485BPOS
May 1, 2023
Prospectus
 
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Voya Strategic Allocation Conservative Portfolio
Class/Ticker: I/ISAIX; S/ISCVX
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Voya Strategic Allocation Growth Portfolio
Class/Ticker: I/ISAGX; S/ISGRX
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Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate Portfolio
Class/Ticker: I/IIMDX; S/ISMDX
 
Each Portfolio's shares may be offered to insurance company separate accounts serving as investment options under variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (“Variable Contracts”), qualified pension and retirement plans (“Qualified Plans”), custodial accounts, and certain investment advisers and their affiliates in connection with the creation or management of the Portfolios, other investment companies, and other permitted investors.
NOT ALL PORTFOLIOS MAY BE AVAILABLE IN ALL JURISDICTIONS, UNDER ALL VARIABLE CONTRACTS OR UNDER ALL QUALIFIED PLANS.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities nor has the SEC judged whether the information in this Prospectus is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 
Table of Contents
 
SUMMARY SECTION
 
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Back Cover
Voya Strategic Allocation Conservative Portfolio  
Investment Objective
The Portfolio seeks to provide total return (i.e., income and capital growth, both realized and unrealized) consistent with preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio
The table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Portfolio. You may pay other fees and expenses such as fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (“Variable Contract”) or a qualified pension or retirement plan (“Qualified Plan”), which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. If these fees or expenses were included in the table, the Portfolio’s expenses would be higher. For more information on these charges, please refer to the documents governing your Variable Contract or consult your plan administrator.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Expenses you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment
 
Class
 
I
S
Management Fees
%
0.20
0.20
Distribution and/or Shareholder Services (12b-1) Fees
%
None
0.25
Other Expenses
%
0.14
0.14
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
%
0.42
0.42
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses1
%
0.76
1.01
Waivers and Reimbursements2
%
(0.05)
(0.05)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Waivers and
Reimbursements
%
0.71
0.96
1
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses shown may be higher than the Portfolio's ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Portfolio and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
2
Voya Investments, LLC (the “ Investment Adviser ” ) is contractually obligated to limit expenses to 0.71% and 0.96% for Class I and Class S shares, respectively, through May 1, 2024 . The limitation does not extend to interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, and extraordinary expenses. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Expense Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in shares of the Portfolio with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not reflect expenses and charges which are, or may be, imposed under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment had a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects applicable expense limitation agreements and/or waivers in effect, if any, for the one-year period and the first year of the three-, five-, and ten-year periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Class
 
1 Yr
3 Yrs
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
I
$
73
238
417
938
S
$
98
317
553
1,232
Portfolio Turnover
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example, affect the Portfolio's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 74% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”) invests the assets of the Portfolio primarily in a combination of other funds (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”) that, in turn invest, in varying degrees, among several classes of equities, fixed-income instruments, emerging markets debt, and money market instruments. The Portfolio normally invests at least
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Voya Strategic Allocation Conservative Portfolio
80% of its assets in Underlying Funds affiliated with the Investment Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may in its discretion invest up to 20% of the Portfolio’s assets in Underlying Funds that are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, including exchange-traded funds ( “ ETFs ” ) .
The Portfolio invests in a combination of Underlying Funds that reflects a target allocation of approximately 38% of its net assets in equity securities and 62% of its net assets in fixed-income instruments (the “Target Allocation”).
The Portfolio's assets normally will be invested in accordance with its Target Allocation. As this is a Target Allocation, the actual allocations of the Portfolio's assets may deviate from the percentages shown. The Target Allocation is measured with reference to the principal investment strategies of the Underlying Funds; actual exposure to these asset classes will vary from the Target Allocation if an Underlying Fund is not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies. The Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically to return to the Target Allocation. The Portfolio's Target Allocation may be changed, at any time, in accordance with the Portfolio's asset allocation process. The Portfolio may periodically deviate from the Target Allocation based on an assessment of the current market conditions or other factors. Generally, the deviations fall in the range of +/- 10% relative to the current Target Allocation. The Investment Adviser may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, to deviate by a wider margin in order to protect the Portfolio, achieve its investment objective, or to take advantage of particular opportunities.
The Underlying Funds provide exposure to a wide range of traditional asset classes which includes stocks, bonds, and cash; and non-traditional asset classes (also known as alternative strategies) which includes real estate, commodities, and floating rate loans.
The equity securities in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks; emerging market securities; and real estate-related securities, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The fixed-income instruments in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international fixed-income instruments including high-yield (high-risk) securities commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and fixed-income instruments without limitation on maturity.
The Sub-Adviser may change the Portfolio's asset allocations, investments in particular Underlying Funds (including Underlying Funds organized in the future), Target Allocation, or other investment policies without the approval of shareholders as it determines necessary to pursue the Portfolio's investment objective.
When investing in Underlying Funds, the Sub-Adviser takes into account a wide variety of factors and considerations, including among other things the investment strategy employed in the management of a potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which an Underlying Fund’s investment adviser considers environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors as part of its investment process. The manner in which an Underlying Fund's investment adviser uses ESG factors in its investment process will be only one of many considerations in the Sub-Adviser’s evaluation of any potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which the consideration of ESG factors by an Underlying Fund's investment adviser will affect the Sub-Adviser’s decision to invest in an Underlying Fund, if at all, will depend on the analysis and judgment of the Sub-Adviser.
The current group of Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio may invest includes “index plus” funds. Generally these funds seek to outperform a designated index of equity securities by investing in a portion of the securities included in the index. Also, some Underlying Funds may use growth or value investing strategies.
The Portfolio may invest in derivative instruments including futures and swaps (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, and credit default swaps) to make tactical allocations, as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset, and to assist in managing cash.
The Investment Adviser will oversee the Target Allocation and the selection of Underlying Funds by the Sub-Adviser.
Principal Risks
You could lose money on an investment in the Portfolio. The value of your investment in the Portfolio changes with the values of the Underlying Funds and their investments. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks (either directly or indirectly through investments in one or more Underlying Funds). Any of these risks, among others, could affect the Portfolio's or an Underlying Fund's performance or cause the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund to lose money or to underperform market averages of other funds. The Portfolio is exposed to most of the principal risks indirectly through investments by the Underlying Funds, and in some cases only through such investments. Unless stated otherwise, in the risk disclosures below, descriptions of investments or activities by “the Portfolio” and related risks refer to investments or activities by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund, as the case may be. Similarly, a reference to “the Investment Adviser” or to “the Sub-Adviser” is to the entity responsible for the investments in question, whether by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate readability, and their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur or have a greater adverse impact than another risk.
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Affiliated Underlying Funds: The Sub-Adviser ’s selection of Underlying Funds presents conflicts of interest. The net management fee revenue received or costs incurred by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates will vary depending on the Underlying Funds it selects for the Portfolio, and the Sub-Adviser will have an incentive to select the Underlying Funds (whether or not affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) that will result in the greatest net management fee revenue or lowest costs to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, even if that results in increased expenses and potentially less favorable investment performance for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may prefer to invest in an affiliated Underlying Fund over an unaffiliated Underlying Fund because the investment may be beneficial to the Sub-Adviser in managing the affiliated Underlying Fund by helping the affiliated Underlying Fund achieve economies of scale or by enhancing cash flows to the affiliated Underlying Fund. For similar reasons, the Sub-Adviser may have an incentive to delay or decide against the sale of interests held by the Portfolio in affiliated Underlying Funds, and the Sub-Adviser may implement Underlying Fund changes in a manner intended to minimize the disruptive effects and added costs of those changes to affiliated Underlying Funds. Although the Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in unaffiliated Underlying Funds, there is no assurance that it will do so even in cases where the unaffiliated Underlying Funds incur lower fees or have achieved better historical investment performance than the comparable affiliated Underlying Funds.
Asset Allocation: Investment performance depends on the manager’s skill in allocating assets among the asset classes in which the Portfolio invests and in choosing investments within those asset classes. There is a risk that the manager may allocate assets or investments to or within an asset class that underperforms compared to other asset classes or investments.
Bank Instruments: Bank instruments include certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, and other debt and deposit-type obligations issued by banks. Changes in economic, regulatory, or political conditions, or other events that affect the banking industry may have an adverse effect on bank instruments or banking institutions that serve as counterparties in transactions with the Portfolio. In the event of a bank insolvency or failure, the Portfolio may be considered a general creditor of the bank, and it might lose some or all of the funds deposited with the bank. Even where it is recognized that a bank might be in danger of insolvency or failure, the Portfolio might not be able to withdraw or transfer its money from the bank in time to avoid any adverse effects of the insolvency or failure.
Cash/Cash Equivalents: Investments in cash or cash equivalents may lower returns and result in potential lost opportunities to participate in market appreciation which could negatively impact the Portfolio’s performance and ability to achieve its investment objective.
China Investing Risks: The Chinese economy is generally considered an emerging and volatile market. Although China has experienced a relatively stable political environment in recent years, there is no guarantee that such stability will be maintained in the future. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid because Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities under certain circumstances, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility, epidemics, pandemics, adverse economic, market or political events, and other events. Political, regulatory and diplomatic events, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018, could have an adverse effect on the Chinese or Hong Kong economies and on related investments. In addition, there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies.” The list of such companies can change from time to time, and as a result of forced selling or inability to participate in an investment the Investment Adviser/Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Portfolio may incur losses.
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Investing through Stock Connect: Shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“China A-Shares”) may be purchased directly or indirectly through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (“Stock Connect”), a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-Shares through Stock Connect. The underdeveloped state of PRC’s investment and banking systems subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Portfolio may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance.
Commodities: Commodity prices can have significant volatility, and exposure to commodities can cause the net asset value of the Portfolio’s shares to decline or fluctuate in a rapid and unpredictable manner. A liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related investments, which may make it difficult for the Portfolio to sell them at a desirable price or time.
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Company: The price of a company’s stock could decline or underperform for many reasons , including, among others, poor management, financial problems, reduced demand for the company’s goods or services, regulatory fines and judgments, or business challenges. If a company is unable to meet its financial obligations, declares bankruptcy, or becomes insolvent, its stock could become worthless.
Credit: The Portfolio could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed- income instrument in which the Portfolio invests, or the counterparty to a derivative contract the Portfolio entered into, is unable or unwilling , or is perceived ( whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services , or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to meet its financial obligations .
Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, either as a buyer or a seller of the swap. A buyer of a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the seller an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract until a credit event, such as a default , on a reference obligation has occurred . If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “ par value ” ( full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount if the swap is cash settled. As a seller of a credit default swap, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the full notional value of the swap. Credit default swaps are particularly subject to counterparty, credit, valuation, liquidity, and leveraging risks and the risk that the swap may not correlate with its reference obligation as expected. Certain standardized credit default swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity; however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and, in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose the Portfolio to new kinds of costs and risks. In addition, credit default swaps expose the Portfolio to the risk of improper valuation.
Currency: To the extent that the Portfolio invests directly or indirectly 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 Portfolio through foreign currency exchange transactions.
Derivative Instruments: Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates, liquidity risk, valuation risk, and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by the Portfolio. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on the Portfolio and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Portfolio 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 asset, reference rate, or index being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investment, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Funds-of-Funds): The Sub-Adviser ’ s consideration of ESG factors in selecting Underlying Funds for investment by the Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no minimum percentage of the Portfolio’s assets that will be allocated to Underlying Funds on the basis of ESG factors, and the Sub - Adviser may choose to select Underlying Funds on the basis of factors or considerations other than ESG factors. It is possible that the Portfolio will have less exposure to ESG-focused strategies than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund selected by the Sub-Adviser , which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential Underlying Fund, and such an Underlying Fund may, in fact, underperform other potential Underlying Funds .
Floating Rate Loans: In the event a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments on a floating rate loan (which can include certain bank loans), the Portfolio will experience a reduction in its income and a decline in the market value of such floating rate loan. If a floating rate loan is held by the Portfolio through another financial institution, or the Portfolio relies upon another financial institution to administer the loan, the receipt of scheduled interest or principal payments may be subject to the credit risk of such financial institution. Investors in floating rate loans may not be afforded the protections of the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, because loans may not be considered “securities” under such laws. Additionally, the value of collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline or may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations under the loan, and such collateral may be difficult to liquidate. No active trading market may exist for many floating rate loans and many floating rate loans are subject to restrictions on resale. Transactions in loans typically settle on a delayed basis and may take longer than 7 days to settle. As a result, the Portfolio may not receive the proceeds from a sale of a floating rate loan for a significant period of time. Delay in the receipts of settlement proceeds may impair the ability of the Portfolio to meet its redemption obligations, and may limit the ability of the Portfolio to repay debt, pay dividends, or to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
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Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments/Developing and Emerging Markets: Investing in foreign (non-U.S.) securities may result in the Portfolio experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies due, in part, to: smaller markets; differing reporting, accounting, auditing , and financial reporting standards and practices; nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation; foreign currency fluctuations, currency blockage, or replacement; potential for default on sovereign debt; and political changes or diplomatic developments, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the U.S. or other governments and supranational organizations. Markets and economies throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions or events in one market, country, or region may adversely impact investments or issuers in another market, country, or region. Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risks may be greater in developing and emerging markets than in developed markets.
Growth Investing: Prices of growth -oriented stocks are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuer ’s growth potential and may fall quickly and significantly if investors suspect that actual growth may be less than expected. There is a risk that funds that invest in growth-oriented stocks may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Growth-oriented stocks tend to be more volatile than value-oriented stocks, and may underperform the market as a whole over any given time period.
High-Yield Securities: Lower - quality securities (including securities that have fallen below investment grade and are classified as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities”) have greater credit risk and liquidity risk than higher-quality (investment grade) securities, and their issuers' long-term ability to make payments is considered speculative. Prices of lower-quality bonds or other fixed-income instruments are also more volatile, are more sensitive to negative news about the economy or the issuer, and have greater liquidity risk and price volatility.
Index Strategy (Funds-of-Funds): An Underlying Fund (or a portion of the Underlying Fund) that seeks to track an index’s performance and does not use defensive strategies or attempt to reduce its exposure to poor performing securities in an index may underperform the overall market (each, an “Underlying Index Fund”). To the extent an Underlying Index Fund’s investments track its target index, such Underlying Index Fund may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance may be affected by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund's shares. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance will be reduced by the Underlying Index Fund’s expenses and could be reduced by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund’s shares. In addition, an Underlying Index Fund’s actual holdings might not match the index and an Underlying Index Fund’s effective exposure to index securities at any given time may not precisely correlate. When deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager may not select the Underlying Index Fund with the lowest expenses. In particular, when deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager will generally select an affiliated Underlying Index Fund, even when the affiliated Underlying Index Fund has higher expenses than an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund. When the Portfolio invests in an affiliated Underlying Index Fund with higher expenses, the Portfolio’s performance will be lower than if the Portfolio had invested in an Underlying Index Fund with comparable performance but lower expenses (although any expense limitation arrangements in place at the time might have the effect of limiting or eliminating the amount of that underperformance). The manager may select an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund, including an ETF, over an affiliated Underlying Index Fund benchmarked to the same index when the manager believes making an investment in the affiliated Underlying Index Fund would be disadvantageous to the affiliated Underlying Index Fund, such as when the Portfolio is investing on a short-term basis.
Interest in Loans: The value and the income streams of interests in loans (including participation interests in lease financings and assignments in secured variable or floating rate loans) will decline if borrowers delay payments or fail to pay altogether. A significant rise in market interest rates could increase this risk. Although loans may be fully collateralized when purchased, such collateral may become illiquid or decline in value.
Interest Rate: A rise in market interest rates generally results in a fall in the value of bonds and other fixed-income instruments ; conversely, values generally rise as market interest rates fall. The higher the credit quality of the instrument, and the longer its maturity or duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in market interest rates. Duration is a measure of sensitivity of the price of a fixed-income instrument to a change in interest rate. As of the date of this Prospectus, the U.S. is experiencing a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase the Portfolio’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. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in fixed-income instruments, an increase in market interest rates may lead to increased redemptions and increased portfolio turnover, which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. Increased redemptions may cause the Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. If dealer capacity in fixed-income markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income markets. Further,
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recent and potential future changes in government policy may affect interest rates. Negative or very low interest rates could magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility. Changes to monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity, and reduced liquidity, which may impact the Portfolio’s operations and return potential.
Liquidity: If a security is illiquid , the Portfolio might be unable to sell the security at a time when the Portfolio’s manager might wish to sell, or at all. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid securities, exposing the Portfolio to the risk that the prices at which it sells illiquid securities will be less than the prices at which they were valued when held by the Portfolio, which could cause the Portfolio to lose money. The prices of illiquid securities may be more volatile than more liquid securities, and the risks associated with illiquid securities may be greater in times of financial stress.
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate: The obligations of the parties under many financial arrangements, such as fixed-income instruments (including senior loans) and derivatives, may be determined based, in whole or in part, on the London Inter-Bank 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. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 many major currencies, including for example, the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) for U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market. SOFR is published in various forms, including as a daily, compounded, and forward-looking term rate. The discontinuance of LIBOR and the 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 Portfolio’s existing investments, including the possibility that some of those investments may terminate or their terms may be adjusted to the disadvantage of the Portfolio; and the risk of general market disruption during the transition period. Markets relying on alternative rates are developing slowly and may offer limited liquidity. The general unavailability of LIBOR and the transition away from LIBOR to alternative rates could have a substantial adverse impact on the performance of the Portfolio.
Market: The market values of securities will fluctuate , sometimes sharply and unpredictably , based on overall economic conditions, governmental actions or intervention, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors , political developments, and other factors. Prices of equity securities tend to rise and fall more dramatically than those of fixed-income instruments. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax policies or developments may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objectives.
Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories : large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in large-capitalization companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with large-capitalization companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical: The Portfolio 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
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could affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments, including beyond the Portfolio’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. In March 2023, a number of U.S. domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks 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 Portfolio’s investments. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of the Portfolio and of the Portfolio’s service providers.
Prepayment and Extension: Many types of fixed-income instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This risk is heightened in a falling market interest rate environment. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a fixed-income instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This risk is heightened in a rising market interest rate environment. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the fixed-income instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates.
Real Estate Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts: Investing in real estate companies and REITs may subject the Portfolio to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, overbuilding, high foreclosure rates, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, wars, or other acts that destroy real property. In addition, REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements in that a REIT may not qualify for favorable tax treatment or regulatory exemptions. Investments in REITs are affected by the management skill of the REIT’s sponsor. The Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests.
Underlying Funds: Because the Portfolio invests primarily in Underlying Funds, the investment performance of the Portfolio is directly related to the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. When the Portfolio invests in an Underlying Fund, it is exposed indirectly to the risks of a direct investment in the Underlying Fund. If the Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in a single Underlying Fund, it may be more susceptible to risks associated with that Underlying Fund and its investments than if it invested in a broader range of Underlying Funds. It is possible that more than one Underlying Fund will hold securities of the same issuers, thereby increasing the Portfolio’s indirect exposure to those issuers. It also is possible that one Underlying Fund may be selling a particular security when another is buying it, producing little or no change in exposure but generating transaction costs and/or resulting in realization of gains with no economic benefit. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of any Underlying Fund will be achieved. In addition, the Portfolio’s shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ fees and expenses, in addition to the fees and expenses of the Portfolio itself.
Value Investing: Securities that appear to be undervalued may never appreciate to the extent expected. Further, because the prices of value-oriented securities tend to correlate more closely with economic cycles than growth-oriented securities, they generally are more sensitive to changing economic conditions, such as changes in market interest rates, corporate earnings and industrial production. The manager may be wrong in its assessment of a company’s value and the securities the Portfolio holds may not reach their full values. Risks associated with value investing include that a security that is perceived by the manager to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced and, thus, may not appreciate and provide anticipated capital growth. The market may not favor value-oriented securities and may not favor equities at all. During those periods, the Portfolio’s relative performance may suffer. There is a risk that funds that invest in value-oriented securities may underperform other funds that invest more broadly.
An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
Performance Information
The following information is intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The following bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio's performance from year to year, and the table compares the Portfolio's performance to the performance of a broad-based securities market index/indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the
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7
Portfolio for the same period. The Portfolio's performance information reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the period presented. Absent such fee waivers/expense limitations, if any, performance would have been lower. The bar chart shows the performance of the Portfolio's Class S shares. Performance for other share classes would differ to the extent they have differences in their fees and expenses.
Performance shown in the bar chart and in the Average Annual Total Returns table does not include insurance-related charges imposed under a Variable Contract or expenses related to a Qualified Plan. If these charges or expenses were included, performance would be lower. Thus, you should not compare the Portfolio's performance directly with the performance information of other investment products without taking into account all insurance-related charges and expenses payable under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Portfolio's past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Calendar Year Total Returns Class S 
(as of December 31 of each year)
 
 
Best quarter:
2nd Quarter 2020
11.05%
Worst quarter:
1st Quarter 2020
-12.10%
Average Annual Total Returns %
(for the periods ended December 31, 2022)
 
 
 
1 Yr
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
Since
Inception
Inception
Date
Class I
%
-16.46
2.10
4.45
N/A
07/05/95
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1
%
-13.01
0.02
1.06
N/A
 
Class S
%
-16.69
1.85
4.19
N/A
08/05/05
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1
%
-13.01
0.02
1.06
N/A
 
1
The index returns do not reflect deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes.
Portfolio Management
 
Investment Adviser
Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
 
Portfolio Managers
 
Barbara Reinhard, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 05/18)
Paul Zemsky, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 04/07)
Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares
Shares of the Portfolio are not offered directly to the public. Purchase and sale of shares may be made only by separate accounts of insurance companies serving as investment options under Variable Contracts or by Qualified Plans, custodian accounts, and certain investment advisers and their affiliates, other investment companies, or permitted investors. Please refer to the prospectus for the appropriate insurance company separate account, investment company, or your plan documents for information on how to direct investments in, or sale from, an investment option corresponding to the Portfolio and any fees that may apply. Participating insurance companies and certain other designated organizations are authorized to receive purchase orders on the Portfolio's behalf.
Tax Information
Distributions made by the Portfolio to a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, and exchanges and redemptions of Portfolio shares made by a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, ordinarily do not cause the corresponding contract holder or plan participant to recognize income or gain for federal income tax purposes. See the contract prospectus or the governing documents of your Qualified Plan for information regarding the federal income tax treatment of the distributions to your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan and the holders of the contracts or plan participants.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you invest in the Portfolio through a Variable Contract issued by an insurance company or through a Qualified Plan that, in turn, was purchased or serviced through an insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Portfolio and its Investment Adviser or distributor or their affiliates may: (1) make payments to the insurance company issuer of the Variable Contract or to the company servicing the Qualified Plan; and (2) make payments to the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. These payments may create a conflict of interest by: (1) influencing the insurance company or the company servicing the Qualified Plan to make the Portfolio available as an investment option for the Variable Contract or the Qualified Plan; or (2) by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Variable Contract or the pension servicing agent and/or the Portfolio over other options. Ask your salesperson or Qualified Plan administrator or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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Voya Strategic Allocation Growth Portfolio  
Investment Objective
The Portfolio seeks to provide capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio
The table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Portfolio. You may pay other fees and expenses such as fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (“Variable Contract”) or a qualified pension or retirement plan (“Qualified Plan”), which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. If these fees or expenses were included in the table, the Portfolio’s expenses would be higher. For more information on these charges, please refer to the documents governing your Variable Contract or consult your plan administrator.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Expenses you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment
 
Class
 
I
S
Management Fees
%
0.19
0.19
Distribution and/or Shareholder Services (12b-1) Fees
%
None
0.25
Other Expenses
%
0.15
0.15
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
%
0.47
0.47
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses1
%
0.81
1.06
Waivers and Reimbursements2
%
(0.04)
(0.04)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Waivers and
Reimbursements
%
0.77
1.02
1
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses shown may be higher than the Portfolio's ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Portfolio and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
2
Voya Investments, LLC (the “ Investment Adviser ” ) is contractually obligated to limit expenses to 0.77% and 1.02% for Class I and Class S shares, respectively, through May 1, 2024 . The limitation does not extend to interest, taxes, investment-related costs, leverage expenses, and extraordinary expenses. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Expense Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in shares of the Portfolio with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not reflect expenses and charges which are, or may be, imposed under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment had a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects applicable expense limitation agreements and/or waivers in effect, if any, for the one-year period and the first year of the three-, five-, and ten-year periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Class
 
1 Yr
3 Yrs
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
I
$
79
255
446
998
S
$
104
333
581
1,291
Portfolio Turnover
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example, affect the Portfolio's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 58% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”) invests the assets of the Portfolio primarily in a combination of other funds (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”) that, in turn invest, in varying degrees, among several classes of equities, fixed-income instruments, emerging markets debt, and money market instruments. The Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets in Underlying Funds affiliated with the Investment Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may in its discretion invest up to 20% of the Portfolio’s assets in Underlying Funds that are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, including exchange-traded funds ( “ ETFs ” ) .
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Voya Strategic Allocation Growth Portfolio
The Portfolio invests in a combination of Underlying Funds that reflects a target allocation of approximately 78% of its net assets in equity securities and 22% of its net assets in fixed-income instruments (the “Target Allocation”).
The Portfolio's assets normally will be invested in accordance with its Target Allocation. As this is a Target Allocation, the actual allocations of the Portfolio's assets may deviate from the percentages shown. The Target Allocation is measured with reference to the principal investment strategies of the Underlying Funds; actual exposure to these asset classes will vary from the Target Allocation if an Underlying Fund is not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies. The Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically to return to the Target Allocation. The Portfolio's Target Allocation may be changed, at any time, in accordance with the Portfolio's asset allocation process. The Portfolio may periodically deviate from the Target Allocation based on an assessment of the current market conditions or other factors. Generally, the deviations fall in the range of +/- 10% relative to the current Target Allocation. The Investment Adviser may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, to deviate by a wider margin in order to protect the Portfolio, achieve its investment objective, or to take advantage of particular opportunities.
The Underlying Funds provide exposure to a wide range of traditional asset classes which includes stocks, bonds, and cash; and non-traditional asset classes (also known as alternative strategies) which includes real estate, commodities, and floating rate loans.
The equity securities in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks; emerging market securities; and real estate-related securities, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The fixed-income instruments in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international fixed-income instruments including high-yield (high-risk) securities commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and fixed-income instruments without limitation on maturity.
The Sub-Adviser may change the Portfolio's asset allocations, investments in particular Underlying Funds (including Underlying Funds organized in the future), Target Allocation, or other investment policies without the approval of shareholders as it determines necessary to pursue the Portfolio's investment objective.
When investing in Underlying Funds, the Sub-Adviser takes into account a wide variety of factors and considerations, including among other things the investment strategy employed in the management of a potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which an Underlying Fund’s investment adviser considers environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors as part of its investment process. The manner in which an Underlying Fund's investment adviser uses ESG factors in its investment process will be only one of many considerations in the Sub-Adviser’s evaluation of any potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which the consideration of ESG factors by an Underlying Fund's investment adviser will affect the Sub-Adviser’s decision to invest in an Underlying Fund, if at all, will depend on the analysis and judgment of the Sub-Adviser.
The current group of Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio may invest includes “index plus” funds. Generally these funds seek to outperform a designated index of equity securities by investing in a portion of the securities included in the index. Also, some Underlying Funds may use growth or value investing strategies.
The Portfolio may invest in derivative instruments including futures and swaps (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, and credit default swaps) to make tactical allocations, as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset, and to assist in managing cash.
The Investment Adviser will oversee the Target Allocation and the selection of Underlying Funds by the Sub-Adviser.
Principal Risks
You could lose money on an investment in the Portfolio. The value of your investment in the Portfolio changes with the values of the Underlying Funds and their investments. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks (either directly or indirectly through investments in one or more Underlying Funds). Any of these risks, among others, could affect the Portfolio's or an Underlying Fund's performance or cause the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund to lose money or to underperform market averages of other funds. The Portfolio is exposed to most of the principal risks indirectly through investments by the Underlying Funds, and in some cases only through such investments. Unless stated otherwise, in the risk disclosures below, descriptions of investments or activities by “the Portfolio” and related risks refer to investments or activities by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund, as the case may be. Similarly, a reference to “the Investment Adviser” or to “the Sub-Adviser” is to the entity responsible for the investments in question, whether by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate readability, and their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur or have a greater adverse impact than another risk.
Affiliated Underlying Funds: The Sub-Adviser ’s selection of Underlying Funds presents conflicts of interest. The net management fee revenue received or costs incurred by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates will vary depending on the Underlying Funds it selects for the Portfolio, and the Sub-Adviser will have an incentive to select the Underlying Funds (whether or not affiliated
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11
with the Sub-Adviser) that will result in the greatest net management fee revenue or lowest costs to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, even if that results in increased expenses and potentially less favorable investment performance for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may prefer to invest in an affiliated Underlying Fund over an unaffiliated Underlying Fund because the investment may be beneficial to the Sub-Adviser in managing the affiliated Underlying Fund by helping the affiliated Underlying Fund achieve economies of scale or by enhancing cash flows to the affiliated Underlying Fund. For similar reasons, the Sub-Adviser may have an incentive to delay or decide against the sale of interests held by the Portfolio in affiliated Underlying Funds, and the Sub-Adviser may implement Underlying Fund changes in a manner intended to minimize the disruptive effects and added costs of those changes to affiliated Underlying Funds. Although the Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in unaffiliated Underlying Funds, there is no assurance that it will do so even in cases where the unaffiliated Underlying Funds incur lower fees or have achieved better historical investment performance than the comparable affiliated Underlying Funds.
Asset Allocation: Investment performance depends on the manager’s skill in allocating assets among the asset classes in which the Portfolio invests and in choosing investments within those asset classes. There is a risk that the manager may allocate assets or investments to or within an asset class that underperforms compared to other asset classes or investments.
Bank Instruments: Bank instruments include certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, and other debt and deposit-type obligations issued by banks. Changes in economic, regulatory, or political conditions, or other events that affect the banking industry may have an adverse effect on bank instruments or banking institutions that serve as counterparties in transactions with the Portfolio. In the event of a bank insolvency or failure, the Portfolio may be considered a general creditor of the bank, and it might lose some or all of the funds deposited with the bank. Even where it is recognized that a bank might be in danger of insolvency or failure, the Portfolio might not be able to withdraw or transfer its money from the bank in time to avoid any adverse effects of the insolvency or failure.
Cash/Cash Equivalents: Investments in cash or cash equivalents may lower returns and result in potential lost opportunities to participate in market appreciation which could negatively impact the Portfolio’s performance and ability to achieve its investment objective.
China Investing Risks: The Chinese economy is generally considered an emerging and volatile market. Although China has experienced a relatively stable political environment in recent years, there is no guarantee that such stability will be maintained in the future. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid because Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities under certain circumstances, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility, epidemics, pandemics, adverse economic, market or political events, and other events. Political, regulatory and diplomatic events, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018, could have an adverse effect on the Chinese or Hong Kong economies and on related investments. In addition, there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies.” The list of such companies can change from time to time, and as a result of forced selling or inability to participate in an investment the Investment Adviser/Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Portfolio may incur losses.
•
Investing through Stock Connect: Shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“China A-Shares”) may be purchased directly or indirectly through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (“Stock Connect”), a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-Shares through Stock Connect. The underdeveloped state of PRC’s investment and banking systems subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Portfolio may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance.
Commodities: Commodity prices can have significant volatility, and exposure to commodities can cause the net asset value of the Portfolio’s shares to decline or fluctuate in a rapid and unpredictable manner. A liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related investments, which may make it difficult for the Portfolio to sell them at a desirable price or time.
Company: The price of a company’s stock could decline or underperform for many reasons , including, among others, poor management, financial problems, reduced demand for the company’s goods or services, regulatory fines and judgments, or business challenges. If a company is unable to meet its financial obligations, declares bankruptcy, or becomes insolvent, its stock could become worthless.
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12
Credit: The Portfolio could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed- income instrument in which the Portfolio invests, or the counterparty to a derivative contract the Portfolio entered into, is unable or unwilling , or is perceived ( whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services , or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to meet its financial obligations .
Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, either as a buyer or a seller of the swap. A buyer of a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the seller an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract until a credit event, such as a default , on a reference obligation has occurred . If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “ par value ” ( full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount if the swap is cash settled. As a seller of a credit default swap, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the full notional value of the swap. Credit default swaps are particularly subject to counterparty, credit, valuation, liquidity, and leveraging risks and the risk that the swap may not correlate with its reference obligation as expected. Certain standardized credit default swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity; however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and, in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose the Portfolio to new kinds of costs and risks. In addition, credit default swaps expose the Portfolio to the risk of improper valuation.
Currency: To the extent that the Portfolio invests directly or indirectly 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 Portfolio through foreign currency exchange transactions.
Derivative Instruments: Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates, liquidity risk, valuation risk, and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by the Portfolio. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on the Portfolio and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Portfolio 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 asset, reference rate, or index being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investment, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Funds-of-Funds): The Sub-Adviser ’ s consideration of ESG factors in selecting Underlying Funds for investment by the Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no minimum percentage of the Portfolio’s assets that will be allocated to Underlying Funds on the basis of ESG factors, and the Sub - Adviser may choose to select Underlying Funds on the basis of factors or considerations other than ESG factors. It is possible that the Portfolio will have less exposure to ESG-focused strategies than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund selected by the Sub-Adviser , which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential Underlying Fund, and such an Underlying Fund may, in fact, underperform other potential Underlying Funds .
Floating Rate Loans: In the event a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments on a floating rate loan (which can include certain bank loans), the Portfolio will experience a reduction in its income and a decline in the market value of such floating rate loan. If a floating rate loan is held by the Portfolio through another financial institution, or the Portfolio relies upon another financial institution to administer the loan, the receipt of scheduled interest or principal payments may be subject to the credit risk of such financial institution. Investors in floating rate loans may not be afforded the protections of the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, because loans may not be considered “securities” under such laws. Additionally, the value of collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline or may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations under the loan, and such collateral may be difficult to liquidate. No active trading market may exist for many floating rate loans and many floating rate loans are subject to restrictions on resale. Transactions in loans typically settle on a delayed basis and may take longer than 7 days to settle. As a result, the Portfolio may not receive the proceeds from a sale of a floating rate loan for a significant period of time. Delay in the receipts of settlement proceeds may impair the ability of the Portfolio to meet its redemption obligations, and may limit the ability of the Portfolio to repay debt, pay dividends, or to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments/Developing and Emerging Markets: Investing in foreign (non-U.S.) securities may result in the Portfolio experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies due, in part, to: smaller markets; differing reporting, accounting, auditing , and financial reporting standards and practices; nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation; foreign currency fluctuations, currency blockage, or replacement;
Voya Strategic Allocation Growth Portfolio
13
potential for default on sovereign debt; and political changes or diplomatic developments, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the U.S. or other governments and supranational organizations. Markets and economies throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions or events in one market, country, or region may adversely impact investments or issuers in another market, country, or region. Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risks may be greater in developing and emerging markets than in developed markets.
Growth Investing: Prices of growth -oriented stocks are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuer ’s growth potential and may fall quickly and significantly if investors suspect that actual growth may be less than expected. There is a risk that funds that invest in growth-oriented stocks may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Growth-oriented stocks tend to be more volatile than value-oriented stocks, and may underperform the market as a whole over any given time period.
High-Yield Securities: Lower - quality securities (including securities that have fallen below investment grade and are classified as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities”) have greater credit risk and liquidity risk than higher-quality (investment grade) securities, and their issuers' long-term ability to make payments is considered speculative. Prices of lower-quality bonds or other fixed-income instruments are also more volatile, are more sensitive to negative news about the economy or the issuer, and have greater liquidity risk and price volatility.
Index Strategy (Funds-of-Funds): An Underlying Fund (or a portion of the Underlying Fund) that seeks to track an index’s performance and does not use defensive strategies or attempt to reduce its exposure to poor performing securities in an index may underperform the overall market (each, an “Underlying Index Fund”). To the extent an Underlying Index Fund’s investments track its target index, such Underlying Index Fund may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance may be affected by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund's shares. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance will be reduced by the Underlying Index Fund’s expenses and could be reduced by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund’s shares. In addition, an Underlying Index Fund’s actual holdings might not match the index and an Underlying Index Fund’s effective exposure to index securities at any given time may not precisely correlate. When deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager may not select the Underlying Index Fund with the lowest expenses. In particular, when deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager will generally select an affiliated Underlying Index Fund, even when the affiliated Underlying Index Fund has higher expenses than an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund. When the Portfolio invests in an affiliated Underlying Index Fund with higher expenses, the Portfolio’s performance will be lower than if the Portfolio had invested in an Underlying Index Fund with comparable performance but lower expenses (although any expense limitation arrangements in place at the time might have the effect of limiting or eliminating the amount of that underperformance). The manager may select an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund, including an ETF, over an affiliated Underlying Index Fund benchmarked to the same index when the manager believes making an investment in the affiliated Underlying Index Fund would be disadvantageous to the affiliated Underlying Index Fund, such as when the Portfolio is investing on a short-term basis.
Interest in Loans: The value and the income streams of interests in loans (including participation interests in lease financings and assignments in secured variable or floating rate loans) will decline if borrowers delay payments or fail to pay altogether. A significant rise in market interest rates could increase this risk. Although loans may be fully collateralized when purchased, such collateral may become illiquid or decline in value.
Interest Rate: A rise in market interest rates generally results in a fall in the value of bonds and other fixed-income instruments ; conversely, values generally rise as market interest rates fall. The higher the credit quality of the instrument, and the longer its maturity or duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in market interest rates. Duration is a measure of sensitivity of the price of a fixed-income instrument to a change in interest rate. As of the date of this Prospectus, the U.S. is experiencing a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase the Portfolio’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. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in fixed-income instruments, an increase in market interest rates may lead to increased redemptions and increased portfolio turnover, which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. Increased redemptions may cause the Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. If dealer capacity in fixed-income markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income markets. Further, recent and potential future changes in government policy may affect interest rates. Negative or very low interest rates could magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below
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zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility. Changes to monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity, and reduced liquidity, which may impact the Portfolio’s operations and return potential.
Liquidity: If a security is illiquid , the Portfolio might be unable to sell the security at a time when the Portfolio’s manager might wish to sell, or at all. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid securities, exposing the Portfolio to the risk that the prices at which it sells illiquid securities will be less than the prices at which they were valued when held by the Portfolio, which could cause the Portfolio to lose money. The prices of illiquid securities may be more volatile than more liquid securities, and the risks associated with illiquid securities may be greater in times of financial stress.
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate: The obligations of the parties under many financial arrangements, such as fixed-income instruments (including senior loans) and derivatives, may be determined based, in whole or in part, on the London Inter-Bank 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. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 many major currencies, including for example, the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) for U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market. SOFR is published in various forms, including as a daily, compounded, and forward-looking term rate. The discontinuance of LIBOR and the 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 Portfolio’s existing investments, including the possibility that some of those investments may terminate or their terms may be adjusted to the disadvantage of the Portfolio; and the risk of general market disruption during the transition period. Markets relying on alternative rates are developing slowly and may offer limited liquidity. The general unavailability of LIBOR and the transition away from LIBOR to alternative rates could have a substantial adverse impact on the performance of the Portfolio.
Market: The market values of securities will fluctuate , sometimes sharply and unpredictably , based on overall economic conditions, governmental actions or intervention, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors , political developments, and other factors. Prices of equity securities tend to rise and fall more dramatically than those of fixed-income instruments. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax policies or developments may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objectives.
Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories : large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in large-capitalization companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with large-capitalization companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical: The Portfolio 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 the Portfolio’s investments, including beyond the Portfolio’s direct exposure to Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions are
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impossible to predict and could be substantial. In March 2023, a number of U.S. domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks 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 Portfolio’s investments. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of the Portfolio and of the Portfolio’s service providers.
Prepayment and Extension: Many types of fixed-income instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This risk is heightened in a falling market interest rate environment. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a fixed-income instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This risk is heightened in a rising market interest rate environment. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the fixed-income instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates.
Real Estate Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts: Investing in real estate companies and REITs may subject the Portfolio to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, overbuilding, high foreclosure rates, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, wars, or other acts that destroy real property. In addition, REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements in that a REIT may not qualify for favorable tax treatment or regulatory exemptions. Investments in REITs are affected by the management skill of the REIT’s sponsor. The Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests.
Underlying Funds: Because the Portfolio invests primarily in Underlying Funds, the investment performance of the Portfolio is directly related to the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. When the Portfolio invests in an Underlying Fund, it is exposed indirectly to the risks of a direct investment in the Underlying Fund. If the Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in a single Underlying Fund, it may be more susceptible to risks associated with that Underlying Fund and its investments than if it invested in a broader range of Underlying Funds. It is possible that more than one Underlying Fund will hold securities of the same issuers, thereby increasing the Portfolio’s indirect exposure to those issuers. It also is possible that one Underlying Fund may be selling a particular security when another is buying it, producing little or no change in exposure but generating transaction costs and/or resulting in realization of gains with no economic benefit. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of any Underlying Fund will be achieved. In addition, the Portfolio’s shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ fees and expenses, in addition to the fees and expenses of the Portfolio itself.
Value Investing: Securities that appear to be undervalued may never appreciate to the extent expected. Further, because the prices of value-oriented securities tend to correlate more closely with economic cycles than growth-oriented securities, they generally are more sensitive to changing economic conditions, such as changes in market interest rates, corporate earnings and industrial production. The manager may be wrong in its assessment of a company’s value and the securities the Portfolio holds may not reach their full values. Risks associated with value investing include that a security that is perceived by the manager to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced and, thus, may not appreciate and provide anticipated capital growth. The market may not favor value-oriented securities and may not favor equities at all. During those periods, the Portfolio’s relative performance may suffer. There is a risk that funds that invest in value-oriented securities may underperform other funds that invest more broadly.
An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
Performance Information
The following information is intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The following bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio's performance from year to year, and the table compares the Portfolio's performance to the performance of a broad-based securities market index/indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Portfolio for the same period. The Portfolio's performance information reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the period presented. Absent such fee waivers/expense limitations, if any, performance would have been
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lower. The bar chart shows the performance of the Portfolio's Class S shares. Performance for other share classes would differ to the extent they have differences in their fees and expenses.
Performance shown in the bar chart and in the Average Annual Total Returns table does not include insurance-related charges imposed under a Variable Contract or expenses related to a Qualified Plan. If these charges or expenses were included, performance would be lower. Thus, you should not compare the Portfolio's performance directly with the performance information of other investment products without taking into account all insurance-related charges and expenses payable under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Portfolio's past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Calendar Year Total Returns Class S 
(as of December 31 of each year)
 
 
Best quarter:
2nd Quarter 2020
17.33%
Worst quarter:
1st Quarter 2020
-20.25%
Average Annual Total Returns %
(for the periods ended December 31, 2022)
 
 
 
1 Yr
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
Since
Inception
Inception
Date
Class I
%
-19.35
4.05
7.08
N/A
07/05/95
Russell 3000® Index1
%
-19.21
8.79
12.13
N/A
 
Class S
%
-19.55
3.79
6.80
N/A
08/05/05
Russell 3000® Index1
%
-19.21
8.79
12.13
N/A
 
1
The index returns do not reflect deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes.
Portfolio Management
 
Investment Adviser
Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
 
Portfolio Managers
 
Barbara Reinhard, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 05/18)
Paul Zemsky, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 04/07)
Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares
Shares of the Portfolio are not offered directly to the public. Purchase and sale of shares may be made only by separate accounts of insurance companies serving as investment options under Variable Contracts or by Qualified Plans, custodian accounts, and certain investment advisers and their affiliates, other investment companies, or permitted investors. Please refer to the prospectus for the appropriate insurance company separate account, investment company, or your plan documents for information on how to direct investments in, or sale from, an investment option corresponding to the Portfolio and any fees that may apply. Participating insurance companies and certain other designated organizations are authorized to receive purchase orders on the Portfolio's behalf.
Tax Information
Distributions made by the Portfolio to a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, and exchanges and redemptions of Portfolio shares made by a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, ordinarily do not cause the corresponding contract holder or plan participant to recognize income or gain for federal income tax purposes. See the contract prospectus or the governing documents of your Qualified Plan for information regarding the federal income tax treatment of the distributions to your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan and the holders of the contracts or plan participants.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you invest in the Portfolio through a Variable Contract issued by an insurance company or through a Qualified Plan that, in turn, was purchased or serviced through an insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Portfolio and its Investment Adviser or distributor or their affiliates may: (1) make payments to the insurance company issuer of the Variable Contract or to the company servicing the Qualified Plan; and (2) make payments to the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. These payments may create a conflict of interest by: (1) influencing the insurance company or the company servicing the Qualified Plan to make the Portfolio available as an investment option for the Variable Contract or the Qualified Plan; or (2) by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Variable Contract or the pension servicing agent and/or the Portfolio over other options. Ask your salesperson or Qualified Plan administrator or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate Portfolio  
Investment Objective
The Portfolio seeks to provide total return (i.e., income and capital appreciation, both realized and unrealized).
Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio
The table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Portfolio. You may pay other fees and expenses such as fees and expenses imposed under your variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (“Variable Contract”) or a qualified pension or retirement plan (“Qualified Plan”), which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. If these fees or expenses were included in the table, the Portfolio’s expenses would be higher. For more information on these charges, please refer to the documents governing your Variable Contract or consult your plan administrator.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
Expenses you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment
 
Class
 
I
S
Management Fees
%
0.19
0.19
Distribution and/or Shareholder Services (12b-1) Fees
%
None
0.25
Other Expenses
%
0.14
0.14
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
%
0.43
0.43
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses1
%
0.76
1.01
Waivers and Reimbursements2
%
(0.01)
(0.01)
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Waivers and
Reimbursements
%
0.75
1.00
1
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses shown may be higher than the Portfolio's ratio of expenses to average net assets shown in the Financial Highlights, which reflects the operating expenses of the Portfolio and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
2
Voya Investments, LLC (the “ Investment Adviser ” ) is contractually obligated to limit expenses to 0.75% and 1.00% for Class I and Class S shares, respectively, through May 1, 2024 . The limitation does not extend to interest, taxes, interest-related costs, leverage expenses, and extraordinary expenses. Termination or modification of this obligation requires approval by the Portfolio’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Expense Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in shares of the Portfolio with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not reflect expenses and charges which are, or may be, imposed under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment had a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects applicable expense limitation agreements and/or waivers in effect, if any, for the one-year period and the first year of the three-, five-, and ten-year periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Class
 
1 Yr
3 Yrs
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
I
$
77
242
421
941
S
$
102
321
557
1,235
Portfolio Turnover
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example, affect the Portfolio's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 63% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”) invests the assets of the Portfolio primarily in a combination of other funds (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”) that, in turn invest, in varying degrees, among several classes of equities, fixed-income instruments, emerging markets debt, and money market instruments. The Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets in Underlying Funds affiliated with the Investment Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may in its discretion invest up to 20% of the Portfolio’s assets in Underlying Funds that are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser, including exchange-traded funds ( “ ETFs ” ) .
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Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate Portfolio
The Portfolio invests in a combination of Underlying Funds that reflects a target allocation of approximately 60% of its net assets in equity securities and 40% of its net assets in fixed-income instruments (the “Target Allocation”).
The Portfolio's assets normally will be invested in accordance with its Target Allocation. As this is a Target Allocation, the actual allocations of the Portfolio's assets may deviate from the percentages shown. The Target Allocation is measured with reference to the principal investment strategies of the Underlying Funds; actual exposure to these asset classes will vary from the Target Allocation if an Underlying Fund is not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies. The Portfolio may be rebalanced periodically to return to the Target Allocation. The Portfolio's Target Allocation may be changed, at any time, in accordance with the Portfolio's asset allocation process. The Portfolio may periodically deviate from the Target Allocation based on an assessment of the current market conditions or other factors. Generally, the deviations fall in the range of +/- 10% relative to the current Target Allocation. The Investment Adviser may determine, in light of market conditions or other factors, to deviate by a wider margin in order to protect the Portfolio, achieve its investment objective, or to take advantage of particular opportunities.
The Underlying Funds provide exposure to a wide range of traditional asset classes which includes stocks, bonds, and cash; and non-traditional asset classes (also known as alternative strategies) which includes real estate, commodities, and floating rate loans.
The equity securities in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks; emerging market securities; and real estate-related securities, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The fixed-income instruments in which the Underlying Funds may invest include, but are not limited to, the following: domestic and international fixed-income instruments including high-yield (high-risk) securities commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and fixed-income instruments without limitation on maturity.
The Sub-Adviser may change the Portfolio's asset allocations, investments in particular Underlying Funds (including Underlying Funds organized in the future), Target Allocation, or other investment policies without the approval of shareholders as it determines necessary to pursue the Portfolio's investment objective.
When investing in Underlying Funds, the Sub-Adviser takes into account a wide variety of factors and considerations, including among other things the investment strategy employed in the management of a potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which an Underlying Fund’s investment adviser considers environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors as part of its investment process. The manner in which an Underlying Fund's investment adviser uses ESG factors in its investment process will be only one of many considerations in the Sub-Adviser’s evaluation of any potential Underlying Fund, and the extent to which the consideration of ESG factors by an Underlying Fund's investment adviser will affect the Sub-Adviser’s decision to invest in an Underlying Fund, if at all, will depend on the analysis and judgment of the Sub-Adviser.
The current group of Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio may invest includes “index plus” funds. Generally these funds seek to outperform a designated index of equity securities by investing in a portion of the securities included in the index. Also, some Underlying Funds may use growth or value investing strategies.
The Portfolio may invest in derivative instruments including futures and swaps (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, and credit default swaps) to make tactical allocations, as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset, and to assist in managing cash.
The Investment Adviser will oversee the Target Allocation and the selection of Underlying Funds by the Sub-Adviser.
Principal Risks
You could lose money on an investment in the Portfolio. The value of your investment in the Portfolio changes with the values of the Underlying Funds and their investments. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks (either directly or indirectly through investments in one or more Underlying Funds). Any of these risks, among others, could affect the Portfolio's or an Underlying Fund's performance or cause the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund to lose money or to underperform market averages of other funds. The Portfolio is exposed to most of the principal risks indirectly through investments by the Underlying Funds, and in some cases only through such investments. Unless stated otherwise, in the risk disclosures below, descriptions of investments or activities by “the Portfolio” and related risks refer to investments or activities by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund, as the case may be. Similarly, a reference to “the Investment Adviser” or to “the Sub-Adviser” is to the entity responsible for the investments in question, whether by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate readability, and their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur or have a greater adverse impact than another risk.
Affiliated Underlying Funds: The Sub-Adviser ’s selection of Underlying Funds presents conflicts of interest. The net management fee revenue received or costs incurred by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates will vary depending on the Underlying Funds it selects for the Portfolio, and the Sub-Adviser will have an incentive to select the Underlying Funds (whether or not affiliated
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20
with the Sub-Adviser) that will result in the greatest net management fee revenue or lowest costs to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, even if that results in increased expenses and potentially less favorable investment performance for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may prefer to invest in an affiliated Underlying Fund over an unaffiliated Underlying Fund because the investment may be beneficial to the Sub-Adviser in managing the affiliated Underlying Fund by helping the affiliated Underlying Fund achieve economies of scale or by enhancing cash flows to the affiliated Underlying Fund. For similar reasons, the Sub-Adviser may have an incentive to delay or decide against the sale of interests held by the Portfolio in affiliated Underlying Funds, and the Sub-Adviser may implement Underlying Fund changes in a manner intended to minimize the disruptive effects and added costs of those changes to affiliated Underlying Funds. Although the Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in unaffiliated Underlying Funds, there is no assurance that it will do so even in cases where the unaffiliated Underlying Funds incur lower fees or have achieved better historical investment performance than the comparable affiliated Underlying Funds.
Asset Allocation: Investment performance depends on the manager’s skill in allocating assets among the asset classes in which the Portfolio invests and in choosing investments within those asset classes. There is a risk that the manager may allocate assets or investments to or within an asset class that underperforms compared to other asset classes or investments.
Bank Instruments: Bank instruments include certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, and other debt and deposit-type obligations issued by banks. Changes in economic, regulatory, or political conditions, or other events that affect the banking industry may have an adverse effect on bank instruments or banking institutions that serve as counterparties in transactions with the Portfolio. In the event of a bank insolvency or failure, the Portfolio may be considered a general creditor of the bank, and it might lose some or all of the funds deposited with the bank. Even where it is recognized that a bank might be in danger of insolvency or failure, the Portfolio might not be able to withdraw or transfer its money from the bank in time to avoid any adverse effects of the insolvency or failure.
Cash/Cash Equivalents: Investments in cash or cash equivalents may lower returns and result in potential lost opportunities to participate in market appreciation which could negatively impact the Portfolio’s performance and ability to achieve its investment objective.
China Investing Risks: The Chinese economy is generally considered an emerging and volatile market. Although China has experienced a relatively stable political environment in recent years, there is no guarantee that such stability will be maintained in the future. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid because Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities under certain circumstances, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility, epidemics, pandemics, adverse economic, market or political events, and other events. Political, regulatory and diplomatic events, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018, could have an adverse effect on the Chinese or Hong Kong economies and on related investments. In addition, there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies.” The list of such companies can change from time to time, and as a result of forced selling or inability to participate in an investment the Investment Adviser/Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Portfolio may incur losses.
•
Investing through Stock Connect: Shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“China A-Shares”) may be purchased directly or indirectly through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (“Stock Connect”), a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-Shares through Stock Connect. The underdeveloped state of PRC’s investment and banking systems subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Portfolio may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance.
Commodities: Commodity prices can have significant volatility, and exposure to commodities can cause the net asset value of the Portfolio’s shares to decline or fluctuate in a rapid and unpredictable manner. A liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related investments, which may make it difficult for the Portfolio to sell them at a desirable price or time.
Company: The price of a company’s stock could decline or underperform for many reasons , including, among others, poor management, financial problems, reduced demand for the company’s goods or services, regulatory fines and judgments, or business challenges. If a company is unable to meet its financial obligations, declares bankruptcy, or becomes insolvent, its stock could become worthless.
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Credit: The Portfolio could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed- income instrument in which the Portfolio invests, or the counterparty to a derivative contract the Portfolio entered into, is unable or unwilling , or is perceived ( whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services , or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to meet its financial obligations .
Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, either as a buyer or a seller of the swap. A buyer of a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the seller an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract until a credit event, such as a default , on a reference obligation has occurred . If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “ par value ” ( full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount if the swap is cash settled. As a seller of a credit default swap, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the full notional value of the swap. Credit default swaps are particularly subject to counterparty, credit, valuation, liquidity, and leveraging risks and the risk that the swap may not correlate with its reference obligation as expected. Certain standardized credit default swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity; however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and, in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose the Portfolio to new kinds of costs and risks. In addition, credit default swaps expose the Portfolio to the risk of improper valuation.
Currency: To the extent that the Portfolio invests directly or indirectly 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 Portfolio through foreign currency exchange transactions.
Derivative Instruments: Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates, liquidity risk, valuation risk, and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by the Portfolio. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on the Portfolio and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Portfolio 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 asset, reference rate, or index being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investment, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Funds-of-Funds): The Sub-Adviser ’ s consideration of ESG factors in selecting Underlying Funds for investment by the Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no minimum percentage of the Portfolio’s assets that will be allocated to Underlying Funds on the basis of ESG factors, and the Sub - Adviser may choose to select Underlying Funds on the basis of factors or considerations other than ESG factors. It is possible that the Portfolio will have less exposure to ESG-focused strategies than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund selected by the Sub-Adviser , which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential Underlying Fund, and such an Underlying Fund may, in fact, underperform other potential Underlying Funds .
Floating Rate Loans: In the event a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments on a floating rate loan (which can include certain bank loans), the Portfolio will experience a reduction in its income and a decline in the market value of such floating rate loan. If a floating rate loan is held by the Portfolio through another financial institution, or the Portfolio relies upon another financial institution to administer the loan, the receipt of scheduled interest or principal payments may be subject to the credit risk of such financial institution. Investors in floating rate loans may not be afforded the protections of the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, because loans may not be considered “securities” under such laws. Additionally, the value of collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline or may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations under the loan, and such collateral may be difficult to liquidate. No active trading market may exist for many floating rate loans and many floating rate loans are subject to restrictions on resale. Transactions in loans typically settle on a delayed basis and may take longer than 7 days to settle. As a result, the Portfolio may not receive the proceeds from a sale of a floating rate loan for a significant period of time. Delay in the receipts of settlement proceeds may impair the ability of the Portfolio to meet its redemption obligations, and may limit the ability of the Portfolio to repay debt, pay dividends, or to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments/Developing and Emerging Markets: Investing in foreign (non-U.S.) securities may result in the Portfolio experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies due, in part, to: smaller markets; differing reporting, accounting, auditing , and financial reporting standards and practices; nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation; foreign currency fluctuations, currency blockage, or replacement;
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potential for default on sovereign debt; and political changes or diplomatic developments, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the U.S. or other governments and supranational organizations. Markets and economies throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions or events in one market, country, or region may adversely impact investments or issuers in another market, country, or region. Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risks may be greater in developing and emerging markets than in developed markets.
Growth Investing: Prices of growth -oriented stocks are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuer ’s growth potential and may fall quickly and significantly if investors suspect that actual growth may be less than expected. There is a risk that funds that invest in growth-oriented stocks may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Growth-oriented stocks tend to be more volatile than value-oriented stocks, and may underperform the market as a whole over any given time period.
High-Yield Securities: Lower - quality securities (including securities that have fallen below investment grade and are classified as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities”) have greater credit risk and liquidity risk than higher-quality (investment grade) securities, and their issuers' long-term ability to make payments is considered speculative. Prices of lower-quality bonds or other fixed-income instruments are also more volatile, are more sensitive to negative news about the economy or the issuer, and have greater liquidity risk and price volatility.
Index Strategy (Funds-of-Funds): An Underlying Fund (or a portion of the Underlying Fund) that seeks to track an index’s performance and does not use defensive strategies or attempt to reduce its exposure to poor performing securities in an index may underperform the overall market (each, an “Underlying Index Fund”). To the extent an Underlying Index Fund’s investments track its target index, such Underlying Index Fund may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Portfolio. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance may be affected by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund's shares. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance will be reduced by the Underlying Index Fund’s expenses and could be reduced by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund’s shares. In addition, an Underlying Index Fund’s actual holdings might not match the index and an Underlying Index Fund’s effective exposure to index securities at any given time may not precisely correlate. When deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager may not select the Underlying Index Fund with the lowest expenses. In particular, when deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager will generally select an affiliated Underlying Index Fund, even when the affiliated Underlying Index Fund has higher expenses than an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund. When the Portfolio invests in an affiliated Underlying Index Fund with higher expenses, the Portfolio’s performance will be lower than if the Portfolio had invested in an Underlying Index Fund with comparable performance but lower expenses (although any expense limitation arrangements in place at the time might have the effect of limiting or eliminating the amount of that underperformance). The manager may select an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund, including an ETF, over an affiliated Underlying Index Fund benchmarked to the same index when the manager believes making an investment in the affiliated Underlying Index Fund would be disadvantageous to the affiliated Underlying Index Fund, such as when the Portfolio is investing on a short-term basis.
Interest in Loans: The value and the income streams of interests in loans (including participation interests in lease financings and assignments in secured variable or floating rate loans) will decline if borrowers delay payments or fail to pay altogether. A significant rise in market interest rates could increase this risk. Although loans may be fully collateralized when purchased, such collateral may become illiquid or decline in value.
Interest Rate: A rise in market interest rates generally results in a fall in the value of bonds and other fixed-income instruments ; conversely, values generally rise as market interest rates fall. The higher the credit quality of the instrument, and the longer its maturity or duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in market interest rates. Duration is a measure of sensitivity of the price of a fixed-income instrument to a change in interest rate. As of the date of this Prospectus, the U.S. is experiencing a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase the Portfolio’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. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in fixed-income instruments, an increase in market interest rates may lead to increased redemptions and increased portfolio turnover, which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. Increased redemptions may cause the Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. If dealer capacity in fixed-income markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income markets. Further, recent and potential future changes in government policy may affect interest rates. Negative or very low interest rates could magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below
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zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility. Changes to monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity, and reduced liquidity, which may impact the Portfolio’s operations and return potential.
Liquidity: If a security is illiquid , the Portfolio might be unable to sell the security at a time when the Portfolio’s manager might wish to sell, or at all. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid securities, exposing the Portfolio to the risk that the prices at which it sells illiquid securities will be less than the prices at which they were valued when held by the Portfolio, which could cause the Portfolio to lose money. The prices of illiquid securities may be more volatile than more liquid securities, and the risks associated with illiquid securities may be greater in times of financial stress.
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate: The obligations of the parties under many financial arrangements, such as fixed-income instruments (including senior loans) and derivatives, may be determined based, in whole or in part, on the London Inter-Bank 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. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 many major currencies, including for example, the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) for U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market. SOFR is published in various forms, including as a daily, compounded, and forward-looking term rate. The discontinuance of LIBOR and the 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 Portfolio’s existing investments, including the possibility that some of those investments may terminate or their terms may be adjusted to the disadvantage of the Portfolio; and the risk of general market disruption during the transition period. Markets relying on alternative rates are developing slowly and may offer limited liquidity. The general unavailability of LIBOR and the transition away from LIBOR to alternative rates could have a substantial adverse impact on the performance of the Portfolio.
Market: The market values of securities will fluctuate , sometimes sharply and unpredictably , based on overall economic conditions, governmental actions or intervention, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors , political developments, and other factors. Prices of equity securities tend to rise and fall more dramatically than those of fixed-income instruments. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax policies or developments may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objectives.
Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories : large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in large-capitalization companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with large-capitalization companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical: The Portfolio 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 the Portfolio’s investments, including beyond the Portfolio’s direct exposure to Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions are
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impossible to predict and could be substantial. In March 2023, a number of U.S. domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks 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 Portfolio’s investments. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of the Portfolio and of the Portfolio’s service providers.
Prepayment and Extension: Many types of fixed-income instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This risk is heightened in a falling market interest rate environment. Prepayment may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a fixed-income instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This risk is heightened in a rising market interest rate environment. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the fixed-income instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, the Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates.
Real Estate Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts: Investing in real estate companies and REITs may subject the Portfolio to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, overbuilding, high foreclosure rates, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, wars, or other acts that destroy real property. In addition, REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements in that a REIT may not qualify for favorable tax treatment or regulatory exemptions. Investments in REITs are affected by the management skill of the REIT’s sponsor. The Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests.
Underlying Funds: Because the Portfolio invests primarily in Underlying Funds, the investment performance of the Portfolio is directly related to the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. When the Portfolio invests in an Underlying Fund, it is exposed indirectly to the risks of a direct investment in the Underlying Fund. If the Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in a single Underlying Fund, it may be more susceptible to risks associated with that Underlying Fund and its investments than if it invested in a broader range of Underlying Funds. It is possible that more than one Underlying Fund will hold securities of the same issuers, thereby increasing the Portfolio’s indirect exposure to those issuers. It also is possible that one Underlying Fund may be selling a particular security when another is buying it, producing little or no change in exposure but generating transaction costs and/or resulting in realization of gains with no economic benefit. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of any Underlying Fund will be achieved. In addition, the Portfolio’s shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ fees and expenses, in addition to the fees and expenses of the Portfolio itself.
Value Investing: Securities that appear to be undervalued may never appreciate to the extent expected. Further, because the prices of value-oriented securities tend to correlate more closely with economic cycles than growth-oriented securities, they generally are more sensitive to changing economic conditions, such as changes in market interest rates, corporate earnings and industrial production. The manager may be wrong in its assessment of a company’s value and the securities the Portfolio holds may not reach their full values. Risks associated with value investing include that a security that is perceived by the manager to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced and, thus, may not appreciate and provide anticipated capital growth. The market may not favor value-oriented securities and may not favor equities at all. During those periods, the Portfolio’s relative performance may suffer. There is a risk that funds that invest in value-oriented securities may underperform other funds that invest more broadly.
An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
Performance Information
The following information is intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The following bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio's performance from year to year, and the table compares the Portfolio's performance to the performance of a broad-based securities market index/indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Portfolio for the same period. The Portfolio's performance information reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the period presented. Absent such fee waivers/expense limitations, if any, performance would have been
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lower. The bar chart shows the performance of the Portfolio's Class S shares. Performance for other share classes would differ to the extent they have differences in their fees and expenses.
Performance shown in the bar chart and in the Average Annual Total Returns table does not include insurance-related charges imposed under a Variable Contract or expenses related to a Qualified Plan. If these charges or expenses were included, performance would be lower. Thus, you should not compare the Portfolio's performance directly with the performance information of other investment products without taking into account all insurance-related charges and expenses payable under your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan. The Portfolio's past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Calendar Year Total Returns Class S 
(as of December 31 of each year)
 
 
Best quarter:
2nd Quarter 2020
14.38%
Worst quarter:
1st Quarter 2020
-16.18%
Average Annual Total Returns %
(for the periods ended December 31, 2022)
 
 
 
1 Yr
5 Yrs
10 Yrs
Since
Inception
Inception
Date
Class I
%
-18.16
3.31
5.92
N/A
07/05/95
Russell 3000® Index1
%
-19.21
8.79
12.13
N/A
 
Class S
%
-18.34
3.05
5.65
N/A
06/07/05
Russell 3000® Index1
%
-19.21
8.79
12.13
N/A
 
1
The index returns do not reflect deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes.
Portfolio Management
 
Investment Adviser
Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
 
Portfolio Managers
 
Barbara Reinhard, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 05/18)
Paul Zemsky, CFA
Portfolio Manager (since 04/07)
Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares
Shares of the Portfolio are not offered directly to the public. Purchase and sale of shares may be made only by separate accounts of insurance companies serving as investment options under Variable Contracts or by Qualified Plans, custodian accounts, and certain investment advisers and their affiliates, other investment companies, or permitted investors. Please refer to the prospectus for the appropriate insurance company separate account, investment company, or your plan documents for information on how to direct investments in, or sale from, an investment option corresponding to the Portfolio and any fees that may apply. Participating insurance companies and certain other designated organizations are authorized to receive purchase orders on the Portfolio's behalf.
Tax Information
Distributions made by the Portfolio to a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, and exchanges and redemptions of Portfolio shares made by a Variable Contract or Qualified Plan, ordinarily do not cause the corresponding contract holder or plan participant to recognize income or gain for federal income tax purposes. See the contract prospectus or the governing documents of your Qualified Plan for information regarding the federal income tax treatment of the distributions to your Variable Contract or Qualified Plan and the holders of the contracts or plan participants.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you invest in the Portfolio through a Variable Contract issued by an insurance company or through a Qualified Plan that, in turn, was purchased or serviced through an insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Portfolio and its Investment Adviser or distributor or their affiliates may: (1) make payments to the insurance company issuer of the Variable Contract or to the company servicing the Qualified Plan; and (2) make payments to the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. These payments may create a conflict of interest by: (1) influencing the insurance company or the company servicing the Qualified Plan to make the Portfolio available as an investment option for the Variable Contract or the Qualified Plan; or (2) by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Variable Contract or the pension servicing agent and/or the Portfolio over other options. Ask your salesperson or Qualified Plan administrator or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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KEY PORTFOLIO INFORMATION
This Prospectus contains information about each Portfolio and is designed to provide you with important information to help you with your investment decisions. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
Each Portfolio's Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is incorporated by reference into (legally made a part of) this Prospectus. It identifies investment restrictions, more detailed risk descriptions, a description of how the bond rating system works, and other information that may be helpful to you in your decision to invest. You may obtain a copy, without charge, from each Portfolio.
Neither this Prospectus, nor the related SAI, nor other communications to shareholders, such as proxy statements, is intended, or should be read, to be or give rise to an agreement or contract between Voya Strategic Allocation Portfolios, Inc. (the “Company”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”), or each Portfolio and any investor, or to give rise to any rights to any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law.
Other Voya mutual funds may also be offered to the public that have similar names, investment objectives, and principal investment strategies as those of a Portfolio. You should be aware that each Portfolio is likely to differ from these other Voya mutual funds in size and cash flow pattern, as well as other factors. Accordingly, the performance of each Portfolio can be expected to vary from those of other Voya mutual funds.
Each Portfolio is a series of Voya Strategic Allocation Portfolios, Inc., a Maryland corporation. Each Portfolio is managed by Voya Investments, LLC (“Voya Investments” or the “Investment Adviser”).
Portfolio shares may be classified into different classes of shares. The classes of shares of a Portfolio would be substantially the same except for different expenses, certain related rights, and certain shareholder services. All share classes of a Portfolio have a common investment objective and investment portfolio.
Fundamental Investment Policies
Fundamental investment policies contained in the SAI may not be changed without shareholder approval. Other policies and investment strategies may be changed without a shareholder vote.
Portfolio Diversification
Each Portfolio is diversified, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder , and under the terms of applicable no-action relief or exemptive orders granted thereunder (the “1940 Act”). A diversified fund may not, as to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer and may not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or other investment companies). A non-diversified fund is not limited by the 1940 Act in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in the obligations of a single issuer.
Investor Diversification
Although each Portfolio is designed to serve as a component of a diversified investment portfolio of securities, no single mutual fund can provide an appropriate investment program for all investors. You should evaluate a Portfolio in the context of your personal financial situation, investment objectives, and other investments.
Although an investor may achieve the same level of diversification by investing directly in a variety of mutual funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (collectively, the “ Underlying Funds ” ) , a Portfolio provides investors with a means to simplify their investment decisions by investing in a single diversified portfolio. For more information about the Underlying Funds, please see “Key Information About the Underlying Funds” later in this Prospectus.
Temporary Defensive Strategies
When the Investment Adviser or the sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”) ( if applicable) to a Portfolio or an Underlying Fund anticipates unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Portfolio or Underlying Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies as a defensive measure. In such circumstances, a Portfolio or Underlying Fund may invest in securities believed to present less risk, such as cash, cash equivalents, money market fund shares and other money market instruments, fixed-income instruments that are high quality or higher quality than normal, more liquid securities, or others. While a Portfolio or Underlying Fund invests defensively, it may not achieve its investment objective. A Portfolio's or Underlying Fund's defensive investment position may not be effective in protecting its value. It is impossible to predict accurately how long such alternative strategies may be utilized.
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KEY PORTFOLIO INFORMATION (continued)
Percentage and Rating Limitations
The percentage and rating limitations on Portfolio investments listed in this Prospectus apply at the time of investment.
Investment Not Guaranteed
Please note your investment is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.
Shareholder Reports
Each Portfolio's fiscal year ends December 31. Copies of each Portfolio's annual and semi-annual shareholder reports are no longer sent by mail or e-mail, unless you specifically request copies of the reports. Instead, the reports are available on the Voya funds’ website (https://individuals.voya.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. 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 [email protected].
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTFOLIOS
Additional Information About the Investment Objective
Each Portfolio's investment objective is non-fundamental and may be changed by a vote of the Portfolio's Board, without shareholder approval. A Portfolio will provide 60 days' prior written notice of any change in a non-fundamental investment objective. There is no guarantee a Portfolio will achieve its investment objective.
Additional Information About Principal Investment Strategies
Each Portfolio invests in a combination of Underlying Funds that, in turn, invest directly in a wide range of U.S. and international stocks, U.S. bonds and other fixed-income instruments; and uses asset allocation strategies to determine how much to invest in each Underlying Fund. Each Portfolio is designed to meet the needs of investors who wish to seek exposure to various types of securities through a single diversified investment. For a complete description of each Portfolio's principal investment strategies, please see the Portfolio's summary prospectus or the summary section of this Prospectus.
Asset Allocation Process
The Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have designed the Portfolios which were constructed and are managed using an asset allocation process to determine each Portfolio's investment mix (the “Target Allocation”). This asset allocation process can be described as follows:
The Portfolios have varying investment objectives that are intended for investors with varying risk tolerances and investment goals. Each Portfolio seeks its objective through an asset allocation strategy that provides exposure to various asset classes. This approach is intended to attain a Portfolio's objective and provide the benefit of lower volatility through asset diversification.
The Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser use an asset allocation process to determine the Target Allocation for each Portfolio.
First, the Sub-Adviser determines the Targeted Allocation for each Portfolio's investment in various asset classes. In making this determination, the Sub-Adviser employs its own proprietary modeling techniques.
Second, the Sub-Adviser determines the Underlying Funds in which a Portfolio invests to attain its Target Allocation. In choosing an Underlying Fund for an asset class, the Sub-Adviser considers the degree to which the Underlying Fund's holdings or other characteristics correspond in the desired asset class, among other factors.
The Sub-Adviser may change the Underlying Funds at any time, and may at any time determine to make tactical changes in a Portfolio's Target Allocation depending on market conditions.
Periodically, based upon a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors, the Sub-Adviser uses economic and statistical methods to determine the optimal Target Allocation and ranges for the Portfolios, the resulting allocations to the Underlying Funds, and whether any Underlying Funds should be added or removed from the mix.
The factors considered may include the following: (i) the investment objective of each Portfolio and each of the Underlying Funds; (ii) economic and market forecasts; (iii) proprietary and third-party reports and analysis; (iv) the risk/return characteristics, relative performance, and volatility of Underlying Funds; and (v) the correlation and covariance among Underlying Funds.
The Investment Adviser will oversee the Target Allocation and the selection of Underlying Funds by the Sub-Adviser.
As market prices of the Underlying Funds’ portfolio securities change, each Portfolio’s actual allocations will vary somewhat from its respective Target Allocation, although the percentages generally will remain within an acceptable range of the Target Allocation percentages. If changes are made as described above, those changes will be reflected in the Prospectus. However, it may take some time to fully implement the changes. The Sub-Adviser may implement the changes over a reasonable period of time while seeking to minimize disruptive effects and added costs to the Portfolios and the Underlying Funds.
The Portfolios may invest new assets and reinvested dividends based on the Target Allocation. Rebalancing will normally take place monthly. These allocations, however, are targets, and each Portfolio's allocations could change substantially as the Underlying Funds' asset values change due to market movements and portfolio management decisions. On an ongoing basis, the actual mix of assets and Underlying Funds for each Portfolio may deviate from the Target Allocation percentages.
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If the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interests of a Portfolio and its shareholders, to deviate from the Portfolio's Target Allocation, it may rebalance more frequently than monthly, limit the degree of rebalancing or avoid rebalancing altogether. The Target Allocation may be changed at any time by the Investment Adviser.
Asset Allocation is No Guarantee Against Loss
Although asset allocation seeks to optimize returns given various levels of risk tolerance, you still may lose money and experience volatility. Market and asset class performance may differ in the future from the historical performance and the assumptions used to form the asset allocations for each Portfolio. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser's allocation of each Portfolio's assets may not anticipate market trends successfully. For example, weighting Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities too heavily during a stock market decline may result in a failure to preserve capital. Conversely, investing too heavily in Underlying Funds that invest in fixed-income instruments during a period of stock market appreciation may result in lower total return.
There is a risk that you could achieve better returns by investing in an Underlying Fund or other mutual funds representing a single asset class than in a Portfolio.
Assets will be allocated among funds and markets based on judgments made by the Sub-Adviser. There is a risk that a Portfolio may allocate assets to an asset class or market that underperforms other funds. For example, a Portfolio may be underweighted in assets or a market that is experiencing significant returns or overweighted in assets or a market with significant declines.
Performance of the Underlying Funds Will Vary
The performance of each Portfolio depends upon the performance of the Underlying Funds, which are affected by changes in the economy and financial markets. The value of a Portfolio changes as the asset values of the Underlying Funds go up or down. The value of your shares will fluctuate and may be worth more or less than the original cost. The timing of your investment may also affect performance.
Additional Information About the Principal Risks
All mutual funds involve risk—some more than others—and there is always the chance that you could lose money or not earn as much as you hope. Each Portfolio's risk profile is largely a factor of the principal securities in which it invests and investment techniques that it uses. Below is a discussion of the principal risks associated with investments in certain types of securities and the use of certain of these investment practices. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate readability, and their order does not imply that the realization of one risk is more likely to occur or have a greater adverse impact than another risk. A Portfolio may be exposed to these risks directly or indirectly through investments in one or more Underlying Fund(s). A Portfolio is exposed to most of the principal risks indirectly through investments by the Underlying Funds, and in some cases only through such investments. Unless stated otherwise, in the risk disclosures below, descriptions of investments or activities by “ a Portfolio ” and related risks refer to investments or activities by a Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund, as the case may be. Similarly, a reference to “the Investment Adviser” or to “the Sub-Adviser” is to the entity responsible for the investments in question, whether by the Portfolio or by an Underlying Fund.
Many of the investment techniques and strategies discussed in this Prospectus and in the SAI are discretionary, which means that the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, can decide whether to use them. A Portfolio or an Underlying Fund may invest in these securities or use these techniques as part of its principal investment strategies. However, the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser may also use these investment techniques or make investments in securities that are not a part of a Portfolio’s or an Underlying Fund’s principal investment strategies.
For more information about these and other types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by each Portfolio, see the SAI, and for more information about the Underlying Funds, please see “Key Information About the Underlying Funds” or refer to the Underlying Fund’s current prospectus as of this date.
Affiliated Underlying Funds: The Sub-Adviser ’s selection of Underlying Funds presents conflicts of interest. The net management fee revenue received or costs incurred by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates will vary depending on the Underlying Funds it selects for a Portfolio, and the Sub-Adviser will have an incentive to select the Underlying Funds (whether or not affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) that will result in the greatest net management fee revenue or lowest costs to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, even if that results in increased expenses and potentially less favorable investment performance for the Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may prefer to invest in an affiliated Underlying Fund over
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an unaffiliated Underlying Fund because the investment may be beneficial to the Sub-Adviser in managing the affiliated Underlying Fund by helping the affiliated Underlying Fund achieve economies of scale or by enhancing cash flows to the affiliated Underlying Fund. For similar reasons, the Sub-Adviser may have an incentive to delay or decide against the sale of interests held by a Portfolio in affiliated Underlying Funds, and the Sub-Adviser may implement Underlying Fund changes in a manner intended to minimize the disruptive effects and added costs of those changes to affiliated Underlying Funds. Although a Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in unaffiliated Underlying Funds, there is no assurance that it will do so even in cases where the unaffiliated Underlying Funds incur lower fees or have achieved better historical investment performance than the comparable affiliated Underlying Funds.
Asset Allocation: Investment performance depends on the manager’s skill in allocating assets among the asset classes in which a Portfolio invests and in choosing investments within those asset classes. There is a risk that the manager may allocate assets or investments to or within an asset class that underperforms compared to other asset classes or investments.
Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of, the underlying assets of the asset-backed securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets, and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of fixed-income instruments. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain asset-backed securities. The value of longer-term securities generally changes more in response to changes in market interest rates than shorter-term securities.
These securities may be affected significantly by government regulation, market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of an issuer servicer, and loan-to-value ratio of the underlying assets. During an economic downturn, the mortgages, commercial or consumer loans, trade or credit card receivables, installment purchase obligations, leases, or other debt obligations underlying an asset-backed security may experience an increase in defaults as borrowers experience difficulties in repaying their loans which may cause the valuation of such securities to be more volatile and may reduce the value of such securities. These risks are particularly heightened for investments in asset-backed securities that contain sub-prime loans, which are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories and often have higher default rates.
Bank Instruments: Bank instruments include certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, and other debt and deposit-type obligations issued by banks. Changes in economic, regulatory, or political conditions, or other events that affect the banking industry may have an adverse effect on bank instruments or banking institutions that serve as counterparties in transactions with a Portfolio. In the event of a bank insolvency or failure, a Portfolio may be considered a general creditor of the bank, and it might lose some or all of the funds deposited with the bank. Even where it is recognized that a bank might be in danger of insolvency or failure, a Portfolio might not be able to withdraw or transfer its money from the bank in time to avoid any adverse effects of the insolvency or failure.
Borrowing: Borrowing creates leverage, which may increase expenses and increase the impact of a Portfolio’s other risks. Borrowing may exaggerate any increase or decrease in a Portfolio’s net asset value causing a Portfolio to be more volatile than a fund that does not borrow. Borrowing for investment purposes is considered to be speculative and may result in losses to a Portfolio.
Cash/Cash Equivalents: Investments in cash or cash equivalents may lower returns and result in potential lost opportunities to participate in market appreciation which could negatively impact a Portfolio’s performance and ability to achieve its investment objective.
China Investing Risks: The Chinese economy is generally considered an emerging and volatile market. Although China has experienced a relatively stable political environment in recent years, there is no guarantee that such stability will be maintained in the future. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid because Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities under certain circumstances, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility, epidemics, pandemics, adverse economic, market or political events, and other events. Political, regulatory and diplomatic events, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018, could have an adverse effect on the Chinese or Hong Kong economies and on related investments. In addition, there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing
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or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies.” The list of such companies can change from time to time, and as a result of forced selling or inability to participate in an investment the Investment Adviser/Sub-Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, a Portfolio may incur losses.
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Investing through Bond Connect: Chinese fixed-income instruments trade on the China Interbank Bond Market (the “CIBM”) and may be purchased through a market access program, known as “Bond Connect,” that is designed to, among other things, enable foreign (non-U.S.) investment in the People’s Republic of China. There are significant risks inherent in investing in Chinese fixed-income instruments, similar to the risks of investing in fixed-income instruments in other emerging markets. The prices of fixed-income instruments traded on the CIBM may fluctuate significantly due to low trading volume and potential lack of liquidity. The rules to access fixed-income instruments that trade on the CIBM through Bond Connect are relatively new and subject to change, which may adversely affect a Portfolio's ability to invest in these instruments and to enforce its rights as a beneficial owner of these instruments. Trading through Bond Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect a Portfolio’s investments and returns.
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Investing through Stock Connect: Shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“China A-Shares”) may be purchased directly or indirectly through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (“Stock Connect”), a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-Shares through Stock Connect. The underdeveloped state of PRC’s investment and banking systems subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, a Portfolio may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance.
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Variable Interest Entities: Many Chinese companies use a structure known as a variable interest entity (a “VIE”) to address Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investment in Chinese companies operating in certain sectors. A Portfolio’s investment exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because the Portfolio’s investment is not made directly in the VIE (the actual Chinese operating company), but rather in a holding company domiciled outside of China (a “Holding Company”) whose interests in the business of the underlying Chinese operating company (the VIE) are established through contracts rather than through equity ownership. The VIE (which a Portfolio is restricted from owning under Chinese law) is generally owned by Chinese nationals, and the Holding Company (in which a Portfolio invests) holds only contractual rights (rather than equity ownership) relating to the VIE, typically including a contractual claim on the VIE’s profits. Shares of the Holding Company, in turn, are traded on exchanges outside of China and are available to non-Chinese investors such as a Portfolio. While the VIE structure is a longstanding practice in China, until recently, such arrangements had not been formally recognized under Chinese law. However, in late 2021, the Chinese government signaled its interest in implementing filing requirement rules that would both affirm the legality of VIE structures and regulate them. How these filing requirements will operate in practice, and what will be required for approval, remains unclear. While there is optimism that these actions will reduce uncertainty over Chinese actions on VIEs, there is also caution given how unresolved the process is. Until these rules are finalized, and potentially afterwards depending on how they are implemented, there remains significant uncertainty associated with VIE investments.
There is a risk that the Chinese government may cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure, in each case either generally or with respect to specific issuers. In such a scenario, the Chinese operating company could be subject to penalties, including revocation of its business and operating license, or the Holding Company could forfeit its interest in the business of the Chinese operating company. Further, in case of a dispute between the Holding Company investors and the Chinese owners of the VIE, the Holding Company’s contractual claims with respect to the VIE may be unenforceable in China, thus limiting the remedies and rights of Holding Company investors such as a Portfolio. Control over a VIE may also be jeopardized if a natural person who holds the equity interest in the VIE breaches the terms of the contractual arrangements, is subject to legal proceedings, or if any physical instruments or property of the VIE, such as seals, business registration certificates, financial data and licensing arrangements (sometimes referred to as “chops”), are
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used without authorization. In the event of such an occurrence, a Portfolio, as a foreign investor, may have little or no legal recourse. Such legal uncertainty may be exploited against the interests of the Holding Company investors such as a Portfolio.
A Portfolio will typically have little or no ability to influence the VIE through proxy voting or other means because it is not a VIE owner/shareholder. Foreign (non-U.S.) companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges, including companies using the VIE structure, could also face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the expectations and/or requirements of the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or other U.S. regulators. Any of these risks could reduce the liquidity and value of a Portfolio’s investments in Holding Companies or render them valueless.
Collateralized Loan Obligations and Other Collateralized Obligations: A CLO is an obligation of a trust or other special purpose vehicle typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include senior secured and unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade, or equivalent unrated loans. CLOs may incur management fees and administration fees. The risks of investing in a CLO depend largely on the type of the collateral held in the CLO portfolio and the tranche of securities in which a Portfolio, and can generally be summarized as a combination of economic risks of the underlying loans combined with the risks associated with the CLO structure governing the priority of payments, and include interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, prepayment and extension risk, and the risk of default of the underlying asset, among others.
Commodities: Commodity prices can have significant volatility, and exposure to commodities can cause the net asset value of a Portfolio’s shares to decline or fluctuate in a rapid and unpredictable manner. A liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related investments, which may make it difficult for a Portfolio to sell them at a desirable price or time. The values of physical commodities or commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by, among other things: changes in overall market movements and economic conditions; real or perceived inflationary trends; commodity index volatility; changes in market interest rates or currency exchange rates; population growth and changing demographics; levels of domestic production and imported commodities; international economic, political , and regulatory developments; factors affecting a particular region, industry , or commodity, such as drought, floods, or other weather conditions; energy conservation; labor unrest; livestock disease ; changes in storage costs ; trade embargoes; competition from substitute products; transportation bottlenecks or shortages; fluctuations in supply and demand; and tariffs. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to, among other factors, lack of liquidity, the participation of speculators, and government regulation and other actions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits may have the effect of distorting market pricing and limiting liquidity in the market for the contracts in question.
Company: The price of a company’s stock could decline or underperform for many reasons , including, among others, poor management, financial problems, reduced demand for the company’s goods or services, regulatory fines and judgments, or business challenges. If a company is unable to meet its financial obligations, declares bankruptcy, or becomes insolvent, its stock could become worthless.
Concentration: To the extent that a Portfolio “concentrates,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, its assets in securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Portfolio may be more sensitive to financial, economic, business, political, regulatory, and other developments and conditions, including natural or other disasters, affecting issuers in a particular industry or group of industries, and if securities of such industry or group of industries fall out of favor, the Portfolio could underperform, or be more volatile than, a fund that is more broadly invested across industries.
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Real Estate Industry: Investments in companies involved in the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts, may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including terrorist attacks, war, or other acts that destroy real property. In addition these investments may be affected by such factors as falling real estate prices, rising interest rates or property taxes, high foreclosure rates, zoning changes, overbuilding, overall declines in the economy, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the company. Real estate investment trusts may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements.
Concentration (Index): To the extent that a Portfolio’s index “ concentrates, ” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Portfolio may allocate its investments to approximately the same extent as the index. As a result, a Portfolio may be more sensitive to financial, economic, business, political,
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regulatory, and other developments and conditions, including natural or other disasters, affecting issuers in a particular industry or group of industries, and if securities of such industry or group of industries fall out of favor, the Portfolio could underperform, or be more volatile than, a fund that is more broadly invested across industries.
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Technology Sector: Investments in companies involved in the technology sector are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as aggressive pricing of products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share, short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments, evolving industry standards, changing customer demands, and the potential for limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. The failure of a company to adapt to such changes could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition. These companies also face the risks that new services, equipment, or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. These factors can affect the profitability of these companies and, as a result, the values of their securities. Many companies involved in the technology sector have limited operating histories, and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than those of many other companies’ securities, especially over the short term.
Convertible Securities: Convertible securities are securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stocks at a stated price or rate. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed-income instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because convertible securities react to changes in the value of the underlying stock, they are subject to market risk. The value of a convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the value of the underlying stock because of the conversion or exercise feature. However, the value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying stock. Convertible securities may be rated below investment grade and therefore may be subject to greater levels of credit risk and liquidity risk. In the event the issuer of a convertible security is unable to meet its financial obligations, declares bankruptcy, or becomes insolvent, a Portfolio could lose money; such events may also have the effect of reducing a Portfolio's distributable income. There is a risk that a Portfolio may convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Portfolio’s returns.
Covenant-Lite Loans: Loans in which a Portfolio may invest or to which a Portfolio may gain exposure indirectly through its investments in collateralized debt obligations, CLOs or other types of structured securities may be considered “covenant-lite” loans. Covenant-lite refers to loans which do not incorporate traditional performance-based financial maintenance covenants. Covenant-lite does not refer to a loan’s seniority in a borrower’s capital structure nor to a lack of the benefit from a legal pledge of the borrower’s assets and does not necessarily correlate to the overall credit quality of the borrower. Covenant-lite loans generally do not include terms which allow a lender to take action based on a borrower’s performance relative to its covenants. Such actions may include the ability to renegotiate and/or re-set the credit spread on the loan with a borrower, and even to declare a default or force the borrower into bankruptcy restructuring if certain criteria are breached. Covenant-lite loans typically still provide lenders with other covenants that restrict a borrower from incurring additional debt or engaging in certain actions. Such covenants can only be breached by an affirmative action of the borrower, rather than by a deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition. Accordingly, a Portfolio may have fewer rights against a borrower when it invests in, or has exposure to, covenant-lite loans and, accordingly, may have a greater risk of loss on such investments as compared to investments in, or exposure to, loans with additional or more conventional covenants.
Credit: A Portfolio could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income instrument in which the Portfolio invests, or the counterparty to a derivative contract the Portfolio entered into, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived (whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services, or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to meet its financial obligations.
Credit (Loans): The value of a Portfolio’ s shares and the Portfolio’ s ability to pay dividends is dependent upon the performance of the assets in its portfolio. Prices of a Portfolio’s investments are likely to fall if the actual or perceived financial health of the borrowers on, or issuers of, such investments deteriorate, whether because of broad economic or issuer-specific reasons, or if the borrower or issuer is late (or defaults) in paying interest or principal .
A Portfolio generally invests in loans that are senior in the capital structure of the borrower or issuer, hold an equal ranking with other senior debt, or have characteristics (such as a senior position secured by liens on a borrower’s assets) that the manager believes justify treatment as senior debt. Loans that are senior and secured generally involve less risk than unsecured or subordinated debt and equity instruments of the same borrower because the payment of
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principal and interest on senior loans is an obligation of the borrower that, in most instances, takes precedence over the payment of dividends, the return of capital to the borrower’s shareholders, and payments to bond holders. Loans that are senior and secured also may have collateral supporting the repayment of the fixed-income instrument. However, the value of the collateral may not equal a Portfolio’s investment when the fixed-income instrument is acquired or may decline below the principal amount of the fixed-income instrument subsequent to the Portfolio’s investment. Also, to the extent that collateral consists of stocks of the borrower, or its subsidiaries or affiliates, a Portfolio bears the risk that the stocks may decline in value, be relatively illiquid, or may lose all or substantially all of their value, causing the Portfolio’s investment to be undercollateralized. Therefore, the liquidation of the collateral underlying a loan in which a Portfolio has invested may not satisfy the borrower’s obligation to the Portfolio in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal, and the collateral may not be able to be readily liquidated. In addition, it is possible that disputes as to the nature or identity of the collateral securing a loan may delay a Portfolio’s ability to realize on the collateral or, if the dispute is resolved adversely to the Portfolio, may prevent the Portfolio from realizing on assets it had considered to constitute collateral.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower or issuer, a Portfolio could experience delays and limitations on its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing the investment. Among the risks involved in a bankruptcy are assertions that the pledge of collateral to secure a loan constitutes a fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfer that would have the effect of nullifying or subordinating a Portfolio’s rights to the collateral.
The loans in which a Portfolio invests are generally rated lower than investment grade credit quality, i.e., rated lower than Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB- by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), or have been made to borrowers who have issued fixed-income instruments that are rated lower than investment grade in quality or, if unrated, would be rated lower than investment grade credit quality. A Portfolio’s investments in lower than investment grade loans will generally be rated at the time of purchase between B3 and Ba1 by Moody’s, B- and BB+ by S&P or, if not rated, would be of similar credit quality.
Lower quality securities (including securities that have fallen below investment grade and are classified as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities”) have greater credit risk and liquidity risk than higher quality (investment grade) securities, and their issuers’ long-term ability to make payments is considered speculative. Prices of lower quality bonds or other fixed-income instruments are also more volatile, are more sensitive to negative news about the economy or the issuer, and have greater liquidity risk and price volatility. Investment decisions are based largely on the credit analysis performed by the manager, and not on rating agency evaluation. This analysis may be difficult to perform. Information about a loan and its borrower generally is not in the public domain. Investors in loans may not be afforded the protections of the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, because loans may not be considered “securities” under such laws. In addition, many borrowers have not issued securities to the public and are not subject to reporting requirements under federal securities laws. Generally, however, borrowers are required to provide financial information to lenders and information may be available from other loan market participants or agents that originate or administer loans.
Credit Default Swaps: A Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps, either as a buyer or a seller of the swap. A buyer of a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the seller an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract until a credit event, such as a default , on a reference obligation has occurred . If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “ par value ” ( full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount if the swap is cash settled. As a seller of a credit default swap, a Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the full notional value of the swap. Credit default swaps are particularly subject to counterparty, credit, valuation, liquidity, and leveraging risks and the risk that the swap may not correlate with its reference obligation as expected. Certain standardized credit default swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity; however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and, in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose a Portfolio to new kinds of costs and risks. In addition, credit default swaps expose a Portfolio to the risk of improper valuation.
Currency: To the extent that a Portfolio invests directly or indirectly 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 Portfolio through foreign currency exchange transactions.
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Currency rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Currency rates may be affected by changes in market interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by the U.S. or foreign (non-U.S.) 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 U.S. or abroad.
Deflation: Deflation occurs when prices throughout the economy decline over time — the opposite of inflation. Unless repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed, when there is deflation, the principal and income of an inflation-protected bond will decline and could result in losses.
Demand for Loans: An increase in demand for loans may benefit a Portfolio by providing increased liquidity for such loans and higher sales prices, but it may also adversely affect the rate of interest payable on such loans and the rights provided to the Portfolio under the terms of the applicable loan agreement, and may increase the price of loans in the secondary market. A decrease in the demand for loans may adversely affect the price of loans in a Portfolio’s portfolio, which could cause the Portfolio’s net asset value to decline and reduce the liquidity of the Portfolio’s loan holdings.
Derivative Instruments: Derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, including the risk of changes in the market price of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index credit risk with respect to the counterparty, risk of loss due to changes in market interest rates, liquidity risk, valuation risk, and volatility risk. The amounts required to purchase certain derivatives may be small relative to the magnitude of exposure assumed by a Portfolio. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have an economic leveraging effect on a Portfolio and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so a Portfolio 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 asset, reference rate, or index being hedged. When used as an alternative or substitute for direct cash investment, the return provided by the derivative may not provide the same return as direct cash investment. Generally, derivatives are sophisticated financial instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the performance of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. Derivatives include, among other things, swap agreements, options, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and futures. Certain derivatives in which a Portfolio may invest may be negotiated over-the-counter with a single counterparty and as a result are subject to credit risks related to the counterparty’s ability or willingness to perform its obligations; any deterioration in the counterparty’s creditworthiness could adversely affect the value of the derivative. In addition, derivatives and their underlying instruments may experience periods of illiquidity which could cause a Portfolio to hold a position it might otherwise sell, or to sell a position it otherwise might hold at an inopportune time or price. A manager might imperfectly judge the direction of the market. For instance, if a derivative is used as a hedge to offset investment risk in another security, the hedge might not correlate to the market’s movements and may have unexpected or undesired results such as a loss or a reduction in gains. The U.S. government has enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting, and registration requirements. The European Union (and other countries outside of the European Union, including the United Kingdom) has implemented similar requirements, which may affect a Portfolio when it enters into a derivatives transaction with a counterparty organized in that country or otherwise subject to that country's derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are relatively new and evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear. Central clearing is expected to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity; however, there is no assurance that it will achieve that result, and, in the meantime, central clearing and related requirements expose a Portfolio to new kinds of costs and risks.
Dividend: Companies that issue dividend yielding equity securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is a possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future. As a result, a Portfolio’s ability to execute its investment strategy may be limited.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Equity): A Sub-Adviser’s consideration of ESG factors in selecting investments for a Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. A Sub-Adviser’s assessment of ESG factors in respect of a company may rely on third party data that might be incorrect or based on incomplete or inaccurate information. There is no minimum percentage of a Portfolio’s assets that will be invested in companies that a Sub-Adviser views favorably in light of ESG factors, and the Sub-Adviser may choose not to invest in companies that compare favorably to other companies on the basis of ESG factors. It is possible that a Portfolio will have less exposure to certain companies due to a Sub-Adviser’s assessment of ESG factors than
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other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an investment selected by a Sub-Adviser, which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential investment, and such an investment may, in fact, underperform other potential investments.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Fixed Income): A Sub-Adviser’s consideration of ESG factors in selecting investments for a Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. A Sub-Adviser’s assessment of ESG factors in respect of obligations of an issuer may rely on third party data that might be incorrect or based on incomplete or inaccurate information. There is no minimum percentage of a Portfolio’s assets that will be invested in obligations of issuers that a Sub-Adviser views favorably in light of ESG factors, and the Sub-Adviser may choose not to invest in obligations of issuers that compare favorably to obligations of other issuers on the basis of ESG factors. It is possible that a Portfolio will have less exposure to obligations of certain issuers due to a Sub-Adviser’s assessment of ESG factors than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an investment selected by a Sub-Adviser, which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential investment, and such an investment may, in fact, underperform other potential investments.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Funds-of-Funds): The Sub-Adviser ’ s consideration of ESG factors in selecting Underlying Funds for investment by a Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no minimum percentage of a Portfolio’s assets that will be allocated to Underlying Funds on the basis of ESG factors, and the Sub - Adviser may choose to select Underlying Funds on the basis of factors or considerations other than ESG factors. It is possible that a Portfolio will have less exposure to ESG-focused strategies than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund selected by the Sub-Adviser, which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential Underlying Fund, and such an Underlying Fund may, in fact, underperform other potential Underlying Funds.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Multi-Manager): The Investment Adviser’s consideration of ESG factors in selecting sub-advisers for a Portfolio is based on information that is not standardized, some of which can be qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no minimum percentage of a Portfolio’s assets that will be allocated to sub-advisers that consider ESG factors as part of their investment processes, and the Investment Adviser may choose to select sub-advisers that do not consider ESG factors as part of their investment processes. It is possible that a Portfolio will have less exposure to ESG-focused strategies than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that a sub-adviser selected by the Investment Adviser, which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential sub-adviser, and such a sub-adviser may, in fact, underperform other potential sub-advisers.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Quantitative): A Sub-Adviser’s consideration of ESG factors in selecting investments for a Portfolio depends on the operation of quantitative methods and models whose design reflects qualitative and subjective judgments of the Sub-Adviser, including reliance on, or incorporation of, data in respect of ESG factors that may rely on third party data that might be incorrect or based on incomplete or inaccurate information. There is no minimum percentage of a Portfolio’s assets that will be invested in companies that a Sub-Adviser views favorably in light of ESG factors, and the Sub-Adviser may not invest in companies that compare favorably to other companies on the basis of ESG factors. It is possible that a Portfolio will have less exposure to certain companies due to a Sub-Adviser’s assessment of ESG factors than other comparable mutual funds. There can be no assurance that an investment selected by a Sub-Adviser, which includes its consideration of ESG factors, will provide more favorable investment performance than another potential investment, and such an investment may, in fact, underperform other potential investments.
Equity Securities Incidental to Investments in Loans: Investments in equity securities incidental to investments in loans entail certain risks in addition to those associated with investments in loans. The value of such equity securities may change more rapidly, and to a greater extent, than fixed-income instruments issued by the same issuer in response to company-specific developments and general market conditions. A Portfolio’s holdings of equity securities may increase fluctuations in the Portfolio’s net asset value. A Portfolio may frequently possess material non-public information about a borrower as a result of its ownership of a loan of such borrower. Because of prohibitions on trading in securities of issuers while in possession of such information, a Portfolio might be unable to enter into a transaction in a security of such a borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so.
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Floating Rate Loans: In the event a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments on a floating rate loan (which can include certain bank loans), a Portfolio will experience a reduction in its income and a decline in the market value of such floating rate loan. If a floating rate loan is held by a Portfolio through another financial institution, or the Portfolio relies upon another financial institution to administer the loan, the receipt of scheduled interest or principal payments may be subject to the credit risk of such financial institution. Investors in floating rate loans may not be afforded the protections of the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, because loans may not be considered “securities” under such laws. Additionally, the value of collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline or may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations under the loan, and such collateral may be difficult to liquidate. No active trading market may exist for many floating rate loans and many floating rate loans are subject to restrictions on resale. Transactions in loans typically settle on a delayed basis and may take longer than 7 days to settle. As a result, a Portfolio may not receive the proceeds from a sale of a floating rate loan for a significant period of time. Delay in the receipts of settlement proceeds may impair the ability of a Portfolio to meet its redemption obligations, and may limit the ability of the Portfolio to repay debt, pay dividends, or to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Focused Investing: To the extent that a Portfolio invests a substantial portion of its assets in securities of a particular industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area, the Portfolio may be more sensitive to financial, economic, business, political, regulatory, and other developments and conditions, including natural or other disasters, affecting issuers in a particular industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area in which the Portfolio focuses its investments, and if securities of such industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area fall out of favor, the Portfolio could underperform, or be more volatile than, a fund that has greater diversification.
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Health Care Sector: Investments in companies involved in the health care sector are strongly affected by worldwide scientific or technological developments. Products sold by companies in the health care sector may rapidly become obsolete and are also often dependent on access to resources and the company’s ability to receive patents from regulatory agencies. Many health care companies also are subject to significant government regulation and may be affected by changes in governmental policies. As a result, investments in health care companies include the risk that the economic prospects, and the share prices, of such companies can fluctuate dramatically.
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Technology Sector: Investments in companies involved in the technology sector are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as aggressive pricing of products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share, short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments, evolving industry standards, changing customer demands, and the potential for limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. The failure of a company to adapt to such changes could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition. These companies also face the risks that new services, equipment, or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. These factors can affect the profitability of these companies and, as a result, the values of their securities. Many companies involved in the technology sector have limited operating histories, and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than those of many other companies’ securities, especially over the short term.
Focused Investing (Index): To the extent that a Portfolio’s benchmark or other index is substantially composed of securities in a particular industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area, the Portfolio may allocate its investments to approximately the same extent as the index as part of its investment strategy. As a result, a Portfolio may be more sensitive to financial, economic, business, political, regulatory, and other developments and conditions, including natural or other disasters, affecting issuers in a particular industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area in which the Portfolio focuses its investments, and if securities of such industry, sector, market segment, or geographic area fall out of favor, the Portfolio could underperform, or be more volatile than, a fund that has greater diversification.
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Consumer Sectors: Investments in companies involved in the consumer sectors may be affected by changes in the domestic and international economies, exchange rates, competition, consumers’ disposable income, and consumer preferences.
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Financial Services Sector: Investments in the financial services sector may be subject to credit risk, interest rate risk, and regulatory risk, among others. Banks and other financial institutions can be affected by such factors as downturns in the U.S. and foreign economies and general economic cycles, fiscal and monetary policy (including the effects of changes in interest rates), adverse developments in the real estate market, the deterioration or failure of other financial institutions, and changes in banking or securities regulations.
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Health Care Sector: Investments in companies involved in the health care sector are strongly affected by worldwide scientific or technological developments. Products sold by companies in the health care sector may rapidly become obsolete and are also often dependent on access to resources and the company’s ability to receive patents from regulatory agencies. Many health care companies also are subject to significant government regulation and may be affected by changes in governmental policies. As a result, investments in health care companies include the risk that the economic prospects, and the share prices, of such companies can fluctuate dramatically.
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Materials Sector: Companies involved in the materials sector includes companies in the following industry groups: forestry and paper, chemicals, industrial metals, and mining. Investments in companies involved in the materials sector may be adversely impacted by changes in commodity prices or exchange rates, depletion of resources, over-production, litigation, and government regulations, among other factors. The chemicals industry may be significantly affected by intense competition, product obsolescence, raw materials prices, and government regulation, and may be subject to risks associated with the production, handling, disposal of hazardous components, and litigation and claims arising out of environmental contamination.
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Technology Sector: Investments in companies involved in the technology sector are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as aggressive pricing of products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share, short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments, evolving industry standards, changing customer demands, and the potential for limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. The failure of a company to adapt to such changes could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition. These companies also face the risks that new services, equipment, or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. These factors can affect the profitability of these companies and, as a result, the values of their securities. Many companies involved in the technology sector have limited operating histories, and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than those of many other companies’ securities, especially over the short term.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments/Developing and Emerging Markets: To the extent a Portfolio invests in securities of issuers in markets outside the U.S., its share price may be more volatile than if it invested in securities of issuers in the U.S. market due to, among other things, the following factors: comparatively unstable political, social and economic conditions and limited or ineffectual judicial systems; wars; comparatively small market sizes, making securities less liquid and securities prices more sensitive to the movements of large investors and more vulnerable to manipulation; governmental policies or actions, such as high taxes, restrictions on currency movements, replacement of currency, potential for default on sovereign debt, trade or diplomatic disputes, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the U.S. or other governments and supranational organizations, creation of monopolies, and seizure of private property through confiscatory taxation and expropriation or nationalization of company assets; incomplete, outdated, or unreliable information about securities issuers due to less stringent market regulation and accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices; comparatively undeveloped markets and weak banking and financial systems; market inefficiencies, such as higher transaction costs, and administrative difficulties, such as delays in processing transactions; and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which could reduce gains or widen losses.
Economic or other sanctions imposed on a foreign (non-U.S.) country or issuer by the U.S. or on the U.S. by a foreign (non-U.S.) country, could impair a Portfolio's ability to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver, or otherwise transact in certain securities. In addition, foreign withholding or other taxes could reduce the income available to distribute to shareholders, and special U.S. tax considerations could apply to foreign (non-U.S.) investments. Depositary receipts are subject to risks of foreign (non-U.S.) investments and might not always track the price of the underlying foreign (non-U.S.) security. Markets and economies throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions or events in one market, country, or region may adversely impact investments or issuers in another market, country, or region.
Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risks may be greater in developing and emerging markets than in developed markets, for such reasons as social or political unrest, heavy economic dependence on international aid, agriculture or exports (particularly commodities), undeveloped or overburdened infrastructures and legal systems, vulnerability to natural disasters, significant and unpredictable government intervention in markets or the economy, volatile currency exchange rates, currency devaluations, runaway inflation, business practices that depart from norms for developed countries, and generally less developed or liquid markets. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign (non-U.S.) countries. Investors
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in foreign (non-U.S.) countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign (non-U.S.) issuers or persons is limited.
In March 2017, the United Kingdom (“UK”) formally notified the European Council of its intention to leave the EU and on January 31, 2020 withdrew from the EU (commonly known as “Brexit”). On December 30, 2020, the UK voted in favor of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The agreement governs the new relationship between the UK and the EU with respect to trading goods and services but critical aspects of the relationship remain unresolved and subject to further negotiation and agreement. Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. There is considerable uncertainty about the potential consequences of Brexit and how the financial markets will react. As this process unfolds, markets may be further disrupted. Given the size and importance of the UK’s economy, uncertainty about its legal, political, and economic relationship with the remaining member states of the EU may continue to be a source of instability.
In addition, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”) could cause securities of a foreign (non-U.S.) company, including American Depositary Receipts, to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges if the company does not allow the U.S. government to oversee the auditing of its financial information. Although the requirements of the HFCAA apply to securities of all foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, the SEC has thus far limited its enforcement efforts to securities of Chinese companies. If securities are delisted, a Portfolio’s ability to transact in such securities will be impaired, and the liquidity and market price of the securities may decline. A Portfolio may also need to seek other markets in which to transact in such securities, which could increase the Portfolio’s costs.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments for Floating Rate Loans: To the extent a Portfolio invests in fixed-income instruments of borrowers in markets outside the U.S., its share price may be more volatile than if it invested in fixed-income instruments of borrowers in the U.S. market due to, among other things, the following factors: comparatively unstable political, social and economic conditions and limited or ineffectual judicial systems; wars; comparatively small market sizes, making loans less liquid and loan prices more sensitive to the movements of large investors and more vulnerable to manipulation; governmental policies or actions, such as high taxes, restrictions on currency movements, replacement of currency, potential for default on sovereign debt, trade or diplomatic disputes, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the U.S. or other governments and supranational organizations, creation of monopolies, and seizure of private property through confiscatory taxation and expropriation or nationalization of company assets; incomplete, outdated, or unreliable information about borrowers due to less stringent market regulation and accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices; comparatively undeveloped markets and weak banking and financial systems; market inefficiencies, such as higher transaction costs, and administrative difficulties, such as delays in processing transactions; and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which could reduce gains or widen losses. Economic or other sanctions imposed on a foreign (non-U.S.) country or borrower by the U.S., or on the U.S. by a foreign (non-U.S.) country, could impair a Portfolio’s ability to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver, or otherwise transact in certain fixed-income instruments. In addition, foreign withholding or other taxes could reduce the income available to distribute to shareholders, and special U.S. tax considerations could apply to foreign (non-U.S.) investments. Depositary receipts are subject to risks of foreign (non-U.S.) investments and might not always track the price of the underlying foreign (non-U.S.) security. Markets and economies throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions or events in one market, country or region may adversely impact investments or issuers in another market, country or region.
Growth Investing: Prices of growth -oriented stocks are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuer ’s growth potential and may fall quickly and significantly if investors suspect that actual growth may be less than expected. There is a risk that funds that invest in growth-oriented stocks may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Growth-oriented stocks tend to be more volatile than value-oriented stocks, and may underperform the market as a whole over any given time period. Growth-oriented stocks typically sell at relatively high valuations as compared to other types of securities. Securities of growth companies may be more volatile than other stocks because they usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, and they may lack the dividends of value-oriented stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. The market may not favor growth-oriented stocks or may not favor equities at all. In addition, earnings disappointments may lead to sharply falling prices because investors buy growth-oriented stocks in anticipation of superior earnings growth. Historically, growth-oriented stocks have been more volatile than value-oriented stocks.
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High-Yield Securities: Lower - quality securities (including securities that have fallen below investment grade and are classified as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities”) have greater credit risk and liquidity risk than higher-quality (investment grade) securities, and their issuers' long-term ability to make payments is considered speculative. Prices of lower-quality bonds or other fixed-income instruments are also more volatile, are more sensitive to negative news about the economy or the issuer, and have greater liquidity risk and price volatility.
Index Strategy (Funds-of-Funds): An Underlying Fund (or a portion of the Underlying Fund) that seeks to track an index’s performance and does not use defensive strategies or attempt to reduce its exposure to poor performing securities in an index may underperform the overall market (each, an “Underlying Index Fund”). To the extent an Underlying Index Fund’s investments track its target index, such Underlying Index Fund may underperform other funds that invest more broadly. Errors in index data, index computations or the construction of the index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the index provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on a Portfolio. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance may be affected by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund's shares. The correlation between an Underlying Index Fund’s performance and index performance will be reduced by the Underlying Index Fund’s expenses and could be reduced by the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Underlying Index Fund’s shares. In addition, an Underlying Index Fund’s actual holdings might not match the index and an Underlying Index Fund’s effective exposure to index securities at any given time may not precisely correlate. When deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager may not select the Underlying Index Fund with the lowest expenses. In particular, when deciding between Underlying Index Funds benchmarked to the same index, the manager will generally select an affiliated Underlying Index Fund, even when the affiliated Underlying Index Fund has higher expenses than an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund. When a Portfolio invests in an affiliated Underlying Index Fund with higher expenses, the Portfolio’s performance will be lower than if the Portfolio had invested in an Underlying Index Fund with comparable performance but lower expenses (although any expense limitation arrangements in place at the time might have the effect of limiting or eliminating the amount of that underperformance). The manager may select an unaffiliated Underlying Index Fund, including an ETF, over an affiliated Underlying Index Fund benchmarked to the same index when the manager believes making an investment in the affiliated Underlying Index Fund would be disadvantageous to the affiliated Underlying Index Fund, such as when a Portfolio is investing on a short-term basis.
Index Strategy for Voya Emerging Markets Index Portfolio: In addition, compliance with sanctions imposed by the U.S. or other governments against certain Russian issuers whose securities are included in the Portfolio’s index may impair the Portfolio’s ability to purchase, sell, receive, deliver or obtain exposure to those securities, and may interfere with the Portfolio’s ability to track its index.
Inflation-Indexed Bonds: If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently, the interest payable on these bonds (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. In addition, inflation-indexed bonds are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed-income instruments, such as interest rate and credit risk. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.
Initial Public Offerings: Investments in IPOs and companies that have recently gone public have the potential to produce substantial gains for a Portfolio. However, there is no assurance that a Portfolio will have access to profitable IPOs or that the IPOs in which the Portfolio invests will rise in value. Furthermore, the value of securities of newly public companies may decline in value shortly after the IPO. When a Portfolio’s asset base is small, the impact of such investments on the Portfolio’s return will be magnified. If a Portfolio’s assets grow, it is likely that the effect of the Portfolio’s investment in IPOs on the Portfolio’s return will decline.
Interest in Loans: The value and the income streams of interests in loans (including participation interests in lease financings and assignments in secured variable or floating rate loans) will decline if borrowers delay payments or fail to pay altogether. A significant rise in market interest rates could increase this risk. Although loans may be fully collateralized when purchased, such collateral may become illiquid or decline in value.
Interest Rate: A rise in market interest rates generally results in a fall in the value of bonds and other fixed-income instruments; conversely, values generally rise as market interest rates fall. The higher the credit quality of the instrument, and the longer its maturity or duration, the more sensitive it is to changes in market interest rates. Duration is a measure of sensitivity of the price of a fixed-income instrument to a change in interest rate. As of the date of this
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Prospectus, the U.S. is experiencing a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase a Portfolio’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. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in fixed-income instruments, an increase in market interest rates may lead to increased redemptions and increased portfolio turnover, which could reduce liquidity for certain investments, adversely affect values, and increase costs. Increased redemptions may cause a Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. If dealer capacity in fixed-income markets is insufficient for market conditions, it may further inhibit liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income markets. Further, recent and potential future changes in government policy may affect interest rates. Negative or very low interest rates could magnify the risks associated with changes in interest rates. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility. Changes to monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity, and reduced liquidity, which may impact a Portfolio’s operations and return potential.
Interest Rate for Floating Rate Loans: Changes in short-term market interest rates will directly affect the yield on the shares of a Portfolio whose portfolio is normally invested in floating rate loans. If short-term market interest rates fall, the yield on a Portfolio’s shares will also fall. To the extent that the interest rate spreads on loans in a Portfolio’s portfolio experience a general decline, the yield on the Portfolio’s shares will fall and the value of the Portfolio’s assets may decrease, which will cause the Portfolio’s net asset value to decrease. Conversely, when short-term market interest rates rise, because of the lag between changes in such short-term rates and the resetting of the floating rates on assets in a Portfolio’s portfolio, the impact of rising rates will be delayed to the extent of such lag. The impact of market interest rate changes on a Portfolio’s yield will also be affected by whether, and the extent to which, the floating rate loans in the Portfolio’s portfolio is subject to floors on the LIBOR base rate on which interest is calculated for such loans (a “LIBOR floor”). So long as the base rate for a loan remains under the LIBOR floor, changes in short-term market interest rates will not affect the yield on such loans. In addition, to the extent that changes in market interest rates are reflected not in a change to a base rate such as LIBOR but in a change in the spread over the base rate which is payable on the floating rate loans of the type and quality in which a Portfolio invests, the Portfolio’s net asset value could also be adversely affected. 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 Prospectus, the U.S. is in a rising market interest rate environment, which may increase a Portfolio’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. Increased redemptions may cause a Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so and may lower returns. 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 future changes in government policy may affect interest rates.
Investment Model: A Sub-Adviser’s proprietary model may not adequately take into account existing or unforeseen market factors or the interplay between such factors, and there is no guarantee that the use of the investment model will result in effective investment decisions for a Portfolio. Proprietary models used by a Sub-Adviser to evaluate securities or securities markets are based on the Sub-Adviser’s understanding of the interplay of market factors and do not assure successful investment. The markets, or the price of individual securities, may be affected by factors not foreseen in the construction of the models. Volatility management techniques may not always be successful in reducing volatility, may not protect against market declines, and may limit a Portfolio’s participation in market gains, negatively impacting performance even during periods when the market is rising. During sudden or significant market rallies, such underperformance may be significant. Moreover, volatility management strategies may increase portfolio transaction costs, which may increase losses or reduce gains. A Portfolio’s volatility may not be lower than that of the Portfolio’s Index during all market cycles due to market factors. Portfolios that are actively managed, in whole or in part, according to a quantitative investment model can perform differently from the market, based on the investment model and the factors used in the analysis, the weight placed on each factor, and changes from the factors’ historical trends. Mistakes in the construction and implementation of the investment models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues) may create errors or limitations that might go undetected or are discovered only after the errors or limitations have negatively impacted performance.
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Issuer Non-Diversification: A non-diversified investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. Portfolios that are non-diversified may invest a greater percentage of their assets in the securities of a single issuer (such as bonds issued by a particular state) than funds that are diversified and could underperform compared to such funds. Even though classified as non-diversified, a Portfolio may actually maintain a portfolio that is diversified with a large number of issuers. In such an event, a Portfolio would benefit less from appreciation in a single issuer than if it had greater exposure to that issuer.
Limited Secondary Market for Floating Rate Loans: Although the re-sale, or secondary market, for floating rate loans has grown substantially in recent years, both in overall size and number of market participants, there is no organized exchange or board of trade on which floating rate loans are traded. Instead, the secondary market for floating rate loans is a private, unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank re-sale market. Transactions in loans typically settle on a delayed basis and typically take longer than 7 days to settle. As a result a Portfolio may not receive the proceeds from a sale of a floating rate loan for a significant period of time. Delay in the receipts of settlement proceeds may impair the ability of a Portfolio to meet its redemption obligations and may increase amounts the Portfolio may be required to borrow. It may also limit the ability of a Portfolio to repay debt, pay dividends, or take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Floating rate loans usually trade in large denominations. Trades can be infrequent, and the market for floating rate loans may experience substantial volatility. In addition, the market for floating rate loans has limited transparency so that information about actual trades may be difficult to obtain. Accordingly, some of the floating rate loans will be relatively illiquid.
In addition, the floating rate loans may require the consent of the borrower and/or the agent prior to sale or assignment. These consent requirements can delay or impede a Portfolio’s ability to sell floating rate loans and can adversely affect the price that can be obtained.
These considerations may cause a Portfolio to sell floating rate loans at lower prices than it would otherwise consider to meet cash needs or cause the Portfolio to maintain a greater portion of its assets in money market instruments than it would otherwise, which could negatively impact performance. A Portfolio may seek to avoid the necessity of selling assets to meet redemption requests or liquidity needs by the use of borrowings. Such borrowings, even though they are for the purpose of satisfying redemptions or meeting liquidity needs and not to generate leveraged returns, nevertheless would produce leverage and the risks that are inherent in leverage. However, there can be no assurance that sales of floating rate loans at such lower prices can be avoided.
From time to time, the occurrence of one or more of the considerations described above may create a cascading effect where the market for fixed-income instruments (including the market for floating rate loans) first experiences volatility and then decreased liquidity. Such conditions, or other similar conditions, may then adversely affect the value of floating rate loans and other instruments, widening spreads against higher-quality fixed-income instruments, and making it harder to sell floating rate loans at prices at which they have historically or recently traded, thereby further reducing liquidity. For example, during the global financial crisis in the second half of 2008, the average price of loans in the Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index declined by 32% (which included a decline of 3.06% on a single day). Additionally, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the same index declined by 12.37% in March 2020 (which included a decline of 3.74% on a single day).
Declines in net asset value or other market developments (which could be more severe than these prior declines) may lead to increased redemptions, which could cause a Portfolio to have to sell floating rate loans and other instruments at disadvantageous prices and inhibit the ability of the Portfolio to retain its assets in the hope of greater stabilization in the secondary markets. In addition, these or similar circumstances could cause a Portfolio to sell its highest quality and most liquid floating rate loans and other investments in order to satisfy an initial wave of redemptions while leaving the Portfolio with a remaining portfolio of lower-quality and less liquid investments. In anticipation of such circumstances, a Portfolio may also need to maintain a larger portion of its assets in liquid instruments than usual. However, there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will foresee the need to maintain greater liquidity or that actual efforts to maintain a larger portion of assets in liquid investments would successfully mitigate the foregoing risks.
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As of the date of this Prospectus, a Portfolio has entered into a line of credit under which it may borrow money from time to time. The amount of available borrowing under the line of credit reflects such factors as , among other things, the investment adviser’s expectations as to the liquidity of a Portfolio ’s portfolio and settlement times for the loans held by the Portfolio, as well as anticipated growth in the size of the Portfolio . The cost of maintaining the line of credit will reduce a Portfolio’s investment return .
Liquidity: If a security is illiquid, a Portfolio might be unable to sell the security at a time when the Portfolio’s manager might wish to sell, or at all. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid securities, exposing a Portfolio to the risk that the prices at which it sells illiquid securities will be less than the prices at which they were valued when held by a Portfolio, which could cause the Portfolio to lose money. The prices of illiquid securities may be more volatile than more liquid securities, and the risks associated with illiquid securities may be greater in times of financial stress.
Liquidity for Floating Rate Loans: If a loan is illiquid , a Portfolio might be unable to sell the loan at a time when the manager might wish to sell, or at all. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid loans , exposing a Portfolio to the risk that the price at which it sells loans will be less than the price at which they were valued when held by the Portfolio. The risks associated with illiquid securities may be greater in times of financial stress. A Portfolio could lose money if it cannot sell a loan at the time and price that would be most beneficial to the Portfolio.
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate: The obligations of the parties under many financial arrangements, such as fixed-income instruments (including senior loans) and derivatives, may be determined based, in whole or in part, on the London Inter-Bank 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. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis 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 many major currencies, including for example, the Secured Overnight Funding Rate ( “ SOFR ” ) for U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market. SOFR is published in various forms, including as a daily, compounded, and forward-looking term rate. The discontinuance of LIBOR and the 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 a Portfolio’s existing investments, including the possibility that some of those investments may terminate or their terms may be adjusted to the disadvantage of the Portfolio; and the risk of general market disruption during the transition period. Markets relying on alternative rates are developing slowly and may offer limited liquidity. The general unavailability of LIBOR and the transition away from LIBOR to alternative rates could have a substantial adverse impact on the performance of a Portfolio.
Market: The market values of securities will fluctuate , sometimes sharply and unpredictably , based on overall economic conditions, governmental actions or intervention, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors , political developments, and other factors . Prices of equity securities tend to rise and fall more dramatically than those of fixed- income instruments. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax policies or developments may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of a Portfolio to achieve its investment objectives.
Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories : large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in large-capitalization companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with large-capitalization companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns.
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Market Disruption and Geopolitical: A Portfolio 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 Portfolio’s investments, including beyond the Portfolio’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. In March 2023, a number of U.S. domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks 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 a Portfolio’s investments. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of a Portfolio and of the Portfolio’s service providers.
Mid-Capitalization Company: Investments in mid- capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, smaller size, limited markets, and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth, and more reliance on key personnel. Consequently, the securities of mid-capitalization companies may have limited market stability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.
Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of, the underlying assets of the asset-backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets, and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of fixed-income instruments. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain asset-backed securities. The value of longer-term securities generally changes more in response to changes in market interest rates than shorter-term securities.
These securities may be affected significantly by government regulation, market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of an issuer servicer, and loan-to-value ratio of the underlying assets. During an economic downturn, the mortgages, commercial or consumer loans, trade or credit card receivables, installment purchase obligations, leases, or other debt obligations underlying an asset-backed security may experience an increase in defaults as borrowers experience difficulties in repaying their loans which may cause the valuation of such securities to be more volatile and may reduce the value of such securities. These risks are particularly heightened for investments in asset-backed securities that contain sub-prime loans, which are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories and often have higher default rates.
Municipal Obligations: The municipal securities market is volatile and can be affected significantly by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Among other risks, investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that an issuer may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Municipal revenue obligations may be backed by the revenues generated from a specific project or facility and include industrial development bonds and private activity bonds. Private activity and industrial development bonds are dependent on the ability of the facility’s user to meet its financial obligations and the value of any real or personal property pledged as security for such payment. Many municipal securities are issued to finance projects relating to education, health care, transportation, and utilities. Conditions in those sectors
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may affect the overall municipal securities market. In addition, municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset may be adversely affected by the discontinuance of the taxation supporting the project or asset or the inability to collect revenues from the project or asset. If an issuer of a municipal security does not comply with applicable tax requirements for tax-exempt status, interest from the security may become taxable, and the security could decline in value.
Non-Diversification (Index): Depending on the composition of the Index, a Portfolio may at any time, with respect to 75% of a Portfolio’s total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer. As a result, a Portfolio would at that time be non-diversified, as defined in the 1940 Act. A non-diversified investment company may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than may a diversified investment company. A non-diversified investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. A Portfolio may significantly underperform other mutual funds or investments due to the poor performance of relatively few securities, or even a single security, and a Portfolio’s shares may experience significant fluctuations in value.
Option Writing: When a Portfolio writes a covered call option on a security, it assumes the risk that it must sell the underlying security at an exercise price that may be lower than the market price of the security, and it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price. In addition, a Portfolio continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security.
When a Portfolio writes an index call option, it assumes the risk that it must pay the purchaser of the option a cash payment equal to any appreciation in the value of the index over the strike price of the call option during the option’s term. While the amount of a Portfolio’s potential loss is offset by the premium received when the option was written, the amount of the loss is theoretically unlimited. When writing a covered call option, a Portfolio may be unable to sell the underlying security during the term of the option, including to take advantage of new investment opportunities. If a covered call option written by a Portfolio expires unexercised, the Portfolio will realize a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written; however, in return for the premium received, a Portfolio gives up the opportunity to profit from any price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price during the term of the option, and, as long as its obligation under such call option continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline.
There can be no assurances that the option strategy will be effective and that a Portfolio will be able to exercise a transaction at a desirable price and time.
Other Investment Companies: The main risk of investing in other investment companies, including ETFs , is the risk that the value of an investment company’s underlying investments might decrease. Shares of investment companies that are listed on an exchange may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset value. You will pay a proportionate share of the expenses of those other investment companies (including management fees, administration fees, and custodial fees) in addition to a Portfolio’s expenses. The investment policies of the other investment companies may not be the same as those of a Portfolio; as a result, an investment in the other investment companies may be subject to additional or different risks than those to which a Portfolio is typically subject. ETFs are exchange-traded investment companies that are, in many cases, designed to provide investment results corresponding to an index. Additional risks of investments in ETFs include that: (i) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (ii) trading may be halted if the listing exchanges’ officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from an exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts trading of an ETF’s shares. Other investment companies include Holding Company Depositary Receipts (“HOLDRs”). Because HOLDRs concentrate in the stocks of a particular industry, trends in that industry may have a dramatic impact on their value. In addition, shares of ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value and are subject to secondary market trading risks. Secondary markets may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads, and extended trade settlement periods in times of market stress because market makers and authorized participants may step away from making a market in an ETF’s shares, which could cause a material decline in the ETF’s net asset value.
Prepayment and Extension: Many types of fixed-income instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This risk is heightened in a falling market interest rate environment. Prepayment may expose a Portfolio to a lower
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rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a fixed-income instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This risk is heightened in a rising market interest rate environment. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the fixed-income instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, a Portfolio may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Loans typically have a 6-12 month call protection and may be prepaid partially or in full after the call protection period without penalty.
Real Estate Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts: Investing in real estate companies and REITs may subject a Portfolio to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, overbuilding, high foreclosure rates, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, wars, or other acts that destroy real property. Some REITs may invest in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area or in a single property type, which increases the risk that a Portfolio could be unfavorably affected by the poor performance of a single investment or investment type. These companies are also sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values and property taxes, market interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, supply and demand, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Borrowers could default on or sell investments the REIT holds, which could reduce the cash flow needed to make distributions to investors. In addition, REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements in that a REIT may not qualify for favorable tax treatment or regulatory exemptions. Investments in REITs are affected by the management skill of the REIT’s sponsor. A Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests.
Repurchase Agreements: In the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations, a Portfolio would generally seek to sell the underlying security serving as collateral for the repurchase agreement. However, the value of collateral may be insufficient to satisfy the counterparty's obligation and/or a Portfolio may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the security, which could result in a loss. In addition, if a Portfolio is characterized by a court as an unsecured creditor, it would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest involved in the transaction.
Restricted Securities: Securities that are not registered for sale to the public under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are referred to as “restricted securities.” These securities may be sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may be neither listed on an exchange nor traded in other established markets, and often, these securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. The price realized from the sale of these securities could be less than the amount originally paid or less than their fair value if they are resold in privately negotiated transactions. In addition, these securities may not be subject to disclosure and other investment protection requirements that are afforded to publicly traded securities. Certain investments may include investment in smaller, less seasoned issuers, which may involve greater risk.
Securities Lending: Securities lending involves two primary risks: “ investment risk ” and “ borrower default risk. ” When lending securities, a Portfolio will receive cash or U.S. government securities as collateral. Investment risk is the risk that a Portfolio will lose money from the investment of the cash collateral received from the borrower. Borrower default risk is the risk that a Portfolio will lose money due to the failure of a borrower to return a borrowed security. Securities lending may result in leverage. The use of leverage may exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value, causing a Portfolio to be more volatile. The use of leverage may increase expenses and increase the impact of a Portfolio’s other risks.
A Portfolio seeks to minimize investment risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high-quality instruments of short maturity. In the event of a borrower default, a Portfolio will be protected to the extent the Portfolio is able to exercise its rights in the collateral promptly and the value of such collateral is sufficient to purchase replacement securities. A Portfolio is protected by its securities lending agent, which has agreed to indemnify the Portfolio from losses resulting from borrower default.
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Small-Capitalization Company: Investments in small-capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, small size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth and more reliance on key personnel. The securities of small-capitalization companies are subject to liquidity risk as they are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in volumes typically seen on national securities exchanges.
Sovereign Debt: Sovereign debt is issued or guaranteed by foreign (non-U.S.) government entities. Investments in sovereign debt are subject to the risk that a government entity may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, social changes, the relative size of its debt position to its economy, or its failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a government entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting amounts owed on sovereign debt that a government does not pay.
U.S. Government Securities and Obligations: U.S. government securities are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government, its agencies, or government-sponsored enterprises. U.S. government securities are subject to market risk and interest rate risk, and may be subject to varying degrees of credit risk. Some U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and are guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the U.S. Treasury. These include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury such as U.S. Treasury notes, bills, and bonds, as well as indirect obligations including certain securities of the Government National Mortgage Association, the Small Business Administration, and the Farmers Home Administration, among others. Other U.S. government securities are not direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, but rather are backed by the ability to borrow directly from the U.S. Treasury, including certain securities of the Federal Financing Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and the U.S. Postal Service. Other U.S. government securities are backed solely by the credit of the agency or instrumentality itself and are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government and, therefore, involve greater risk. These include securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Federal Farm Credit Bank, among others. Consequently, the investor must look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to such agencies if it is not obligated to do so by law. The impact of greater governmental scrutiny into the operations of certain agencies and government-sponsored enterprises may adversely affect the value of securities issued by these entities. U.S. government securities may be subject to price declines due to changing market interest rates. From time to time, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling could increase the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities, cause the credit rating of the U.S. government to be downgraded, increase volatility in the stock and bond markets, result in higher interest rates, reduce prices of U.S. Treasury securities, and/or increase the costs of various kinds of debt. If a U.S. government-sponsored entity is negatively impacted by legislative or regulatory action (or lack thereof), is unable to meet its obligations, or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a Portfolio that holds securities of the entity will be adversely impacted.
Underlying Funds: Because a Portfolio invests primarily in Underlying Funds, the investment performance of a Portfolio is directly related to the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. When a Portfolio invests in an Underlying Fund, it is exposed indirectly to the risks of a direct investment in the Underlying Fund. If a Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in a single Underlying Fund, it may be more susceptible to risks associated with that Underlying Fund and its investments than if it invested in a broader range of Underlying Funds. It is possible that more than one Underlying Fund will hold securities of the same issuers, thereby increasing a Portfolio’s indirect exposure to those issuers. It also is possible that one Underlying Fund may be selling a particular security when another is buying it, producing little or no change in exposure but generating transaction costs and/or resulting in realization of gains with no economic benefit. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of any Underlying Fund will be achieved. In addition, a Portfolio’s shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ fees and expenses, in addition to the fees and expenses of a Portfolio itself.
Valuation of Loans: A Portfolio values its assets every day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading. However, because the secondary market for floating rate loans is limited, it may be difficult to value loans, exposing a Portfolio to the risk that the price at which it sells loans will be less than the price at which they were valued when held by the Portfolio. Reliable market value quotations may not be readily available for some loans, and determining the fair valuation of such loans may require more research than for securities that trade in a more active secondary
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market. In addition, elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation of loans than for more securities that trade in a more developed secondary market because there is less reliable, objective market value data available. If a Portfolio purchases a relatively large portion of a loan, the limitations of the secondary market may inhibit the Portfolio from selling a portion of the loan and reducing its exposure to a borrower when the manager deems it advisable to do so. Even if a Portfolio itself does not own a relatively large portion of a particular loan, the Portfolio, in combination with other similar accounts under management by the same portfolio managers, may own large portions of loans. The aggregate amount of holdings could create similar risks if and when the portfolio managers decide to sell those loans. These risks could include, for example, the risk that the sale of an initial portion of the loan could be at a price lower than the price at which the loan was valued by a Portfolio, the risk that the initial sale could adversely impact the price at which additional portions of the loan are sold, and the risk that the foregoing events could warrant a reduced valuation being assigned to the remaining portion of the loan still owned by the Portfolio.
Value Investing: Securities that appear to be undervalued may never appreciate to the extent expected. Further, because the prices of value-oriented securities tend to correlate more closely with economic cycles than growth-oriented securities, they generally are more sensitive to changing economic conditions, such as changes in market interest rates, corporate earnings and industrial production. The manager may be wrong in its assessment of a company’s value and the securities a Portfolio holds may not reach their full values. Risks associated with value investing include that a security that is perceived by the manager to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced and, thus, may not appreciate and provide anticipated capital growth. The market may not favor value-oriented securities and may not favor equities at all. During those periods, a Portfolio’s relative performance may suffer. There is a risk that funds that invest in value-oriented securities may underperform other funds that invest more broadly.
When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions: When-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions involve the risk that the security a Portfolio buys will lose value prior to its delivery. These transactions may result in leverage. The use of leverage may exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value, causing a Portfolio to be more volatile. The use of leverage may increase expenses and increase the impact of a Portfolio’s other risks. There also is the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other party will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, a Portfolio loses both the investment opportunity for the assets it set aside to pay for the security and any gain in the security’s price.
Zero-Coupon Bonds and Pay-in-Kind Securities: Zero-coupon bonds and pay-in-kind securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in price due to market interest rate changes than conventional interest-bearing securities. A Portfolio may have to pay out the imputed income on zero-coupon bonds without receiving the actual cash currency, resulting in a loss.
Further Information About Principal Risks
The following provides additional information about certain aspects of the principal risks described above.
Counterparty: The entity with which a Portfolio conducts portfolio-related business (such as trading or securities lending), or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees investments or agreements that the Portfolio owns or is otherwise exposed to, may refuse or may become unable to honor its obligations under the terms of a transaction or agreement. As a result, the Portfolio may sustain losses and be less likely to achieve its investment objective. These risks may be greater when engaging in over-the-counter transactions or when a Portfolio conducts business with a limited number of counterparties.
Duration: One measure of risk for fixed-income instruments is duration. Duration measures the sensitivity of a bond’s price to market interest rate movements and is one of the tools used by a portfolio manager in selecting fixed-income instruments. Duration measures the average life of a bond on a present value basis by incorporating into one measure a bond’s yield, coupons, final maturity and call features. As a point of reference, the duration of a non-callable 7% coupon bond with a remaining maturity of 5 years is approximately 4.5 years and the duration of a non-callable 7% coupon bond with a remaining maturity of 10 years is approximately 8 years. Material changes in market interest rates may impact the duration calculation. For example, the price of a bond with an average duration of 5 years would be expected to fall approximately 5% if market interest rates rose by 1%. Conversely, the price of a bond with an average duration of 5 years would be expected to rise approximately 5% if market interest rates dropped by 1%.
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Inflation: Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from a Portfolio's investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the value of a Portfolio’s portfolio could decline. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors and a Portfolio's investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to the Portfolio’s investors or adversely affect the value of shareholders' investments in the Portfolio. Inflation has recently increased, and it cannot be predicted whether it may decline.
Investment by Other Funds: Certain funds -of-funds, including some Voya mutual funds, may be allowed to invest in the Underlying Funds. In some cases, an Underlying Fund may serve as a primary or significant investment vehicle for a fund-of-funds. If investments by these other funds result in large inflows of cash to or outflows of cash from the Underlying Fund, the Underlying Fund could be required to sell securities or invest cash at times, or in ways, that could, among other things, negatively impact its performance, speed the realization of capital gains, increase its portfolio turnover, affect the liquidity of its portfolio, or increase transaction costs. Certain investments by funds-of-funds in an Underlying Fund may limit the ability of the Underlying Fund to invest in other investment companies , including private funds. The risks described above will be greater to the extent that one or a few shareholders own a significant portion of the Underlying Fund.
Leverage: Certain transactions and investment strategies may give rise to leverage. Such transactions and investment strategies include, but are not limited to: borrowing, dollar rolls, reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities, short sales, and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions. The use of certain derivatives may also increase leveraging risk and, in some cases, adverse changes in the value or level of a derivative’s underlying asset, rate, or index may result in potentially unlimited losses. The use of leverage may exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset value, causing a Portfolio to be more volatile than if the Portfolio had not been leveraged. The use of leverage may increase expenses and increase the impact of a Portfolio’s other risks. The use of leverage may cause a Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet regulatory requirements resulting in increased volatility of returns.
Manager: A Portfolio, and each Underlying Fund (except index funds), is subject to manager risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Investment Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The loss of their services could have an adverse impact on the Investment Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to achieve the investment objectives. Many managers of equity funds employ styles that are characterized as “value” or “growth.” However, these terms can have different applications by different managers. One manager’s value approach may be different from that of another, and one manager’s growth approach may be different from that of another. For example, some value managers employ a style in which they seek to identify companies that they believe are valued at a more substantial or “deeper discount” to a company’s net worth than other value managers. Therefore, some funds that are characterized as growth or value can have greater volatility than other funds managed by other managers in a growth or value style.
Operational: A Portfolio, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect a Portfolio and its shareholders, despite the efforts of a Portfolio and its service providers to adopt technologies, processes, and practices intended to mitigate these risks. Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect a Portfolio’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by a Portfolio may adversely affect a Portfolio and its shareholders, including by causing losses or impairing the Portfolio’s operations. Information relating to a Portfolio’s investments has been and will in the future be delivered electronically, which can give rise to a number of risks, including, but not limited to, the risks that such communications may not be secure and may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with, without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient.
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KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS
Each Portfolio seeks to meet its investment objectives by allocating its assets among Underlying Funds. The information set out below is excerpted from an Underlying Fund's current prospectus as of this date and provides a brief description of the Underlying Fund. It is intended to provide investors some idea of the types of Underlying Funds in which a Portfolio invests.
A Portfolio may or may not invest in each of the Underlying Funds listed below , and a Portfolio may invest in Underlying Funds not listed below. The amount of a Portfolio’s assets invested in any particular Underlying Fund will change from time to time, and it is impossible to predict the extent to which the Portfolio may be invested in any particular Underlying Fund or Underlying Funds at any time.
Other Voya funds-of-funds may invest in different underlying funds that are advised or sponsored by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates and that incur lower fees and expenses than the comparable Underlying Funds , or that incur no fees and expenses. In any such case, the Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of those other funds-of-funds will be lower than those of each applicable Portfolio .
Affiliated Underlying Funds
Underlying Fund: Voya Emerging Markets Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of an index that measures the investment return of emerging markets securities. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM; depositary receipts representing securities in the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM.
Underlying Fund: Voya Floating Rate Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. dollar denominated floating rate loans and other floating rate debt instruments, including: floating rate bonds; floating rate notes; money market instruments with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less; floating rate debentures; and tranches of floating rate asset-backed securities, including structured notes, made to, or issued by, U.S. and non-U.S. corporations or other business entities.
Underlying Fund: Voya Global Bond Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks to maximize total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds of issuers in a number of different countries, which may include the United States.
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KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Voya Global High Dividend Low Volatility Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks long-term capital growth and current income. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of equity securities. The fund invests primarily in the equity securities included in the MSCI World Value IndexSM. The fund invests in securities of issuers in a number of different countries, including the United States.
Underlying Fund: Voya Growth and Income Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks to maximize total return through investments in a diversified portfolio of common stock and securities convertible into common stocks. It is anticipated that capital appreciation and investment income will both be major factors in achieving total return. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of its total assets in common stocks that the sub-adviser believes have significant potential for capital appreciation, income growth, or both.
Underlying Fund: Voya High Yield Bond Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income and total return. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio of high-yield (high risk) bonds commonly known as “junk bonds.”
Underlying Fund: Voya Index Plus LargeCap Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks to outperform the total return performance of the S&P 500 ® Index while maintaining a market level of risk. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of large-capitalization companies included in the S&P 500® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya Index Plus MidCap Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks to outperform the total return performance of the S&P MidCap 400® Index while maintaining a market level of risk. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of mid-capitalization companies included in the S&P MidCap 400® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya Index Plus SmallCap Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks to outperform the total return performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 ® Index while maintaining a market level of risk. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small-capitalization companies included in the S&P SmallCap 600® Index.
53
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Voya Intermediate Bond Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks to maximize total return through income and capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of bonds, including but not limited to corporate, government and mortgage bonds, which, at the time of purchase, are rated investment-grade (e.g., rated at least BBB- by S&P Global Ratings or Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.) or have an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or are of comparable quality if unrated.
Underlying Fund: Voya International Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of a widely accepted international index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the MSCI EAFE® Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the MSCI EAFE® Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the MSCI EAFE® Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the MSCI EAFE® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya Large-Cap Growth Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of large-capitalization companies. The fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a significant portion of its assets in a single issuer.
Underlying Fund: Voya Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks long-term capital growth. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of large-capitalization companies. The portfolio is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a significant portion of its assets in a single issuer.
Underlying Fund: Voya Large Cap Value Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital and current income. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of equity securities of dividend-paying, large-capitalization issuers.
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KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Voya Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks highest current income consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity. As a secondary objective, the portfolio seeks to enhance its total return through capital appreciation when market factors, such as falling interest rates and rising bond prices, indicate that capital appreciation may be available without significant risk to principal. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio of bonds that are limited maturity debt instruments.
Underlying Fund: Voya MidCap Opportunities Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stock of mid-sized U.S. companies.
Underlying Fund: Voya Multi-Manager Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, Van Eck Associates Corporation, and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of issuers in emerging markets.
Underlying Fund: Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited, Polaris Capital Management, LLC, and Wellington Management Company LLP
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The fund invests at least 65% of its assets in equity securities of companies organized under the laws of, or with principal offices located in, a number of different countries outside of the United States, including companies in countries in emerging markets.
Underlying Fund: Voya Multi-Manager International Factors Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of companies located in a number of different countries other than the United States.
Underlying Fund: Voya Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Acadian Asset Management LLC and Victory Capital Management Inc.
The fund seeks maximum long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small market capitalization companies. At least 65% of the fund's assets will normally be invested in companies located outside the United States, including companies located in countries with emerging securities markets.
55
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Voya Multi-Manager Mid Cap Value Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Victory Capital Management Inc . and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of mid-capitalization companies.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Large Cap Growth Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell Top 200® Growth Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell Top 200® Growth Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the Russell Top 200® Growth Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell Top 200® Growth Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell Top 200 ® Growth Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Large Cap Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell Top 200® Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell Top 200® Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the Russell Top 200® Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell Top 200® Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell Top 200® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Large Cap Value Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell Top 200® Value Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell Top 200® Value Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the Russell Top 200® Value Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell Top 200® Value Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell Top 200 ® Value Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Mid Cap Growth Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index; convertible securities that are convertible
56
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
into stocks included in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Mid Cap Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell Midcap® Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell Midcap® Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the Russell Midcap® Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell Midcap® Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell Midcap® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya RussellTM Small Cap Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Russell 2000® Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Russell 2000® Index; convertible securities that are convertible into stocks included in the Russell 2000® Index; other derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Russell 2000® Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Russell 2000 ® Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya Short Term Bond Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks maximum total return. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowing for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio of bonds or derivative instruments having economic characteristics similar to bonds.
Underlying Fund: Voya Small Company Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks growth of capital primarily through investment in a diversified portfolio of common stock of companies with smaller market capitalizations. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of small-capitalization companies.
Underlying Fund: Voya SmallCap Opportunities Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in common stock of smaller, lesser-known U.S. companies.
57
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Voya Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks total return through income and capital appreciation through all market cycles. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests in fixed-income instruments, including investment-grade securities and below investment-grade securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The fund may invest in below investment-grade securities without limit. Investment grade securities would be rated at least BBB- by S & P Global Ratings or Baa3 by Moody ’ s Investors Service, Inc. or BBB - by Fitch Ratings or have an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization , or are of comparable quality if unrated. The fund may also invest in floating rate loans , and other floating rate debt instruments.
Underlying Fund: Voya U.S. Bond Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The portfolio seeks investment results (before fees and expenses) that correspond to the total return (which includes capital appreciation and income) of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in investment grade fixed-income instruments rated at least A by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., at least A by S&P Global Ratings, or are of comparable quality if unrated, which are at the time of purchase, included in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index; derivatives whose economic returns are, by design, closely equivalent to the returns of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index or its components; and exchange-traded funds that track the Bloomberg U . S . Aggregate Bond Index .
Underlying Fund: Voya U.S. High Dividend Low Volatility Fund
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The fund seeks to maximize total return. The fund invests primarily in equity securities of issuers included in the Russell 1000® Value Index.
Underlying Fund: Voya U.S. Stock Index Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
The Portfolio seeks total return. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies included in the S&P 500® Index or equity securities of companies that are representative of the S&P 500® Index ( including derivatives ) .
Underlying Fund: VY® CBRE Global Real Estate Portfolio
Investment Adviser: Voya Investments, LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets, LLC
The portfolio seeks high total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. Under normal market conditions, the portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of equity securities of companies that are principally engaged in the real estate industry.
58
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Unaffiliated Underlying Funds
Underlying Fund: iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities greater than twenty years. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the ICE® U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index, which measures the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity greater than or equal to twenty years.
Underlying Fund: iShares® Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization U.S. equities. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the S&P SmallCap 600, which measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.
Underlying Fund: iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of the total U.S. investment-grade bond market. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index , which measures the performance of the total U.S. investment - grade ( as determined by Bloomberg Index Services Limited ) bond market .
Underlying Fund: iShares® iBoxx® $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/ A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield corporate bonds. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the Markit iBoxx® USD Liquid High Yield Index, which is a rules-based index consisting of U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield (as determined by Markit Indices Limited) corporate bonds for sale in the U.S.
Underlying Fund: iShares® iBoxx® $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the Markit iBoxx® USD Liquid Investment Grade Index, which is a rules-based index consisting of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade (as determined by Markit Indices Limited) corporate bonds for sale in the U.S.
Underlying Fund: iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE Index, which has been developed by MSCI Inc.
59
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization emerging market equities. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.
Underlying Fund: iShares® MSCI Eurozone ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization equities from developed market countries that use the euro as their official currency. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI EMU Index, which consists of securities from the following 10 developed market countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Underlying Fund: iShares® Russell 1000 Value ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization U.S. equities that exhibit value characteristics . The fund seeks to track the investment results of the Russell 1000 ® Value Index, which measures the performance of large- and mid-capitalization value sectors of the U.S. equity market, as defined by FTSE Russell.
Underlying Fund: iShares® Russell 2000 ETF
Investment Adviser: BlackRock Fund Advisors
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization U.S. equities . The fund seeks to track the investment results of the Russell 2000® Index, which measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market, as defined by FTSE Russell.
Underlying Fund: Invesco Senior Loan ETF
Investment Adviser: Invesco Capital Management LLC
Sub-Adviser(s): Invesco Senior Secured Management, Inc.
The fund seeks to track the investment results (before fees and expenses) of the Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan 100 Index. The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the components of the Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan 100 Index.
60
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Schwab® U.S. TIPS ETF
Investment Adviser: Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund’s goal is to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of an index composed of inflation-protected U.S. Treasury securities. To pursue its goal, the fund generally invests in securities that are included in the Bloomberg US Treasury Inflation-Linked Bond Index (Series-L)SM. The Bloomberg US Treasury Inflation-Linked Bond Index (Series-L)SM includes all publicly-issued U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) that have at least one year remaining to maturity, are rated investment grade and have $500 million or more of outstanding face value.
Underlying Fund: SPDR® Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. high yield corporate bond market. Under normal market conditions, the fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index and in securities that SSGA Funds Management, Inc. determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index.
Underlying Fund: SPDR® Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF
Investment Adviser: SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the long term (10+ years) sector of the United States Treasury market. Under normal market conditions, the fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Bloomberg Long U.S. Treasury Index and in securities that SSGA Funds Management, Inc. determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Bloomberg Long U.S. Treasury Index.
Underlying Fund: Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF
Investment Adviser: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N/ A
The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies located in the major markets of Europe. The fund employs an indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.
Underlying Fund: Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Investment Adviser: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N/A
The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Russell 1000® Growth Index.
61
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING FUNDS (continued)
Underlying Fund: Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF
Investment Adviser: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a short-term dollar-weighted average maturity. The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index.
Underlying Fund: Vanguard Value ETF
Investment Adviser: The Vanguard Group , Inc.
Sub-Adviser(s): N / A
The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large- capitalization value stocks. The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index, a broadly diversified index predominantly made up of value stocks of large U . S . companies .
62
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
A description of each Portfolio's policies and procedures regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Portfolio's SAI. Portfolio holdings information can be reviewed online at www.voyainvestments.com.
63
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
The Investment Adviser
Voya Investments, an Arizona limited liability company, is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Voya Investments serves as the investment adviser to, and has overall responsibility for the management of , each Portfolio. Voya Investments oversees all investment advisory and portfolio management services, and assists in managing and supervising all aspects of the general day-to-day business activities and operations of each Portfolio, including, but not limited to, the following: custodial, transfer agency, dividend disbursing, accounting, auditing, compliance, and related services.
Voya Investments began business as an investment adviser in 1994 and currently serves as investment adviser to certain registered investment companies, consisting of open- and closed-end registered investment companies and collateralized loan obligations. Voya Investments is an indirect subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. Voya Financial, Inc. is a U.S.-based financial institution whose subsidiaries operate in the retirement, investment, and insurance industries.
Voya Investments' principal office is located at 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. As of December 31, 2022, Voya Investments managed approximately $73.2 billion in assets.
Management Fee
The Investment Adviser receives an annual fee for its services to each Portfolio. The fee is payable in monthly installments based on the average daily net assets of each Portfolio.
The Investment Adviser is responsible for all of its own costs, including costs of the personnel required to carry out its duties.
The following table shows the aggregate annual management fee paid by each Portfolio for the most recent fiscal year as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.
 
 
Management Fees
Voya Strategic Allocation Conservative Portfolio
0.20%
Voya Strategic Allocation Growth Portfolio
0.19%
Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate Portfolio
0.19%
For information regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment advisory and investment sub-advisory relationships, please refer to the Portfolios' annual shareholder report which covers the one-year period ending December 31, 2022.
The Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers
The Investment Adviser has engaged a sub-adviser to provide the day-to-day management of each Portfolio's portfolio. The Sub-Adviser is an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.
The Investment Adviser acts as a “manager-of-managers” for each Portfolio. The Investment Adviser has ultimate responsibility, subject to the oversight of each Portfolio’s Board, to oversee any sub-advisers and to recommend the hiring, termination, or replacement of sub-advisers. Each Portfolio and the Investment Adviser have received exemptive relief from the SEC which permits the Investment Adviser, with the approval of the Board but without obtaining shareholder approval, to enter into or materially amend a sub-advisory agreement with sub-advisers that are not affiliated with the Investment Adviser (“non-affiliated sub-advisers”) as well as sub-advisers that are indirect or direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Investment Adviser or of another company that, indirectly or directly wholly owns the Investment Adviser (“wholly-owned sub-advisers”).
Consistent with the “manager-of-managers” structure, the Investment Adviser delegates to the Sub-Adviser of each Portfolio the responsibility for asset allocation amongst the Underlying Funds, subject to the Investment Adviser’s oversight. The Investment Adviser is responsible for, among other things, monitoring the investment program and performance of the Sub-Adviser. Pursuant to the exemptive relief, the Investment Adviser, with the approval of the Board, has the discretion to terminate any sub-adviser (including terminating a non-affiliated sub-adviser and replacing it with a wholly-owned sub-adviser), and to allocate and reallocate a Portfolio’s assets among other sub-advisers.
The Investment Adviser’s selection of sub-advisers presents conflicts of interest. The Investment Adviser will have an economic incentive to select sub-advisers that charge the lowest sub-advisory fees, to select sub-advisers affiliated with it, or to manage a portion of a Portfolio itself. The Investment Adviser may retain an affiliated sub-adviser (or delay terminating an affiliated sub-adviser) in order to help that sub-adviser achieve or maintain scale in an investment
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MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS (continued)
strategy or increase its assets under management. The Investment Adviser may select or retain an affiliated sub-adviser even in cases where another potential sub-adviser or an existing sub-adviser might charge a lower fee or have more favorable historical investment performance.
In the event that the Investment Adviser exercises its discretion to replace a sub-adviser or appoint a new sub-adviser, the Portfolio will provide shareholders with information about the new sub-adviser and the new sub-advisory agreement within 90 days. The replacement of an existing sub-adviser or the appointment of a new sub-adviser may be accompanied by a change to the name of the Portfolio and a change to the investment strategies of the Portfolio.
A sub-advisory agreement can be terminated by the Investment Adviser, the Board, or the Sub - Adviser , provided that the conditions of such termination, as set forth in the agreement, are met. In addition, the sub-advisory agreement may be terminated by each Portfolio’s shareholders. In the event a sub-advisory agreement is terminated, the Sub-Adviser may be replaced, subject to any regulatory requirements, or the Investment Adviser may assume day-to-day investment management of the Portfolio.
The “manager-of-managers” structure and reliance on the exemptive relief has been approved by each Portfolio’s shareholders.
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM” or the “Sub-Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company, was founded in 1972 and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Voya IM has acted as an investment adviser or sub-adviser to mutual funds since 1994 and has managed institutional accounts since 1972. Voya IM is an indirect subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. and is an affiliate of the Investment Adviser. Voya IM's principal office is located at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10169. As of December 31, 2022, Voya IM managed approximately $321 billion in assets.
Individual Portfolio Managers
The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the noted Portfolios.
 
Portfolio Manager
Investment
Adviser or
Sub-Adviser
Portfolio
Recent Professional Experience
Barbara Reinhard, CFA
Voya IM
Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate
Portfolio
Voya Strategic Allocation Growth
Portfolio
Voya Strategic Allocation
Conservative Portfolio
Ms. Reinhard, Portfolio Manager, joined Voya IM in
2016 and is the head of asset allocation for
Multi-Asset Strategies and Solutions (“MASS”). She
is responsible for strategic and tactical asset
allocation decisions for the MASS team’s
multi-asset strategies. Prior to joining Voya IM, Ms.
Reinhard was the chief investment officer for Credit
Suisse Private Bank in the Americas (2011-2016)
where she managed discretionary multi-asset
portfolios, was a member of the global asset
allocation committee, and the pension investment
committee. Prior to that, she spent 20 years at
Morgan Stanley.
Paul Zemsky, CFA
Voya IM
Voya Strategic Allocation Moderate
Portfolio
Voya Strategic Allocation Growth
Portfolio
Voya Strategic Allocation
Conservative Portfolio
Mr. Zemsky, Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment
Officer of Voya IM's Multi-Asset Strategies, joined
Voya IM in 2005 as head of derivative strategies.
Additional Information Regarding the Portfolio Managers
The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, and the securities each portfolio manager owns in the Portfolio(s) the portfolio manager manages .
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MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS (continued)
The Distributor
Voya Investments Distributor, LLC (the “Distributor”), a Delaware limited liability company , is the principal underwriter and distributor of each Portfolio. The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. and is an affiliate of the Investment Adviser. The Distributor’s principal office is located at 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. See “Principal Underwriter” in the SAI.
The Distributor is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). To obtain information about FINRA member firms and their associated persons, you may contact FINRA at www.finra.org or the Public Disclosure Hotline at 800-289-9999.
Contractual Arrangements
Each Portfolio has contractual arrangements with various service providers, which may include, among others, investment advisers, distributors, custodians and fund accounting agents, shareholder service providers, and transfer agents, who provide services to each Portfolio. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (“third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of a Portfolio. This paragraph is not intended to limit any rights granted to shareholders under federal or state securities laws.
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HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
Each Portfolio is open for business every day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) opens for regular trading (each such day, a “Business Day”). The net asset value (the “NAV”) per share for each class of each Portfolio is determined each Business Day as of the close of the regular trading session (“Market Close”), as determined by the Consolidated Tape Association (the “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 each Portfolio is calculated by taking the value of the Portfolio’s assets attributable to that class, subtracting the Portfolio’s liabilities attributable to that class, and dividing by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding. On days when a Portfolio is closed for business, Portfolio shares will not be priced, and the Portfolio will not process purchase or redemption orders. To the extent a Portfolio’s assets are traded in other markets on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares, the value of the Portfolio’s assets will likely change and you will not be able to purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio.
Portfolio holdings 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 each Portfolio may invest explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. Foreign (non-U.S.) 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 portfolio holdings, the portfolio holding is priced at its fair value.