are not identical to the name and address on your Fund account, you must have your signature guaranteed. The Funds do not charge a fee for this service; however, your bank may charge a fee.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares Purchased at Net Asset Value
For purchases of $1 million or more, a Limited CDSC will be imposed on certain redemptions of Class A shares (or shares into which such Class A shares are exchanged) according to the following schedule: (i) 1.00% if shares are redeemed during the first year after the purchase; and (ii) 0.50% if such shares are redeemed during the second year after the purchase, if such purchases were made at NAV and triggered the payment by the Distributor of the dealer's commission described above in "Dealer's Commission" under "Purchasing Shares."
The Limited CDSC will be paid to the Distributor and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of: (i) the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class A shares being redeemed; or (ii) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption. For purposes of this formula, the "NAV at the time of purchase" will be the NAV at purchase of the Class A shares even if those shares are later exchanged for shares of another Delaware Investments® Fund and, in the event of an exchange of Class A shares, the "NAV of such shares at the time of redemption" will be the NAV of the shares acquired in the exchange.
Redemptions of such Class A shares held for more than the holding period, as set forth in the prospectus, will not be subject
to the Limited CDSC and an exchange of such Class A shares into another Delaware Investments® Fund will not trigger the imposition
of the Limited CDSC at the time of such exchange. The period a shareholder owns shares into which Class A shares are exchanged
will count toward satisfying the holding period. The Limited CDSC is assessed if such holding period is not satisfied irrespective
of whether the redemption triggering its payment is of Class A shares of the Funds or Class A shares acquired in the exchange.
In determining whether a Limited CDSC is payable, it will be assumed that shares not subject to the Limited CDSC are the
first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The Limited CDSC will not be imposed upon shares
representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
Waivers of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges
Please see the Prospectuses for instances in which the Limited CDSC applicable to Class A shares and the CDSC applicable to Class C shares may be waived. The Limited CDSC applicable to Class A shares and the CDSC applicable to Class C shares are waived in instances such as a qualified distribution or due to death of the account holder/joint account holder. The qualified distribution waiver age is 70.5 and there is no CDSC death waiver time period. However, the CDSC death waiver only applies to shares purchased prior to the death of the account owner/joint account owner.
As disclosed in the Prospectuses, certain retirement plans that contain certain legacy assets may redeem shares without paying a CDSC. The following plans may redeem shares without paying a CDSC:
The redemption must be made by a group defined contribution retirement plan that purchased Class A shares through a retirement plan alliance program that required shares to be available at NAV and Retired Financial Services, Inc. ("RFS") served as the sponsor of the alliance program or had a product participation agreement with the sponsor of the alliance program that specified that the limited CDSC would be waived.
The redemption must be made by any group retirement plan (excluding defined benefit pension plans) that purchased Class C shares prior to a recordkeeping transition period from August 2004 to October 2004 and purchased shares through a retirement plan alliance program, provided that (i) RFS was the sponsor of the alliance program or had a product participation agreement with the sponsor of the alliance program and (ii) RFS provided fully bundled retirement plan services and maintained participant records on its proprietary recordkeeping system.
Class C shares that are or were held in a qualified retirement plan account serviced by third-party administrators will not be subject to a CDSC upon the redemption of such shares regardless of the length of time the shares were held by the shareholder.
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions
The following supplements the information in the Prospectuses.
The policy of the Trust is to distribute substantially all of each Fund's net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, in the amount and at the times that will allow a Fund to avoid incurring any material amounts of federal income or excise taxes.
Each Class of shares of a Fund will share proportionately in the investment income and expenses of that Fund, except that each Retail Class alone will incur distribution fees under its respective Rule 12b-1 Plan.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same Class of the Fund at NAV, unless otherwise designated in writing that such dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. Dividend payments of $1.00 or less will be automatically reinvested, notwithstanding a shareholder's election to receive dividends in cash. If such a shareholder's dividends increase to greater than $1.00, the shareholder would have to file a new election in order to begin receiving dividends in cash again.
Any check in payment of dividends or other distributions that cannot be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or that remains uncashed for a period of more than one year may be reinvested in the shareholder's account at the then-current NAV and the dividend option may be changed from cash to reinvest. A Fund may deduct from a shareholder's account the costs of the Fund's efforts to locate the shareholder if the shareholder's mail is returned by the U.S. Postal Service or the Fund is otherwise unable to locate the shareholder or verify the shareholder's mailing address. These costs may include a percentage of the account when a search company charges a percentage fee in exchange for their location services.
Taxes
The following is a summary of certain additional tax considerations generally affecting a Fund (sometimes referred to as "the Fund") and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectuses is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.
This "Distributions and Taxes" section is based on the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes, including provisions of current law that sunset and thereafter no longer apply, or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.
This is for general information only and not tax advice. All investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local and foreign tax provisions applicable to them.
Taxation of the Fund. The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a "regulated investment company," "RIC" or "fund") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If the Fund so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.
In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund must satisfy the following requirements:
Distribution Requirement — the Fund must distribute an amount equal to the sum of at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (including, for purposes of satisfying this distribution requirement, certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its taxable year that are treated as made during such taxable year).
Income Requirement — the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships ("QPTPs").
Asset Diversification Test — the Fund must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Fund's tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, in the securities of one or more QPTPs.
In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Fund for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Fund's ability to satisfy these requirements. See, "Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions" below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test, which may have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance. In lieu of potential disqualification, the Fund is permitted to pay a tax for certain failures to satisfy the Asset Diversification Test or Income Requirement, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
The Fund may use "equalization accounting" (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Fund uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Fund shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Fund's allocation is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Fund may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. If, as a result of such adjustment, the Fund fails to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, the Fund will not qualify that year as a regulated investment company the effect of which is described in the following paragraph.
If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Fund may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Fund shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate may result in higher taxes. This is because a fund with a high turnover rate is likely to accelerate the recognition of capital gains and more of such gains are likely to be taxable as short-term rather than long-term capital gains in contrast to a comparable fund with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Fund's after-tax performance. See, "Taxation of Fund Distributions - Distributions of capital gains" below. For non-U.S. investors, any such acceleration of the recognition of capital gains that results in more short-term and less long-term capital gains being recognized by the Fund may cause such investors to be subject to increased U.S. withholding taxes. See, "Non-U.S. Investors — Capital gain dividends" and "— Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends" below.
Capital loss carryovers.The capital losses of the Fund, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Fund may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Rules similar to those that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals apply to RICs. Thus, if the Fund has a "net capital loss" (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess (if any) of the Fund's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Fund that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Fund in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Fund beginning on or before Dec. 22, 2010, the Fund is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after Dec. 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a taxable year beginning on or before Dec. 22, 2010.
The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% "change in ownership" of the Fund. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Fund increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Fund beginning on or before Dec. 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Fund's ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Fund's shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Fund undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another fund. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Fund's control, there can be no assurance that the Fund will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change. Additionally, if the Fund engages in a tax-free reorganization with another fund, the effect of these and other rules not discussed herein may be to disallow or postpone the use by the Fund of its capital loss carryovers (including any current year losses and built-in losses when realized) to offset its own gains or those of the other fund, or vice versa, thereby reducing the tax benefits Fund shareholders would otherwise have enjoyed from use of such capital loss carryovers.
Deferral of late year losses.The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund's taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year (see, "Taxation of Fund Distributions — Distributions of capital gains" below). A "qualified late year loss" includes:
(i) any net capital loss incurred after Oct. 31 of the current taxable year, or, if there is no such loss, any net long-term
capital loss or any net short-term capital loss incurred after Oct. 31 of the current taxable year ("post-October capital
losses"), and
(ii) the sum of (1) the excess, if any, of (a) specified losses incurred after Oct. 31 of the current taxable year, over
(b) specified gains incurred after Oct. 31 of the current taxable year and (2) the excess, if any, of (a) ordinary losses
incurred after Dec. 31 of the current taxable year, over (b) the ordinary income incurred after Dec. 31 of the current taxable
year.
The terms "specified losses" and "specified gains" mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses and gains, and losses and gains resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms "ordinary losses" and "ordinary income" mean other ordinary losses and income that are not described in the preceding sentence.
Undistributed capital gains. The Fund may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Fund currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
Federal excise tax. To avoid a 4% non-deductible excise tax, the Fund must distribute by Dec. 31 of each year an amount equal to at least: (1) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income (that is, the excess of the gains from sales or exchanges of capital assets over the losses from such sales or exchanges) for the one-year period ended on Oct. 31 of such calendar year, and (3) any prior year undistributed ordinary income and capital gain net income. The Fund may elect to defer to the following year any net ordinary loss incurred for the portion of the calendar year that is after the beginning of the Fund's taxable year. Also, the Fund will defer any "specified gain" or "specified loss" that would be properly taken into account for the portion of the calendar year after Oct. 31. Any net ordinary loss, specified gain, or specified loss deferred shall be treated as arising on Jan. 1 of the following calendar year. Generally, the Fund intends to make sufficient distributions prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid any material liability for federal income and excise tax, but can give no assurances that all or a portion of such liability will be avoided. In addition, under certain circumstances, temporary timing or permanent differences in the realization of income and expense for book and tax purposes can result in the Fund having to pay an excise tax.
Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Fund. The U.S. has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other forms to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when the Fund will receive the tax reclaim is within the control of the individual country. Information required on these forms may not be available such as shareholder information; therefore, the Fund may not receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing requirements which may cause the Fund not to receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital gains realized by the Fund on sale or disposition of securities of that country to taxation. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Fund's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so.
Taxation of Fund Distributions. The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for each taxable year. Distributions by the Fund will be treated in the manner described below regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (or of another fund). The Fund will send you information annually as to the federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year.
Distributions of net investment income. The Fund receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Fund may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits. In the case of a Fund whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to you may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. See the discussion below under the headings, "— Qualified dividend income for individuals" and "— Dividends-received deduction for corporations."
Distributions of capital gains. The Fund may derive capital gain and loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions paid from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Any net short-term or long-term capital gain realized by the Fund (net of any capital loss carryovers) generally will be distributed once each year and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund.
Returns of capital. Distributions by the Fund that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder's tax basis in his Fund shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Fund shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Fund over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts ("REITs") (see, "Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investments in U.S. REITs" below).
Qualified dividend income for individuals. Ordinary income dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. "Qualified dividend income" means dividends paid to the Fund (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the U.S., or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the U.S. that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S. Both the Fund and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Fund dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Fund must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received "in lieu of" dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Fund is equal to or greater than 95% of the Fund's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund will be qualifying dividend income.
Dividends-received deduction for corporations. For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Fund that so qualifies will be reported by the Fund to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Fund from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Fund and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Fund may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Fund were debt-financed or held by the Fund for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Fund shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Fund dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Fund from investments in derivatives, fixed income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.
Impact of realized but undistributed income and gains, and net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities. At the time of your purchase of shares (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable NAV), the Fund's NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities held by the Fund. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable, and would be taxed as ordinary income (some portion of which may be taxed as qualified dividend income), capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. The Fund may be able to reduce the amount of such distributions from capital gains by utilizing its capital loss carryovers, if any.
Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If more than 50% of the Fund's total assets at the end of a fiscal year is invested in foreign securities, the Fund may elect to pass through to you your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, the Fund may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income, or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Fund will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. No deduction for foreign tax may be claimed by a noncorporate shareholder who does not itemize deductions or who is subject to the alternative minimum tax. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate shares of the foreign income tax paid by the Fund due to certain limitations that may apply. The Fund reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. Additionally, any foreign tax withheld on payments made "in lieu of" dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. See, "Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Securities lending" below.
Tax credit bonds. If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more "tax credit bonds" (including build America bonds, clean renewable energy bonds and qualified tax credit bonds) on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year, the Fund may elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder's proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. In such a case, shareholders must include in gross income (as interest) their proportionate share of the income attributable to their proportionate share of those offsetting tax credits. A shareholder's ability to claim a tax credit associated with one or more tax credit bonds may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.
U.S. government securities. Income earned on certain U.S. government obligations is exempt from state and local personal income taxes if earned directly by you. States also grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Fund. Income on investments by the Fund in certain other obligations, such as repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government obligations, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae obligations), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporations.
Dividends declared in December and paid in January. Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take distributions by the Fund into account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, dividends declared in October, November or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month will be deemed to have been received by the shareholders (and made by the Fund) on Dec. 31 of such calendar year if such dividends are actually paid in January of the following year. Shareholders will be advised annually as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year in accordance with the guidance that has been provided by the IRS.
Medicare tax. A 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on net investment income earned by certain individuals, estates and trusts. "Net investment income," for these purposes, means investment income, including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares, reduced by the deductions properly allocable to such income. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) the shareholder's net investment income or (2) the amount by which the shareholder's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the shareholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the shareholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Fund Shares. Sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) of Fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Fund shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be a capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares. Any redemption fees you incur on shares redeemed will decrease the amount of any capital gain (or increase any capital loss) you realize on the sale. Capital losses in any year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.
Tax basis information. The Fund is required to report to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B the cost basis of shares purchased or acquired on or after Jan. 1, 2012 where the cost basis of the shares is known by the Fund (referred to as "covered shares") and that are disposed of after that date. However, cost basis reporting is not required for certain shareholders, including shareholders investing in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, or shareholders investing in a money market fund that maintains a stable NAV.
When required to report cost basis, the Fund will calculate it using the Fund's default method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different calculation method. For additional information regarding the Fund's available cost basis reporting methods, including its default method, please contact the Fund. If you hold your Fund shares through a broker (or other nominee), please contact that broker (nominee) with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.
The IRS permits the use of several methods to determine the cost basis of mutual fund shares. The method used will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing share prices, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund does not recommend any particular method of determining cost basis, and the use of other methods may result in more favorable tax consequences for some shareholders. It is important that you consult with your tax advisor to determine which method is best for you and then notify the Fund if you intend to utilize a method other than the Fund's default method for covered shares. If you do not notify the Fund of your elected cost basis method upon the initial purchase into your account, the default method will be applied to your covered shares.
The Fund will compute and report the cost basis of your Fund shares sold or exchanged by taking into account all of the applicable adjustments to cost basis and holding periods as required by the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations for purposes of reporting these amounts to you and the IRS. However the Fund is not required to, and in many cases the Fund does not possess the information to, take all possible basis, holding period or other adjustments into account in reporting cost basis information to you. Therefore, shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund.
Please refer to the Fund's website at delawareinvestments.com for additional information.
Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Fund (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.
Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.
Deferral of basis. If a shareholder (a) incurs a sales load in acquiring shares of the Fund, (b) disposes of such shares less than 91 days after they are acquired, and (c) subsequently acquires shares of the Fund or another fund by Jan. 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the disposition of the original shares occurred at a reduced sales load pursuant to a right to reinvest at such reduced sales load acquired in connection with the acquisition of the shares disposed of, then the sales load on the shares disposed of (to the extent of the reduction in the sales load on the shares subsequently acquired) shall not be taken into account in determining gain or loss on the shares disposed of, but shall be treated as incurred on the acquisition of the shares subsequently acquired. The wash sale rules may also limit the amount of loss that may be taken into account on disposition after such adjustment.
Conversion of shares into shares of the same Fund. The conversion or exchange of shares of one class into another class of the same Fund is not taxable for federal income tax purposes. Thus, the following transactions generally will be tax-free for federal income tax purposes:
the exchange of Class A shares for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund by certain Programs;
the exchange of Class C shares for Class A shares or Institutional Class shares of the same Fund by certain Programs; and
the exchange of Institutional Class shares for Class A shares or Class C shares of the same Fund by certain shareholders of Institutional Class shares who cease participation in a Program.
However, shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax consequences of a conversion or exchange of shares.
Reportable transactions. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions. Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a fund and, in turn, affect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the fund to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion above under "Investment Strategies and Risks" for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Fund.
In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a fund on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.
Certain fixed income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a fund at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the fund held the debt obligation unless the fund made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a fund purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero-coupon security or payment-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the fund generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a fund's investment in such securities may cause the fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of fund shares.
Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a fund in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.
Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a fund are not immediately included in the income of the fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a fund is exercised and the fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the fund minus (b) the fund's basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the fund generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a fund's obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a fund expires unexercised, the fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.
The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a fund as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the fund on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code ("section 1256 contracts"). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses ("60/40"), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Internal Revenue Code) are "marked to market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.
In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a fund's transactions in other derivatives instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the fund, defer losses to the fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund's securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivatives financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax.
Certain of a fund's investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the fund's transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a fund's book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a fund's book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the fund's remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.
Foreign currency transactions. A fund's transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a fund's ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the fund's previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a fund may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.
PFIC investments. A fund may invest in securities of foreign companies that may be classified under the Internal Revenue Code as PFICs. In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. When investing in PFIC securities, a fund intends to mark-to-market these securities under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of the fund's fiscal and excise tax years. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that a fund is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by a fund. Foreign companies are not required to identify themselves as PFICs. Due to various complexities in identifying PFICs, a fund can give no assurances that it will be able to identify portfolio securities in foreign corporations that are PFICs in time for the fund to make a mark-to-market election. If a fund is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on a fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.
Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain non-cash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT's cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a fund, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see, "Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)" and "Non-U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property" below with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.
Investment in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a fund in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the fund, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. A fund's pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the fund's return on its investment. A fund's investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in "PFIC investments." Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in "Taxation of the Fund — Foreign income tax." Also, a fund in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the U.S., which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.
Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a fund's income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT's residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC") or equity interests in a "taxable mortgage pool" (referred to in the Internal Revenue Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income ("UBTI") to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a "disqualified organization" (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a fund will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.
These rules are potentially applicable to a fund with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a fund that has a non-REIT strategy.
Investments in partnerships and QPTPs. For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a fund from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the fund. While the rules are not entirely clear with respect to a fund investing in a partnership outside a master feeder structure, for purposes of testing whether a fund satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the fund generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See, "Taxation of the Fund." In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a fund from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a fund to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company. Although, in general, the passive loss rules of the Internal Revenue Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a fund with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP. Fund investments in partnerships, including in QPTPs, may result in the fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise, or withholding tax liabilities.
Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a fund, the fund generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made "in lieu of" dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends-received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made "in lieu of" dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. Additionally, in the case of a fund with a strategy of investing in tax-exempt securities, any payments made "in lieu of" tax-exempt interest will be considered taxable income to the fund, and thus, to the investors, even though such interest may be tax-exempt when paid to the borrower.
Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a "single property" consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount principles.
Investments in securities of uncertain tax character. A fund may invest in securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by a fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the fund, requiring the fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code.
Backup Withholding. By law, the Fund may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:
provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number;
certify that this number is correct;
certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; and
certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).
The Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors to avoid backup withholding are described under the "Non-U.S. Investors" heading below.
Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the U.S., are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.
In general. The U.S. imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends, paid to you by the Fund, subject to certain exemptions described below. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Fund shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
Capital gain dividends. In general, capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains, other than long-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below), are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.
Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. The prior exemptions from U.S. withholding for interest-related dividends paid by the Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends have expired. With respect to taxable years of the Fund that began before Jan. 1, 2015, dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources were not subject to U.S. withholding tax. "Qualified interest income" included, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation that is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. Similarly, with respect to taxable years of the Fund that began before Jan. 1, 2015, short-term capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below), were not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you were a nonresident alien individual present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend these exemptions to taxable years of a fund beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2015 or what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect. If the exemptions are reinstated, the Fund reserves the right to not report small amounts of interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Fund's reporting of interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.
Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; foreign tax credits. Ordinary dividends paid by the Fund to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. Foreign shareholders may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% on the income resulting from an election to pass through foreign tax credits to shareholders, but may not be able to claim a credit or deduction with respect to the withholding tax for the foreign tax treated as having been paid by them.
Income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. If the income from the Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder,
then ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale or redemption of shares of the
Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens or domestic corporations and require
the filing of a nonresident U.S. income tax return.
Investment in U.S. real property. The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA") makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition
of a U.S. real property interest ("USRPI") as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA
gain. The Fund may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in USRPI, including U.S. REITs, which may trigger
FIRPTA gain to the Fund's non-U.S. shareholders.
The Internal Revenue Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain when a RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC will be classified as a qualified investment entity only with respect to any distribution by the RIC which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution to the RIC from a U.S. REIT ("FIRPTA distribution") and if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC's assets consist of interests in U.S. REITs and other U.S. real property holding corporations ("USRPHC"). If a RIC is a qualified investment entity and the non-U.S. shareholder owns more than 5% of a class of Fund shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the FIRPTA distribution, the FIRPTA distribution to the non-U.S. shareholder is treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distribution to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring the non-U.S. shareholder to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return. In addition, even if the non-U.S. shareholder does not own more than 5% of a class of Fund shares, but the Fund is a qualified investment entity, the FIRPTA distribution will be taxable as ordinary dividends (rather than as a capital gain or short-term capital gain dividend) subject to withholding at 30% or lower treaty rate.
It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend the look-through rules previously in effect before Jan. 1, 2015 for distributions of FIRPTA gain to other types of distributions on or after Jan. 1, 2015 from a RIC to a non-U.S. shareholder from the RIC's direct or indirect investment in USRPI or what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect. Because the Fund expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Fund expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Fund shares nor Fund dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.
U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Fund by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. An individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Fund shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent's estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Fund shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Fund may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent's U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount.
U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements may apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. backup withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the U.S. and the shareholder's country of residence. In general, if you are a non-U.S. shareholder, you must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the U.S. has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8 BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding.
The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund, including the applicability of foreign tax.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA"). Under FATCA, the Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014, and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after Dec. 31, 2016, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions ("FFI") or nonfinancial foreign entities ("NFFE"), that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. The FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reporting information relating to them. The U.S. Treasury has negotiated intergovernmental agreements ("IGA") with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with a number of other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA; an entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of an IGA instead of U.S. Treasury regulations.
An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding if it is deemed compliant or by becoming a "participating FFI," which requires the FFI to enter into a U.S. tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code ("FFI agreement") under which it agrees to verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and meet certain other specified requirements. The FFI will either report the specified information about the U.S. accounts to the IRS, or, to the government of the FFI's country of residence (pursuant to the terms and conditions of applicable law and an applicable IGA entered into between the U.S. and the FFI's country of residence), which will, in turn, report the specified information to the IRS. An FFI that is resident in a country that has entered into an IGA with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the FFI shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.
An NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from the Fund can avoid the FATCA withholding tax generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or by providing the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner. The NFFE will report the information to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report the information to the IRS.
Such foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity's status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the impact of these requirements on their investment in the Fund. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the U.S. tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation.
Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations. The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this Statement of Additional Information. Future legislative or administrative changes, including provisions of current law that sunset and thereafter no longer apply, or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Fund.
Performance Information
To obtain the Funds' most current performance information, please call 800 523-1918 or visit our website at delawareinvestments.com.
Performance quotations represent the Funds' past performance and should not be considered as representative of future results. The Funds will calculate their performance in accordance with the requirements of the rules and regulations under the 1940 Act, or any other applicable U.S. securities laws, as they may be revised from time to time by the SEC.
Financial Statements
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which is located at 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust and, in its capacity as such, audits the annual financial statements contained in each Fund's Annual Report. The Funds' Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations, Statements of Changes in Net Assets, Financial Highlights, and Notes to Financial Statements, as well as the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal year ended , are included in each Fund's Annual Report to shareholders. The financial statements and financial highlights, the notes relating thereto and the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP listed above are incorporated by reference from the Annual Reports into this SAI.
Principal Holders
As of June 30, 2015, management believes the following shareholders held of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of each class of each Fund. Management does not have knowledge of beneficial owners.
The Manager and its affiliates may provide the initial seed capital in connection with the creation of a Delaware Investments® product, such as Delaware Healthcare Fund. To the extent that the Manager or its affiliates maintain such seed capital in a Delaware Investments® product, the Manager or its affiliates may engage in a total return swap or other hedge on its investment for the sole purpose of limiting the volatility of earnings of the Manager and its corporate parents. Neither the Manager nor its affiliates seek to profit by hedging the seed capital investments in the Delaware Investments® products, and the total return swap or other hedge is not expected to have any effect on the investment performance of any Delaware Investments® product.
|
Class |
Name and Address of Account |
Percentage |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
6.78% |
|
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC |
5.16% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
5.79% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
LPL FINANCIAL |
6.42% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
5.71% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC |
5.74% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
PERSHING LLC |
14.74% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC |
6.78% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
10.91% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
LPL FINANCIAL |
6.51% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
25.13% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY |
8.15% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
PERSHING LLC |
8.28% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
UBS WM USA |
11.18% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
STATE STREET BANK TTEE |
8.37% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
33.24% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY |
10.96% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
12.40% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
LPL FINANCIAL |
8.85% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
15.70% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY |
5.85% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC |
10.25% |
|
Delaware Healthcare Fund |
UBS WM USA |
21.66% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
6.72% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
8.04% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC |
6.10% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
PERSHING LLC |
5.10% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
13.52% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
22.67% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY |
14.21% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC |
6.18% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
PERSHING LLC |
5.26% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE |
47.60% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MATRIX TRUST COMPANY |
11.38% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
VANGUARD FIDUCIARY TR COMPANY |
10.93% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC SPEC CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE EXCL |
16.85% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
FIRST CLEARING LLC |
5.97% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY |
17.14% |
|
Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC |
20.00% |
PART C
(Delaware Group® Equity Funds
IV)
File Nos. 033-00442/811-04413
Post-Effective Amendment No. 54
OTHER INFORMATION
|
Item 28. |
Exhibits. The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s previously filed documents indicated below, except as noted: | |||
| (a) | Articles of Incorporation. | |||
| (1) | Executed Agreement and Declaration of Trust (December 17, 1998) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 filed October 18, 1999. | |||
| (i) | Executed Certificate of Amendment (November 15, 2006) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed July 6, 2007. | |||
| (ii) | Executed Certificate of Amendment (February 26, 2009) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 filed November 25, 2009. | |||
| (iii) | Executed Certificate of Amendment (August 18, 2009) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 filed November 25, 2009. | |||
| (iv) | Executed Certificate of Amendment (May 21, 2015) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.a.1.iv. | |||
| (2) | Executed Certificate of Trust (December 17, 1998) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 filed October 18, 1999. | |||
| (b) | By-Laws. Amended and Restated By-Laws (April 1, 2015) attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.b. | |||
| (c) | Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. None other than those contained in Exhibits (a) and (b). | |||
| (d) | Investment Advisory Contracts. | |||
| (1) | Executed Investment Management Agreement (January 4, 2010) between Delaware Management Company (a series of Delaware Management Business Trust) and the Registrant, on behalf of each Fund, incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 filed January 28, 2010. | |||
| (i) | Executed Amendment No. 1 (September 28, 2012) to Exhibit A of the Investment Management Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 filed January 28, 2014. | |||
| (2) | Executed Sub-Advisory Agreement (June 13, 2014) between Jackson Square Partners, LLC and Delaware Management Company (a series of Delaware Management Business Trust relating to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | |||
| (e) | Underwriting Contracts. | |||
| (1) | Distribution Agreements. | |||
1
|
(i) |
Executed Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (January 4, 2010) between Delaware Distributors, L.P. and the Registrant, on behalf of each Fund, incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed October 19, 2010. | |||
| (ii) | Executed Amendment No. 3 (September 25, 2014) to Schedule I to the Distribution Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | |||
| (2) | Form of Dealer's Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed January 27, 2012. | |||
| (3) | Form of Registered Investment Advisers Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed January 27, 2012. | |||
| (4) | Form of Bank/Trust Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post- Effective Amendment No. 46 filed January 27, 2012. | |||
| (f) | Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. Not applicable. | |||
| (g) | Custodian Agreements. | |||
| (1) | Executed Mutual Fund Custody and Services Agreement (July 20, 2007) between The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly, Mellon Bank, N.A.) and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed January 27, 2009. | |||
| (i) | Executed Amendment (January 1, 2014) to the Mutual Fund Custody and Services Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | |||
| (2) | Executed Securities Lending Authorization (July 20, 2007) between The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly, Mellon Bank, N.A.) and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 filed January 28, 2008. | |||
| (i) | Executed Amendment (September 22, 2009) to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 filed January 28, 2011. | |||
| (ii) | Executed Amendment No. 2 (January 1, 2010) to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed June 4, 2010. | |||
| (h) | Other Material Contracts. | |||
| (1) | Executed Shareholder Services Agreement (April 19, 2001) between Delaware Service Company, Inc. and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed November 29, 2001. | |||
| (i) | Executed Letter Amendment (August 23, 2002) to the Shareholder Services Agreement between Delaware Service Company, Inc. and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 filed November 26, 2003. | |||
2
|
(ii) |
Executed Schedule B (July 18, 2011) to the Shareholder Services Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed January 27, 2012. | |||
| (iii) | Executed Amendment No. 1 to Schedule A (September 28, 2012) to the Shareholder Services Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 filed January 28, 2013. | |||
| (iv) | Executed Assignment and Assumption Agreement (November 1, 2014) between Delaware Service Company, Inc. and Delaware Investments Fund Services Company relating to the Shareholder Services Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | |||
| (2) | Executed Amended and Restated Fund Accounting and Financial Administration Services Agreement (January 1, 2014) between The Bank of New York Mellon and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 filed January 28, 2014. | |||
| (3) | Executed Amended and Restated Fund Accounting and Financial Administration Oversight Agreement (January 1, 2014) between Delaware Service Company, Inc. and the Registrant incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 filed January 28, 2014. | |||
| (i) | Executed Assignment and Assumption Agreement (November 1, 2014) between Delaware Service Company, Inc. and Delaware Investments Fund Services Company relating to the Oversight Agreement incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | |||
| (i) | Legal Opinion. | |||
| (1) | Opinion and Consent of Counsel (September 21, 1999) with respect to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund (formerly, Delaware DelCap Fund) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 filed October 18, 1999. | |||
| (2) | Opinion and Consent of Counsel (September 21, 2007) with respect to Delaware Healthcare Fund incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 filed September 24, 2007. | |||
| (j) | Other Opinions. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (July 2015) attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.j. | |||
| (k) | Omitted Financial Statements. Not applicable. | |||
| (l) | Initial Capital Agreements. Not applicable. | |||
| (m) | Rule 12b-1 Plan. | |||
| (1) | Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Class A (April 19, 2001) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed October 19, 2010. | |||
| (2) | Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Class C (April 19, 2001) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed October 19, 2010. | |||
3
| (3) | Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Class R (May 15, 2003) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed October 19, 2010. | ||
| (n) | Rule 18f-3 Plan. | ||
| (1) | Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 (September 25, 2014) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 filed January 28, 2015. | ||
| (o) | Reserved. | ||
| (p) | Codes of Ethics. | ||
| (1) | Code of Ethics for Delaware Investments (Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, and Delaware Distributors, L.P.) and Delaware Investments Family of Funds (October 1, 2013) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 filed January 28, 2014. | ||
| (2) | Jackson Square Partners, LLC Code of Ethics (January 2014) attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.p.2. | ||
| (q) | Other. | ||
| (1) | Powers of Attorney (May 17, 2007) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed July 6, 2007. | ||
| (2) | Power of Attorney (September 1, 2011) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 filed January 28, 2013. | ||
| (3) | Power of Attorney (January 1, 2013) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 filed January 28, 2013. | ||
| (4) | Power of Attorney (January 1, 2013) incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 filed January 28, 2013. | ||
| (5) | Power of Attorney (April 23, 2015) attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.q.5. | ||
|
Item 29. |
Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant. None. | ||
|
Item 30. |
Indemnification. Article VII, Section 2 (November 15, 2006) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated into this filing by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 filed July 6, 2007. Article VI of the Amended and Restated By-Laws (April 1, 2015) attached as Exhibit No. EX-99.b. | ||
|
Item 31. |
Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser. Delaware Management Company (the “Manager”), a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, serves as investment manager to the Registrant and also serves as investment manager or sub-advisor to certain of the other funds in the Delaware Investments® Funds (Delaware Group® Adviser Funds, Delaware Group Cash Reserve, Delaware Group Equity Funds I, Delaware Group Equity Funds II, Delaware Group Equity Funds V, Delaware Group Foundation Funds, Delaware Group Global & International Funds, Delaware Group Government Fund, Delaware Group Income Funds, Delaware Group Limited-Term Government Funds, Delaware Group State Tax-Free Income Trust, Delaware Group Tax-Free Fund, Delaware Pooled® Trust, Delaware VIP® Trust, Voyageur Insured Funds, Voyageur Intermediate Tax Free Funds, Voyageur Mutual Funds, Voyageur Mutual Funds II, Voyageur Mutual Funds III, Voyageur Tax Free Funds, Delaware Investments Dividend and Income Fund, Inc., Delaware Investments Colorado Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund, Delaware Investments Minnesota Municipal Income Fund II, Inc., and Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and Income Fund) and the Optimum Fund Trust, as well as to certain non-affiliated registered investment companies. In addition, certain officers of the Manager also serve as trustees and/or officers of other Delaware Investments Funds and Optimum Fund Trust. A company indirectly owned by the Manager’s parent company acts as principal underwriter to the mutual funds in the Delaware Investments Funds (see Item 32 below) and another such company acts as the shareholder services, dividend disbursing, accounting servicing and transfer agent for all of the Delaware Investments Funds. | ||
4
|
Unless otherwise noted, the following persons serving as directors or officers of the Manager have held the following positions during the Trust’s past two fiscal years. Unless otherwise noted, the principal business address of the directors and officers of the Manager is 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094. | |||
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Shawn Lytle | President | None | Mr. Lytle has served in various |
| executive capacities within | |||
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Roger A. Early | Executive Vice | President/Chief Executive | Mr. Early has served in various |
| President/Managing | Officer | capacities within Delaware | |
| Director, Head of Fixed | Investments | ||
| Income/ | |||
| Co-Chief Investment | |||
| Officer—Total Return | |||
| Fixed Income Strategy | |||
| Philip N. Russo | Executive Vice | None | Mr. Russo has served in various |
| President/Chief | executive capacities within | ||
| Administrative Officer | Delaware Investments | ||
| David F. Connor | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Connor has served in |
| President/General | President/General | various executive capacities | |
| Counsel/Secretary | Counsel/Secretary | within Delaware Investments | |
| Senior Vice President/General | |||
| Counsel/Secretary | |||
| Optimum Fund Trust | |||
| Joseph R. Baxter | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Baxter has served in |
| President/Head of | President/Head of | various capacities within | |
| Municipal Bond | Municipal Bond | Delaware Investments | |
| Department/Senior | Department/Senior | ||
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | ||
| Christopher S. Beck | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Beck has served in various |
| Chief Investment | Chief Investment Officer - | capacities within Delaware | |
| Officer—Small Cap | Small Cap Value/Mid-Cap | Investments | |
| Value/Mid-Cap Value | Value Equity | ||
| Equity | |||
| Adam H. Brown | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Brown has served in |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Michael P. Buckley | Senior Vice | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Buckley has served in |
| President//Director of | Director of Municipal | various capacities within | |
| Municipal Research | Research | Delaware Investments | |
| Stephen J. Busch | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Busch has served in various |
| Investment Accounting | Investment Accounting | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Michael F. Capuzzi | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Capuzzi has served in |
| Investment Systems | Investment Systems | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments |
5
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Liu-Er Chen | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Chen has served in various |
| Chief Investment Officer, | Chief Investment Officer, | capacities within Delaware | |
| Emerging Markets and | Emerging Markets and | Investments | |
| Healthcare | Healthcare | ||
| David F. Connor | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Connor has served in |
| President/Deputy General | President/Deputy General | various capacities within | |
| Counsel/Secretary | Counsel/Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Vice President/Deputy General | |||
| Counsel/Secretary – Optimum | |||
| Fund Trust | |||
| Stephen J. Czepiel | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Czepiel has served in |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Craig C. Dembek | Senior Vice President/ Co- | Senior Vice President/Co- | Mr. Dembek has served in |
| Head of Credit | Head of Credit | various capacities within | |
| Research/Senior Research | Research/Senior Research | Delaware Investments | |
| Analyst | Analyst | ||
| Stuart M. George | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. George has served in |
| President/Head of Equity | President/Head of Equity | various capacities within | |
| Trading | Trading | Delaware Investments | |
| Gregory A. Gizzi | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Gizzi has served in various |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | capacities with Delaware | |
| Manager | Manager | Investments | |
| Edward Gray | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Gray has served in various |
| President/Chief | President/Chief | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investment Officer— | Investment Officer – | Investments | |
| Global and International | Global and International | ||
| Value Equity | Value Equity | ||
| Paul Grillo | Senior Vice President/Co- | Senior Vice President/Co- | Mr. Grillo has served in various |
| Chief Investment | Chief Investment | capacities within Delaware | |
| Officer—Total Return | Officer—Total Return | Investments | |
| Fixed Income Strategy | Fixed Income Strategy | ||
| Sharon Hill | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Ms. Hill has served in various |
| Head of Equity | Head of Equity | capacities within Delaware | |
| Quantitative Research and | Quantitative Research and | Investments | |
| Analytics | Analytics | ||
| J. David Hillmeyer | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Hillmeyer has served in |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| James L. Hinkley | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Hinkley has served in |
| Head of Product | Head of Product | various capacities within | |
| Management | Management | Delaware Investments | |
| Kashif Ishaq | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Ishaq has served in various |
| President/Head of | President/Head of | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investment Grade | Investment Grade | Investments | |
| Corporate Bond Trading | Corporate Bond Trading | ||
| Cynthia Isom | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Ms. Isom has served in various |
| President/Portfolio | President/Portfolio | capacities within Delaware | |
| Manager | Manager | Investments | |
| Paul Matlack | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Matlack has served in |
| Senior Portfolio Manager/ | Senior Portfolio Manager/ | various capacities within | |
| Fixed Income Strategist | Fixed Income Strategist | Delaware Investments |
6
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Christopher | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. McCarthy has served in |
| McCarthy | President/Financial | President/Financial | various capacities within |
| Institutions Sales | Institutions Sales | Delaware Investments | |
| John P. McCarthy | Senior Vice President/Co- | Vice President/Senior | Mr. McCarthy has served in |
| Head of Credit | Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Research/Senior Research | Delaware Investments | ||
| Analyst | |||
| Brian McDonnell | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. McDonnell has served in |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | various capacities within | |
| Manager/Senior | Manager/Senior | Delaware Investments | |
| Structured Products | Structured Products | ||
| Analyst/Trader | Analyst/Trader | ||
| Timothy D. | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. McGarrity has served in |
| McGarrity | President/Financial | President/Financial | various capacities within |
| Services Officer | Services Officer | Delaware Investments | |
| Francis X. Morris | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Morris has served in |
| President/Chief | President/Chief | various capacities within | |
| Investment Officer - Core | Investment Officer - Core | Delaware Investments | |
| Equity | Equity | ||
| Brian L. Murray, Jr. | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Murray has served in |
| Chief Compliance Officer | Chief Compliance Officer | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Susan L. Natalini | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Ms. Natalini has served in |
| President/Head of Equity | President/Head of Equity | various capacities within | |
| and Fixed Income | and Fixed Income | Delaware Investments | |
| Business Operations | Business Operations | ||
| D. Tysen Nutt | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Nutt has served in various |
| Senior Portfolio | Senior Portfolio | capacities within Delaware | |
| Manager/Team Leader | Manager/Team Leader | Investments | |
| Philip O. Obazee | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Obazee has served in |
| President/Head of | President/Head of | various capacities within | |
| Derivatives | Derivatives | Delaware Investments | |
| Terrance M. O’Brien | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. O’Brien has served in |
| President/Head of Fixed | President/Head of Fixed | various capacities with | |
| Income Quantitative | Income Quantitative | Delaware Investments | |
| Analysis Department | Analysis Department | ||
| Marlene Petter | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Ms. Petter has served in various |
| President/Marketing | President/Marketing | capacities within Delaware | |
| Communications | Communications | Investments | |
| Richard Salus | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice | Mr. Salus has served in various |
| Controller/Treasurer | President/Chief Financial | capacities within Delaware | |
| Officer | Investments | ||
| Senior Vice President/Chief | |||
| Financial Officer – Optimum | |||
| Fund Trust | |||
| Christopher M. Testa | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Testa has served in various |
| Senior Portfolio Manager | Senior Portfolio Manager | capacities within Delaware | |
| since January 2014 | since January 2014 | Investments | |
| Michael G. Wildstein | Senior Vice | Senior Vice | Mr. Wildstein has served in |
| President/Senior Portfolio | President/Senior Portfolio | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Babak Zenouzi | Senior Vice President/ | Senior Vice President/ | Mr. Zenouzi has served in |
| Chief Investment | Chief Investment Officer- | various capacities within | |
| Officer—Real Estate | Real Estate Securities and | Delaware Investments | |
| Securities and Income Solutions |
Income Solutions |
7
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Gary T. Abrams | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Abrams has served in |
| Equity Trader | Equity Trader | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Christopher S. | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Adams has served in |
| Adams | Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Damon J. Andres | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Andres has served in |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Wayne A. Anglace | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Anglace has served in |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Jason G. Argyris | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Argyris has served in |
| Credit Research Analyst | Credit Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Margaret MacCarthy | Vice President/Investment | Vice President/Investment | Ms. Bacon has served in various |
| Bacon | Specialist | Specialist | capacities within Delaware |
| Investments | |||
| Patricia L. Bakely | Vice President/ Controller | Vice President/ Controller | Ms. Bakely has served in |
| various capacities within | |||
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Kristen E. | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Ms. Bartholdson has served in |
| Bartholdson-Peter | Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Todd Bassion | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Bassion has served in |
| Manager | Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Jo Anne Bennick | Vice President/15(c) | Vice President/15(c) | Ms. Bennick has served in |
| Reporting | Reporting | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Richard E. Biester | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Biester has served in |
| Equity Trader | Equity Trader | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Sylvie S. Blender | Vice President/Financial | Vice President/Financial | Ms. Blender has served in |
| Institutions Client | Institutions Client | various capacities within | |
| Services | Services | Delaware Investments | |
| Kevin Bock | Vice President/Municipal | Vice President/Municipal | Mr. Bock has served in various |
| Credit Analyst | Credit Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Zoe Bradley | Vice President/ Municipal | Vice President/Municipal | Ms. Bradley has served in |
| Bond Portfolio Analyst | Bond Portfolio Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Vincent A. | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Brancaccio has served in |
| Brancaccio | Equity Trader | Equity Trader | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Carolyn Brown- | Vice President/Investment | Vice President/Investment | Ms. Brown-Jordan has served in |
| Jordan | Accounting | Accounting | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| McAfee S. Burke | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Burke has served in various |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | capacities within Delaware Investments |
8
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Mathew J. Calabro | Vice President/Deputy | Vice President/Deputy | Mr. Calabro has served in |
| Chief Compliance Officer | Chief Compliance Officer | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Vice President/Chief | |||
| Compliance Officer - Optimum | |||
| Fund Trust | |||
| Mary Ellen M. | Vice President/Client | Vice President/Client | Ms. Carrozza has served in |
| Carrozza | Services | Services | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Steven G. Catricks | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Catricks has served in |
| Manager/Equity Analyst | Manager/Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Wen-Dar Chen | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Chen has served in various |
| Manager—International | Manager - International | capacities within Delaware | |
| Debt | Debt | Investments | |
| Anthony G. | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Mr. Ciavarelli has served in |
| Ciavarelli | General Counsel/Assistant | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within |
| Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Sean Conner | Vice President/Director of | Vice President/Director of | Mr. Conner has served in |
| Fixed Income Product | Fixed Income Product | various capacities within | |
| Management | Management | Delaware Investments | |
| Michael Costanzo | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Costanzo has served in |
| Performance Analyst | Performance Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Kishor K. Daga | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Daga has served in various |
| Institutional Account | Institutional Account | capacities within Delaware | |
| Services | Services | Investments | |
| Cori E. Daggett | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Ms. Daggett has served in |
| General Counsel/ | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within | |
| Assistant Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Ion Dan | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Dan has served in various |
| Structured Products | Structured Products | capacities within Delaware | |
| Analyst/Trader | Analyst/Trader | Investments | |
| Guido DeAscanis III | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. DeAscanis has served in |
| Credit Research Analyst | Credit Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Kevin C. Donegan | Vice President/Head of | Vice President/Head of | Mr. Donegan has served in |
| Business Manager | Business Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments and/or its | |||
| affiliates since 1994 | |||
| Camillo D’Orazio | Vice President/Ex-US | Vice President/Ex-US | Mr. D’Orazio has served in |
| Client Service Officer | Client Service Officer | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Deidre A. Downes | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Ms. Downes has served in |
| General Counsel/ | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within | |
| Assistant Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Michael E. Dresnin | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Mr. Dresnin has served in |
| General Counsel/Assistant | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within | |
| Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Joel A. Ettinger | Vice President/Taxation | Vice President – Taxation | Mr. Ettinger has served in |
| various capacities within | |||
| Delaware Investments |
9
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Richard J. Filip | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Filip has served in various |
| Analyst/Trader- | Analyst/ Trader- | capacities within Delaware | |
| Convertible and Municipal | Convertible and Municipal | Investments | |
| Strategies | Strategies | ||
| Michelle Finder | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Ms. Finder has served in |
| Credit Research Analyst | Credit Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Joseph Fiorilla | Vice President – Trading | Vice President – Trading | Mr. Fiorilla has served in |
| Operations | Operations | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Charles E. Fish | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Fish has served in various |
| Equity Trader | Equity Trader | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Clifford M. Fisher | Vice President/Municipal | Vice President/Municipal | Mr. Fisher has served in various |
| Credit Analyst | Credit Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Patrick Foley | Vice President/Director of | Vice President/Director of | Mr. Foley has served in various |
| Equity Product | Equity Product | capacities within Delaware | |
| Management | Management | Investments | |
| Denise A. Franchetti | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Ms. Franchetti has served in |
| Manager/Senior Research | Manager/Senior Research | various capacities within | |
| Analyst | Analyst | Delaware Investments | |
| Lawrence G. Franko | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Franko has served in |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Eric Frei | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Frei has served in various |
| Government and Agency | Government and Agency | capacities within Delaware | |
| Analyst/Trader | Analyst/Trader | Investments | |
| Michael Friedman | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Friedman has served in |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Mark Frymiare | Vice President/Marketing | Vice President/Marketing | Mr. Frymiare has served in |
| Support Services | Support Services | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Daniel V. Geatens | Vice President/Director of | Vice President/Treasurer | Mr. Geatens has served in |
| Financial Administration | various capacities within | ||
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Vice President/Treasurer – | |||
| Optimum Fund Trust | |||
| Christopher | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Gowlland has served in |
| Gowlland | Quantitative Analyst | Quantitative Analyst | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| David J. Hamilton | Vice President/Credit | Vice President/Credit | Mr. Hamilton has served in |
| Research Analyst | Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Brian Hannon | Vice President/High Yield | Vice President/High Yield | Mr. Hannon has served in |
| Trader since April 2013 | Trader since April 2013 | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Scott Hastings | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Hastings has served in |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Duane Hewlett | Vice President/Structured | Vice President/Structured | Mr. Hewlett has served in |
| Product Analyst/Trader | Product Analyst/Trader | various capacities within Delaware Investments |
10
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Jerel A. Hopkins | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Mr. Hopkins has served in |
| General Counsel/Assistant | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within | |
| Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Chungwei Hsia | Vice President/Emerging | Vice President/Emerging | Mr. Hsia has served in various |
| and Developed Markets | and Developed Markets | capacities within Delaware | |
| Analyst | Analyst | Investments | |
| Stephen M. | Vice President/ Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Juszczyszyn has served in |
| Juszczyszyn | Manager/Senior | Manager/Senior | various capacities within |
| Structured Products | Structured Products | Delaware Investments | |
| Analyst/Trader | Analyst/Trader | ||
| William F. Keelan | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Keelan has served in |
| Quantitative Analyst | Quantitative Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Nancy Keenan | Vice President/Domestic | Vice President/Domestic | Ms. Keenan has served in |
| Equity, Senior Product | Equity, Senior Product | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Colleen Kneib | Vice President/Municipal | Vice President/Municipal | Ms. Kneib has served in various |
| Credit Analyst | Credit Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Daniel Ko | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Ko has served in various |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Anu B. Kothari | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Ms. Kothari has served in |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Nikhil G. Lalvani | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Lalvani has served in |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Jamie LaScala | Vice President/Global | Vice President/Global | Ms. LaScala has served in |
| Equities/Senior Product | Equities/Senior Product | various capacities within | |
| Manager | Manager | Delaware Investments | |
| Kevin Lam | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Lam has served in various |
| Manager-Fixed Income | Manager - Fixed Income | capacities within Delaware | |
| Separately Managed | Separately Managed | Investments | |
| Accounts | Accounts | ||
| Steven A. Landis | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Landis has served in |
| Portfolio Manager - | Portfolio Manager – | various capacities within | |
| Emerging Markets Debt | Emerging Markets Debt | Delaware Investments | |
| Anthony A. | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Lombardi has served in |
| Lombardi | Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Kent Madden | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Mr. Madden has served in |
| Manager/Equity Analyst | Manager/Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Andrew McEvoy | Vice President/Trade | Vice President/Trade | Mr. McEvoy has served in |
| Settlements | Settlements | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Kelley McKee | Vice President/Portfolio | Vice President/Portfolio | Ms. McKee has served in |
| Manager/Equity Analyst | Manager/Equity Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Carleen Michalski | Vice President/Product | Vice President/Product | Ms. Michalski has served in |
| Manager | Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments |
11
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| Saj Moradi | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Moradi has served in |
| Credit Research Analyst | Credit Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Michael S. Morris | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Morris has served in |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Constantine | Vice President/Product | Vice President/Product | Mr. Mylonas has served in |
| (“Charlie”) Mylonas | Manager (Since June | Manager | various capacities within |
| 2010) | Delaware Investments | ||
| Donald G. Padilla | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Padilla has served in |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Alexendra R. Parson | Vice President/Financial | Vice President/Financial | Ms. Parson has served in |
| Institutions Client | Institutions Client | various capacities within | |
| Services | Services | Delaware Investments | |
| Will Rainbow | Vice | Vice | Mr. Rainbow has served in |
| President/Engagement | President/Engagement | various capacities within | |
| Strategy & Analytics | Strategy & Analytics | Delaware Investments | |
| Mansur Z. Rasul | Vice President/Head of | Vice President/Head of | Mr. Rasul has served in various |
| Emerging Markets Credit | Emerging Markets Credit | capacities within Delaware | |
| Trading | Trading | Investments | |
| Carl Rice | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Rice has served in various |
| Investment Specialist | Investment Specialist | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Joseph T. Rogina | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Rogina has served in |
| Equity Trader | Equity Trader | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Kevin C. Schildt | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Schildt has served in |
| Research Analyst | Research Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Scott B. Schroeder | Vice President/Investment | Vice President/Investment | Mr. Schroeder has served in |
| Grade Corporate Bond | Grade Corporate Bond | various capacities within | |
| Trader | Trader | Delaware Investments | |
| Brian Scotto | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Scotto has served in various |
| Government and Agency | Government and Agency | capacities within Delaware | |
| Trader | Trader | Investments | |
| Richard D. Seidel | Vice President// Treasurer | Vice President//Assistant | Mr. Seidel has served in various |
| Treasurer | capacities within Delaware | ||
| Investments | |||
| Catherine A. Seklecki | Vice President/Financial | Vice President/Financial | Ms. Seklecki has served in |
| Institutions Client | Institutions Client | various capacities within | |
| Services | Services | Delaware Investments | |
| Sean M. Simmons | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Simmons has served in |
| International Bond Trader | International Bond Trader | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Barry Slawter | Vice President/Retail | Vice President/Retail | Mr. Slawter has served in |
| Marketing & Content | Marketing & Content | various capacities within | |
| Strategy | Strategy | Delaware Investments | |
| Frank Strenger | Vice President/High Yield | Vice President/High Yield | Mr. Strenger has served in |
| Trader | Trader | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Molly Thompson | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Ms. Thompson has served in |
| Product Manager, | Product Manager, | various capacities within | |
| Specialty Products and Solutions |
Specialty Products and Solutions |
Delaware Investments |
12
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices | Positions and Offices | Other Positions and Offices |
| Business Address | with Manager | with Registrant | Held |
| John C. Van Roden | Vice President/Municipal | Vice President/Municipal | Mr. Roden has served in various |
| III | Bond Trader/Head of | Bond Trader/Head of | capacities within Delaware |
| Municipal Bond Trading | Municipal Bond Trading | Investments | |
| Robert A. Vogel, Jr. | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Vogel has served in various |
| Portfolio Manager | Portfolio Manager | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Nael H. Wahaidi | Vice President/ | Vice President/ | Mr. Wahaidi has served in |
| Quantitative Analyst | Quantitative Analyst | various capacities within | |
| Delaware Investments | |||
| Emilia P. Wang | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Ms. Wang has served in various |
| General Counsel/Assistant | General Counsel/Assistant | capacities within Delaware | |
| Secretary | Secretary | Investments | |
| Jeffrey S. Wang | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Wang has served in various |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments | |||
| Kathryn R. Williams | Vice President/Associate | Vice President/Associate | Ms. Williams has served in |
| General Counsel/Assistant | General Counsel/Assistant | various capacities within | |
| Secretary | Secretary | Delaware Investments | |
| Wei Xiao | Vice President/Senior | Vice President/Senior | Mr. Xiao has served in various |
| Equity Analyst | Equity Analyst | capacities within Delaware | |
| Investments |
|
Jackson Square Partners, LLC (Jackson Square) serves as a sub-adviser to Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund. The description of Jackson Square under the caption “Who manages the Fund” in the Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund Prospectus included in Part A of this Registration Statement is incorporated into this Part C by reference. Information on the member and officers of Jackson Square set forth in its Form ADV filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 801-79255) is incorporated into this filing by reference. | ||
|
Item 32. |
Principal Underwriters. | |
| (a) | Delaware Distributors, L.P. serves as principal underwriter for all the mutual funds in the Delaware Investments Family of Funds and the Optimum Fund Trust. | |
| (b) | Information with respect to each officer and partner of the principal underwriter and the Registrant is provided below. Unless otherwise noted, the principal business address of each officer and partner of Delaware Distributors, L.P. is 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103- 7094. | |
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices with | Positions and Offices with |
| Business Address | Underwriter | Registrant |
| Delaware Distributors, Inc. | General Partner | None |
| Delaware Capital | Limited Partner | None |
| Management | ||
| Delaware Investment Advisers | Limited Partner | None |
| Brett D. Wright | Vice President | None |
| Philip Russo | Executive Vice President | None |
| Stephen J. Busch | Senior Vice President | Senior Vice President |
| David F. Connor | Senior Vice President/General | Senior Vice President/ General |
| Secretary | Counsel/Secretary | |
| Brian L. Murray, Jr. | Senior Vice President/Chief | Senior Vice President/Chief |
| Compliance Officer | Compliance Officer | |
| Marlene D. Petter | Senior Vice President | Senior Vice President |
13
| Name and Principal | Positions and Offices with | Positions and Offices with |
| Business Address | Underwriter | Registrant |
| Kurt Phares | Senior Vice President | None |
| Aiden J. Redmond, Jr. | Senior Vice President | None |
| Richard Salus | Senior Vice | Senior Vice President/Chief |
| President/Controller/Treasurer/ | Financial Officer | |
| Financial Operations Principal | ||
| Mathew J. Calabro | Vice President/Deputy Chief | Vice President/Deputy Chief |
| Compliance Officer | Compliance Officer | |
| Mary Ellen M. Carrozza | Vice President | Vice President/Client Services |
| Anthony G. Ciavarelli | Vice President/Assistant Secretary | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | ||
| Cori E. Daggett | Vice President/Assistant Secretary | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | ||
| Deidre A. Downes | Vice President/Assistant Secretary | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | ||
| Michael Dresnin | Vice President/Associate General | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | Counsel/Assistant Secretary | |
| Jamie Fox | Vice President | Vice President |
| Daniel V. Geatens | Vice President | Vice President |
| John L. Greico | Vice President | None |
| Robert T. Haenn | Vice President | None |
| Jerel A. Hopkins | Vice President/Associate General | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | Counsel/Assistant Secretary | |
| Rachel Jacobs | Vice President | None |
| Konstantine C. Mylonas | Vice President | None |
| Richard D. Seidel | Vice President/Assistant | None |
| Controller/Assistant Treasurer | ||
| Emilia P. Wang | Vice President/Assistant Secretary | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | ||
| Stephen R. Shamut | Vice President | None |
| Kathryn R. Williams | Vice President/Assistant Secretary | Vice President/Associate General |
| Counsel/Assistant Secretary | ||
| Antoinette C. Robbins | Anti-Money Laundering Officer | Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
| (c) | Not applicable. | |
|
Item 33. |
Location of Accounts and Records. All accounts and records required to be maintained by Section 31 (a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules under that section are maintained by the following entities: Delaware Management Company, Delaware Service Company, Inc. and Delaware Distributors, L.P. (2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094); BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722); and The Bank of New York Mellon (One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286-0001). | |
|
Item 34. |
Management Services. None. | |
Item 35. |
Undertakings. Not applicable. | |
14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on this 27th day of July, 2015.
DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS IV | |
| By: | /s/ Richard Salus |
| Richard Salus | |
| Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Roger A. Early | President/Chief Executive Officer (Principal | July 27, 2015 | ||
| Roger A. Early | Executive Officer) | |||
| Thomas L. Bennett | * | Chairman and Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Thomas L. Bennett | ||||
| Ann D. Borowiec | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Ann D. Borowiec | ||||
| Joseph W. Chow | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Joseph W. Chow | ||||
| John A. Fry | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| John A. Fry | ||||
| Lucinda S. Landreth | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Lucinda S. Landreth | ||||
| Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa | ||||
| Thomas K. Whitford | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Thomas K. Whitford | ||||
| Janet L. Yeomans | * | Trustee | July 27, 2015 | |
| Janet L. Yeomans | ||||
| /s/ Richard Salus | Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer | July 27, 2015 | ||
| Richard Salus | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
| *By: | /s/ Richard Salus |
| Richard Salus | |
| as Attorney-in-Fact for each of the persons indicated | |
| (Pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed and filed herewith) | |
15
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
EXHIBITS
TO
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
(Delaware
Group® Equity Funds IV N-1A)
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit | ||
| EX-99.a.1.iv | Executed Certificate of Amendment (May 21, 2015) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust | ||
| EX-99.b | Amended and Restated By-Laws (April 1, 2015) | ||
| EX-99.j | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (July 2015) | ||
| EX-99.p.2 | Jackson Square Partners, LLC Code of Ethics (January 2014) | ||
| EX-99.q.5 | Power of Attorney (April 23, 2015) | ||
| This ‘485BPOS’ Filing | Date | Other Filings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 12/31/16 | ||||
| Effective on: | 7/29/15 | |||
| Filed as of: | 7/28/15 | |||
| Filed on: | 7/27/15 | |||
| 7/1/15 | ||||
| 6/30/15 | ||||
| 5/21/15 | ||||
| 4/23/15 | ||||
| 4/1/15 | DEFA14A | |||
| 3/31/15 | 24F-2NT, DEF 14A, N-CSR, NSAR-B, PRE 14A | |||
| 3/1/15 | ||||
| 2/19/15 | 485BPOS, DEFA14A | |||
| 1/28/15 | 485BPOS | |||
| 1/1/15 | ||||
| 12/31/14 | N-Q | |||
| 11/1/14 | ||||
| 10/31/14 | ||||
| 9/30/14 | 24F-2NT, N-CSR, NSAR-B | |||
| 9/25/14 | ||||
| 6/30/14 | N-PX, N-Q | |||
| 6/13/14 | ||||
| 4/1/14 | ||||
| 1/28/14 | 485BPOS | |||
| 1/1/14 | ||||
| 10/1/13 | ||||
| 9/30/13 | 24F-2NT, 24F-2NT/A, N-CSR, NSAR-B | |||
| 1/28/13 | 485BPOS | |||
| 1/1/13 | ||||
| 9/30/12 | 24F-2NT, N-CSR, NSAR-B, NSAR-B/A | |||
| 9/28/12 | ||||
| 3/31/12 | N-CSRS, NSAR-A, NSAR-A/A | |||
| 1/27/12 | 485BPOS | |||
| 1/1/12 | ||||
| 9/30/11 | 24F-2NT, N-CSR, NSAR-B, NSAR-B/A | |||
| 9/1/11 | ||||
| 7/18/11 | 497 | |||
| 1/28/11 | 485BPOS | |||
| 12/22/10 | ||||
| 11/30/10 | ||||
| 10/19/10 | 485BPOS | |||
| 6/4/10 | N-14, N-CSR | |||
| 1/28/10 | 485BPOS | |||
| 1/21/10 | 497 | |||
| 1/4/10 | 497 | |||
| 1/1/10 | ||||
| 11/25/09 | 485APOS | |||
| 9/30/09 | 24F-2NT, DEFA14A, N-CSR, NSAR-B | |||
| 9/22/09 | ||||
| 8/18/09 | ||||
| 2/26/09 | N-Q | |||
| 1/27/09 | 485BPOS | |||
| 12/31/08 | N-Q | |||
| 9/6/08 | ||||
| 1/28/08 | 485BPOS | |||
| 9/24/07 | 485BPOS | |||
| 9/21/07 | ||||
| 7/20/07 | ||||
| 7/6/07 | 485APOS | |||
| 5/17/07 | ||||
| 11/15/06 | ||||
| 11/26/03 | 485BPOS | |||
| 5/15/03 | ||||
| 8/23/02 | ||||
| 11/29/01 | 485BPOS | |||
| 4/19/01 | ||||
| 12/17/99 | 485BPOS | |||
| 10/18/99 | 485APOS | |||
| 9/21/99 | ||||
| 12/17/98 | ||||
| 6/1/92 | ||||
| List all Filings | ||||
