Strategy. Macquarie VIP Asset Strategy Series seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets among different asset classes of varying correlation around the globe. The Manager primarily invests a portion of the Series' assets in global equity securities that the Manager believes can outperform the Series' benchmark index, the MSCI ACWI Index, over a full market cycle before taking into account fund expenses (the Equity portion). The Manager then invests the Series' remaining assets (the Diversifying portion) in various additional asset classes that may have a lower correlation or volatility than the Equity portion, including but not limited to global fixed-income securities, United States Treasury (Treasury) instruments, precious metals, commodities and cash. The Manager may allocate the Series' investments among … Show more… Macquarie VIP Asset Strategy Series seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets among different asset classes of varying correlation around the globe. The Manager primarily invests a portion of the Series' assets in global equity securities that the Manager believes can outperform the Series' benchmark index, the MSCI ACWI Index, over a full market cycle before taking into account fund expenses (the Equity portion). The Manager then invests the Series' remaining assets (the Diversifying portion) in various additional asset classes that may have a lower correlation or volatility than the Equity portion, including but not limited to global fixed-income securities, United States Treasury (Treasury) instruments, precious metals, commodities and cash. The Manager may allocate the Series' investments among these different asset classes in different proportions at different times, but generally seeks to invest 55%-65% of the Series' total assets in equities or equity-like securities and 35%-45% of the Series' total assets in the Diversifying portion. In Series summary connection with the active allocation among these different asset classes, Macquarie Investment Management Austria Kapitalanlage AG (MIMAK), the sub-advisor to the Series, will also manage a tactical/completion sleeve. The tactical/completion sleeve will typically vary from 0% to 20% of the Series' total assets and primarily hold derivatives and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). If applicable, the derivatives and ETFs within the tactical/completion sleeve will also be counted towards the asset classes noted above. MIMAK and the Manager use a dynamic asset-allocation framework to determine the proportion of the Series' assets that will be allocated to the various asset classes noted above, based on the market assessment and portfolio risk contribution for such asset classes. For the purposes of this section, a reference to the Manager may also include MIMAK, with respect to its role as sub-advisor of the Series. In selecting securities for the Series, the Manager primarily emphasizes a bottom-up (researching individual issuers) approach and seeks to find relative value across the asset classes noted above. Part of the Managers investment process also includes a top-down (assessing the market and economic environment) analysis. With respect to the Equity portion, the Manager seeks what it believes are well-positioned companies with a strong and/or growing sustainable competitive advantage in attractive industries across the globe which the Manager believes can exceed current earnings estimates. The Manager looks for companies that are taking market share within their industries, which results in high levels of cash flow, as well as stable to improving margins and returns. The Manager generally focuses on companies that are growing, innovating, improving margins, returning capital through dividend growth or share buybacks and/or offering what the Manager believes to be sustainable high free cash flow. The Series has the flexibility to invest in both growth and value companies. Although the Series primarily invests in securities issued by large, well-established companies, it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size. Within the Diversifying portion, the Series has the flexibility to invest in a wide range of assets that, in the Managers view, present attractive risk-adjusted returns as compared to the Equity portion, and/or reduce the Series overall risk profile. Diversifying assets may be comprised of global fixed-income instruments, including investment-grade and high-yield bonds, as well as emerging market, corporate and sovereign bonds, and bank loans, although the Manager anticipates that a majority of the assets within the Diversifying portion will consist of investment-grade securities. As noted, such fixed-income instruments may include high-yield/high-risk bonds, or junk bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality; although the Manager anticipates that investments in junk bonds will be minimal within the Diversifying portion, and, in no event, will such investments exceed 10% of the Series total assets. When selecting these instruments, the Manager focuses heavily on free cash flow and an issuers ability to de-lever itself (in other words to reduce debt) through the credit cycle. The Series also can invest in government securities issued by the Treasury (such as Treasury bills, notes or bonds), obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest (but not as to market value) by the US government, its agencies or instrumentalities, international and supranational bonds issued or guaranteed by other governments and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by government agencies or government-sponsored enterprises, as well as Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPs), and cash. The Series may use a wide range of derivatives instruments, typically including forward foreign currency contracts, options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and credit default swaps. The Series will use derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes; as a substitute for purchasing or selling securities; and to manage the portfolio characteristics. For example, the Series may invest in: futures and options to manage duration and for defensive purposes, such as to protect gains or hedge against potential losses in the portfolio without actually selling a security, or to stay fully invested; forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure; and credit default swaps to hedge against a credit event, to gain exposure to certain securities or markets, or to enhance total return. Within each of the Equity and the Diversifying portions, the Series may invest in US and foreign securities. The Equity portion of the Series generally will invest at least 30% of its assets, and may invest up to 75%, in foreign securities and in securities denominated in currencies other than the US dollar, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many of the companies in which the Series may invest have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Series may have indirect exposure to various foreign markets through investments in these companies, even if the Series is not invested directly in such markets. The Manager may allocate the Series investments among the different types of assets noted above in different proportions at different times (keeping in mind the general percentages noted above) and may exercise a flexible strategy in selecting investments. The Manager does not intend to concentrate the Series in any geographical region or industry sector; however, it is not limited by investment style or by the issuers location or industry sector. Subject to diversification limits, the Series also may invest up to 10% of its total assets at the time of investment in precious metals. At times, the Series may invest in a wholly-owned company acting as an investment vehicle for the Series to effect certain investments consistent with the Series' investment objective (Subsidiary). The Series' investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Series with exposure to certain investments in accordance with the limits of the federal tax laws. The Series complies with the provisions of the 1940 Act governing investment policies, capital structure and leverage on an aggregate basis with the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary complies with the Investment Company Act of 1940's provisions relating to affiliated transactions and custody of assets. In addition, the Manager may seek investment advice and recommendations relating to fixed income securities from its affiliates: Macquarie Investment Management Europe Limited (MIMEL) and Macquarie Investment Management Global Limited (MIMGL). The Manager may also permit MIMGL to execute Series equity security trades on behalf of the Manager. The Manager may also permit MIMEL and MIMGL to exercise investment discretion and perform trading for fixed income securities in certain markets where the Manager believes it will be beneficial to utilize MIMELs or MIMGLs specialized market knowledge, and the Manager may also seek quantitative support from MIMGL. MIMGL is also responsible for managing real estate investment trust securities and other equity asset classes to which the portfolio managers may allocate assets from time to time. Show less