Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund Announces Results of the Special Shareholder Meeting Relating to the Proposed Reorganization With abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund

Today, Delaware Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund (the “Acquired Fund”), a New York Stock Exchange-listed closed-end fund trading under the symbol “IVH”, announced that it held its Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) on November 9, 2022. At the Meeting, shareholders of the Acquired Fund voted to approve the reorganization of the Acquired Fund into abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), a New York Stock Exchange-listed closed-end fund trading under the symbol “ACP” (the “Reorganization”).

As of the record date, August 11, 2022, the Acquired Fund had outstanding 16,570,234.60 shares of common stock. 61.07% of outstanding common stock were voted representing quorum.

Proposal:

The shareholders of the Acquiring Fund approved the issuance of shares of the Acquiring Fund at a special shareholder meeting held on November 9, 2022, subject to the approval of the Reorganization proposal by shareholders of the Acquired Fund. It is currently expected that the Reorganization will be completed in the first quarter of 2023 subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Delaware Management Company, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, is the investment manager of the Acquired Fund. Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited is the investment adviser of the Acquiring Fund and abrdn Inc. is the investment sub-adviser of the Acquiring Fund.

The information in this press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

About the Acquired Fund

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide total return through a combination of a high level of current income and capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of high yield corporate bonds of varying maturities and other fixed income instruments of predominantly corporate issuers, including first- and second-lien secured loans (“Secured Loans”). In addition, the Fund utilizes leveraging techniques in an attempt to obtain a higher return for the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in a portfolio of U.S. and foreign bonds, loans and other fixed income instruments, as well as other investments (including derivatives) with similar economic characteristics. The Fund will invest primarily in instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB- by either Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”)), or unrated but judged by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s total assets, including the assets attributable to the proceeds from any borrowings or other forms of structural leverage minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. The Fund may invest 100% of its Managed Assets in fixed income instruments and securities issued by foreign issuers, and up to 25% of its Managed Assets in fixed income instruments and securities of issuers in emerging markets. Such foreign instruments may be U.S. currency denominated or foreign currency denominated. Under normal market conditions the Fund’s investments will consist predominantly of high yield bonds and/or Secured Loans; however, the Fund’s investments in fixed income instruments also may include, to a lesser extent, debentures, notes, commercial paper, investment grade bonds, loans other than secured loans, including unsecured loans and mezzanine loans, and other similar types of debt instruments, as well as derivatives related to or referencing these types of securities and instruments. The Fund will not invest in collateralized loan obligations or collateralized debt obligations. The Fund will seek to dynamically adjust and hedge its duration depending on the market opportunities available. Under normal circumstances, the dollar-weighted average portfolio duration of the Fund will generally range between zero and seven years.

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The price of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate with market conditions and other factors. Closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset values (NAVs), which may increase an investor’s risk of loss. At the time of sale, shares may have a market price that is below NAV and may be worth less than the original investment upon their sale.

The Fund’s investments in below investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) may carry a greater risk of nonpayment of interest or principal than higher rated bonds. Loans (including loan assignments, loan participations and other loan instruments) carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Loans may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market.

About Macquarie Asset Management

Macquarie Asset Management is a global asset manager that aims to deliver positive impact for everyone. Trusted by institutions, pension funds, governments, and individuals to manage more than $US508 billion in assets globally,¹ we provide access to specialist investment expertise across a range of capabilities including infrastructure, green investments & renewables, real estate, agriculture & natural assets, asset finance, private credit, equities, fixed income and multi asset solutions.

Advisory services are provided by Delaware Management Company, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, a registered investment advisor. Macquarie Asset Management is part of Macquarie Group, a diversified financial group providing clients with asset management, finance, banking, advisory and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity, and commodities. Founded in 1969, Macquarie Group employs more than 18,000 people in 33 markets and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For more information about Delaware Funds by Macquarie^®, visit delawarefunds.com or call 800 523-1918.

Other than Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (“Macquarie Bank”), any Macquarie Group entity noted in this press release is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these other Macquarie Group entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank. Macquarie Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these other Macquarie Group entities. In addition, if this press release relates to an investment, (a) the investor is subject to investment risk including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and principal invested and (b) none of Macquarie Bank or any other Macquarie Group entity guarantees any particular rate of return on or the performance of the investment, nor do they guarantee repayment of capital in respect of the investment.

¹ As of September 30, 2022

© 2022 Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221109006091/en/