UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-22438

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

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

 

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

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

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

 

Date of fiscal year end: February 28

 

Date of reporting period: March 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

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

  

 

Semi-Annual Report

 

August 31, 2023

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

 

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

 

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

 

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

 

voyainvestments.com

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 1
Statement of Operations 2
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 3
Financial Highlights 4
Notes to Financial Statements 5
Portfolio of Investments 14
Shareholder Meeting Information 23
Additional Information 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

 

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

 

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

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

 

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

ASSETS:      
Investments in securities at fair value*  $ 107,189,118 
Short-term investments at fair value†    339,000 
Cash    226,652 
Cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives (Note 2)    500,000 
Foreign currencies at value‡    53,597 
Receivables:      
Investment securities and currencies sold    31,193 
Dividends    240,635 
Interest    5,279 
Foreign tax reclaims    16,765 
Prepaid expenses     134 
Reimbursement due from Investment Adviser     2,266 
Other assets     5,967 
Total assets     108,610,606 
        
LIABILITIES:       
Payable for investment securities and currencies purchased     30,994 
Payable for investment management fees     105,897 
Payable to trustees under the deferred compensation plan (Note 6)     5,967 
Payable for trustee fees     272 
Payable for foreign capital gains tax     521,511 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities     127,857 
Written options, at fair value^     295,814 
Total liabilities     1,088,312 
NET ASSETS    $ 107,522,294 
        
NET ASSETS WERE COMPRISED OF:       
Paid-in capital    $ 188,242,456 
Total distributable loss     (80,720,162)
NET ASSETS    $ 107,522,294 
        
*    Cost of investments in securities    $ 109,181,795 
†    Cost of short-term investments    $ 339,000 
‡    Cost of foreign currencies    $ 54,021 
^    Premiums received on written options    $ 475,107 
        
Net assets    $ 107,522,294 
Shares authorized     unlimited 
Par value    $ 0.010 
Shares outstanding     18,255,207 
Net asset value †    $ 5.89 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

1

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS for the six months ended August 31, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME:    
Dividends, net of foreign taxes withheld*  $ 2,628,221 
Interest    6,227 
Other    371 
Total investment income    2,634,819 
       
EXPENSES:     
Investment management fees   638,214 
Transfer agent fees   5,549 
Shareholder reporting expense   23,184 
Professional fees   32,105 
Custody and accounting expense   74,897 
Trustee fees   1,363 
Miscellaneous expense   18,137 
Total expenses   793,449 
Waived and reimbursed fees   (15,230)
Net expenses   778,219 
Net investment income   1,856,600 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):     
Net realized gain (loss) on:     
Investments (net of foreign capital gains taxes withheld^)   (909,232)
Forward foreign currency contracts   (2,853)
Foreign currency related transactions   (38,738)
Written options   1,192,717 
Net realized gain   241,894 
      
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:     
Investments (net of foreign capital gains taxes accrued#)   1,379,020 
Foreign currency related transactions   14,361 
Written options   (273,609)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   1,119,772 
Net realized and unrealized gain   1,361,666 
Increase in net assets resulting from operations  $3,218,266 
      
*    Foreign taxes withheld  $338,417 
^    Foreign capital gains taxes withheld  $68,769 
#    Change in foreign capital gains taxes accrued  $113,331 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

2

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

  

Six Months Ended

August 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

  

Year Ended

February 28, 2023

 
FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income  $1,856,600   $3,406,530 
Net realized gain (loss)   241,894    (1,977,003)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   1,119,772    (18,471,884)
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   3,218,266    (17,042,357)
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:          
Total distributions (excluding return of capital)   (1,631,959)   (3,318,963)
Return of capital   (3,304,659)   (10,132,204)
Total distributions   (4,936,618)   (13,451,167)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Cost of shares repurchased   (606,825)   (3,845,843)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions   (606,825)   (3,845,843)
Net decrease in net assets   (2,325,177)   (34,339,367)
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of year or period   109,847,471    144,186,838 
End of year or period  $107,522,294   $109,847,471 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

3

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

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

 

   Per Share Operating Performance  Ratios and Supplemental Data
      Income
(loss) from
investment
operations
     Less Distributions                       Ratios to average
net assets
   
                                    
Year or
period ended
  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  (%)  (%)  ($000’s)  (%)  (%)  (%)  (%)
08-31-23+   5.98  0.10   0.08  0.18  0.09    0.18  0.27    5.89  5.09  3.60  1.98  107,522  1.43  1.40  3.35  38
02-28-23  7.57  0.18   (1.05)  (0.87)  0.18    0.54  0.72    5.98  5.25  (10.21)  (14.26)  109,847  1.43  1.40  2.85  70
02-28-22  8.49  0.14   (0.34)  (0.20)  0.11    0.61  0.72    7.57  6.96  (2.15)  (3.93)  144,187  1.35  1.35  1.68  66
02-28-21  7.61  0.11   1.49  1.60  0.09    0.63  0.72    8.49  7.95  24.24  32.34  161,564  1.36  1.36  1.46  55
02-29-20  8.89  0.19  (0.74)  (0.55)  0.28    0.45  0.73    7.61  6.69  (6.03)  (12.67)  144,923  1.39  1.39  2.29  103
02-28-19  9.87  0.20  (0.44)  (0.24)  0.17    0.57  0.74    8.89  8.41  (1.39)  (2.23)  169,189  1.47  1.47  2.21  53
02-28-18  9.24  0.18  1.19  1.37  0.18    0.56  0.74    9.87  9.42  15.77  22.67  187,770  1.44  1.44  1.82  41
02-28-17  7.81  0.18  2.13  2.31  0.19    0.69  0.88    9.24  8.32  32.30  38.66  175,716  1.43  1.43  2.06  39
02-29-16  11.57  0.20  (2.92)  (2.72)  0.21    0.83  1.04    7.81  6.71  (23.98)(5)   (28.30)  152,682  1.47  1.47  1.99  30
02-28-15  12.50  0.30   (0.08)  0.22  0.34    0.81  1.15    11.57  10.54  2.21  2.01  226,152  1.42  1.42  2.35  40
02-28-14  14.53  0.34   (1.17)  (0.83)  0.29    1.00  1.29  0.09  12.50  11.41  (4.89)(a)   (16.62)  244,220  1.41  1.41  2.58  50

 

 

(1) Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at net asset value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(2) Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and return of capital distributions/allocations, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at market value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(3) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(4) The Investment Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund (excluding interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses) subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser within three years of being incurred.
(5) Excluding amounts related to a foreign currency settlement recorded in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, total return would have been (24.08)%.
(a) On April 23, 2013, NNIP Advisers B.V. made a payment of $1,730,621 to reimburse the Fund for the foregone investment opportunities attributable to available cash amounts not properly reported on their portfolio management reporting system. Excluding this payment by affiliate for the year ended February 28, 2014, total investment return at net asset value would have been (5.57)%.
+Unaudited.
Calculated using average number of shares outstanding throughout the year or period.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

4

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 1 ORGANIZATION

 

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

 

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

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The 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 for each class 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 each class of the Fund is calculated by taking the value of the Fund’s assets attributable to that class, subtracting the Fund’s liabilities attributable to that class, and dividing by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding. On days when the Fund is closed for business, Fund shares will not be priced and the Fund does not transact purchase and redemption orders. To the extent the Fund’s assets are traded in other markets on days when the Fund does not price its shares, the value of the Fund’s assets will likely change and you will not be able to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund.

 

Portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. Investments in open-end registered investment companies that do not trade on an exchange are valued at the end of day NAV per share. The prospectuses of the open-end registered investment companies in which the Fund may invest explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. Foreign securities’ prices are converted into U.S. dollar amounts using the

applicable exchange rates as of Market Close.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

5

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

B. Securities Transactions and Revenue Recognition. Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses on sales of investments are calculated on the identified cost basis. Interest income is

recorded on the accrual basis. Premium amortization and discount accretion are determined using the effective yield method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, or in the case of some foreign dividends, when the information becomes available to the Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

6

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

D. Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund intends to make quarterly 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 quarterly 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 regulations, which may differ from GAAP for investment companies.

 

The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time depending on whether the Fund has gains or losses on the call options written in its portfolio versus gains or losses on the equity securities in the portfolio. Each quarter, 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 quarterly distributions will vary, depending on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the common shares will change. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to declare a dividend in each period.

 

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

 

F.  Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent

assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

7

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

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 NAV 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. 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, the United States experiences a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with rising market interest rates. Rising market interest rates have unpredictable effects on the markets and may expose 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. Further, recent and potential changes in government policy may affect interest rates.

 

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

 

Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying securities, credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates and liquidity and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by the Fund. Therefore,

the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on the Fund and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the NAV. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Fund may not realize the intended benefits. When used for hedging purposes, the change in value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with the currency, security or other risk being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investments, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment. In addition, given their complexity, derivatives expose the Fund to the risk of improper valuation.

 

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

 

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

8

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

  

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

affect settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable Master Agreement.

 

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

 

The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally the aggregate unrealized gain in excess of any collateral pledged by the counterparty to the Fund. For purchased OTC options, the Fund bears the risk of loss in the amount of the premiums paid and the change in market value of the options should the counterparty not perform under the contracts. The Fund did not enter into any purchased OTC options during the period ended August 31, 2023.

 

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

 

Written options by the Fund do not give rise to counterparty credit risk, as written options obligate the Fund to perform and not the counterparty. As of August 31, 2023, the total value of open written OTC call options subject to Master Agreements in a liability position was $295,814. If a contingent feature had been triggered, the Fund could have been required to pay this amount in cash to its counterparties. At August 31, 2023, the Fund pledged $500,000 in cash collateral for its open written OTC call options at period end. There were no credit events during the period ended August 31, 2023 that triggered any credit related contingent features.

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

 

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

 

During the period ended August 31, 2023, the Fund had an average notional amount of $21,579,354 on written equity options. Please refer to the table within the Portfolio of Investments for open written equity options at August 31, 2023.

 

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

 

NOTE 3 — INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

The cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of investments for the period ended August 31, 2023, excluding short-term securities, were $41,094,099 and $43,138,054, respectively.

 

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES

 

The Fund has entered into an investment management agreement (“Management Agreement”) with the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser has overall responsibility for the management of the Fund. The Investment Adviser oversees all investment management and portfolio management services for the Fund and assists in managing and supervising all aspects of the general day-to-day business activities and operations of the Fund, including custodial, transfer agency, dividend

9

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES (continued)

 

disbursing, accounting, auditing, compliance and related services. This Management Agreement compensates the Investment Adviser with a management fee, payable monthly, based on an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. For purposes of the Management Agreement, managed assets are defined as the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). As of August 31, 2023, there were no preferred shares outstanding.

 

The Investment Adviser has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Voya IM. Voya IM provides investment advice for the Fund and is paid by the Investment Adviser based on the average daily managed assets of the Fund. Subject to policies as the Board or the Investment Adviser may determine, Voya IM manages the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

NOTE 5 — EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

 

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

 

The Investment Adviser may at a later date recoup from the Fund for fees waived and/or other expenses reimbursed by the Investment Adviser during the previous 36 months, but only if, after such recoupment, the Fund’s expense ratio does not exceed the percentage described above.

Waived and reimbursed fees net of any recoupment by the Investment Adviser of such waived and reimbursed fees are reflected on the accompanying Statement of Operations. Amounts payable by the Investment Adviser are reflected on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

As of August 31, 2023, the amounts of waived and/or reimbursed fees that are subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser and the related expiration dates are as follows:

 

August 31,     
2024   2025   2026   Total 
$   $4,597   $41,256   $45,853 

 

The Expense Limitation Agreement is contractual through March 1, 2024 and shall renew automatically for one-year terms. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Board.

 

NOTE 6 — OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND RELATED PARTIES

 

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

 

NOTE 7 — CAPITAL SHARES

 

Transactions in capital shares and dollars were as follows:

 

  

Shares

repurchased

 

Net increase

(decrease) in

shares

outstanding

 

Shares

repurchased

 

Net increase

(decrease)

Year or period ended  #  #  ($)  ($)
8/31/2023  (115,044)  (115,044)  (606,825)  (606,825)
2/28/2023  (669,038)  (669,038)  (3,845,843)  (3,845,843)

10

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 7 — CAPITAL SHARES (continued)

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

Effective April 1, 2023, pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program, the Fund may purchase, over the period ending March 31, 2024, up to 10% of its stock in open-market transactions. Previously, pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program effective April 1, 2022, the Fund could have purchased, over the one year period ended March 31, 2023, 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 their NAV per share. The open-market share repurchase program does not obligate the Fund to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares of its stock.

 

For the six-month period ended August 31, 2023, the Fund repurchased 115,044 shares, representing approximately 0.63% of the Fund’s outstanding shares for a net purchase price of $606,825 (including commissions of $2,876). Shares were repurchased at a weighted-average discount from NAV per share of 13.12% and a weighted-average price per share of $5.25.

 

For the year ended February 28, 2023, the Fund repurchased 669,038 shares, representing approximately 3.64% of the Fund’s outstanding shares for a net purchase price of $3,845,843 (including commissions of $16,726). Shares were repurchased at a weighted-average discount from NAV per share of 12.03% and a weighted-average price per share of $5.72.

 

NOTE 8 — 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 GAAP for investment companies. These book/ tax differences may be either temporary or permanent. Permanent differences are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences are not reclassified. Key differences include the treatment of foreign currency transactions, income from passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), and wash sale deferrals. Distributions in excess of net investment income and/or net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as return of capital.

 

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

 

The tax composition of dividends and distributions in the current period will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end of December 31, 2023. The composition of distributions presented below may differ from amounts presented elsewhere in this report due to differences in calculations between GAAP (book) and tax. The tax composition of dividends and distributions as of the Fund’s most recent tax year-ends was as follows:

 

The tax composition of dividends and distributions paid as of the Fund’s most recent tax year-ends was as follows:

 

Tax Year Ended

December 31, 2022

  

Tax Year Ended

December 31, 2021

 

Ordinary

Income

  

Return of

Capital

  

Ordinary

Income

  

Return of

Capital

 
$3,318,963   $10,235,915   $2,867,466   $10,840,822 

 

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, 2022 were:

 

Unrealized                   Total 
Appreciation/   Capital Loss Carryforwards       Distributable 
(Depreciation)   Amount   Character   Expiration   Other   Earnings/(Loss) 
$(6,683,023)  $(6,373,344)  Short-term   None   $(3,532,268)  $(86,914,823)
      (70,326,188)  Long-term   None           
     $(76,699,532)                  

 

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

11

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 8 — FEDERAL INCOME TAXES (continued)

 

As of August 31, 2023, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements as a result of tax positions taken on federal and state income tax returns for open tax years. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state department of revenue. Generally, the preceding four tax years remain subject to examination by these jurisdictions.

 

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

 

In 2017, the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced its intention to cease compelling banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR after 2021. On March 5, 2021, ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, stated that non-U.S. dollar LIBOR reference rates and the one-week and two-month LIBOR reference rates ceased to be provided or no longer be representative immediately after December 31, 2021 and the remaining more commonly used LIBOR settings ceased to be provided or no longer be representative immediately after June 30, 2023. In addition, global regulators have announced that, with limited exceptions, no new LIBOR-based contracts should be entered into after 2021. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies (e.g., the Secured Overnight Financing Rate for U.S. Dollar LIBOR and the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate for Sterling LIBOR).

 

Discontinuance of LIBOR and adoption/implementation of alternative rates pose a number of risks, including among others whether any substitute rate will experience the market participation and liquidity necessary to provide a workable substitute for LIBOR; the effect on parties’ existing contractual arrangements, hedging transactions, and investment strategies generally from a conversion from LIBOR to alternative rates; the effect on the Fund’s existing investments (including, for example, fixed-income investments, senior loans, CLOs and CDOs, and derivatives transactions), including the possibility that some of those investments may terminate or their terms may be adjusted to the disadvantage of the Fund; and the risk of general market disruption during the period of the conversion. It is difficult to predict at this time the likely impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund.

 

NOTE 10 — MARKET DISRUPTION

 

The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the United States. Wars,

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

 

NOTE 11 — OTHER ACCOUNTING PRONOUCEMENTS

 

In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU), ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) — Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions, which clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments under this ASU are effective for

12

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

NOTE 11 — OTHER ACCOUNTING PRONOUCEMENTS (continued)

 

fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023; however, early adoption is permitted. The amendment was early adopted. Management expects that the adoption of the guidance will not have a material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

NOTE 12 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Dividends: Subsequent to August 31, 2023, the Fund made a distribution of:

 

Per Share
Amount
  Declaration
Date
  Payable
Date
  Record
Date
$0.135   9/15/2023   10/16/2023   10/3/2023

Each quarter, 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 quarterly distribution payments made by the Fund may constitute a return of capital.

 

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

13

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
 

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: 93.1%
    Brazil: 3.2%         
75,682   BB Seguridade Participacoes SA  $465,672   0.4 
179,495   Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA   440,396   0.4 
65,021   Cosan SA   230,171   0.2 
11,242   Engie Brasil Energia SA   95,370   0.1 
14,272   Equatorial Energia SA   90,150   0.1 
124,718 (1)(2)    Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos S/A   107,792   0.1 
17,360   Hypera SA   135,948   0.1 
82,605 (1)    Natura & Co. Holding SA   254,218   0.3 
55,035   Rumo SA   247,722   0.2 
21,315   Telefonica Brasil SA   179,359   0.2 
96,756   TOTVS SA   538,874   0.5 
43,426   Vale SA - Foreign   573,249   0.5 
11,731   WEG SA   84,784   0.1 
        3,443,705   3.2 
    Chile: 0.4%         
164,075   Cencosud SA   351,219   0.3 
692,547 (1)    Enel Americas SA   82,303   0.1 
        433,522   0.4 
    China: 27.8%         
10,700   AIMA Technology Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   41,631   0.0 
239,100 (1)    Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.   2,775,029   2.6 
366,000   Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. - Class H   176,572   0.2 
17,178   Anhui Yingjia Distillery Co. Ltd. - Class A   180,658   0.2 
30,600   ANTA Sports Products Ltd.   344,960   0.3 
7,820   Autohome, Inc., ADR   225,998   0.2 
254,000   AviChina Industry & Technology Co. Ltd. - Class H   113,827   0.1 
35,600 (1)    Baidu, Inc. - Class A   635,789   0.6 
1,840,000   Bank of China Ltd. - Class H   623,608   0.6 
209,100   Bank of Jiangsu Co. Ltd. - Class A   204,650   0.2 
16,000   Beijing New Building Materials PLC - Class A   65,640   0.1 
20,000   BYD Co. Ltd. - Class H   628,214   0.6 
42,500   BYD Electronic International Co. Ltd.   196,839   0.2 
64,400   By-health Co. Ltd. - Class A   170,686   0.2 
229,800   CECEP Solar Energy Co. Ltd. - Class A   189,911   0.2 
392,300   CECEP Wind-Power Corp. - Class A   180,738   0.2 
2,630,000   China Cinda Asset Management Co. Ltd. - Class H   257,910   0.2 
449,000   China CITIC Bank Corp. Ltd. - Class H   199,836   0.2 
934,000   China Communications Services Corp. Ltd. - Class H   420,497   0.4 
42,500   China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd.   41,758   0.0 
1,479,000   China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H   791,340   0.7 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)         
173,000   China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd. - Class H  $136,946   0.1 
149,000   China Medical System Holdings Ltd.   214,599   0.2 
102,000   China Meidong Auto Holdings Ltd.   76,821   0.1 
31,000   China Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd.   104,237   0.1 
134,000   China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. - Class H   530,616   0.5 
10,700   China National Medicines Corp. Ltd. - Class A   47,819   0.0 
256,000   China Oilfield Services Ltd. - Class H   289,929   0.3 
42,500   China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd.   89,594   0.1 
126,200   China Pacific Insurance Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   288,626   0.3 
448,000   China Railway Group Ltd. - Class H   237,006   0.2 
20,000   China Resources Beer Holdings Co. Ltd.   117,427   0.1 
50,000   China Resources Land Ltd.   211,335   0.2 
16,500   China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd. - Class H   48,024   0.0 
2,832,000 (2)    China Tower Corp. Ltd. - Class H   274,002   0.3 
90,000   Chinasoft International Ltd.   59,651   0.1 
102,500   CITIC Securities Co. Ltd. - Class H   200,144   0.2 
285,000   CMOC Group Ltd. - Class H   170,021   0.2 
4,500   Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   145,922   0.1 
92,500   COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co. Ltd. - Class H   94,857   0.1 
61,360   CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.   46,119   0.0 
43,200   Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd. - Class A   307,585   0.3 
424,000   Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   155,532   0.1 
403,000   Far East Horizon Ltd.   275,318   0.3 
346,000   Fosun International Ltd.   216,279   0.2 
16,400 (2)    Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   78,336   0.1 
277,000   Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.   343,861   0.3 
2,400   GoodWe Technologies Co. Ltd. - Class A   45,609   0.0 
97,900   GRG Banking Equipment Co. Ltd. - Class A   168,578   0.2 
29,600   Henan Shenhuo Coal & Power Co. Ltd. - Class A   64,422   0.1 
42,500   Hengan International Group Co. Ltd.   157,648   0.1 
80,500   Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co. Ltd. - Class A   181,059   0.2 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

14

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)
 

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)         
19,000   Hubei Jumpcan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Class A  $68,231   0.1 
1,213,592   Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. - Class H   556,404   0.5 
45,000 (1)    Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co. Ltd. - Class A   59,952   0.1 
34,852   JD.com, Inc. - Class A   578,826   0.5 
29,100   Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co. Ltd. - Class A   135,078   0.1 
78,499   Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   156,895   0.1 
150,700   Joincare Pharmaceutical Group Industry Co. Ltd. - Class A   235,918   0.2 
17,780   Joinn Laboratories China Co. Ltd. - Class A   58,590   0.1 
34,200   Keda Industrial Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   47,211   0.0 
103,000   Kingboard Holdings Ltd.   233,733   0.2 
112,200   Kingsoft Corp. Ltd.   447,223   0.4 
132,000   Kunlun Energy Co. Ltd.   96,635   0.1 
54,000   Lenovo Group Ltd.   61,038   0.1 
33,000   Li Ning Co. Ltd.   155,968   0.1 
25,000 (2)    Longfor Group Holdings Ltd.   52,765   0.0 
47,400   LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   172,942   0.2 
79,720 (1)(2)    Meituan - Class B   1,319,299   1.2 
95,900   Metallurgical Corp. of China Ltd. - Class A   47,877   0.0 
46,200   NetEase, Inc.   957,147   0.9 
33,600 (2)    Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd. - Class H   188,711   0.2 
66,900   Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd. - Class A   53,511   0.0 
1,062,000   People’s Insurance Co. Group of China Ltd. - Class H   361,487   0.3 
436,000   PetroChina Co. Ltd. - Class H   314,516   0.3 
62,325 (2)    Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd. - Class H   145,323   0.1 
334,000   PICC Property & Casualty Co. Ltd. - Class H   384,086   0.4 
89,500   Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd. - Class H   535,850   0.5 
6,284   Qifu Technology, Inc., ADR   106,828   0.1 
30,200   Risen Energy Co. Ltd. - Class A   83,183   0.1 
617,600   Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd. - Class A   237,316   0.2 
19,500   Shanxi Lu’an Environmental Energy Development Co. Ltd. - Class A   43,543   0.0 
4,400   Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co. Ltd. - Class A   146,168   0.1 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    China (continued)         
15,600   Shenzhen Kstar Science And Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A  $64,843   0.1 
6,500   Shenzhen Mindray Bio- Medical Electronics Co. Ltd. - Class A   240,980   0.2 
105,800   Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co. Ltd. - Class A   203,895   0.2 
44,000   Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   127,685   0.1 
25,100   Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. Ltd.   204,946   0.2 
22,200   Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Class A   57,196   0.1 
94,200   Tencent Holdings Ltd.   3,903,683   3.6 
54,000   Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp.   79,288   0.1 
263,000 (2)    Topsports International Holdings Ltd.   214,180   0.2 
91,000   TravelSky Technology Ltd. - Class H   162,929   0.1 
25,852   Trina Solar Co. Ltd. - Class A   120,705   0.1 
148,000   Uni-President China Holdings Ltd.   109,457   0.1 
3,743   Weibo Corp., ADR   48,285   0.0 
220,700   Western Mining Co. Ltd. - Class A   385,775   0.4 
66,000   Xiamen C & D, Inc. - Class A   98,446   0.1 
23,949   Xinjiang Daqo New Energy Co. Ltd. - Class A   136,400   0.1 
196,000   Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd.   163,542   0.2 
39,000   Yankuang Energy Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   61,226   0.1 
26,000   Yihai International Holding Ltd.   48,725   0.0 
11,020   YongXing Special Materials Technology Co. Ltd. - Class A   75,230   0.1 
6,848   Yum China Holdings, Inc.   367,669   0.3 
47,168   Zangge Mining Co. Ltd. - Class A   145,354   0.1 
166,000   Zhejiang Expressway Co. Ltd. - Class H   123,958   0.1 
46,700   Zhongjin Gold Corp. Ltd. - Class A   70,732   0.1 
61,600   Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co. Ltd. - Class H   214,684   0.2 
124,000   Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. - Class H   194,228   0.2 
59,200   ZTE Corp. - Class H   190,530   0.2 
6,837   ZTO Express Cayman, Inc., ADR   171,882   0.2 
        29,872,720   27.8 
    Colombia: 0.2%         
63,017   Interconexion Electrica SA ESP   230,777   0.2 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

15

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)
 

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    Czechia: 0.2%         
8,092   Komercni Banka AS  $252,683   0.2 
              
    Egypt: 0.1%         
199,514   Eastern Co. SAE   131,213   0.1 
              
    Greece: 1.2%         
75,178 (1)    Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings SA   130,327   0.1 
15,509   Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA   231,771   0.2 
11,551   Jumbo SA   357,223   0.4 
4,923   Motor Oil Hellas Corinth Refineries SA   125,449   0.1 
26,002   OPAP SA   439,060   0.4 
        1,283,830   1.2 
    Hong Kong: 0.3%         
282,000   Bosideng International Holdings Ltd.   110,661   0.1 
200,500   Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd.   166,632   0.2 
125,000   Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd.   47,448   0.0 
        324,741   0.3 
    Hungary: 0.3%         
4,228   OTP Bank Nyrt   172,407   0.2 
6,043   Richter Gedeon Nyrt   151,659   0.1 
        324,066   0.3 
    India: 13.9%         
28,696   Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd.   274,282   0.3 
14,751   Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.   147,756   0.1 
58,305   Axis Bank Ltd.   685,002   0.6 
1,936   Bajaj Finance Ltd.   167,341   0.2 
166,197   Bank of Baroda   375,287   0.3 
402,645   Bharat Electronics Ltd.   646,890   0.6 
65,624   Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd.   269,757   0.3 
10,630   Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co. Ltd.   143,945   0.1 
2,750   Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd.   64,472   0.1 
47,627   HCL Technologies Ltd.   673,762   0.6 
46,160   HDFC Bank Ltd.   874,085   0.8 
18,661   Hindalco Industries Ltd.   103,456   0.1 
96,454   Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd.   288,893   0.3 
134,980   ICICI Bank Ltd.   1,558,202   1.5 
186,011   Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.   200,066   0.2 
69,272   Infosys Ltd.   1,200,425   1.1 
101,582   ITC Ltd.   539,234   0.5 
30,824   Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.   654,082   0.6 
32,673   Larsen & Toubro Ltd.   1,066,030   1.0 
20,237   Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.   384,779   0.4 
139,407   NTPC Ltd.   370,890   0.3 
222,522   Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd.   468,047   0.4 
124,246   Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd.   366,720   0.3 
7,555   Reliance Industries Ltd.   219,481   0.2 
7,509 (1)    Reliance Strategic Investments Ltd.   21,179   0.0 
63,574   Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd.   73,495   0.1 
9,799   Shriram Finance Ltd.   228,072   0.2 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    India (continued)         
1,881   SRF Ltd.  $53,489   0.1 
22,838   State Bank of India   154,671   0.1 
33,031   Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.   442,750   0.4 
24,519   Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.   993,115   0.9 
320,814   Tata Steel Ltd.   475,772   0.4 
3,986   Tech Mahindra Ltd.   57,795   0.1 
61,431   UPL Ltd.   438,367   0.4 
97,571   Vedanta Ltd.   273,162   0.3 
        14,954,751   13.9 
    Indonesia: 0.5%         
742,800   Adaro Energy Indonesia Tbk PT   130,129   0.1 
968,600   Aneka Tambang Tbk   126,366   0.1 
121,200   Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT   72,987   0.0 
417,000   Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk PT   79,403   0.1 
110,300   United Tractors Tbk PT   188,207   0.2 
        597,092   0.5 
    Luxembourg: 0.4%         
17,975   Reinet Investments SCA   384,894   0.4 
             
    Malaysia: 1.9%         
227,800   AMMB Holdings Bhd   183,260   0.2 
376,400   CIMB Group Holdings Bhd   456,282   0.4 
387,900   Genting Bhd   365,548   0.3 
738,700   Genting Malaysia Bhd   409,206   0.4 
14,000   Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd   54,974   0.0 
564,500   Public Bank Bhd   514,559   0.5 
46,100   RHB Bank Bhd   55,726   0.1 
48,200   Telekom Malaysia Bhd   53,015   0.0 
        2,092,570   1.9 
    Mexico: 2.2%         
62,280   Arca Continental SAB de CV   608,171   0.6 
435,075   Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV   631,797   0.6 
262,636   Grupo Televisa SAB   235,056   0.2 
354,245   Operadora De Sites Mexicanos SAB de CV - Class 1   333,251   0.3 
31,031   Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV   296,342   0.3 
58,942   Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV   232,373   0.2 
        2,336,990   2.2 
    Peru: 0.3%         
2,344   Credicorp Ltd.   331,512   0.3 
             
    Philippines: 0.5%         
21,774   BDO Unibank, Inc.   53,533   0.0 
45,770   International Container Terminal Services, Inc.   167,287   0.2 
219,960   Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.   214,361   0.2 
6,920   PLDT, Inc.   140,436   0.1 
        575,617   0.5 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

16

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
Equity Fund as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)
 

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    Poland: 0.6%         
18,099   Cyfrowy Polsat SA  $59,478   0.0 
26,065   Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA   397,931   0.4 
16,967   Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA   169,922   0.2 
        627,331   0.6 
    Qatar: 0.7%         
168,773   Commercial Bank PSQC   263,286   0.3 
236,567   Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Co.   119,476   0.1 
71,508   Ooredoo QPSC   212,167   0.2 
23,191   Qatar Islamic Bank SAQ   123,007   0.1 
        717,936   0.7 
    Romania: 0.4%         
64,561   NEPI Rockcastle NV   387,469   0.4 
              
    Russia: —%         
354,185 (1)(3)    Alrosa PJSC       
10,144,776 (3)    Inter RAO UES PJSC       
15,442 (3)    Lukoil PJSC       
9,465 (3)    Magnit PJSC       
116,758 (3)    Mobile TeleSystems PJSC       
4,585 (1)(3)    Severstal PAO       
130,134 (3)    Surgutneftegas PJSC       
125,422 (3)    Tatneft PJSC       
13,603 (1)(3)    X5 Retail Group NV, GDR       
            
    Saudi Arabia: 3.7%         
40,492   Alinma Bank   397,843   0.4 
49,729   Arab National Bank   341,765   0.3 
30,348   Banque Saudi Fransi   309,967   0.3 
59,614   Etihad Etisalat Co.   717,628   0.7 
3,019   Nahdi Medical Co.   122,065   0.1 
25,118   Riyad Bank   203,697   0.2 
7,020   SABIC Agri-Nutrients Co.   257,247   0.2 
41,956   Sahara International Petrochemical Co.   407,278   0.4  
18,499   Saudi Awwal Bank   176,486   0.2 
57,140   Saudi Electricity Co.   315,195   0.3 
73,350   Saudi National Bank   698,531   0.6 
        3,947,702   3.7 
    Singapore: 0.4%         
52,400 (2)    BOC Aviation Ltd.   393,020   0.4 
              
    South Africa: 2.8%         
33,098   Absa Group Ltd.   319,115   0.3 
9,228    African Rainbow Minerals Ltd.   87,467   0.1  
41,803   Exxaro Resources Ltd.   371,501   0.3 
115,473   FirstRand Ltd.   448,661   0.4 
460,244   Growthpoint Properties Ltd.   287,820   0.3 
63,532    Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.   327,071   0.3 
13,642   MTN Group Ltd.   86,916   0.1 
5,345   Nedbank Group Ltd.   61,081   0.1 
11,187   Sasol Ltd.   144,158   0.1 
36,208   Shoprite Holdings Ltd.   505,838   0.5 
250,694   Sibanye Stillwater Ltd.   378,256   0.3 
        3,017,884   2.8 
Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued)
    South Korea: 10.3%         
2,370   BGF retail Co. Ltd.  $280,231   0.3 
6,479   CJ Corp.   344,243   0.3 
2,670   DB Insurance Co. Ltd.   164,892   0.1 
7,447   Doosan Bobcat, Inc.   302,613   0.3 
3,812   E-MART, Inc.   212,580   0.2 
568   F&F Co. Ltd.   44,200   0.0 
13,508   GS Holdings Corp.   383,396   0.3 
20,184   Hana Financial Group, Inc.   603,151   0.6 
1,800   Hanmi Pharm Co. Ltd.   400,856   0.4 
3,472   Hanwha Aerospace Co. Ltd.   299,110   0.3 
8,380   HD Hyundai Co. Ltd.   374,343   0.3 
3,522   Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.   614,889   0.6 
4,991   Hyundai Motor Co.   713,135   0.7 
12,165   Industrial Bank of Korea   98,965   0.1 
28,813   Kangwon Land, Inc.   337,819   0.3 
17,303   KB Financial Group, Inc.   704,859   0.6 
11,864   Kia Corp.   719,125   0.7 
4,782   Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.   182,642   0.2 
786   LG Chem Ltd.   346,082   0.3 
2,369   LG Electronics, Inc.   176,305   0.2 
606   LG H&H Co. Ltd.   212,655   0.2 
623   LG Innotek Co. Ltd.   127,014   0.1 
19,925   LG Uplus Corp.   157,422   0.1 
1,741   NAVER Corp.   281,820   0.3 
879   Orion Corp./Republic of Korea   80,954   0.1 
653   POSCO Holdings, Inc.   285,520   0.3 
2,120   Posco International Corp.   126,942   0.1 
4,147   Samsung C&T Corp.   328,104   0.3 
2,066    Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd.   384,856   0.4 
1,041   Samsung SDI Co. Ltd.   482,817   0.4 
21,627   Samsung Securities Co. Ltd.   610,399   0.6 
2,202   SK, Inc.   240,436   0.2 
53,952   Woori Financial Group, Inc.   485,382   0.4 
        11,107,757   10.3 
    Taiwan: 15.9%         
28,000   Accton Technology Corp.   417,601   0.4 
100,000   Acer, Inc.   114,658   0.1 
20,897   Advantech Co. Ltd.   224,880   0.2 
75,000   ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd.   277,595   0.3 
39,000   Asustek Computer, Inc.   491,361   0.5 
11,220   Chailease Holding Co. Ltd.   62,545   0.1 
66,000   Compal Electronics, Inc.   65,897   0.1 
73,000   Delta Electronics, Inc.   788,904   0.7 
11,000   E Ink Holdings, Inc.   62,874   0.1 
2,000   eMemory Technology, Inc.   113,300   0.1 
149,000   Eva Airways Corp.   147,048   0.1 
8,000   Globalwafers Co. Ltd.   114,889   0.1 
315,000   Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd.   1,051,705   1.0 
273,000   Inventec Corp.   480,931   0.4 
214,000   Lite-On Technology Corp.   914,864   0.8 
36,000   MediaTek, Inc.   793,924   0.7 
69,000   Micro-Star International Co. Ltd.   345,038   0.3 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

17

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
Equity Fund   as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)  

 

 

Shares      Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
COMMON STOCK: (continued) 
      Taiwan (continued)
40,000   Novatek Microelectronics Corp.  $500,036   0.5 
31,000   President Chain Store Corp.   259,952   0.2 
108,000   Quanta Computer, Inc.   856,089   0.8 
14,000   Realtek Semiconductor Corp.   182,957   0.2 
427,962   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.   7,353,653   6.8 
47,000   Uni-President Enterprises Corp.   104,209   0.1 
497,000   United Microelectronics Corp.   709,591   0.7 
2,000   Wiwynn Corp.   97,469   0.1 
13,000   Yageo Corp.   197,487   0.2 
109,000   Zhen Ding Technology Holding Ltd.   329,982   0.3 
        17,059,439   15.9 
      Thailand: 2.4%
2,500   Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL   1,998   0.0 
394,300   Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL - Foreign - Class F   315,181   0.3 
16,900   Bumrungrad Hospital PCL - Foreign   124,934   0.1 
106,600   Central Retail Corp. PCL   125,405   0.1 
300   Electricity Generating PCL   1,143   0.0 
54,300   Electricity Generating PCL - Foreign   206,796   0.2 
2,500   Indorama Ventures PCL   2,069   0.0 
403,900   Indorama Ventures PCL - Foreign   334,275   0.3 
400   Kasikornbank PCL   1,490   0.0 
72,400   Kasikornbank PCL - Foreign   269,700   0.3 
124,000   Krung Thai Bank PCL   68,309   0.1 
458,200   Land & Houses PCL - Foreign   108,558   0.1 
19,700   PTT Exploration & Production PCL - Foreign   89,186   0.1 
446,200   PTT Global Chemical PCL   474,152   0.4 
900   SCB X PCL   3,031   0.0 
137,200   SCB X PCL - Foreign   462,071   0.4 
        2,588,298   2.4 
      Turkey: 0.6%
22,187   BIM Birlesik Magazalar AS   209,432   0.2 
48,234   KOC Holding AS   255,937   0.2 
76,949   Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS   160,471   0.2 
       625,840   0.6 
      United Arab Emirates: 1.9%
45,062   Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC   105,877   0.1 
178,122   Aldar Properties PJSC   254,961   0.2 
202,817   Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC   311,375   0.3 
372,013   Emaar Properties PJSC   714,920   0.7 
137,737   Emirates NBD Bank PJSC   612,897   0.6 
        2,000,030   1.9 
              
   Total Common Stock
(Cost $102,574,630)
   100,043,389   93.1 
Shares     Value   Percentage
of Net
Assets
 
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS: 2.9%         
79,942   iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF   $3,131,328   2.9 
              
   Total Exchange-Traded Funds
(Cost $3,120,320)
   3,131,328   2.9 
PREFERRED STOCK: 3.7%
      Brazil: 1.6%
252,678   Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais    629,138   0.6 
10,987   Gerdau SA    57,397   0.0 
161,773   Petroleo Brasileiro SA    1,045,699   1.0 
       1,732,234   1.6 
      Chile: 0.3%
6,240   Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA    386,448   0.3 
              
      South Korea: 1.8%
46,441   Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.    1,895,719   1.8 
   Total Preferred Stock
(Cost $3,486,845)
   4,014,401   3.7 
   Total Long-Term Investments
(Cost $109,181,795)
   107,189,118   99.7 
              
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS: 0.3%
      Mutual Funds: 0.3%
339,000 (4)    Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Government Portfolio (Institutional Share Class), 5.252%
(Cost $339,000)
  $339,000   0.3 
              
   Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $339,000)
   339,000   0.3 
   Total Investments in Securities
(Cost $109,520,795)
  $107,528,118   100.0 
   Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets  (5,824)   0.0 
  Net Assets  $107,522,294   100.0 

 

ADR American Depositary Receipt
GDR Global Depositary Receipt

 

(1) Non-income producing security.

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

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

(4) Rate shown is the 7-day yield as of August 31, 2023.


See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements 

18

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
Equity Fund   as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)  

 

 

   Percentage
Sector Diversification  of Net Assets
Information Technology   22.9%
Financials   20.4 
Consumer Discretionary   11.2 
Communication Services   8.7 
Industrials   7.8 
Materials   7.1 
Consumer Staples   5.2 
Energy   4.9 
Health Care   3.3 
Exchange-Traded Funds   2.9 
Utilities   2.8 
Real Estate   2.5 
Short-Term Investments   0.3 
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets    
Net Assets   100.0%

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

19

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
Equity Fund   as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)  

 

 

Fair Value Measurements^

 

The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of August 31, 2023 in valuing the assets and liabilities: 

 

   Quoted Prices
in Active Markets
for Identical
Investments
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs#
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   Fair Value
at
August 31, 2023
 
Asset Table                    
Investments, at fair value                    
Common Stock                    
Brazil  $3,443,705   $   $   $3,443,705 
Chile   433,522            433,522 
China   1,098,350    28,774,370        29,872,720 
Colombia   230,777            230,777 
Czechia       252,683        252,683 
Egypt       131,213        131,213 
Greece   482,672    801,158        1,283,830 
Hong Kong       324,741        324,741 
Hungary   151,659    172,407        324,066 
India   21,179    14,933,572        14,954,751 
Indonesia   79,403    517,689        597,092 
Luxembourg   384,894            384,894 
Malaysia   54,974    2,037,596        2,092,570 
Mexico   2,336,990            2,336,990 
Peru   331,512            331,512 
Philippines       575,617        575,617 
Poland       627,331        627,331 
Qatar   212,167    505,769        717,936 
Romania   387,469            387,469 
Russia                
Saudi Arabia   717,628    3,230,074        3,947,702 
Singapore       393,020        393,020 
South Africa   1,400,623    1,617,261        3,017,884 
South Korea       11,107,757        11,107,757 
Taiwan       17,059,439        17,059,439 
Thailand       2,588,298        2,588,298 
Turkey       625,840        625,840 
United Arab Emirates   105,877    1,894,153        2,000,030 
Total Common Stock   11,873,401    88,169,988        100,043,389 
Exchange-Traded Funds   3,131,328            3,131,328 
Preferred Stock   2,118,682    1,895,719        4,014,401 
Short-Term Investments   339,000            339,000 
Total Investments, at fair value  $17,462,411   $90,065,707   $   $107,528,118 
Liabilities Table                    
Other Financial Instruments+                    
Written Options  $   $(295,814)  $   $(295,814) 
Total Liabilities  $   $(295,814)  $   $(295,814) 

 

 

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

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

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

20

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
Equity Fund   as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)  

 

 

At August 31, 2023, the following OTC written equity options were outstanding for Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund:

 

      Put/   Expiration   Exercise   Number of   Notional   Premiums     
Description  Counterparty  Call   Date   Price   Contracts   Amount   Received   Fair Value 
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF  BNP Paribas  Call   09/01/23   USD40.540    273,804   USD10,724,903   $238,648   $ 
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF  UBS AG  Call   09/15/23   USD38.400    278,646   USD10,914,564    236,459    (295,814)
                             $475,107   $(295,814)

 

Currency Abbreviations:

 

USD — United States Dollar

 

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

 

The fair value of derivative instruments as of August 31, 2023 was as follows:

 

   Location on Statement    
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments  of Assets and Liabilities  Fair Value 
Liability Derivatives        
Equity contracts  Written options, at fair value  $295,814 
Total Liability Derivatives     $295,814 

 

The effect of derivative instruments on the Fund's Statement of Operations for the period ended August 31, 2023 was as follows:

 

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

 

   Forward         
   foreign         
   currency   Written     
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments  contracts   options   Total 
Equity contracts  $   $1,192,717   $1,192,717 
Foreign exchange contracts   (2,853)       (2,853)
Total  $(2,853)  $1,192,717   $1,189,864 

 

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

 

   Written 
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments  options 
Equity contracts  $(273,609)
Total  $(273,609)

 

The following is a summary by counterparty of the fair value of OTC derivative instruments subject to Master Netting Agreements and collateral pledged (received), if any, at August 31, 2023:

 

   UBS AG 
Liabilities:     
Written options  $295,814 
Total Liabilities  $295,814 
      
Net OTC derivative instruments by     
counterparty, at fair value  $(295,814)
      
Total collateral pledged by the     
Fund/(Received from counterparty)  $295,814 
Net Exposure(1),(2)  $ 

 

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements 

21

 

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS  
Equity Fund   as of August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (continued)  

 

 

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

(2) At August 31, 2023, the Fund had pledged $50,000 and $450,000 in cash collateral to BNP Paribas and UBS AG, respectively. Excess cash collateral is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 

At August 31, 2023, the aggregate cost of securities and other investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities and other investments on a tax basis were:

 

Cost for federal income tax purposes was $109,965,547.    
Net unrealized depreciation consisted of:    
Gross Unrealized Appreciation  $14,831,890 
Gross Unrealized Depreciation   (17,565,133)
Net Unrealized Depreciation  $(2,733,243) 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements 

22

 

SHAREHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Proposal:

 

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

 

An annual shareholder meeting of Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund was held virtually on July 13, 2023.

 

      Proposal   Shares voted for   Shares voted
against or
withheld
   Shares
abstained
   Broker
non-vote
   Total Shares
Voted
 
Class III Trustees  Voya Emerging Markets High                              
   Dividend Equity Fund                                
   Martin J. Gavin  1*   12,973,348.375    2,791,344.650    0.000    0.000     15,764,693.025  
   Joseph E. Obermeyer  1*    12,913,591.025    2,851,102.000    0.000    0.000     15,764,693.025  

 

 
*Proposal Passed.

 

After the July 13, 2023 annual shareholder meeting, the following Trustees continued on as Trustees of the Trust: Colleen D. Baldwin, John V. Boyer, Patricia W. Chadwick, Sheryl K. Pressler, and Christopher P. Sullivan. 

23

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

  

The following information is a summary of certain changes since August 31, 2023. The information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Fund. During the period, there were no material changes in the Fund’s investment objective or fundamental policies. There also have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

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

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

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

 

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

outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“Open-Market Purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. Open-market purchases and sales are usually made through a broker affiliated with the Plan Agent.

 

If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the NAV per Common Share, the Plan Agent will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the NAV per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the NAV is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the NAV per 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 quarterly Dividends. Therefore, the period during which Open-Market Purchases can be made will exist only from the payment date of each Dividend through the date before the next “ex-dividend” date, which typically will be approximately ten days.

 

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



24

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)

 

  

Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Application of Control Share Provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act

 

Under Delaware law, which became automatically applicable to listed closed-end funds such as the Fund upon its effective date of August 1, 2022 (the “DSTA Control Share Statute”), if a shareholder acquires direct or indirect ownership or power to direct the voting of shares of the Fund in an aggregate amount that equals or exceeds certain percentage thresholds specified under the DSTA Control Share Statute (beginning at 10% or more of the Fund’s shares) (“control share acquisitions”), the

shareholder’s ability to vote certain of these shares will be limited by operation of state law unless action is taken by the Board of Trustees or by a vote shareholders of the Fund to exempt such shares from the provisions of the statute. The DSTA Control Share Statute requires shareholders to disclose to the Fund any control share acquisition within 10 days of such acquisition. The Fund may have no or only a limited ability to identify when a control share acquisition has occurred absent notice from a shareholder of a control share acquisition. Shareholders should consult their own counsel with respect to the application of the DSTA Control Share Statute to any particular circumstance.

 

Key Financial Dates — Calendar 2023 Distributions:

 

Declaration Date Ex Date Record Date Payable Date
20-Mar-23 3-Apr-23 4-Apr-23 17-Apr-23
15-Jun-23 3-Jul-23 5-Jul-23 17-Jul-23
15-Sep-23 2-Oct-23 3-Oct-23 16-Oct-23
15-Dec-23 28-Dec-23 29-Dec-23 16-Jan-24

 

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

 

Stock Data

 

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

 

Repurchase of Securities by Closed-End Companies

 

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

 

Number of Shareholders

 

The number of record holders of common stock as of August 31, 2023 was 8, which does not include approximately 7,352 beneficial owners of shares held in the name of brokers or other nominees.

 

Certifications

 

In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s CEO submitted the Annual CEO Certification on July 24, 2023 certifying that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE’s Corporate governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Fund’s principal executive and financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Form N-CSR, relating to, among other things, the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. 



25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Adviser Custodian

Voya Investments, LLC

7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100

Scottsdale, Arizona 85258

The Bank of New York Mellon

225 Liberty Street

New York, New York 10286

   
Transfer Agent Legal Counsel

Computershare, Inc.

480 Washington Boulevard

Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1900

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 163320 (0823)

 

 

 

(b)            Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not required for semi-annual filing.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

 

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

 

(b)       Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

  

Period*  (a) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased
   (b) Average Price
Paid per Share (or
Unit)
   (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
 
Mar 1-31, 2023   57,917   $5.31    57,917    1,299,687 
April 1-30, 2023   39,398   $5.19    39,398    1,831,233 
May 1-31, 2023   17,729   $5.14    17,729    1,813,504 
June 1-30, 2023   0   $0.00    0    1,813,504 
July 1-31, 2023   0   $0.00    0    1,813,504 
Aug 1-31, 2023   0   $0.00    0    1,813,504 
Total   115,044         115,044      

 

* The Registrant’s repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of 1,831,233 shares, was announced on April 1, 2023, with an expiration date of March 31, 2024. Previously, the Registrant's repurchase program, had authorized the repurchase of 1,898,065 shares and was effective on April 1, 2022, with an expiration date of March 31, 2023. Any repurchases made by the registrant pursuant to the program were made through open market transactions.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

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

 

 

 

 

(b)There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

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

 

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

 

(a)(2)(1)Not applicable.

 

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

 

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

 

(c)Notices to the registrant's common shareholders in accordance with the order under Section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 under the 1940 Act, dated August 16, 2011.1

 

(c)(1) 2nd Qtr 2023

 

(c)(2) 3rd Qtr 2023

 

1 The Fund has received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting it to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to its outstanding common stock as frequently as twelve times each year, and as frequently as distributions are specified by or in accordance with the terms of its outstanding preferred stock. This relief is conditioned, in part, on an undertaking by the Fund to make the disclosures to the holders of the Fund's common shares, in addition to the information required by Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19a-1 thereunder. The Fund is likewise obligated to file with the SEC the information contained in any such notice to shareholders and, in that regard, has attached hereto copies of each such notice made during the period.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant): Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

By /s/ Andy Simonoff  
  Andy Simonoff  
  Chief Executive Officer  

 

Date: November 3, 2023

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By /s/ Andy Simonoff  
  Andy Simonoff  
  Chief Executive Officer  

 

Date: November 3, 2023

 

By /s/ Todd Modic  
  Todd Modic  
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  

 

Date: November 3, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

EX-99.CERT

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Andy Simonoff, certify that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

   

Date: November 3, 2023 /s/ Andy Simonoff
  Andy Simonoff
  Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

EX-99.CERT

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Todd Modic, certify that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

  

Date: November 3, 2023 /s/ Todd Modic
  Todd Modic
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

EX-99.906CERT

 

Certification

 

Pursuant to Section 906

of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Name of Registrant:Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund
  
Date of Form N-CSR:August 31, 2023

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification below, as of this 3rd day of November, 2023.

 

  /s/ Andy Simonoff
  Andy Simonoff
  Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

EX-99.906CERT

 

Certification

 

Pursuant to Section 906

of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Name of Registrant:Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund
  
Date of Form N-CSR:August 31, 2023

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification below, as of this 3rd day of November, 2023.

 

  /s/ Todd Modic
  Todd Modic
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.(C)(1)

 

April 17, 2023

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE - We are providing shareholders of the Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund (the "Fund") with an estimate of the source of the Fund's quarterly distribution as required by current securities laws. THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON YOUR PART. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of its portfolio investments. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31, 2023 and reported to you on Form 1099-DIV early in 2024.

 

The Fund estimates that the distribution payable on April 17, 2023 is comprised of approximately 18% net investment income and 82% return of capital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.(C)(2)

 

July 17, 2023

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION

 

Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund

 

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE - We are providing shareholders of the Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund (the "Fund") with an estimate of the source of the Fund's quarterly distribution as required by current securities laws. THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON YOUR PART. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of its portfolio investments. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31, 2023 and reported to you on Form 1099-DIV early in 2024.

 

The Fund estimates that the distribution payable on July 17, 2023 is comprised of approximately 45% net investment income and 55% return of capital.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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