UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND CHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21553

 

Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

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

 

Date of fiscal year end: February 28
   
Date of reporting period:  February 29, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.Reports to Stockholders.

 

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

 



Annual Report

February 29, 2016

Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund

 E-Delivery Sign-up —details inside
This report is intended for existing current holders. It is not a prospectus. This information should be read carefully.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
voyainvestments.com  


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS


President’s Letter
                 1    
Market Perspective
                 2    
Portfolio Managers’ Report
                 4    
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
                 6    
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                 7    
Statement of Operations
                 8    
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
                 9    
Financial Highlights
                 10    
Notes to Financial Statements
                 11    
Summary Portfolio of Investments
                 21    
Tax Information
                 26    
Shareholder Meeting Information
                 27    
Trustee and Officer Information
                 28    
Advisory Contract Approval Discussion
                 32    
Additional Information
                 36    
 
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PROXY VOTING INFORMATION
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180; (2) on the Fund’s website at www.voyainvestments.com; and (3) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC’s”) website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies related to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge on the Fund’s website at www.voyainvestments.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. This report contains a summary portfolio of investments for the Fund. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330. The Fund’s Forms N-Q, as well as a complete portfolio of investments, are available without charge upon request from the Fund by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180.

 

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER



Dear Shareholder,

Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IGD.” The primary objective of the Fund is to provide a high level of income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.

The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in a portfolio of global common stocks that have a history of attractive dividend yields and employing an option strategy of writing call options on a portion of the equity portfolio.

For the year ended February 29, 2016, the Fund made monthly distributions totaling $0.91 per share, which were characterized as $0.14 per share return of capital and $0.77 per share of net investment income.*

Based on net asset value (“NAV”), the Fund provided a total return of –8.90% for the year ended February 29, 2016.(1)(2) This NAV return reflects a decrease in the Fund’s NAV from $9.31 on February 28, 2015 to $7.52 on February 29, 2016, after taking into account the monthly distributions noted above. Based on its share price, the Fund provided a total return of –13.92% for the year ended February 29, 2016.(2)(3) This share price return reflects a decrease in the Fund’s share price from $8.53 on February 28, 2015 to $6.51 on February 29, 2016, after taking into account the monthly distributions noted above.

The global equity markets have witnessed a challenging and turbulent period. Please read the Market Perspective and Portfolio Managers’ Report for more information on the market and the Fund’s performance.

At Voya our mission is to help you grow and protect your wealth, by offering you and your financial advisor a range of global investment solutions. We invite you to visit our website at www.voyainvestments.com. Here you will find current information on our investment products and services, including our open- and closed-end funds and our retirement portfolios. You will see that Voya offers a broad range of equity, fixed income and multi-asset strategies that aim to fulfill a variety of investor needs.

Thank you for trusting Voya with your investment assets. We look forward to serving you in the months and years ahead.

Sincerely,

Shaun Mathews
President and Chief Executive Officer
Voya Family of Funds
April 1, 2016


The views expressed in the President’s Letter reflect those of the President as of the date of the letter. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and the Voya mutual funds disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and because investment decisions for a Voya mutual fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of investment intent on behalf of any Voya mutual fund. Reference to specific company securities should not be construed as recommendations or investment advice. International investing does pose special risks including currency fluctuation, economic and political risks not found in investments that are solely domestic.

More complete information about the Fund, including the Fund’s daily New York Stock Exchange closing prices and net asset values per share, is available at www.voyainvestments.com or by calling the Fund’s Shareholder Service Department at (800) 992-0180. To obtain a prospectus for any Voya mutual fund, please call your financial advisor or a fund’s Shareholder Service Department at (800) 992-0180 or log on to www.voyainvestments.com. A prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. A prospectus contains this information and other information about a fund. Check with your financial advisor to determine which Voya mutual funds are available for sale within their firm. Not all funds are available for sale at all firms.


*
  The final tax composition of dividends and distributions will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end.
(1)   Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions, and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.
(2)
  Total returns shown include, if applicable, the effect of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the investment adviser. Had all fees and expenses been considered, the total returns would have been lower.
(3)   Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions, and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

1


 

MARKET PERSPECTIVE:  YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2016


In our semi-annual report, we described how global equities, in the form of the MSCI World IndexSM (the “Index”) measured in local currencies, including net reinvested dividends, had been shaken when China announced a 2% devaluation of the yuan. The Index staged a strong recovery in October, which stalled in November and unraveled in December. Concerns intensified in 2016 and by the end of February, the Index was down 9.73% for the fiscal year. (The Index returned –11.00% for the one year ended February 29, 2016, measured in U.S. dollars.)

U.S. economic data blew hot and cold. Employment showed the most consistent strength. By the end of February, 231,000 new jobs were being created monthly, on average. The unemployment rate fell to 4.9%, the lowest since February 2008. Sluggish annual wage growth improved to 2.5%, which doesn’t sound like much, but it was the best since 2009. Gross domestic product (“GDP”) was 3.9% annualized in the second quarter of 2015, after another harsh winter, before an inventory downturn and waning demand pegged it back to 2.0% in the third quarter and 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Industrial production was uneven, while purchasing managers’ indices in manufacturing indicated contraction in the last five months of the period. Retail sales were still showing no real acceleration despite lower gasoline prices.

Superimposed on this was the prospect of rising U.S. interest rates. On December 16, the Federal Open Market Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board finally announced a 0.25% increase in the federal funds interest rate as a first step in normalizing policy. Further increases would be data driven. There was a substantial body of opinion that felt the increase was unwarranted, not least because all other major central banks were far from considering rate increases.

China’s unexpected 2% devaluation of the yuan in August caused such market turmoil because it was handled so poorly and because it suggested that the Chinese economy, the largest single contributor to global growth in recent years, was weaker than had previously been admitted. China’s own market, represented by the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (“Shanghai Composite”), was already in retreat. By August 26 the Shanghai Composite was down 43% from its June 12 peak. Global equities fell sharply and had fallen 5.39% by the end of our fiscal half year.

Yet in the fourth quarter the feeling grew that concerns had been overdone. The Bank of China lowered interest rates, eased bank reserve requirements and by early November, the Shanghai Composite had recouped over a quarter of its losses. The price of oil had fallen to a new multi-year low near the end of August, but rebounded sharply and edged further ahead in October. Global equities responded with an 11% bounce between late September and early November.

But it was not to last. Chinese authorities had clearly been rattled by the violent reaction to the devaluation and as they tried to keep the yuan steady, China’s foreign exchange reserves were falling by about $100bn per month as the period ended. In early January a new bout of panic sent the Shanghai Composite down nearly 7% triggering a recently introduced circuit-breaker, which having seemed to make things worse, was soon abandoned. Again the authorities had created a perception of incompetence. Fourth quarter growth in China was reported at 6.8%, the weakest since 2009. The yuan and the Shanghai Composite were falling again.

The oil price and global equities soon followed. Concerns re-emerged about the various areas of instability in global economies and markets, including the already hard-hit energy sector, the vast investment it creates and was postponing because of falling energy prices amid faltering demand and uncontrollable supply. Inflation was nowhere to be seen and to create it, increasingly commonplace negative bond yields were being encouraged by central banks, which, to many commentators, had lost their power to improve economic conditions.

In U.S. fixed income markets, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (“Barclays Aggregate”) gained 1.50% in the fiscal year, while the Barclays U.S. Treasury Bond sub-index added 2.88%. Indices of riskier classes fared worse. The Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Bond sub-index fell 1.49%; the Barclays High Yield Bond — 2% Issuer Constrained Composite Index (not a part of the Barclays Aggregate) fell 8.26%. According to Bloomberg in February, some 29% by value of world government bonds outstanding had negative yields.

U.S. equities, represented by the S&P 500® Index including dividends, dropped 6.19% in the year through February. The defensive telecommunications sector did best, returning 7.56%. The worst performing sector was understandably energy, slumping 24.21%. S&P 500® earnings per share fell year-over-year in each of the last three quarters of 2015 and were set to fall again in the first quarter of 2016.

In currencies, the dollar added 2.94% against the euro after that currency dipped in February in anticipation of further monetary easing in March. The dollar gained 9.05% on the pound, accelerating late in the period as concerns grew over Britain’s possible exit from the European Union. The dollar lost 5.22% to the yen, again after a late move in response to market instability.

In international markets, the MSCI Japan® Index dropped 14.93%, all in 2016, on renewed concern over China’s slowdown and a rising yen. The MSCI Europe ex UK® Index sagged 12.03%, all in the last three months. The financial sector was particularly hard hit by low (and in some cases negative) interest rates and deteriorating loan losses. The MSCI UK® Index fell 9.22%, a decline that was much more evenly spread throughout the year and mostly concentrated in a dozen or so multinationals in the financials, materials and energy sectors such as HSBC (financials), Glencore (materials) and Royal Dutch Shell (energy).

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance quoted represents past performance. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Fund’s performance is subject to change since the period’s end and may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please call (800) 992-0180 or log on to www.voyainvestments.com to obtain performance data current to the most recent month end.

Market Perspective reflects the views of Voya Investment Management’s Chief Investment Risk Officer only through the end of the period, and is subject to change based on market and other conditions.

2


 

BENCHMARK DESCRIPTIONS


Index         Description
Barclays High Yield Bond — 2% Issuer
Constrained Composite Index
           
An unmanaged index that includes all fixed-income securities having a
maximum quality rating of Ba1, a minimum amount outstanding of $150 million, and at least one year to maturity.
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
           
An unmanaged index of publicly issued investment grade U.S. Government, mortgage-backed, asset-backed and corporate debt securities.
Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Bond Index
           
An unmanaged index consisting of publicly issued, fixed rate, nonconvertible,
investment grade debt securities.
Barclays U.S. Treasury Bond Index
           
A market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of one year or more.
Chicago Board Options Exchange BuyWrite Monthly Index (“CBOE BuyWrite Monthly Index”)
           
A passive total return index based on selling the near-term, at-the-money S&P 500® Index call option against the S&P 500® stock index portfolio each month, on the day the current contract expires.
MSCI Europe ex UK® Index
           
A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in Europe, excluding the UK.
MSCI Japan® Index
           
A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in Japan.
MSCI UK® Index
           
A free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in the UK.
MSCI World IndexSM
           
An unmanaged index that measures the performance of over 1,400 securities listed on exchanges in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.
S&P 500® Index
           
An unmanaged index that measures the performance of securities of approximately 500 large-capitalization companies whose securities are traded on major U.S. stock markets.
Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index
           
A capitalization-weighted index. The index tracks the daily price performance of all A-shares and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The index was developed on December 19, 1990 with a base value of 100.
 

3


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND
AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS’ REPORT


Geographic Diversification
as of February 29, 2016
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
                      
United States
                 46.0 %  
France
                 10.4 %  
United Kingdom
                 9.9 %  
Japan
                 7.5 %  
Switzerland
                 5.1 %  
Canada
                 3.6 %  
Italy
                 3.2 %  
Netherlands
                 2.8 %  
Sweden
                 1.8 %  
Taiwan
                 1.7 %  
Countries between 0.4%–1.4%ˆ
                 4.1 %  
Assets in Excess of Other Liabilities*
                 3.9 %  
Net Assets
                 100.0 %  
*  Includes purchased options.
ˆ  Includes 4 countries, which each represents 0.4%–1.4% of net assets.
Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.

Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks to provide investors with a high level of income from a portfolio of global common stocks with historically attractive dividend yields and premiums from call option writing. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in a portfolio of common stocks of dividend paying companies located throughout the world, including the U.S. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is capital appreciation.

Portfolio Management: The Fund is managed by Bruno Springael, Nicolas Simar, Willem van Dommelen and Kris Hermie, Portfolio Managers, NNIP Advisors B.V. — the Sub-Adviser.*

Equity Portfolio Construction: The stock selection process begins with constructing an eligible universe of global common stocks with market capitalizations typically over $1 billion that have a history of paying dividend yields. Through a multi-step screening process of various fundamental factors and fundamental analysis, the portfolio managers construct a portfolio generally consisting of 80-120 common stocks with a history of attractive dividend yields and a potential for stable or growing dividends that are supported by business fundamentals. The portfolio generally seeks to target a dividend yield higher than that of the MSCI World IndexSM dividend yield. Stocks that do not pay dividends may also be selected for portfolio construction and risk control purposes.

The Fund’s Integrated Option Strategy: The Fund’s option strategy is designed to seek gains and lower volatility of total returns over a market cycle by primarily selling call options on selected indices and/or on individual securities and/or exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).

The Fund’s call option writing is determined based on stock outlook, market opportunities and option price volatility. The Fund seeks to sell call options that are generally short-term (between 10 days and three months until expiration) and at-the-money, out-of-the-money, or near-the-money. The underlying value of such calls will generally represent 35% to 75% of the value of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund typically maintains its call positions until expiration, but it retains the option to buy back the call options and sell new call options. Call options can be written both in exchange-listed option markets and over-the-counter markets with major international banks, broker-dealers and financial institutions.

The Fund may seek to, and during the reporting period sought to, partially hedge the foreign currency risk inherent in its international equity holdings. Such currency hedges are generally implemented by buying out-of-the-money puts on international currencies versus the U.S. dollar and financing them by writing out-of-the-money foreign exchange (“FX”) calls. The Fund may also hedge currency exposure by selling the international currencies forward.

Top Ten Holdings
as of February 29, 2016
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
                      
Royal Dutch Shell PLC
                 2.2 %  
Pfizer, Inc.
                 2.0 %  
BNP Paribas
                 1.8 %  
Citigroup, Inc.
                 1.7 %  
Cisco Systems, Inc.
                 1.7 %  
Total S.A.
                 1.7 %  
General Electric Co.
                 1.6 %  
Vodafone Group PLC
                 1.6 %  
Microsoft Corp.
                 1.6 %  
ADT Corp.
                 1.6 %  
 
                      
Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.

The Fund may also invest in other derivative instruments, such as futures, for investment, hedging and risk-management purposes to gain or reduce exposure to securities, security markets, market indices consistent with its investment objectives and strategies. Such derivative instruments are acquired to enable the Fund to make market directional tactical decisions to enhance returns, to protect against a decline in its assets or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of equity securities.

Additionally, the Fund retains the ability to partially hedge against significant market declines by buying out-of-the-money put options on regional or country indices, such as the S&P 500® Index, the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (“FTSE 100”), the Nikkei All Stock Index (“Nikkei”), the Euro Stoxx 50 (Price) Index (“EuroStoxx 50”) or any other broad-based global or regional securities index with an active derivatives market.

Performance: Based on net asset value (“NAV”), the Fund provided a total return of –8.90% for the year ended February 29, 2016.(1) This NAV return reflects a decrease in the Fund’s NAV from $9.31 on February 28, 2015 to $7.52 on February 29, 2016, after taking into account monthly distributions. Based on its share price as of February 29, 2016, the Fund provided a total return of –13.92% for the year.(1) This share price return reflects a decrease in the Fund’s share price from $8.53 on February 28, 2015 to $6.51 on February 29, 2016, after taking into account monthly distributions. The reference indices, the MSCI World IndexSM and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) BuyWrite Monthly Index (“BXM Index”), returned –11.00% and 1.09%, respectively, for the reporting period. During the year, the Fund made monthly distributions totaling $0.91 per share, which were characterized as $0.14 per share return of capital and $0.77 per share of net investment income.(2) As of February 29, 2016, the Fund had 97,548,925 shares outstanding.

4


 
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS’ REPORT VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND
AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND


Portfolio Specifics: Equity Portfolio: The equity portfolio lagged the MSCI World IndexSM over the reporting period. The underperformance was largely due to value-style headwinds. Stock selection in the financials and materials sectors detracted the most value. In financials, performance was impacted by our tilt to Europe. Our Japanese banking stocks also struggled after the Bank of Japan took the unorthodox step of adopting negative interest rates. In materials, Fund positions in mining stocks were hurt by severe weakness in commodity prices, on worries of overcapacity and weak global growth.

We fared much better in the energy sector, as our tilt towards the larger defensive firms benefited performance. However, our overweight to the sector was a performance detractor. Our best stock selection was in the industrials sector, where we did well thanks to strong performances from ADT Corporation, VINCI S.A. and General Electric Corporation. ADT Corporation was the top contributor after Apollo Global Management said it would acquire the home-security monitoring company for $6.9 billion. Finally, we also gained from our overweight in the telecommunications sector.

Option Portfolio: Over the reporting period, index call options were written on around 50% of the market value of the Fund. The calls were sold on the following indices: Nikkei 225, DJ Eurostoxx 50, FTSE 100 and S&P 500®. During the reporting period, the strikes of the call options written were approximately at-the-money and some were slightly out-of-the-money. The Fund also uses derivative instruments such as futures to make market directional tactical decisions to enhance returns and/or to protect against a decline in its assets.

During the reporting period all relevant markets were down in local currency terms. As could be expected, in this declining market, the option portfolio had a positive contribution to overall return as did our futures strategy.

A significant part of the Fund’s investments is directly exposed to currency risk, due to investments in global markets. We partially hedge this risk by purchasing foreign exchange (“FX”) options. We write FX options to finance the Fund’s options purchases. In doing so, the Fund will give up part of its FX upside potential in return for cheaper downside protection. Overall these FX option hedges contributed during the period as the hedges seek to dampen the volatility of the Fund’s return.

Outlook and Current Strategy: Although expectations of further Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) rate hikes have fallen, it is clear that the Fed is in a different phase of the cycle than the European Central Bank. We believe this divergence is more supportive for valuations in Europe, especially since the region is at an earlier point in the earnings cycle. The markets have been concerned about a possible U.S. recession; however, in our opinion, much of these fears are alleviated by the recent turnaround in the Citigroup U.S. Economic Surprise Index.

The market has also been concerned about the banking sector, especially non-performing loans and flattening yield curves. We acknowledge that the sector continues to face challenges; however, we continue to be positive as valuations are very attractive. Relative valuations are now below the levels of 2000 and 2008, and are out of line with the improvement in return on equity and risk profile. Increasingly we see more signals that central bankers are becoming aware of the impact of negative interest rates on banks. In Japan, the central bank openly stated it would not lower negative rates further before they have a better view on banks’ profits in this environment.

We remain neutral on Japan. Japanese earnings estimates were among the highest at the start of the year; however, with the yen strengthening, these have come down significantly.

We continue to underweight ‘expensive defensives’ whose valuations, in our opinion, are too high from a fundamental perspective. We believe there are some tentative signs that the market is becoming more conscious of the valuation dispersion between these stocks and other segments of the market, which could bode well for our value-dividend strategy in the coming period.


*
  Prior to April 7, 2015, NNIP Advisors B.V. was known as ING Investment Management Advisors B.V.
(1)
  Total returns shown include, if applicable, the effect of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by the investment adviser. Had all fees and expenses been considered, the total returns would have been lower.
(2)
  The final tax composition of dividends and distributions will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end.

Portfolio holdings and characteristics are subject to change and may not be representative of current holdings and characteristics. Fund holdings are subject to change daily. The outlook for this Fund may differ from that presented for other Voya mutual funds. The Fund’s performance returns shown reflect applicable fee waivers and/or expense limits in effect during this period. Absent such fee waivers/expense limitations, if any, performance would have been lower. Performance for the different classes of shares will vary based on differences in fees associated with each class.

5


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Shareholders and Board of Trustees
Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the summary portfolio of investments, of Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund, as of February 29, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the ten-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and portfolio of investments. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 29, 2016, by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent, and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures when replies from brokers were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund as of February 29, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the ten-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


 

Boston, Massachusetts
April 25, 2016

6


 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016


ASSETS:
                      
Investments in securities at fair value*
              $ 707,021,478   
Cash
                 16,262,265   
Cash collateral for futures
                 102,716   
Foreign currencies at value**
                 8,509,954   
Foreign cash collateral for futures***
                 2,746,229   
Receivables:
                       
Investment securities sold
                 2,934,006   
Dividends
                 2,262,809   
Foreign currency settlement (Note 11)
                 5,088,027   
Foreign tax reclaims
                 842,391   
Prepaid expenses
                 2,800   
Other assets
                 28,150   
Total assets
                 745,800,825   
LIABILITIES:
                      
Payable for investment securities purchased
                 3,075,429   
Payable for investment management fees
                 660,623   
Payable to trustees under the deferred compensation plan (Note 6)
                 28,150   
Payable for trustee fees
                 4,190   
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
                 166,604   
Written options, at fair valueˆ
                 8,136,906   
Total liabilities
                 12,071,902   
NET ASSETS
              $ 733,728,923   
NET ASSETS WERE COMPRISED OF:
                      
Paid-in capital
              $ 1,135,660,613   
Distributions in excess of net investment income
                 (1,231,791 )  
Accumulated net realized loss
                 (267,702,672 )  
Net unrealized depreciation
                 (132,997,227 )  
NET ASSETS
              $ 733,728,923   

           
*  
Cost of investments in securities
              $ 839,508,837   
**  
Cost of foreign currencies
              $ 8,972,908   
***  
Cost of foreign cash collateral for futures
              $ 2,746,229   
ˆ  
Premiums received on written options
              $ 8,315,423   
                           
Net assets
              $ 733,728,923   
Shares authorized
                 unlimited    
Par value
              $ 0.010   
Shares outstanding
                 97,548,925   
Net asset value
              $ 7.52   
 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

7


 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2016


INVESTMENT INCOME:
                      
Dividends, net of foreign taxes withheld*
              $ 27,702,678   
Total investment income
                 27,702,678   
EXPENSES:
                      
Investment management fees(1)
                 9,487,682   
Transfer agent fees
                 33,979   
Administrative service fees(1)
                 148,857   
Shareholder reporting expense
                 155,960   
Professional fees
                 55,530   
Custody and accounting expense
                 209,717   
Trustee fees
                 25,139   
Miscellaneous expense
                 146,995   
Total expenses
                 10,263,859   
Net waived and reimbursed fees
                 (192,712 )  
Net expenses
                 10,071,147   
Net investment income
                 17,631,531   
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
                      
Net realized gain (loss) on:
                       
Investments
                 42,939,720   
Foreign currency related transactions
                 4,365,292   
Futures
                 5,577,262   
Written options
                 13,746,737   
Net realized gain
                 66,629,011   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
                       
Investments
                 (177,489,807 )  
Foreign currency related transactions
                 734,818   
Futures
                 (859,059 )  
Written options
                 7,445,979   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
                 (170,168,069 )  
Net realized and unrealized loss
                 (103,539,058 )  
Decrease in net assets resulting from operations
              $ (85,907,527 )  
 

*    Foreign taxes withheld
              $ 1,826,578   
 

(1)
  Effective May 1, 2015, the investment management fee and administration fee were combined under a single amended and restated investment management agreement. Please see Note 4 for further information.

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

8


 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


        Year Ended
February 29,
2016
    Year Ended
February 28,
2015
FROM OPERATIONS:
                                      
Net investment income
              $ 17,631,531          $ 21,252,980   
Net realized gain
                 66,629,011             71,959,445   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
                 (170,168,069 )            (75,575,619 )  
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
                 (85,907,527 )            17,636,806   
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
                                     
Net investment income
                 (75,942,602 )            (88,964,620 )  
Return of capital
                 (13,022,018 )               
Total distributions
                 (88,964,620 )            (88,964,620 )  
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
                                      
Net decrease in net assets
                 (174,872,147 )            (71,327,814 )  
NET ASSETS:
                                      
Beginning of year or period
                 908,601,070             979,928,884   
End of year or period
              $ 733,728,923          $ 908,601,070   
Distributions in excess of net investment income at end of year or period
              $ (1,231,791 )         $ (4,223,169 )  
 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

9


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


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

      Per Share Operating Performance
  Ratios and Supplemental Data
 
        Income (loss)
from investment
operations
 
  Less distributions
 
            Ratios to average
net assets
 
                                   
      Net asset value,
beginning
of
year or period

 
Net
investment
income

 
Net realized
and unrealized

gain (loss)
 
Total from
investment

operations
 
From net
investment
income

 
From net
realized gains

 
From return
of capital

 
Total
distributions

 
Adjustment
to paid-in

capital for
offering costs

 
Net asset
value,
end of
year or period

 
Market value,
end of year

or period
 
Total
investment
return
at net
asset value(1)

 
Total
investment
return
at
market
value(2)

 
Net assets,
end of year
or period
000’s

 
Gross
expenses
prior to

expense
waiver(3)

 
Net
expenses
after

expense
waiver(3)(4)

 
Net
investment
income

(loss)(3)(4)
 
Portfolio
turnover

Year or period ended


 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
(%)
 
(%)
 
($000’s)
 
(%)
 
(%)
 
(%)
 
(%)
02-29-16
        9.31       0.18       (1.06     (0.88     0.77             0.14       0.91             7.52       6.51       (8.90 )(5)      (13.92 )      733,729       1.23       1.20       2.10       29  
02-28-15
        10.05       0.22       (0.05     0.17       0.91                   0.91             9.31       8.53       2.47       3.92       908,601       1.22       1.20       2.23       31  
02-28-14
        9.82       0.27       0.92       1.19       0.69             0.27       0.96             10.05       9.08       13.65       9.95       979,929       1.22       1.20       2.70       48  
02-28-13
        10.01       0.27       0.61       0.88       0.25             0.82       1.07             9.82       9.17       10.34       7.88       958,153       1.23       1.18       2.78       75  
02-29-12
        11.39       0.36       (0.55     (0.19     0.26             0.93       1.19             10.01       9.56       (1.13 )      (3.28 )      976,685       1.24       1.14       3.45       90  
02-28-11
        11.58       0.35       0.76       1.11       0.82             0.48       1.30             11.39       11.12       10.44       0.29       1,108,699       1.22       1.07       3.16       58  
02-28-10
        9.81       0.38       3.17       3.55       0.30             1.48       1.78             11.58       12.45       38.12       78.96       1,117,910       1.23       1.03       3.34       72  
02-28-09
        17.39       0.68       (6.39     (5.71     0.95             0.92       1.87             9.81       8.14       (34.02 )      (45.09 )      947,889       1.22       1.02       4.76       84  
02-29-08
        19.98       0.66       (1.18     (0.52     0.61       1.35       0.11       2.07             17.39       17.34       (2.74 )      (5.71 )      1,691,458       1.23       1.03       3.40       79  
02-28-07
        19.08       0.67       2.09       2.76       0.57       1.24       0.06       1.87       0.01       19.98       20.55       15.32       19.35       1,933,397       1.21       1.01       3.43       119  
 

(1)
  Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at net asset value is not annualized for periods less than one year.

(2)
  Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at market value is not annualized for periods less than one year.

(3)
  Annualized for periods less than one year.

(4)
  The Investment Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund (excluding interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses) subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser within three years of being incurred.

(5)
  Excluding amounts related to a foreign currency settlement recorded in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Fund’s total return would have been (9.51)%.

  Calculated using average number of shares outstanding throughout the period.

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

10


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016


NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION

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

Voya Investments, LLC (“Voya Investments” or the “Investment Adviser”), an Arizona limited liability company, serves as the Investment Adviser to the Fund. Voya Investments oversees all investment advisory and portfolio management services for the Fund and assists in managing and supervising all aspects of the general day-to-day business activities and operations of the Fund, including custodial, transfer agency, dividend disbursing, accounting, auditing, compliance and related services. The Investment Adviser has retained Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM”), a Delaware limited liability company, to provide certain consulting services for the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser has engaged NNIP Advisors B.V. (“NNIP Advisors”), a subsidiary of NN Group N.V. (“NN Group”), domiciled in The Hague, The Netherlands and Voya IM to serve as sub-advisers to the Fund. Prior to April 7, 2015, NNIP Advisors was known as ING Investment Management Advisors B.V.

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

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

Assets for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. A security listed or traded on an exchange is valued at its last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the regular trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded or, if such price is not available, at the last sale price as of the Market Close for such security provided by the CTA. Bank loans are valued at the average of the averages of the bid and ask prices provided to an independent loan pricing service by brokers. Futures contracts are valued at the final settlement price set by an exchange on which they are principally traded. Listed options are valued at the mean between the last bid and ask prices from the exchange on which they are principally traded. Investments in open-end registered investment companies that do not trade on an exchange are valued at the end of day NAV per share. Investments in registered investment companies that trade on an exchange are valued at the last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the regular trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded.

When a market quotation is not readily available or is deemed unreliable, the Fund will determine a fair value for the relevant asset in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees (“Board”). Such procedures provide, for example, that: (a) Exchange-traded securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and ask; (b) Debt obligations are valued using an evaluated price provided by an independent pricing service. Evaluated prices provided by the pricing service may be determined without exclusive reliance on quoted prices, and may reflect factors such as institution-size trading in similar groups of securities, developments related to specific securities, benchmark yield, quality, type of issue, coupon rate, maturity, individual trading characteristics and other market data; (c) Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued based on prices provided by independent pricing services or market makers; (d) Options not listed on an exchange are valued by an independent source using an industry accepted model, such as Black-Scholes; (e) Centrally cleared swap agreements are valued using a price provided by the central counterparty clearinghouse; (f) Over-the-counter swap agreements are valued using a price provided by an independent pricing service; (g) Forward foreign currency contracts are valued utilizing current and forward rates obtained from an independent pricing service. Such prices from the third party pricing service are for specific settlement periods and the Fund’s forward foreign currency contracts are valued at an interpolated rate between the closest preceding and subsequent period reported by the independent pricing service and (h) Securities for which market prices are not provided by any of the above methods may be valued based upon quotes furnished by brokers.

11


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

The prospectuses of the open-end registered investment companies in which the Fund may invest explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

Foreign securities’ (including foreign exchange contracts) prices are converted into U.S. dollar amounts using the applicable exchange rates as of Market Close. If market quotations are available and believed to be reliable for foreign exchange-traded equity securities, the securities will be valued at the market quotations. Because trading hours for certain foreign securities end before Market Close, closing market quotations may become unreliable. An independent pricing service determines the degree of certainty, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a foreign security trades is not the current value as of Market Close. Foreign securities’ prices meeting the approved degree of certainty that the price is not reflective of current value will be valued by the independent pricing service using pricing models designed to estimate likely changes in the values of those securities between the times in which the trading in those securities is substantially completed and Market Close. Multiple factors may be considered by the independent pricing service in determining the value of such securities and may include information relating to sector indices, American Depositary Receipts and domestic and foreign index futures.

All other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or became unreliable (or if the above fair valuation methods are unavailable or determined to be unreliable) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the supervision of the Board following procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated to the Investment Adviser responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Fund’s valuation procedures; a “Pricing Committee” comprised of employees of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates has responsibility for applying the fair valuation methods set forth in the procedures and, if a fair valuation cannot be determined pursuant to the fair valuation methods, determining the fair value of assets held by the Fund. Issuer specific events, transaction price, position size, nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security, market trends, bid/ask quotes of brokers and other market data may be reviewed in the course of making a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. Valuations change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of the issuer’s assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity. Because of the inherent uncertainties of fair valuation, the values used to determine the Fund’s NAV may materially differ from the value received upon actual sale of those investments. Thus, fair valuation may have an unintended dilutive or accretive effect on the value of shareholders’ investments in the Fund.

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

U.S. GAAP requires a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported fair values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchases and sales, and transfers in or out of the Level 3 category during the period. The beginning of period timing recognition is used for the transfers between Levels of the Fund’s assets and liabilities. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund has a significant amount of Level 3 investments.

For the year ended February 29, 2016, there have been no significant changes to the fair valuation methodologies.

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

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

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

    (2)
  Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange

12


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

       
  prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

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

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

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

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

E.  Federal Income Taxes. It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code that are applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, a federal income tax or excise tax provision is not required. Management has considered the sustainability of the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years in making this determination. The Fund may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes, whereby a portion of redemption payments are treated as distributions of income or gain.

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

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

13


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)


make direct purchases or sales of securities capable of affecting a similar response to market factors.

Market Risk Factors. In pursuit of its investment objectives, the Fund may seek to use derivatives to increase or decrease its exposure to the following market risk factors:

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

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

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests directly in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies, it is subject to the risk that those foreign (non-U.S.) currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged by the Fund through foreign currency exchange transactions.

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

Interest Rate Risk. Changes in short-term market interest rates will directly affect the yield on Common Shares. If short-term market interest rates fall, the yield on Common Shares will also fall. To the extent that the interest rate spreads on loans in the Fund’s portfolio experience a general decline, the yield on the Common Shares will fall and the value of the Fund’s assets may decrease, which will cause the Fund’s net asset value to decrease. Conversely, when short-term market interest rates rise, because of the lag between changes in such short-term rates and the resetting of the floating rates on assets in the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of rising rates will be delayed to the extent of such lag. In the case of inverse securities, the interest rate paid by such securities generally will decrease when the market rate of interest to which the inverse security is indexed increases. With respect to investments in fixed rate instruments, a rise in market interest rates generally causes values of such instruments to fall. The values of fixed rate instruments with longer maturities or duration are more sensitive to changes in market interest rates.

As of the date of this report, market interest rates in the United States are at or near historic lows, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising market interest rates. Rising market interest rates could have unpredictable effects on the markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. If dealer capacity in fixed-income and related markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income and related markets.

Risks of Investing in Derivatives. The Fund’s use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Fund is using derivatives to decrease, or hedge, exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Fund, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

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

14


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)


In addition, given their complexity, derivatives expose the Fund to the risk of improper valuation.

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

The U.S. government has enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting, and registration requirements. The European Union (and other countries outside of the European Union) is implementing similar requirements, which will affect the Fund when it enters into a derivatives transaction with a counterparty organized in that country or otherwise subject to that country’s derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are new and evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty risk and increase liquidity, however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose the Fund to new kinds of costs and risks.

Counterparty Credit Risk and Credit Related Contingent Features. Certain derivative positions are subject to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund. The Fund’s derivative counterparties are financial institutions who are subject to market conditions that may weaken their financial position. The Fund intends to enter into financial transactions with counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy at the time of the transaction. To reduce this risk, the Fund generally enters into master netting arrangements, established within the Fund’s International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements (“Master Agreements”). These agreements are with select counterparties and they govern transactions, including certain over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative and forward foreign currency contracts, entered into by the Fund and the counterparty. The Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, and events of default or termination. The occurrence of a specified event of termination may give a counterparty the right to terminate all of its contracts and affect settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable Master Agreement.

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

The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally the aggregate unrealized gain in excess of any collateral pledged by the counterparty to the Fund. For purchased OTC options, the Fund bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid and the change in market value of the options should the counterparty not perform under the contracts. As of February 29, 2016, the total fair value of purchased OTC options subject to counterparty credit risk was $1,774,651. The counterparties did not post any collateral to the Fund at year end. There were no credit events during the year ended February 29, 2016 that triggered any credit related contingent features.

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

Written options by the Fund do not give rise to counterparty credit risk, as written options obligate the Fund to perform and not the counterparty. As of February 29, 2016, the total value of written OTC call options subject to Master

15


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)


Agreements in a liability position was $8,136,906. If a contingent feature had been triggered, the Fund could have been required to pay this amount in cash to its counterparties. The Fund did not post collateral for its open written OTC options at year end. There were no credit events during the year ended February 29, 2016 that triggered any credit related contingent features.

H.  Futures Contracts. The Fund may enter into futures contracts involving foreign currency, interest rates, securities and securities indices. A futures contract obligates the seller of the contract to deliver and the purchaser of the contract to take delivery of the type of foreign currency, financial instrument or security called for in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price. Upon entering into such a contract, the Fund is required to deposit and maintain as collateral such initial margin as required by the exchange on which the contract is traded. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount equal to the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Fund. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Futures contracts are exposed to the market risk factor of the underlying financial instrument. During the year ended February 29, 2016, the Fund had purchased and sold futures contracts on various equity indices to enable the Fund to make market directional tactical decisions to enhance returns, to protect against a decline in its assets or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of equity securities. Additional associated risks of entering into futures contracts include the possibility that there may be an illiquid market where the Fund is unable to liquidate the contract or enter into an offsetting position and, if used for hedging purposes, the risk that the price of the contract will correlate imperfectly with the prices of the Fund’s securities. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.

During the year ended February 29, 2016, the Fund had an average notional value on purchased and sold futures of $19,139,676 and $23,918,820, respectively. Please refer to the Summary Portfolio of Investments for open futures contracts at February 29, 2016.

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

The Fund’s option strategy seeks to reduce volatility of total returns and to supplement distributions by selling call options and may also purchase put options on equity indices.

The Fund is also subject to foreign currency risk given its significant investments in foreign equities. In order to mitigate this risk, the Fund uses foreign-exchange option collars. Please refer to Note 7 for the volume of both purchased and written option activity during the year ended February 29, 2016.

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

NOTE 3 — INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

The cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of investments for the year ended February 29, 2016, excluding short-term securities, were $237,777,415 and $287,343,781, respectively.

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES

Prior to May 1, 2015, the Fund had entered into an investment management agreement (“Management Agreement”) with the Investment Adviser. The Management Agreement compensated the Investment Adviser with a management fee, payable monthly, based

16


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES (continued)

on an annual rate of 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. For purposes of the Management Agreement, managed assets are defined as the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). As of February 29, 2016, there were no preferred shares outstanding. Amounts paid to the Investment Adviser through April 30, 2015 are reflected as investment management fees on the accompanying Statements of Operations.

Also, prior to May 1, 2015, the Fund had entered into an administrative agreement (“Administrative Agreement”) with Voya Funds Services, LLC (the “Administrator”), a Delaware limited liability company. The Administrator provided certain administrative and shareholder services necessary for Fund operations and was responsible for the supervision of other service providers. For its services, the Administrator was entitled to receive from the Fund a fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. Amounts paid to the Administrator through April 30, 2015 are reflected as administrative service fees on the accompanying Statement of Operations.

Effective May 1, 2015, the terms of the Fund’s Management Agreement and Administrative Agreement were combined under a single Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement with a single management fee. The single management fee rate under the Fund’s Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement does not exceed the former combined investment management and administrative services fee rates for the Fund and there is no change to the investment management or administrative services provided.

The Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement compensates the Investment Adviser with a management fee, payable monthly, based on an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. Single management fee amounts paid to the Investment Adviser from May 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016 are reflected as investment management fees on the accompanying Statement of Operations.

The Investment Adviser has entered into a consulting agreement with Voya IM (the “Consultant”). For its services, the Consultant will receive a consultancy fee from the Investment Adviser. No fee will be paid by the Fund directly to the Consultant. These services include, among other things, furnishing statistical and other factual information; providing advice with respect to potential investment strategies that may be employed for the Fund, including, but not limited to, potential options strategies; developing economic models of the anticipated investment performance and yield for the Fund; and providing advice to the Investment Adviser and/or sub-advisers with respect to the Fund’s level and/or managed distribution policy.

The Investment Adviser has entered into sub-advisory agreements with NNIP Advisors and Voya IM. Subject to policies as the Board or the Investment Adviser may determine, NNIP Advisors currently manages the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations. However, in the future, the Investment Adviser may allocate the Fund’s assets to Voya IM for management, and may change the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the two sub-advisers in its discretion, to pursue the Fund’s investment objective. Each sub-adviser would make investment decisions for the assets it is allocated to manage.

NOTE 5 — EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

The Investment Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund, excluding interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses to 1.20% of average daily managed assets.

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

As of February 29, 2016, the amounts of waived and/or reimbursed fees that are subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser, and the related expiration dates, are as follows:

February 28,
 
2017
        2018
    2019
    Total
$128,395
           
$157,971
   
$192,712
   
$479,078
 

The Expense Limitation Agreement is contractual through March 1, 2017 and shall renew automatically for one-year terms. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Board.

17


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 6 — OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND RELATED PARTIES

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

NOTE 7 — PURCHASED AND WRITTEN OPTIONS

Transactions in purchased OTC options on currencies were as follows:

        Notional
Amount
    Cost
Balance at 02/28/2015
              $ 185,000,000          $ 1,187,000   
Options Purchased
                 687,500,000             4,249,320   
Options Expired
                 (533,500,000 )            (3,455,000 )  
Options Terminated in Closing Sell Transactions
                 (187,000,000 )            (1,023,400 )  
Balance at 02/29/2016
              $ 152,000,000          $ 957,920   
 

Transactions in written OTC options on currencies were as follows:

        Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
Balance at 02/28/2015
              $ 185,000,000          $ 1,187,000   
Options Written
                 687,500,000             4,249,320   
Options Expired
                 (605,000,000 )            (3,659,400 )  
Options Terminated in Closing Purchase Transactions
                 (115,500,000 )            (819,000 )  
Balance at 02/29/2016
              $ 152,000,000          $ 957,920   
 

Transactions in written OTC options on indices were as follows:

        Number of
Contracts
    Premiums
Received
Balance at 02/28/2015
                 409,100          $ 6,583,625   
Options Written
                 3,282,900             50,585,346   
Options Expired
                 (1,746,000 )            (28,746,960 )  
Options Terminated in Closing Purchase Transactions
                 (1,531,600 )            (21,064,508 )  
Balance at 02/29/2016
                 414,400          $ 7,357,503   
 

NOTE 8 — CAPITAL SHARES

There was no capital shares activity during the years ended February 29, 2016, and February 28, 2015.

NOTE 9 — FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

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

The following permanent tax differences have been reclassified as of the Fund’s tax year ended December 31, 2015(1):

Paid-in
Capital

        Undistributed
Net Investment Income

    Accumulated
Net Realized
Gains/(Losses)

$(52,734,220)
               $61,302,449       
$(8,568,229)
 

(1)  
  $52,734,220 relates to distributions in excess of net investment income taxed as ordinary income due to current year earnings and profits.

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

The tax composition of dividends and distributions in the current period will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end of December 31, 2016. The tax composition of dividends and distributions as of the Fund’s most recent tax year-ends was as follows:

Tax Year Ended
December 31, 2015
  Tax Year Ended
December 31, 2014
   
Ordinary
Income
        Return
of Capital
    Ordinary
Income
$78,982,227
           
$9,982,393
   
$88,964,620
 

The tax-basis components of distributable earnings and the capital loss carryforwards which may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2015 are detailed below. The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) provides an unlimited carryforward period for newly generated capital losses. Under the Act, there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of the Fund’s pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may expire

18


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 9 — FEDERAL INCOME TAXES (continued)


without being utilized due to the fact that post-enactment capital losses are required to be utilized before pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards.

Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
        Short-term
Capital Loss
Carryforwards
    Expiration
$(78,636,525)
              $ (276,749,372 )      
2017
 

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

As of February 29, 2016, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements as a result of tax positions taken on federal and state income tax returns for open tax years. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state department of revenue. The earliest tax year that remains subject to examination by these jurisdictions is 2011.

NOTE 10 — RESTRUCTURING PLAN

NNIP Advisors is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of NN Group.

Prior to July 2014, NN Group was a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. (“ING Groep”). In October 2009, ING Groep submitted a restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”) to the European Commission in order to receive approval for state aid granted to ING Groep by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in November 2008 and March 2009. To receive approval for this state aid, ING Groep was required to divest its insurance and investment management businesses before the end of 2013. In November 2012, the Restructuring Plan was amended to permit ING Groep additional time to complete the divestment. In connection with the amended Restructuring Plan, ING Groep was required to divest more than 50% of its shares in NN Group before December 31, 2015 and is required to divest the remaining interest before December 31, 2016. In July 2014, ING Groep settled the initial public offering of NN Group. ING Groep has stated its intention to divest its remaining stake in NN Group in an orderly manner and ultimately by the end of 2016. On the 14th of April 2016, ING Groep announced that is will sell its remaining stake in NN Group.

In 2014 in order to ensure that the existing sub-advisory services could continue uninterrupted in case a change of control situation under the 1940 Act would occur related to the divestment of NN Group by ING Groep, the Board approved new sub-advisory agreements for the Funds. Shareholders of the Funds for which NNIP Advisors serves as a sub-adviser approved these new investment sub-advisory agreements. This approval also included approval of any future sub-advisory agreements prompted by the divestment of NN Group that are approved by the Board and whose terms are not materially different from the current agreements. This means that shareholders of the Fund would not have another opportunity to vote on a new agreement with NNIP Advisors even if NNIP Advisors undergoes a change of control pursuant to ING Groep’s divestment of NN Group, as long as no single person or group of persons acting together gains “control” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of NN Group.

On November 19, 2015, in anticipation of a change of control that would occur when the ownership interest of ING Groep in NN Group would drop below 25%, the Board, at an in-person meeting, approved new sub-advisory agreements. In January 2016, ING Group further reduced its interest in NN Group below 25% to approximately 16.2% (the “November Offering”). The November Offering was deemed by the Adviser and NNIP Advisors to be a change of control (the “Change of Control”). The new sub-advisory agreements, based on the Board approval of November 2015 and in connection with the Change of Control, became effective on January 8, 2016. At that time, NNIP Advisors represented that no single person or group of persons acting together was expected to gain “control” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of NN Group. The terms of the new sub-advisory agreements are not materially different from the prior agreements. As a result, shareholders of the Fund have not been asked to vote again on the new agreements with NNIP Advisors.

NOTE 11 — FOREIGN CURRENCY SETTLEMENT

In March 2015, The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), the Fund’s custodian, announced it had agreed to settle various lawsuits (the “Settlement”) involving its standing instruction foreign exchange services. The Fund was named a member of the Settlement class. On September 24, 2015, the United States District Court, Southern District of New York approved (the “Approval”) the plan of allocation related to the Settlement. After the announcement of the Approval, the Fund recorded a receivable in the amount of $5,088,027, representing the Fund’s estimated share of the net recovery associated with the Settlement. The Settlement amount for the Fund is included in Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Foreign Currency Related Transactions in the accompanying Statements of Operations.

19


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


NOTE 12 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Dividends: Subsequent to February 29, 2016, the Fund made distributions of:

Per Share
Amount
        Declaration
Date
    Payable
Date
    Record
Date
$ 0.076                  2/16/2016             3/15/2016             3/3/2016   
$ 0.076                  3/15/2016             4/15/2016             4/5/2016   
$ 0.076                  4/15/2016             5/16/2016             5/4/2016   
 

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

Share Repurchase Program: Effective March 18, 2016, the Board authorized an open-market share repurchase program pursuant to which the Fund may purchase, over the period ending March 18, 2017, up to 10% of its stock in open market transactions. The amount and timing of the repurchases will be at the discretion of the Fund’s management, subject to market conditions and investment considerations. There is no assurance that the Fund will purchase shares at any particular discount level or in any particular amounts. Any repurchases made under this program would be made on a national securities exchange at the prevailing market price, subject to exchange requirements and volume, timing and other limitations under federal securities laws. The share repurchase program seeks to enhance shareholder value by purchasing shares trading at a discount from its NAV per share.

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

20


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND
PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016


Shares


  

  

  
Value
  
Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: 96.1%
 
Belgium: 0.4%
70,800
           
 
   
Other Securities
      $ 2,612,239             0.4   
 
 
Canada: 3.6%
744,821
           
 
   
Cenovus Energy, Inc.
         8,521,677             1.2   
483,814
           
 
   
Shaw Communications, Inc. — Class B
         8,378,242             1.1   
184,628
           
 
   
Other Securities
         9,540,661             1.3   
 
           
 
   
 
         26,440,580             3.6   
 
 
France: 10.4%
278,293
           
 
   
BNP Paribas
         12,978,824             1.8   
188,394
           
 
   
Casino Guichard Perrachon S.A.
         8,481,899             1.1   
221,231
           
 
   
Cie de Saint-Gobain
         8,546,922             1.2   
554,290
           
 
   
Engie SA
         8,578,450             1.2   
112,197
           
 
   
Sanofi
         8,890,338             1.2   
278,300
           
 
   
Total S.A.
         12,473,590             1.7   
147,925
           
 
   
Vinci S.A.
         10,217,416             1.4   
207,794
           
 
   
Other Securities
         6,293,083             0.8   
 
           
 
   
 
         76,460,522             10.4   
 
 
Germany: 1.4%
401,445
           
 
   
Deutsche Bank AG
         6,901,861             1.0   
63,500
           
 
   
Other Securities
         3,220,471             0.4   
 
           
 
   
 
         10,122,332             1.4   
 
 
Italy: 3.2%
681,761
           
 
   
Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.
         9,450,002             1.3   
532,987
           
 
   
ENI S.p.A.
         7,453,972             1.0   
1,704,300
           
 
   
Other Securities
         6,330,815             0.9   
 
           
 
   
 
         23,234,789             3.2   
 
 
Japan: 7.5%
2,302,200
           
 
   
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
         9,934,705             1.3   
898,800
           
 
   
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
         8,151,815             1.1   
354,900
           
 
   
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.
         9,958,560             1.4   
2,001,800
           
 
   
Other Securities
         26,991,104             3.7   
 
           
 
   
 
         55,036,184             7.5   
 
 
Netherlands: 2.8%
714,267
           
 
   
Royal Dutch Shell PLC
         16,295,389             2.2   
1,046,960
           
 
   
Other Securities
         4,061,711             0.6   
 
           
 
   
 
         20,357,100             2.8   
 
 
Singapore: 1.2%
2,579,300
           
 
   
Other Securities
         8,919,505             1.2   
 
 
Spain: 1.1%
821,443
           
 
   
Telefonica S.A.
         8,190,783             1.1   
 
 
Sweden: 1.8%
1,036,801
           
 
   
Volvo AB — B Shares
         10,385,575             1.4   
135,000
           
 
   
Other Securities
         3,164,333             0.4   
 
           
 
   
 
          13,549,908             1.8   
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
 
Switzerland: 5.1%
111,187
           
 
   
Novartis AG
      $ 7,919,679             1.1   
34,681
           
 
   
Roche Holding AG
         8,892,740             1.2   
953,789
           
 
   
Other Securities
         20,642,972             2.8   
 
           
 
   
 
         37,455,391             5.1   
 
 
Taiwan: 1.7%
422,967
           
 
   
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. — SP ADR
         9,960,873             1.3   
402,100
           
 
   
Other Securities
         2,834,996             0.4   
 
           
 
   
 
         12,795,869             1.7   
 
 
United Kingdom: 9.9%
1,233,092
           
 
   
HSBC Holdings PLC
         7,841,627             1.1   
150,613
           
 
   
Imperial Brands PLC
         7,773,994             1.1   
1,898,200
           
 
   
Kingfisher PLC
         8,768,333             1.2   
329,223
           
 
   
Rio Tinto PLC
         8,659,482             1.2   
3,957,154
           
 
   
Vodafone Group PLC
         12,001,621             1.6   
6,231,160
           
 
   
Other Securities
         27,302,450             3.7   
 
           
 
   
 
          72,347,507             9.9   
 
 
United States: 46.0%
176,211
           
 
   
AbbVie, Inc.
         9,622,883             1.3   
283,900
           
 
   
ADT Corp.
         11,461,043             1.6   
114,500
           
 
   
American Electric Power Co., Inc.
         7,070,375             1.0   
61,206
           
 
   
Amgen, Inc.
         8,708,390             1.2   
84,751
           
 
   
Apple, Inc.
         8,194,574             1.1   
234,379
           
 
   
CenturyLink, Inc.
         7,169,654             1.0   
109,866
           
 
   
Chevron Corp.
         9,167,219             1.3   
479,239
           
 
   
Cisco Systems, Inc.
         12,546,477             1.7   
329,000
           
 
   
Citigroup, Inc.
         12,781,650             1.7   
239,500
           
 
   
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
         10,073,370             1.4   
362,600
           
 
   
EMC Corp.
         9,474,738             1.3   
119,048
           
 
   
Exxon Mobil Corp.
         9,541,697             1.3   
352,150
           
 
   
Gap, Inc.
         9,736,948             1.3   
413,431
           
 
   
General Electric Co.
         12,047,379             1.6   
92,591
           
 
   
Johnson & Johnson
         9,741,499             1.3   
152,300
           
 
   
Las Vegas Sands Corp.
         7,353,044             1.0   
169,057
           
 
   
Macy’s, Inc.
         7,304,953             1.0   
303,700
           
 
   
Mattel, Inc.
         9,876,324             1.4   
80,900
           
 
   
McDonald’s Corp.
         9,480,671             1.3   
266,447
           
 
   
Metlife, Inc.
         10,540,643             1.4   
232,476
           
 
   
Microsoft Corp.
         11,828,379             1.6   
488,187
           
 
   
Pfizer, Inc.
         14,484,508             2.0   
101,704
           
 
   
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
         8,269,552             1.1   
120,382
           
 
   
Procter & Gamble Co.
         9,665,471             1.3   
479,350
           
 
   
Symantec Corp.
         9,256,249             1.3   
37,900
           
 
   
Verizon Communications, Inc.
         1,922,667             0.3   

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

21


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND
PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


Shares


  

  

  
Value
  
Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
 
United States: (continued)
101,783
           
 
   
Verizon Communications, Inc. — VZC
      $ 5,188,841             0.7   
148,300
           
 
   
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
         9,838,222             1.3   
2,211,357
           
 
   
Other Securities
         75,376,698             10.2   
 
           
 
   
 
         337,724,118             46.0   
 
 
           
 
   
Total Common Stock
(Cost $838,550,917)
         705,246,827             96.1   
 

# of
Contracts


  

  

  
Value
  
Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
PURCHASED OPTIONS: 0.3%
 
Options on Currencies: 0.3%
13,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs Put JPY, Strike @ 121.330, Exp. 04/20/16 Counterparty: Goldman Sachs & Co.
         20,380             0.0   
16,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs Put JPY, Strike @ 118.470, Exp. 05/20/16 Counterparty: Morgan Stanley
         82,179             0.0   
10,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put EUR, Strike @ 1.048, Exp. 04/20/16 Counterparty: BNP Paribas Bank
         47,116             0.0   
15,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put EUR, Strike @ 1.043, Exp. 03/18/16 Counterparty: Morgan Stanley
         21,026             0.0   
15,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put EUR, Strike @ 1.062, Exp. 05/20/16 Counterparty: BNP Paribas Bank
         169,489             0.1   
29,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put GBP, Strike @ 1.361, Exp. 05/20/16 Counterparty: BNP Paribas Bank
         372,579             0.1   
16,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put GBP, Strike @ 1.366, Exp. 04/20/16 Counterparty: Goldman Sachs & Co.
         159,043             0.0   
26,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put GBP, Strike @ 1.441, Exp. 03/18/16 Counterparty: Morgan Stanley
         902,618             0.1   
 
PURCHASED OPTIONS: (continued)
 
Options on Currencies: (continued)
12,000,000
           
@
   
Call USD vs. Put JPY, Strike @ 125.550, Exp. 03/18/16 Counterparty: Goldman Sachs & Co.
      $ 221              0.0   
 
           
 
   
 
         1,774,651             0.3   
 
 
           
 
   
Total Purchased Options (Cost $957,920)
         1,774,651             0.3   
 
           
 
   
Total Investments in Securities
(Cost $839,508,837)
      $ 707,021,478             96.4   
 
           
 
   
Assets in Excess
of Other Liabilities
         26,707,445             3.6   
 
           
 
   
Net Assets
      $ 733,728,923             100.0   
 

“Other Securities” represents issues not identified as the top 50 holdings in terms of market value and issues or issuers not exceeding 1% of net assets individually or in aggregate respectively as of February 29, 2016.

The following footnotes apply to either the individual securities noted or one or more of the securities aggregated and listed as a single line item.

@
  Non-income producing security.

ADR
  American Depositary Receipt

  Cost for federal income tax purposes is $839,665,249.

Net unrealized depreciation consists of:
                       
Gross Unrealized Appreciation
              $ 42,469,312   
Gross Unrealized Depreciation
                 (175,113,083 )  
Net Unrealized Depreciation
              $ (132,643,771 )  
 

Sector Diversification
        Percentage
of Net Assets
Financials
                 19.2 %  
Information Technology
                 12.0   
Health Care
                 11.3   
Consumer Discretionary
                 10.6   
Industrials
                 10.5   
Energy
                 10.1   
Consumer Staples
                 7.0   
Materials
                 6.0   
Telecommunication Services
                 5.5   
Utilities
                 3.9   
Purchased Options
                 0.3   
Assets in Excess of Other Liabilities
                 3.6   
Net Assets
                 100.0 %  
 

Fair Value Measurementsˆ

The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of February 29, 2016 in valuing the assets and liabilities:

        Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical
Investments
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs#
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Fair Value
at
February 29, 2016
Asset Table
                                                                   
Investments, at fair value
                                                                   
Common Stock
                                                                       
Belgium
              $           $ 2,612,239          $           $ 2,612,239   
Canada
                 26,440,580                                       26,440,580   

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

22


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND
PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


        Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical
Investments
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs#
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Fair Value
at
February 29, 2016
Asset Table (continued)
                                                                   
France
              $           $ 76,460,522          $           $ 76,460,522   
Germany
                              10,122,332                          10,122,332   
Italy
                              23,234,789                          23,234,789   
Japan
                              55,036,184                          55,036,184   
Netherlands
                              20,357,100                          20,357,100   
Singapore
                              8,919,505                          8,919,505   
Spain
                              8,190,783                          8,190,783   
Sweden
                              13,549,908                          13,549,908   
Switzerland
                              37,455,391                          37,455,391   
Taiwan
                 9,960,873             2,834,996                          12,795,869   
United Kingdom
                              72,347,507                          72,347,507   
United States
                 332,535,277             5,188,841                          337,724,118   
Total Common Stock
                 368,936,730             336,310,097                          705,246,827   
Purchased Options
                              1,774,651                          1,774,651   
Total Investments, at fair value
              $ 368,936,730          $ 338,084,748          $           $ 707,021,478   
Other Financial Instruments+
                                                                      
Futures
                 24,407                                       24,407   
Total Assets
              $ 368,961,137          $ 338,084,748          $           $ 707,045,885   
Liabilities Table
                                                                   
Other Financial Instruments+
                                                                   
Futures
              $ (179,489 )         $           $           $ (179,489 )  
Written Options
                              (8,136,906 )                         (8,136,906 )  
Total Liabilities
              $ (179,489 )         $ (8,136,906 )         $           $ (8,316,395 )  
 

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

+
  Other Financial Instruments are derivatives not reflected in the portfolio of investments and may include open forward foreign currency contracts, futures, centrally cleared swaps, OTC swaps and written options. Forward foreign currency contracts, futures and centrally cleared swaps are valued at the unrealized gain (loss) on the instrument. OTC swaps and written options are valued at the fair value of the instrument.

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

At February 29, 2016, the following futures contracts were outstanding for Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund:

Contract Description
        Number
of Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Long Contracts
                                                                       
Nikkei 225 Index
                 77              03/10/16          $ 5,451,222          $ (157,550 )  
 
                                            $ 5,451,222          $ (157,550 )  
Short Contracts
                                                                       
EURO STOXX 50® Index
                 (40 )            03/18/16             (1,276,707 )            (7,020 )  
FTSE 100 Index
                 (76 )            03/18/16             (6,408,702 )            (14,919 )  
S&P 500 E-Mini
                 (17 )            03/18/16             (1,640,075 )            24,407   
 
                                            $ (9,325,484 )         $ 2,468   
 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

23


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND
PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


At February 29, 2016, the following over-the-counter written options were outstanding for Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund:

Number of
Contracts/Notional
Amount
        Counterparty
    Description
    Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Premiums
Received
    Fair Value
Options on Indices
                     
4,300
           
Barclays Bank PLC
   
Call on EURO STOXX 50® Index
         2,949.340  EUR            04/01/16          $ 324,819          $ (434,442 )  
4,300
           
Barclays Bank PLC
   
Call on EURO STOXX 50® Index
         3,059.431  EUR            03/04/16             374,403             (35,030 )  
4,200
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on EURO STOXX 50® Index
         2,960.020  EUR            03/18/16             311,423             (318,223 )  
2,700
           
Barclays Bank PLC
   
Call on FTSE 100 Index
         5,910.380  GBP            03/18/16             448,949             (845,232 )  
2,800
           
Citigroup, Inc.
   
Call on FTSE 100 Index
         6,074.950  GBP            04/01/16             416,548             (549,803 )  
2,800
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on FTSE 100 Index
         5,929.520  GBP            03/04/16             515,357             (675,744 )  
98,600
           
BNP Paribas Bank
   
Call on Nikkei 225 Index
         16,380.090  JPY            04/01/16             382,864             (333,043 )  
96,100
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on Nikkei 225 Index
         17,264.715  JPY            03/18/16             351,351             (43,250 )  
87,800
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on Nikkei 225 Index
         17,521.850  JPY            03/04/16             341,882             (364 )  
36,500
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on S&P 500 Index
         1,906.860  USD            03/18/16             1,209,975             (1,717,695 )  
37,600
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on S&P 500 Index
         1,917.440  USD            03/04/16             1,445,344             (901,552 )  
36,700
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Call on S&P 500 Index
         1,933.060  USD            04/01/16             1,234,588             (1,413,083 )  
 
Options on Currencies
                                                                           
10,000,000
           
BNP Paribas Bank
   
Put USD vs. Call EUR
         1.137  USD            04/20/16             60,000             (35,946 )  
15,000,000
           
BNP Paribas Bank
   
Put USD vs. Call EUR
         1.160  USD            05/20/16             105,000             (51,520 )  
15,000,000
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Put USD vs. Call EUR
         1.125  USD            03/18/16             105,000             (38,066 )  
29,000,000
           
BNP Paribas Bank
   
Put USD vs. Call GBP
         1.483  USD            05/20/16             203,000             (72,898 )  
16,000,000
           
Goldman Sachs & Co.
   
Put USD vs. Call GBP
         1.465  USD            04/20/16             96,000             (33,586 )  
26,000,000
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Put USD vs. Call GBP
         1.530  USD            03/18/16             140,400             (83 )  
13,000,000
           
Goldman Sachs & Co.
   
Put USD vs. Call JPY
         110.200  USD            04/20/16             78,520             (155,985 )  
12,000,000
           
Goldman Sachs & Co.
   
Put USD vs. Call JPY
         116.150  USD            03/18/16             54,000             (389,095 )  
16,000,000
           
Morgan Stanley
   
Put USD vs. Call JPY
         104.600  USD            05/20/16             116,000             (92,266 )  
 
           
 
   
 
      Total Written OTC Options   $ 8,315,423          $ (8,136,906 )  
 

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

The fair value of derivative instruments as of February 29, 2016 was as follows:

Derivatives not accounted for as
hedging instruments
        Location on Statement
of Assets and Liabilities
    Fair Value
Asset Derivatives
           
 
              
Foreign exchange contracts
           
Investments in securities at value*
      $ 1,774,651   
Equity contracts
           
Net Assets — Unrealized appreciation**
         24,407   
Total Asset Derivatives
           
 
      $ 1,799,058   
Liability Derivatives
           
 
              
Equity contracts
           
Net Assets — Unrealized depreciation**
      $ 179,489   
Equity Contracts
           
Written options, at fair value
         7,267,461   
Foreign exchange contracts
           
Written options, at fair value
         869,445   
Total Liability Derivatives
           
 
      $ 8,316,395   
 

*
  Includes purchased options.

**
  Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the table following the Summary Portfolio of Investments.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the year ended February 29, 2016 was as follows:

        Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on
Derivatives Recognized in Income
   
Derivatives not accounted for as
hedging instruments
        Investments*
    Futures
    Written options
    Total
Equity contracts
              $           $ 5,577,262          $ 11,535,541             17,112,803   
Foreign exchange contracts
                 854                           2,211,196             2,212,050   
Total
              $ 854           $ 5,577,262          $ 13,746,737          $ 19,324,853   
 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

24


 
VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND
PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
SUMMARY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (CONTINUED)


        Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation)
on Derivatives Recognized in Income
   
Derivatives not accounted for as
hedging instruments
        Investments*
    Futures
    Written options
    Total
Equity contracts
              $           $ (859,059 )         $ 8,005,530          $ 7,146,471   
Foreign exchange contracts
                 919,763                          (559,551 )            360,212   
Total
              $ 919,763          $ (859,059 )         $ 7,445,979          $ 7,506,683   
 

*
  Amounts recognized for purchased options are included in net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments.

The following is a summary by counterparty of the fair value of OTC derivative instruments subject to Master Netting Agreements and collateral pledged (received), if any, at February 29, 2016:

        Barclays
Bank PLC
    BNP
Paribas
Bank
    Citigroup,
Inc.
    Goldman
Sachs & Co.
    Morgan
Stanley
    Totals
   
Assets:
                                                                                                          
Purchased options
              $           $ 589,184          $           $ 179,644          $ 1,005,823          $ 1,774,651       
Total Assets
              $           $ 589,184          $           $ 179,644          $ 1,005,823          $ 1,774,651       
Liabilities:
                                                                                                          
Written options
              $ 1,314,704          $ 493,407          $ 549,803          $ 578,666          $ 5,200,326          $ 8,136,906       
Total Liabilities
              $ 1,314,704          $ 493,407          $ 549,803          $ 578,666          $ 5,200,326          $ 8,136,906       
Net OTC derivative instruments by counterparty, at fair value
              $ (1,314,704 )         $ 95,777          $ (549,803 )         $ (399,022 )         $ (4,194,503 )         $ (6,362,255 )      
Total collateral pledged by the Fund/(Received from counterparty)
              $           $           $           $           $           $        
Net Exposure(1)
              $ (1,314,704 )         $ 95,777          $ (549,803 )         $ (399,022 )         $ (4,194,503 )         $ (6,362,255 )      
 

(1)
  Positive net exposure represents amounts due from each respective counterparty. Negative exposure represents amounts due from the Fund. Please refer to Note 2 for additional details regarding counterparty credit risk and credit related contingent features.

Supplemental Option Information (Unaudited)

Supplemental Call Option Statistics as of February 29, 2016:

Indices
                       
% of Total Net Assets against which calls written
                 49.88 %  
Average Days to Expiration at time written
                 44 days   
Average Call Moneyness* at time written
                 OTM/ATM    
Premiums received for calls
              $ 7,357,503   
Value of calls
              $ (7,267,461 )  
 

Currencies
                       
% of Total Net Assets against which calls/puts written
                 20.53 %  
Average Days to Expiration at time written
                 91 days   
Average Call Moneyness* at time written
                 OTM    
Premiums received for calls
              $ 957,920   
Value of calls
              $ (869,445 )  
 

Supplemental Put Option Statistics as of February 29, 2016:

Currency
                       
% of Total Net Assets against which Currency calls/puts purchased
                 20.53 %  
Average Days to Expiration at time purchased
                 91 days   
Average Currency Put Moneyness* at time purchased
                 OTM    
Premiums Paid for puts
              $ 957,920   
Value of puts
              $ 1,774,651   
 

*
  “Moneyness” is the term used to describe the relationship between the price of the underlying asset and the option’s exercise or strike price. For example, a call (buy) option is considered “in-the-money” when the value of the underlying asset exceeds the strike price. Conversely, a put (sell) option is considered “in-the-money” when its strike price exceeds the value of the underlying asset. Options are characterized for the purpose of Moneyness as, “in-the-money” (“ITM”), “out-of-the-money” (“OTM”) or “at-the-money” (“ATM”), where the underlying asset value equals the strike price.

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

25


 

TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)


Dividends and distributions paid during the tax year ended December 31, 2015 were as follows:

Fund Name

        Type
    Per Share Amount
Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
           
NII
      $ 0.8100   
 
           
ROC
      $ 0.1020   
 

NII — Net investment income

ROC — Return of capital

Of the ordinary distributions made during the tax year ended December 31, 2015, 38.83% qualifies for the dividends received deduction (DRD) available to corporate shareholders.

For the tax year ended December 31, 2015, 100% of ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund (including creditable foreign taxes paid) are designated as qualifying dividend income (QDI) subject to reduced income tax rates for individuals.

Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund designates the following amounts as foreign taxes paid for the tax year ended December 31, 2015:

Creditable Foreign
Taxes Paid
        Per Share
Amount
    Portion of Ordinary
Income Distribution
Derived from Foreign
Sourced Income*
$1,133,262
           
$0.0116
   
58.89%
 

*
  None of the Fund’s income was derived from ineligible foreign sources as defined under Section 901(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Foreign taxes paid or withheld should be included in taxable income with an offsetting deduction from gross income or as a credit for taxes paid to foreign governments. Shareholders are strongly advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the appropriate treatment of foreign taxes paid.

Above figures may differ from those cited elsewhere in this report due to differences in the calculation of income and gains under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (book) purposes and Internal Revenue Service (tax) purposes.

Shareholders are strongly advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investments in the Fund. In January, shareholders, excluding corporate shareholders, receive an IRS 1099-DIV regarding the federal tax status of the dividends and distributions they received in the calendar year.

26


 

SHAREHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)


Proposals:

1    
  To elect four nominees to the Board of Trustees of Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund.

An annual shareholder meeting of Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund was held July 1, 2015, at the offices of Voya Investment Management, 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

        Proposal
    Shares voted for
    Shares voted
against or
withheld
    Shares
abstained
    Broker
non-vote
    Total Shares
Voted
Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
           
 
                                                                               
Colleen D. Baldwin
           
1*
         80,001,645.038             4,604,967.600             0.000             0.000             84,606,612.638   
Peter S. Drotch
           
1*
         79,776,867.038             4,829,745.600             0.000             0.000             84,606,612.638   
Russell H. Jones
           
1*
         79,837,500.038             4,769,112.600             0.000             0.000             84,606,612.638   
Joseph E. Obermeyer
           
1*
         80,245,090.038             4,361,522.600             0.000             0.000             84,606,612.638   
 

*
  Proposal Passed

27


 

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)


The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the direction of the Board. A Trustee, who is not an interested person of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, is an independent trustee (“Independent Trustee”). The Trustees and Officers of the Trust are listed below.

Name, Address and Age
        Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
    Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served(1)
    Principal
Occupation(s) —
During the Past 5 Years
    Number
of Funds
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(2)
    Other Board
Positions
Held by Trustee
 
Independent Trustees:
           
 
                                                               
 
Colleen D. Baldwin
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 55
           
Trustee
   
October
2007–Present
   
President, Glantuam Partners, LLC, a business consulting firm (January 2009–Present).
   
151
   
DSM/Dentaquest, Boston, MA (February 2014–Present).
 
John V. Boyer
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 62
           
Chairperson
Trustee
   
January
2014–Present
February
2005–Present
   
President and Chief Executive Officer, Bechtler Arts Foundation, an arts and education foundation (January 2008–Present).
   
151
   
None.
 
Patricia W. Chadwick
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 67
           
Trustee
   
January
2006–Present
   
Consultant and President, Ravengate Partners LLC, a consulting firm that provides advice regarding financial markets and the global economy (January 2000–Present).
   
151
   
Wisconsin Energy Corporation (June 2006–Present); The Royce Funds (35 funds) (December 2009–Present); and AMICA Mutual Insurance Company (1992–Present).
 
Peter S. Drotch
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 74
           
Trustee
   
October
2007–Present
   
Retired.
   
151
   
First Marblehead Corporation (September 2003–Present).
 
Martin J. Gavin
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-2034
Age: 66
           
Trustee
   
August
2015–Present
   
Retired. Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (May 2006–November 2015).
   
151
   
None.
 
Russell H. Jones
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 71
           
Trustee
   
May
2013–Present
   
Retired.
   
151
   
None.
 
Patrick W. Kenny
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 73
           
Trustee
   
February
2005–Present
   
Retired.
   
151
   
Assured Guaranty Ltd. (April 2004–Present).
 
Joseph E. Obermeyer
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 58
           
Trustee
   
May
2013–Present
   
President, Obermeyer & Associates, Inc., a provider of financial and economic consulting services (November 1999–Present).
   
151
   
None.
 
Sheryl K. Pressler
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 65
           
Trustee
   
January
2006–Present
   
Consultant (May 2001–Present).
   
151
   
None.
 
Christopher P. Sullivan
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 62
           
Trustee
   
October
2015–Present
   
Retired. Formerly, President, Bond Division, Fidelity Management and Research (June 2009– September 2012).
   
151
   
None.

28


 

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


Name, Address and Age
        Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
    Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served(1)
    Principal
Occupation(s) —
During the Past 5 Years
    Number
of Funds
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(2)
    Other Board
Positions
Held by Trustee
Roger B. Vincent
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 70
           
Trustee
   
February
2005–Present
   
Retired. Formerly, President, Springwell Corporation, a corporate finance firm (March 1989–August 2011).
   
151
   
UGI Corporation (February 2006–Present) and UGI Utilities, Inc. (February 2006–Present).
 
Trustee who is an “interested
person”:
                                                                                       
 
Shaun P. Mathews(3)
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age:60
           
Trustee
   
June 2006–
Present
   
President and Chief Executive Officer, Voya Investments, LLC (December
2006–Present).
   
151
   
Voya Capital Corporation, LLC and Voya Investments Distributor, LLC (December 2005–Present); Voya Funds Services, LLC, Voya Investments, LLC and Voya Investment Management
(March 2006–Present); and
Voya Investment Trust Co. (April 2009–Present).
 

(1)
  Trustees serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The tenure of each Trustee who is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act, of each Fund (“Independent Trustee”) is subject to the Board’s retirement policy which states that each duly elected or appointed Independent Trustee shall retire from and cease to be a member of the Board of Trustees at the close of business on December 31 of the calendar year in which the Independent Trustee attains the age of 75. A majority vote of the Board’s other Independent Trustees may extend the retirement date of an Independent Trustee if the retirement would trigger a requirement to hold a meeting of shareholders of the Trust under applicable law, whether for the purposes of appointing a successor to the Independent Trustee or otherwise comply under applicable law, in which case the extension would apply until such time as the shareholder meeting can be held or is no longer required (as determined by a vote of a majority of the other Independent Trustees).

(2)
  For the purposes of this table, “Fund Complex” means the Voya family of funds including the following investment companies: Voya Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund; Voya Balanced Portfolio, Inc.; Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund; Voya Equity Trust; Voya Funds Trust; Voya Global Advantage and Premium Opportunity Fund; Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund; Voya Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund; Voya Intermediate Bond Portfolio; Voya International High Dividend Equity Income Fund; Voya Investors Trust; Voya Money Market Portfolio; Voya Mutual Funds; Voya Natural Resources Equity Income Fund; Voya Partners, Inc.; Voya Prime Rate Trust; Voya Senior Income Fund; Voya Separate Portfolios Trust; Voya Series Fund, Inc.; Voya Strategic Allocation Portfolios, Inc.; Voya Variable Funds; Voya Variable Insurance Trust; Voya Variable Portfolios, Inc.; and Voya Variable Products Trust. The number of funds in the Fund Complex is as of March 31, 2016.

(3)
  Mr. Mathews is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his current affiliation with the Voya funds, Voya Financial, Inc. or Voya Financial, Inc.’s affiliates.

29


 

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


Name, Address and Age
        Position(s) Held
With the Trust
    Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served(1)
    Principal Occupation(s) —
During the Past 5 Years
Shaun P. Mathews
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 60
           
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
November 2006–Present
   
President and Chief Executive Officer, Voya Investments, LLC (December 2006–Present).
 
Michael J. Roland
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 57
           
Executive Vice President
   
January 2005–Present
   
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Voya Investments, LLC and Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2012–Present). Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer, Directed Services LLC and Voya Investments, LLC (March 2011– December 2013); Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Voya Investments, LLC and Voya Funds Services, LLC (January 2007– April 2012) and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (March 2011–February 2012).
 
Stanley D. Vyner
230 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10169
Age: 65
           
Executive Vice President
Chief Investment Risk Officer
   
January 2005–Present
September 2009–Present
   
Executive Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (July 2000–Present) and Chief Investment Risk Officer, Voya Investments, LLC (January 2003–Present).
 
Kevin M. Gleason
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 49
           
Chief Compliance Officer
   
February 2012–Present
   
Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (February 2012–Present). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (June 2004–January 2012).
 
Todd Modic
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 48
           
Senior Vice President, Chief/Principal Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary
   
May 2005–Present
   
Senior Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC and Voya Funds Services, LLC (April 2005– Present).
 
Kimberly A. Anderson
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 51
           
Senior Vice President
   
January 2005–Present
   
Senior Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (September 2003–Present).
 
Julius A. Drelick, III
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 49
           
Senior Vice President
   
July 2012–Present
   
Senior Vice President — Fund Compliance, Voya Investments, LLC (June 2012–Present); and Chief Compliance Officer of Directed Services LLC and Voya Investments, LLC (January 2014–Present). Formerly, Vice President — Platform Product Management & Project Management, Voya Investments, LLC (April 2007–June 2012).
 
Robert Terris
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 45
           
Senior Vice President
   
May 2006–Present
   
Senior Vice President, Head of Division Operations, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present) and Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2006–Present).
 
Fred Bedoya
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 43
           
Vice President and Treasurer
   
September 2012–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present) and Voya Funds Services, LLC (July 2012–Present). Formerly, Assistant Vice President — Director, Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2003–March 2012).
 
Maria M. Anderson
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 57
           
Vice President
   
January 2005–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present) and Voya Funds Services, LLC (September 2004–Present).

30


 

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


Name, Address and Age
        Position(s) Held
With the Trust
    Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served(1)
    Principal Occupation(s) —
During the Past 5 Years
Lauren D. Bensinger
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 62
           
Vice President
   
January 2005–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Funds Services, LLC (February 1996–Present) and Voya Investments, LLC (October 2004–Present); Vice President and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, Voya Investments Distributor, LLC (April 2010– Present); Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, Voya Financial, Inc. (January 2013– Present); and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, Voya Investment Management Trust Co. (October 2012–Present).
 
Sara M. Donaldson
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 56
           
Vice President
   
September 2014–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present). Formerly Vice President, Voya Funds Services, LLC (April 2014–October 2015). Formerly, Director, Compliance, AXA Rosenberg Global Services, LLC (September 1997–March 2014).
 
Robyn L. Ichilov
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 48
           
Vice President
   
January 2005–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Funds Services, LLC (November 1995–Present) and Voya Investments, LLC (August 1997–Present). Formerly, Treasurer, Voya Family of Funds (November 1999–February 2012).
 
Jason Kadavy
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 40
           
Vice President
   
September 2012–Present
   
Vice President, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present) and Voya Funds Services, LLC (July 2007–Present).
 
Kimberly K. Springer
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 58
           
Vice President
   
March 2006–Present
   
Vice President — Mutual Fund Product Development, Voya Investments, LLC (July 2012–Present); Vice President, Voya Family of Funds (March 2010–Present) and Vice President, Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2006–Present). Formerly Managing Paralegal, Registration Statements (June 2003–July 2012).
 
Craig Wheeler
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 47
           
Vice President
   
May 2013–Present
   
Vice President — Director of Tax, Voya Investments, LLC (October 2015–Present). Formerly, Vice President — Director of Tax, Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2013–October 2015). Formerly, Assistant Vice President — Director of Tax, Voya Funds Services, LLC (March 2008–February 2013).
 
Huey P. Falgout, Jr.
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 52
           
Secretary
   
January 2005–Present
   
Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel, Voya Investment Management — Mutual Fund Legal Department (March 2010–Present).
 
Paul A. Caldarelli
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 64
           
Assistant Secretary
   
June 2010–Present
   
Vice President and Senior Counsel, Voya Investment Management — Mutual Fund Legal Department (March 2010–Present).
 
Theresa K. Kelety
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 53
           
Assistant Secretary
   
January 2005–Present
   
Vice President and Senior Counsel, Voya Investment Management — Mutual Fund Legal Department (March 2010–Present).
 

(1)    
  The Officers hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Trustees and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.

31


 

ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED)


BOARD CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF SUB-ADVISORY CONTRACT FOR VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND

Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to which Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is subject, makes it unlawful for any registered fund having a board of trustees to enter into any new advisory agreement, including any sub-advisory agreement, unless the agreement has been approved by a vote of a majority of the trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the agreement and who are not “interested persons” of the fund. At its November 19, 2015 meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”), including a majority of the Board members who have no direct or indirect interest in the advisory and sub-advisory contracts, and who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as such persons are defined under the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), considered a proposal by Voya Investments, LLC (“Adviser”), the adviser to the Fund, to enter into a new sub-advisory contract with NNIP Advisors B.V. (the “Sub-Adviser” or “NNIP”) for the Fund (the “Sub-Advisory Contract”). The Board was asked to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract because it was advised by the Adviser that the existing sub-advisory contract (the “Prior Contract”) between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser was expected to terminate in the near future due to a change of control of the Sub-Adviser.

In addition to the Board meeting on November 19, 2015, the Independent Trustees held separate meetings on October 1, 2015 and November 17, 2015, to review and evaluate the Sub-Adviser’s services to the Fund. As a result, subsequent references herein to factors considered and determinations made by the Board include, as applicable, factors considered and determinations made on those earlier dates by the Independent Trustees.

At its November 19, 2015 meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract for the Fund. In reaching its decision, the Board took into account information furnished to it throughout the year at meetings of the Board and the Board’s committees, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with the annual review process. Determinations by the Independent Trustees also took into account various factors that they believed, in light of the legal advice furnished to them by K&L Gates LLP (“K&L Gates”), their independent legal counsel, and their own business judgment, to be relevant. Further, while the Board reviewed at the same meeting the sub-advisory contracts for other Voya funds, the Board considered each Voya fund’s sub-advisory relationship separately.

Provided below is a general overview of the Board’s review and evaluation process with respect to the Sub-Adviser, as well as a discussion of certain specific factors that the Board considered at its review and approval meetings. While the Board considered all of the information it deemed relevant, discussed below are some of the primary factors relevant to the Board’s consideration as to whether to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract. Each Board member may have accorded different weight to the various factors in reaching his or her conclusion with respect to the Sub-Advisory Contract.

Overview of the Contract Review and Approval Process

The Board followed a structured process (the “Contract Review Process”) pursuant to which it requested and considered relevant information when it decided whether to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract. Among other actions, the Independent Trustees previously retained an independent consultant with experience in the registered fund industry to assist them in working with personnel employed by the Adviser or its affiliates who administer the Fund (“Management”) to: identify the types of information presented to the Board to inform its deliberations with respect to sub-advisory relationships and to help evaluate that information; evaluate industry best practices in regard to the consideration of sub-advisory contracts; establish a specific format in which certain requested information was provided to the Board; and determine the process for the Board’s review of such information.

The Board has established (among other committees) three Investment Review Committees (each, an “IRC”) and a Contracts Committee. Among other matters, the Contracts Committee provides oversight with respect to the Contract Review Process, and the Fund is assigned to an IRC, which provides oversight regarding, among other matters, the investment performance of the Sub-Adviser, as well as oversight by the Adviser of the performance of the Sub-Adviser. The IRCs may apply a heightened level of scrutiny in cases where performance was below the Fund’s relevant benchmark, and/or a selected peer group of investment companies (“Selected Peer Group”), and/or Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) category median, and/or Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”) category median, as applicable.

The type and format of the information provided to the Board or to legal counsel for the Independent Trustees in connection with the Contract Review Process has been codified in a 15(c) methodology guide for the Voya funds (“15(c) Methodology Guide”). This 15(c) Methodology Guide was developed under the direction of the Independent Trustees and sets out a blueprint pursuant to which they request certain information in connection with their review of advisory and sub-advisory contracts.

32


 

ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


Management provided certain of the information requested by the 15(c) Methodology Guide in Fund Analysis and Comparison Tables (“FACT sheet”). The Independent Trustees periodically have retained, including most recently in 2015, an independent firm to test and verify the accuracy of certain FACT sheet data for a representative sample of the Voya funds. In addition, the Contracts Committee has routinely employed an independent consultant to assist in its review and analysis of, among other matters, the 15(c) Methodology Guide, the content and format of the FACT sheet, and the Selected Peer Group to be used by the Fund for certain comparison purposes during the review process.

Set forth below is a discussion of many of the Board’s primary considerations and conclusions in connection with its decision to approve the Fund’s Sub-Advisory Contract.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Service

The Independent Trustees received and evaluated such information as they deemed necessary regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Sub-Adviser. This included information regarding the Sub-Adviser provided throughout the year at regular meetings of the Board and its committees, as well as information furnished in connection with the contract review meetings.

The materials requested by the Independent Trustees and provided to the Board, K&L Gates and/or independent consultants that assisted the Independent Trustees prior to the November 19, 2015 Board meeting included, among other information, the following items: (1) the FACT sheet that provided information regarding the performance and expenses of the Fund and other similarly managed funds in its Selected Peer Group, as well as information regarding the Fund’s investment portfolio, objective and strategies; (2) reports providing risk and attribution analyses of the Fund; (3) the 15(c) Methodology Guide, which describes how the FACT sheet was prepared, including the manner in which the Fund’s benchmark and Selected Peer Group were selected and how profitability was determined; (4) responses from the Sub-Adviser to the Fund to a series of questions posed by K&L Gates dated June 12, 2015, and November 7, 2015, on behalf of the Independent Trustees; (5) a copy of the form of Sub-Advisory Contract; (6) a copy of the Form ADV for the Sub-Adviser; (7) financial statements for the Sub-Adviser; (8) independent analyses of Fund performance by the Fund’s Chief Investment Risk Officer; (9) a report by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”); and (10) other information relevant to the Board’s evaluations.

The Board was advised by the Adviser that pursuant to an agreement with the European Commission, ING Groep, N.V. (“ING Groep”) is required to divest its entire interest in NN Group N.V. (“NN Group”) into an independent, standalone company by the end of 2016 (the “Separation Plan”). NN Group previously was a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of ING Groep and is a parent company of the Sub-Adviser. The Board was advised that the Separation Plan contemplates one or more public offerings and each may be deemed to be a change of control.

The Board considered the potential effects of the Separation Plan on the Fund and the Sub-Adviser, including the Sub-Adviser’s ability during and after the separation to perform the same level of service to the Fund as the Sub-Adviser currently provides. The Board was advised that the Sub-Adviser anticipated that the Separation Plan would have no material adverse impact on the Fund or its operations and administration.

The Fund is subject to the 1940 Act, which provides that any investment advisory agreement, including any sub-advisory agreement, must terminate automatically upon its “assignment.” As used in the 1940 Act, the term assignment includes any transfer of a controlling block of outstanding voting securities of an adviser or the parent company of an adviser. Such a transfer is referred to herein as a “Change of Control Event.” ING Groep’s base case to achieve the Separation Plan was through an initial public offering of NN Group (the “IPO”) followed by the divestment of ING Groep’s remaining ownership interest over time through one or more additional public offerings of NN Group stock. The Board recognized that the Separation Plan contemplates several public offerings and each may be deemed to be a Change of Control Event, triggering the necessity for a new agreement, which would require the approval of the Board. The Board concluded that the shareholders’ approval of a new agreement that would become effective upon one or more Change of Control Events would permit the Fund to benefit from the continuation of services by the Sub-Adviser throughout the Separation Plan without the need for multiple shareholder meetings. The Board was informed by the Adviser that the Sub-Adviser was relying on regulatory assurances from the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2013 that they would not object to approval of future agreements by shareholders at a single shareholder meeting. Fund shareholders approved the future agreements in February 2015.

The Board noted that the IPO was completed in July 2014, and ING Groep has divested additional shares of NN Group through four subsequent public offerings since July 2014, including a secondary common stock offering that settled on October 5, 2015, which further reduced ING Groep’s stake in NN Group to 25.8% of outstanding shares. NN Group did not receive any proceeds from these offerings. Upon the completion of the next transaction, ING Groep’s ownership in NN Group is expected to be reduced to less

33


 

ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)



than 25%, which the Board was advised by the Adviser will be deemed to be a Change of Control Event that would result in the termination of the Prior Contract.

In arriving at its conclusions with respect to the Sub-Advisory Contract, the Board recognized that the Adviser is responsible for monitoring the investment program, performance, and developments and ongoing operations of the Sub-Adviser under its manager-of-managers arrangement.

The Board also received periodic reports showing that the investment policies and restrictions for the Fund were consistently complied with and other periodic reports covering matters such as compliance with codes of ethics by personnel of the Sub-Adviser. The Board considered reports from the Fund’s CCO evaluating whether the regulatory compliance systems and procedures of the Sub-Adviser are reasonably designed to assure compliance with the federal securities laws, including those related to, among others, late trading and market timing, best execution, fair value pricing, proxy voting and trade allocation practices. The Board also took into account the CCO’s annual and periodic reports and recommendations with respect to service provider compliance programs. In this regard, the Board also considered the policies and procedures developed by the CCO in consultation with the Board’s Compliance Committee that guide the CCO’s compliance oversight function.

The Board requested and, as applicable, considered information regarding the level of staffing, quality and experience of the Fund’s portfolio management team, the resources and reputation of the Sub-Adviser, and the ability of the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment advisory personnel, as well as the adequacy of the resources committed to the Fund by the Sub-Adviser, whether those resources are commensurate with the needs of the Fund and are sufficient to sustain appropriate levels of performance and compliance needs. Additionally, the Board considered the financial stability of the Sub-Adviser.

Based on their deliberations and the materials presented to them, the Board concluded that the sub-advisory and related services provided by the Sub-Adviser are appropriate in light of the Fund’s operations, the competitive landscape of the investment company business, and investor needs, and that the nature, extent and quality of the overall services provided by the Sub-Adviser are appropriate.

Fund Performance

In assessing the sub-advisory relationship, the Board placed emphasis on the investment returns of the Fund. The Board considered the performance reports and analyses from MR&S and IRMD and discussions with portfolio managers at Board and committee meetings during the year. The Board also paid particular attention in assessing performance information provided on the FACT sheet furnished in connection with the review and approval process. The FACT sheet prepared for the Fund included its investment performance compared to the Fund’s Morningstar category median and/or Lipper category median, Selected Peer Group and primary benchmark. The FACT sheet performance data was as of March 31, 2015. In addition, the Board also received and considered updated performance information for the Fund against its Morningstar category median and/or Lipper category median and primary benchmark as of October 31, 2015.

Economies of Scale

When evaluating the reasonableness of advisory fee rates, the Board also considered whether economies of scale likely will be realized by the Sub-Adviser as the Fund grows larger and the extent to which any such economies are reflected in contractual fee rates. The Board noted that the Fund, as a closed-end fund, generally does not issue new shares and is less likely to realize economies of scale from additional share purchases. The Board also noted that any breakpoints in the Sub-Adviser’s fee schedule for the Fund would inure to the benefit of the Adviser, except to the extent that there are corresponding advisory fee rate breakpoints or waivers. The Independent Trustees also considered prior periodic management reports, industry information on this topic, fee rates at projected levels of growth versus peers and the Fund’s investment performance.

Information Regarding Services to Other Clients

The Board requested and, as applicable, considered information regarding the nature of services and fee rates offered by the Sub-Adviser to other clients, including other registered investment companies and relevant institutional accounts.

Fee Rates and Profitability

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for sub-advisory services for the Fund, including the portion of the contractual advisory fees that are paid to the Sub-Adviser, as compared to the portion retained by the Adviser.

The Board requested information regarding and, as applicable, considered: (1) the fee rate structure of the Fund as it relates to the services provided under the Sub-Advisory Contract; and (2) the potential fall-out benefits to the Sub-Adviser from its association with the Fund. For the Fund, the Board determined that the fee rate payable to the Sub-Adviser is reasonable for the services that it performs, which were considered in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services that it has performed and is expected to perform.

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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


The Board did not request profitability data from the Sub-Adviser because the Board did not view this data as relevant to its deliberations, given the arm’s-length nature of the relationship between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser with respect to the negotiation of sub-advisory fee rates. In this regard, the Board also considered that the Adviser (and not the Fund) pays the sub-advisory fees earned by the Sub-Adviser.

Conclusions

In light of the foregoing, on November 19, 2015 the Board, at an in-person meeting, approved the Sub-Advisory Contract for the Fund to replace the Prior Contract upon such Change of Control Event as described above. The Sub-Adviser represented that the agreements approved by the Board were not materially different from the agreements approved by shareholders of the Fund in February 2015 and no single person or group of persons acting together is expected to gain “control” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of NN Group. As a result, shareholders of the Fund will not be asked to vote again on this new agreement with the Sub-Adviser.

The decision by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract was based on a determination by the Board that it would be in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund for the Sub-Adviser to continue providing sub-advisory and related services for the Fund, without interruption, after the Change of Control Event.

In light of all factors it considered in its review of the Sub-Advisory Contract, the Board concluded that the fee rates set forth in the Sub-Advisory Contract were fair and reasonable. Among other factors, the Board considered: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services provided and to be provided under the Sub-Advisory Contract; (2) the extent to which economies of scale are reflected in fee rate schedules under the Sub-Advisory Contract; (3) the existence of any “fall-out” benefits to the Sub-Adviser; and (4) a comparison of fee rates, expense ratios, and investment performance to those of similar funds.

In connection with its approval of the Sub-Advisory Contract, on November 19, 2015, the Board considered a representation from the Sub-Adviser that there were no additional developments not already disclosed to the Board in the prior response provided to the Board in connection with their annual review of the Prior Contract, that would be a material consideration to the Board in connection with its consideration of the Sub-Advisory Contract. Additionally, the Board took into account, among other factors, the considerations set out below.

1)  
  The Independent Trustees solicited and received ongoing advice regarding the Board’s legal duties when approving the Sub-Advisory Contract from K&L Gates, their independent legal counsel, which law firm has extensive experience regarding such matters.

2)  
  The Board considered the Sub-Adviser’s representations regarding its commitment to maintain appropriate levels of overall staffing, ongoing resources and service quality through the transactions under the Separation Plan and after the Change of Control Event. The Board noted that such services include, but are not limited to, investment management and research services. In this regard, the Board considered representations by the Sub-Adviser that its separation from ING Groep, as contemplated by the Separation Plan, will not lead to a reduction in the quality or scope of these and other services provided by those firms to the funds in the Voya funds complex, including the Fund.

3)  
  The Board considered representations by the Sub-Adviser that approval of the Sub-Advisory Contract would be necessary for the Fund to continue receiving sub-advisory services from the Sub-Adviser following the Change of Control Event. In addition, the Board considered representations by the Sub-Adviser, as well as related supporting documentation, indicating that the Sub-Advisory Contract, including the fees payable thereunder, are substantially similar to and, in any event, are no less favorable to the Fund than, the terms of the Prior Contract.

4)  
  The Board considered representations by the Sub-Adviser indicating that: (a) the Sub-Adviser can be expected to provide services of the same nature, extent and quality under the Sub-Advisory Contract as were provided thereby under the Prior Contract; and (b) the Change of Control Event is not expected to result in any changes to: (i) the management of the Fund, including the continuity of the Fund’s portfolio managers and other personnel responsible for the management operations of the Fund; or (ii) the investment objective of or the principal investment strategies used to manage the Fund.

Based on the foregoing and other relevant considerations, at a meeting of the Board held on November 19, 2015, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve the Sub-Advisory Contract. In this connection, the Board concluded that, in light of all factors considered, the terms of the Sub-Advisory Contract, including fee rates, were fair and reasonable, and the Sub-Advisory Contract should be approved so as to enable a continuation without interruption of the services being provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the Prior Contract. The Board noted that no one factor was determinative of its decisions which, instead, were premised upon the totality of factors considered. The Board also noted that different Board members likely placed emphasis on different factors in reaching their individual conclusions to vote in favor of the Sub-Advisory Contract.

35


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)


During the period, there were no material changes in the Fund’s investment objective or policies that were not approved by the shareholders or the Fund’s charter or by-laws or in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the Fund other than that listed below. There have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

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

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

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

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

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

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

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

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

36


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)



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

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

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

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

In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.

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

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

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

Key Financial Dates — Calendar 2016 Distributions:

Declaration Date
        Ex Date
    Record Date
    Payable Date
15-Jan-16                  1-Feb-16              3-Feb-16              16-Feb-16    
16-Feb-16                  1-Mar-16              3-Mar-16              15-Mar-16    
15-Mar-16                  1-Apr-16              5-Apr-15              15-Apr-16    
15-Apr-16                  2-May-16              4-May-16              16-May-16    
16-May-16                  1-Jun-16              3-Jun-16              15-Jun-16    
15-Jun-16                  1-Jul-16              6-Jul-16              15-Jul-16    
15-Jul-16                  1-Aug-16              3-Aug-16              15-Aug-16    
15-Aug-16                  1-Sep-16              6-Sep-16              15-Sep-16    
15-Sep-16                  3-Oct-16              5-Oct-16              17-Oct-16    
17-Oct-16                  1-Nov-16              3-Nov-16              15-Nov-16    
15-Nov-16                  1-Dec-16              5-Dec-16              15-Dec-16    
15-Dec-16                  28-Dec-16              30-Dec-16              17-Jan-17    
 

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

Stock Data

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

Repurchase of Securities by Closed-End Companies

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

37


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)


Number of Shareholders

The number of record holders of Common Stock as of February 29, 2016 was 91, which does not include approximately 42,752 beneficial owners of shares held in the name of brokers of other nominees.

Certifications

In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s CEO submitted the Annual CEO Certification on July 31, 2015 certifying that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE’s Corporate governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Fund’s principal executive and financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Forms N-CSR and N-Q, relating to, among other things, the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting.

38


 

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Investment Adviser
Voya Investments, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258

Transfer Agent
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1900

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Two Financial Center
60 South Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon
225 Liberty Street
New York, New York 10286

Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199

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

RETIREMENT | INVESTMENTS | INSURANCE
voyainvestments.com

AR-IGD (0216-042216)


 

 

Item 2.Code of Ethics.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, Registrant had adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. There were no amendments to the Code during the period covered by the report. The Registrant did not grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from any provisions of the Code during the period covered by this report. The code of ethics is filed herewith pursuant to Item 10(a)(1), Exhibit 99.CODE ETH.

 

Item 3.Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The Board of Trustees has determined that Colleen D. Baldwin, Peter S. Drotch, Patrick W. Kenny, Joseph E. Obermeyer, and Roger B. Vincent are audit committee financial experts, as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Drotch, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Obermeyer and Mr. Vincent are “independent” for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4.Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)Audit Fees: The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements, for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were $26,600 for the year ended February 29, 2016 and $26,600 for the year ended February 28, 2015.

 

(b)Audit-Related Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by KPMG that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this item were $2,525 for the year ended February 29, 2016 and $2,525 for the year ended February 28, 2015.

 

(c)Tax Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by KPMG for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $11,091 in the year ended February 29, 2016 and $10,210 in the year ended February 28, 2015. Such services included review of excise distribution calculations (if applicable), preparation of the Funds’ federal, state and excise tax returns, tax services related to mergers and routine consulting.

 

(a)All Other Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by KPMG, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the year ended February 29, 2016 and $2,194 for the year ended February 28, 2015.

 

(e)(1)Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

 

 

AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY

 

I.Statement of Principles

 

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”), the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors or Trustees (the “Committee”) of the Voya funds (each a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”) set out on Exhibit A to this Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (“Policy”) is responsible for the oversight of the work of the Funds’ independent auditors. As part of its responsibilities, the Committee must pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the auditors in order to assure that the provision of these services does not impair the auditors’ independence from the Funds. The Committee has adopted, and the Board has ratified, this Policy, which sets out the procedures and conditions under which the services of the independent auditors may be pre-approved.

 

Under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules promulgated in accordance with the Act, the Funds may establish two different approaches to pre-approving audit and non-audit services. The Committee may approve services without consideration of specific case-by-case services (“general pre-approval”) or it may pre-approve specific services (“specific pre-approval”). The Committee believes that the combination of these approaches contemplated in this Policy results in an effective and efficient method for pre-approving audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Funds’ independent auditors. Under this Policy, services that are not of a type that may receive general pre-approval require specific pre-approval by the Committee. Any proposed services that exceed pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require the Committee’s specific pre-approval.

 

For both types of approval, the Committee considers whether the subject services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence and that such services are compatible with maintaining the auditors independence. The Committee also considers whether a particular audit firm is in the best position to provide effective and efficient services to the Funds. Reasons that the auditors are in the best position include the auditors’ familiarity with the Funds’ business, personnel, culture, accounting systems, risk profile, and other factors, and whether the services will enhance the Funds’ ability to manage and control risk or improve audit quality. Such factors will be considered as a whole, with no one factor being determinative.

 

The appendices attached to this Policy describe the audit, audit-related, tax-related, and other services that have the Committee’s general pre-approval. For any service that has been approved through general pre-approval, the general pre-approval will remain in place for a period 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Committee determines that a different period is appropriate. The Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the independent auditors without specific pre-approval. The Committee will revise the list of services subject to general pre-approval as appropriate. This Policy does not serve as a delegation to Fund management of the Committee’s duty to pre-approve services performed by the Funds’ independent auditors.

 

   

 

 

II.Audit Services

 

The annual audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the Committee’s specific pre-approval. Audit services are those services that are normally provided by auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements or those that generally only independent auditors can reasonably provide. They include the Funds’ annual financial statement audit and procedures that the independent auditors must perform in order to form an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements (e.g., information systems and procedural reviews and testing). The Committee will monitor the audit services engagement and approve any changes in terms, conditions or fees deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate.

 

The Committee may grant general pre-approval to other audit services, such as statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or issued in connection with securities offerings.

 

The Committee has pre-approved the audit services listed on Appendix A. The Committee must specifically approve all audit services not listed on Appendix A.

 

III.Audit-related Services

 

Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or the review of the Funds’ financial statements or are traditionally performed by the independent auditors. The Committee believes that the provision of audit-related services will not impair the independent auditors’ independence, and therefore may grant pre-approval to audit-related services. Audit-related services include accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters not classified as “audit services;” assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures relating to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Form N-SAR or Form N-CSR.

 

The Committee has pre-approved the audit-related services listed on Appendix B. The Committee must specifically approve all audit-related services not listed on Appendix B.

 

IV.Tax Services

 

The Committee believes the independent auditors can provide tax services to the Funds, including tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice, without compromising the auditors’ independence. Therefore, the Committee may grant general pre-approval with respect to tax services historically provided by the Funds’ independent auditors that do not, in the Committee’s view, impair auditor independence and that are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

 

The Committee will not grant pre-approval if the independent auditors initially recommends a transaction the sole business purpose of which is tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported in the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations. The Committee may consult outside counsel to determine that tax planning and reporting positions are consistent with this Policy.

 

The Committee has pre-approved the tax-related services listed on Appendix C. The Committee must specifically approve all tax-related services not listed on Appendix C.

 

   

 

 

V.Other Services

 

The Committee believes it may grant approval of non-audit services that are permissible services for independent auditors to a Fund. The Committee has determined to grant general pre-approval to other services that it believes are routine and recurring, do not impair auditor independence, and are consistent with SEC rules on auditor independence.

 

The Committee has pre-approved the non-audit services listed on Appendix D. The Committee must specifically approve all non-audit services not listed on Appendix D.

 

A list of the SEC’s prohibited non-audit services is attached to this Policy as Appendix E. The SEC’s rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise definitions of these impermissible services and the applicability of exceptions to certain of the SEC’s prohibitions.

 

VI.Pre-approval of Fee levels and Budgeted Amounts

 

The Committee will annually establish pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for audit, audit-related, tax and non-audit services to be provided to the Funds by the independent auditors. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts require the Committee’s specific pre-approval. The Committee considers fees for audit and non-audit services when deciding whether to pre-approve services. The Committee may determine, for a pre-approval period of 12 months, the appropriate ratio between the total amount of fees for the Fund’s audit, audit-related, and tax services (including fees for services provided to Fund affiliates that are subject to pre-approval), and the total amount of fees for certain permissible non-audit services for the Fund classified as other services (including any such services provided to Fund affiliates that are subject to pre-approval).

 

VII.Procedures

 

Requests or applications for services to be provided by the independent auditors will be submitted to management. If management determines that the services do not fall within those services generally pre-approved by the Committee and set out in the appendices to these procedures, management will submit the services to the Committee or its delagee. Any such submission will include a detailed description of the services to be rendered. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the Committee will, on a quarterly basis, receive from the independent auditors a list of services provided for the previous calendar quarter on a cumulative basis by the auditors during the Pre-Approval Period.

 

   

 

 

VIII.Delegation

 

The Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of the Committee’s members. Any member or members to whom such pre-approval authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions, including any pre-approved services, to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will identify any member to whom pre-approval authority is delegated in writing. The member will retain such authority for a period of 12 months from the date of pre-approval unless the Committee determines that a different period is appropriate. The period of delegated authority may be terminated by the Committee or at the option of the member.

 

IX.Additional Requirements

 

The Committee will take any measures the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to oversee the work of the independent auditors and to assure the auditors’ independence from the Funds. This may include reviewing a formal written statement from the independent auditors delineating all relationships between the auditors and the Funds, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the auditors their methods and procedures for ensuring independence.

 

Part of KPMG’s performance of an audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (US) includes their responsibility to maintain and monitor auditor independence with respect to the Voya funds. Using a proprietary system called Sentinel, the audit team is able to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest across the member firms of the KPMG International Network and prevent the provision of prohibited services to the Voya entities that would impair KPMG independence with the respect to the Voya funds. KPMG requests pre-approval from the Voya funds Audit Committee for services provided to the Voya funds and for services to affiliated entities that relate to the financial reporting or nature of operations of the Voya Funds. Additionally, KPMG provides an annual summary of the fees for services that have commenced for Voya funds and Affiliates.

 

Last Approved: November 19, 2015

 

   

 

 

Appendix A
Pre-Approved Audit Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016

 

Service
  The Fund(s) Fee Range
Statutory audits or financial audits (including tax services associated with audit services) As presented to Audit Committee1
Services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings (e.g., consents), and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters. Not to exceed $9,750 per filing
Consultations by Fund management with respect to accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential effect of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, Financial Accounting Standards Board, or other regulatory or standard setting bodies. Not to exceed $8,000 during the Pre-Approval Period
Seed capital audit and related review and issuance of consent on the N-2 registration statement Not to exceed $13,750 per audit
Audit of summary portfolio of investments Not to exceed $525 per fund

 

 
1For new Funds launched during the Pre-Approval Period, the fee ranges pre-approved will be the same as those for existing Funds, pro-rated in accordance with inception dates as provided in the auditors’ Proposal or any Engagement Letter covering the period at issue. Fees in the Engagement Letter will be controlling.

 

   

 

 

Appendix B
Pre-Approved Audit-Related Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016

 

Service
  The Fund(s) Fund Affiliates Fee Range
Services related to Fund mergers (Excludes tax services  - See Appendix C for tax services associated with Fund mergers) Not to exceed $10,000 per merger
Consultations by Fund management with respect to accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential effect of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, Financial Accounting Standards Board, or other regulatory or standard setting bodies.  [Note:  Under SEC rules some consultations may be “audit” services and others may be “audit-related” services.]   Not to exceed $5,000 per occurrence during the Pre-Approval Period
Review of the Funds’ semi-annual and quarterly financial statements   Not to exceed $2,525 per set of financial statements per fund
Reports to regulatory or government agencies related to the annual engagement   Up to $5,000 per occurrence during the Pre-Approval Period
Regulatory compliance assistance Not to exceed $5,000 per quarter
Training courses   Not to exceed $5,000 per course
For Prime Rate Trust, agreed upon procedures for quarterly reports to rating agencies   Not to exceed $9,450 per quarter

 

   

 

 

Appendix C
Pre-Approved Tax Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016

 

Service
  The Fund(s) Fund
Affiliates
Fee Range
Preparation of federal and state income tax returns and federal excise tax returns for the Funds including assistance and review with excise tax distributions   As presented to Audit Committee2
Review of IRC Sections 851(b) and 817(h) diversification testing on a real-time basis   As presented to Audit Committee2
Assistance and advice regarding year-end reporting for 1099’s, as requested   As presented to Audit Committee2
Tax assistance and advice regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments Not to exceed $5,000 for the Funds or for the Funds’ investment adviser during the Pre-Approval Period

 

 
2For new Funds launched during the Pre-Approval Period, the fee ranges pre-approved will be the same as those for existing Funds, pro-rated in accordance with inception dates as provided in the auditors’ Proposal or any Engagement Letter covering the period at issue. Fees in the Engagement Letter will be controlling.

 

   

 

 

Appendix C, continued

 

Service
  The Fund(s) Fund
Affiliates
Fee Range
Tax training courses   Not to exceed $5,000 per course during the Pre-Approval Period
Tax services associated with Fund mergers Not to exceed $4,000 per fund per merger during the Pre-Approval Period
Other tax-related assistance and consultation, including, without limitation, assistance in evaluating derivative financial instruments and international tax issues, qualification and distribution issues, and similar routine tax consultations.   Not to exceed $120,000 during the Pre-Approval Period

 

   

 

 

Appendix D
Pre-Approved Other Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016

 

Service
  The Fund(s) Fund Affiliates Fee Range
Agreed-upon procedures for Class B share 12b-1 programs   Not to exceed $60,000 during the Pre-Approval Period

Security counts performed pursuant to Rule 17f-2 of the 1940 Act (i.e., counts for Funds holding securities with affiliated sub-custodians)

 

Cost to be borne 50% by the Funds and 50% by Voya Investments, LLC.

 

 

Not to exceed $5,300 per Fund during the Pre-Approval Period
Agreed upon procedures for 15 (c) FACT Books   Not to exceed $50,000 during the Pre-Approval Period

 

   

 

 

Appendix E

 

Prohibited Non-Audit Services
Dated:      January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016

 

·Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Funds

 

·Financial information systems design and implementation

 

·Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports

 

·Actuarial services

 

·Internal audit outsourcing services

 

·Management functions

 

·Human resources

 

·Broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services

 

·Legal services

 

·Expert services unrelated to the audit

 

·Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

VOYA ASIA PACIFIC HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND

VOYA BALANCED PORTFOLIO, INC.

VOYA EMERGING MARKETS HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY FUND

VOYA EQUITY TRUST

VOYA FUNDS TRUST

VOYA GLOBAL ADVANTAGE AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND

VOYA GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND

VOYA INFRASTRUCTURE, INDUSTRIALS, AND MATERIALS FUND

VOYA INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO

VOYA INTERNATIONAL HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND

VOYA INVESTORS TRUST

VOYA MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

VOYA MUTUAL FUNDS

VOYA PARTNERS, INC.

VOYA PRIME RATE TRUST

VOYA NATURAL RESOURCES EQUITY INCOME FUND

VOYA SENIOR INCOME FUND

VOYA SEPARATE PORTFOLIOS TRUST

VOYA SERIES FUND, INC.

VOYA STRATEGIC ALLOCATIONS PORTFOLIOS, INC.
VOYA VARIABLE FUNDS

VOYA VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

VOYA VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS INC,

VOYA VARIABLE PRODUCTS TRUST

 

   

 

 

 

(e)(2)Percentage of services referred to in 4(b) — (4)(d) that were approved by the audit committee 100% of the services were approved by the audit committee.

 

(f)Percentage of hours expended attributable to work performed by other than full time employees of KPMG if greater than 50%. Not applicable.

 

(g)Non-Audit Fees: The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to each Registrant by the independent registered public accounting firm for each Registrant's fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees billed to the investment adviser, or any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant, by the independent registered public accounting firm for the same time periods.

 

Registrant/Investment Adviser  2016   2015 
Voya Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity  $13,616   $14,929 
Voya Investments, LLC (1)  $178,050   $211,825 

 

(1)Each Registrant's investment adviser and any of its affiliates, which are subsidiaries of Voya Financial, Inc.

 

(h)Principal Accountants Independence: The Registrant’s Audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining KPMG’s independence.

 

Item 5.Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

a.The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee. The members are Colleen D. Baldwin, Peter S. Drotch, Patrick W. Kenny, Joseph E. Obermeyer, and Roger B. Vincent.

 

b.Not applicable.

 

c. 

 

Item 6.Schedule of Investments

 

Complete schedule of investments filed herein.

 

 

 

 

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