DEF 14C 1 f38926d1.htm INFO STATEMENT FOR VOYA MULTI-MANAGER INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND Info Statement for Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund

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VOYA MUTUAL FUNDS

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF AN INFORMATION STATEMENT
Relating to
Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund
(a series of Voya Mutual Funds)
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-2034
1-800-992-0180
This communication (the Notice) presents only an overview of a more complete Information Statement that is available to you on the internet relating to Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund (the Fund), a series of Voya Mutual Funds (the Registrant). The Information Statement details a sub-adviser change relating to the Fund. In connection with its duties as the investment adviser for the Registrant, Voya Investments, LLC (the Investment Adviser) reviews and evaluates the Registrant’s sub-advisers on an ongoing basis.
At a meeting held on March 6, 2024, the Board of Trustees of the Registrant (the Board) approved the appointment of Lazard Asset Management LLC and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC as sub-advisers to the Fund and Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited as a sub-sub-adviser to the Fund (collectively, the New Sub-Advisers) pursuant to sub-advisory agreements and a sub-sub-advisory agreement (collectively, the New Sub-Advisory Agreements), replacing Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (BG Overseas) as a sub-adviser to the Fund, effective at the close of business on May 6, 2024. In addition, the Board approved related changes to the Fund's fees and expenses, principal investment strategies, principal risks, and portfolio managers. Polaris Capital Management, LLC (Polaris) and Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) will continue to serve as sub-advisers to the Fund. A prospectus supplement describing these and other changes was mailed to shareholders on or about April 3, 2024.
The appointment of each New Sub-Adviser as the Fund’s sub-adviser was effected in accordance with an exemptive order (the Order) that the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission granted to the Registrant permitting the Investment Adviser to enter into and materially amend sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated and certain affiliated sub-advisers solely with Board approval, subject to certain conditions, and without obtaining shareholder approval. Consequently, the Registrant is not soliciting proxies to approve this change. The Order does, however, require that an information statement be provided to you containing much of the same information that would have been included in a proxy statement soliciting approval of a new sub-advisory agreement. In lieu of physical or electronic mail delivery of the Information Statement (other than on request as described below), the Fund will make the Information Statement available to you online.
The Information Statement will be available to review on the Internet at http://www.proxyvote.com/voya until October 14, 2024. A paper or email copy of the Information Statement may be obtained, without charge, by contacting the Fund at the address or phone number listed above. If you want to receive a paper or email copy of the Information Statement, you must request one no later than July 15, 2025.


INFORMATION STATEMENT
July 8, 2024
Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund
(A series of Voya Mutual Funds)
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
1-800-992-0180
Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund is not asking you for a proxy regarding each sub-advisory agreement and you are requested not to send a proxy with respect to this Information Statement.

INTRODUCTION
Why did you send me this booklet?
This booklet includes an information statement (Information Statement) for Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund (the Fund), in which you have an interest. This Information Statement is furnished in connection with the approval of a new sub-advisory agreement for the Fund. The Fund is a separate series of Voya Mutual Funds (the Registrant). This Information Statement will be provided on or about July 8, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2024 (the Record Date).
How can I obtain more information about the Fund?
Should you have any questions about the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact Shareholder Services toll free at 1-800-992-0180. A copy of the current prospectus, Statement of Additional Information (SAI), annual report, and semi-annual report is available, without charge, on the Internet at https://individuals.voya.com/literature or by contacting the Fund at:
Voya Investment Management
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
1-800-992-0180
1

NOTICE OF NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
What is happening?
At a meeting held on March 6, 2024, the Board of Trustees of the Registrant (the Board) approved the appointment of Lazard Asset Management LLC and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC as sub-advisers to the Fund and Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited as a sub-sub-adviser to the Fund (collectively, the New Sub-Advisers) pursuant to sub-advisory agreements and a sub-sub-advisory agreement (collectively, the New Sub-Advisory Agreements), replacing Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (BG Overseas) as a sub-adviser to the Fund, effective at the close of business on May 6, 2024. In addition, the Board approved related changes to the Fund's fees and expenses, principal investment strategies, principal risks, and portfolio managers. Polaris Capital Management, LLC (Polaris) and Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) will continue to serve as sub-advisers to the Fund. A prospectus supplement describing these and other changes was mailed to shareholders on or about April 3, 2024.
The Fund and Voya Investments, LLC (Voya Investments or the Investment Adviser) have obtained an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) that permits the Investment Adviser to enter into a sub-advisory agreement with one or more sub-advisers, including certain affiliated sub-advisers, on behalf of a fund that it manages without obtaining shareholder approval of the new agreement subject to certain conditions, including that the Investment Adviser furnishes shareholders of an affected fund with certain information about the new sub-advisory agreement or agreements. This Information Statement is intended to comply with that condition.
Who are the New Sub-Advisers?
Effective May 6, 2024, Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard) and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya IM), were each added as a sub-adviser to the Fund, and Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited (Voya UK) was added as a sub-sub-adviser to the Fund. Please see Appendix A for a listing of the names and the principal occupations of the principal executive officers of the New Sub-Advisers. Each sub-adviser makes investment decisions for the assets it has been allocated to manage. The Investment Adviser may change the allocation of the Fund’s assets between the sub-advisers as it determines necessary to pursue the Fund’s investment objective.
The Investment Adviser will determine what it believes to be the optimal allocation of the assets under management between the sub-advisers. Subsequent inflows and outflows will be allocated between the sub-advisers to maintain this allocation.
Lazard
Lazard is a Delaware limited liability company. It is a subsidiary of Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, a New York limited liability company with one member, Lazard Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Interests of Lazard Group LLC are held by Lazard Ltd., which is a Bermuda corporation with shares that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAZ. These interests are held by public stockholders as well as by current and former Managing Directors of Lazard Group LLC. Lazard’s principal address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112.
The following individuals are jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s assets allocated to Lazard:
Robert Failla, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager/Analyst on the International and Global Equity platforms and a member of the International Quality Growth portfolio management team, began working in the investment field in 1993. Prior to joining Lazard in 2003, he was a Portfolio Manager with AllianceBernstein. Mr. Failla is a member of the Board of Trustees of Link Education Partners and previously served on the Board of Trustees at Delbarton School in Morristown NJ (2007–2019).
Louis Florentin-Lee, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager/Analyst on various global equity teams, International Quality Growth, and US Equity Select, was formerly the co-Portfolio Manager/Analyst for the Lazard European Explorer Fund (2004–2010). He began working in the investment industry in 1996. Prior to joining Lazard in 2004, Mr. Florentin-Lee was an equity research analyst at Soros Funds Limited and Schroder Investment Management. He currently serves as a Governor for The Hall School, Hampstead, London.
Barnaby Wilson, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager/Analyst on various global equity teams and International Quality Growth, began working in the investment field in 1998. Prior to joining Lazard in 1999, he worked for Orbitex Investments as a Research Analyst.
Voya IM
Voya IM, 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 business address is 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10169.
The following individuals are jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s assets allocated to Voya IM:
Vincent Costa, CFA, Portfolio Manager, also serves as head of the global equities team and as portfolio manager for the active quantitative strategies and the U.S. large cap value portfolios. Mr. Costa joined Voya IM in 2006 as head of portfolio management for quantitative equity. Prior to that, Mr. Costa managed quantitative equity investments at both Merrill Lynch Investment Management and Bankers Trust Company.
2

Russell Shtern, CFA, Portfolio Manager, joined Voya IM in 2022. Prior to joining Voya IM, he served as a senior portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton’s Investment Solutions group (2020–2022) where he was responsible for managing smart beta and active multi-factor equity strategies. Prior to that, Mr. Shtern was head of equity portfolio management and trading and a member of the global equity management team for QS Investors (a Legg Mason affiliate), a quantitative multi-asset and equity manager (2014–2020).
Voya UK
Voya IM has entered into a sub-sub-advisory agreement with Voya UK whereby Voya IM may delegate certain of its investment advisory services to Voya UK as sub-sub-adviser to the Fund. Voya UK is an affiliate of Voya IM and a subsidiary of Voya Holdings, Inc., which is an indirect parent of Voya IM. Voya UK’s principal business address is 35 King Street, London, EC2V 8EH.
The following individual is responsible for the day-to-day management of management of the Fund’s assets allocated to Voya UK:
Gareth Shepherd, Ph.D., CFA, Portfolio Manager, is co-head of the EMI Team at Voya UK. Prior to joining Voya UK in November 2020, he was a managing partner and co-founder of G Squared Capital LLP. Prior to that, Dr. Shepherd held various positions within risk and asset management in Australia, Switzerland, the U.S., and the UK.
Who were the former sub-advisers?
A portion of the Fund was managed by Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (BG Overseas) until May 6, 2024 pursuant to a separate sub-advisory agreement, dated November 18, 2014 (the Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement). BG Overseas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baillie Gifford & Co. (BG & Co.), a Scottish investment company. Founded in 1908, BG & Co. manages money primarily for institutional clients and is one of the largest independently-owned investment management firms in the UK. BG Overseas’s principal business address is Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row, Edinburgh, EH1 3AN, Scotland. Polaris Capital Management, LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP continue to manage a portion of the Fund's assets.
How did this change affect the management of the Fund?
From the open of business on May 6, 2024 through the close of business on May 17, 2024, the Fund entered a transition period during which time the Fund’s assets managed by BG Overseas were allocated to Lazard, Voya IM, and Voya UK. As of the close of business on May 6, 2024, Messrs. Failla, Florentin-Lee, and Wilson of Lazard; Messrs. Costa and Shtern of Voya IM; and Mr. Shepherd of Voya UK became portfolio managers for the Fund.
Were there changes to the name of the Fund, its investment objective, or principal investment strategies?
As described in the supplement to the Fund’s prospectus dated April 3, 2024, changes have been made to the principal investment strategies in connection with the appointment of the New Sub-Advisers to the Fund. These changes to the principal investment strategies were effective May 6, 2024. There were no changes to the name of the Fund or its investment objective.
The following chart compares the prior principal investment strategies to the current principal investment strategies, including the changes that were effective on May 6, 2024.
 
Prior Strategy
Current Strategy
Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at
least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment
purposes) in equity securities. The Fund will provide
shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any
change in this investment policy. 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 U.S., including companies in countries in emerging
markets. The Fund does not seek to focus its investments
in a particular industry or country. The Fund may invest
in companies of any market capitalization. The equity
securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are
not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks,
depositary receipts, rights and warrants to buy common
stocks, privately placed securities, and initial public
offerings (IPOs). The Fund may invest in real
estate-related securities, including real estate investment
trusts (REITs). The Fund may invest in derivative
instruments including options, futures, and forward foreign
currency exchange contracts. The Fund typically uses
derivatives to seek to reduce exposure to other risks,
such as interest rate or currency risk, to substitute for
taking a position in the underlying assets, for cash
management, and/or to seek to enhance returns in the
Fund.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at
least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment
purposes) in equity securities. The Fund will provide
shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any
change in this investment policy. 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 U.S., including companies in countries in emerging
markets. The Fund does not seek to focus its investments
in a particular industry or country. The Fund may invest
in companies of any market capitalization. The equity
securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are
not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks,
depositary receipts, rights and warrants to buy common
stocks, privately placed securities, and initial public
offerings (IPOs). The Fund may invest in real
estate-related securities, including real estate investment
trusts (REITs). The Fund may invest in derivative
instruments including options, futures, and forward foreign
currency exchange contracts. The Fund typically uses
derivatives to seek to reduce exposure to other risks,
such as interest rate or currency risk, to substitute for
taking a position in the underlying assets, for cash
management, and/or to seek to enhance returns in the
Fund.
3

 
Prior Strategy
Current Strategy
 
The Fund invests its assets in foreign investments which
are denominated in U.S. dollars, major reserve currencies
and currencies of other countries and can be affected
by fluctuations in exchange rates. To attempt to protect
against adverse changes in currency exchange rates,
the Fund may, but will not necessarily, use special
techniques such as forward foreign currency exchange
contracts.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies,
including exchange traded funds (ETFs), to the extent
permitted under 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 Investment Adviser allocates the Fund’s assets to
different sub-advisers. When selecting sub-advisers, the
Investment Adviser takes into account a wide variety
of factors and considerations, including among other
things the investment strategy of a potential sub-adviser,
its personnel, and its fit with other sub-advisers to the
Fund. Among those, the Investment Adviser will typically
consider the extent to which a potential sub-adviser takes
into account environmental, social, and governance
(ESG) factors as part of its investment process. ESG
factors will be only one of many considerations in the
Investment Adviser’s evaluation of any potential
sub-adviser; the extent to which ESG factors will affect
the Investment Adviser’s decision to retain a sub-adviser,
if at all, will depend on the analysis and judgment of
the Investment Adviser.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (BG Overseas), Polaris
Capital Management, LLC (Polaris), and Wellington
Management Company LLP (Wellington Management)
(each, a Sub-Adviser and collectively, the Sub-Advisers)
provide day-to-day management of the Fund. The
Sub-Advisers act independently of each other and use
their own methodologies for selecting investments. The
Investment Adviser will determine the amount of Fund
assets allocated to each Sub-Adviser.
Each Sub-Adviser may sell securities for a variety of
reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy
assets into opportunities believed to be more promising.
The Fund may lend portfolio securities on a short-term
or long-term basis, up to 33 13% of its total assets.
BG Overseas
BG Overseas’s investment style primarily uses a
bottom-up, stock-driven approach, with the objective of
selecting stocks that it believes can sustain an
above-average growth rate, which is not reflected in the
share price. A significant part of the assets will normally
be divided among continental Europe, the United Kingdom,
and Asia (including Australia and New Zealand). Country
allocation, however, is driven by stock selection. BG
Overseas invests in companies that it believes are
well-managed, quality businesses that enjoy sustainable,
competitive advantages in their marketplace.
Companies are screened for quality first; valuation is
a secondary consideration. BG Overseas looks for
companies that it believes have attractive industry
backgrounds, strong competitive positions within those
industries, high-quality earnings, and a positive approach
toward shareholders. The main fundamental factors that
BG Overseas considers in this bottom-up analysis include
earnings growth, cash flow growth, profitability, capital
structure, and valuation. Further to the Fund’s long-term
investment approach, BG Overseas seeks to identify
companies with the potential to grow sustainably. When
assessing a company’s ability to deliver sustainable growth
The Fund invests its assets in foreign investments which
are denominated in U.S. dollars, major reserve currencies
and currencies of other countries and can be affected
by fluctuations in exchange rates. To attempt to protect
against adverse changes in currency exchange rates,
the Fund may, but will not necessarily, use special
techniques such as forward foreign currency exchange
contracts.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies,
including exchange traded funds (ETFs), to the extent
permitted under 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 Investment Adviser allocates the Fund’s assets to
different sub-advisers. When selecting sub-advisers, the
Investment Adviser takes into account a wide variety
of factors and considerations, including among other
things the investment strategy of a potential sub-adviser,
its personnel, and its fit with other sub-advisers to the
Fund. Among those, the Investment Adviser will typically
consider the extent to which a potential sub-adviser takes
into account environmental, social, and governance
(ESG) factors as part of its investment process. ESG
factors will be only one of many considerations in the
Investment Adviser’s evaluation of any potential
sub-adviser; the extent to which ESG factors will affect
the Investment Adviser’s decision to retain a sub-adviser,
if at all, will depend on the analysis and judgment of
the Investment Adviser.
Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard), Polaris Capital
Management, LLC (Polaris), Voya Investment
Management Co. LLC and Voya Investment Management
(UK) Limited (together, Voya IM), and Wellington
Management Company LLP (Wellington Management)
(each, a Sub-Adviser and collectively, the Sub-Advisers)
provide day-to-day management of the Fund. The
Sub-Advisers act independently of each other and use
their own methodologies for selecting investments. The
Investment Adviser will determine the amount of Fund
assets allocated to each Sub-Adviser.
Each Sub-Adviser may sell securities for a variety of
reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy
assets into opportunities believed to be more promising.
The Fund may lend portfolio securities on a short-term
or long-term basis, up to 33 13% of its total assets.
Lazard
Lazard seeks to realize the Fund’s investment objective
primarily by investing in companies that Lazard considers
to be quality growth businesses. By quality Lazard means
businesses that it believes can generate, and sustain,
high levels of financial productivity (i.e., return on equity,
return on capital and cash flow return on investment).
Lazard considers, among other factors deemed appropriate
and relevant to a particular company, whether the company
has a competitive advantage in its industry and if Lazard
believes the company can sustain its competitive
advantage. Lazard also looks for growth businesses
that it believes can grow profits and cash flows by investing
back into their business at similarly high rates of financial
productivity.
Polaris
Polaris uses proprietary investment technology combined
with Graham & Dodd style fundamental research to seek
to identify potential investments that Polaris believes
have significantly undervalued streams of sustainable
cash flow. The firm uses traditional valuation measures,
including price/book ratios and price/sustainable free
4

 
Prior Strategy
Current Strategy
 
over the long term, BG Overseas considers a range of
factors, including the ESG characteristics of a company.
Polaris
Polaris uses proprietary investment technology combined
with Graham & Dodd style fundamental research to seek
to identify potential investments that Polaris believes
have significantly undervalued streams of sustainable
cash flow. The firm uses traditional valuation measures,
including price/book ratios and price/sustainable free
cash flow ratios to screen its database of more than
40,000 companies worldwide. Polaris uses these
measures to identify approximately 500 companies that
Polaris believes have the greatest potential for undervalued
streams of sustainable free cash flow. As a cross check
to the database screen, a global valuation model is used
that seeks to identify the most undervalued countries
based on corporate earnings, yield, inflation, interest
rates, and other variables. Allocations among investments
are primarily determined by bottom-up security analysis
while providing diversification in terms of country, industry,
and market capitalization. Polaris monitors portfolio
companies as well as a watch list comprised of
companies which may be purchased if the valuation of
an existing portfolio company falls below established
limits.
Wellington Management
Wellington Management conducts fundamental research
on individual companies to identify securities for purchase
or sale. Fundamental analysis of a company involves
the assessment of such factors as its business
environment, management quality, balance sheet, income
statement, anticipated earnings, revenues and dividends,
and other related measures and indicators of value,
including the evaluation of financially material ESG factors
based on Wellington Management’s proprietary ESG
research. Wellington Management believes assessing
financially material ESG factors as part of its investment
process allows it to better evaluate a company on its
ability to improve or sustain its future returns over time.
The factors that Wellington Management considers as
part of its fundamental analysis, including the assessment
of financially material ESG factors, contribute to its overall
evaluation of a company’s risk and return potential.
Wellington Management may not assess ESG factors
for every stock prior to investment. Wellington Management
seeks to invest in companies with underappreciated
assets, improving and/or sustainable return on capital,
and/or stocks that it believes are mispriced by the market
due to short-term issues. This proprietary research takes
into account each company’s long-term history as well
as Wellington Management’s analysts’ forward-looking
estimates, and allows for a comparison of the intrinsic
value of stocks on a global basis focusing on return
on invested capital in conjunction with other valuation
metrics. Portfolio construction is driven primarily by
bottom-up stock selection, with region, country, and sector
weightings being secondary factors.
cash flow ratios to screen its database of more than
40,000 companies worldwide. Polaris uses these
measures to identify approximately 500 companies that
Polaris believes have the greatest potential for undervalued
streams of sustainable free cash flow. As a cross check
to the database screen, a global valuation model is used
that seeks to identify the most undervalued countries
based on corporate earnings, yield, inflation, interest
rates, and other variables. Allocations among investments
are primarily determined by bottom-up security analysis
while providing diversification in terms of country, industry,
and market capitalization. Polaris monitors portfolio
companies as well as a watch list comprised of
companies which may be purchased if the valuation of
an existing portfolio company falls below established
limits.
Voya IM
Voya IM invests in a portfolio of stocks that it believes
have the potential to outperform the MSCI EAFE® Index
over the long term. Voya IM uses quantitative methods,
including artificial intelligence (AI) models, to select
securities and to support portfolio trading.
To select securities, the AI model analyzes a variety of
inputs, including among other things, financial,
fundamental, macro, and technical characteristics. The
data may include structured data (e.g., financial
information) and unstructured data (e.g., press releases
and news articles). The AI model seeks to identify
companies whose perceived value is not reflected in
the stock price by identifying persistent patterns in
company data that have historically led to outperformance.
Voya IM may also use other quantitative techniques or
inputs to implement its investment strategy. Portfolio
managers and analysts oversee the operation of all
quantitative models to mitigate a number of risks the
models might pose, including any biases or operational
deficiencies in the models.
Wellington Management
Wellington Management conducts fundamental research
on individual companies to identify securities for purchase
or sale. Fundamental analysis of a company involves
the assessment of such factors as its business
environment, management quality, balance sheet, income
statement, anticipated earnings, revenues and dividends,
and other related measures and indicators of value,
including the evaluation of financially material ESG factors
based on Wellington Management’s proprietary ESG
research. Wellington Management believes assessing
financially material ESG factors as part of its investment
process allows it to better evaluate a company on its
ability to improve or sustain its future returns over time.
The factors that Wellington Management considers as
part of its fundamental analysis, including the assessment
of financially material ESG factors, contribute to its overall
evaluation of a company’s risk and return potential.
Wellington Management may not assess ESG factors
for every stock prior to investment. Wellington Management
seeks to invest in companies with underappreciated
assets, improving and/or sustainable return on capital,
and/or stocks that it believes are mispriced by the market
due to short-term issues. This proprietary research takes
into account each company’s long-term history as well
as Wellington Management’s analysts’ forward-looking
estimates, and allows for a comparison of the intrinsic
value of stocks on a global basis focusing on return
on invested capital in conjunction with other valuation
metrics. Portfolio construction is driven primarily by
bottom-up stock selection, with region, country, and sector
5

 
Prior Strategy
Current Strategy
 
 
weightings being secondary factors.
What are the key risks of investing in the Fund after the changes to the principal investment strategies?
In conjunction with the changes made to the principal investment strategies described above, changes were also made to the principal investment risks of the Fund. The following chart compares the prior principal investment risks to the current principal investment risks. These changes were effective May 6, 2024.
Risks
Prior Risks
Current Risks
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, U.S. or foreign government restrictions on
investments in Chinese companies or other intervention could negatively affect the implementation of
the Fund’s investment strategies, such as by precluding the Fund from making certain investments or
causing the Fund to sell investments at disadvantageous times.
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
Fund may not be able to dispose of its China A-Shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect
the Fund’s performance.
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.
Currency: To the extent that the Fund 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
Fund 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 Fund. Therefore, the purchase of certain derivatives may have
an economic leveraging effect on the Fund and exaggerate any increase or decrease in the net asset
value. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Fund may not realize the intended benefits.
When used for hedging purposes, the change in value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with
the 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 (Equity): A Sub-Adviser’s consideration of ESG factors in selecting
investments for the Fund 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 the Fund’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
the Fund 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.
6

Risks
Prior Risks
Current Risks
Environmental, Social, and Governance (Multi-Manager): The Investment Adviser’s consideration of ESG
factors in selecting sub-advisers for the Fund 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 Fund’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 the Fund 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.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments/Developing and Emerging Markets: Investing in foreign (non-U.S.)
securities may result in the Fund 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 the threat of new or modified 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.
Initial Public Offerings: Investments in IPOs and companies that have recently gone public have the
potential to produce substantial gains for the Fund. However, there is no assurance that the Fund will
have access to profitable IPOs or that the IPOs in which the Fund invests will rise in value. Furthermore,
the value of securities of newly public companies may decline in value shortly after the IPO. When the
Fund’s asset base is small, the impact of such investments on the Fund’s return will be magnified. If
the Fund’s assets grow, it is likely that the effect of the Fund’s investment in IPOs on the Fund’s return
will decline.
Investment Model: A Sub-Adviser’s proprietary investment 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 a proprietary investment model will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
Investment Model: A Sub-Adviser’s proprietary investment 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 a proprietary investment model will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund.
Funds that are actively managed, in whole or in part, according to a quantitative investment model
(including models that utilize artificial intelligence) 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.
Liquidity: If a security is illiquid, the Fund might be unable to sell the security at a time when the Fund’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 Fund 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 Fund, which
could cause the Fund 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.
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 debt 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 Fund to achieve its investment objectives.
7

Risks
Prior Risks
Current Risks
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 Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt
securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing
interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region
might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the
United States. Wars, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events that
have led, and may continue to lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or
long-term effects on U.S. and global economies and markets, generally. For example, the COVID-19
pandemic resulted 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. The economic impacts of COVID-19 have created a unique
challenge for real estate markets. Many businesses have either partially or fully transitioned to a
remote-working environment and this transition may negatively impact the occupancy rates of
commercial real estate over time. 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 Fund’s investments, including beyond the Fund’s direct exposure to
Russian issuers or nearby geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions,
and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict and could be substantial. A number of U.S.
domestic banks and foreign (non-U.S.) banks have recently experienced financial difficulties and, in
some cases, failures. There can be no certainty that the actions taken by regulators to limit the effect
of those financial difficulties and failures on other banks or other financial institutions or on the U.S. or
foreign (non-U.S.) economies generally will be successful. It is possible that more banks or other
financial institutions will experience financial difficulties or fail, which may affect adversely other U.S. or
foreign (non-U.S.) financial institutions and economies. These events as well as other changes in foreign
(non-U.S.) and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual
issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor
sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Any of these occurrences
could disrupt the operations of the Fund and of the Fund’s service providers.
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 the Fund’s
expenses. The investment policies of the other investment companies may not be the same as those of
the Fund; as a result, an investment in the other investment companies may be subject to additional or
different risks than those to which the Fund is typically subject. 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.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stock generally has preference over common stock but is generally
subordinate to debt instruments with respect to dividends and liquidation. Preferred stocks are subject
to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as greater credit or other risks than
senior debt instruments. In addition, preferred stocks are subject to other risks, such as risks related to
deferred and omitted distributions, limited voting rights, liquidity, interest rate, regulatory changes and
special redemption rights.
8

Risks
Prior Risks
Current Risks
Real Estate Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts: Investing in real estate companies and REITs
may subject the Fund 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 Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in
which it invests.
Securities Lending: Securities lending involves two primary risks: investment risk and borrower
default risk. When lending securities, the Fund will receive cash or U.S. government securities as
collateral. Investment risk is the risk that the Fund will lose money from the investment of the cash
collateral received from the borrower. Borrower default risk is the risk that the Fund 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 the Fund to be
more volatile. The use of leverage may increase expenses and increase the impact of the Fund’s other
risks.
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 Fund 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 Fund’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.
What are the terms of the New Sub-Advisory Agreements?
The description of the New Sub-Advisory Agreements that follows is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the form of the New Sub-Advisory Agreements included in Appendices B-D. The New Sub-Advisory Agreements are substantially similar to the Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Fees. With respect to the engagement of Lazard and Voya IM, the Investment Adviser and not the Fund is responsible for any fees due under the applicable New Sub-Advisory Agreement. With respect to the engagement of Voya UK, Voya IM and not the Fund is responsible for any fees due under the applicable New Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Investment Adviser was responsible for any fees due under the Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Investment Adviser paid BG Overseas, Polaris, and Wellington Management aggregate sub-advisory fees of $2,306,622, which represented approximately 0.72% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Sub-Advisory Services. Both the Prior and New Sub-Advisory Agreements obligate the sub-adviser to provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Fund, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Fund should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest.
Limitation of Liability. Both the Prior and New Sub-Advisory Agreements (other than the sub-sub-advisory agreement between Voya IM and Voya UK) provide that the sub-adviser, any affiliated person of the sub-adviser, and each person, if any, who controls the sub-adviser (a) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for any act or omission respecting any series of the Registrant that is not subject to such agreement, and (b) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under the agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the sub-adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the sub-adviser’s obligations and duties under the agreement. Under the sub-sub-advisory agreement between Voya IM and Voya UK, other than in the cases where such damage arises out of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of duties on the part of the Voya UK, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under the agreement, Voya UK is not responsible for any damage that the Fund, Voya IM or any other party may suffer at any time.
Term and Continuance. After an initial two-year term, the New Sub-Advisory Agreements continue in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (1) the vote of a majority of the Board, or (2) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act)), and provided that such continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the Board who are not parties to the agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement contained a substantially identical provision with respect to the term and continuance of the Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement.
9

Termination. The New Sub-Advisory Agreements may be terminated: (i) by the Investment Adviser at any time, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the sub-adviser and the Fund, (ii) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Fund, by the Fund’s Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Investment Adviser and the sub-adviser, or (iii) by the sub-adviser upon three (3) months’ written notice unless the Fund or the Investment Adviser requests additional time to find a replacement for the sub-adviser, in which case the sub-adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Fund or Investment Adviser, not to exceed three (3) additional months beyond the initial three-month notice period; provided, however, that a sub-adviser may terminate a New Sub-Advisory Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon written notice to the Investment Adviser and the Fund, in the event either the sub-adviser (acting in good faith) or the Investment Adviser ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act), or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Fund, or in the event the Investment Adviser becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out its obligations under the agreement, or in the event that the sub-adviser does not receive compensation for its services from the Investment Adviser or the Fund as required by the terms of the New Sub-Advisory Agreements. The Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement provided for the same terms with respect to termination.
The Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement with BG Overseas was last approved by the Board on November 14, 2023. Pursuant to the terms of an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Investment Adviser to enter into a sub-advisory agreement with one or more sub-advisers, the Prior Sub-Advisory Agreement was not required to be approved by the Fund’s shareholders.
What factors did the Board consider?
Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act, provides that an investment company, such as the Registrant, on behalf of the Fund, a series of the Registrant, can enter into a new sub-advisory agreement only if the Board, including a majority of the Board members who have no direct or indirect interest in the sub-advisory agreement, and who are not interested persons of the Registrant, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act (Independent Trustees), approve the new arrangement. The Fund had been sub-advised by BG Overseas since November 18, 2014, Polaris since January 20, 2017, and Wellington Management since January 20, 2017. At the meeting of the Board that was held on March 6, 2024, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered a proposal by management and determined to: (1) appoint the New Sub-Advisers to replace BG Overseas; and (2) approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreements with respect to each New Sub-Adviser.
In determining whether to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Board received and evaluated such information as it deemed necessary for an informed determination. Provided below is a general overview of the Board’s contract approval process that it followed, as well as a discussion of certain specific factors that the Board considered. While the Board gave its attention to information furnished at the request of the Independent Trustees that was most relevant to its considerations, discussed below are some of the primary matters relevant to the Board’s consideration as to whether to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreements. While the Board considered the New Sub-Advisory Agreements at the same meeting, the Board considered each sub-advisory and sub-sub-advisory relationship separately.
Lazard.
The materials provided to the Board to inform its consideration of whether to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to Lazard included the following: (1) Lazard’s presentation before the Investment Review Committee at its March 5, 2024 meeting; (2) memoranda and related materials provided to the Board in advance of its March 6, 2024 meeting discussing: (a) the Investment Adviser’s rationale for recommending that Lazard be added as a sub-adviser to the Fund, including the Investment Adviser’s view that adding Lazard would provide the Fund with an optimal international large cap investment strategy; (b) the performance of the new sub-advisory team in managing its international large cap investment strategy with such performance being compared against a relevant benchmark index; and (c) Lazard’s investment philosophy and the firm’s overall investment process; (3) Fund Analysis and Comparison Tables for the Fund that provide information about the projected net expense ratio of the Fund reflecting the addition of Lazard as a sub-adviser; (4) Lazard’s responses to inquiries from K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the Independent Trustees; (5) supporting documentation, including a copy of the form of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement; and (6) other information relevant to the Board’s evaluation.
In reaching its decision to engage Lazard, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered a number of factors including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the Investment Adviser’s view with respect to the strength and reputation of Lazard in managing its international large cap investment strategy; (2) the nature and quality of the services to be provided by Lazard under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement; (3) the personnel, operations, financial condition, and investment management capabilities, methodologies and resources of Lazard and its fit as an additional sub-adviser to the Fund; (4) the fairness of the compensation under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement in light of the services to be provided by Lazard; (5) the sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Investment Adviser to Lazard; (6) Lazard’s operations and compliance programs, including the policies and procedures intended to assure compliance with the federal securities laws; (7) the appropriateness of the selection of Lazard in light of the Fund’s newly approved principal investment strategies; and (8) Lazard’s Code of Ethics and related procedures for complying with that Code, which were previously reviewed by the Board.
Voya IM.
The materials provided to the Board to inform its consideration of whether to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to Voya IM included the following: (1) Voya IM’s presentation before the Investment Review Committee at its March 5, 2024 meeting; (2) memoranda and related materials provided to the Board in advance of its March 6, 2024 meeting discussing: (a) the Investment Adviser’s rationale for recommending that Voya IM be added as a sub-adviser to the Fund, including the Investment Adviser’s view that adding Voya IM would provide the Fund with access to new strategies and capabilities that align with the Fund’s investment objectives; (b) the performance of the new sub-advisory team in managing its international large cap investment strategy with such performance being compared against a relevant benchmark index; and (c) Voya IM’s investment philosophy and the firm’s overall investment process; (3) Fund Analysis and
10

Comparison Tables for the Fund that provide information about the projected net expense ratio of the Fund reflecting the addition of Voya IM as a sub-adviser; (4) Voya IM’s responses to inquiries from K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the Independent Trustees; (5) supporting documentation, including a copy of the form of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement; and (6) other information relevant to the Board’s evaluation.
In reaching its decision to engage Voya IM, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered a number of factors including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the Investment Adviser’s view with respect to the strength and reputation of Voya IM in managing its international large cap investment strategy; (2) the nature and quality of the services to be provided by Voya IM under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement; (3) the personnel, operations, financial condition, and investment management capabilities, methodologies and resources of Voya IM and its fit as an additional sub-adviser to the Fund; (4) the fairness of the compensation under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement in light of the services to be provided by Voya IM; (5) the sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Investment Adviser to Voya IM; (6) Voya IM’s operations and compliance programs, including the policies and procedures intended to assure compliance with the federal securities laws; (7) the appropriateness of the selection of Voya IM in light of the Fund’s newly approved principal investment strategies; and (8) Voya IM’s Code of Ethics and related procedures for complying with that Code, which were previously reviewed by the Board.
Voya UK.
The materials provided to the Board to inform its consideration of whether to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement (under which Voya UK serves as sub-sub-adviser to the Fund) with respect to Voya UK included the following: (1) presentation materials provided to the Board in advance of the March 6, 2024 meeting discussing: (a) Voya IM’s rationale for requesting that Voya UK be added as a sub-sub-adviser to the Fund, and (b) Voya UK’s investment philosophy and how it supports Voya IM’s overall investment process for the Fund; (2) Voya UK’s responses to inquiries from counsel to the Independent Trustees; (3) supporting documentation, including a copy of the proposed New Sub-Advisory Agreement; and (4) other information relevant to the Board’s evaluation. The Board also considered that the Fund would not experience any increase in aggregate fees paid for services under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement.
In reviewing the proposed New Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board considered a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (1) the information that had been provided by Voya UK and the Voya Manager Research & Selection team in advance of the March 6, 2024 meeting; (2) presentations made to the Board or a committee of the Board by Voya UK’s Machine Intelligence portfolio management team with respect to their investing philosophy and process; (3) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by Voya UK under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement; (4) the personnel, operations, financial condition, and investment management capabilities, methodologies and resources of Voya IM and Voya UK’s fit as a sub-sub-adviser to the Fund; (5) the potential fall-out benefits to their respective affiliates from their relationship with the Fund; and (6) the appropriateness of the selection of Voya UK in light of the Fund’s newly approved principal investment strategies.
Conclusions.
After its deliberation, the Board reached the following conclusions: (1) each of Lazard and Voya IM should be appointed to serve as a sub-adviser to the Fund, and Voya UK as sub-sub-adviser to the Fund, under the New Sub-Advisory Agreements, replacing BG Overseas as a sub-adviser to the Fund; (2) the applicable sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Investment Adviser to each of Lazard and Voya IM, and the sub-sub-advisory fee rate payable by Voya IM to Voya UK, is reasonable in the context of all factors considered by the Board; and (3) each of the New Sub-Advisers maintain appropriate compliance programs, with this conclusion based upon, among other things, a representation from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer that the New Sub-Advisers' compliance policies and procedures are reasonably designed to assure compliance with the federal securities laws. Based on these conclusions and other factors, the Board voted to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreements for the Fund. During their deliberations, different Board members may have given different weight to different individual factors and related conclusions.
11

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE INFORMATION STATEMENT
Who are the service providers to the Fund?
Voya Investments, LLC
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, the Fund. 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 the Fund, 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. whose principal office is located at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10169. Voya Financial, Inc. is a U.S.-based financial institution whose subsidiaries operate in the retirement, investment, and insurance industries. Voya Investments' principal business address is 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258.
Please see Appendix A for a listing of the names, addresses, and principal occupations of the principal executive officers of the Investment Adviser and the New Sub-Advisers. Please see Appendix E for a list of officers and Trustees of the Fund that are employees of the Investment Adviser. Appendix G includes the amount of advisory fees paid by the Fund to the Investment Adviser for services provided under the investment advisory agreement for the most recent fiscal year.
Voya Investments Distributor, LLC
The Distributor, a Delaware limited liability company, is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund. The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. and is an affiliate of the Investment Adviser. The Distributor’s principal business address is 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258.
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 1-800-289-9999.
Can shareholders submit proposals for consideration in a future Proxy Statement?
The Fund is not required to hold annual meetings and currently does not intend to hold such meetings unless shareholder action is required in accordance with the 1940 Act. A shareholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in a proxy statement at any subsequent meeting of shareholders must be submitted in a reasonable time before a proxy statement for that meeting is printed and mailed. Whether a proposal is included in a proxy statement will be determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
Why did my household only receive one copy of this Information Statement?
Only one copy of this Information Statement may be mailed to each household, even if more than one person in the household is a shareholder of record, unless the Fund has received contrary instructions from one or more of the household’s shareholders. If a shareholder needs an additional copy of this Information Statement, please contact Shareholder Services at 1-800-992-0180. If in the future, any shareholder does not wish to combine or wishes to recombine the mailing with household members, please inform the Fund in writing at 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-2034 or via telephone at 1-800-992-0180.
Who pays for this Information Statement?
The Investment Adviser (or an affiliate) will pay the expenses incurred in connection with this Information Statement, including the printing, mailing, legal, and out-of-pocket expenses. These expenses are estimated to be $5,900.
How many shares were outstanding as of the Record Date?
As of May 6, 2024, the following shares of beneficial interest of the Fund were outstanding:
Class
Shares Outstanding
Class I
36,928,234.284
Total
36,928,234.284

Appendix F lists the persons that, as of May 6, 2024, owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of any class of the Fund’s outstanding shares. To the best of the Fund’s knowledge, as of May 6, 2024, no Trustee or officer, individually or as a group, owned 1% or more of any class of the outstanding shares of the Fund. To the best of the Fund’s knowledge, as of May 6, 2024, none of the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned any shares of the Investment Adviser or principal underwriter or of any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Adviser or principal underwriter (not including registered investment companies).
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APPENDIX A: PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Executive Officers of Voya Investments, LLC
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Name and Title
Andy Simonoff – Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Huey P. Falgout, Jr. – Managing Director
Todd Modic – Director
Jonathan Nash – Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Risk Officer
Catrina Willingham – Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller
Erica McKenna – Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Joanne F. Osberg – Senior Vice President and Secretary
Michelle P. Luk – Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Executive Officers of Lazard Asset Management LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
Name and Title
Evan Russo – Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Paul – Chief Operating Officer
Arnaud Brillois – Global Head of Fixed Income and Chair of the Fixed Income Management Group
Jeremy Taylor – Chief Executive Officer, LAML and co-Chair of the Sales & Marketing Management Group
Steve Wreford – Portfolio Manager / Analyst and member of the Fundamental Equity Management Group
Sophie De Nadaillac – Deputy CEO of Lazard Frères Gestion
Executive Officers of Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
230 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10169
Name and Title
Huey Falgout, Jr. – Managing Director and Secretary
Eric Banta – Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Patti Boss – Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Kate Ippen – Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Marie Picard – Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Jeremy Derman – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Craig Foster – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Lindy Freitag – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Terri Maxwell – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Ryan McParland – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Executive Officers of Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited
35 King Street
London, EC2V 8EH
Name and Title
Robert Presser – Director
Floris Van Den Berg – Director
Micheline Faver – Chief Compliance Officer
13

APPENDIX B: SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT FOR LAZARD ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
This AGREEMENT is made as of this 6th day of May 2024 between Voya Investments, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (the Manager), and Lazard Asset Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sub-Adviser).
WHEREAS, Voya Mutual Funds (the Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue separate series, each series having its own investment objective or objectives, policies, and limitations; and
WHEREAS, the Fund may offer shares of additional series in the future; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, dated November 18, 2014 (the Management Agreement), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser, the Fund has retained the Manager to render advisory and management services with respect to certain of the Fund’s series; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Manager in the Management Agreement, the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to one or more of the series of the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the investment adviser and manager to the series of the Fund set forth on Schedule A hereto (the Series) for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. To the extent that the Sub-Adviser is not the only person providing investment advisory services to a Series, the term Series shall be interpreted for purposes of this Agreement to only include those assets of the Series over which the Sub-Adviser is directed by the Manager to provide investment advisory services.
In the event the Fund designates one or more series (other than the Series) with respect to which the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the Sub-Adviser in writing. If the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such services, it shall notify the Manager in writing, whereupon such series shall become a Series hereunder, and be subject to this Agreement.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for each Series’ portfolio and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of each Series’ portfolio, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments contained in the portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of each Series’ assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Series should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest. To the extent permitted by the investment policies of each Series, the Sub-Adviser shall make decisions for the Series as to foreign currency matters and make determinations as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts on behalf of the Series. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with each Series’ investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as amended, copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Manager prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any such amendment. The Sub- Adviser further agrees as follows:
(a) The Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees of which the Sub- Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of the Registration Statement of the Fund filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of which the Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Manager’s portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as in effect on the date hereof, as such policies and procedures may be revised or amended by the Manager and agreed to by the Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Adviser will (1) manage each Series so that it meets the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) manage each Series so that no action or omission on the part of the Sub-Adviser shall cause a Series to fail to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested in connection with annual and special meetings of equity stockholders, provided however, that the Sub-Adviser retains responsibility to vote or abstain from voting all solicitations with respect to non-equity portfolio securities and all portfolio securities for matters with regard to bankruptcy or related plans of reorganization, unless the Manager gives the Sub-Adviser written instructions to the contrary. The Sub-Adviser will promptly forward any proxy it receives that is solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested to the Manager or to any agent of the Manager designated by the Manager in writing.
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The Sub-Adviser will make appropriate personnel available for consultation for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the Manager and/or the Board any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested. Upon request, the Sub-Adviser will submit a written voting recommendation to the Manager for such proxies. In making such recommendations, the Sub-Adviser shall use its good faith judgment to act in the best interests of the Series. The Sub-Adviser shall disclose to the best of its knowledge any conflict of interest with the issuers of securities that are the subject of such recommendation including whether such issuers are clients or are being solicited as clients of the Sub-Adviser or of its affiliates.
(iii) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for each Series, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Series on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Sedol, or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its administrative and record keeping responsibilities with respect to the Series. With respect to portfolio securities to be settled through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such trades to the Fund’s custodian and portfolio accounting agent.
(iv) The Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement for the Fund or adopted by the Board of Trustees, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Series’ assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
(v) The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager, no later than the 10th business day following a request from the Manager, information to be used by Manager in preparing the Fund’s letter to shareholders (to be subject to review and editing by the Manager) containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27(b)(7) of 1940 Act Form N-1A in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
(vi) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Manager for each month by the 10th business day of the following month.
(b) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager by the 10th business day of each month a written report on each Series of the Fund that contains the following information as of the immediately previous month’s end.
(i) A performance comparison to the Series benchmark listed in the prospectus as well as a comparison to other mutual funds as listed in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., or similar independent services that monitor the performance of mutual funds or with other appropriate indexes of investment securities;
(ii) Composition of the assets of each Series’ portfolio and the impact of key portfolio holdings and sector concentrations on the Series; and
(iii) Confirmation of each Series’ current investment objective and Sub-Adviser’s projected plan to realize the Series’ investment objectives.
(c) The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Fund and the Manager, promptly upon request, any of the Series’ investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Fund) as are necessary to assist the Fund and the Manager to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub- Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Series which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(d) Upon reasonable request, the Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Fund’s Board of Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the investment program for each Series and the issuers and securities represented in each Series’ portfolio, and will furnish the Fund’s Board of Trustees with respect to each Series such periodic and special reports as the Trustees and the Manager may reasonably request.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for each Series’ portfolio, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates in effecting a security transaction. The Sub-Adviser’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Series, taking into account the factors specified in the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Fund, and determined in consultation with the Manager, which include price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread), the size of the order, the nature of the market for the security, the timing of the transaction, the reputation, the experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of the service, the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved, and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. Accordingly, the price to a Series in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Fund, by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Subject to such policies as the Fund’s Board of Trustees or Manager may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Series to pay a broker-dealer for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
15

transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s or the Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Series and to their respective other clients as to which they exercise investment discretion. The Sub-Adviser will consult with the Manager to the end that portfolio transactions on behalf of a Series are directed to broker-dealers on the basis of criteria reasonably considered appropriate by the Manager. To the extent consistent with these standards, the Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of a Series to the Sub-Adviser if it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC, to an affiliated broker-dealer, or to such brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material, or other services to the Series, the Sub- Adviser, or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with the above standards, and the Sub- Adviser will report on said allocation regularly to the Fund’s Board of Trustees indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
4. Disclosure about Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the most recent Post- Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Fund filed with the SEC that contains disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or information relating, directly or indirectly, to the Sub-Adviser, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect. The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager with a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part II at the time the Form ADV is filed with the SEC.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement. The Manager or the Fund shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund’s operations. In addition, if the Fund is required, under applicable law, to supplement the Registration Statement because of a change requested by the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will reimburse the Fund and/or the Manager for the cost of preparing, printing and distributing such supplement, unless the Sub-Adviser is requesting the change in order to comply with an applicable law, rule or regulation.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to each Series, the Manager will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified for such Series in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. In accordance with the provisions of the Management Agreement, the Manager is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Manager; provided, however, that if the Fund fails to pay the Manager all or a portion of the management fee under said Management Agreement when due, and the amount that was paid is insufficient to cover the Sub-Adviser’s fee under this Agreement for the period in question, then the Sub-Adviser may enforce against the Fund any rights it may have as a third-party beneficiary under the Management Agreement and the Manager will take all steps appropriate under the circumstances to collect the amount due from the Fund.
7. Marketing Materials.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to furnish the Manager at its principal office for prior review and approval by the Manager all written and/or printed materials, including but not limited to, PowerPoint or slide presentations, news releases, advertisements, brochures, fact sheets and other promotional, informational or marketing materials (the Marketing Materials) for internal use or public dissemination, that are produced or are for use or reference by the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates or other designees, broker-dealers or the public in connection with the Series, and Sub-Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Manager reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Manager by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish the Sub- Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, or Marketing Materials prepared for distribution to shareholders of each Series, or the public that refer to the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to the use thereof, and the Manager shall not use any such materials if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such materials is limited to the portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its services and its clients. The Manager agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by its employees or agents or its affiliates that refer to the Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Sub-Adviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Sub- Adviser by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
8. Compliance.
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees to use reasonable compliance techniques as the Manager or the Board of Trustees may adopt, including any written compliance procedures.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Manager and the Fund (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager and the Fund promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser
16

respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund (which describes the Series), but is required to be included to avoid any material misstatement or omission, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or if any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect.
(c) The Manager agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Manager or the Fund; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Manager’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Series are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Manager’s request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the Fund. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and actions of the Fund, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, and the Manager shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Series all information furnished to the Fund or the Manager by the Sub-Adviser, in connection with its duties under the Agreement except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Sub-Adviser or the Manager, or if available from a source other than the Manager, Sub-Adviser or the Fund.
11. Non-Exclusivity. The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Series and the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render investment advisory or other services to others (including other investment companies) and to engage in other activities.
12. Prohibited Conduct. The Sub-Adviser may not consult with any other sub-adviser of the Fund concerning transactions in securities or other assets for any investment portfolio of the Fund, including the Series, except that such consultations are permitted between the current and successor sub-advisers of the Series in order to effect an orderly transition of sub-advisory duties so long as such consultations are not concerning transactions prohibited by Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act.
13. Representations Respecting Sub-Adviser. The Manager agrees that neither the Manager, nor affiliated persons of the Manager, shall give any information or make any representations or statements in connection with the sale of shares of the Series concerning the Sub-Adviser or the Series other than the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Fund’s shares, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved in advance by the Sub- Adviser, except with the prior permission of the Sub-Adviser.
14. Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the Fund shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement and has reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder taken on its behalf by the Sub-Adviser.
15. Liability. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Manager agrees that the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Sub-Adviser (a) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for any act or omission respecting any series of the Fund that is not a Series hereunder, and (b) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.
16. Indemnification.
(a) The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls (controlling person) the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager’s responsibilities to the Fund which (1) may be based upon the Manager’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Manager’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or
(2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering shares of the Fund or any Series, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager or the Fund or to any affiliated
17

person of the Manager by a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 15 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, any affiliated person of the Manager, and any controlling person of the Manager (all of such persons being referred to as Manager Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Manager Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as Sub- Adviser of the Series which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Sub-Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the shares of the Fund or any Series, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager, the Fund, or any affiliated person of the Manager or Fund by the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of a Manager Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(c) The Manager shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any such claim shall not relieve the Manager from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Manager is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Sub- Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Manager assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Manager to represent the Manager and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Manager and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Manager and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub- Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Manager shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub- Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Manager shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub- Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Manager Indemnified Person unless such Manager Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Manager Indemnified Person (or after such Manager Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Manager Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Manager Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Manager Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Manager Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Manager Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Manager Indemnified Person. The Manager Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Manager Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Manager Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Manager Indemnified Person.
17. Duration and Termination.
(a) With respect to each Series identified as a Series on Schedule A hereto as in effect on the date of this Agreement, unless earlier terminated with respect to any Series, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for two years from the effective date with respect to each such Series of this Agreement. Thereafter, unless earlier terminated with respect to a Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect with respect to each such Series for periods of one year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved
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at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Series (as defined in the 1940 Act), and provided that such continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
With respect to any Series that is added to Schedule A hereto as a Series after the date of this Agreement, the Agreement shall become effective on the later of (i) the date Schedule A is amended to reflect the addition of such Series as a Series under the Agreement or (ii) the date upon which the shares of the Series are first sold to the public, subject to the condition that the Fund’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Manager, and the shareholders of such Series, shall have approved this Agreement.
Unless terminated earlier as provided herein with respect to any such Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a period of two years from the date of its effectiveness (as identified above) with respect to that Series. Thereafter, unless earlier terminated with respect to a Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect with respect to each such Series for periods of one year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, or (ii) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of such Series (as defined in the 1940 Act), and provided that such continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Manager, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. However, any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Series shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to such Series notwithstanding (i) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any other Series or (ii) that this agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, unless such approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Series covered by this Agreement: (i) by the Manager at any time, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Fund, (ii) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Fund, by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Series, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Adviser upon three (3) months’ written notice unless the Fund or the Manager requests additional time to find a replacement for the Sub-Adviser, in which case the Sub-Adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Fund or Manager not to exceed three (3) additional months beyond the initial three-month notice period; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon written notice to the Manager and the Fund, in the event either the Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith) or the Manager ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Fund, or in the event the Manager becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, or in the event that the Sub-Adviser does not receive compensation for its services from the Manager or the Fund as required by the terms of this Agreement.
In the event of termination for any reason, all records of each Series for which the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to the Manager or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is described in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section numbered 17 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub- Adviser as compensation for services rendered while the Agreement was in effect, Section 6.
(b) Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by telegram or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund:
Voya Mutual Funds
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Attention: Joanne F. Osberg
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Lazard Asset Management LLC 30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Attention: Ralph Peluso
If to the Manager:
Voya Investments, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Attention: Todd Modic
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18. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law.
19. Use of Names.
(a) It is understood that the name Voya Investments, LLC or any trademark, trade name, service mark, or logo, or any variation of such trademark, service mark, or logo of the Manager or its affiliates, including but not limited to the mark Voya® (collectively, the Voya Marks) is the valuable property of the Manager and/or its affiliates, and that the Sub-Adviser has the right to use such Voya Marks only with the prior written consent of the Manager and only so long as the Sub-Adviser is a sub-adviser to the Fund/Series. In the event that the Sub-Adviser is no longer the Sub-Adviser to the Fund and/or the Series, or upon the termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager without its replacement with another agreement, or the earlier request of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser shall, as soon as is reasonably possible, discontinue all use of the Voya Marks.
(b) It is understood that the name Lazard Asset Management, LLC, or any trademark, trade name, service mark, or logo, or any variation of such trademark, trade name, service mark, or logo of the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates (collectively, the Sub- Adviser Marks) are the valuable property of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and that the Fund and/or the Series have the right to use such Sub-Adviser Marks in the names of the Series and in offering materials of the Fund only with the approval of the Sub- Adviser and only for so long as the Sub-Adviser is a sub-adviser to the Fund and/or the Series. In the event that the Sub-Adviser is no longer the Sub-Adviser to the Fund and/or the Series, or upon the termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager without its replacement with another agreement, or the earlier request of the Sub-Adviser, the Manager shall, as soon as is reasonably possible, discontinue all use of the Sub-Adviser Marks.
20. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principle thereof. The term affiliate or affiliated person as used in this Agreement shall mean affiliated person as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(b) The Manager and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Fund enjoys the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Manager acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Management Agreement.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(d) To the extent permitted under Section 17 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other parties.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(f) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Manager, or constituting the Manager as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
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APPENDIX C: SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT FOR VOYA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO. LLC
AGREEMENT, effective as of November 18, 2014, between Voya Investments, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (the Manager), and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sub-Adviser).
WHEREAS, Voya Mutual Funds (the Trust) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue separate series, each series having its own investment objective or objectives, policies, and limitations; and
WHEREAS, the Trust may offer shares of additional series in the future; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, effective as of November 18, 2014 (the Investment Management Agreement), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser, the Trust has retained the Manager to render advisory and management services with respect to certain of the Trust’s series; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Manager in the Investment Management Agreement, the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to one or more of the series of the Trust, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Trust and the Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the investment adviser and manager to the series of the Trust set forth on Schedule A hereto (the Series) for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. To the extent that the Sub-Adviser is not the only person providing investment advisory services to a Series, the term Series shall be interpreted for purposes of this Agreement to include only those assets of the Series over which the Sub-Adviser is directed by the Manager to provide investment advisory services.
In the event the Trust designates one or more series (other than the Series) with respect to which the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the Sub-Adviser in writing. If the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such services, it shall notify the Manager in writing, whereupon such series shall become a Series hereunder, and be subject to this Agreement.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for each Series’ portfolio and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of each Series’ portfolio, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments contained in the portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of each Series’ assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Series should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest. To the extent permitted by the investment policies of each Series, the Sub-Adviser shall make decisions for the Series as to foreign currency matters and make determinations as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts on behalf of the Series. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with each Series’ investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Trust’s Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as amended, copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Manager prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any such amendment. The Sub- Adviser further agrees as follows:
(a) The Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees of which the Sub- Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of the Registration Statement of the Trust filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of which the Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Manager’s portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as in effect on the date hereof, as such policies and procedures may be revised or amended by the Manager and agreed to by the Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Adviser Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Adviser will (1) manage each Series so that it meets the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (2) if applicable, manage each Series so that no action or omission on the part of the Sub-Adviser shall cause a Series to fail to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested in connection with annual and special meetings of equity stockholders, provided however, that the Sub-Adviser retains responsibility to vote or abstain from voting all solicitations with respect to non-equity portfolio securities and all portfolio securities for matters with regard to bankruptcy or related plans of reorganization, unless the Manager gives the Sub-Adviser written instructions to the contrary. The Sub-Adviser will immediately forward any proxy it receives on behalf of the Trust solicited by or with respect to issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested to the Manager or to any agent of the Manager designated by the Manager in writing.
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The Sub-Adviser will make appropriate personnel reasonably available for consultation for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the Manager and/or the Board any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested. Upon request, the Sub-Adviser will submit a written voting recommendation to the Manager for such proxies. In making such recommendations, the Sub-Adviser shall use its good faith judgment to act in the best interests of the Series. The Sub-Adviser shall disclose to the best of its knowledge any conflict of interest with the issuers of securities that are the subject of such recommendation including whether such issuers are clients or are being solicited as clients of the Sub-Adviser or of its affiliates.
(iii) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for each Series, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Series on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Sedol, or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Series. With respect to portfolio securities to be settled through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such trades to the Trust’s custodian and portfolio accounting agent.
(iv) The Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Trust in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement for the Trust or adopted by the Board of Trustees, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Series’ assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
(v) The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager, no later than the 10th business day following the end of each Series’ semi-annual period and fiscal year, a letter to shareholders (to be subject to review and editing by the Manager) containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27(b)(7) of 1940 Act Form N-1A in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
(vi) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Manager for each month by the 10th business day of the following month.
(b) The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Trust and the Manager, promptly upon request, any of the Series’ investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Trust) as are necessary to assist the Trust and the Manager to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub- Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Series which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Trust are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(c) The Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Trust’s Board of Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the investment program for each Series and the issuers and securities represented in each Series’ portfolio, and will furnish the Trust’s Board of Trustees with respect to each Series such periodic and special reports as the Trustees and the Manager may reasonably request.
(d) With respect to any investments, including, but not limited to, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, derivatives contracts, futures contracts, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements, and options on futures contracts (futures), which are permitted to be made by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with this Agreement and the investment objectives and strategies of the Series as outlined in the Registration Statement for the Trust, the Manager hereby authorizes and directs the Sub-Adviser to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever necessary or incidental in performing its duties and obligations under this Agreement including, but not limited to, executing as agent, on behalf of each Series, brokerage agreements and other documents to establish, operate and conduct all brokerage or other trading accounts, and executing as agent, on behalf of each Series, such agreements and other documentation as may be required for the purchase or sale, assignment, transfer and ownership of any permitted investment, including limited partnership agreements, repurchase and derivative master agreements, including any schedules and annexes to such agreements, releases, consents, elections and confirmations. The Manager acknowledges and understands that it will be bound by any such trading accounts established, and agreements and other documentation executed, by the Sub-Adviser for such investment purposes.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for each Series’ portfolio, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates in effecting a security transaction. The Sub-Adviser’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Series, taking into account the factors specified in the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Trust, and determined in consultation with the Manager, which include price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread), the size of the order, the nature of the market for the security, the timing of the transaction, the reputation, the experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of the service, the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved, and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. Accordingly, the price to a Series in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Trust, by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Subject to such policies as the Trust’s Board of Trustees or Manager may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Series to pay a broker-dealer for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
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transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s or the Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Series and to their respective other clients as to which they exercise investment discretion. The Sub-Adviser will consult with the Manager to the end that portfolio transactions on behalf of a Series are directed to broker-dealers on the basis of criteria reasonably considered appropriate by the Manager. To the extent consistent with these standards, the Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of a Series to the Sub-Adviser if it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC, to an affiliated broker-dealer, or to such brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material, or other services to the Series, the Sub-Adviser, or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with the above standards, and the Sub- Adviser will report on said allocation regularly to the Trust’s Board of Trustees indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
4. Disclosure about Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the most recent Post- Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Trust filed with the SEC that contains disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or information relating, directly or indirectly, to the Sub-Adviser, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect. The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager with a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part II at the time the Form ADV is filed with the SEC.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement. The Manager or the Trust shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Trust’s operations. In addition, if the Trust is required, under applicable law, to supplement the Registration Statement because of a change requested by the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will reimburse the Trust and/or the Manager for the cost of preparing, printing and distributing such supplement, unless the Sub-Adviser is requesting the change in order to comply with an applicable law, rule or regulation.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to each Series, the Manager will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified for such Series in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. In accordance with the provisions of the Investment Management Agreement, the Manager is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Manager; provided, however, that if the Trust fails to pay the Manager all or a portion of the Investment Management fee under said Investment Management Agreement when due, and the amount that was paid is insufficient to cover the Sub-Adviser’s fee under this Agreement for the period in question, then the Sub-Adviser may enforce against the Trust any rights it may have as a third-party beneficiary under the Investment Management Agreement and the Manager will take all steps appropriate under the circumstances to collect the amount due from the Trust.
7. Marketing Materials.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to furnish the Manager at its principal office for prior review and approval by the Manager all written and/or printed materials, including but not limited to, PowerPoint or slide presentations, news releases, advertisements, brochures, fact sheets and other promotional, informational or marketing materials (the Marketing Materials) for internal use or public dissemination, that are produced or are for use or reference by the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates or other designees, broker-dealers or the public in connection with the Series, and Sub-Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Manager reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Manager by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish the Sub- Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, or Marketing Materials prepared for distribution to shareholders of each Series, or the public that refer to the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to the use thereof, and the Manager shall not use any such materials if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such materials is limited to the portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its services and its clients. The Manager agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by its employees or agents or its affiliates that refer to the Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Sub-Adviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Sub- Adviser by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
8. Compliance.
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees to use reasonable compliance techniques as the Manager or the Board of Trustees may adopt, including any written compliance procedures.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Manager and the Trust (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (2) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager and the Trust promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Trust (which describes the Series), or any amendment or supplement thereto, or if any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect.
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(c) The Manager agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Manager or the Trust; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Manager’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (2) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Series may be the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s or the Manager’s request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Trust and actions of the Trust, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, and the Manager shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Series all information furnished to the Trust or the Manager by the Sub-Adviser, in connection with its duties under the Agreement except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Sub-Adviser or the Manager, or if available from a source other than the Manager, Sub-Adviser or this Trust.
11. Non-Exclusivity. The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Series and the Trust are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render investment advisory or other services to others (including other investment companies) and to engage in other activities, provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may not consult with any other sub-adviser of the Trust concerning transactions in securities or other assets for any investment portfolio of the Trust, including the Series, except that such consultations are permitted between the current and successor sub-advisers of the Series in order to effect an orderly transition of sub-advisory duties so long as such consultations are not concerning transactions prohibited by Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act.
12. Representations Respecting Sub-Adviser. The Manager agrees that neither the Manager, nor affiliated persons of the Manager, shall give any information or make any representations or statements in connection with the sale of shares of the Series concerning the Sub-Adviser or the Series other than the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Trust’s shares, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Trust, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved in advance by the Sub- Adviser, except with the prior permission of the Sub-Adviser.
13. Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the Trust shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement and has reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder taken on its behalf by the Sub-Adviser.
14. Liability. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Manager agrees that the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Sub-Adviser (1) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for any act or omission respecting any series of the Trust that is not a Series hereunder, and (2) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.
15. Indemnification.
(a) The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls (controlling person) the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager’s responsibilities to the Trust which (1) may be based upon the Manager’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Manager’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or
(2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering shares of the Trust or any Series, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager or the Trust or to any affiliated person of the Manager by a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 14 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, any affiliated person of the Manager, and any controlling person of the Manager (all of such persons being referred to as Manager Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Manager Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as Sub- Adviser of the Series which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Sub-Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the shares of the Trust or any Series, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager, the Trust, or any affiliated person of the Manager or Fund by the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of a Manager Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(c) The Manager shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 15 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any such claim shall not relieve the Manager from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Manager is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Manager assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Manager to represent the Manager and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Manager and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Manager and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Manager shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Manager shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 15 with respect to any claim made against a Manager Indemnified Person unless such Manager Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Manager Indemnified Person (or after such Manager Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Manager Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Manager Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Manager Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Manager Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Manager Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Manager Indemnified Person. The Manager Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Manager Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Manager Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Manager Indemnified Person.
16. Duration and Termination.
(a) With respect to each Series identified as a Series on Schedule A hereto as in effect on the date of this Agreement, unless earlier terminated with respect to any Series this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for two years from the effective date of this Agreement with respect to each such Series of this Agreement. Thereafter, unless earlier terminated with respect to a Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect with respect to each such Series for periods of one year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Series (as defined in the 1940 Act), and provided that such continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust or the Manager, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
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With respect to any Series that is added to Schedule A hereto as a Series after the date of this Agreement, the Agreement shall become effective on the later of (i) the date Schedule A is amended to reflect the addition of such Series as a Series under the Agreement or (ii) the date upon which the shares of the Series are first sold to the public, subject to the condition that the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Manager, and, to the extent necessary under applicable Law, the shareholders of such Series, shall have approved this Agreement.
Unless terminated earlier as provided herein with respect to any such Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a period of two years from the date of its effectiveness (as identified above) with respect to that Series. Thereafter, unless earlier terminated with respect to a Series, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect with respect to each such Series for periods of one year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or (ii) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of such Series (as defined in the 1940 Act), and provided that such continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust or the Manager, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. However, any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Series shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to such Series notwithstanding (i) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any other Series or (ii) that this Agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust, unless such approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Series covered by this Agreement: (a) by the Manager at any time, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, (b) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Series, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, or (c) by the Sub-Adviser upon three (3) months’ written notice unless the Trust or the Manager requests additional time to find a replacement for the Sub-Adviser, in which case the Sub-Adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Trust or Manager not to exceed three (3) additional months beyond the initial three-month notice period; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon written notice to the Manager and the Trust, in the event either the Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith) or the Manager ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Trust, or in the event the Manager becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, or in the event that the Sub-Adviser does not receive compensation for its services from the Manager or the Trust as required by the terms of this Agreement.
In the event of termination for any reason, all records of each Series for which the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to the Manager or the Trust, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is described in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section numbered 16 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub- Adviser as compensation for services rendered while the Agreement was in effect, Section 6.
(b) Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by telegram or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Trust:
Voya Mutual Funds
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
Attention: Kimberly A. Anderson
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
One Orange Way, C1-N
Windsor, CT 06095
Attention: Carolyn Augur Birbara, Legal Department
With a copy to:
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
230 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10169
Attention: Gerald Lins
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If to the Manager:
Voya Investments, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Attention: Michael J. Roland
17. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principle thereof. The term affiliate or affiliated person as used in this Agreement shall mean affiliated person as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(b) The Manager and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Trust enjoys the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Manager acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Investment Management Agreement.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(d) To the extent permitted under Section 16 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other parties.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(f) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Manager, or constituting the Manager as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
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APPENDIX D: SUB-SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT FOR VOYA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED
AGREEMENT, effective as of May 13, 2024, between Voya Investment Management Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sub-Adviser), and Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited, a company incorporated in England (the Sub-Sub-Adviser) (the Agreement).
WHEREAS, Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund (the Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement, (the Sub-Advisory Agreement), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Sub-Adviser, Voya Investments, LLC, the Fund’s adviser (the Adviser), has retained the Sub-Adviser to render advisory and management services with respect to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Sub-Adviser in the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Sub-Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Sub-Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Sub-Adviser to act as an investment adviser and manager to the Fund for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. To the extent that the Sub-Sub-Adviser is not the only person providing investment advisory services to a Series, the term Series shall be interpreted for purposes of this Agreement to only include those assets of the Series over which the Sub-Sub-Adviser is directed by the Sub-Adviser to provide investment advisory services. The Sub-Adviser will be treated as a Professional Client for the discretionary investment management services with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser confirms that this classification is appropriate. It is the responsibility of the Sub-Adviser to inform Sub-Sub-Adviser immediately about any change that might affect the appropriate categorization of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has the right to request Sub-Sub-Adviser to categorize it as a retail client either generally or in specific circumstances. However, it is Sub-Sub-Adviser’s policy not to agree to such a request.
2. Sub-Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees; the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the assets of the Fund’s portfolio apportioned to the Sub-Sub-Adviser and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of the Fund’s portfolio, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments contained in the portfolio. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Fund, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Fund should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest. To the extent permitted by the investment policies of the Fund, the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall make decisions for the Fund as to foreign currency matters and make determinations as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts on behalf of the Fund. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Fund's investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Fund's Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), as amended, copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Sub-Adviser by the Sub-Adviser prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any such amendment. The Sub-Sub-Adviser further agrees as follows:
(a) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees of which the Sub-Sub-Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of the Registration Statement of the Fund filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of which the Sub-Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as in effect on the date hereof, as such policies and procedures may be revised or amended by the Sub-Adviser and agreed to by the Sub-Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Sub-Adviser Agreement, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will manage the Fund so that it meets the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(ii) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund are invested in connection with annual and special meetings of equity stockholders, provided however, that the Sub-Sub-Adviser retains responsibility to vote or abstain from voting all solicitations with respect to non-equity portfolio securities and all portfolio securities for matters with regard to bankruptcy or related plans of reorganization, unless the Sub-Adviser gives the Sub-Sub-Adviser written instructions to the contrary. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will immediately forward any proxy it receives on behalf of the Fund solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund are invested to the Sub-Adviser or to any agent of the Sub-Adviser designated by the Sub-Adviser in writing.
The Sub-Sub-Adviser will make appropriate personnel reasonably available for consultation for the purpose. of reviewing with representatives of the Sub-Adviser and/or the Board any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund are invested. Upon request, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will submit a voting recommendation to the Sub-Adviser for such proxies. In making such recommendations, the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall use its good faith judgment to act in the best interest of the Fund. The Sub-Sub-Adviser shall disclose to the best of its knowledge any conflict of interest with the issuers of securities that are the subject of such recommendation.
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(iii) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Sedol, or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its administrative and record keeping responsibilities with respect to the Fund. With respect to portfolio securities to be settled through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will arrange for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such trades to the Fund’s custodian and portfolio accounting agent.
(iv) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement for the Fund or adopted by the Board of Trustees, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Sub-Adviser. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Fund’s assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
(v) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide the Sub-Adviser, no later than the 10th business day following the end of the Fund’s semi-annual period and fiscal year, a letter to shareholders (to be subject to review and editing by the Sub-Adviser) containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27(b)(7) of 1940 Act Form N-IA in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
(vi) A complete written compliance checklist, in a form provided by the Sub-Adviser, will be delivered to the Sub-Adviser for each month by the 10th business day of the following month.
(b) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will use reasonable efforts to make available to the Fund and the Sub-Adviser, promptly upon request, any of the Fund’s investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Fund) as are necessary to assist the Fund and the Sub-Adviser to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Fund which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(c) The Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Fund’s Board of Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the investment program for the Fund and the portfolio as required by applicable law.
(d) With respect to any investments, including but not limited to repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, derivatives contracts, futures contracts and options on futures contracts (futures), which are permitted to be made by the Sub-Sub-Adviser in accordance with this Agreement and the investment objectives of the Fund as outlined in the prospectus and/or the most recent annual and semi-annual report, the Sub-Adviser hereby authorizes and directs the Sub-Sub-Adviser to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever necessary or incidental in performing its duties and obligations under this Agreement including, but not limited to, executing as agent on behalf of the Fund or series of Funds, as the case may be, brokerage agreements and other documents to establish, operate and conduct all brokerage or other trading accounts, and executing as agent on behalf of the Fund or series of Funds, as the case may be, such agreements and other documentation as may be required for the purchase or sale, assignment, transfer and ownership of any permitted investment, including limited partnership agreements, repurchase agreements and derivative master agreements (including but not limited to the ISDA Master Agreements, Credit Support Annexes, Collateral Account Control Agreements, Master Confirmation Agreements, Confirmations), including any schedules and annexes to such agreements, releases, consents, elections and confirmations. The Sub-Sub-Adviser acknowledges that it is obligated to negotiate terms and conditions that conform to the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder and are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders with respect to such documents. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges and understands that it will be bound by any such trading accounts established, and agreements and other documentation executed, by the Sub-Sub-Adviser for such investment purposes.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Fund’s portfolio, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates in effecting a security transaction. The Sub-Sub-Adviser's primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Fund, taking into account the factors specified in the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Fund, and determined in consultation with the Sub-Adviser, which include price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread), the size of the order, the nature of the market for the security, the timing of the transaction, the reputation, the experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of the service, the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved, and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. Accordingly, the price to the Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Sub-Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Fund, by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Subject to such policies as the Fund’s Board of Trustees or Sub-Adviser may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker-dealer for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Sub-Sub-Adviser’s or the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to their respective other clients as to which they exercise investment discretion. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will consult with the Sub-Adviser to the end that portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund are directed to broker-dealers on the basis of criteria reasonably considered appropriate by the Sub-Adviser. To the extent consistent with these standards, the Sub-Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to the Sub-Sub-Adviser if it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC, to an affiliated broker-dealer,
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or to such brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material, or other services to the Fund, the Sub-Sub-Adviser, or an affiliate of the Sub-Sub-Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with the above standards, and the Sub-Sub-Adviser will report on said allocation regularly to the Fund’s Board of Trustees indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
4. Disclosure about Sub-Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Sub-Adviser has reviewed the most recent Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Fund filed with the SEC that contains disclosure about the Sub-Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Sub-Adviser or information relating, directly or indirectly, to the Sub-Sub-Adviser, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect. The Sub-Sub-Adviser will provide the Sub-Adviser with a copy of the Sub-Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part 2 at the time the Form ADV is filed with the SEC.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement. In addition, if the Fund is required, under applicable law, to supplement the Registration Statement because of a change requested by the Sub-Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will reimburse the Fund and/or the Sub-Adviser for the cost of preparing, printing and distributing such supplement, unless the Sub-Sub-Adviser is requesting the change in order to comply with an applicable law, rule or regulation. The Adviser or the Fund shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund’s operations.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser will pay the Sub-Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified for the Fund on Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. In accordance with the provisions of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that if the Fund fails to pay the Sub-Adviser all or a portion of the management fee under said Sub-Advisory Agreement when due, and the amount that was paid is insufficient to cover the Sub-Sub-Adviser's fee under this Agreement for the period in question, then the Sub-Sub-Adviser may enforce against the Fund any rights it may have as a third-party beneficiary under the Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Adviser will take all steps appropriate under the circumstances to collect the amount due from the Fund. Expense Sharing. The Sub-Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to reimburse the Sub-Adviser for the following costs incurred in connection with the Fund: all expenses or costs not ultimately borne by the Fund incurred in connection with creating and ongoing organization of the Fund and the Series to which the Sub-Adviser acts as investment adviser and manager; registering its shares for initial public offering; listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange; preparing for and conducting the road shows to obtain indications of interest; producing, printing and delivering marketing materials and the red herring prospectus for the Fund; compensating registered representatives of Voya Investments Distributor, LLC (formerly, ING Funds Distributor, LLC) for sales of Fund shares; compensating the members of the underwriting syndicate for the Fund’s closing; and the Fund’s initial public offering, including the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option; transitioning of assets resulting from sub-sub-adviser changes, and conducting proxies (collectively, the Covered Expenses). The Sub-Sub-Adviser shall reimburse the Sub-Adviser for 57.0% of Covered Expenses. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Sub-Sub-Adviser reasonable proof of the amount incurred and that it is a Covered Expense and the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall provide reimbursement promptly after receipt of such proof.
7. Marketing Materials.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Sub-Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub-Adviser at its principal office for prior review and approval by the Sub-Adviser all written and/or printed materials, including but not limited to, PowerPoint® or slide presentations, news releases, advertisements, brochures, fact sheets and other promotional, informational or marketing materials (the Marketing Materials) for internal use or public dissemination, that are produced or are for use or reference by the Sub-Sub-Adviser, its affiliates or other designees, broker-dealers or the public in connection with the Fund, and Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Sub-Adviser by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub-Sub-Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, or Marketing Materials prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Fund, or the public that refer to the Sub-Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to the use thereof, and the Sub-Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Sub-Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such materials is limited to the portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Sub-Adviser, its services and its clients. The Sub-Adviser agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by its employees or agents or its affiliates that refer to the Sub-Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Sub-Sub-Adviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Sub-Sub-Adviser by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
8. Compliance.
(a) The Sub-Sub-Adviser is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the UK Financial Services Register under number 565503 and its VAT number is 308 0269 23.
(b) The Sub-Sub-Adviser agrees to use reasonable compliance techniques as the Sub-Adviser or the Board of Trustees may adopt, including any written or electronic compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
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(c) The Sub-Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser and the Fund (i) in the event that the SEC or any other regulatory authority having the requisite authority has censured the Sub-Sub-Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Sub-Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Sub-Adviser and the Fund promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund (which describes the Fund), or any amendment or supplement thereto, or if any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect.
(d) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Sub-Adviser (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser or the Fund; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or revoked the Sub-Adviser’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund may be the property of the Fund and further agrees to promptly make available to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Sub-Adviser’s request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the Fund. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and actions of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Fund all information furnished to the Fund or the Sub-Adviser by the Sub-Sub-Adviser, in connection with its duties under the Agreement except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Sub-Sub-Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, or if available from a source other than the Sub-Adviser, Sub-Sub-Adviser or the Fund.
11. Non-Exclusivity. The services of the Sub-Sub-Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall be free to render investment advisory or other services to others (including other investment companies) and to engage in other activities.
12. Representations Respecting Sub-Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser agrees that neither the Sub-Adviser, nor affiliated persons of the Sub-Adviser, shall give any information or make any representations or statements in connection with the sale of shares of the Fund concerning the Sub-Sub-Adviser or the Fund other than the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Fund’s shares, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved in advance by the Sub-Sub-Adviser, except with the prior permission of the Sub-Sub-Adviser.
13. Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the Fund shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement and has reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder taken on its behalf by the Sub-Sub-Adviser.
14. Liability. The management services provided by the Sub-Sub-Adviser are wholly for the account and risk of the Fund. Other than in the cases where such damage arises out of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of duties on the part of the Sub-SubAdviser, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this agreement, the Sub-Sub-Adviser is not responsible for any damage that the Fund, the Sub-Adviser or any other party may suffer at any time, including damage resulting from reductions in value or losses and damage as a result of shortcomings of natural persons and legal entities that are not a party to this agreement, or other employees or agents of the Sub-Sub-Adviser. No party shall be liable for any losses caused by force majeure, riot, war or natural events due to other occurrences for which the party cannot be held responsible (e.g. administrative act of domestic or foreign high authorities).
15. Indemnification.
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Sub- Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls (controlling person) the Sub-Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities to the Fund which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Sub-Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering shares of the Fund, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Sub-Adviser or the Fund or to any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser by a Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity
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in favor of the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 15 of this Agreement, the Sub-Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and any controlling person of the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub-Sub-Adviser’s responsibilities as Sub-Sub-Adviser of the Fund which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Sub-Adviser’s negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Sub-Sub-Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the shares of the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Sub-Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Sub-Sub-Adviser by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Sub-Adviser of any material changes in the Registration Statement of the Fund.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to represent the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. A Sub-Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser unless the Sub-Adviser has failed to provide a defense in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(d) The Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Sub-Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Sub-Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Sub-Adviser assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Sub-Adviser and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. A Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Sub-Adviser unless the Sub-Sub-Adviser has failed to provide a defense in accordance with the provisions hereof.
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16. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first indicated above, subject to the condition that the Fund’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Sub-Adviser or the Sub-Sub-Adviser, and the shareholders of the Fund, shall have approved this Agreement. Unless terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until for two years from the effective date of this Agreement subject to termination pursuant to this Agreement or termination otherwise by law, and continue on an annual basis thereafter with respect to the Fund covered by this Agreement; provided that such annual continuance is specifically approved each year by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, and (ii) the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. However, any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to the Fund notwithstanding (i) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any other Fund or (ii) that this agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, unless such approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund covered by this Agreement: (i) by the Sub-Adviser at any time, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Sub-Adviser and the Fund, (ii) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Fund, by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Sub-Adviser at any time without payment of penalty upon three (3) months’ written notice unless the Fund or the Sub-Adviser requests additional time to find a replacement for the Sub-Sub-Adviser, in which case the Sub-Sub-Adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Fund or Sub-Adviser not to exceed three (3) additional months beyond the initial three-month notice period; provided, however, that the Sub-Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Fund, in the event either the Sub-Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith) or the Sub-Adviser ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Fund, or in the event the Sub-Adviser becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, or in the event that the Sub-Sub-Adviser does not receive compensation for its services from the Sub-Adviser or the Fund as required by the terms of this Agreement.
In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Fund for which the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to the Sub-Adviser or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Sub-Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is described in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section numbered 17 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Sub-Adviser as compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect, Section 6.
(b) Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by telegram or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund:
Voya Multi-Manager International Equity Fund
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
Attention: Chief Counsel
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
230 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10169
Attention: Voya IM Legal Department
If to the Sub-Sub-Adviser:
Voya Investment Management (UK) Limited
35 King Street
London, EC2V 8EH
Attention: Voya IM Legal Department
17. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law.
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18. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principle thereof. The term affiliate or affiliated person as used in this Agreement shall mean affiliated person as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(b) The Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Fund enjoys the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(d) To the extent permitted under Section 17 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other parties.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(f) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser, or constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Sub-Adviser.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
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APPENDIX E: OFFICERS OF THE FUND
Name and Title of each Officer of the Fund
Andy Simonoff – President and Chief Executive Officer
Jonathan Nash – Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Risk Officer
Steven Hartstein – Chief Compliance Officer
Todd Modic – Senior Vice President, Chief/Principal Financial Officer, and Assistant Secretary
Kimberly A. Anderson – Senior Vice President
Sara M. Donaldson – Senior Vice President
Jason Kadavy – Senior Vice President
Andrew K. Schlueter – Senior Vice President
Joanne F. Osberg – Senior Vice President and Secretary
Robert Terris – Senior Vice President
Fred Bedoya – Vice President, Principal Accounting Officer, and Treasurer
Robyn L. Ichilov – Vice President
Erica McKenna – Vice President
Craig Wheeler – Vice President
Gizachew Wubishet – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Nicholas C.D. Ward – Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Monia Piacenti – Anti-Money Laundering Officer
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APPENDIX F: BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP AS OF THE RECORD DATE
The following table provides information about the persons or entities who, to the knowledge of the Fund, owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of any class of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of May 6, 2024.
Name and Address of
Shareholder
Percent of Class of
Shares and Type of
Ownership
Percentage of
Fund
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001
8.0%; Class I
Beneficial
8.0%
Voya Solution 2035 Portfolio
Attn Voya Operations
7337 E Doubletree Ranch Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2144
9.2%; Class I
Beneficial
9.2%
Voya Solution 2045 Portfolio
Attn Voya Operations
7337 E Doubletree Ranch Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
10.8%; Class I
Beneficial
10.8%
Voya Global Diversified Payment Fund
Attn Voya Operations
7337 E Doubletree Ranch Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
7.7%; Class I
Beneficial
7.7%
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APPENDIX G: ADVISORY FEES
During the past three fiscal years, the Fund paid the following investment management fees to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates.
October 31, 2023
October 31, 2022
October 31, 2021
$2,704,057
$3,980,309
$4,992,107
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