497 1 d295219d497.htm IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios
Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers one Portfolio of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolio of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

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Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

  6        

More About the Portfolio

  6        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  7        

Additional Investment Considerations

  7        

Defining Risks

  12        

The Management of the Portfolio

  14        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  18        

Distributions and Taxes

  19        

Financial Highlights

  22        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.16%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$118

     $ 368       $ 638       $ 1,409   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of small cap companies. Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. The Portfolio emphasizes relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is opportunity for rapid growth. The Portfolio’s investment in equity securities may include common stocks that are offered in initial public offerings (IPOs).

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, utilizes a bottom-up stock picking process that focuses on companies it believes have sustainable long-term growth potential with superior financial characteristics and, therefore, are believed by WRIMCO to be of a higher quality than many other small cap companies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors regarding a company, such as: management that is aggressive and/or creative, yet strong and/or dedicated; technological or specialized expertise; new or unique products or services; entry into new or emerging industries; growth in earnings/growth in revenue and sales/positive cash flows; rising returns on investment; and security size and liquidity. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks.

 

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Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it determines that the stock no longer offers significant growth potential, which may be due to a change in the business or management of the company or a change in the industry of the company. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

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Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

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   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 24.14% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -28.33% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     -10.60%         1.39%         4.43%   

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -2.91%         2.09%         4.48%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.82%         1.82%         3.88%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kenneth G. McQuade, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since March 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolio

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of small cap companies that are relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is an opportunity for rapid growth. The emphasis on portfolio risk diversification is an important contributor to the ability to effectively manage risk, as a desired goal is to have a portfolio of securities that tend not to react in high correlation to one another under any economic or market condition. This emphasis is intended to result in a higher degree of diversification, reduced portfolio volatility, and a smoother more consistent pattern of portfolio returns over the long term. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO considers quality of management and superior financial characteristics (for example, return on assets, return on equity, operating margin) in its search for companies, thereby focusing on higher-quality companies. WRIMCO seeks companies that it believes exhibit defensible market positions by having one or more of the following characteristics: a company that is a strong niche player, that features the involvement of the founder, that demonstrates a strong commitment to shareholders, or that focuses on organic growth. WRIMCO believes that such companies generally have a replicable business model that allows for sustained growth. The focus on holding an investment is intermediate to long-term. WRIMCO considers selling a holding if its analysis reveals evidence of a meaningful deterioration in operating trends, it anticipates a decrease in the company’s ability to grow and gain market shares and/or the company’s founder departs.

Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the small cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. From time to time, the Portfolio also will invest a lesser portion of its assets in securities of mid and large cap companies (that is, companies with market capitalizations larger than that defined above) that, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being fundamentally changed or revitalized, have a position that is considered strong relative to the market as a whole or otherwise offer unusual opportunities for above-average growth.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in securities convertible into common stocks, in preferred stocks and debt securities, that are mostly of investment grade.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities may present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs to gain industry exposure not otherwise available through direct investments in small cap securities. The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, primarily futures contracts and options, for the purpose of seeking to hedge its exposure, as well as total return swaps to gain exposure, to certain market sectors that it cannot efficiently obtain through the purchase of individual equity securities or ETFs.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio also may invest in more established companies, such as those with longer operating histories than many small cap companies. As well, it may increase the number of issuers in which it invests and thereby limit the Portfolio’s position size in any particular security. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

n  Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Small Company Risk

 

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Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

  

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Large Company Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Additional Investment Considerations

The objective and investment policies of the Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because the Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of the Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

The Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, the Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of the Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments and foreign securities, involve special risks. Depending on how much the Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

The Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective. Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, WRIMCO may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if WRIMCO is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet WRIMCO’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about the Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolio’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolio’s securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of the Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

 

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Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that the Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by the Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by the Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase the Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift the Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by the Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, the Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case the Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, the Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. The Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that WRIMCO reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. WRIMCO may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

 

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The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of the Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of the Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit the Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause the Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that the Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If the Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if the Portfolio’s manager tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

 

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Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as the Portfolio grows.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, the Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by the Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

Management Risk — WRIMCO applies the Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective. Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by WRIMCO may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming

 

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increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

 

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The Management of the Portfolio

Portfolio Management

The Portfolio of the Trust is managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: Kenneth G. McQuade is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth. Mr. McQuade has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth since March 2006. Mr. McQuade joined Waddell & Reed in 1997 as an investment analyst. He was an assistant portfolio manager of separately managed small cap accounts from August 2003 until March 2010. Mr. McQuade is Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, and Vice President of the Trust. He earned a BS degree in finance from Bradley University.

Additional information regarding the portfolio manager, including information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolio pays fees related to its daily operations. Expenses paid out of the Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

The Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. The Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for the Portfolio are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for the Portfolio as a percent of the Portfolio’s average net assets were: 0.83%

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of the Portfolio is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

 

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Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIO

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolio are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of the Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. The Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if the Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolio currently does not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolio may offer its shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in the Portfolio and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force the Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolio is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of the Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of the Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of the Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of the Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of the Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by the Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

 

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As noted in this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of the Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

When the Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. The Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by the Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

The Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolio has retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolio. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on the Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by the Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, the Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolio may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of the Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of the Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

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n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Market Timing Policy of the Trust

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies, such as Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth, or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

The Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolio cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by the Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

 

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The Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolio is an underlying investment option or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of the Portfolio on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolio. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolio’s assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolio is an investment option in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolio as an underlying investment option.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolio, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolio is an underlying investment option instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO is prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolio’s shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolio in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolio is an underlying investment option, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolio or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

The Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, the Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from the Portfolio and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from the Portfolio.

Dividends are paid by the Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of the Portfolio are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. The Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. The Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for the Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If the Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors the Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolio.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolio are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolio’s shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of the Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with the Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

 

  Prospectus   19


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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Small Cap Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 10.53       $ (0.10 )(3)    $ (1.00   $ (1.10   $      $ (0.09   $ (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2010

     8.17         (0.07     2.43        2.36                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     6.09         (0.06     2.17        2.11        (0.03            (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.24         0.03        (4.05     (4.02            (0.13     (0.13

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.97         (0.06     1.41        1.35               (1.08     (1.08

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Small Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.34         -10.60 %   $ 350         1.14 %     -0.95 %     1.16 %     -0.97 %     80 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.53         28.85       419         1.14       -0.83       1.16       -0.85       60  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.17         34.72       356         1.17       -0.88       1.19       -0.90       44  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.09         -39.18       290         1.14       0.32       1.16       0.30       82  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.24         13.52       544         1.14       -0.61       1.16       -0.63       101  

 

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Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following chart provides additional hypothetical information about the effect of the Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

The chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. The chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in the chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The chart does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolio is offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.16%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   118.23        $10,384.00   
2     10,384.00        519.20        10,903.20        122.77        10,782.75   
3     10,782.75        539.14        11,321.88        127.48        11,196.80   
4     11,196.80        559.84        11,756.64        132.38        11,626.76   
5     11,626.76        581.34        12,208.10        137.46        12,073.23   
6     12,073.23        603.66        12,676.89        142.74        12,536.84   
7     12,536.84        626.84        13,163.68        148.22        13,018.25   
8     13,018.25        650.91        13,669.17        153.91        13,518.16   
9     13,518.16        675.91        14,194.06        159.82        14,037.25   
10     14,037.25        701.86        14,739.12        165.96        14,576.28   
Cumulative Total            $1,408.96     

 

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IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

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IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolio in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about the Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about the Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail the Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolio’s performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolio’s most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolio are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

24   Prospectus  


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Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers one Portfolio of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolio of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

  6        

More About the Portfolio

  6        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  7        

Additional Investment Considerations

  7        

Defining Risks

  11        

The Management of the Portfolio

  13        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  17        

Distributions and Taxes

  19        

Financial Highlights

  22        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

2   Prospectus  


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Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stocks of mid cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes offer above-average growth potential. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in the securities of mid cap companies, which typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million to $22.8 billion.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily emphasizes a bottom-up approach and may look at a number of factors in its consideration of a company, such as: new or innovative products or services; adaptive or creative management; strong financial and operational capabilities to sustain growth; stable and consistent revenue, earnings, and cash flow; market potential; and profit potential.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, including excessive valuation given company growth prospects, deterioration of fundamentals, weak cash flow to support shareholder returns, and unexpected and

 

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poorly explained management changes. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide growth of your investment. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 20.43% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -22.11% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth (began on 04-28-2005)

     -0.56%         6.62%         9.33%   

Russell Midcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -1.65%         2.44%         6.08%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Mid-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average
(net of fees and expenses) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -5.26%         2.19%         5.80%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kimberly A. Scott, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolio

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign mid cap companies that WRIMCO believes offer above-average growth potential. The Portfolio primarily focuses on mid cap growth companies that WRIMCO believes have the potential to become a large cap company. Mid cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million to $22.8 billion. For this purpose, WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the mid cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

As noted, WRIMCO utilizes a primarily bottom-up approach in its selection of securities for the Portfolio and focuses on companies it believes have strong growth models, profitability, attractive valuations and sound capital structures. Other desired characteristics may include a leading market position, the active involvement of the founder or entrepreneur, management that is strong and demonstrates commitment to stakeholders, and a high gross margin and return on equity with low debt. WRIMCO also may consider a company’s dividend yield. Part of the investment process includes a review of the macroeconomic environment, with a focus on factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer confidence, and corporate spending.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks, such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in convertible securities, preferred stocks and debt securities of any maturity and mostly of investment grade, that is, rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

The Portfolio may utilize derivative instruments, including options on an index or on individual or baskets of equity securities, in seeking to gain exposure to certain sectors, to enhance income, and/or to hedge certain market event risks, including risks associated with a specific holding. The Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a means of gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities (including commercial paper, cash and cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. government securities), preferred stocks or both. As well, the Portfolio may choose to invest in companies whose sales and earnings growth are generally stable through a variety of economic conditions. By taking a temporary defensive position the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Management Risk

  

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

 

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Additional Investment Considerations

The objective and investment policies of the Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because the Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of the Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

The Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective. For example, the Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of the Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments and foreign securities, involve special risks. Depending on how much the Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

The Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective. Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, WRIMCO may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if WRIMCO is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet WRIMCO’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective, strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about the Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolio’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolio’s securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of the Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that the Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by the Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

 

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The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by the Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase the Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift the Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by the Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, the Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case the Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, the Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. The Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that WRIMCO reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. WRIMCO may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the

 

8   Prospectus  


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SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of the Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of the Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit the Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause the Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that the Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, the Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by the Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s

 

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shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Management Risk — WRIMCO applies the Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective. Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by WRIMCO may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

 

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The Management of the Portfolio

Portfolio Management

The Portfolio of the Trust is managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: Kimberly A. Scott is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth. She has managed Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth since its inception in April 2005. Ms. Scott is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Ms. Scott has served as a portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 2001. She served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO from April 1999 to February 2001. Ms. Scott joined WRIMCO in April 1999. She earned a BS degree in microbiology from the University of Kansas, and holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Scott is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Additional information regarding the portfolio manager, including information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolio pays fees related to its daily operations. Expenses paid out of the Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

The Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. The Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for the Portfolio are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for the Portfolio as a percent of the Portfolio’s average net assets were: 0.83%

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of the Portfolio is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Waddell & Reed has voluntarily agreed to waive sufficient 12b-1 fees for Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth to cap the expenses for that Portfolio at 1.10%. Waddell & Reed may amend or terminate this voluntary waiver at any time without prior notice to shareholders.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average

 

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daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIO

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolio are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of the Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. The Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if the Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolio currently does not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolio may offer its shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in the Portfolio and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force the Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolio is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of the Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of the Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of the Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of the Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of the Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by the Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

As noted in this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of the Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

 

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When the Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. The Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by the Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

The Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolio has retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolio. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on the Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by the Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, the Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolio may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of the Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of the Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

 

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Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy of the Trust

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

The Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolio cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by the Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

The Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

 

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Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolio is an underlying investment option or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of the Portfolio on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolio. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolio’s assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolio is an investment option in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolio as an underlying investment option.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolio, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolio is an underlying investment option instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO is prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolio’s shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolio in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolio is an underlying investment option, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolio or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

The Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, the Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from the Portfolio and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from the Portfolio.

Dividends are paid by the Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of the Portfolio, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

The Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. The Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. The Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for the Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If the Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors the Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolio.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolio are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolio’s shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of the Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with the Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Mid Cap Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     8.69         (0.03 )(3)      0.01        (0.02         (0.30     (0.30

Year ended 12-31-2010

     6.61         0.00        2.08        2.08                  

Year ended 12-31-2009

     4.51         0.00        2.10        2.10                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     7.21         0.00        (2.61     (2.61         (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2007

     6.56         0.00        0.83        0.83            (0.18     (0.18

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

20   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

 

     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
     Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
     Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
     Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
     Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Mid Cap Growth

                      

Year ended 12-31-2011

    8.37         -0.56        173         1.16        -0.32        1.18        -0.34        49  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.69         31.56        142         1.17        0.01        1.19        -0.01        44  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    6.61         46.66        92         1.21        0.03        1.23        0.01        33  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    4.51         -36.23        49         1.23        -0.06        1.24        -0.07        46  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    7.21         12.62        57         1.21        0.06        1.24        0.03        31  

 

  Prospectus   21


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following chart provides additional hypothetical information about the effect of the Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

The chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. The chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in the chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The chart does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolio is offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

 

22   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

  Prospectus   23


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolio in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about the Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about the Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail the Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolio’s performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolio’s most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolio are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

24   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

 

GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

 

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

 
SPECIALTY PORTFOLIO  

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers two Portfolios of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolios of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY — GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY — SPECIALTY PORTFOLIO

  6        

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

  10        

More About the Portfolios

  10        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  12        

Additional Investment Considerations

  12        

Defining Risks

  17        

The Management of the Portfolios

  19        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  23        

Distributions and Taxes

  25        

Financial Highlights

  28        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

2   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.09%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.19%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$121

     $ 378       $ 654       $ 1,443   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities principally traded largely in developed European and Asian/Pacific Basin markets. To enhance potential return, the Portfolio may invest in issuers located or doing business in countries with new or comparatively underdeveloped economies.

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, primarily uses a disciplined approach while looking for investment opportunities around the world (including countries with new or comparatively undeveloped economies), preferring what it believes to be cash-generating, well-managed and reasonably valued companies that are exposed to global investment themes which WRIMCO believes will yield above-average growth. WRIMCO uses a top-down, macro thematic approach along with a bottom-up stock selection process, and uses a combination of country analysis, industry dynamics, and individual stock selection in comprising the portfolio. Although the Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, it typically has more exposure to securities issued by large cap companies.

 

Global/International Portfolio   Prospectus   3


Table of Contents

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities of that type. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it believes the security no longer offers significant growth potential, to reduce its emphasis on a global investment theme, if it believes the management of the company has weakened, and/or there exists political or economic instability in the issuer’s country. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance prior to September 22, 2003 reflects the performance of the Advantus International Stock Portfolio (predecessor fund) which was reorganized as the Portfolio on September 22, 2003. The Portfolio would have had substantially similar annual returns and would have differed from the predecessor fund only to the extent that the Portfolio had different expenses. Performance prior to September 22, 2003 has not been restated to reflect the estimated annual operating expenses of the Portfolio. If those expenses were reflected, performance of the Portfolio would differ.

 

4   Prospectus   Global/International Portfolio


Table of Contents

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 25.64% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -23.85% (the third quarter of 2002).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

     -13.88%         -3.11%         6.18%   

MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -12.14%         -4.72%         4.67%   

Lipper Variable Annuity International Core Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -13.02%         -4.19%         4.39%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

John C. Maxwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since May 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Global/International Portfolio   Prospectus   5


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of science or technology companies. Such companies may include companies that, in the opinion of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, derive a competitive advantage by the application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries to grow their business or increase their competitive advantage. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in the opinion of WRIMCO, are being or are expected to be significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks; that is, WRIMCO seeks companies in which earnings are likely to grow faster than the economy. WRIMCO aims to identify strong secular trends within industries and then applies a largely bottom-up stock selection process by considering a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include but

 

6   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolio


Table of Contents

are not limited to a company’s growth potential, earnings potential, quality of management, industry position/market size potential and applicable economic and market conditions. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become overvalued and/or whether the company prospects of the issuer have deteriorated due to a change in management, change in strategy and/or a change in its financial characteristics. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the science and technology industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of science and technology related securities.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s manager also tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

Specialty Portfolio   Prospectus   7


Table of Contents
n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Science and Technology Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include: operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, aggressive pricing of products and services, new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.75% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.81% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

 

8   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolio


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Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     -5.77%         4.67%         6.24%   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -0.88%         3.84%         2.44%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Science & Technology Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -6.50%         2.77%         1.58%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Zachary H. Shafran, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since February 2001.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolios

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities principally traded largely in developed European and Asian/Pacific Basin markets and primarily issued by what WRIMCO believes to be reasonably valued companies with strong cash flows and exposure to global investment themes. WRIMCO also may employ a growth approach by seeking companies whose earnings it believes will grow faster than the economy. Although the Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, it typically has more exposure to securities issued by large cap companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio invests in a variety of economic sectors and industry segments to seek to reduce the effects of price volatility in any one area. WRIMCO seeks to identify an investment theme, then determine the most appropriate sectors and geographies to benefit from that theme and finally to find reasonably valued companies with improving returns on capital, good growth prospects, strong balance sheet and solid cash generation. WRIMCO combines a top-down, macro thematic approach with a bottom-up stock selection process, and uses a combination of country analysis (economic growth, money flows, business cycle, interest rates, political climate, and currencies), industry dynamics (growth opportunities, competitive dynamics, cyclical sensitivity, and economic returns), and individual stock selection (strong cash flow, strengthening fundamentals, solid or improving competitive advantage, higher expected returns, value relative to peers, and improving growth prospects) in composing the portfolio. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques in seeking to hedge or manage various market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed-income market movements). The Portfolio may also use derivatives to increase or decrease exposure to specific sectors, countries and/or currencies.

The Portfolio may from time to time take a temporary defensive position, and invest without limit in government securities, investment-grade debt securities, and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market securities. However by taking a temporary defensive position the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being, or are expected to be, significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. As well, the Portfolio may invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including

 

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securities of issuers within emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest in any geographic area. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In its selection of securities for investment by the Portfolio, WRIMCO aims to identify companies that it believes to be benefiting from the world’s strongest secular economic trends, and then applies its largely bottom-up research to identify what it believes are the best holdings for the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest in, but is not limited to, areas such as:

Science:

 

n  pharmaceuticals

n  medical technology equipment

n  biotechnology

  

n  genomics

n  proteomics

n  healthcare services

Technology:

 

n  semiconductors

n  computer hardware

n  computer services

n  software

n  networking

n  telecommunication services

  

n  defense electronics

n  entertainment

n  content media

n  data processing

n  internet

The Portfolio primarily owns common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks, debt securities and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade fixed income securities, which are securities rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality, which may include convertible securities.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques, typically options on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio and on equity indices, in seeking to hedge various market risks and/or individual security risk as well as to enhance return. The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a means to invest cash effectively.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities or other debt securities, mostly of investment grade. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio may also hedge its foreign currency exposure, when applicable.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Concentration Risk

n  Emerging Market Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Science and Technology Industry Risk

n  Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Currency Risk

n  Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

 

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Additional Investment Considerations

The objective(s) and investment policies of each Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because each Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of each Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

Each Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, each Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of each Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments, foreign securities, junk bonds and precious metals, involve special risks. Depending on how much a Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

Certain types of mortgage-backed securities may experience significant valuation uncertainties, greater volatility, and significantly less liquidity due to the sharp rise of foreclosures on home loans secured by subprime mortgages in recent years. Subprime mortgages have a higher credit risk than prime mortgages, as the credit criteria for obtaining a subprime mortgage is more flexible than that used with prime borrowers. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in securities that are backed by pools of mortgage loans, the risk to the Portfolio may be significant. Other asset-backed securities also may experience significant valuation uncertainties, increased volatility, and significantly reduced liquidity. Each Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective(s). Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by a Portfolio.

Each of the Portfolios generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, WRIMCO may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if WRIMCO is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet WRIMCO’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about each Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of each Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Concentration Risk — If a Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector or company.

 

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Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that a Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase a Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

A Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift a Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, a Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case a Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, a Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. A Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that WRIMCO reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. WRIMCO may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

 

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The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of a Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of a Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit a Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Emerging Market Risk — Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of those countries may have failed in the past to recognize private property rights and have nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in such countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Portfolio’s investments in such countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in more developed countries, and the Portfolio may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making certain investments in those countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain countries, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

Foreign Currency Risk — Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of a Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk — A Portfolio may, but is not required to, use foreign currency exchange transactions and forward foreign currency contracts to hedge certain market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and broad or specific market movement). These investment techniques involve a number of risks, including the possibility of default by the counterparty to the transaction and, to the extent WRIMCO’s judgment as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk of losses that are greater than if the investment technique had not been used. For example, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Portfolio’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. An imperfect correlation of this type may prevent the Portfolios from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. These investment techniques also tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect a Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

 

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Other factors that can affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause a Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that a Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If a Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if a Portfolio’s manager(s) tends to invest a significant portion of a Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager(s) invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on a Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. A Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, a Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as a Portfolio grows.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, a Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

Certain Portfolios may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, a Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by a Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if a Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

 

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Low-rated Securities Risk — In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken a Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

Management Risk — WRIMCO applies a Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective(s). Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by WRIMCO may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolios. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by a Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Science and Technology Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include a company’s operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, and aggressive pricing of products and services, as well as new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Value Stock Risk — Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

 

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The Management of the Portfolios

Portfolio Management

The Portfolios are managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity: John C. Maxwell is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity and has held his Fund responsibilities since May 27, 2009, when WRIMCO assumed direct investment management responsibilities of the Fund’s portfolio from Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, the Fund’s former investment subadvisor. Mr. Maxwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He joined WRIMCO in 1998 initially serving as an investment analyst and has served as assistant portfolio manager for funds managed by IICO and WRIMCO since July 2003 and has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006. In 2004, Mr. Maxwell began assisting the international group of IICO and WRIMCO as an investment analyst. Mr. Maxwell earned a BS degree from the University of Kentucky, and an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: Zachary H. Shafran is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology. Mr. Shafran has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology since February 2001. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective April 2010, Mr. Shafran was appointed the Global Director of Equity and Fixed Income Research for WRIMCO and IICO. Mr. Shafran has served as the portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO or IICO since January 1996. He served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO and its predecessor from June 1990 to January 1996. Mr. Shafran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Additional information regarding the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolios pay fees related to their daily operations. Expenses paid out of each Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

Each Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. Each Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of:

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity and Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for certain Portfolios are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows:

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

 

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for each Portfolio as a percent of each such Portfolio’s average net assets are as follows:

 

     Net Management Fees Paid  

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

     0.85%   

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     0.83%   

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of each of the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, each Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Shares of the Portfolios are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolios are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of a Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. A Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if a Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolios currently do not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolios may offer their shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in one or more of the Portfolios and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force a Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolios is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of a Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of a Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of a Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Each Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of each Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by a Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

As noted in this Prospectus, certain Portfolios may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of a

 

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Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

When a Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. A Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by a Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

A Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, such as Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolios have retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolios. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on a Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, a Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolios may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of a Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of any Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

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n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio, such as Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity, invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

A Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolios, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolios cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by a Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

 

 

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A Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolios are underlying investment options or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Portfolios on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolios. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolios’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolios are investment options in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolios, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO and all subadvisers to the Portfolios are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolios’ shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolios in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolios or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s or a subadvisor’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

Each Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, a Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from all other Portfolios and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from all Portfolios.

Dividends are paid by each Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of each Portfolio, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. A Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors each Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolios are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolios’ shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of each Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

International Core Equity

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 17.29       $ 0.32 (3)    $ (2.68   $ (2.36   $ (0.26   $      $ (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.38         0.26        1.86        2.12        (0.21            (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2009

     12.46         0.20        4.01        4.21        (0.49     (0.80     (1.29

Year ended 12-31-2008

     22.39         0.51        (9.99     (9.48     (0.09     (0.36     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2007

     22.78         0.44        1.81        2.25        (0.39     (2.25     (2.64

Science and Technology

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     16.73         (0.13 )(3)      (0.75     (0.88            (0.60     (0.60

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.30         (0.08     1.96        1.88               (0.45     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2009

     11.43         0.01        4.73        4.74               (0.87     (0.87

Year ended 12-31-2008

     17.98         (0.03     (6.08     (6.11            (0.44     (0.44

Year ended 12-31-2007

     17.72         (0.07     4.39        4.32               (4.06     (4.06

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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Net Asset
Value, End

of Period

     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

International Core Equity

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 14.67         -13.88 %   $ 521         1.19 %     1.96 %             100 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    17.29         14.09       580         1.19       1.70                     107  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.38         36.96       513         1.22       1.58                     142  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    12.46         -42.26       379         1.18       3.07                     20  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    22.39         9.88       636         1.18       1.81                     23  

Science and Technology

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    15.25         -5.77       279         1.16       -0.77       1.18       -0.79       50  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.73         12.75       326         1.16       -0.48       1.18       -0.50       27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.30         43.84       316         1.19       0.06       1.21       0.04       65  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.43         -33.89       226         1.16       -0.21       1.18       -0.23       62  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.98         24.37       396         1.15       -0.42       1.17       -0.44       73  

 

  Prospectus   27


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following charts provide additional hypothetical information about the effect of each Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

Each chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. Each chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in each chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The charts do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolios are offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

 

Annual expense ratio        1.19%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   121.27        $10,381.00   
2     10,381.00        519.05        10,900.05        125.89        10,776.52   
3     10,776.52        538.83        11,315.34        130.68        11,187.10   
4     11,187.10        559.36        11,746.46        135.66        11,613.33   
5     11,613.33        580.67        12,194.00        140.83        12,055.80   
6     12,055.80        602.79        12,658.59        146.20        12,515.12   
7     12,515.12        625.76        13,140.88        151.77        12,991.95   
8     12,991.95        649.60        13,641.55        157.55        13,486.94   
9     13,486.94        674.35        14,161.29        163.55        14,000.80   
10     14,000.80        700.04        14,700.84        169.78        14,534.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,443.18     

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

 

28   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

  Prospectus   29


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolios in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about each Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about a Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail each Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios’ performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolios’ most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolios are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

30   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

 

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers three Portfolios of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolios of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

  8        

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

  12        

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

  16        

More About the Portfolios

  16        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  19        

Additional Investment Considerations

  20        

Defining Risks

  26        

The Management of the Portfolios

  29        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  33        

Distributions and Taxes

  35        

Financial Highlights

  38        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

 

2   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

Objective

To seek to provide total return.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.69%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its assets in any market that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. Dependent on its outlook for the U.S. and global economies, WRIMCO identifies growth themes and then focuses its strategy on allocating the Portfolio’s assets among stocks, bonds, cash, precious metals, currency and derivative instruments, including derivatives traded over-the-counter and on exchanges. After determining these allocations, WRIMCO seeks attractive opportunities within each market by focusing on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow and low balance sheet leverage.

 

n  

“Stocks” include equity securities of all types, although WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks by focusing on what it believes are steady-growth companies that fit WRIMCO’s criteria for sustainable competitive advantage and that WRIMCO believes are positioned to benefit from continued global rebalancing and the globally emerging middle class. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, but primarily focuses on securities issued by large cap companies.

 

  Prospectus   3


Table of Contents
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“Bonds” include all varieties of fixed-income instruments, such as corporate debt securities or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), with remaining maturities of more than one year. This investment type may include a significant amount, up to 35% of the Portfolio’s total assets, of high-yield/high-risk bonds, or junk bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

 

n  

“Short-term instruments” include all types of short-term securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, including higher-quality money market instruments.

Within each of these investment types, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign securities; the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may allocate the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or short-term instruments, respectively. WRIMCO may exercise a flexible strategy in the selection of securities, and the Portfolio is not required to allocate its investments among stocks and bonds in any fixed proportion, nor is it limited by investment style or by the issuer’s location, size, market capitalization or industry sector. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon market and economic conditions. Subject to diversification limits, the Fund also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, which may include a deterioration in a company’s fundamentals caused by global-specific factors such as geo-political landscape changes, regulatory or currency changes, or increased competition, as well as company-specific factors, such as reduced pricing power, diminished market opportunity, or increased competition. WRIMCO also may sell a security if the price of the security reaches what WRIMCO believes is fair value, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets, and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to achieve the Portfolio’s objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to companies, sectors or equity markets, WRIMCO may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts, both long and short positions, total return swaps, credit default swaps and options contracts, both written and purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indices and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, WRIMCO may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s exposure to precious metals, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s event risks, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions on foreign and U.S. equity indices and options contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities the Portfolio owns and on foreign and U.S. equity indices.

WRIMCO may reduce the Portfolio’s net equity exposure by selling, among other instruments, combined futures and option positions, and may effect short sales of individual securities and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or take long positions in inverse ETFs.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Commodities Risk. Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, the Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, the Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, the Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

 

4   Prospectus  


Table of Contents
n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these bonds are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

  Prospectus   5


Table of Contents
n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of various indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek high total return over the long term. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 15.83% (the third quarter of 2005) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.90% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     -7.21%         6.16%         10.14%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     7.85%         6.68%         5.89%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     7.84%         6.50%         5.78%   

Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     0.21%         1.82%         2.19%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     0.07%         1.36%         1.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.58%         2.14%         6.44%   

 

6   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Michael L. Avery, Executive Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1997, and Ryan F. Caldwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2007.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

  Prospectus   7


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       1.00%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.12%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.37%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$139

     $ 434       $ 750       $ 1,646   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or supply goods and services to such companies.

For these purposes, “natural resources” generally include: energy (such as utilities, producers/developers, refiners, service/drilling), alternative energy (such as uranium, coal, hydrogen, wind, solar, fuel cells), industrial products (such as building materials, cement, packaging, chemicals, supporting transport and machinery), forest products (such as lumber, plywood, pulp, paper, newsprint, tissue), base metals (such as aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc, iron ore and steel), precious metals and minerals (such as gold, silver, platinum, diamonds), and agricultural products (grains and other foods, seeds, fertilizers, water).

 

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The Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), uses an equity style that focuses on both growth and value, as well as utilizing both a top-down (the creation of macro-economic models to prepare an outlook for economic and market conditions) and a bottom-up (fundamental, company by company) approach. Mackenzie targets companies for investment that, in its opinion, have strong management and financial positions, adding balance with established low-cost, low-debt producers or positions that are based on anticipated commodity price trends. The Portfolio seeks to be diversified internationally, and therefore, Mackenzie invests in foreign companies and U.S. companies that have principal operations in foreign jurisdictions. While Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s assets in North America, international exposure may exceed 50% of the Portfolio’s total assets. Exposure to companies in any one particular foreign country other than Canada is typically less than 20% of the Portfolio’s total assets. The Portfolio also may have exposure to companies located in, and/or doing business in, emerging markets.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining to sell a security, Mackenzie considers various factors, including whether the holding has sufficiently exceeded its target price, whether a growth-oriented company has failed to deliver growth, and the effect of commodity price trends on certain holdings. Mackenzie may also sell a security to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities, to reduce the Fund’s holding in that security, or to raise cash.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative instruments to hedge market risk on equity securities, increase exposure to specific sectors or companies, and manage exposure to various foreign currencies. In an effort to achieve the objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to equity markets, the Portfolio may utilize futures on equity indices and/or purchase option contracts on individual equity securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the Portfolio may utilize forward contracts to either increase or decrease exposure to a given currency.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

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Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

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Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of Mackenzie as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

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Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

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Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

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Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak

 

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supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

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Global Natural Resources Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

 

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Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

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Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

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Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

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Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on Mackenzie’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

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Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

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Sector Risk. At times, the Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

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Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide long-term growth and any income realized was incidental. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 31.63% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -41.06% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources (began on 04-28-2005)

     -21.45%         -2.46%         5.13%   

Morgan Stanley Commodity Related Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.87%         6.67%         11.86%   

MSCI AC World IMI 55% Energy + 45% Materials Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.60%         2.51%         8.98%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Natural Resources Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.66%         2.54%         9.75%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO) and sub-advised by Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie).

Portfolio Manager

Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, has managed the Fund since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of science or technology companies. Such companies may include companies that, in the opinion of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, derive a competitive advantage by the application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries to grow their business or increase their competitive advantage. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in the opinion of WRIMCO, are being or are expected to be significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks; that is, WRIMCO seeks companies in which earnings are likely to grow faster than the economy. WRIMCO aims to identify strong secular trends within industries and then applies a largely bottom-up stock selection process by considering a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include but

 

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are not limited to a company’s growth potential, earnings potential, quality of management, industry position/market size potential and applicable economic and market conditions. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become overvalued and/or whether the company prospects of the issuer have deteriorated due to a change in management, change in strategy and/or a change in its financial characteristics. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

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Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

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Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the science and technology industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of science and technology related securities.

 

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Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

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Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

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Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

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Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

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Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s manager also tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

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Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

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Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

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Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

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Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

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Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

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Science and Technology Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include: operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, aggressive pricing of products and services, new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

 

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Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.75% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.81% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

 

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Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     -5.77%         4.67%         6.24%   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -0.88%         3.84%         2.44%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Science & Technology Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -6.50%         2.77%         1.58%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Zachary H. Shafran, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since February 2001.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolios

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds, and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also utilize derivative instruments in seeking its objective. The Portfolio may invest its assets in almost any market that WRIMCO believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, that can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, the mix of assets in the Portfolio will change from time to time depending on WRIMCO’s assessment of the market for each investment type. Allocating assets among different types of investments allows the Portfolio to take advantage of opportunities wherever they may occur, but also subjects the Portfolio to the risks of a given investment type. Stock values generally fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The values of bonds and short-term instruments generally fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and due to the credit quality of the issuer.

Subject to diversification limits, WRIMCO may invest up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in precious metals. Investments in physical commodities, including precious metals, may experience severe price fluctuations over short periods of time; as well, storage and trading costs may exceed the custodial and/or brokerage costs associated with other investments.

WRIMCO regularly reviews the global economic environment to determine asset allocation and security selection, and makes changes to favor investments that it believes provide the best opportunity to achieve the Portfolio’s objective. In developing global themes, WRIMCO evaluates a number of global trends that may include political, social, cultural, demographic, current and historical trends, among others. Although WRIMCO uses its expertise and resources in choosing investments and in allocating assets, WRIMCO’s decisions may not always be beneficial to the Portfolio, and there is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO tries to balance the Portfolio’s investment risks against potentially higher total returns by reducing the stock allocation during stock market down cycles and typically increasing the stock allocation during periods of strongly positive market performance. Generally, WRIMCO makes asset shifts gradually over time. WRIMCO considers various factors when it decides to sell a security, such as an individual security’s performance and/or if it is an appropriate time to vary the Portfolio’s mix.

The Portfolio may purchase shares of another investment company subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while also maintaining liquidity, or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As described above, the Portfolio has the flexibility to invest up to all of its assets in money market and other short-term investments, although it does not typically invest a substantial portion of its assets in these investments under normal market conditions. WRIMCO will typically increase the Portfolio’s investment in high-quality, short-term investments in order to increase the defensive positioning of the Portfolio and/or to enable the Portfolio to participate in opportunities as they present themselves.

Although WRIMCO may seek to preserve appreciation in the Portfolio by taking a temporary defensive position, doing so may prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

 

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Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Company Risk

n Credit Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

  

n Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

n Reinvestment Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of companies of any size throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or that supply goods and services to such companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

Mackenzie systematically reviews its investment decisions and may allow cash reserves to build up when valuations seem unattractive. Mackenzie attempts to minimize risk through diversifying the Portfolio’s holdings by commodity, country, issuer, and market capitalization of companies; however, such diversification may not necessarily reduce Portfolio volatility. Mackenzie searches for what it feels are well-managed companies with strong balance sheets and the technological capability and expertise to grow independently of commodity prices. In addition, Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s holdings with established larger companies that have historically strong-producing assets and attractive long-term reinvestment opportunities. From a macro perspective, Mackenzie monitors demand expectations for various commodities and utilizes this information to adjust the level of sector exposure and individual security holdings in the Portfolio.

During normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of its total assets in issuers of at least three countries, which may include the U.S. The Portfolio also may invest in precious metals and other physical commodities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may also invest in ETFs or options on ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index.

Mackenzie may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As a temporary defensive measure, when Mackenzie believes that securities markets or economic conditions are unfavorable or unsettled, the Portfolio may try to protect its assets by investing up to 100% of its total assets in securities that are highly liquid, including high-quality money market instruments, such as short-term U.S. government securities, commercial paper, or repurchase agreements, even though that is not the normal investment strategy of the Portfolio. Even though the securities purchased for defensive purposes often are considered the equivalent of cash, and typically are highly liquid or comparatively safe, they tend to offer lower returns. Therefore, the Portfolio’s performance could be comparatively lower if it concentrates its assets in defensive holdings. The additional temporary defensive measures that Mackenzie may employ include altering the mix of company and sector holdings or using derivative strategies. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Global Natural Resources Industry Risk

  

n Growth Stock Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Sector Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being, or are expected to be, significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. As well, the Portfolio may invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest in any geographic area. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In its selection of securities for investment by the Portfolio, WRIMCO aims to identify companies that it believes to be benefiting from the world’s strongest secular economic trends, and then applies its largely bottom-up research to identify what it believes are the best holdings for the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest in, but is not limited to, areas such as:

Science:

 

n pharmaceuticals

n medical technology equipment

n biotechnology

  

n genomics

n proteomics

n healthcare services

Technology:

 

n semiconductors

n computer hardware

n computer services

n software

n networking

n telecommunication services

  

n defense electronics

n entertainment

n content media

n data processing

n internet

The Portfolio primarily owns common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks, debt securities and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade fixed income securities, which are securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality, which may include convertible securities.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques, typically options on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio and on equity indices, in seeking to hedge various market risks and/or individual security risk as well as to enhance return. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means to invest cash effectively.

 

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When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities or other debt securities, mostly of investment grade. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio may also hedge its foreign currency exposure, when applicable.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Concentration Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Holdings Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Science and Technology Industry Risk

n Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Additional Investment Considerations

The objective(s) and investment policies of each Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because each Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of each Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO or the investment subadvisor, as applicable (the Investment Manager), in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

Each Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, each Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of each Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments, foreign securities, junk bonds and precious metals, involve special risks. Depending on how much a Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

Certain types of mortgage-backed securities may experience significant valuation uncertainties, greater volatility, and significantly less liquidity due to the sharp rise of foreclosures on home loans secured by subprime mortgages in recent years. Subprime mortgages have a higher credit risk than prime mortgages, as the credit criteria for obtaining a subprime mortgage is more flexible than that used with prime borrowers. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in securities that are backed by pools of mortgage loans, the risk to the Portfolio may be significant. Other asset-backed securities also may experience significant valuation uncertainties, increased volatility, and significantly reduced liquidity. Each Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective(s). Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by a Portfolio.

Each of the Portfolios generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, the Investment Manager may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if the Investment Manager is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet the Investment Manager’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about each Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

 

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A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of each Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Commodities Risk — Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, a Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, a Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, a Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Concentration Risk — If a Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector or company.

Credit Risk — An issuer of a debt security (including a mortgage-backed security) or a real estate investment trust (REIT) that is the issuer of a security in which the Portfolio invests may not make payments on the security when due, or the other party to a contract may default on its obligation. There is also the risk that an issuer could suffer adverse changes in its financial condition that could lower the credit quality of a security. This could lead to greater volatility in the price of the security and, therefore, in the NAV of a Portfolio. Also, a change in the quality rating of a debt security or a REIT security can affect the security’s liquidity and make it more difficult to sell. If a Portfolio purchases unrated securities and obligations, it will depend on the Investment Manager’s analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.

Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that a Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of the Investment Manager as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used.

 

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Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase a Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

A Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift a Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, a Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case a Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, a Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. A Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that the Investment Manager reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. The Investment Manager may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

 

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The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of a Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of a Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit a Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Emerging Market Risk — Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of those countries may have failed in the past to recognize private property rights and have nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in such countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Portfolio’s investments in such countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in more developed countries, and the Portfolio may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making certain investments in those countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain countries, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

Foreign Currency Risk — Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of a Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk — A Portfolio may, but is not required to, use foreign currency exchange transactions and forward foreign currency contracts to hedge certain market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and broad or specific market movement). These investment techniques involve a number of risks, including the possibility of default by the counterparty to the transaction and, to the extent the Investment Manager’s judgment as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk of losses that are greater than if the investment technique had not been used. For example, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Portfolio’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. An imperfect correlation of this type may prevent the Portfolios from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. These investment techniques also tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect a Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause a Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that a Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

 

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Global Natural Resources Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If a Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if a Portfolio’s manager(s) tends to invest a significant portion of a Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager(s) invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on a Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. A Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, a Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as a Portfolio grows.

Interest Rate Risk — The value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) may decline due to changes in market interest rates. Generally, when interest rates rise, the value of such a security or obligation decreases. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) generally increases. Long-term debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and fixed income obligations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes. A Portfolio may experience a decline in its income due to falling interest rates.

In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations experiences a decrease in principal value with an increase in interest rates. The extent of the decrease in principal value may be affected by a Portfolio’s duration of its portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations. Duration measures the relative price sensitivity of a security to changes in interest rates. “Effective” duration takes into consideration the likelihood that a security will be called, or prepaid, prior to maturity given current market interest rates. Typically, a security with a longer duration is more price sensitive than a security with a shorter duration. In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities experiences a percentage decrease in principal value equal to its effective duration for each 1% increase in interest rates. For example, if a Portfolio holds a portfolio of securities with an effective duration of five years and interest rates rise 1%, the principal value of such securities could be expected to decrease by approximately 5%.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, a Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

Certain Portfolios may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, a Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by a Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares

 

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may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if a Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

Low-rated Securities Risk — In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken a Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

Management Risk — The Investment Manager applies a Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective(s). Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by the Investment Manager may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolios. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by a Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk — Restricted securities, which include private placements, are securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, and there can be no assurance of a ready market for resale. A Portfolio could find it difficult to sell privately placed securities and other restricted securities when the Investment Manager believes it is desirable to do so, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, and the prices realized could be less than those originally paid or less than the fair market value. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the net asset value of a Portfolio.

 

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Reinvestment Risk — Income from a Portfolio’s debt securities may decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded, prepaid or called securities in securities with interest rates lower than the current earnings rate of the Portfolio’s holdings. For example, debt securities with high relative interest rates may be paid by the issuer prior to maturity, particularly during periods of falling interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, there is the possibility that an issuer will call its securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new securities with a lower interest rate (commonly referred to as optional call risk). As well, falling interest rates could cause prepayments of mortgage loans to occur more quickly than expected. This may occur because, as interest rates fall, more property owners refinance the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities (including shares of mortgage REITs). As a result, a Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in other securities with generally lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Portfolio’s investment income.

Science and Technology Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include a company’s operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, and aggressive pricing of products and services, as well as new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

Sector Risk — At times, a Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than portfolios that invest more broadly.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Value Stock Risk — Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, undervalued. The value of a security believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

 

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The Management of the Portfolios

Portfolio Management

The Portfolios are managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3K1, serves as the investment subadvisor to, and as such provides investment advice to, and generally conducts the investment management program for, Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources pursuant to an agreement with WRIMCO. Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm in Toronto, providing investment advisory and related services, with approximately $60.2 billion USD in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: Michael L. Avery and Ryan F. Caldwell are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy. Mr. Avery has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 1997. He is Executive Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Avery has served as President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR), since January 2010. He formerly served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of WDR from June 2005 until February 2011 and formerly served as CIO of WRIMCO and IICO from June 2005 until August 2010. Mr. Avery has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 1994, and has been an employee of such since June 1981. He held the position of Director of Equity Research for IICO and for WRIMCO and its predecessor from August 1987 through June 2005. Mr. Avery earned a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and an MBA with emphasis on finance from Saint Louis University.

Mr. Caldwell has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 2007. His investment research responsibilities are concentrated in asset managers, brokers and transaction processors. Mr. Caldwell joined WRIMCO in July 2000 as an economic analyst. In January 2003 he was appointed an investment analyst, and in June 2005 was named assistant portfolio manager for the Portfolio, as well as two other funds managed by WRIMCO or IICO. Mr. Caldwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Caldwell earned a BBA in finance from Southwest Texas State University. He is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Daniel J. Vrabac, formerly a manager of the Portfolios along with Messrs. Avery and Caldwell, is now focusing on portfolio management responsibilities for the global bond funds with are managed by WRIMCO and IICO. While no longer responsible for day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Mr. Vrabac continues to provide input to Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy on the global fixed income markets, currencies and trading, which were among his principal responsibilities as a portfolio manager of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources. He has managed the Portfolio since its inception in April 2005. Mr. Sturm is also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Global Natural Resources Fund, whose investment manager is IICO. Mr. Sturm joined Mackenzie in 1983. He holds a degree in commerce and finance from the University of Toronto. Mr. Sturm is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: Zachary H. Shafran is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology. Mr. Shafran has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology since February 2001. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective April 2010, Mr. Shafran was appointed the Global Director of Equity and Fixed Income Research for WRIMCO and IICO. Mr. Shafran has served as the portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO or IICO since January 1996. He served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO and its predecessor from June 1990 to January 1996. Mr. Shafran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

 

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Additional information regarding the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolios pay fees related to their daily operations. Expenses paid out of each Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

Each Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. Each Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of:

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: 0.70% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: 1.00% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.85% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for certain Portfolios are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows:

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: 0.69% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

WRIMCO uses a portion of the management fees it receives from a Portfolio to pay that Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, as applicable.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for each Portfolio as a percent of each such Portfolio’s average net assets are as follows:

 

     Net Management Fees Paid  

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     0.68%   

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

     1.00%   

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     0.83%   

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of each of the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, each Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012.

 

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Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Shares of the Portfolios are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolios are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of a Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. A Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if a Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolios currently do not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolios may offer their shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in one or more of the Portfolios and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force a Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolios is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of a Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of a Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of a Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Each Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of each Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by a Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

 

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As noted in this Prospectus, certain Portfolios may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of a Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

When a Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. A Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by a Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

A Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, such as Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolios have retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolios. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on a Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, a Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolios may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of a Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee

 

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is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of any Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

A Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolios, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolios cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

 

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Apart from actions taken by a Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

A Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolios are underlying investment options or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Portfolios on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolios. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolios’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolios are investment options in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolios, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO and all subadvisers to the Portfolios are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolios’ shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolios in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolios or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s or a subadvisor’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

Each Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, a Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from all other Portfolios and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from all Portfolios.

Dividends are paid by each Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of each Portfolio, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. A Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors each Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolios are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolios’ shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of each Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Asset Strategy

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 9.91       $ 0.06 (3)    $ (0.76   $ (0.70   $ (0.10   $      $ (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2010

     9.23         0.09        0.69        0.78        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

     8.27         0.08        1.82        1.90        (0.03     (0.91     (0.94

Year ended 12-31-2008

     12.32         0.10        (3.29     (3.19     (0.05     (0.81     (0.86

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.00         0.09        3.85        3.94        (0.07     (0.55     (0.62

Global Natural Resources

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     6.73         (0.01 )(3)      (1.43     (1.44                     

Year ended 12-31-2010

     5.75         (0.02     1.00        0.98                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     3.31         (0.02     2.46        2.44                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.08         0.01        (6.23     (6.22     (0.11     (0.44     (0.55

Year ended 12-31-2007

     7.57         0.01        3.28        3.29            (0.78     (0.78

Science and Technology

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     16.73         (0.13 )(3)      (0.75     (0.88            (0.60     (0.60

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.30         (0.08     1.96        1.88               (0.45     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2009

     11.43         0.01        4.73        4.74               (0.87     (0.87

Year ended 12-31-2008

     17.98         (0.03     (6.08     (6.11            (0.44     (0.44

Year ended 12-31-2007

     17.72         (0.07     4.39        4.32               (4.06     (4.06

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

36   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

 

     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Asset Strategy

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.11         -7.21 %   $ 1,197         0.99 %     0.62 %     1.00 %     0.61 %     57 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.91         8.68       1,295         1.02       1.07       1.03       1.06       104  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.23         25.04       1,095         1.05       1.17       1.06       1.16       113  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.27         -25.79       678         1.04       1.02       1.05       1.01       190  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.32         44.11       913         1.03       0.96       1.04       0.95       98  

Global Natural Resources

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.29         -21.45       184         1.37       -0.14                     100  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.73         17.06       236         1.37       -0.31                     117  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.75         73.64       192         1.45       -0.56                     101  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    3.31         -61.46       69         1.43       -0.08                     206  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.08         43.50       165         1.38       0.20                     122  

Science and Technology

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    15.25         -5.77       279         1.16       -0.77       1.18       -0.79       50  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.73         12.75       326         1.16       -0.48       1.18       -0.50       27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.30         43.84       316         1.19       0.06       1.21       0.04       65  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.43         -33.89       226         1.16       -0.21       1.18       -0.23       62  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.98         24.37       396         1.15       -0.42       1.17       -0.44       73  

 

  Prospectus   37


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following charts provide additional hypothetical information about the effect of each Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

Each chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. Each chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in each chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The charts do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolios are offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Annual expense ratio        1.37%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   139.49        $10,363.00   
2     10,363.00        518.15        10,881.15        144.55        10,739.18   
3     10,739.18        536.96        11,276.14        149.80        11,129.01   
4     11,129.01        556.45        11,685.46        155.23        11,532.99   
5     11,532.99        576.65        12,109.64        160.87        11,951.64   
6     11,951.64        597.58        12,549.22        166.71        12,385.48   
7     12,385.48        619.27        13,004.76        172.76        12,835.08   
8     12,835.08        641.75        13,476.83        179.03        13,300.99   
9     13,300.99        665.05        13,966.04        185.53        13,783.82   
10     13,783.82        689.19        14,473.01        192.27        14,284.17   
Cumulative Total            $1,646.24     

 

38   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

 

  Prospectus   39


Table of Contents

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40   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

  Prospectus   41


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolios in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about each Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about a Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail each Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios’ performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolios’ most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolios are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

42   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS   SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities

 

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

 

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

 

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Ivy Funds VIP Energy

 

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers eight Portfolios of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolios of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities

  6        

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

  9        

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY — FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

  12        

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

  16        

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

  21        

Ivy Funds VIP Energy

  25        

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

  29        

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

  33        

More About the Portfolios

  33        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  41        

Additional Investment Considerations

  41        

Defining Risks

  48        

The Management of the Portfolios

  52        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  56        

Distributions and Taxes

  57        

Financial Highlights

  62        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

 

2   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities

Objective

To seek to provide total return.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.05%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in large cap companies that are often market leaders in their industry, with established operating records that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are high-quality companies that may accelerate or grow their dividend payout ratio and that also demonstrate favorable prospects for total return. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in dividend-paying equity securities. For this purpose, such securities consist primarily of dividend-paying common stocks. Although the Portfolio invests primarily in securities issued by large cap companies (typically, companies with capitalizations of at least $10 billion), it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size.

The Portfolio primarily focuses on companies that have one or more of the following characteristics: high dividend yields that are, in the opinion of WRIMCO, relatively safe; above-average market yield that WRIMCO expects will continue to maintain and/or grow dividends; small dividends that WRIMCO expects could grow over the next few years; and no dividends but WRIMCO expects the company to initiate payment of dividends. WRIMCO also considers other factors, which may include the company’s: established operating history; competitive dividend yields; growth and profitability opportunities; history of improving sales and profits; status as a market leader in its industry; and stock price value.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   3


Table of Contents

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, including: changes in economic or market factors in general or with respect to a particular industry, changes in the market trends or other factors affecting an individual security, and changes in the relative market performance or appreciation possibilities offered by individual securities. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Sector Risk. At times, the Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Effective July 31, 2008, the Portfolio changed its investment objective from seeking to provide income and long-term capital growth to seeking to provide total return.

 

4   Prospectus   Domestic Equity Portfolios


Table of Contents

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.04% (the fourth quarter of 2011) and the lowest quarterly return was -21.43% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities (began on 12-30-2003)

     -4.69%         -0.44%         4.38%   

Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on December 31, 2003.)

     1.50%         -0.02%         3.97%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Equity Income Funds Universe Average
(net of fees and expenses) (Index comparison begins on December 31, 2003.)

     1.23%         -1.32%         3.86%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

David P. Ginther, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since December 2003.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   5


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stocks of mid cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes offer above-average growth potential. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in the securities of mid cap companies, which typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million to $22.8 billion.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily emphasizes a bottom-up approach and may look at a number of factors in its consideration of a company, such as: new or innovative products or services; adaptive or creative management; strong financial and operational capabilities to sustain growth; stable and consistent revenue, earnings, and cash flow; market potential; and profit potential.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, including excessive valuation given company growth prospects, deterioration of fundamentals, weak cash flow to support shareholder returns, and unexpected and

 

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poorly explained management changes. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide growth of your investment. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

 

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Table of Contents

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 20.43% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -22.11% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth (began on 04-28-2005)

     -0.56%         6.62%         9.33%   

Russell Midcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -1.65%         2.44%         6.08%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Mid-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average
(net of fees and expenses) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -5.26%         2.19%         5.80%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kimberly A. Scott, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.16%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$118

     $ 368       $ 638       $ 1,409   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of small cap companies. Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. The Portfolio emphasizes relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is opportunity for rapid growth. The Portfolio’s investment in equity securities may include common stocks that are offered in initial public offerings (IPOs).

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, utilizes a bottom-up stock picking process that focuses on companies it believes have sustainable long-term growth potential with superior financial characteristics and, therefore, are believed by WRIMCO to be of a higher quality than many other small cap companies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors regarding a company, such as: management that is aggressive and/or creative, yet strong and/or dedicated; technological or specialized expertise; new or unique products or services; entry into new or emerging industries; growth in earnings/growth in revenue and sales/positive cash flows; rising returns on investment; and security size and liquidity. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks.

 

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Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it determines that the stock no longer offers significant growth potential, which may be due to a change in the business or management of the company or a change in the industry of the company. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

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Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 24.14% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -28.33% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     -10.60%         1.39%         4.43%   

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -2.91%         2.09%         4.48%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.82%         1.82%         3.88%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kenneth G. McQuade, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since March 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   11


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Ivy Funds VIP High Income

Objective

To seek to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.63%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.07%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       0.95%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$97

     $ 303       $ 525       $ 1,166   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as spreads between bid and asked prices, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP High Income seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-yield, high-risk, fixed-income securities, including loan participations and other loan instruments (loan participations), of U.S. and foreign issuers, the risks of which are, in the judgment of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, consistent with the Portfolio’s objective. The Portfolio may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity and in companies of any size. The Portfolio invests primarily in lower-quality debt securities, which include debt securities rated BBB+ or lower by Standard and Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest an unlimited amount of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, commonly called junk bonds, which include debt securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may look at a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio, including the economic environment, interest rate trends and industry fundamentals as well as analysis of the company’s fundamentals, including: financial strength, growth of

 

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operating cash flows, strength of management, borrowing requirements, improving debt to cash ratios, potential to improve credit standing, and a strong, defensible market position.

After its preliminary determination to invest in securities issued by a company, WRIMCO attempts to optimize the Portfolio’s risk/reward by investing in the debt portion of the company’s capital structure that WRIMCO believes to be most attractive, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes, unsecured high-yield bonds, and/or convertible securities trading well below their conversion values.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a debt security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying debt securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a holding if, in WRIMCO’s opinion, the issuer’s financial strength declines, or is anticipated to decline, to an unacceptable level, or if management of the company weakens. WRIMCO may sell a security if the competitive conditions of a particular industry have increased, and it believes the Portfolio should, therefore, reduce its exposure to such industry. WRIMCO also may sell a security if, in WRIMCO’s opinion, the price of the security has risen to reflect the company’s improved creditworthiness and other investments with greater potential exist. WRIMCO may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial, and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending on the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially securities with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Loan Participation Risk. In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Loan participations may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

Fixed Income Portfolio   Prospectus   13


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n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding debt securities held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Portfolio reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek, as its primary objective, a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, to seek capital growth when consistent with its primary objective. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 16.61% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -16.50% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP High Income

     5.26%         7.53%         7.67%   

Citigroup High Yield Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     5.52%         7.15%         8.68%   

BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup High Yield Market Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     4.38%         7.34%         8.59%   

Lipper Variable Annuity High Current Yield Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     3.35%         5.10%         6.89%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

William M. Nelson, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1999.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Fixed Income Portfolio   Prospectus   15


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

Objective

To seek to provide total return.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.69%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its assets in any market that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. Dependent on its outlook for the U.S. and global economies, WRIMCO identifies growth themes and then focuses its strategy on allocating the Portfolio’s assets among stocks, bonds, cash, precious metals, currency and derivative instruments, including derivatives traded over-the-counter and on exchanges. After determining these allocations, WRIMCO seeks attractive opportunities within each market by focusing on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow and low balance sheet leverage.

 

n  

“Stocks” include equity securities of all types, although WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks by focusing on what it believes are steady-growth companies that fit WRIMCO’s criteria for sustainable competitive advantage and that WRIMCO believes are positioned to benefit from continued global rebalancing and the globally emerging middle class. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, but primarily focuses on securities issued by large cap companies.

 

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n  

“Bonds” include all varieties of fixed-income instruments, such as corporate debt securities or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), with remaining maturities of more than one year. This investment type may include a significant amount, up to 35% of the Portfolio’s total assets, of high-yield/high-risk bonds, or junk bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

 

n  

“Short-term instruments” include all types of short-term securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, including higher-quality money market instruments.

Within each of these investment types, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign securities; the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may allocate the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or short-term instruments, respectively. WRIMCO may exercise a flexible strategy in the selection of securities, and the Portfolio is not required to allocate its investments among stocks and bonds in any fixed proportion, nor is it limited by investment style or by the issuer’s location, size, market capitalization or industry sector. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon market and economic conditions. Subject to diversification limits, the Fund also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, which may include a deterioration in a company’s fundamentals caused by global-specific factors such as geo-political landscape changes, regulatory or currency changes, or increased competition, as well as company-specific factors, such as reduced pricing power, diminished market opportunity, or increased competition. WRIMCO also may sell a security if the price of the security reaches what WRIMCO believes is fair value, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets, and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to achieve the Portfolio’s objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to companies, sectors or equity markets, WRIMCO may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts, both long and short positions, total return swaps, credit default swaps and options contracts, both written and purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indices and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, WRIMCO may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s exposure to precious metals, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s event risks, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions on foreign and U.S. equity indices and options contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities the Portfolio owns and on foreign and U.S. equity indices.

WRIMCO may reduce the Portfolio’s net equity exposure by selling, among other instruments, combined futures and option positions, and may effect short sales of individual securities and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or take long positions in inverse ETFs.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Commodities Risk. Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, the Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, the Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, the Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

 

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n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these bonds are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

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n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of various indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek high total return over the long term. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 15.83% (the third quarter of 2005) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.90% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     -7.21%         6.16%         10.14%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     7.85%         6.68%         5.89%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     7.84%         6.50%         5.78%   

Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     0.21%         1.82%         2.19%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     0.07%         1.36%         1.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.58%         2.14%         6.44%   

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   19


Table of Contents

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Michael L. Avery, Executive Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1997, and Ryan F. Caldwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2007.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Energy

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.14%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.24%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$126

     $ 393       $ 681       $ 1,500   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Energy seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in securities of companies within the energy sector, which includes all aspects of the energy industry, such as exploration, discovery, production, distribution or infrastructure of energy and/or alternative energy sources. These companies may include, but are not limited to, oil companies, oil and gas exploration companies, natural gas pipeline companies, refinery companies, energy conservation companies, coal, transporters, utilities, alternative energy companies and innovative energy technology companies. The Portfolio also may invest in companies that are not within the energy sector that are engaged in the development of products and services to enhance energy efficiency for the users of those products and services. The Portfolio invests in a blend of value and growth companies domiciled throughout the world, including, potentially, companies domiciled or traded in emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities.

After conducting a top-down market analysis of the energy industry and then identifying trends and sectors, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, uses a research-oriented, bottom-up investment approach when selecting securities for the Portfolio, focusing on company fundamentals and growth prospects.

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   21


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In general, the Portfolio emphasizes companies that WRIMCO believes are strongly managed and can generate above average, capital growth and appreciation.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become undervalued and/or whether the prospects of the issuer have deteriorated. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the energy related industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of energy related securities.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Energy Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in energy securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed in complying with environmental safety regulations, demand of energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulations.

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also

 

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decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to provide long-term capital appreciation. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 23.73% (the second quarter of 2008) and the lowest quarterly return was -33.43% (the third quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Energy (began on 05-01-2006)

     -9.08%         4.88%         3.00%   

S&P 1500 Energy Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2006.)

     3.92%         4.86%         5.42%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Natural Resources Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2006.)

     -11.66%         2.54%         2.14%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

David P. Ginther, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since May 2006.

 

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Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       1.00%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.12%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.37%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$139

     $ 434       $ 750       $ 1,646   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or supply goods and services to such companies.

For these purposes, “natural resources” generally include: energy (such as utilities, producers/developers, refiners, service/drilling), alternative energy (such as uranium, coal, hydrogen, wind, solar, fuel cells), industrial products (such as building materials, cement, packaging, chemicals, supporting transport and machinery), forest products (such as lumber, plywood, pulp, paper, newsprint, tissue), base metals (such as aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc, iron ore and steel), precious metals and minerals (such as gold, silver, platinum, diamonds), and agricultural products (grains and other foods, seeds, fertilizers, water).

 

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The Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), uses an equity style that focuses on both growth and value, as well as utilizing both a top-down (the creation of macro-economic models to prepare an outlook for economic and market conditions) and a bottom-up (fundamental, company by company) approach. Mackenzie targets companies for investment that, in its opinion, have strong management and financial positions, adding balance with established low-cost, low-debt producers or positions that are based on anticipated commodity price trends. The Portfolio seeks to be diversified internationally, and therefore, Mackenzie invests in foreign companies and U.S. companies that have principal operations in foreign jurisdictions. While Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s assets in North America, international exposure may exceed 50% of the Portfolio’s total assets. Exposure to companies in any one particular foreign country other than Canada is typically less than 20% of the Portfolio’s total assets. The Portfolio also may have exposure to companies located in, and/or doing business in, emerging markets.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining to sell a security, Mackenzie considers various factors, including whether the holding has sufficiently exceeded its target price, whether a growth-oriented company has failed to deliver growth, and the effect of commodity price trends on certain holdings. Mackenzie may also sell a security to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities, to reduce the Fund’s holding in that security, or to raise cash.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative instruments to hedge market risk on equity securities, increase exposure to specific sectors or companies, and manage exposure to various foreign currencies. In an effort to achieve the objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to equity markets, the Portfolio may utilize futures on equity indices and/or purchase option contracts on individual equity securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the Portfolio may utilize forward contracts to either increase or decrease exposure to a given currency.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of Mackenzie as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak

 

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supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Global Natural Resources Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on Mackenzie’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Sector Risk. At times, the Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

n  

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide long-term growth and any income realized was incidental. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 31.63% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -41.06% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources (began on 04-28-2005)

     -21.45%         -2.46%         5.13%   

Morgan Stanley Commodity Related Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.87%         6.67%         11.86%   

MSCI AC World IMI 55% Energy + 45% Materials Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.60%         2.51%         8.98%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Natural Resources Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.66%         2.54%         9.75%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO) and sub-advised by Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie).

Portfolio Manager

Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, has managed the Fund since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of science or technology companies. Such companies may include companies that, in the opinion of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, derive a competitive advantage by the application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries to grow their business or increase their competitive advantage. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in the opinion of WRIMCO, are being or are expected to be significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks; that is, WRIMCO seeks companies in which earnings are likely to grow faster than the economy. WRIMCO aims to identify strong secular trends within industries and then applies a largely bottom-up stock selection process by considering a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include but

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   29


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are not limited to a company’s growth potential, earnings potential, quality of management, industry position/market size potential and applicable economic and market conditions. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become overvalued and/or whether the company prospects of the issuer have deteriorated due to a change in management, change in strategy and/or a change in its financial characteristics. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the science and technology industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of science and technology related securities.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s manager also tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

30   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolios


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n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Science and Technology Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include: operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, aggressive pricing of products and services, new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.75% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.81% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   31


Table of Contents

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     -5.77%         4.67%         6.24%   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -0.88%         3.84%         2.44%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Science & Technology Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -6.50%         2.77%         1.58%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Zachary H. Shafran, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since February 2001.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

32   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolios


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More about the Portfolios

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective of to provide total return by investing primarily in dividend-paying common stocks that WRIMCO believes also demonstrate favorable prospects for total return. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO attempts to select securities by considering a company’s ability to sustain, and potentially increase, its dividend payments, thereby returning value to its shareholders. WRIMCO also seeks companies that it believes possess strong balance sheets, sustainable business models and earnings power, and high free cash flow yields.

The Portfolio’s emphasis on a steady return through investments in dividend-paying securities may temper its ability to achieve considerable appreciation in value of its holdings.

For Federal income tax purposes, “qualified dividend income” received by noncorporate shareholders through the end of 2012 is taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. Although the only shareholders of the Portfolio are separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies, and the Policyowners, thus, are not directly affected by the tax consequences to the Portfolio, WRIMCO believes that the tax treatment of qualified dividend income may benefit companies that regularly issue dividends.

Although the Portfolio invests primarily in U.S. securities, it may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

While the Portfolio invests primarily in dividend-paying equity securities, it may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in debt securities in seeking to achieve its objective. To the extent the Portfolio invests in debt securities, the Portfolio intends to primarily invest in investment-grade debt securities, that is, bonds rated BBB- or higher by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

At times, when WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable or to achieve income, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities including short-term cash equivalent securities. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Large Company Risk

  

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Sector Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Credit Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign mid cap companies that WRIMCO believes offer above-average growth potential. The Portfolio primarily focuses on mid cap growth companies that WRIMCO believes have the potential to become a large cap company. Mid cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million

 

  Prospectus   33


Table of Contents

to $22.8 billion. For this purpose, WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the mid cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

As noted, WRIMCO utilizes a primarily bottom-up approach in its selection of securities for the Portfolio and focuses on companies it believes have strong growth models, profitability, attractive valuations and sound capital structures. Other desired characteristics may include a leading market position, the active involvement of the founder or entrepreneur, management that is strong and demonstrates commitment to stakeholders, and a high gross margin and return on equity with low debt. WRIMCO also may consider a company’s dividend yield. Part of the investment process includes a review of the macroeconomic environment, with a focus on factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer confidence, and corporate spending.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks, such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in convertible securities, preferred stocks and debt securities of any maturity and mostly of investment grade, that is, rated BBB- or higher by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

The Portfolio may utilize derivative instruments, including options on an index or on individual or baskets of equity securities, in seeking to gain exposure to certain sectors, to enhance income, and/or to hedge certain market event risks, including risks associated with a specific holding. The Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a means of gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities (including commercial paper, cash and cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. government securities), preferred stocks or both. As well, the Portfolio may choose to invest in companies whose sales and earnings growth are generally stable through a variety of economic conditions. By taking a temporary defensive position the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Management Risk

  

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of small cap companies that are relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is an opportunity for rapid growth. The emphasis on portfolio risk diversification is an important contributor to the ability to effectively manage risk, as a desired goal is to have a portfolio of securities that tend not to react in high correlation to one another under any economic or market condition. This emphasis is intended to result in a higher degree of diversification, reduced portfolio volatility, and a smoother more consistent pattern of portfolio returns over the long term. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO considers quality of management and superior financial characteristics (for example, return on assets, return on equity, operating margin) in its search for companies, thereby focusing on higher-quality companies. WRIMCO seeks companies that it believes exhibit defensible market positions by having one or more of the following characteristics: a company that is a strong niche player, that features the involvement of the founder, that demonstrates a strong commitment to shareholders, or that focuses on organic growth. WRIMCO believes that such companies generally have a replicable business model that allows for sustained growth. The focus

 

34   Prospectus  


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on holding an investment is intermediate to long-term. WRIMCO considers selling a holding if its analysis reveals evidence of a meaningful deterioration in operating trends, it anticipates a decrease in the company’s ability to grow and gain market shares and/or the company’s founder departs.

Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the small cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. From time to time, the Portfolio also will invest a lesser portion of its assets in securities of mid and large cap companies (that is, companies with market capitalizations larger than that defined above) that, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being fundamentally changed or revitalized, have a position that is considered strong relative to the market as a whole or otherwise offer unusual opportunities for above-average growth.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in securities convertible into common stocks, in preferred stocks and debt securities, that are mostly of investment grade.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities may present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs to gain industry exposure not otherwise available through direct investments in small cap securities. The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, primarily futures contracts and options, for the purpose of seeking to hedge its exposure, as well as total return swaps to gain exposure, to certain market sectors that it cannot efficiently obtain through the purchase of individual equity securities or ETFs.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio also may invest in more established companies, such as those with longer operating histories than many small cap companies. As well, it may increase the number of issuers in which it invests and thereby limit the Portfolio’s position size in any particular security. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Holdings Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-yield, high-risk, fixed-income securities, including loan participations and other loan instruments, of U.S. and foreign issuers, the risks of which are, in the judgment of WRIMCO, consistent with the Portfolio’s objective. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In general, the high level of income that the Portfolio seeks is paid by debt securities rated in the lower rating categories of the NRSROs or unrated securities that are determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality; these include debt securities rated BBB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. Lower-quality debt securities, which include junk bonds, are considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher-quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

 

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The Portfolio primarily owns debt securities, which may include loan participations and other loan instruments, and may own fixed-income securities of varying maturities; however, it also may own, to a lesser degree, preferred stocks, common stocks and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging and/or speculative purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. The Portfolio may also utilize forward contracts in an effort to hedge the exposure to foreign currencies from securities held in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest an unlimited amount of its assets in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities also present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. As well, if the Portfolio invests in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities, it will likely hedge any currency exposure related to those securities. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

When WRIMCO believes that a full or partial temporary defensive position is desirable, due to present or anticipated market or economic conditions and to attempt to reduce the price volatility of the Portfolio, WRIMCO may take any one or more of the following steps with respect to the Portfolio’s assets:

 

n  

shorten the average maturity of the Portfolio’s debt holdings

 

n  

hold cash or cash equivalents (short-term investments, such as commercial paper and certificates of deposit)

 

n  

emphasize investment grade debt securities

By taking a temporary defensive position in any one or more of these manners, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP High Income is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Credit Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

n Liquidity Risk

  

n Loan Participation Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Reinvestment Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP High Income may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Extension Risk

  

n Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk

n Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds, and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also utilize derivative instruments in seeking its objective. The Portfolio may invest its assets in almost any market that WRIMCO believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, that can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, the mix of assets in the Portfolio will change from time to time depending on WRIMCO’s assessment of the market for each investment type. Allocating assets among different types of investments allows the Portfolio to take advantage of opportunities wherever they may occur, but also subjects the Portfolio to the risks of a given investment type. Stock values generally fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The values of bonds and short-term instruments generally fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and due to the credit quality of the issuer.

Subject to diversification limits, WRIMCO may invest up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in precious metals. Investments in physical commodities, including precious metals, may experience severe price fluctuations over short periods of time; as well, storage and trading costs may exceed the custodial and/or brokerage costs associated with other investments.

 

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WRIMCO regularly reviews the global economic environment to determine asset allocation and security selection, and makes changes to favor investments that it believes provide the best opportunity to achieve the Portfolio’s objective. In developing global themes, WRIMCO evaluates a number of global trends that may include political, social, cultural, demographic, current and historical trends, among others. Although WRIMCO uses its expertise and resources in choosing investments and in allocating assets, WRIMCO’s decisions may not always be beneficial to the Portfolio, and there is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO tries to balance the Portfolio’s investment risks against potentially higher total returns by reducing the stock allocation during stock market down cycles and typically increasing the stock allocation during periods of strongly positive market performance. Generally, WRIMCO makes asset shifts gradually over time. WRIMCO considers various factors when it decides to sell a security, such as an individual security’s performance and/or if it is an appropriate time to vary the Portfolio’s mix.

The Portfolio may purchase shares of another investment company subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while also maintaining liquidity, or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As described above, the Portfolio has the flexibility to invest up to all of its assets in money market and other short-term investments, although it does not typically invest a substantial portion of its assets in these investments under normal market conditions. WRIMCO will typically increase the Portfolio’s investment in high-quality, short-term investments in order to increase the defensive positioning of the Portfolio and/or to enable the Portfolio to participate in opportunities as they present themselves.

Although WRIMCO may seek to preserve appreciation in the Portfolio by taking a temporary defensive position, doing so may prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Company Risk

n Credit Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

  

n Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

n Reinvestment Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Energy: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing primarily in the equity securities of companies engaged in various aspects of the energy industry, such as the production, exploration, distribution of energy or relating to the infrastructure of energy, as well as the research and development or production of alternative energy sources, including but not limited to, oil companies, oil and gas exploration companies, natural gas pipeline companies, refinery companies, energy conservation companies, coal companies, alternative energy companies, and companies using newer energy technologies such as nuclear, geothermal, oil shale, wind power, and solar power.

WRIMCO focuses not only on traditional companies that are producing and distributing energy today, but also on companies that WRIMCO believes are discovering sources of energy for the future. WRIMCO considers many factors in selecting companies for the

 

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Portfolio, which may include the valuation, operating history, capital, financials, business model and management of a company. The Portfolio invests in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Primarily investing in the energy sector can be riskier than other types of investment activities because of a range of factors, including price fluctuation caused by real or perceived inflationary trends and political developments, and the cost assumed by energy companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations.

The Portfolio is also subject to the risk that the earnings, dividends and securities prices of energy companies will be greatly affected by changes in the prices and supplies of oil and other energy fuels. Prices and supplies of energy may fluctuate significantly over any time period due to many factors, including:

 

n  

international political developments

 

n  

production and distribution policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil-producing countries

 

n  

relationships among OPEC members and other oil-producing countries and between those countries and oil-importing nations

 

n  

energy conservation

 

n  

the regulatory environment

 

n  

tax policies

 

n  

the economic growth and political stability of the key energy-consuming countries

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of other investment techniques, including investing in income trusts and MLPs. An MLP is an investment that combines the tax benefits of a partnership with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. The MLPs in which the Portfolio may invest are primarily engaged in investing in oil and gas-related businesses, including energy processing and distribution. Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stocks, including, among others, risk related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, cash flow risks, dilution risks, and others.

The Portfolio’s investments in income trusts and MLPs will be limited by tax considerations.

As a temporary defensive measure, when securities markets or economic conditions are unfavorable or unsettled, the Portfolio may try to protect its assets by investing up to 100% of its total assets in securities that are highly liquid, including high-quality money market instruments such as short-term U.S. government securities, commercial paper, or repurchase agreements, even though that is not the normal investment strategy of the Portfolio. Even though the securities purchased for defensive purposes often are considered the equivalent of cash, and typically are highly liquid or comparatively safe, they tend to offer lower returns. Therefore, the Portfolio’s performance could be comparatively lower if it concentrates its assets in defensive holdings. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Energy is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Concentration Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Energy Industry Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Energy may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Liquidity Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

 

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A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of companies of any size throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or that supply goods and services to such companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

Mackenzie systematically reviews its investment decisions and may allow cash reserves to build up when valuations seem unattractive. Mackenzie attempts to minimize risk through diversifying the Portfolio’s holdings by commodity, country, issuer, and market capitalization of companies; however, such diversification may not necessarily reduce Portfolio volatility. Mackenzie searches for what it feels are well-managed companies with strong balance sheets and the technological capability and expertise to grow independently of commodity prices. In addition, Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s holdings with established larger companies that have historically strong-producing assets and attractive long-term reinvestment opportunities. From a macro perspective, Mackenzie monitors demand expectations for various commodities and utilizes this information to adjust the level of sector exposure and individual security holdings in the Portfolio.

During normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of its total assets in issuers of at least three countries, which may include the U.S. The Portfolio also may invest in precious metals and other physical commodities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may also invest in ETFs or options on ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index.

Mackenzie may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As a temporary defensive measure, when Mackenzie believes that securities markets or economic conditions are unfavorable or unsettled, the Portfolio may try to protect its assets by investing up to 100% of its total assets in securities that are highly liquid, including high-quality money market instruments, such as short-term U.S. government securities, commercial paper, or repurchase agreements, even though that is not the normal investment strategy of the Portfolio. Even though the securities purchased for defensive purposes often are considered the equivalent of cash, and typically are highly liquid or comparatively safe, they tend to offer lower returns. Therefore, the Portfolio’s performance could be comparatively lower if it concentrates its assets in defensive holdings. The additional temporary defensive measures that Mackenzie may employ include altering the mix of company and sector holdings or using derivative strategies. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Global Natural Resources Industry Risk

  

n Growth Stock Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Sector Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being, or are expected to be, significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. As well, the Portfolio may invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest in any geographic area. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In its selection of securities for investment by the Portfolio, WRIMCO aims to identify companies that it believes to be benefiting from the world’s strongest secular economic trends, and then applies its largely bottom-up research to identify what it believes are the best holdings for the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest in, but is not limited to, areas such as:

Science:

 

n pharmaceuticals

n medical technology equipment

n biotechnology

  

n genomics

n proteomics

n healthcare services

Technology:

 

n semiconductors

n computer hardware

n computer services

n software

n networking

n telecommunication services

  

n defense electronics

n entertainment

n content media

n data processing

n internet

The Portfolio primarily owns common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks, debt securities and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade fixed income securities, which are securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality, which may include convertible securities.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques, typically options on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio and on equity indices, in seeking to hedge various market risks and/or individual security risk as well as to enhance return. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means to invest cash effectively.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities or other debt securities, mostly of investment grade. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio may also hedge its foreign currency exposure, when applicable.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Concentration Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Holdings Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Science and Technology Industry Risk

n Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

 

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A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Additional Investment Considerations

The objective(s) and investment policies of each Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because each Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of each Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO or the investment subadvisor, as applicable (the Investment Manager), in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

Each Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, each Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of each Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments, foreign securities, junk bonds and precious metals, involve special risks. Depending on how much a Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

Certain types of mortgage-backed securities may experience significant valuation uncertainties, greater volatility, and significantly less liquidity due to the sharp rise of foreclosures on home loans secured by subprime mortgages in recent years. Subprime mortgages have a higher credit risk than prime mortgages, as the credit criteria for obtaining a subprime mortgage is more flexible than that used with prime borrowers. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in securities that are backed by pools of mortgage loans, the risk to the Portfolio may be significant. Other asset-backed securities also may experience significant valuation uncertainties, increased volatility, and significantly reduced liquidity. Each Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective(s). Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by a Portfolio.

Each of the Portfolios generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, the Investment Manager may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if the Investment Manager is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet the Investment Manager’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about each Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of each Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Commodities Risk — Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, a Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, a

 

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Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, a Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Concentration Risk — If a Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector or company.

Credit Risk — An issuer of a debt security (including a mortgage-backed security) or a real estate investment trust (REIT) that is the issuer of a security in which the Portfolio invests may not make payments on the security when due, or the other party to a contract may default on its obligation. There is also the risk that an issuer could suffer adverse changes in its financial condition that could lower the credit quality of a security. This could lead to greater volatility in the price of the security and, therefore, in the NAV of a Portfolio. Also, a change in the quality rating of a debt security or a REIT security can affect the security’s liquidity and make it more difficult to sell. If a Portfolio purchases unrated securities and obligations, it will depend on the Investment Manager’s analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.

Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that a Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of the Investment Manager as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase a Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

A Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift a Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

 

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Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, a Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case a Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, a Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. A Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that the Investment Manager reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. The Investment Manager may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of a Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of a Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit a Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Emerging Market Risk — Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of those countries may have failed in the past to recognize private property rights and have nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in such countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Portfolio’s investments in such countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in more developed countries, and the Portfolio may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making certain investments in those countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain countries, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

 

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Energy Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in energy securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed in complying with environmental safety regulations, demand of energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other government regulations.

Extension Risk — Rising interest rates could cause property owners to pay their mortgages more slowly than expected, resulting in slower payments of mortgage-backed securities and real estate debt securities. This would, in effect, convert a short or medium-duration security into a longer-duration security, increasing its sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing its price to decline. Duration measures the expected price sensitivity of a fixed income security or portfolio for a given change in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by one percent, the value of a security or portfolio having a duration of two years generally will fall by approximately two percent.

Foreign Currency Risk — Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of a Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk — A Portfolio may, but is not required to, use foreign currency exchange transactions and forward foreign currency contracts to hedge certain market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and broad or specific market movement). These investment techniques involve a number of risks, including the possibility of default by the counterparty to the transaction and, to the extent the Investment Manager’s judgment as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk of losses that are greater than if the investment technique had not been used. For example, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Portfolio’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. An imperfect correlation of this type may prevent the Portfolios from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. These investment techniques also tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect a Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause a Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that a Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Global Natural Resources Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

 

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Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If a Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if a Portfolio’s manager(s) tends to invest a significant portion of a Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager(s) invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on a Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. A Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, a Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as a Portfolio grows.

Interest Rate Risk — The value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) may decline due to changes in market interest rates. Generally, when interest rates rise, the value of such a security or obligation decreases. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) generally increases. Long-term debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and fixed income obligations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes. A Portfolio may experience a decline in its income due to falling interest rates.

In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations experiences a decrease in principal value with an increase in interest rates. The extent of the decrease in principal value may be affected by a Portfolio’s duration of its portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations. Duration measures the relative price sensitivity of a security to changes in interest rates. “Effective” duration takes into consideration the likelihood that a security will be called, or prepaid, prior to maturity given current market interest rates. Typically, a security with a longer duration is more price sensitive than a security with a shorter duration. In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities experiences a percentage decrease in principal value equal to its effective duration for each 1% increase in interest rates. For example, if a Portfolio holds a portfolio of securities with an effective duration of five years and interest rates rise 1%, the principal value of such securities could be expected to decrease by approximately 5%.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, a Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

Certain Portfolios may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, a Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by a Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

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Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if a Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

Loan Participation Risk — In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. In the event the borrower defaults, a Portfolio’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. With loan participations, a Portfolio may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the lender would have under the loan and likely would not have any rights against the borrower directly, so that delays and expense may be greater than those that would be involved if a Portfolio could enforce its rights directly against the borrower. There is a risk that the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline after a Portfolio invests and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed to the Portfolio. If the loan participation is unsecured, there is no specific collateral on which a Portfolio can foreclose. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, a Portfolio may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral, including the risk that collateral may be difficult to sell.

Loan participations may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market. As a result, valuing a loan participation can be more difficult, and buying and selling a loan participation at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed, than other investments. Difficulty in selling a loan participation can result in a loss. Loans made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Loan participations may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Portfolio, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

Low-rated Securities Risk — In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken a Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

Management Risk — The Investment Manager applies a Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective(s). Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by the Investment Manager may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolios. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by a Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

 

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Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to reinvestment risk. When interest rates decline, unscheduled payments can be expected to accelerate, and a Portfolio may be required to reinvest the proceeds of the payments at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled payments would also limit the potential for capital appreciation on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the values of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities generally fall. Since rising interest rates typically result in decreased prepayments, this could lengthen the average lives of such securities, and cause their value to decline more than traditional fixed-income securities. If a Portfolio purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool, the Portfolio, as a holder of those securities, may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. For example, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Portfolio as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities, or in some cases rendering them worthless; the risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include so-called “subprime” mortgages.

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk — Restricted securities, which include private placements, are securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, and there can be no assurance of a ready market for resale. A Portfolio could find it difficult to sell privately placed securities and other restricted securities when the Investment Manager believes it is desirable to do so, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, and the prices realized could be less than those originally paid or less than the fair market value. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the net asset value of a Portfolio.

Reinvestment Risk — Income from a Portfolio’s debt securities may decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded, prepaid or called securities in securities with interest rates lower than the current earnings rate of the Portfolio’s holdings. For example, debt securities with high relative interest rates may be paid by the issuer prior to maturity, particularly during periods of falling interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, there is the possibility that an issuer will call its securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new securities with a lower interest rate (commonly referred to as optional call risk). As well, falling interest rates could cause prepayments of mortgage loans to occur more quickly than expected. This may occur because, as interest rates fall, more property owners refinance the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities (including shares of mortgage REITs). As a result, a Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in other securities with generally lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Portfolio’s investment income.

Science and Technology Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include a company’s operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, and aggressive pricing of products and services, as well as new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

Sector Risk — At times, a Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than portfolios that invest more broadly.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Value Stock Risk — Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, undervalued. The value of a security believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

 

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The Management of the Portfolios

Portfolio Management

The Portfolios are managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3K1, serves as the investment subadvisor to, and as such provides investment advice to, and generally conducts the investment management program for, Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources pursuant to an agreement with WRIMCO. Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm in Toronto, providing investment advisory and related services, with approximately $60.2 billion USD in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: Michael L. Avery and Ryan F. Caldwell are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy. Mr. Avery has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 1997. He is Executive Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Avery has served as President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR), since January 2010. He formerly served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of WDR from June 2005 until February 2011 and formerly served as CIO of WRIMCO and IICO from June 2005 until August 2010. Mr. Avery has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 1994, and has been an employee of such since June 1981. He held the position of Director of Equity Research for IICO and for WRIMCO and its predecessor from August 1987 through June 2005. Mr. Avery earned a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and an MBA with emphasis on finance from Saint Louis University.

Mr. Caldwell has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 2007. His investment research responsibilities are concentrated in asset managers, brokers and transaction processors. Mr. Caldwell joined WRIMCO in July 2000 as an economic analyst. In January 2003 he was appointed an investment analyst, and in June 2005 was named assistant portfolio manager for the Portfolio, as well as two other funds managed by WRIMCO or IICO. Mr. Caldwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Caldwell earned a BBA in finance from Southwest Texas State University. He is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Daniel J. Vrabac, formerly a manager of the Portfolios along with Messrs. Avery and Caldwell, is now focusing on portfolio management responsibilities for the global bond funds with are managed by WRIMCO and IICO. While no longer responsible for day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Mr. Vrabac continues to provide input to Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy on the global fixed income markets, currencies and trading, which were among his principal responsibilities as a portfolio manager of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy.

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities and Ivy Funds VIP Energy: David P. Ginther is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities and Ivy Funds VIP Energy. He has held his responsibilities since the inception of Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities in December 2003 and since the inception of Ivy Funds VIP Energy in May 2006. Mr. Ginther is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He has been an employee of WRIMCO since 1995. Mr. Ginther holds a BS degree in accounting from Kansas State University, and has earned the designation of Certified Public Accountant.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources. He has managed the Portfolio since its inception in April 2005. Mr. Sturm is also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Global Natural Resources Fund, whose investment manager is IICO. Mr. Sturm joined Mackenzie in 1983. He holds a degree in commerce and finance from the University of Toronto. Mr. Sturm is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: William M. Nelson is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP High Income. Mr. Nelson has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP High Income since January 1999. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of another investment company for which WRIMCO serves as

 

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investment manager. Mr. Nelson has been an employee of WRIMCO since January 1995. He earned a BS in business administration from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and an MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Connecticut.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: Kimberly A. Scott is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth. She has managed Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth since its inception in April 2005. Ms. Scott is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Ms. Scott has served as a portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 2001. She served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO from April 1999 to February 2001. Ms. Scott joined WRIMCO in April 1999. She earned a BS degree in microbiology from the University of Kansas, and holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Scott is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: Zachary H. Shafran is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology. Mr. Shafran has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology since February 2001. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective April 2010, Mr. Shafran was appointed the Global Director of Equity and Fixed Income Research for WRIMCO and IICO. Mr. Shafran has served as the portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO or IICO since January 1996. He served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO and its predecessor from June 1990 to January 1996. Mr. Shafran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: Kenneth G. McQuade is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth. Mr. McQuade has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth since March 2006. Mr. McQuade joined Waddell & Reed in 1997 as an investment analyst. He was an assistant portfolio manager of separately managed small cap accounts from August 2003 until March 2010. Mr. McQuade is Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO and Vice President of the Trust. He earned a BS degree in finance from Bradley University.

Additional information regarding the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolios pay fees related to their daily operations. Expenses paid out of each Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

Each Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. Each Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of:

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: 0.625% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.60% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.55% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.50% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy and Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities: 0.70% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Energy, Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: 1.00% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.85% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

 

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Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for certain Portfolios are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows:

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: 0.575% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.60% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.55% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.50% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: 0.69% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

WRIMCO uses a portion of the management fees it receives from a Portfolio to pay that Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, as applicable.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for each Portfolio as a percent of each such Portfolio’s average net assets are as follows:

 

     Net Management Fees Paid  

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     0.68%   

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities

     0.70%   

Ivy Funds VIP Energy

     0.85%   

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

     1.00%   

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

     0.58%   

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     0.83%   

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of each of the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, each Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Waddell & Reed has voluntarily agreed to waive sufficient 12b-1 fees for Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth to cap the expenses for that Portfolio at 1.10%. Waddell & Reed may amend or terminate this voluntary waiver at any time without prior notice to shareholders.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

 

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The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Shares of the Portfolios are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolios are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of a Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. A Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if a Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolios currently do not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolios may offer their shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in one or more of the Portfolios and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force a Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolios is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of a Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of a Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of a Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Each Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of each Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by a Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

As noted in this Prospectus, certain Portfolios may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of a Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

 

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When a Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. A Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by a Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

A Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, such as Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolios have retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolios. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on a Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, a Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolios may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of a Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of any Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

 

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Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies, such as Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth, or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities, such as Ivy Funds VIP High Income.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

A Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolios, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolios cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by a Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

 

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A Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolios are underlying investment options or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Portfolios on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolios. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolios’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolios are investment options in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolios, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO and all subadvisers to the Portfolios are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolios’ shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolios in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolios or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s or a subadvisor’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

Each Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, a Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from all other Portfolios and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from all Portfolios.

Dividends are paid by each Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of each Portfolio, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. A Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors each Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolios are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolios’ shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of each Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Asset Strategy

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 9.91       $ 0.06 (3)    $ (0.76   $ (0.70   $ (0.10   $      $ (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2010

     9.23         0.09        0.69        0.78        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

     8.27         0.08        1.82        1.90        (0.03     (0.91     (0.94

Year ended 12-31-2008

     12.32         0.10        (3.29     (3.19     (0.05     (0.81     (0.86

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.00         0.09        3.85        3.94        (0.07     (0.55     (0.62

Dividend Opportunities

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     6.86         0.09 (3)      (0.41     (0.32     (0.07            (0.07

Year ended 12-31-2010

     5.96         0.07        0.90        0.97        (0.07            (0.07

Year ended 12-31-2009

     5.11         0.06        0.84        0.90        (0.05            (0.05

Year ended 12-31-2008

     8.00         0.04        (2.91     (2.87     (0.01     (0.01     (0.02

Year ended 12-31-2007

     6.97         0.09        1.07        1.16        (0.07     (0.06     (0.13

Energy

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     6.39         (0.02 )(3)      (0.56     (0.58                     

Year ended 12-31-2010

     5.26         (0.01     1.16        1.15        (0.02            (0.02

Year ended 12-31-2009

     3.74         0.02        1.50        1.52                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     6.97         (0.01     (3.21     (3.22         (0.01     (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2007

     4.64         0.02        2.35        2.37        (0.02     (0.02     (0.04

Global Natural Resources

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     6.73         (0.01 )(3)      (1.43     (1.44                     

Year ended 12-31-2010

     5.75         (0.02     1.00        0.98                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     3.31         (0.02     2.46        2.44                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.08         0.01        (6.23     (6.22     (0.11     (0.44     (0.55

Year ended 12-31-2007

     7.57         0.01        3.28        3.29            (0.78     (0.78

High Income

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     3.49         0.28 (3)      (0.09     0.19        (0.26            (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2010

     3.30         0.27        0.19        0.46        (0.27            (0.27

Year ended 12-31-2009

     2.48         0.25        0.84        1.09        (0.27            (0.27

Year ended 12-31-2008

     3.20         0.28        (0.98     (0.70     (0.02            (0.02

Year ended 12-31-2007

     3.34         0.27        (0.14     0.13        (0.27            (0.27

Mid Cap Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     8.69         (0.03 )(3)      0.01        (0.02         (0.30     (0.30

Year ended 12-31-2010

     6.61         0.00        2.08        2.08                  

Year ended 12-31-2009

     4.51         0.00        2.10        2.10                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     7.21         0.00        (2.61     (2.61         (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2007

     6.56         0.00        0.83        0.83            (0.18     (0.18

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Asset Strategy

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.11         -7.21 %   $ 1,197         0.99 %     0.62 %     1.00 %     0.61 %     57 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.91         8.68       1,295         1.02       1.07       1.03       1.06       104  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.23         25.04       1,095         1.05       1.17       1.06       1.16       113  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.27         -25.79       678         1.04       1.02       1.05       1.01       190  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.32         44.11       913         1.03       0.96       1.04       0.95       98  

Dividend Opportunities

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    6.47         -4.69       343         1.00       1.30                     45  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.86         16.37       296         1.02       1.37                     44  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.96         17.88       201         1.05       1.48                     31  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    5.11         -35.91       123         1.07       0.92                     35  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    8.00         16.72       121         1.04       1.29                     17  

Energy

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.81         -9.08       62         1.24       -0.36                     14  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.39         21.96       44         1.28       -0.25                     27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.26         40.48       31         1.01       0.35       1.33       0.03       15  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    3.74         -46.15       20         1.14       -0.15       1.31       -0.32       10  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    6.97         51.30       26         0.52       0.78       1.32       -0.02       13  

Global Natural Resources

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.29         -21.45       184         1.37       -0.14                     100  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.73         17.06       236         1.37       -0.31                     117  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.75         73.64       192         1.45       -0.56                     101  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    3.31         -61.46       69         1.43       -0.08                     206  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.08         43.50       165         1.38       0.20                     122  

High Income

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    3.42         5.26        272         0.90        8.01        0.95        7.96        78   

Year ended 12-31-2010

    3.49         14.86       243         0.91       8.27       0.96       8.22       108  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    3.30         46.42       214         0.93       9.15       0.98       9.10       74  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    2.48         -21.82       147         0.91       8.72       0.96       8.67       37  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    3.20         3.86       214         0.90       7.90       0.95       7.85       74  

Mid Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    8.37         -0.56       173         1.16       -0.32       1.18       -0.34       49  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.69         31.56       142         1.17       0.01       1.19       -0.01       44  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    6.61         46.66       92         1.21       0.03       1.23       0.01       33  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    4.51         -36.23       49         1.23       -0.06       1.24       -0.07       46  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    7.21         12.62       57         1.21       0.06       1.24       0.03       31  

 

  Prospectus   59


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Science and Technology

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 16.73       $ (0.13 )(3)    $ (0.75   $ (0.88   $      $ (0.60   $ (0.60

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.30         (0.08     1.96        1.88               (0.45     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2009

     11.43         0.01        4.73        4.74               (0.87     (0.87

Year ended 12-31-2008

     17.98         (0.03     (6.08     (6.11            (0.44     (0.44

Year ended 12-31-2007

     17.72         (0.07     4.39        4.32               (4.06     (4.06

Small Cap Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     10.53         (0.10 )(3)      (1.00     (1.10            (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2010

     8.17         (0.07     2.43        2.36                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     6.09         (0.06     2.17        2.11        (0.03            (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.24         0.03        (4.05     (4.02            (0.13     (0.13

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.97         (0.06     1.41        1.35               (1.08     (1.08

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

60   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

 

     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Science and Technology

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 15.25         -5.77 %   $ 279         1.16 %     -0.77 %     1.18 %     -0.79 %     50 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.73         12.75       326         1.16       -0.48       1.18       -0.50       27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.30         43.84       316         1.19       0.06       1.21       0.04       65  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.43         -33.89       226         1.16       -0.21       1.18       -0.23       62  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.98         24.37       396         1.15       -0.42       1.17       -0.44       73  

Small Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.34         -10.60       350         1.14       -0.95       1.16       -0.97       80  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.53         28.85       419         1.14       -0.83       1.16       -0.85       60  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.17         34.72       356         1.17       -0.88       1.19       -0.90       44  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.09         -39.18       290         1.14       0.32       1.16       0.30       82  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.24         13.52       544         1.14       -0.61       1.16       -0.63       101  

 

  Prospectus   61


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following charts provide additional hypothetical information about the effect of each Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

Each chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. Each chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in each chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The charts do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolios are offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP Dividend Opportunities

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

 

62   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Energy

 

Annual expense ratio        1.24%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   126.33        $10,376.00   
2     10,376.00        518.80        10,894.80        131.08        10,766.14   
3     10,766.14        538.31        11,304.44        136.01        11,170.94   
4     11,170.94        558.55        11,729.49        141.12        11,590.97   
5     11,590.97        579.55        12,170.52        146.43        12,026.79   
6     12,026.79        601.34        12,628.13        151.94        12,479.00   
7     12,479.00        623.95        13,102.95        157.65        12,948.21   
8     12,948.21        647.41        13,595.62        163.58        13,435.06   
9     13,435.06        671.75        14,106.82        169.73        13,940.22   
10     13,940.22        697.01        14,637.23        176.11        14,464.37   
Cumulative Total            $1,499.97     

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Annual expense ratio        1.37%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   139.49        $10,363.00   
2     10,363.00        518.15        10,881.15        144.55        10,739.18   
3     10,739.18        536.96        11,276.14        149.80        11,129.01   
4     11,129.01        556.45        11,685.46        155.23        11,532.99   
5     11,532.99        576.65        12,109.64        160.87        11,951.64   
6     11,951.64        597.58        12,549.22        166.71        12,385.48   
7     12,385.48        619.27        13,004.76        172.76        12,835.08   
8     12,835.08        641.75        13,476.83        179.03        13,300.99   
9     13,300.99        665.05        13,966.04        185.53        13,783.82   
10     13,783.82        689.19        14,473.01        192.27        14,284.17   
Cumulative Total            $1,646.24     

 

  Prospectus   63


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

 

Annual expense ratio        0.95%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $     96.92        $10,405.00   
2     10,405.00        520.25        10,925.25        100.85        10,826.40   
3     10,826.40        541.32        11,367.72        104.93        11,264.87   
4     11,264.87        563.24        11,828.12        109.18        11,721.10   
5     11,721.10        586.05        12,307.15        113.61        12,195.80   
6     12,195.80        609.79        12,805.59        118.21        12,689.73   
7     12,689.73        634.49        13,324.22        122.99        13,203.67   
8     13,203.67        660.18        13,863.85        127.97        13,738.42   
9     13,738.42        686.92        14,425.34        133.16        14,294.82   
10     14,294.82        714.74        15,009.56        138.55        14,873.76   
Cumulative Total            $1,166.38     

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

 

64   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.16%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   118.23        $10,384.00   
2     10,384.00        519.20        10,903.20        122.77        10,782.75   
3     10,782.75        539.14        11,321.88        127.48        11,196.80   
4     11,196.80        559.84        11,756.64        132.38        11,626.76   
5     11,626.76        581.34        12,208.10        137.46        12,073.23   
6     12,073.23        603.66        12,676.89        142.74        12,536.84   
7     12,536.84        626.84        13,163.68        148.22        13,018.25   
8     13,018.25        650.91        13,669.17        153.91        13,518.16   
9     13,518.16        675.91        14,194.06        159.82        14,037.25   
10     14,037.25        701.86        14,739.12        165.96        14,576.28   
Cumulative Total            $1,408.96     

 

  Prospectus   65


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

66   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolios in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about each Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about a Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail each Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios’ performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolios’ most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolios are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

  Prospectus   67


Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS   SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

 

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS

 

Ivy Funds VIP Bond

 

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

 

GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

 

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

 

 

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

 

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

 

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

 

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers ten Portfolios of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolios of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

  6        

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

  9        

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS

  12        

Ivy Funds VIP Bond

  16        

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY — GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

  20        

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

  23        

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

  28        

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

  32        

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY — MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

  36        

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

  39        

More About the Portfolios

  39        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  47        

Additional Investment Considerations

  48        

Defining Risks

  55        

The Management of the Portfolios

  59        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  63        

Distributions and Taxes

  65        

Financial Highlights

  70        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

 

2   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.01%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$103

     $ 322       $ 558       $ 1,236   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 70% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities, primarily in common stocks of large cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes have dominant market positions in their industries. Large cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. The Portfolio invests in securities that have the potential for capital appreciation, or that WRIMCO expects to resist market decline. Although the Portfolio typically invests in securities issued by large cap companies, it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size.

WRIMCO believes that long-term earnings power relative to market expectations is an important component for stock performance. From a top-down perspective, WRIMCO seeks to identify current trends or themes which indicate specific industries that have the potential to experience multi-year growth. Once identified, WRIMCO seeks to invest for the Portfolio in what it believes to be dominant companies that will benefit from these trends or themes; including companies that WRIMCO believes have long-term earnings potential greater than market expectations. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 40 to 50) of stocks.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   3


Table of Contents

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has fully appreciated according to WRIMCO’s forecast, has ceased to offer the prospect of significant growth potential, has had its competitive barriers diminished, has seen its earnings catalyst lose its impact, or has performed below WRIMCO’s expectations regarding the security’s long-term earnings potential. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security if that issuer’s competitive advantage has diminished or if the Portfolio’s portfolio managers lose conviction in a previously identified trend or theme, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 40 to 50) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

 

4   Prospectus   Domestic Equity Portfolios


Table of Contents

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 17.59% (the third quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -20.48% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

     1.66%         2.54%         3.83%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Large-Cap Core Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -1.00%         -1.17%         2.41%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Erik R. Becker, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, and Gustaf C. Zinn, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, have managed the Portfolio since July 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   5


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.05%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks issued by large-cap companies which Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are high-quality, growth-oriented companies with appreciation possibilities. Large cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio seeks to generate solid returns while striving to protect against downside risks.

WRIMCO primarily utilizes a bottom-up strategy in selecting securities for the Portfolio and seeks companies that it believes have dominant market positions and established competitive advantages. WRIMCO believes that these characteristics can help to mitigate competition and lead to more sustainable revenue and earnings growth.

WRIMCO attempts to focus on companies operating in large, growing, addressable markets (generally, the potential markets for their goods and services) whose competitive market position WRIMCO believes will allow them to grow faster than the general economy. The key factors typically analyzed by WRIMCO consist of: a company’s brand equity, proprietary technology, economies of scale, and level of intra- and inter-industry competition; the threat of substitute products; and the interaction and bargaining

 

6   Prospectus   Domestic Equity Portfolios


Table of Contents

power between a company, its customers, suppliers and competitors. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

In general, WRIMCO may sell a security when, in WRIMCO’s opinion, a company experiences deterioration in its growth and/or profitability characteristics, or a fundamental breakdown of its sustainable competitive advantages. WRIMCO also may sell a security if it determines that the security no longer presents sufficient appreciation potential; this may be caused by, or be an effect of, changes in the industry of the issuer, loss by the company of its competitive position, and/or poor use of resources. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s managers also tend to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s managers invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   7


Table of Contents

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek capital growth, with current income as a secondary objective. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 13.01% (the third quarter of 2007) and the lowest quarterly return was -20.44% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Growth

     2.12%         3.21%         3.19%   

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.64%         2.50%         2.60%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Large-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.34%         1.00%         2.17%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Daniel P. Becker, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since June 2006 and Philip J. Sanders, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since August 1998.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

8   Prospectus   Domestic Equity Portfolios


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.16%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$118

     $ 368       $ 638       $ 1,409   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of small cap companies. Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. The Portfolio emphasizes relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is opportunity for rapid growth. The Portfolio’s investment in equity securities may include common stocks that are offered in initial public offerings (IPOs).

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, utilizes a bottom-up stock picking process that focuses on companies it believes have sustainable long-term growth potential with superior financial characteristics and, therefore, are believed by WRIMCO to be of a higher quality than many other small cap companies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors regarding a company, such as: management that is aggressive and/or creative, yet strong and/or dedicated; technological or specialized expertise; new or unique products or services; entry into new or emerging industries; growth in earnings/growth in revenue and sales/positive cash flows; rising returns on investment; and security size and liquidity. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   9


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Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it determines that the stock no longer offers significant growth potential, which may be due to a change in the business or management of the company or a change in the industry of the company. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

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Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 24.14% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -28.33% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     -10.60%         1.39%         4.43%   

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -2.91%         2.09%         4.48%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.82%         1.82%         3.88%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kenneth G. McQuade, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since March 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   11


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Bond

Objective

To seek to provide current income consistent with preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.47%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.05%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       0.77%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$79

     $ 246       $ 428       $ 954   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as spreads between bid and asked prices, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 65% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Bond seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in investment grade debt securities. The Portfolio considers debt securities to be investment grade if they are rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, to be of comparable quality. During normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds, including corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), and other asset-backed securities. Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and, like other asset-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest, may be backed only by the pool of assets pledged as security for the transaction. The Portfolio has no limitations regarding the maturity, duration or dollar-weighted average of its holdings, may invest in debt securities with varying maturities and can invest in securities of companies of any size.

 

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In selecting debt securities for the Portfolio’s holdings, WRIMCO initially utilizes a top-down viewpoint by looking at broad economic and financial trends in an effort to anticipate their impact on the bond market and then considers yield and relative safety of a security. WRIMCO also may look at many other factors, including the issuer’s past, present and estimated future: financial strength; cash flow; management; borrowing requirements; and responsiveness to changes in interest rates and business conditions. As well, WRIMCO may consider the maturity of the obligation and the size or nature of the bond issue.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a holding if, in WRIMCO’s opinion, the issuer’s financial strength weakens and/or the yield and relative safety of the security decline. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Extension Risk. A rise in interest rates could cause property owners to pay their mortgages more slowly than expected, resulting in slower payments of mortgage-backed securities and lengthening the average life of such security. This could cause their value to decline more than other fixed-income securities.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially securities with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, unscheduled payments can be expected to accelerate, and the Portfolio may be required to reinvest the proceeds of the prepayments at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled payments would also limit the potential for capital appreciation on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding debt securities held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Portfolio reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

 

n  

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Certain U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury (Treasury) securities and securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Other U.S. government securities, such as securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB), are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and, instead, may be supported only by the credit of the issuer or by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury.

 

Fixed Income Portfolios   Prospectus   13


Table of Contents

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek a reasonable return with emphasis on preservation of capital. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide current income consistent with preservation of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 3.92% (the third quarter of 2002) and the lowest quarterly return was -2.45% (the second quarter of 2004).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Bond

     7.31%         5.27%         4.91%   

Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     7.85%         6.68%         5.89%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     7.84%         6.50%         5.78%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Corporate Debt Funds A Rated Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     6.80%         5.41%         5.15%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Mark Otterstrom, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since August 2008.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

 

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The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Fixed Income Portfolios   Prospectus   15


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

Objective

To seek to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.63%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.07%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       0.95%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$97

     $ 303       $ 525       $ 1,166   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as spreads between bid and asked prices, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP High Income seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-yield, high-risk, fixed-income securities, including loan participations and other loan instruments (loan participations), of U.S. and foreign issuers, the risks of which are, in the judgment of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, consistent with the Portfolio’s objective. The Portfolio may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity and in companies of any size. The Portfolio invests primarily in lower-quality debt securities, which include debt securities rated BBB+ or lower by Standard and Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest an unlimited amount of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, commonly called junk bonds, which include debt securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may look at a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio, including the economic environment, interest rate trends and industry fundamentals as well as analysis of the company’s fundamentals, including: financial strength, growth of

 

16   Prospectus   Fixed Income Portfolios


Table of Contents

operating cash flows, strength of management, borrowing requirements, improving debt to cash ratios, potential to improve credit standing, and a strong, defensible market position.

After its preliminary determination to invest in securities issued by a company, WRIMCO attempts to optimize the Portfolio’s risk/reward by investing in the debt portion of the company’s capital structure that WRIMCO believes to be most attractive, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes, unsecured high-yield bonds, and/or convertible securities trading well below their conversion values.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a debt security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying debt securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a holding if, in WRIMCO’s opinion, the issuer’s financial strength declines, or is anticipated to decline, to an unacceptable level, or if management of the company weakens. WRIMCO may sell a security if the competitive conditions of a particular industry have increased, and it believes the Portfolio should, therefore, reduce its exposure to such industry. WRIMCO also may sell a security if, in WRIMCO’s opinion, the price of the security has risen to reflect the company’s improved creditworthiness and other investments with greater potential exist. WRIMCO may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial, and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending on the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially securities with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Loan Participation Risk. In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Loan participations may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

Fixed Income Portfolios   Prospectus   17


Table of Contents
n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding debt securities held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Portfolio reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek, as its primary objective, a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, to seek capital growth when consistent with its primary objective. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 16.61% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -16.50% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP High Income

     5.26%         7.53%         7.67%   

Citigroup High Yield Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     5.52%         7.15%         8.68%   

BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup High Yield Market Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     4.38%         7.34%         8.59%   

Lipper Variable Annuity High Current Yield Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     3.35%         5.10%         6.89%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

William M. Nelson, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1999.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Fixed Income Portfolios   Prospectus   19


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 61% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stocks of foreign companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are competitively well-positioned, gaining market share, have the potential for long-term growth and operate in regions or countries that WRIMCO believes possess attractive growth characteristics. The Portfolio primarily invests in issuers of developed countries, and historically has had a significant investment in issuers or companies located in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and the Pacific Basin, although the Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in or doing business in any country or region around the globe, including emerging markets. While the Portfolio primarily invests in securities issued by large cap companies (typically, companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion), it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size.

WRIMCO utilizes a research-based investment process that blends top-down global economic analysis with bottom-up stock selection. After identifying promising opportunities around the world, WRIMCO seeks strong companies in industries which it believes are growing faster than their underlying economies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio, including: a company’s competitive position and its sustainability; a company’s growth and earnings potential and

 

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Table of Contents

valuation; a company’s financials, including cash flow and balance sheet; management of the company; strength of the industry; and applicable economic, market and political conditions of the country in which the company is located and/or in which it is doing business.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security issued by a company if it believes the company has experienced a fundamental breakdown of its sustainable competitive advantage or no longer offers significant growth potential, if it believes the management of the company has weakened, and/or there exists political or economic instability in the issuer’s country. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

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Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to provide, as a primary objective, long-term appreciation of capital and, as a secondary objective, to seek current income. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 19.56% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -21.32% (the third quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

     -7.32%         -1.08%         4.52%   

MSCI EAFE Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -12.11%         -3.16%         4.27%   

Lipper Variable Annuity International Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -13.40%         -3.59%         5.22%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Chace Brundige, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

Objective

To seek to provide total return.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.69%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its assets in any market that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. Dependent on its outlook for the U.S. and global economies, WRIMCO identifies growth themes and then focuses its strategy on allocating the Portfolio’s assets among stocks, bonds, cash, precious metals, currency and derivative instruments, including derivatives traded over-the-counter and on exchanges. After determining these allocations, WRIMCO seeks attractive opportunities within each market by focusing on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow and low balance sheet leverage.

 

n  

“Stocks” include equity securities of all types, although WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks by focusing on what it believes are steady-growth companies that fit WRIMCO’s criteria for sustainable competitive advantage and that WRIMCO believes are positioned to benefit from continued global rebalancing and the globally emerging middle class. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, but primarily focuses on securities issued by large cap companies.

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   23


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n  

“Bonds” include all varieties of fixed-income instruments, such as corporate debt securities or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), with remaining maturities of more than one year. This investment type may include a significant amount, up to 35% of the Portfolio’s total assets, of high-yield/high-risk bonds, or junk bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

 

n  

“Short-term instruments” include all types of short-term securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, including higher-quality money market instruments.

Within each of these investment types, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign securities; the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may allocate the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or short-term instruments, respectively. WRIMCO may exercise a flexible strategy in the selection of securities, and the Portfolio is not required to allocate its investments among stocks and bonds in any fixed proportion, nor is it limited by investment style or by the issuer’s location, size, market capitalization or industry sector. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon market and economic conditions. Subject to diversification limits, the Fund also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, which may include a deterioration in a company’s fundamentals caused by global-specific factors such as geo-political landscape changes, regulatory or currency changes, or increased competition, as well as company-specific factors, such as reduced pricing power, diminished market opportunity, or increased competition. WRIMCO also may sell a security if the price of the security reaches what WRIMCO believes is fair value, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets, and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to achieve the Portfolio’s objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to companies, sectors or equity markets, WRIMCO may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts, both long and short positions, total return swaps, credit default swaps and options contracts, both written and purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indices and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, WRIMCO may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s exposure to precious metals, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s event risks, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions on foreign and U.S. equity indices and options contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities the Portfolio owns and on foreign and U.S. equity indices.

WRIMCO may reduce the Portfolio’s net equity exposure by selling, among other instruments, combined futures and option positions, and may effect short sales of individual securities and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or take long positions in inverse ETFs.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Commodities Risk. Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, the Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, the Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, the Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

 

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n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these bonds are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   25


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n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of various indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek high total return over the long term. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 15.83% (the third quarter of 2005) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.90% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     -7.21%         6.16%         10.14%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     7.85%         6.68%         5.89%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     7.84%         6.50%         5.78%   

Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     0.21%         1.82%         2.19%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     0.07%         1.36%         1.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.58%         2.14%         6.44%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Michael L. Avery, Executive Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1997, and Ryan F. Caldwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2007.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   27


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

Objective

To seek to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.01%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$103

     $ 322       $ 558       $ 1,236   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as commissions and/or spreads between bid and asked prices, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a mix of stocks, debt securities and short-term instruments, depending on market conditions. Regarding its equity investments, the Portfolio invests primarily in medium to large, well-established companies that usually issue dividend-paying securities. The Portfolio owns common stocks in order to provide possible appreciation of capital and some dividend income. In general, the Portfolio invests a portion of its total assets in either debt securities or preferred stocks, or both, in order to provide income and relative stability of capital. The Portfolio ordinarily invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income securities. The majority of the Portfolio’s debt securities are either U.S. government securities or investment-grade corporate bonds, including bonds rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes. The Portfolio has no limitations on the range of maturities of the debt securities in which it may invest, or on the size of companies in which it may invest.

 

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In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO follows a core investing strategy and seeks companies that it believes possess attractive business economics, are in a strong financial condition and are selling at attractive valuations both on a relative and an absolute basis. WRIMCO also considers a company’s potential for dividend growth, its growth and profitability opportunities and sustainability, its relative strength in earnings, its management, improving fundamentals and valuation, its balance sheet, its stock price value, and the condition of the respective industry. In selecting debt securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO seeks high-quality securities with minimal credit risk.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell an equity security or a debt security, WRIMCO uses the same analysis as identified above in order to determine if the equity security is still undervalued or has met its anticipated price. In determining whether to sell a debt security, WRIMCO will consider whether the security continues to maintain its minimal credit risk. WRIMCO may also sell a security if the security ceases to produce income, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Loan Participation Risk. In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Loan participations may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   29


Table of Contents
 

funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding bonds held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Fund reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide current income and, as a secondary objective, to seek long-term appreciation of capital. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 9.59% (the fourth quarter of 2010) and the lowest quarterly return was -10.91% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

     3.31%         4.23%         5.49%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Treasury/Govt Sponsored/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     8.58%         6.65%         5.94%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Treasury/Govt Sponsored/Credit Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     8.74%         6.55%         5.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Mixed-Asset Target Allocation Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -1.41%         0.90%         3.76%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Cynthia P. Prince-Fox, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since July 1994.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of science or technology companies. Such companies may include companies that, in the opinion of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, derive a competitive advantage by the application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries to grow their business or increase their competitive advantage. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in the opinion of WRIMCO, are being or are expected to be significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks; that is, WRIMCO seeks companies in which earnings are likely to grow faster than the economy. WRIMCO aims to identify strong secular trends within industries and then applies a largely bottom-up stock selection process by considering a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include but

 

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are not limited to a company’s growth potential, earnings potential, quality of management, industry position/market size potential and applicable economic and market conditions. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become overvalued and/or whether the company prospects of the issuer have deteriorated due to a change in management, change in strategy and/or a change in its financial characteristics. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the science and technology industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of science and technology related securities.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s manager also tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

Specialty Portfolios   Prospectus   33


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n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Science and Technology Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include: operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, aggressive pricing of products and services, new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.75% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.81% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

 

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Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     -5.77%         4.67%         6.24%   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -0.88%         3.84%         2.44%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Science & Technology Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -6.50%         2.77%         1.58%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Zachary H. Shafran, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since February 2001.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

Objective

To seek to provide current income consistent with maintaining liquidity and preservation of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.40%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.00%   

Other Expenses

       0.07%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       0.47%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$48

     $ 151       $ 263       $ 591   

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market seeks to achieve its objective by investing in U.S. dollar-denominated, high-quality money market obligations and instruments. High quality indicates that the securities are rated in one of the two highest categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio seeks, as well, to maintain a net asset value (NAV) of $1.00 per share. The Portfolio maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 60 calendar days or less, and the Portfolio invests only in securities with a remaining maturity of not more than 397 calendar days or, for securities rated in the second highest rating category by the requisite NRSROs (or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality to such securities), not more than 45 calendar days.

WRIMCO may look at a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include the credit quality of the particular issuer or guarantor of the security, along with the liquidity and yield, and as well the industry sector of the issuer of the security.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses when buying securities to determine whether the security no longer offers adequate return or complies with Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Rule 2a-7). WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

 

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Principal Investment Risks

An investment in the Portfolio is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Amortized Cost Risk. In the event that the Board determines that the extent of the deviation between the Portfolio’s amortized cost per share and its market-based NAV per share could result in material dilution or other unfair results to shareholders, the Board will cause the Portfolio to take such action as it deems appropriate to eliminate, or reduce to the extent practicable, such dilution or unfair results, including but not limited to, suspending redemption of Portfolio shares or liquidating the Portfolio.

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially securities with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Money Market Fund Regulatory Risk. As a money market fund, the Portfolio is subject to the specific rules governing money market funds as well as otherwise subject to regulation by the SEC. The SEC continues to evaluate the rules governing money market funds. It is possible that changes to the rules governing money market funds could significantly affect the money market fund industry generally and, therefore, the operation or performance of the Portfolio.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding debt securities held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Portfolio reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with that of a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek maximum current income consistent with stability of principal. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide current income consistent with maintaining liquidity and preservation of capital.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance, including its most recent 7-day yield.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 1.22% (the fourth quarter of 2006) and the lowest quarterly return was 0.00% (the third and fourth quarters of 2010 and the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2011). As of December 31, 2011 the 7-day yield was 0.02%. Yields are computed by annualizing the average daily dividend per share during the time period for which the yield is presented.

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

     0.02%         1.56%         1.69%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Money Market Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -0.03%         1.42%         1.72%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Mira Stevovich, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since May 1998.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolios

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing, during normal market conditions, in common stocks of large cap, U.S. and foreign companies that WRIMCO believes are high-quality, globally dominant, have sustainable competitive advantages accompanied by financial strength and earnings stability, and have dominant positions in their industries. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO utilizes both a top-down (assess the market environment) and a bottom-up (research individual issuers) analysis in its securities-selection process. It attempts to select securities that it believes have growth possibilities by looking at many factors that may include a company’s: projected long-term earnings power compared to market expectations over a multi-year horizon, competitive position in the global economy, history of improving sales and profits, management strength, leadership position in its industry, stock price value, and dividend payment history.

Through its bottom-up stock selection, WRIMCO searches for companies for which it believes market expectations are too low with regard to the company’s ability to grow its business. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO may consider whether a company has new products to introduce, has undergone cost restructuring or a management change, or has improved its execution, among other factors. WRIMCO may also consider various thematic factors, including major macro-economic and political forces, cyclical inflections, changes in consumer behavior and technology shifts.

The Portfolio also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. large cap growth companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in derivative instruments in seeking to hedge its current holdings, including the use of futures or options contracts on broad U.S. equity indices.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities, investment-grade debt securities and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market instruments. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

  

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks issued by what WRIMCO believes are high-quality, growth-oriented large cap or mid cap U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign companies with appreciation possibilities. The Portfolio seeks to generate solid returns while striving to protect against downside risks. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

 

 

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In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO looks for companies which serve large markets with a demonstrated ability to sustain unit growth and high profitability, often driven by brand loyalty, proprietary technology, cost structure, scale, or distribution advantages. WRIMCO’s process to select stocks is based primarily on fundamental research but does additionally utilize quantitative analysis during the screening process. From a quantitative standpoint, WRIMCO concentrates on profitability, capital intensity, cash flow and capital allocation measures, as well as earnings growth rates and valuations. WRIMCO’s fundamental research effort tries to identify those companies that it believes possess a sustainable competitive advantage, an important characteristic which typically enables a company to generate superior levels of profitability and growth for an extended period of time. Additional focus is given to those companies that appear well positioned to benefit from secular trends embedded in the marketplace (e.g., demographics, deregulation, capital spending trends, etc.).

The Portfolio invests primarily in common stocks but may also own, to a lesser extent, preferred stocks, convertible securities and debt securities, typically of investment grade and of any maturity. As well, the Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

At times, as a temporary defensive measure, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio may also use options and futures contracts for temporary defensive purposes. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

  

n  Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of small cap companies that are relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is an opportunity for rapid growth. The emphasis on portfolio risk diversification is an important contributor to the ability to effectively manage risk, as a desired goal is to have a portfolio of securities that tend not to react in high correlation to one another under any economic or market condition. This emphasis is intended to result in a higher degree of diversification, reduced portfolio volatility, and a smoother more consistent pattern of portfolio returns over the long term. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO considers quality of management and superior financial characteristics (for example, return on assets, return on equity, operating margin) in its search for companies, thereby focusing on higher-quality companies. WRIMCO seeks companies that it believes exhibit defensible market positions by having one or more of the following characteristics: a company that is a strong niche player, that features the involvement of the founder, that demonstrates a strong commitment to shareholders, or that focuses on organic growth. WRIMCO believes that such companies generally have a replicable business model that allows for sustained growth. The focus on holding an investment is intermediate to long-term. WRIMCO considers selling a holding if its analysis reveals evidence of a meaningful deterioration in operating trends, it anticipates a decrease in the company’s ability to grow and gain market shares and/or the company’s founder departs.

Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the small cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. From time to time, the Portfolio also will invest a lesser portion of its assets in securities of mid and large cap companies (that is, companies with market

 

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capitalizations larger than that defined above) that, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being fundamentally changed or revitalized, have a position that is considered strong relative to the market as a whole or otherwise offer unusual opportunities for above-average growth.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in securities convertible into common stocks, in preferred stocks and debt securities, that are mostly of investment grade.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities may present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs to gain industry exposure not otherwise available through direct investments in small cap securities. The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, primarily futures contracts and options, for the purpose of seeking to hedge its exposure, as well as total return swaps to gain exposure, to certain market sectors that it cannot efficiently obtain through the purchase of individual equity securities or ETFs.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio also may invest in more established companies, such as those with longer operating histories than many small cap companies. As well, it may increase the number of issuers in which it invests and thereby limit the Portfolio’s position size in any particular security. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

n  Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

  

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Large Company Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Bond: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide current income consistent with preservation of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade debt securities, and, to a lesser extent, in non-investment grade securities and convertible securities. WRIMCO may use various techniques to manage the duration of the Portfolio’s holdings. WRIMCO typically determines sector allocation by fundamental analysis and a comparison of relative value between sectors. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio may invest a significant amount of its assets in mortgage-backed securities, including U.S. government or U.S. government-related mortgage loan pools or private mortgage loan pools. In U.S. government or U.S. government-related mortgage loan pools, the U.S. government or certain agencies guarantee to mortgage pool security holders the payment of principal and interest. The principal U.S. government-related guarantors of mortgage-related securities are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generally guarantee payment of principal and interest on mortgage loan pool securities issued by certain pre-approved institutions (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers). However, securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHLB are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government and, instead, may be supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury or by the credit of the issuer. In addition, the Portfolio purchases securities issued by non-government related entities which may be backed only by the pool of assets pledged as security for the transaction.

The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, commonly called junk bonds, which are more susceptible to the risk of non-payment or default, and their prices may be more volatile than higher-rated bonds. The

 

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Portfolio also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies. The Portfolio may, from time to time, utilize derivative instruments, including Treasury futures contracts, Treasury swaps and options for hedging purposes and/or to take a directional position on interest rates.

When WRIMCO believes that a defensive position is desirable, due to present or anticipated market or economic conditions, it may take a number of actions. For example, the Portfolio may sell longer-term debt securities and buy shorter-term debt securities or invest in money market instruments. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Bond is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Credit Risk

n  Extension Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

n  Management Risk

  

n  Market Risk

n  Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk

n  Reinvestment Risk

n  U.S. Government Securities Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Bond may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

  

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-yield, high-risk, fixed-income securities, including loan participations and other loan instruments, of U.S. and foreign issuers, the risks of which are, in the judgment of WRIMCO, consistent with the Portfolio’s objective. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In general, the high level of income that the Portfolio seeks is paid by debt securities rated in the lower rating categories of the NRSROs or unrated securities that are determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality; these include debt securities rated BBB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. Lower-quality debt securities, which include junk bonds, are considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher-quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

The Portfolio primarily owns debt securities, which may include loan participations and other loan instruments, and may own fixed-income securities of varying maturities; however, it also may own, to a lesser degree, preferred stocks, common stocks and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

The Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging and/or speculative purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. The Portfolio may also utilize forward contracts in an effort to hedge the exposure to foreign currencies from securities held in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest an unlimited amount of its assets in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities also present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. As well, if the Portfolio invests in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities, it will likely hedge any currency exposure related to those securities. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

When WRIMCO believes that a full or partial temporary defensive position is desirable, due to present or anticipated market or economic conditions and to attempt to reduce the price volatility of the Portfolio, WRIMCO may take any one or more of the following steps with respect to the Portfolio’s assets:

 

n  

shorten the average maturity of the Portfolio’s debt holdings

 

n  

hold cash or cash equivalents (short-term investments, such as commercial paper and certificates of deposit)

 

n  

emphasize investment grade debt securities

 

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By taking a temporary defensive position in any one or more of these manners, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP High Income is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Credit Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

n  Liquidity Risk

  

n  Loan Participation Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Reinvestment Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP High Income may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Extension Risk

  

n  Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk

n  Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of growth-oriented foreign issuers. Growth securities are those whose earnings, WRIMCO believes, are likely to have strong growth over several years. WRIMCO seeks profitable companies with a competitive advantage in their industry as well as the ability to sustain their growth rates. It considers factors such as a company’s intellectual property, brand, scale, distribution, margins and return on capital and seeks to identify and capitalize upon key trends such as high-growth end markets, supply and demand imbalances, new product adoption and industry consolidation. Although the Portfolio primarily invests in securities issued by large cap companies, it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size and in any geographic area and within various sectors. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques in seeking to hedge various market risks (such as interest rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed income market movements) as well as to manage its exposure (increase or decrease) to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also use derivatives to speculate on a particular security or sector and/or to gain exposure to the same. The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market, which may include exposure to precious metals and other commodities.

The Portfolio may from time to time take a temporary defensive position, and may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities, investment-grade debt securities and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market securities; it may avoid investment in volatile emerging markets and increase investments in more stable, developed countries and industries; and it also may invest all of its assets in U.S. securities. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Emerging Market Risk

n  Foreign Currency Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

  

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Large Company Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Commodities Risk

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

  

n  Interest Rate Risk

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Small Company Risk

 

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A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds, and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also utilize derivative instruments in seeking its objective. The Portfolio may invest its assets in almost any market that WRIMCO believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, that can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, the mix of assets in the Portfolio will change from time to time depending on WRIMCO’s assessment of the market for each investment type. Allocating assets among different types of investments allows the Portfolio to take advantage of opportunities wherever they may occur, but also subjects the Portfolio to the risks of a given investment type. Stock values generally fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The values of bonds and short-term instruments generally fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and due to the credit quality of the issuer.

Subject to diversification limits, WRIMCO may invest up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in precious metals. Investments in physical commodities, including precious metals, may experience severe price fluctuations over short periods of time; as well, storage and trading costs may exceed the custodial and/or brokerage costs associated with other investments.

WRIMCO regularly reviews the global economic environment to determine asset allocation and security selection, and makes changes to favor investments that it believes provide the best opportunity to achieve the Portfolio’s objective. In developing global themes, WRIMCO evaluates a number of global trends that may include political, social, cultural, demographic, current and historical trends, among others. Although WRIMCO uses its expertise and resources in choosing investments and in allocating assets, WRIMCO’s decisions may not always be beneficial to the Portfolio, and there is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO tries to balance the Portfolio’s investment risks against potentially higher total returns by reducing the stock allocation during stock market down cycles and typically increasing the stock allocation during periods of strongly positive market performance. Generally, WRIMCO makes asset shifts gradually over time. WRIMCO considers various factors when it decides to sell a security, such as an individual security’s performance and/or if it is an appropriate time to vary the Portfolio’s mix.

The Portfolio may purchase shares of another investment company subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while also maintaining liquidity, or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As described above, the Portfolio has the flexibility to invest up to all of its assets in money market and other short-term investments, although it does not typically invest a substantial portion of its assets in these investments under normal market conditions. WRIMCO will typically increase the Portfolio’s investment in high-quality, short-term investments in order to increase the defensive positioning of the Portfolio and/or to enable the Portfolio to participate in opportunities as they present themselves.

Although WRIMCO may seek to preserve appreciation in the Portfolio by taking a temporary defensive position, doing so may prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Commodities Risk

n  Company Risk

n  Credit Risk

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Emerging Market Risk

n  Foreign Currency Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

  

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Large Company Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

 

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Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

  

n  Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

n  Reinvestment Risk

n  Small Company Risk

n  Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income by investing primarily in a diversified mix of stocks, debt securities and short-term instruments, depending on market conditions. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio owns common stocks in order to provide possible appreciation of capital and some dividend income, and it invests a portion of its total assets in either debt securities or preferred stocks, or both, in order to provide income and relative stability of capital. The Portfolio also may invest in convertible securities. The Portfolio ordinarily invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed income securities, including preferred debt securities. The Portfolio ordinarily will not invest more than 75% of its total assets in equity securities, although it may invest up to all of its assets in equity securities if, in WRIMCO’s judgment, this is advisable due to unusual market or economic conditions.

In its equity investments, the Portfolio invests primarily in medium to large, well-established companies that typically issue dividend-paying securities. The majority of the Portfolio’s debt holdings are either U.S. government securities or investment-grade corporate bonds, including bonds rated BBB- or higher by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes. The Portfolio has no limitations on the range of maturities of debt securities in which it may invest nor on the size of companies in which it may invest.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs for the purpose of more quickly gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities that may be considered equivalent to owning cash because of their safety and liquidity. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Balanced is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Credit Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

n  Large Company Risk

  

n  Loan Participation Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Reinvestment Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Balanced may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

  

n  Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk

n  Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being, or are expected to be, significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. As well, the Portfolio may invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest in any geographic area. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In its selection of securities for investment by the Portfolio, WRIMCO aims to identify companies that it believes to be benefiting from the world’s strongest secular economic trends, and then applies its largely bottom-up research to identify what it believes are the best holdings for the Portfolio.

The Portfolio may invest in, but is not limited to, areas such as:

Science:

 

n  pharmaceuticals

n  medical technology equipment

n  biotechnology

  

n  genomics

n  proteomics

n  healthcare services

Technology:

 

n  semiconductors

n  computer hardware

n  computer services

n  software

n  networking

n  telecommunication services

  

n  defense electronics

n  entertainment

n  content media

n  data processing

n  internet

The Portfolio primarily owns common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks, debt securities and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade fixed income securities, which are securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality, which may include convertible securities.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques, typically options on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio and on equity indices, in seeking to hedge various market risks and/or individual security risk as well as to enhance return. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means to invest cash effectively.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities or other debt securities, mostly of investment grade. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio may also hedge its foreign currency exposure, when applicable.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Concentration Risk

n  Emerging Market Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Science and Technology Industry Risk

n  Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Currency Risk

n  Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

 

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A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide current income consistent with maintaining liquidity and preservation of capital by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality money market instruments in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio invests only in the following U.S. dollar-denominated money market obligations and instruments:

 

n  

U.S. government securities (including obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities)

 

n  

bank obligations and instruments secured by bank obligations, such as letters of credit

 

n  

commercial paper (U.S. and foreign issuers), including asset-backed commercial paper programs

 

n  

corporate debt obligations, including floating rate securities and variable rate master demand notes

 

n  

Canadian government obligations

 

n  

municipal obligations

 

n  

certain other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank in whose obligations the Portfolio may invest or a corporation in whose commercial paper the Portfolio may invest

The Portfolio may only invest in bank obligations if they are obligations of a bank subject to regulation by the U.S. government, including foreign branches of these banks, or obligations of a foreign bank having total assets of at least $500 million, and instruments secured by any such obligation.

Certain U.S. government securities in which the Portfolio may invest, such as Treasury securities and securities issued by Ginnie Mae, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. However, other U.S. government securities in which the Portfolio may invest, such as securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHLB, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government and, instead, may be supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury or by the credit of the issuer.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Money Market is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Amortized Cost Risk

n  Company Risk

n  Credit Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

  

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Money Market Fund Regulatory Risk

n  Reinvestment Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Money Market may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Additional Investment Considerations

The objective(s) and investment policies of each Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because each Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of each Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

Each Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, each Portfolio (other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of each Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments, foreign securities, junk bonds and precious metals, involve special risks. Depending on how much a Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

 

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Certain types of mortgage-backed securities may experience significant valuation uncertainties, greater volatility, and significantly less liquidity due to the sharp rise of foreclosures on home loans secured by subprime mortgages in recent years. Subprime mortgages have a higher credit risk than prime mortgages, as the credit criteria for obtaining a subprime mortgage is more flexible than that used with prime borrowers. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in securities that are backed by pools of mortgage loans, the risk to the Portfolio may be significant. Other asset-backed securities also may experience significant valuation uncertainties, increased volatility, and significantly reduced liquidity. Each Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective(s). Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by a Portfolio.

Each of the Portfolios generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, WRIMCO may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if WRIMCO is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet WRIMCO’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about each Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of each Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Information concerning Ivy Funds VIP Money Market’s portfolio holdings is posted at www.waddell.com five business days after the end of each month and remains posted on the website for at least six months thereafter. In addition, information concerning Ivy Funds VIP Money Market’s portfolio holdings is filed on a monthly basis with the SEC on Form N-MFP.

Defining Risks

Amortized Cost Risk — In the event that the Board determines that the extent of the deviation between Ivy Funds VIP Money Market’s amortized cost per share and its market-based NAV per share could result in material dilution or other unfair results to shareholders, the Board will cause the Portfolio to take such action as it deems appropriate to eliminate, or reduce to the extent practicable, such dilution or unfair results, including but not limited to, suspending redemption of Portfolio shares or liquidating the Portfolio.

Commodities Risk — Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, a Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, a Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, a Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Concentration Risk — If a Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically

 

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perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector or company.

Credit Risk — An issuer of a debt security (including a mortgage-backed security) or a real estate investment trust (REIT) that is the issuer of a security in which the Portfolio invests may not make payments on the security when due, or the other party to a contract may default on its obligation. There is also the risk that an issuer could suffer adverse changes in its financial condition that could lower the credit quality of a security. This could lead to greater volatility in the price of the security and, therefore, in the NAV of a Portfolio. Also, a change in the quality rating of a debt security or a REIT security can affect the security’s liquidity and make it more difficult to sell. If a Portfolio purchases unrated securities and obligations, it will depend on WRIMCO’s analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.

Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that a Portfolio (other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by a Portfolio (other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase a Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

A Portfolio (other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift a Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, a Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case a Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, a Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

 

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The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. A Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that WRIMCO reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. WRIMCO may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of a Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of a Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit a Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Emerging Market Risk — Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of those countries may have failed in the past to recognize private property rights and have nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in such countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Portfolio’s investments in such countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in more developed countries, and the Portfolio may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making certain investments in those countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain countries, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

Extension Risk — Rising interest rates could cause property owners to pay their mortgages more slowly than expected, resulting in slower payments of mortgage-backed securities and real estate debt securities. This would, in effect, convert a short or medium-duration security into a longer-duration security, increasing its sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing its price to decline. Duration measures the expected price sensitivity of a fixed income security or portfolio for a given change in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by one percent, the value of a security or portfolio having a duration of two years generally will fall by approximately two percent.

Foreign Currency Risk — Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of a Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk — A Portfolio (other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) may, but is not required to, use foreign currency exchange transactions and forward foreign currency contracts

 

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to hedge certain market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and broad or specific market movement). These investment techniques involve a number of risks, including the possibility of default by the counterparty to the transaction and, to the extent WRIMCO’s judgment as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk of losses that are greater than if the investment technique had not been used. For example, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Portfolio’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. An imperfect correlation of this type may prevent the Portfolios from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. These investment techniques also tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect a Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause a Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that a Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If a Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if a Portfolio’s manager(s) tends to invest a significant portion of a Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager(s) invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on a Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. A Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, a Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as a Portfolio grows.

Interest Rate Risk — The value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) may decline due to changes in market interest rates. Generally, when interest rates rise, the value of such a security or obligation decreases. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) generally increases. Long-term debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and fixed income obligations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes. A Portfolio may experience a decline in its income due to falling interest rates.

 

 

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In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations experiences a decrease in principal value with an increase in interest rates. The extent of the decrease in principal value may be affected by a Portfolio’s duration of its portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations. Duration measures the relative price sensitivity of a security to changes in interest rates. “Effective” duration takes into consideration the likelihood that a security will be called, or prepaid, prior to maturity given current market interest rates. Typically, a security with a longer duration is more price sensitive than a security with a shorter duration. In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities experiences a percentage decrease in principal value equal to its effective duration for each 1% increase in interest rates. For example, if a Portfolio holds a portfolio of securities with an effective duration of five years and interest rates rise 1%, the principal value of such securities could be expected to decrease by approximately 5%.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, a Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

Certain Portfolios may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, a Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by a Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if a Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

Loan Participation Risk — In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. In the event the borrower defaults, a Portfolio’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. With loan participations, a Portfolio may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the lender would have under the loan and likely would not have any rights against the borrower directly, so that delays and expense may be greater than those that would be involved if a Portfolio could enforce its rights directly against the borrower. There is a risk that the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline after a Portfolio invests and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed to the Portfolio. If the loan participation is unsecured, there is no specific collateral on which a Portfolio can foreclose. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, a Portfolio may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral, including the risk that collateral may be difficult to sell.

Loan participations may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market. As a result, valuing a loan participation can be more difficult, and buying and selling a loan participation at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed, than other investments. Difficulty in selling a loan participation can result in a loss. Loans made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Loan participations may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Portfolio, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

 

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Low-rated Securities Risk — In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken a Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

Management Risk — WRIMCO applies a Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective(s). Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by WRIMCO may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolios. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by a Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Money Market Fund Regulatory Risk — As a money market fund, Ivy Funds VIP Money Market is subject to the specific rules governing money market funds as well as otherwise subject to regulation by the SEC. The SEC continues to evaluate the rules governing money market funds. It is possible that changes to the rules governing money market funds could significantly affect the money market fund industry generally and, therefore, the operation or performance of the Portfolio.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to reinvestment risk. When interest rates decline, unscheduled payments can be expected to accelerate, and a Portfolio may be required to reinvest the proceeds of the payments at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled payments would also limit the potential for capital appreciation on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the values of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities generally fall. Since rising interest rates typically result in decreased prepayments, this could lengthen the average lives of such securities, and cause their value to decline more than traditional fixed-income securities. If a Portfolio purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool, the Portfolio, as a holder of those securities, may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. For example, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Portfolio as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities, or in some cases rendering them worthless; the risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include so-called “subprime” mortgages.

 

 

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Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk — Restricted securities, which include private placements, are securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, and there can be no assurance of a ready market for resale. A Portfolio could find it difficult to sell privately placed securities and other restricted securities when WRIMCO believes it is desirable to do so, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, and the prices realized could be less than those originally paid or less than the fair market value. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the net asset value of a Portfolio.

Reinvestment Risk — Income from a Portfolio’s debt securities may decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded, prepaid or called securities in securities with interest rates lower than the current earnings rate of the Portfolio’s holdings. For example, debt securities with high relative interest rates may be paid by the issuer prior to maturity, particularly during periods of falling interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, there is the possibility that an issuer will call its securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new securities with a lower interest rate (commonly referred to as optional call risk). As well, falling interest rates could cause prepayments of mortgage loans to occur more quickly than expected. This may occur because, as interest rates fall, more property owners refinance the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities (including shares of mortgage REITs). As a result, a Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in other securities with generally lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Portfolio’s investment income.

Science and Technology Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include a company’s operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, and aggressive pricing of products and services, as well as new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

U.S. Government Securities Risk — Securities that are issued or guaranteed by Federal agencies or authorities or by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. For example, securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHLB are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and, instead, may be supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury or by the credit of the issuer. As a result, such securities are subject to greater credit risk than securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

Value Stock Risk — Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

 

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The Management of the Portfolios

Portfolio Management

The Portfolios are managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: Michael L. Avery and Ryan F. Caldwell are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy. Mr. Avery has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 1997. He is Executive Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Avery has served as President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR), since January 2010. He formerly served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of WDR from June 2005 until February 2011 and formerly served as CIO of WRIMCO and IICO from June 2005 until August 2010. Mr. Avery has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 1994, and has been an employee of such since June 1981. He held the position of Director of Equity Research for IICO and for WRIMCO and its predecessor from August 1987 through June 2005. Mr. Avery earned a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and an MBA with emphasis on finance from Saint Louis University.

Mr. Caldwell has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 2007. His investment research responsibilities are concentrated in asset managers, brokers and transaction processors. Mr. Caldwell joined WRIMCO in July 2000 as an economic analyst. In January 2003 he was appointed an investment analyst, and in June 2005 was named assistant portfolio manager for the Portfolio, as well as two other funds managed by WRIMCO or IICO. Mr. Caldwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Caldwell earned a BBA in finance from Southwest Texas State University. He is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Daniel J. Vrabac, formerly a manager of the Portfolios along with Messrs. Avery and Caldwell, is now focusing on portfolio management responsibilities for the global bond funds with are managed by WRIMCO and IICO. While no longer responsible for day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Mr. Vrabac continues to provide input to Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy on the global fixed income markets, currencies and trading, which were among his principal responsibilities as a portfolio manager of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy.

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced: Cynthia P. Prince-Fox is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Balanced. Ms. Prince-Fox has held her responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Balanced since the Portfolio’s inception in July 1994. She is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. As well, Ms. Prince-Fox served as Chief Investment Officer of Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc., a former affiliate of WRIMCO, from November 2004 to July 2009 and, previously, as Co-Chief Investment Officer for Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. from February 2002 to November 2004. She has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since January 1993. Ms. Prince-Fox earned a BBA degree in Finance from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas, and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from Rockhurst College.

Ivy Funds VIP Bond: Mark Otterstrom is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Bond. Mr. Otterstrom has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Bond since August 2008. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He has served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since June 2000, and has been an employee of such since May 1987. Mr. Otterstrom earned a BS in finance from the University of Tulsa, and an MBA in finance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: Erik R. Becker and Gustaf C. Zinn are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity, and both have held their Portfolio responsibilities since July 2006. Mr. Becker joined WRIMCO in 1999 as an investment analyst and had served as an assistant portfolio manager for Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity since 2003. He has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006, in addition to his duties as a research analyst. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as

 

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investment manager. Mr. Becker earned a BBA degree in finance, investment and banking and an MS in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mr. Zinn has been an employee of WRIMCO since 1998 and had served as assistant portfolio manager for funds managed by IICO or WRIMCO since July 2003, in addition to his duties as a research analyst, and has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006. He is Senior Vice President of IICO and WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He earned a BBA degree and a Masters of Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: Daniel P. Becker and Philip J. Sanders are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Growth. Mr. Becker has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Growth since June 2006. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Becker has been an employee of WRIMCO and its predecessor since October 1989, initially serving as an investment analyst, and has served as a portfolio manager for WRIMCO since January 1997. He earned a BS degree in Mathematical Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and holds an MS degree with an emphasis in Finance, Investments and Banking from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Business. Mr. Becker is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mr. Sanders has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Growth since August 1998. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective August 2010, Mr. Sanders was appointed CIO of WRIMCO and IICO and effective February 2011, he was appointed CIO of WDR. Mr. Sanders has been an employee of WRIMCO since August 1998. He earned a BA in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Mr. Sanders is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: William M. Nelson is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP High Income. Mr. Nelson has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP High Income since January 1999. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of another investment company for which WRIMCO serves as investment manager. Mr. Nelson has been an employee of WRIMCO since January 1995. He earned a BS in business administration from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and an MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Connecticut.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: Chace Brundige is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP International Growth. Mr. Brundige has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP International Growth since January 2009. In 2003, he joined WRIMCO as an assistant portfolio manager for the large cap growth equity team, and became a portfolio manager in February 2006. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Brundige holds a BS degree in finance from Kansas State University, and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Mr. Brundige is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market: Mira Stevovich is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Money Market. Ms. Stevovich has held her responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Money Market since May 1998. She is Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the Trust, and Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Ms. Stevovich has been an employee of WRIMCO and its predecessor since March 1987. She earned a BA degree from Colorado Womens College, and holds an MA degree in Soviet and East European Studies and an MBA degree from the University of Kansas. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: Zachary H. Shafran is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology. Mr. Shafran has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology since February 2001. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective April 2010, Mr. Shafran was appointed the Global Director of Equity and Fixed Income Research for WRIMCO and IICO. Mr. Shafran has served as the portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO or IICO since January 1996. He served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO and its predecessor from June 1990 to January 1996. Mr. Shafran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: Kenneth G. McQuade is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth. Mr. McQuade has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth since March 2006. Mr. McQuade joined Waddell & Reed in 1997 as an investment analyst. He was an assistant portfolio manager of separately

 

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managed small cap accounts from August 2003 until March 2010. Mr. McQuade is Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO and Vice President of the Trust. He earned a BS degree in finance from Bradley University.

Additional information regarding the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolios pay fees related to their daily operations. Expenses paid out of each Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

Each Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. Each Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

The management fee is payable at the annual rates of:

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market: 0.40% of net assets.

Ivy Funds VIP Bond: Effective August 6, 2007: 0.475% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.45% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.40% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: 0.625% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.60% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.55% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.50% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Ivy Funds VIP Balanced, Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity and Ivy Funds VIP Growth: 0.70% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for certain Portfolios are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows:

Ivy Funds VIP Bond (prior to August 6, 2007): 0.485% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.50% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.45% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.40% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP High Income: 0.575% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.60% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.55% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $1.5 billion, and 0.50% of net assets over $1.5 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: 0.69% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: 0.65% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: 0.67% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: 0.82% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

 

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for each Portfolio as a percent of each such Portfolio’s average net assets are as follows:

 

     Net Management Fees Paid  

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     0.68%   

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

     0.70%   

Ivy Funds VIP Bond

     0.47%   

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

     0.65%   

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

     0.67%   

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

     0.58%   

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

     0.82%   

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

     0.28%

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     0.83%   

 

* In light of current market conditions, WRIMCO has voluntarily agreed to waive and/or reimburse sufficient expenses of Ivy Funds VIP Money Market to the extent necessary to maintain a yield of not less than zero. There is no guarantee that Ivy Funds VIP Money Market will maintain such a yield. WRIMCO may amend or terminate this voluntary waiver and/or reimbursement at any time without prior notice to shareholders.

A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of each of the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, each Portfolio (except for Ivy Funds VIP Money Market) may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Shares of the Portfolios are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolios are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of a Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. A Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if a Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolios currently do not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolios may offer their shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in one or more of the Portfolios and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force a Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolios is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of a Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of a Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of a Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Each Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of each Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by a Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded. Ivy Funds VIP Money Market uses the amortized cost method for valuing its portfolio securities. You will find more information in the SAI about this method.

 

 

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As noted in this Prospectus, certain Portfolios may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of a Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

When a Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. A Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by a Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

A Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, such as Ivy Funds VIP International Growth, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolios have retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolios. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on a Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, a Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolios may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of a Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee

 

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is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of any Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

In addition, Ivy Funds VIP Money Market may suspend redemptions during any period in which there are emergency conditions, including circumstances when the Board has determined it is appropriate to liquidate Ivy Funds VIP Money Market, as provided in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio, such as Ivy Funds VIP International Growth, invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies, such as Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth, or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities, such as Ivy Funds VIP High Income.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

A Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolios, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating

 

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Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolios cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by a Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

A Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolios are underlying investment options or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Portfolios on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolios. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolios’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolios are investment options in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolios, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO and all subadvisers to the Portfolios are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolios’ shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolios in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolios or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s or a subadvisor’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

Each Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, a Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared daily and paid monthly:

Net investment income from Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from all other Portfolios and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from all Portfolios.

Dividends that are declared by Ivy Funds VIP Money Market for a particular day are paid to its shareholders of record at the close of business on the prior business day. However, dividends that are declared by Ivy Funds VIP Money Market for Saturday and Sunday are paid to its shareholders of record at the close of business on the preceding Thursday (or Wednesday if that Thursday is not a business day). Ordinarily, shares of Ivy Funds VIP Money Market are eligible to earn dividends starting on the day after they are issued and through the day they are redeemed. Dividends are paid by each Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of each Portfolio, other than Ivy Funds VIP Money Market, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio. Distributions of net realized short-term capital gains of Ivy Funds VIP Money Market (which does not anticipate realizing any long-term capital gains), if any, may be declared daily and paid monthly in additional full and fractional shares of that Portfolio.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. A Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors each Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolios are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolios’ shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of each Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

     Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Asset Strategy

              

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.91       $ 0.06 (3)    $ (0.76   $ (0.70   $ (0.10   $      $ (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.23         0.09        0.69        0.78        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.27         0.08        1.82        1.90        (0.03     (0.91     (0.94

Year ended 12-31-2008

    12.32         0.10        (3.29     (3.19     (0.05     (0.81     (0.86

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.00         0.09        3.85        3.94        (0.07     (0.55     (0.62

Balanced

              

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.59         0.14 (3)      0.20        0.34        (0.15     (0.77     (0.92

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.48         0.15        1.26        1.41        (0.17     (0.13     (0.30

Year ended 12-31-2009

    7.70         0.17        0.82        0.99        (0.16     (0.05     (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2008

    9.76         0.15        (2.20     (2.05     (0.01         (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2007

    8.71         0.14        1.05        1.19        (0.14         (0.14

Bond

              

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.60         0.17 (3)      0.22        0.39        (0.15     (0.04     (0.19

Year ended 12-31-2010

    5.50         0.12        0.20        0.32        (0.22            (0.22

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.34         0.15        0.22        0.37        (0.21            (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2008

    5.33         0.22        (0.20     0.02        (0.01            (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2007

    5.28         0.24        0.05        0.29        (0.24            (0.24

Core Equity

              

Year ended 12-31-2011

    11.91         0.07 (3)      0.15        0.22        (0.04     (0.39     (0.43

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.95         0.04        2.02        2.06        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.11         0.10        1.83        1.93        (0.09            (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2008

    12.96         0.08        (4.60     (4.52     (0.02     (0.31     (0.33

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.55         0.10        1.66        1.76        (0.09     (1.26     (1.35

Growth

              

Year ended 12-31-2011

    10.38         0.01 (3)      0.22        0.23        (0.04     (0.38     (0.42

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.28         0.04        1.12        1.16        (0.06            (0.06

Year ended 12-31-2009

    7.55         0.06        1.93        1.99        (0.03     (0.23     (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2008

    12.02         0.03        (4.39     (4.36            (0.11     (0.11

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.78         0.00        2.52        2.52            (0.28     (0.28

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Asset Strategy

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.11         -7.21 %   $ 1,197         0.99 %     0.62 %     1.00 %     0.61 %     57 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.91         8.68       1,295         1.02       1.07       1.03       1.06       104  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.23         25.04       1,095         1.05       1.17       1.06       1.16       113  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.27         -25.79       678         1.04       1.02       1.05       1.01       190  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.32         44.11       913         1.03       0.96       1.04       0.95       98  

Balanced

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.01         3.31       345         1.01       1.46                     32  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.59         17.11       375         1.01       1.52                     48  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.48         13.23       361         1.03       1.95                     46  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    7.70         -21.00       378         1.01       1.53                     19  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.76         13.67       559         1.01       1.40                     8  

Bond

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.80         7.31        640         0.77        3.02                      65   

Year ended 12-31-2010

    5.60         6.04       508         0.78       2.25                     49  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.50         7.16       471         0.80       3.56                     30  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    5.34         0.31       334         0.79       4.38                     29  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    5.33         5.67       296         0.82       4.57       0.85       4.54       42  

Core Equity

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    11.70         1.66       376         0.96       0.57       1.01       0.52       70  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    11.91         20.89       429         0.96       0.33       1.01       0.28       100  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.95         24.02       415         0.98       1.01       1.03       0.96       101  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.11         -34.77       402         0.96       0.68       1.01       0.63       105  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.96         14.03       746         0.96       0.68       1.01       0.63       83  

Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    10.19         2.12       859         0.97       0.07       1.00       0.04       42  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.38         12.58       917         0.97       0.42       1.00       0.39       64  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.28         27.07       881         0.99       0.67       1.02       0.64       59  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    7.55         -36.27       757         0.97       0.29       1.00       0.26       53  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.02         25.81       1,305         0.97       -0.01       0.99       -0.03       42  

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

High Income

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 3.49       $ 0.28 (3)    $ (0.09   $ 0.19      $ (0.26   $      $ (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2010

     3.30         0.27        0.19        0.46        (0.27            (0.27

Year ended 12-31-2009

     2.48         0.25        0.84        1.09        (0.27            (0.27

Year ended 12-31-2008

     3.20         0.28        (0.98     (0.70     (0.02            (0.02

Year ended 12-31-2007

     3.34         0.27        (0.14     0.13        (0.27            (0.27

International Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     8.51         0.14 (3)      (0.76     (0.62     (0.03            (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2010

     7.49         0.08        1.01        1.09        (0.07            (0.07

Year ended 12-31-2009

     6.01         0.07        1.51        1.58        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.75         0.11        (4.64     (4.53     (0.02     (0.19     (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.14         0.06        1.88        1.94        (0.06     (0.27     (0.33

Money Market

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     1.00         0.00 (3)      0.00        0.00                  

Year ended 12-31-2010

     1.00         0.00        0.00        0.00               

Year ended 12-31-2009

     1.00         0.01        0.00        0.01        (0.01         (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2008

     1.00         0.02        0.00        0.02        (0.02         (0.02

Year ended 12-31-2007

     1.00         0.05        0.00        0.05        (0.05            (0.05

Science and Technology

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     16.73         (0.13 )(3)      (0.75     (0.88            (0.60     (0.60

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.30         (0.08     1.96        1.88               (0.45     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2009

     11.43         0.01        4.73        4.74               (0.87     (0.87

Year ended 12-31-2008

     17.98         (0.03     (6.08     (6.11            (0.44     (0.44

Year ended 12-31-2007

     17.72         (0.07     4.39        4.32               (4.06     (4.06

Small Cap Growth

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

     10.53         (0.10 )(3)      (1.00     (1.10            (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2010

     8.17         (0.07     2.43        2.36                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     6.09         (0.06     2.17        2.11        (0.03            (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.24         0.03        (4.05     (4.02            (0.13     (0.13

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.97         (0.06     1.41        1.35               (1.08     (1.08

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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Net Asset
Value, End

of Period

     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

High Income

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 3.42         5.26   $ 272         0.90     8.01     0.95     7.96     78

Year ended 12-31-2010

    3.49         14.86       243         0.91       8.27       0.96       8.22       108  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    3.30         46.42       214         0.93       9.15       0.98       9.10       74  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    2.48         -21.82       147         0.91       8.72       0.96       8.67       37  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    3.20         3.86       214         0.90       7.90       0.95       7.85       74  

International Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    7.86         -7.32       266         1.15       1.67       1.18       1.64       61  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.51         14.79       331         1.17       1.22       1.20       1.19       75  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    7.49         26.89       261         1.19       1.34       1.22       1.31       80  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.01         -42.15       159         1.18       1.27       1.21       1.24       96  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.75         21.29       283         1.17       0.63       1.20       0.60       95  

Money Market

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    1.00         0.02       223         0.28       0.02       0.47       -0.17         

Year ended 12-31-2010

    1.00         0.08       178         0.42       0.06       0.49       -0.01         

Year ended 12-31-2009

    1.00         1.02       151         0.51       0.99                       

Year ended 12-31-2008

    1.00         2.18       201         0.75       2.01                       

Year ended 12-31-2007

    1.00         4.60       89         0.76       4.51                       

Science and Technology

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    15.25         -5.77       279         1.16       -0.77       1.18       -0.79       50  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.73         12.75       326         1.16       -0.48       1.18       -0.50       27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.30         43.84       316         1.19       0.06       1.21       0.04       65  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.43         -33.89       226         1.16       -0.21       1.18       -0.23       62  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.98         24.37       396         1.15       -0.42       1.17       -0.44       73  

Small Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.34         -10.60       350         1.14       -0.95       1.16       -0.97       80  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.53         28.85       419         1.14       -0.83       1.16       -0.85       60  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.17         34.72       356         1.17       -0.88       1.19       -0.90       44  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.09         -39.18       290         1.14       0.32       1.16       0.30       82  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.24         13.52       544         1.14       -0.61       1.16       -0.63       101  

 

  Prospectus   69


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following charts provide additional hypothetical information about the effect of each Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

Each chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. Each chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in each chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The charts do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolios are offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

 

Annual expense ratio        1.01%     
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   103.01        $10,399.00   
2     10,399.00        519.95        10,918.95        107.13        10,813.92   
3     10,813.92        540.70        11,354.62        111.40        11,245.40   
4     11,245.40        562.27        11,807.67        115.84        11,694.09   
5     11,694.09        584.70        12,278.79        120.47        12,160.68   
6     12,160.68        608.03        12,768.71        125.27        12,645.89   
7     12,645.89        632.29        13,278.19        130.27        13,150.46   
8     13,150.46        657.52        13,807.99        135.47        13,675.17   
9     13,675.17        683.76        14,358.92        140.87        14,220.81   
10     14,220.81        711.04        14,931.85        146.50        14,788.22   
Cumulative Total            $1,236.24     

 

70   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Bond

 

Annual expense ratio        0.77%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $  78.63        $10,423.00   
2     10,423.00        521.15        10,944.15        81.95        10,863.89   
3     10,863.89        543.19        11,407.09        85.42        11,323.44   
4     11,323.44        566.17        11,889.61        89.03        11,802.42   
5     11,802.42        590.12        12,392.54        92.80        12,301.66   
6     12,301.66        615.08        12,916.74        96.73        12,822.02   
7     12,822.02        641.10        13,463.12        100.82        13,364.39   
8     13,364.39        668.22        14,032.61        105.08        13,929.70   
9     13,929.70        696.49        14,626.19        109.53        14,518.93   
10     14,518.93        725.95        15,244.88        114.16        15,133.08   
Cumulative Total            $954.15     

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

 

Annual expense ratio        1.01%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   103.01        $10,399.00   
2     10,399.00        519.95        10,918.95        107.13        10,813.92   
3     10,813.92        540.70        11,354.62        111.40        11,245.40   
4     11,245.40        562.27        11,807.67        115.84        11,694.09   
5     11,694.09        584.70        12,278.79        120.47        12,160.68   
6     12,160.68        608.03        12,768.71        125.27        12,645.89   
7     12,645.89        632.29        13,278.19        130.27        13,150.46   
8     13,150.46        657.52        13,807.99        135.47        13,675.17   
9     13,675.17        683.76        14,358.92        140.87        14,220.81   
10     14,220.81        711.04        14,931.85        146.50        14,788.22   
Cumulative Total            $1,236.24     

 

  Prospectus   71


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP High Income

 

Annual expense ratio        0.95%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $     96.92        $10,405.00   
2     10,405.00        520.25        10,925.25        100.85        10,826.40   
3     10,826.40        541.32        11,367.72        104.93        11,264.87   
4     11,264.87        563.24        11,828.12        109.18        11,721.10   
5     11,721.10        586.05        12,307.15        113.61        12,195.80   
6     12,195.80        609.79        12,805.59        118.21        12,689.73   
7     12,689.73        634.49        13,324.22        122.99        13,203.67   
8     13,203.67        660.18        13,863.85        127.97        13,738.42   
9     13,738.42        686.92        14,425.34        133.16        14,294.82   
10     14,294.82        714.74        15,009.56        138.55        14,873.76   
Cumulative Total            $1,166.38     

 

72   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

Ivy Funds VIP Money Market

 

Annual expense ratio        0.47%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $  48.06        $10,453.00   
2     10,453.00        522.65        10,975.65        50.24        10,926.52   
3     10,926.52        546.33        11,472.85        52.52        11,421.49   
4     11,421.49        571.07        11,992.57        54.90        11,938.89   
5     11,938.89        596.94        12,535.83        57.38        12,479.72   
6     12,479.72        623.99        13,103.70        59.98        13,045.05   
7     13,045.05        652.25        13,697.30        62.70        13,635.99   
8     13,635.99        681.80        14,317.79        65.54        14,253.70   
9     14,253.70        712.68        14,966.38        68.51        14,899.39   
10     14,899.39        744.97        15,644.36        71.61        15,574.33   
Cumulative Total            $591.45     

 

  Prospectus   73


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.16%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   118.23        $10,384.00   
2     10,384.00        519.20        10,903.20        122.77        10,782.75   
3     10,782.75        539.14        11,321.88        127.48        11,196.80   
4     11,196.80        559.84        11,756.64        132.38        11,626.76   
5     11,626.76        581.34        12,208.10        137.46        12,073.23   
6     12,073.23        603.66        12,676.89        142.74        12,536.84   
7     12,536.84        626.84        13,163.68        148.22        13,018.25   
8     13,018.25        650.91        13,669.17        153.91        13,518.16   
9     13,518.16        675.91        14,194.06        159.82        14,037.25   
10     14,037.25        701.86        14,739.12        165.96        14,576.28   
Cumulative Total            $1,408.96     

 

74   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

  Prospectus   75


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolios in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about each Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about a Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail each Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios’ performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolios’ most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolios are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

76   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Prospectus

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE

INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

APRIL 30, 2012

 

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS   SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

 

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

 

Ivy Funds VIP Value

 

GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIOS

 

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

 

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

 

 

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

 

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (Trust) is a management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund, that has twenty-six separate portfolios (each, a Portfolio, and collectively, the Portfolios), each with separate objectives and investment policies. This Prospectus offers thirteen Portfolios of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus contains concise information about the Portfolios of which you should be aware before applying for certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) offered by certain select insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies). This Prospectus should be read together with the prospectus for the particular Policy.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

    

 

LOGO  


Table of Contents
     TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

  3        

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

  6        

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

  9        

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

  12        

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

  15        

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

  18        

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

  22        

Ivy Funds VIP Value

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIOS

  25        

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

  28        

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

    

PORTFOLIO SUMMARIES — SPECIALTY PORTFOLIOS

  31        

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

  36        

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

  40        

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

  44        

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

  48        

More About the Portfolios

  48        

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies,
Other Investments and Risks

  59        

Additional Investment Considerations

  60        

Defining Risks

  67        

The Management of the Portfolios

  72        

Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

  76        

Distributions and Taxes

  77        

Financial Highlights

  84        

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

 

2   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.01%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$103

     $ 322       $ 558       $ 1,236   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 70% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities, primarily in common stocks of large cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes have dominant market positions in their industries. Large cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. The Portfolio invests in securities that have the potential for capital appreciation, or that WRIMCO expects to resist market decline. Although the Portfolio typically invests in securities issued by large cap companies, it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size.

WRIMCO believes that long-term earnings power relative to market expectations is an important component for stock performance. From a top-down perspective, WRIMCO seeks to identify current trends or themes which indicate specific industries that have the potential to experience multi-year growth. Once identified, WRIMCO seeks to invest for the Portfolio in what it believes to be dominant companies that will benefit from these trends or themes; including companies that WRIMCO believes have long-term earnings potential greater than market expectations. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 40 to 50) of stocks.

 

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Table of Contents

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has fully appreciated according to WRIMCO’s forecast, has ceased to offer the prospect of significant growth potential, has had its competitive barriers diminished, has seen its earnings catalyst lose its impact, or has performed below WRIMCO’s expectations regarding the security’s long-term earnings potential. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security if that issuer’s competitive advantage has diminished or if the Portfolio’s portfolio managers lose conviction in a previously identified trend or theme, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 40 to 50) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

 

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Table of Contents

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 17.59% (the third quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -20.48% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

     1.66%         2.54%         3.83%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Large-Cap Core Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -1.00%         -1.17%         2.41%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Erik R. Becker, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, and Gustaf C. Zinn, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, have managed the Portfolio since July 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   5


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.05%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks issued by large-cap companies which Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are high-quality, growth-oriented companies with appreciation possibilities. Large cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio seeks to generate solid returns while striving to protect against downside risks.

WRIMCO primarily utilizes a bottom-up strategy in selecting securities for the Portfolio and seeks companies that it believes have dominant market positions and established competitive advantages. WRIMCO believes that these characteristics can help to mitigate competition and lead to more sustainable revenue and earnings growth.

WRIMCO attempts to focus on companies operating in large, growing, addressable markets (generally, the potential markets for their goods and services) whose competitive market position WRIMCO believes will allow them to grow faster than the general economy. The key factors typically analyzed by WRIMCO consist of: a company’s brand equity, proprietary technology, economies of scale, and level of intra- and inter-industry competition; the threat of substitute products; and the interaction and bargaining

 

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power between a company, its customers, suppliers and competitors. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

In general, WRIMCO may sell a security when, in WRIMCO’s opinion, a company experiences deterioration in its growth and/or profitability characteristics, or a fundamental breakdown of its sustainable competitive advantages. WRIMCO also may sell a security if it determines that the security no longer presents sufficient appreciation potential; this may be caused by, or be an effect of, changes in the industry of the issuer, loss by the company of its competitive position, and/or poor use of resources. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s managers also tend to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s managers invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   7


Table of Contents

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek capital growth, with current income as a secondary objective. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 13.01% (the third quarter of 2007) and the lowest quarterly return was -20.44% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Growth

     2.12%         3.21%         3.19%   

Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.64%         2.50%         2.60%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Large-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.34%         1.00%         2.17%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Daniel P. Becker, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since June 2006 and Philip J. Sanders, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since August 1998.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.95%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.14%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.34%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$136

     $ 425       $ 734       $ 1,613   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of micro cap companies. Micro cap companies typically are companies with float-adjusted market capitalizations below $1 billion. The Portfolio primarily invests in common stock, which may include common stocks that are offered in initial public offerings, or IPOs.

In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio, Wall Street Associates, LLC (WSA), the Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, utilizes a bottom-up stock selection process and seeks to invest in securities of companies that it believes exhibit extraordinary earnings growth, earnings surprise potential, fundamental strength and management vision.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WSA uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WSA may sell a security if it determines that the issuer’s growth and/or profitability characteristics are deteriorating or the issuer no longer maintains a competitive advantage, when more attractive investment opportunities arise, when WSA believes a company’s valuation has become unattractive relative to industry leaders and industry-specific metrics, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security or its exposure to a particular sector, or to raise cash.

 

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Table of Contents

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WSA’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small to micro capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small to micro capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance prior to September 22, 2003, reflects the performance of the Advantus Micro-Cap Growth Portfolio (predecessor fund) which was reorganized as the Portfolio on September 22, 2003. The Portfolio would have had substantially similar annual returns and would have differed from the predecessor fund only to the extent that the Portfolio had different expenses. Performance prior to September 22, 2003 has not been restated to reflect the estimated annual operating expenses of the Portfolio. If those expenses were reflected, performance of the Portfolio would differ.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital appreciation. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

 

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Table of Contents

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 38.37% (the second quarter of 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was -34.64% (the third quarter of 2002).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

     -7.01%         0.48%         2.90%   

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -2.91%         2.09%         4.48%   

Russell Microcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -8.43%         -2.33%         2.77%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.82%         1.82%         3.88%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO) and sub-advised by Wall Street Associates, LLC (WSA).

Portfolio Managers

The WSA Investment Team is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio. The WSA Investment Team consists of William Jeffery III, President and Chief Investment Officer of WSA, who has co-managed the Portfolio since the inception of the predecessor fund in October 1997, Kenneth F. McCain, Executive Vice President of WSA, who has co-managed the Portfolio since the inception of the predecessor fund in October 1997, Paul J. Ariano, Senior Vice President of WSA, who has co-managed the Portfolio since January 2005, Paul K. LeCoq, Senior Vice President of WSA, who has co-managed the Portfolio since January 2005, and Luke A. Jacobson, Vice President of WSA, who has co-managed the Portfolio since January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stocks of mid cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes offer above-average growth potential. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in the securities of mid cap companies, which typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million to $22.8 billion.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily emphasizes a bottom-up approach and may look at a number of factors in its consideration of a company, such as: new or innovative products or services; adaptive or creative management; strong financial and operational capabilities to sustain growth; stable and consistent revenue, earnings, and cash flow; market potential; and profit potential.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, including excessive valuation given company growth prospects, deterioration of fundamentals, weak cash flow to support shareholder returns, and unexpected and

 

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poorly explained management changes. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide growth of your investment. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 20.43% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -22.11% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth (began on 04-28-2005)

     -0.56%         6.62%         9.33%   

Russell Midcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -1.65%         2.44%         6.08%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Mid-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average
(net of fees and expenses) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -5.26%         2.19%         5.80%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kimberly A. Scott, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.16%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$118

     $ 368       $ 638       $ 1,409   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of small cap companies. Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. The Portfolio emphasizes relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is opportunity for rapid growth. The Portfolio’s investment in equity securities may include common stocks that are offered in initial public offerings (IPOs).

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, utilizes a bottom-up stock picking process that focuses on companies it believes have sustainable long-term growth potential with superior financial characteristics and, therefore, are believed by WRIMCO to be of a higher quality than many other small cap companies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors regarding a company, such as: management that is aggressive and/or creative, yet strong and/or dedicated; technological or specialized expertise; new or unique products or services; entry into new or emerging industries; growth in earnings/growth in revenue and sales/positive cash flows; rising returns on investment; and security size and liquidity. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks.

 

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Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it determines that the stock no longer offers significant growth potential, which may be due to a change in the business or management of the company or a change in the industry of the company. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 50 to 60) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

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Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 24.14% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -28.33% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     -10.60%         1.39%         4.43%   

Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -2.91%         2.09%         4.48%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.82%         1.82%         3.88%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Kenneth G. McQuade, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since March 2006.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

Objective

To seek to provide capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.07%   

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

       0.12%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses2

       1.29%   

 

1

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses sets forth the Portfolio’s pro rata portion of the cumulative expenses charged by the business development companies (BDCs) in which the Portfolio invests. The actual Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses will vary with changes in the allocations of the Portfolio’s assets. These expenses are based on the total expense ratio of the BDCs for each BDC’s most recent fiscal period.

 

2 

The Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses ratio shown in this table does not correlate to the expense ratio shown in the Financial Highlights table because that ratio does not include the Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$131

     $ 409       $ 708       $ 1,556   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 59% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in various types of equity securities of small cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are undervalued. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Portfolio’s net assets will be invested, at the time of purchase, in common stocks of small cap companies. Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. The Portfolio seeks to invest in stocks that WRIMCO believes are undervalued stocks or those stocks trading at a significant discount relative to the intrinsic value of the company estimated by WRIMCO and/or are out of favor in the financial

 

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markets but have a favorable outlook for capital appreciation. These equity securities will consist primarily of common stocks, some of which may be offered in initial public offerings (IPOs).

To identify securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily utilizes fundamental, bottom-up research while considering a top-down (assess the market and economic environment) and quantitative analysis. The estimated intrinsic value of companies is primarily determined by WRIMCO based on cash flow generation, normalized earnings power and/or underlying asset values, but other valuation factors are also considered such as price to earnings and price to book value. WRIMCO also considers a company’s asset growth, changes in share count, and changes in working capital. The Portfolio emphasizes companies which may have a clearly identifiable catalyst that WRIMCO believes will help it achieve its estimated intrinsic value. In addition, WRIMCO attempts to diversify the Portfolio’s holdings among sectors in an effort to minimize risk and to prevent excess volatility. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 40 to 65) of stocks.

WRIMCO will typically sell a stock when, in WRIMCO’s opinion, it reaches an acceptable price, its fundamental factors have changed or it has performed below WRIMCO’s expectations. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Catalyst Risk. Investing in companies in anticipation of a catalyst carries the risk that certain of such catalysts may not happen or the market may react differently than expected to such catalysts, in which case the Portfolio may experience losses.

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 40 to 65) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

n  

Initial Public Offering Risk. Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance; however, any positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. The Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, the Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   19


Table of Contents
n  

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance prior to September 22, 2003, reflects the performance of the Advantus Small Company Value Portfolio (predecessor fund) which was reorganized as the Portfolio on September 22, 2003. The Portfolio would have had substantially similar annual returns and would have differed from the predecessor fund only to the extent that the Portfolio had different expenses. Performance prior to September 22, 2003 has not been restated to reflect the estimated annual operating expenses of the Portfolio. If those expenses were reflected, performance of the Portfolio would differ.

State Street Research & Management served as the investment subadvisor to the Portfolio until January 31, 2005, when BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. became the Portfolio’s investment subadvisor. From January 20, 2006 to March 24, 2008, BlackRock Capital Management, Inc., an affiliate of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., served as the Portfolio’s investment subadvisor. On March 24, 2008, WRIMCO, the Portfolio’s investment manager, assumed direct investment management responsibilities for the Portfolio.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term accumulation of capital. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 22.17% (the second quarter of 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was -27.13% (the third quarter of 2002).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

     -12.79%         0.17%         5.38%   

Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -5.50%         -1.87%         6.40%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Small-Cap Value Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -5.14%         -0.14%         7.16%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Christopher J. Parker, Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since September 2011.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Value

Objective

To seek to provide capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.01%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$103

     $ 322       $ 558       $ 1,236   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 60% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Value seeks to achieve its objective by investing in the common stocks of primarily large cap companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are undervalued, trading at a significant discount relative to the intrinsic value of the company estimated by WRIMCO and/or are out of favor in the financial markets but have a favorable outlook for capital appreciation. Although the Portfolio primarily invests in securities issued by large cap companies (typically, companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion), it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size. The Portfolio seeks to be diversified across economic sectors in an effort to manage risk, and to prevent excess volatility.

To identify securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily utilizes fundamental, bottom-up research while considering a top-down (assess the market environment) and quantitative analysis. The estimated intrinsic value of companies is primarily determined by WRIMCO based on cash flow generation, but other valuation factors are also considered such as price to earnings and price to book value. WRIMCO also considers a company’s asset growth, changes in share count, and changes in working capital. The Portfolio emphasizes companies which may have a clearly identifiable catalyst that WRIMCO believes will help the company achieve its estimated intrinsic value. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 35 to 45) of stocks.

 

 

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Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO will typically sell a stock when, in WRIMCO’s opinion, it reaches an acceptable price, its fundamental factors have changed or it has performed below WRIMCO’s expectations. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Catalyst Risk. Investing in companies in anticipation of a catalyst carries the risk that certain of such catalysts may not happen or the market may react differently than expected to such catalysts, in which case the Portfolio may experience losses.

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 35 to 45) of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value (NAV) than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities.

 

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios   Prospectus   23


Table of Contents

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital appreciation. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 20.05% (the third quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -20.08 % (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Value

     -7.32%         -1.24%         3.69%   

Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     0.39%         -2.64%         3.89%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Large-Cap Value Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -1.85%         -2.54%         2.86%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Matthew T. Norris, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since July 2003.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.09%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.19%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$121

     $ 378       $ 654       $ 1,443   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities principally traded largely in developed European and Asian/Pacific Basin markets. To enhance potential return, the Portfolio may invest in issuers located or doing business in countries with new or comparatively underdeveloped economies.

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, primarily uses a disciplined approach while looking for investment opportunities around the world (including countries with new or comparatively undeveloped economies), preferring what it believes to be cash-generating, well-managed and reasonably valued companies that are exposed to global investment themes which WRIMCO believes will yield above-average growth. WRIMCO uses a top-down, macro thematic approach along with a bottom-up stock selection process, and uses a combination of country analysis, industry dynamics, and individual stock selection in comprising the portfolio. Although the Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, it typically has more exposure to securities issued by large cap companies.

 

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Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities of that type. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security if it believes the security no longer offers significant growth potential, to reduce its emphasis on a global investment theme, if it believes the management of the company has weakened, and/or there exists political or economic instability in the issuer’s country. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance prior to September 22, 2003 reflects the performance of the Advantus International Stock Portfolio (predecessor fund) which was reorganized as the Portfolio on September 22, 2003. The Portfolio would have had substantially similar annual returns and would have differed from the predecessor fund only to the extent that the Portfolio had different expenses. Performance prior to September 22, 2003 has not been restated to reflect the estimated annual operating expenses of the Portfolio. If those expenses were reflected, performance of the Portfolio would differ.

 

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During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 25.64% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -23.85% (the third quarter of 2002).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

     -13.88%         -3.11%         6.18%   

MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -12.14%         -4.72%         4.67%   

Lipper Variable Annuity International Core Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -13.02%         -4.19%         4.39%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

John C. Maxwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since May 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

Global/International Portfolios   Prospectus   27


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 61% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stocks of foreign companies that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes are competitively well-positioned, gaining market share, have the potential for long-term growth and operate in regions or countries that WRIMCO believes possess attractive growth characteristics. The Portfolio primarily invests in issuers of developed countries, and historically has had a significant investment in issuers or companies located in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and the Pacific Basin, although the Portfolio may invest in issuers domiciled in or doing business in any country or region around the globe, including emerging markets. While the Portfolio primarily invests in securities issued by large cap companies (typically, companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion), it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size.

WRIMCO utilizes a research-based investment process that blends top-down global economic analysis with bottom-up stock selection. After identifying promising opportunities around the world, WRIMCO seeks strong companies in industries which it believes are growing faster than their underlying economies. WRIMCO may look at a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio, including: a company’s competitive position and its sustainability; a company’s growth and earnings potential and

 

28   Prospectus   Global/International Portfolios


Table of Contents

valuation; a company’s financials, including cash flow and balance sheet; management of the company; strength of the industry; and applicable economic, market and political conditions of the country in which the company is located and/or in which it is doing business.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities. For example, WRIMCO may sell a security issued by a company if it believes the company has experienced a fundamental breakdown of its sustainable competitive advantage or no longer offers significant growth potential, if it believes the management of the company has weakened, and/or there exists political or economic instability in the issuer’s country. WRIMCO also may sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Global/International Portfolios   Prospectus   29


Table of Contents

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to provide, as a primary objective, long-term appreciation of capital and, as a secondary objective, to seek current income. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 19.56% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -21.32% (the third quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

     -7.32%         -1.08%         4.52%   

MSCI EAFE Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -12.11%         -3.16%         4.27%   

Lipper Variable Annuity International Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -13.40%         -3.59%         5.22%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Chace Brundige, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

Objective

To seek to provide total return.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.69%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.00%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$102

     $ 318       $ 552       $ 1,225   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy seeks to achieve its objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its assets in any market that Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. Dependent on its outlook for the U.S. and global economies, WRIMCO identifies growth themes and then focuses its strategy on allocating the Portfolio’s assets among stocks, bonds, cash, precious metals, currency and derivative instruments, including derivatives traded over-the-counter and on exchanges. After determining these allocations, WRIMCO seeks attractive opportunities within each market by focusing on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow and low balance sheet leverage.

 

n  

“Stocks” include equity securities of all types, although WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks by focusing on what it believes are steady-growth companies that fit WRIMCO’s criteria for sustainable competitive advantage and that WRIMCO believes are positioned to benefit from continued global rebalancing and the globally emerging middle class. Growth stocks are those whose earnings WRIMCO believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, but primarily focuses on securities issued by large cap companies.

 

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n  

“Bonds” include all varieties of fixed-income instruments, such as corporate debt securities or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S. government securities), with remaining maturities of more than one year. This investment type may include a significant amount, up to 35% of the Portfolio’s total assets, of high-yield/high-risk bonds, or junk bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

 

n  

“Short-term instruments” include all types of short-term securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, including higher-quality money market instruments.

Within each of these investment types, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign securities; the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

WRIMCO may allocate the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or short-term instruments, respectively. WRIMCO may exercise a flexible strategy in the selection of securities, and the Portfolio is not required to allocate its investments among stocks and bonds in any fixed proportion, nor is it limited by investment style or by the issuer’s location, size, market capitalization or industry sector. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon market and economic conditions. Subject to diversification limits, the Fund also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO considers many factors, which may include a deterioration in a company’s fundamentals caused by global-specific factors such as geo-political landscape changes, regulatory or currency changes, or increased competition, as well as company-specific factors, such as reduced pricing power, diminished market opportunity, or increased competition. WRIMCO also may sell a security if the price of the security reaches what WRIMCO believes is fair value, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets, and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to achieve the Portfolio’s objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to companies, sectors or equity markets, WRIMCO may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts, both long and short positions, total return swaps, credit default swaps and options contracts, both written and purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indices and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, WRIMCO may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s exposure to precious metals, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s event risks, WRIMCO may utilize futures contracts, both long and short positions on foreign and U.S. equity indices and options contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities the Portfolio owns and on foreign and U.S. equity indices.

WRIMCO may reduce the Portfolio’s net equity exposure by selling, among other instruments, combined futures and option positions, and may effect short sales of individual securities and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or take long positions in inverse ETFs.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Commodities Risk. Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, the Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, the Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, the Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

 

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n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of WRIMCO as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these bonds are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

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n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of various indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek high total return over the long term. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 15.83% (the third quarter of 2005) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.90% (the third quarter of 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     -7.21%         6.16%         10.14%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     7.85%         6.68%         5.89%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     7.84%         6.50%         5.78%   

Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     0.21%         1.82%         2.19%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Short-Term Index for 1 Month Certificates of Deposit, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Bills: 1-3 Month Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     0.07%         1.36%         1.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -2.58%         2.14%         6.44%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Managers

Michael L. Avery, Executive Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 1997, and Ryan F. Caldwell, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since January 2007.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

Objective

To seek to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.70%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.06%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.01%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$103

     $ 322       $ 558       $ 1,236   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio bears transaction costs, such as commissions and/or spreads between bid and asked prices, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in a mix of stocks, debt securities and short-term instruments, depending on market conditions. Regarding its equity investments, the Portfolio invests primarily in medium to large, well-established companies that usually issue dividend-paying securities. The Portfolio owns common stocks in order to provide possible appreciation of capital and some dividend income. In general, the Portfolio invests a portion of its total assets in either debt securities or preferred stocks, or both, in order to provide income and relative stability of capital. The Portfolio ordinarily invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income securities. The majority of the Portfolio’s debt securities are either U.S. government securities or investment-grade corporate bonds, including bonds rated BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes. The Portfolio has no limitations on the range of maturities of the debt securities in which it may invest, or on the size of companies in which it may invest.

 

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In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO follows a core investing strategy and seeks companies that it believes possess attractive business economics, are in a strong financial condition and are selling at attractive valuations both on a relative and an absolute basis. WRIMCO also considers a company’s potential for dividend growth, its growth and profitability opportunities and sustainability, its relative strength in earnings, its management, improving fundamentals and valuation, its balance sheet, its stock price value, and the condition of the respective industry. In selecting debt securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO seeks high-quality securities with minimal credit risk.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell an equity security or a debt security, WRIMCO uses the same analysis as identified above in order to determine if the equity security is still undervalued or has met its anticipated price. In determining whether to sell a debt security, WRIMCO will consider whether the security continues to maintain its minimal credit risk. WRIMCO may also sell a security if the security ceases to produce income, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Credit Risk. An issuer of a fixed-income obligation may not make payments on the obligation when due or may default on its obligation.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Interest Rate Risk. A rise in interest rates may cause a decline in the value of the Portfolio’s securities, especially bonds with longer maturities. A decline in interest rates may cause the Portfolio to experience a decline in its income.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Loan Participation Risk. In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. Loan participations may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market.

 

n  

Low-rated Securities Risk. In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken the Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual

 

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funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Reinvestment Risk. A decline in interest rates may cause issuers to prepay higher-yielding bonds held by the Portfolio, resulting in the Fund reinvesting in securities with lower yields, which may cause a decline in its income.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide current income and, as a secondary objective, to seek long-term appreciation of capital. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 9.59% (the fourth quarter of 2010) and the lowest quarterly return was -10.91% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

     3.31%         4.23%         5.49%   

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.11%         -0.25%         2.92%   

Citigroup Treasury/Govt Sponsored/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     8.58%         6.65%         5.94%   

Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (The Portfolio’s benchmark changed from Citigroup Treasury/Govt Sponsored/Credit Index, effective March 2012. WRIMCO believes that the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index provides a better benchmark for the Portfolio in light of the types of securities in which the Portfolio invests. Both indexes will be presented in this year’s prospectus for comparison purposes.)

     8.74%         6.55%         5.85%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Mixed-Asset Target Allocation Growth Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -1.41%         0.90%         3.76%   

 

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Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Cynthia P. Prince-Fox, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since July 1994.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

Objective

To seek to provide capital growth and appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       1.00%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.12%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.37%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$139

     $ 434       $ 750       $ 1,646   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or supply goods and services to such companies.

For these purposes, “natural resources” generally include: energy (such as utilities, producers/developers, refiners, service/drilling), alternative energy (such as uranium, coal, hydrogen, wind, solar, fuel cells), industrial products (such as building materials, cement, packaging, chemicals, supporting transport and machinery), forest products (such as lumber, plywood, pulp, paper, newsprint, tissue), base metals (such as aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc, iron ore and steel), precious metals and minerals (such as gold, silver, platinum, diamonds), and agricultural products (grains and other foods, seeds, fertilizers, water).

 

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The Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), uses an equity style that focuses on both growth and value, as well as utilizing both a top-down (the creation of macro-economic models to prepare an outlook for economic and market conditions) and a bottom-up (fundamental, company by company) approach. Mackenzie targets companies for investment that, in its opinion, have strong management and financial positions, adding balance with established low-cost, low-debt producers or positions that are based on anticipated commodity price trends. The Portfolio seeks to be diversified internationally, and therefore, Mackenzie invests in foreign companies and U.S. companies that have principal operations in foreign jurisdictions. While Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s assets in North America, international exposure may exceed 50% of the Portfolio’s total assets. Exposure to companies in any one particular foreign country other than Canada is typically less than 20% of the Portfolio’s total assets. The Portfolio also may have exposure to companies located in, and/or doing business in, emerging markets.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining to sell a security, Mackenzie considers various factors, including whether the holding has sufficiently exceeded its target price, whether a growth-oriented company has failed to deliver growth, and the effect of commodity price trends on certain holdings. Mackenzie may also sell a security to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities, to reduce the Fund’s holding in that security, or to raise cash.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative instruments to hedge market risk on equity securities, increase exposure to specific sectors or companies, and manage exposure to various foreign currencies. In an effort to achieve the objective of hedging market risk and increasing exposure to equity markets, the Portfolio may utilize futures on equity indices and/or purchase option contracts on individual equity securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the Portfolio may utilize forward contracts to either increase or decrease exposure to a given currency.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of Mackenzie as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of the Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak

 

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supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Global Natural Resources Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Investment Company Securities Risk. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on Mackenzie’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Sector Risk. At times, the Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

n  

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued. The value of a security believed by WRIMCO to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of two indexes and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek to provide long-term growth and any income realized was incidental. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide capital growth and appreciation.

 

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The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 31.63% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -41.06% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      Life of
Portfolio
 

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources (began on 04-28-2005)

     -21.45%         -2.46%         5.13%   

Morgan Stanley Commodity Related Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.87%         6.67%         11.86%   

MSCI AC World IMI 55% Energy + 45% Materials Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) (Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.60%         2.51%         8.98%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Natural Resources Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)
(Index comparison begins on April 30, 2005.)

     -11.66%         2.54%         9.75%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO) and sub-advised by Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie).

Portfolio Manager

Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, has managed the Fund since April 2005.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

Objective

To seek to provide growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, Policies) through which this Portfolio is offered. See the Policy prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)      N/A

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)          

Management Fees

       0.85%   

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

       0.25%   

Other Expenses

       0.08%   

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

       1.18%   

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the shares of the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other portfolios. This example does not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the Policies.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the shares of the Portfolio for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs are the same for each time period if you continue to hold your shares or if you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

$120

     $ 375       $ 649       $ 1,432   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of science or technology companies. Such companies may include companies that, in the opinion of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO), the Portfolio’s investment manager, derive a competitive advantage by the application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries to grow their business or increase their competitive advantage. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in the opinion of WRIMCO, are being or are expected to be significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

WRIMCO typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks; that is, WRIMCO seeks companies in which earnings are likely to grow faster than the economy. WRIMCO aims to identify strong secular trends within industries and then applies a largely bottom-up stock selection process by considering a number of factors in selecting securities for the Portfolio. These may include but

 

44   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolios


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are not limited to a company’s growth potential, earnings potential, quality of management, industry position/market size potential and applicable economic and market conditions. The Portfolio typically holds a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks.

Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, in determining whether to sell a security, WRIMCO uses the same type of analysis that it uses in buying securities in order to determine whether the security has ceased to offer significant growth potential, has become overvalued and/or whether the company prospects of the issuer have deteriorated due to a change in management, change in strategy and/or a change in its financial characteristics. WRIMCO may also sell a security to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities or to raise cash.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund, the value of the Portfolio’s shares will change, and you could lose money on your investment.

A variety of factors can affect the investment performance of the Portfolio and prevent it from achieving its objective. These include:

 

n  

Company Risk. A company may perform worse than the overall market due to specific factors, such as adverse changes to its business or investor perceptions about the company.

 

n  

Concentration Risk. Because the Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in the science and technology industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in this industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. In addition, the Portfolio’s performance may be more volatile than an investment in a portfolio of broad market securities and may underperform the market as a whole, due to the limited number of issuers of science and technology related securities.

 

n  

Emerging Market Risk. Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.

 

n  

Foreign Market Risk. The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

 

n  

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that may not be associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect the Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon the prevailing conditions at any given time. Among these potential risks are: greater price volatility; comparatively weak supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers; higher brokerage costs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and related conversion costs; adverse foreign tax consequences; and settlement delays.

 

n  

Growth Stock Risk. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

 

n  

Holdings Risk. The Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number (generally 45 to 60) of stocks, and the Portfolio’s manager also tends to invest a significant portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks.

 

n  

Large Company Risk. Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

n  

Liquidity Risk. Generally, a security is liquid if the Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security.

 

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n  

Management Risk. Portfolio performance is primarily dependent on WRIMCO’s skill in evaluating and managing the Portfolio’s holdings and the Portfolio may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.

 

n  

Market Risk. Adverse market conditions, sometimes in response to general economic or industry news, may cause the prices of the Portfolio’s holdings to fall as part of a broad market decline. The financial crisis in the U.S. and foreign economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both U.S. and foreign, and in the net asset values (NAVs) of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by the Portfolio. These circumstances have also decreased liquidity in some markets and may continue to do so. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

 

n  

Mid Size Company Risk. Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

 

n  

Science and Technology Industry Risk. Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include: operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, aggressive pricing of products and services, new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

 

n  

Small Company Risk. Equity securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Performance

The chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The chart shows how performance has varied from year to year for the Portfolio. The table shows the average annual total returns for the Portfolio and also compares the performance with those of an index and a Lipper peer group (a universe of mutual funds with investment objectives similar to that of the Portfolio). The performance results do not reflect any Policy-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

Performance results include the effect of expense reduction arrangements for some or all of the periods shown. If those arrangements had not been in place, the performance results for those periods would have been lower.

During the periods for which performance is shown, the Portfolio’s investment objective was to seek long-term capital growth. Effective as of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio changed its investment objective to seeking to provide growth of capital.

The Portfolio’s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Current performance may be lower or higher. Please call 888.WADDELL for the Portfolio’s updated performance.

Chart of Year-by-Year Returns

as of December 31 each year

 

LOGO

   In the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 14.75% (the second quarter of 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was -18.81% (the fourth quarter of 2008).

 

46   Prospectus   Specialty Portfolios


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Average Annual Total Returns

 

as of December 31, 2011    1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Shares of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     -5.77%         4.67%         6.24%   

S&P North American Technology Sector Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     -0.88%         3.84%         2.44%   

Lipper Variable Annuity Science & Technology Funds Universe Average (net of fees and expenses)

     -6.50%         2.77%         1.58%   

Investment Adviser

The Portfolio is managed by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (WRIMCO).

Portfolio Manager

Zachary H. Shafran, Senior Vice President of WRIMCO, has managed the Portfolio since February 2001.

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Shares of the Portfolio are currently sold only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies.

The Portfolio’s shares are redeemable. Shares are purchased or redeemed at the Portfolio’s NAV per share next calculated after the order is received in proper form on any business day. The Portfolio does not have initial and subsequent investment minimums. Please refer to your Policy prospectus for more information on purchasing and redeeming Portfolio shares.

Tax Information

Because the Portfolio currently only sells its shares to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, distributions the Portfolio makes of its net investment income and net realized gains, if any — most or all of which it intends to distribute annually — and redemptions or exchanges of Portfolio shares generally will not be taxable to its shareholders (or to the holders of the underlying Policies). See the prospectus for your Policy for further tax information.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio and its related companies may make payments to a Participating Insurance Company (or its affiliates) or other financial intermediary for distribution and/or other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Participating Insurance Company or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Portfolio over another investment or by influencing a Participating Insurance Company to include the Portfolio as an underlying investment option in the Policy. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your Policy may contain additional information about these payments.

 

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More about the Portfolios

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing, during normal market conditions, in common stocks of large cap, U.S. and foreign companies that WRIMCO believes are high-quality, globally dominant, have sustainable competitive advantages accompanied by financial strength and earnings stability, and have dominant positions in their industries. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO utilizes both a top-down (assess the market environment) and a bottom-up (research individual issuers) analysis in its securities-selection process. It attempts to select securities that it believes have growth possibilities by looking at many factors that may include a company’s: projected long-term earnings power compared to market expectations over a multi-year horizon, competitive position in the global economy, history of improving sales and profits, management strength, leadership position in its industry, stock price value, and dividend payment history.

Through its bottom-up stock selection, WRIMCO searches for companies for which it believes market expectations are too low with regard to the company’s ability to grow its business. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO may consider whether a company has new products to introduce, has undergone cost restructuring or a management change, or has improved its execution, among other factors. WRIMCO may also consider various thematic factors, including major macro-economic and political forces, cyclical inflections, changes in consumer behavior and technology shifts.

The Portfolio also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. large cap growth companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in derivative instruments in seeking to hedge its current holdings, including the use of futures or options contracts on broad U.S. equity indices.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities, investment-grade debt securities and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market instruments. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Interest Rate Risk

  

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks issued by what WRIMCO believes are high-quality, growth-oriented large cap or mid cap U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign companies with appreciation possibilities. The Portfolio seeks to generate solid returns while striving to protect against downside risks. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

 

48   Prospectus  


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In selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO looks for companies which serve large markets with a demonstrated ability to sustain unit growth and high profitability, often driven by brand loyalty, proprietary technology, cost structure, scale, or distribution advantages. WRIMCO’s process to select stocks is based primarily on fundamental research but does additionally utilize quantitative analysis during the screening process. From a quantitative standpoint, WRIMCO concentrates on profitability, capital intensity, cash flow and capital allocation measures, as well as earnings growth rates and valuations. WRIMCO’s fundamental research effort tries to identify those companies that it believes possess a sustainable competitive advantage, an important characteristic which typically enables a company to generate superior levels of profitability and growth for an extended period of time. Additional focus is given to those companies that appear well positioned to benefit from secular trends embedded in the marketplace (e.g., demographics, deregulation, capital spending trends, etc.).

The Portfolio invests primarily in common stocks but may also own, to a lesser extent, preferred stocks, convertible securities and debt securities, typically of investment grade and of any maturity. As well, the Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

At times, as a temporary defensive measure, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio may also use options and futures contracts for temporary defensive purposes. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Holdings Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing in various types of equity securities of primarily U.S. and foreign micro cap companies. Micro cap companies typically are companies with float-adjusted market capitalizations below $1 billion. The Portfolio’s investment in equity securities may include common stocks that are offered in IPOs. The Portfolio may occasionally invest in equity securities of larger companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s equity securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the micro cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of its increased capitalization.

In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio, WSA primarily looks for companies exhibiting extraordinary earnings growth, earnings surprise potential, fundamental strength and management vision. In selecting securities with earnings growth potential, WSA may consider such factors as a company’s competitive market position, quality of management, growth strategy, industry trends, internal operating trends (such as profit margins, cash flows and earnings and revenue growth), overall financial condition, and ability to sustain or improve its current rate of growth. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio may also invest in equity securities of companies that WSA believes are temporarily undervalued or show promise of improved results due to new management, products, markets or other factors.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities presents additional risks, such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

 

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In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks and securities convertible into equity securities.

For temporary defensive purposes, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in various short-term cash and cash equivalent items. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

n Liquidity Risk

  

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Foreign Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign mid cap companies that WRIMCO believes offer above-average growth potential. The Portfolio primarily focuses on mid cap growth companies that WRIMCO believes have the potential to become a large cap company. Mid cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap Growth Index. As of March 31, 2012, this range of market capitalizations was from approximately $833.2 million to $22.8 billion. For this purpose, WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the mid cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

As noted, WRIMCO utilizes a primarily bottom-up approach in its selection of securities for the Portfolio and focuses on companies it believes have strong growth models, profitability, attractive valuations and sound capital structures. Other desired characteristics may include a leading market position, the active involvement of the founder or entrepreneur, management that is strong and demonstrates commitment to stakeholders, and a high gross margin and return on equity with low debt. WRIMCO also may consider a company’s dividend yield. Part of the investment process includes a review of the macroeconomic environment, with a focus on factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer confidence, and corporate spending.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks, such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in convertible securities, preferred stocks and debt securities of any maturity and mostly of investment grade, that is, rated BBB- or higher by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality.

The Portfolio may utilize derivative instruments, including options on an index or on individual or baskets of equity securities, in seeking to gain exposure to certain sectors, to enhance income, and/or to hedge certain market event risks, including risks associated with a specific holding. The Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a means of gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities (including commercial paper, cash and cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. government securities), preferred stocks or both. As well, the Portfolio may choose to invest in companies whose sales and earnings growth are generally stable through a variety of economic conditions. By taking a temporary defensive position the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Management Risk

  

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of small cap companies that are relatively new or unseasoned companies in their early stages of development, or smaller companies positioned in new or emerging industries where there is an opportunity for rapid growth. The emphasis on portfolio risk diversification is an important contributor to the ability to effectively manage risk, as a desired goal is to have a portfolio of securities that tend not to react in high correlation to one another under any economic or market condition. This emphasis is intended to result in a higher degree of diversification, reduced portfolio volatility, and a smoother more consistent pattern of portfolio returns over the long term. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO considers quality of management and superior financial characteristics (for example, return on assets, return on equity, operating margin) in its search for companies, thereby focusing on higher-quality companies. WRIMCO seeks companies that it believes exhibit defensible market positions by having one or more of the following characteristics: a company that is a strong niche player, that features the involvement of the founder, that demonstrates a strong commitment to shareholders, or that focuses on organic growth. WRIMCO believes that such companies generally have a replicable business model that allows for sustained growth. The focus on holding an investment is intermediate to long-term. WRIMCO considers selling a holding if its analysis reveals evidence of a meaningful deterioration in operating trends, it anticipates a decrease in the company’s ability to grow and gain market shares and/or the company’s founder departs.

Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the small cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. From time to time, the Portfolio also will invest a lesser portion of its assets in securities of mid and large cap companies (that is, companies with market capitalizations larger than that defined above) that, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being fundamentally changed or revitalized, have a position that is considered strong relative to the market as a whole or otherwise offer unusual opportunities for above-average growth.

In addition to common stocks, the Portfolio may invest in securities convertible into common stocks, in preferred stocks and debt securities, that are mostly of investment grade.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities may present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs to gain industry exposure not otherwise available through direct investments in small cap securities. The Portfolio may also invest in derivatives, primarily futures contracts and options, for the purpose of seeking to hedge its exposure, as well as total return swaps to gain exposure, to certain market sectors that it cannot efficiently obtain through the purchase of individual equity securities or ETFs.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. The Portfolio also may invest in more established companies, such as those with longer operating histories than many small cap companies. As well, it may increase the number of issuers in which it invests and thereby limit the Portfolio’s position size in any particular security. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Holdings Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital appreciation by investing primarily in various types of equity securities of small cap U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign companies that WRIMCO believes are value-oriented. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

Small cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations below $3.5 billion. WRIMCO considers a company’s capitalization at the time the Portfolio acquires the company’s securities. Equity securities of a company whose capitalization exceeds the small cap range after purchase will not be sold solely because of the company’s increased capitalization. From time to time, the Portfolio also may invest a lesser portion of its assets in securities of mid and large cap companies (that is, companies with market capitalizations larger than that defined above), as well as securities of growth-oriented companies.

In selecting value stocks and other equity securities, WRIMCO makes an assessment of the current state of the economy, examines various industry sectors, and analyzes individual companies in the small cap universe. WRIMCO primarily focuses on equity securities it believes are undervalued or trading below their true worth, but that appear likely to come back into favor with investors. Undervalued securities are securities that WRIMCO believes: (a) are undervalued relative to other securities in the market or currently earn low returns with a potential for higher returns, (b) are undervalued relative to the potential for improved operating performance and financial strength, or (c) are issued by companies that have recently undergone a change in management or control or corporate restructuring, or developed new products or services that may improve their business prospects or competitive position or corporate visibility. In assessing relative value, WRIMCO considers factors such as a company’s ratio of market price to earnings, ratio of enterprise value to operating cash flow, ratio of market price to book value, ratio of market price to cash flow, estimated earnings growth rate, cash flow, yield, liquidation value, quality of management and competitive market position. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio may also invest in equity securities of companies that WRIMCO believes show potential for sustainable earnings growth above the average market growth rate.

The Portfolio may invest in shares of business development companies (BDCs) subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). BDCs are a type of closed-end investment company regulated by the 1940 Act and typically invest in, and lend to, small and medium-sized private companies that may not have access to public equity markets for capital raising. BDCs must invest at least 70% of the value of their total assets in certain asset types, which typically are the securities of private U.S. businesses, and must make available significant managerial assistance to the issuers of such securities.

The Portfolio may invest in publicly traded partnerships (often referred to as master limited partnerships (MLPs)). An MLP is an investment that combines the tax benefits of a partnership with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stocks including, among others, risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, cash flow risks, dilution risks, and others.

The Portfolio primarily invests in common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks and other securities convertible into equity securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Investing in foreign securities may present additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country.

Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

 

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The Portfolio may also invest in derivative instruments in seeking to hedge market risk on equity securities, or to gain exposure to, or facilitate trading in, certain securities or market sectors; it may also utilize derivatives to generate additional income from written option premiums.

In an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Portfolio may invest for temporary defensive purposes in various short-term cash and cash equivalent items. Other defensive tactics that may be used by WRIMCO include holding smaller position sizes in individual holdings and/or being more broadly diversified across sectors and industries. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Catalyst Risk

n Company Risk

n Holdings Risk

n Initial Public Offering Risk

n Liquidity Risk

  

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Business Development Company Securities Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Growth Stock Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Value: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital appreciation by primarily investing, for the long term, in the common stocks, and to a lesser extent, preferred stock, of large cap U.S. and, to a lesser extent, foreign companies that WRIMCO believes are undervalued. Large cap companies typically are companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. The Portfolio seeks to invest in stocks that are, in the opinion of WRIMCO, undervalued relative to the true value of the company, and/or are out of favor in the financial markets but have a favorable outlook for capital appreciation. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

To identify securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO primarily utilizes fundamental bottom-up research while considering a top-down (assess the market environment) and quantitative analysis. In general, in selecting securities for the Portfolio, WRIMCO evaluates market risk, interest rate trends and the economic climate. It then considers numerous factors in its analysis of individual issuers and their stocks, which may include: intrinsic value of the company not reflected in the stock price, historical earnings growth, future expected earnings growth, company’s position in its industry, industry conditions, competitive strategy, management capabilities, free cash flow potential, and internal or external catalysts for change.

The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities; however, it does not intend to invest more than 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in publicly traded partnerships (often referred to as MLPs). An MLP is an investment that combines the tax benefits of a partnership with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stocks including, among others, risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, cash flow risks, dilution risks, and others.

The Portfolio also may invest in derivative instruments in seeking to hedge market risk on equity securities, to generate additional income from written option premiums, or to gain exposure to, or facilitate trading in, certain securities.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities, including commercial paper and short-term U.S. government securities, and/or preferred stocks. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Value is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Catalyst Risk

n Company Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Holdings Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Value may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities principally traded largely in developed European and Asian/Pacific Basin markets and primarily issued by what WRIMCO believes to be reasonably valued companies with strong cash flows and exposure to global investment themes. WRIMCO also may employ a growth approach by seeking companies whose earnings it believes will grow faster than the economy. Although the Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, it typically has more exposure to securities issued by large cap companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio invests in a variety of economic sectors and industry segments to seek to reduce the effects of price volatility in any one area. WRIMCO seeks to identify an investment theme, then determine the most appropriate sectors and geographies to benefit from that theme and finally to find reasonably valued companies with improving returns on capital, good growth prospects, strong balance sheet and solid cash generation. WRIMCO combines a top-down, macro thematic approach with a bottom-up stock selection process, and uses a combination of country analysis (economic growth, money flows, business cycle, interest rates, political climate, and currencies), industry dynamics (growth opportunities, competitive dynamics, cyclical sensitivity, and economic returns), and individual stock selection (strong cash flow, strengthening fundamentals, solid or improving competitive advantage, higher expected returns, value relative to peers, and improving growth prospects) in composing the portfolio. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques in seeking to hedge or manage various market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed-income market movements). The Portfolio may also use derivatives to increase or decrease exposure to specific sectors, countries and/or currencies.

The Portfolio may from time to time take a temporary defensive position, and invest without limit in government securities, investment-grade debt securities, and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market securities. However by taking a temporary defensive position the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

  

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

 

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Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of growth-oriented foreign issuers. Growth securities are those whose earnings, WRIMCO believes, are likely to have strong growth over several years. WRIMCO seeks profitable companies with a competitive advantage in their industry as well as the ability to sustain their growth rates. It considers factors such as a company’s intellectual property, brand, scale, distribution, margins and return on capital and seeks to identify and capitalize upon key trends such as high-growth end markets, supply and demand imbalances, new product adoption and industry consolidation. Although the Portfolio primarily invests in securities issued by large cap companies, it may invest in securities issued by companies of any size and in any geographic area and within various sectors. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio may have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques in seeking to hedge various market risks (such as interest rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed income market movements) as well as to manage its exposure (increase or decrease) to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also use derivatives to speculate on a particular security or sector and/or to gain exposure to the same. The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market, which may include exposure to precious metals and other commodities.

The Portfolio may from time to time take a temporary defensive position, and may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities, investment-grade debt securities and cash and cash equivalents such as commercial paper, short-term notes and other money market securities; it may avoid investment in volatile emerging markets and increase investments in more stable, developed countries and industries; and it also may invest all of its assets in U.S. securities. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Growth is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

  

n Growth Stock Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP International Growth may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Interest Rate Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds, and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may also utilize derivative instruments in seeking its objective. The Portfolio may invest its assets in almost any market that WRIMCO believes can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, that can provide a high degree of safety in uncertain times. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

Generally, the mix of assets in the Portfolio will change from time to time depending on WRIMCO’s assessment of the market for each investment type. Allocating assets among different types of investments allows the Portfolio to take advantage of opportunities wherever they may occur, but also subjects the Portfolio to the risks of a given investment type. Stock values generally fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. The values of bonds and short-term instruments generally fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and due to the credit quality of the issuer.

 

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Subject to diversification limits, WRIMCO may invest up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in precious metals. Investments in physical commodities, including precious metals, may experience severe price fluctuations over short periods of time; as well, storage and trading costs may exceed the custodial and/or brokerage costs associated with other investments.

WRIMCO regularly reviews the global economic environment to determine asset allocation and security selection, and makes changes to favor investments that it believes provide the best opportunity to achieve the Portfolio’s objective. In developing global themes, WRIMCO evaluates a number of global trends that may include political, social, cultural, demographic, current and historical trends, among others. Although WRIMCO uses its expertise and resources in choosing investments and in allocating assets, WRIMCO’s decisions may not always be beneficial to the Portfolio, and there is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

WRIMCO tries to balance the Portfolio’s investment risks against potentially higher total returns by reducing the stock allocation during stock market down cycles and typically increasing the stock allocation during periods of strongly positive market performance. Generally, WRIMCO makes asset shifts gradually over time. WRIMCO considers various factors when it decides to sell a security, such as an individual security’s performance and/or if it is an appropriate time to vary the Portfolio’s mix.

The Portfolio may purchase shares of another investment company subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). The Portfolio also may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while also maintaining liquidity, or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. The Portfolio may invest in private placements and other restricted securities.

WRIMCO may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various companies, sectors or markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As described above, the Portfolio has the flexibility to invest up to all of its assets in money market and other short-term investments, although it does not typically invest a substantial portion of its assets in these investments under normal market conditions. WRIMCO will typically increase the Portfolio’s investment in high-quality, short-term investments in order to increase the defensive positioning of the Portfolio and/or to enable the Portfolio to participate in opportunities as they present themselves.

Although WRIMCO may seek to preserve appreciation in the Portfolio by taking a temporary defensive position, doing so may prevent the Portfolio from achieving its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Company Risk

n Credit Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

  

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Large Company Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

  

n Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

n Reinvestment Risk

n Small Company Risk

n Value Stock Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income by investing primarily in a diversified mix of stocks, debt securities and short-term instruments, depending on market conditions. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

 

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The Portfolio owns common stocks in order to provide possible appreciation of capital and some dividend income, and it invests a portion of its total assets in either debt securities or preferred stocks, or both, in order to provide income and relative stability of capital. The Portfolio also may invest in convertible securities. The Portfolio ordinarily invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed income securities, including preferred debt securities. The Portfolio ordinarily will not invest more than 75% of its total assets in equity securities, although it may invest up to all of its assets in equity securities if, in WRIMCO’s judgment, this is advisable due to unusual market or economic conditions.

In its equity investments, the Portfolio invests primarily in medium to large, well-established companies that typically issue dividend-paying securities. The majority of the Portfolio’s debt holdings are either U.S. government securities or investment-grade corporate bonds, including bonds rated BBB- or higher by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade debt securities, which may include secured bank loans or floating rate notes. The Portfolio has no limitations on the range of maturities of debt securities in which it may invest nor on the size of companies in which it may invest.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. An investment in foreign securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many U.S. companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may invest in ETFs for the purpose of more quickly gaining exposure to a particular segment of the market.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in debt securities that may be considered equivalent to owning cash because of their safety and liquidity. By taking a temporary defensive position, however, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Balanced is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Credit Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Growth Stock Risk

n Interest Rate Risk

n Large Company Risk

  

n Loan Participation Risk

n Low-rated Securities Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Reinvestment Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Balanced may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

  

n Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide capital growth and appreciation by investing at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of companies of any size throughout the world that own, explore or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or that supply goods and services to such companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

Mackenzie systematically reviews its investment decisions and may allow cash reserves to build up when valuations seem unattractive. Mackenzie attempts to minimize risk through diversifying the Portfolio’s holdings by commodity, country, issuer, and market capitalization of companies; however, such diversification may not necessarily reduce Portfolio volatility. Mackenzie searches for what it feels are well-managed companies with strong balance sheets and the technological capability and expertise to grow independently of commodity prices. In addition, Mackenzie seeks to anchor the Portfolio’s holdings with established larger companies that have historically strong-producing assets and attractive long-term reinvestment opportunities. From a macro perspective, Mackenzie monitors demand expectations for various commodities and utilizes this information to adjust the level of sector exposure and individual security holdings in the Portfolio.

During normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 65% of its total assets in issuers of at least three countries, which may include the U.S. The Portfolio also may invest in precious metals and other physical commodities. An investment in foreign

 

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securities presents additional risks such as currency fluctuations and political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to foreign markets through investments in these companies.

The Portfolio may also invest in ETFs or options on ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index.

Mackenzie may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on various securities, increase exposure to various markets, manage exposure to various foreign currencies, precious metals and various markets and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio.

As a temporary defensive measure, when Mackenzie believes that securities markets or economic conditions are unfavorable or unsettled, the Portfolio may try to protect its assets by investing up to 100% of its total assets in securities that are highly liquid, including high-quality money market instruments, such as short-term U.S. government securities, commercial paper, or repurchase agreements, even though that is not the normal investment strategy of the Portfolio. Even though the securities purchased for defensive purposes often are considered the equivalent of cash, and typically are highly liquid or comparatively safe, they tend to offer lower returns. Therefore, the Portfolio’s performance could be comparatively lower if it concentrates its assets in defensive holdings. The additional temporary defensive measures that Mackenzie may employ include altering the mix of company and sector holdings or using derivative strategies. By taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n Company Risk

n Derivatives Risk

n Emerging Market Risk

n Foreign Currency Risk

n Foreign Market Risk

n Foreign Securities Risk

n Global Natural Resources Industry Risk

  

n Growth Stock Risk

n Investment Company Securities Risk

n Liquidity Risk

n Management Risk

n Market Risk

n Sector Risk

n Value Stock Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n Commodities Risk

n Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk

  

n Large Company Risk

n Mid Size Company Risk

n Small Company Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective to provide growth of capital by investing primarily in the equity securities of science and technology companies around the globe. Science and technology companies are companies whose products, processes or services, in WRIMCO’s opinion, are being, or are expected to be, significantly benefited by the use or commercial application of scientific or technological developments or discoveries. As well, the Portfolio may invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets. The Portfolio may invest in any geographic area. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to additional foreign markets through investments in these companies. There is no guarantee, however, that the Portfolio will achieve its objective.

In its selection of securities for investment by the Portfolio, WRIMCO aims to identify companies that it believes to be benefiting from the world’s strongest secular economic trends, and then applies its largely bottom-up research to identify what it believes are the best holdings for the Portfolio.

 

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The Portfolio may invest in, but is not limited to, areas such as:

Science:

 

n  pharmaceuticals

n  medical technology equipment

n  biotechnology

  

n  genomics

n  proteomics

n  healthcare services

Technology:

 

n  semiconductors

n  computer hardware

n  computer services

n  software

n  networking

n  telecommunication services

  

n  defense electronics

n  entertainment

n  content media

n  data processing

n  internet

The Portfolio primarily owns common stocks; however, it may invest, to a lesser extent, in preferred stocks, debt securities and convertible securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade fixed income securities, which are securities rated BB+ or lower by S&P or comparably rated by another NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by WRIMCO to be of comparable quality, which may include convertible securities.

The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use a range of derivative investment techniques, typically options on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio and on equity indices, in seeking to hedge various market risks and/or individual security risk as well as to enhance return. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs as a means to invest cash effectively.

When WRIMCO believes that a temporary defensive position is desirable, the Portfolio may invest up to all of its assets in U.S. government securities or other debt securities, mostly of investment grade. However, by taking a temporary defensive position, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. The Portfolio may also hedge its foreign currency exposure, when applicable.

Principal Risks. An investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology is subject to various risks, including the following:

 

n  Company Risk

n  Concentration Risk

n  Emerging Market Risk

n  Foreign Market Risk

n  Foreign Securities Risk

n  Growth Stock Risk

n  Holdings Risk

  

n  Large Company Risk

n  Liquidity Risk

n  Management Risk

n  Market Risk

n  Mid Size Company Risk

n  Science and Technology Industry Risk

n  Small Company Risk

Non-Principal Risks. In addition to the Principal Risks identified above, an investment in Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology may be subject to other, non-principal risks, including the following:

 

n  Derivatives Risk

n  Foreign Currency Risk

n  Initial Public Offering Risk

  

n  Investment Company Securities Risk

n  Low-rated Securities Risk

A description of these risks is set forth in Defining Risks below. Additional risk information, as well as additional information on securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio may invest, is provided in the SAI.

Additional Investment Considerations

The objective(s) and investment policies of each Portfolio may be changed by the Board of Trustees (Board) without a vote of the Portfolio’s shareholders, unless a policy or restriction is otherwise described as a fundamental policy in the SAI.

Because each Portfolio owns different types of investments, its performance will be affected by a variety of factors. The value of each Portfolio’s investments and the income it generates will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest rates, market, conditions, and other company and economic news. Performance will also depend on the skill of WRIMCO or the investment subadvisor, as applicable (the Investment Manager), in selecting investments. As with any mutual fund, you could lose money on your investment.

 

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Each Portfolio also may invest in and use certain other types of securities and instruments in seeking to achieve its objective(s). For example, each Portfolio may invest in options, futures contracts and other derivative instruments if it is permitted to invest in the type of asset by which the return on, or value of, the derivative is measured. Certain types of each Portfolio’s authorized investments and strategies, such as derivative instruments, foreign securities, junk bonds and precious metals, involve special risks. Depending on how much a Portfolio invests or uses these strategies, these special risks may become significant.

Certain types of mortgage-backed securities may experience significant valuation uncertainties, greater volatility, and significantly less liquidity due to the sharp rise of foreclosures on home loans secured by subprime mortgages in recent years. Subprime mortgages have a higher credit risk than prime mortgages, as the credit criteria for obtaining a subprime mortgage is more flexible than that used with prime borrowers. To the extent that a Portfolio invests in securities that are backed by pools of mortgage loans, the risk to the Portfolio may be significant. Other asset-backed securities also may experience significant valuation uncertainties, increased volatility, and significantly reduced liquidity. Each Portfolio may actively trade securities in seeking to achieve its objective(s). Factors that can lead to active trading include market volatility, a significant positive or negative development concerning a security and the need to sell a security to meet redemption activity. Actively trading securities may increase transaction costs (which may reduce performance) and increase distributions paid by a Portfolio.

Each of the Portfolios generally seeks to be fully invested, except to the extent that it takes a temporary defensive position. In addition, at times, the Investment Manager may invest a portion of the Portfolio’s assets in cash or cash equivalents if the Investment Manager is unable to identify and acquire a sufficient number of securities that meet the Investment Manager’s selection criteria for implementing the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), strategies and policies.

You will find more information in the SAI about each Portfolio’s permitted investments and strategies, as well as the restrictions that apply to them.

A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ securities holdings is available in the SAI.

Portfolio holdings can be found at www.waddell.com. Alternatively, a complete schedule of portfolio holdings of each Portfolio for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the Trust’s Form N-Q. These holdings may be viewed in the following ways:

 

n  

On the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

n  

For review and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.551.8090.

Defining Risks

Business Development Company Securities Risk — Because BDCs typically invest in small and medium-sized companies, a BDC’s portfolio is subject to the risks inherent in investing in smaller companies, including that portfolio companies may be dependent on a small number of products or services and may be more adversely affected by poor economic or market conditions. Some BDCs invest substantially, or even exclusively, in one sector or industry group. Accordingly, the BDC may be susceptible to adverse conditions and economic or regulatory occurrences affecting the sector or industry group, which tends to increase volatility and result in higher risk. Investments in BDCs also are subject to management risk, including the ability of the BDC’s management to meet the BDC’s investment objective, and the ability of the BDC’s management to manage the BDC’s portfolio when the underlying securities are redeemed or sold, during periods of market turmoil and as investors’ perceptions regarding a BDC or its underlying investments change. BDC shares are not redeemable at the option of the BDC shareholder and, as with shares of other closed-end funds, they may trade in the secondary market at a discount to their net asset value.

Like an investment in other investment companies, a Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other expenses charged by the BDCs in which it invests.

Catalyst Risk — Investing in companies in anticipation of a catalyst carries the risk that certain of such catalysts may not happen or the market may react differently than expected to such catalysts, in which case a Portfolio may experience losses.

Commodities Risk — Commodity trading is generally considered speculative because of the significant potential for investment loss. Among the factors that could affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in commodities are cyclical economic conditions, sudden political events and adverse international monetary policies. Markets for commodities are likely to be volatile and there may

 

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be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. Also, a Portfolio may pay more to store and accurately value its commodity holdings than it does with its other portfolio investments. Moreover, under the federal tax law, a Portfolio may not earn more than 10% of its annual gross income from gains resulting from selling commodities (and other non-qualifying income). Accordingly, a Portfolio may be required to hold its commodities or to sell them at a loss, or to sell portfolio securities at a gain, when for investment reasons it would not otherwise do so.

Company Risk — An individual company may perform differently than the overall market. This may be a result of specific factors such as changes in corporate profitability due to the success or failure of specific products or management strategies, or it may be due to changes in investor perceptions regarding a company.

Concentration Risk — If a Portfolio invests more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry, the Portfolio’s performance may be more susceptible to a single economic, regulatory or technological occurrence than a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single industry. Securities of companies within specific industries or sectors of the economy may periodically perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector or company.

Credit Risk — An issuer of a debt security (including a mortgage-backed security) or a real estate investment trust (REIT) that is the issuer of a security in which the Portfolio invests may not make payments on the security when due, or the other party to a contract may default on its obligation. There is also the risk that an issuer could suffer adverse changes in its financial condition that could lower the credit quality of a security. This could lead to greater volatility in the price of the security and, therefore, in the NAV of a Portfolio. Also, a change in the quality rating of a debt security or a REIT security can affect the security’s liquidity and make it more difficult to sell. If a Portfolio purchases unrated securities and obligations, it will depend on the Investment Manager’s analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.

Derivatives Risk — A derivative is a financial instrument whose value or return is “derived,” in some manner, from the price of another security, index, asset, rate or event. Derivatives are traded either on an organized exchange or OTC. OTC derivatives include options, forwards, swaps and instruments which call for an exchange of payments based on a wide range of other securities or other assets or conditions. Exchanged-traded and centrally cleared derivatives include futures and options. Futures, options and swaps are common types of derivatives that a Portfolio may occasionally use. An option is the right to buy and sell a security or other instrument, index, or commodity at a specific price on or before a specific date. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other instrument, index or commodity at a specific price on a specific date. A swap is an agreement involving the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified amount. Other types of derivatives include caps, floors and collars.

The use of derivatives presents several risks, including the risk that these instruments may be regulated and in a manner which adversely affects the value of the Portfolio’s investments and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the derivatives may not correlate with securities markets or the underlying asset from which the derivative’s value is derived. Moreover, some derivatives are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others. To the extent the judgment of the Investment Manager as to certain movements is incorrect, the risk of loss is greater than if the derivative technique(s) had not been used. Derivatives also may be subject to counterparty risk, which includes the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of, or other non-compliance by, another party to the transaction. Certain derivatives can create leverage, which may amplify or otherwise increase a Portfolio’s investment loss, possibly in an amount that could exceed the cost of that instrument or, under certain circumstances, that could be unlimited.

A Portfolio may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may either sell or buy credit protection under these contracts. Swap instruments may shift a Portfolio’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Swap agreements may also have a leverage component and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of swap agreements entails certain risks that may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Derivatives may be subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained by a Portfolio as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the transaction or the failure of the other party to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the transaction. Changing conditions in a particular market area, such as those experienced in

 

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the subprime and non-agency mortgage market over recent months, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the transaction, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty.

Certain derivatives transactions, including OTC options, swaps, and forward contracts, certain options on foreign currencies and other OTC derivatives, are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC. Instead, such OTC derivatives are entered into directly with the counterparty and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transactions can only be entered into with a willing counterparty. Where no such counterparty is available for a desired transaction, a Portfolio will be unable to enter into the transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case a Portfolio may be required to hold such instruments until exercise, expiration or maturity. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and, as a result, a Portfolio would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally an exchange or clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately negotiated instruments, there is no similar exchange or clearinghouse guarantee. In all such transactions, the Portfolio bears the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Portfolio. A Portfolio will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that the Investment Manager reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract. The Investment Manager may seek to manage counterparty risk in an OTC derivative transaction by entering into bilateral collateral documentation, such as a Credit Support Annex and an accompanying Account Control Agreement, where it is market practice to do so for the particular type of derivative; however, there is no guarantee that such documentation will have the intended effect.

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) resulted in historic and comprehensive statutory reform of derivatives, including the manner in which they are designed, negotiated, reported, executed or settled (or “cleared”) and regulated.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the CFTC to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. Whereas all futures will continue to be regulated by the CFTC, all swaps and security-based swaps are subject to the SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively. Specifically, the SEC and CFTC are required to mandate by regulation under certain circumstances that certain derivatives, previously traded OTC, be executed in a regulated, transparent market and settled by means of a central clearing house. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC or the SEC, in consultation with banking regulators, to establish capital requirements as well as requirements for margin on uncleared derivatives in certain circumstances that will be clarified by rules that the CFTC or SEC will promulgate in the future. All derivatives are to be reported. In addition, the CFTC and the SEC are reviewing the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements.

The extent and impact of the new regulations are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into derivatives transactions, require more assets of a Portfolio to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case or restrict the ability of a Portfolio to enter into certain types of derivative transactions, or could limit a Portfolio’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Emerging Market Risk — Investments in countries with emerging economies or securities markets may carry greater risk than investments in more developed countries. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of those countries may have failed in the past to recognize private property rights and have nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of a Portfolio’s investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in such countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Portfolio’s investments in such countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in more developed countries, and the Portfolio may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making certain investments in those countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain countries, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

 

 

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Foreign Currency Risk — Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of a Portfolio’s investments, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be unfavorably affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk — A Portfolio may, but is not required to, use foreign currency exchange transactions and forward foreign currency contracts to hedge certain market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and broad or specific market movement). These investment techniques involve a number of risks, including the possibility of default by the counterparty to the transaction and, to the extent the Investment Manager’s judgment as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk of losses that are greater than if the investment technique had not been used. For example, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Portfolio’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the forward contracts entered into by the Portfolio. An imperfect correlation of this type may prevent the Portfolios from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Portfolio to the risk of currency exchange loss. These investment techniques also tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged position.

Foreign Market Risk — The securities of many companies may have significant exposure to foreign markets as a result of the company’s products or services in foreign markets so that its domicile and/or the markets in which its securities trade may not be reflective of its sources of revenue. Such securities would be subject to some of the same risks as an investment in foreign securities, including the risk that political and economic events unique to a country or region will adversely affect those markets in which the company’s products or services are sold.

Foreign Securities Risk — Investing in foreign securities involves a number of economic, financial and political considerations that are not associated with the U.S. markets and that could affect a Portfolio’s performance unfavorably, depending upon prevailing conditions at any given time. For example, the securities markets of many foreign countries may be smaller, less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than those in the United States. Foreign investing also may involve brokerage costs and tax considerations that are not usually present in the U.S. markets.

Other factors that can affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign investments include the comparatively weak supervision and regulation by some foreign governments of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers, and the fact that many foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. It also may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Settlement of portfolio transactions also may be delayed due to local restrictions or communication problems, which can cause a Portfolio to miss attractive investment opportunities or impair its ability to dispose of securities in a timely fashion (resulting in a loss if the value of the securities subsequently declines).

To the extent that a Portfolio invests in sovereign debt instruments, the Portfolio is subject to the risk that a government or agency issuing the debt may be unable to pay interest and/or repay principal due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves or political concerns. In such instance, the Portfolio may have limited recourse against the issuing government or agency. Financial markets have recently experienced, and may continue to experience, increased volatility due to the uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of certain European countries.

Global Natural Resources Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in global natural resources securities, in addition to other risks, include price fluctuation caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters.

Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks. Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

Holdings Risk — If a Portfolio tends to be invested in a small number of stocks, or if a Portfolio’s manager(s) tends to invest a significant portion of a Portfolio’s total assets in a limited number of stocks, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Portfolio will have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s NAV than it would if the Portfolio invested in a larger number of securities or if the Portfolio’s manager(s) invested a greater portion of the Portfolio’s total assets in a larger number of stocks. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also may increase the Portfolio’s volatility.

Initial Public Offering Risk — Investments in IPOs can have a significant positive impact on a Portfolio’s performance; however, the positive effect of investments in IPOs may not be sustainable because of a number of factors. A Portfolio may not be able to buy shares in some IPOs, or may be able to buy only a small number of shares. Also, a Portfolio may not be able to buy the shares at the

 

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commencement of the offering, and the general availability and performance of IPOs are dependent on market psychology and economic conditions. The relative performance impact of IPOs is also likely to decline as a Portfolio grows.

Interest Rate Risk — The value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) may decline due to changes in market interest rates. Generally, when interest rates rise, the value of such a security or obligation decreases. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of a debt security, mortgage-backed security or fixed income obligation (including shares of mortgage REITs) generally increases. Long-term debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and fixed income obligations are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes. A Portfolio may experience a decline in its income due to falling interest rates.

In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations experiences a decrease in principal value with an increase in interest rates. The extent of the decrease in principal value may be affected by a Portfolio’s duration of its portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities and other fixed-income obligations. Duration measures the relative price sensitivity of a security to changes in interest rates. “Effective” duration takes into consideration the likelihood that a security will be called, or prepaid, prior to maturity given current market interest rates. Typically, a security with a longer duration is more price sensitive than a security with a shorter duration. In general, a portfolio of debt, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities experiences a percentage decrease in principal value equal to its effective duration for each 1% increase in interest rates. For example, if a Portfolio holds a portfolio of securities with an effective duration of five years and interest rates rise 1%, the principal value of such securities could be expected to decrease by approximately 5%.

Investment Company Securities Risk — As a shareholder in an investment company, a Portfolio would bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s expenses, which could result in duplication of certain fees, including management and administrative fees.

Certain Portfolios may invest in ETFs as a means of tracking the performance of a designated stock index while maintaining liquidity or to gain exposure to precious metals and other commodities without purchasing them directly. Since many ETFs are a type of investment company, a Portfolio’s purchases of shares of such ETFs are subject to the Portfolio’s investment restrictions regarding investments in other investment companies.

ETFs have a market price that reflects a specified fraction of the value of the designated index or underlying basket of commodities or commodities futures and are exchange-traded. As with other equity securities transactions, brokers charge a commission in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. In addition, an asset management fee is charged in connection with the management of the ETF’s portfolio (which is in addition to the investment management fee paid by a Portfolio).

Investments in an ETF generally present the same primary risks as investments in conventional funds, which are not exchange-traded. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange officials determine such action to be appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Large Company Risk — Large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity Risk — Generally, a security is liquid if a Portfolio is able to sell the security at a fair price within a reasonable time. Liquidity is generally related to the market trading volume for a particular security. Investments in smaller companies, foreign companies, companies in emerging markets or certain instruments such as derivatives are subject to a variety of risks, including potential lack of liquidity.

Loan Participation Risk — In addition to the risks typically associated with fixed-income securities, loan participations carry other risks, including the risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary. In the event the borrower defaults, a Portfolio’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. With loan participations, a Portfolio may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the lender would have under the loan and likely would not have any rights against the borrower directly, so that delays and expense may be greater than those that would be involved if a Portfolio could enforce its rights directly against the borrower. There is a risk that the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline after a Portfolio invests and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed to the Portfolio. If the loan participation is

 

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unsecured, there is no specific collateral on which a Portfolio can foreclose. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, a Portfolio may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral, including the risk that collateral may be difficult to sell.

Loan participations may be subject to restrictions on resale and sometimes trade infrequently on the secondary market. As a result, valuing a loan participation can be more difficult, and buying and selling a loan participation at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed, than other investments. Difficulty in selling a loan participation can result in a loss. Loans made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Loan participations may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Portfolio, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

Low-rated Securities Risk — In general, low-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) offer higher yields due to the increased risk that the issuer will be unable to meet its obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the debt instrument. For this reason, these securities are considered speculative and could significantly weaken a Portfolio’s returns. In adverse economic or other circumstances, issuers of these low-rated securities and obligations are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities and obligations.

Management Risk — The Investment Manager applies a Portfolio’s investment strategies and selects securities for the Portfolio in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective(s). Securities selected by the Portfolio may not perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment objectives that are similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio. In general, investment decisions made by the Investment Manager may not produce the anticipated returns, may cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or may cause the Portfolio to perform less favorably than other mutual funds with investment objectives similar to the investment objective(s) of the Portfolio.

Market Risk — All securities may be subject to adverse trends in equity markets. Securities are subject to price movements due to changes in general economic conditions, the level of prevailing interest rates or investor perceptions of the market. In addition, prices are affected by the outlook for overall corporate profitability. Market prices of equity securities are generally more volatile than debt securities. This may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer or the market as a whole. As a result, a portfolio of such securities may underperform the market as a whole. In addition, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on securities held by the Portfolio.

The financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, has resulted and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the NAVs of many mutual funds, including to some extent the Portfolios. Liquidity in some markets has decreased; credit has become scarcer worldwide; and the values of some sovereign debt and of securities of issuers that hold that sovereign debt have fallen. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which may adversely affect securities held by a Portfolio. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Withdrawal of this support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The impact or duration of these conditions in the financial markets may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities.

Mid Size Company Risk — Securities of mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large companies due to such companies’ limited product lines, limited markets and financial resources and dependence upon a relatively small management group.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to reinvestment risk. When interest rates decline, unscheduled payments can be expected to accelerate, and a Portfolio may be required to reinvest the proceeds of the payments at the lower interest rates then available. Unscheduled payments would also limit the potential for capital appreciation on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the values of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities generally fall. Since rising interest rates typically result in decreased prepayments, this could lengthen the average lives of such securities, and cause their value to decline more than traditional fixed-income securities. If a Portfolio purchases mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool, the

 

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Portfolio, as a holder of those securities, may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. For example, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Portfolio as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities, or in some cases rendering them worthless; the risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include so-called “subprime” mortgages.

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk — Restricted securities, which include private placements, are securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, and there can be no assurance of a ready market for resale. A Portfolio could find it difficult to sell privately placed securities and other restricted securities when the Investment Manager believes it is desirable to do so, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, and the prices realized could be less than those originally paid or less than the fair market value. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the net asset value of a Portfolio.

Reinvestment Risk — Income from a Portfolio’s debt securities may decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded, prepaid or called securities in securities with interest rates lower than the current earnings rate of the Portfolio’s holdings. For example, debt securities with high relative interest rates may be paid by the issuer prior to maturity, particularly during periods of falling interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, there is the possibility that an issuer will call its securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new securities with a lower interest rate (commonly referred to as optional call risk). As well, falling interest rates could cause prepayments of mortgage loans to occur more quickly than expected. This may occur because, as interest rates fall, more property owners refinance the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities (including shares of mortgage REITs). As a result, a Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in other securities with generally lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Portfolio’s investment income.

Science and Technology Industry Risk — Investment risks associated with investing in science and technology securities, in addition to other risks, include a company’s operating in rapidly changing fields, abrupt or erratic market movements, limited product lines, markets or financial resources, management that is dependent on a limited number of people, short product cycles, and aggressive pricing of products and services, as well as new market entrants and obsolescence of existing technology.

Sector Risk — At times, a Portfolio may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Portfolio more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than portfolios that invest more broadly.

Small Company Risk — Securities of small capitalization companies are subject to greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity due to, among other things, such companies’ small size, limited product lines, limited access to financing sources and limited management depth. In addition, the frequency and volume of trading of such securities may be less than is typical of larger companies, making them subject to wider price fluctuations. In some cases, there could be difficulties in selling securities of small capitalization companies at the desired time.

Value Stock Risk — Value stocks are stocks of companies that may have experienced adverse business or industry developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the stocks to be out of favor and, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, undervalued. The value of a security believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued may never reach what is believed to be its full value, or such security’s value may decrease.

 

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The Management of the Portfolios

Portfolio Management

The Portfolios are managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Trust’s Board. WRIMCO provides investment advice to each of the Portfolios and supervises each Portfolio’s investments. WRIMCO and/or its predecessor have served as investment manager to the Portfolios since their inception and to each of the registered investment companies within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios since their inception. WRIMCO is located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217. WRIMCO had approximately $36.0 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Mackenzie Financial Corporation (Mackenzie), 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3K1, serves as the investment subadvisor to, and as such provides investment advice to, and generally conducts the investment management program for, Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources pursuant to an agreement with WRIMCO. Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm in Toronto, providing investment advisory and related services, with approximately $60.2 billion USD in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Wall Street Associates, LLC (WSA), located at La Jolla Financial Building, Suite 100, 1200 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California 92037, serves as the investment subadvisor to, and as such provides investment advice to, and generally conducts the investment management program for, Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth pursuant to an agreement with WRIMCO. WSA had approximately $1.2 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy: Michael L. Avery and Ryan F. Caldwell are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy. Mr. Avery has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 1997. He is Executive Vice President of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company (IICO), an affiliate of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Avery has served as President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR), since January 2010. He formerly served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of WDR from June 2005 until February 2011 and formerly served as CIO of WRIMCO and IICO from June 2005 until August 2010. Mr. Avery has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 1994, and has been an employee of such since June 1981. He held the position of Director of Equity Research for IICO and for WRIMCO and its predecessor from August 1987 through June 2005. Mr. Avery earned a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and an MBA with emphasis on finance from Saint Louis University.

Mr. Caldwell has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy since January 2007. His investment research responsibilities are concentrated in asset managers, brokers and transaction processors. Mr. Caldwell joined WRIMCO in July 2000 as an economic analyst. In January 2003 he was appointed an investment analyst, and in June 2005 was named assistant portfolio manager for the Portfolio, as well as two other funds managed by WRIMCO or IICO. Mr. Caldwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Caldwell earned a BBA in finance from Southwest Texas State University. He is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Daniel J. Vrabac, formerly a manager of the Portfolios along with Messrs. Avery and Caldwell, is now focusing on portfolio management responsibilities for the global bond funds with are managed by WRIMCO and IICO. While no longer responsible for day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Mr. Vrabac continues to provide input to Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy on the global fixed income markets, currencies and trading, which were among his principal responsibilities as a portfolio manager of Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy.

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced: Cynthia P. Prince-Fox is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Balanced. Ms. Prince-Fox has held her responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Balanced since the Portfolio’s inception in July 1994. She is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. As well, Ms. Prince-Fox served as Chief Investment Officer of Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc., a former affiliate of WRIMCO, from November 2004 to July 2009 and, previously, as Co-Chief Investment Officer for Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. from February 2002 to November 2004. She has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since January 1993. Ms. Prince-Fox earned a BBA degree in Finance from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas, and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from Rockhurst College.

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: Erik R. Becker and Gustaf C. Zinn are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity, and both have held their Portfolio responsibilities since July 2006. Mr. Becker joined WRIMCO in 1999 as

 

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an investment analyst and had served as an assistant portfolio manager for Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity since 2003. He has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006, in addition to his duties as a research analyst. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Becker earned a BBA degree in finance, investment and banking and an MS in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mr. Zinn has been an employee of WRIMCO since 1998 and had served as assistant portfolio manager for funds managed by IICO or WRIMCO since July 2003, in addition to his duties as a research analyst, and has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006. He is Senior Vice President of IICO and WRIMCO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He earned a BBA degree and a Masters of Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: Frederick Sturm, Executive Vice President of Mackenzie, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources. He has managed the Portfolio since its inception in April 2005. Mr. Sturm is also primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Global Natural Resources Fund, whose investment manager is IICO. Mr. Sturm joined Mackenzie in 1983. He holds a degree in commerce and finance from the University of Toronto. Mr. Sturm is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: Daniel P. Becker and Philip J. Sanders are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Growth. Mr. Becker has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Growth since June 2006. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Becker has been an employee of WRIMCO and its predecessor since October 1989, initially serving as an investment analyst, and has served as a portfolio manager for WRIMCO since January 1997. He earned a BS degree in Mathematical Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and holds an MS degree with an emphasis in Finance, Investments and Banking from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Business. Mr. Becker is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mr. Sanders has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Growth since August 1998. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective August 2010, Mr. Sanders was appointed CIO of WRIMCO and IICO and effective February 2011, he was appointed CIO of WDR. Mr. Sanders has been an employee of WRIMCO since August 1998. He earned a BA in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Mr. Sanders is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity: John C. Maxwell is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity and has held his Fund responsibilities since May 27, 2009, when WRIMCO assumed direct investment management responsibilities of the Fund’s portfolio from Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, the Fund’s former investment subadvisor. Mr. Maxwell is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. He joined WRIMCO in 1998 initially serving as an investment analyst and has served as assistant portfolio manager for funds managed by IICO and WRIMCO since July 2003 and has served as a portfolio manager since February 2006. In 2004, Mr. Maxwell began assisting the international group of IICO and WRIMCO as an investment analyst. Mr. Maxwell earned a BS degree from the University of Kentucky, and an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: Chace Brundige is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP International Growth. Mr. Brundige has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP International Growth since January 2009. In 2003, he joined WRIMCO as an assistant portfolio manager for the large cap growth equity team, and became a portfolio manager in February 2006. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Brundige holds a BS degree in finance from Kansas State University, and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Mr. Brundige is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth: The WSA Investment Team is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth. The WSA Investment Team consists of William Jeffery III, Kenneth F. McCain, Paul J. Ariano, Paul K. LeCoq and Luke A. Jacobson. Messrs. Jeffery and McCain are the Founding Principals of WSA and have held their responsibilities for the Portfolio since the inception of the predecessor fund in October 1997. They have worked together managing smaller capitalization growth equities for 33 years. Mr. Jeffery earned both a BA in Finance and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Mr. McCain earned a BA in Political Science and an MBA in Finance from the San Diego State University. Messrs. Ariano

 

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and LeCoq each assumed their management responsibilities for the Portfolio in January 2005. Mr. Ariano joined the firm in 1995 as an analyst and has been co-managing portfolios with Mr. Jeffery for the last several years. Mr. Ariano earned a BBA, Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and an MS in Finance from San Diego State University. Mr. Ariano is a CFA Charter holder. Mr. LeCoq joined the firm in 1999. He earned a BA in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. Mr. Jacobson assumed his management responsibilities for the Portfolio in January 2012. He joined the firm in 2004. Mr. Jacobson earned a BS in Finance from the University of Missouri and is a CFA Charter holder.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth: Kimberly A. Scott is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth. She has managed Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth since its inception in April 2005. Ms. Scott is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Ms. Scott has served as a portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 2001. She served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO from April 1999 to February 2001. Ms. Scott joined WRIMCO in April 1999. She earned a BS degree in microbiology from the University of Kansas, and holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Scott is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology: Zachary H. Shafran is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology. Mr. Shafran has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology since February 2001. He is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. Effective April 2010, Mr. Shafran was appointed the Global Director of Equity and Fixed Income Research for WRIMCO and IICO. Mr. Shafran has served as the portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO or IICO since January 1996. He served as an investment analyst with WRIMCO and its predecessor from June 1990 to January 1996. Mr. Shafran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: Kenneth G. McQuade is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth. Mr. McQuade has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth since March 2006. Mr. McQuade joined Waddell & Reed in 1997 as an investment analyst. He was an assistant portfolio manager of separately managed small cap accounts from August 2003 until March 2010. Mr. McQuade is Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO and Vice President of the Trust. He earned a BS degree in finance from Bradley University.

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value: Christopher J. Parker is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value. He has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value since September 2011. He is Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of another investment company for which IICO serves as investment manager. Mr. Parker joined WRIMCO in January 2008 as an investment analyst. He served as Assistant Vice President and assistant portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO and IICO from July 2010 until August 2011. He earned a BS degree in finance from Boston College and an MBA with concentrations in finance and management/strategy from Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Mr. Parker is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ivy Funds VIP Value: Matthew T. Norris is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Ivy Funds VIP Value. He has held his responsibilities for Ivy Funds VIP Value since July 2003. Mr. Norris is Senior Vice President of WRIMCO and IICO, Vice President of the Trust, and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as investment manager. From June 2005 until April 2010, he served as Director of Equity Research for WRIMCO and IICO. From January 2000 to June 2003, Mr. Norris was a Portfolio Manager for Advantus Capital Management, Inc. He joined Advantus Capital in December 1997, first serving as an analyst and later as a senior analyst. He earned a BS degree from the University of Kansas, and an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Mr. Norris is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Additional information regarding the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities, is included in the SAI.

Other members of WRIMCO’s investment management department provide input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other considerations relating to the investments of the Portfolios.

Management and Other Fees

Like all mutual funds, the Portfolios pay fees related to their daily operations. Expenses paid out of each Portfolio’s assets are reflected in its share price or dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from shareholder accounts.

Each Portfolio pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice and supervising its investments. Each Portfolio also pays other expenses, which are explained in the SAI.

 

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The management fee is payable at the annual rates of:

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy, Ivy Funds VIP Balanced, Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity, Ivy Funds VIP Growth and Ivy Funds VIP Value: 0.70% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth, Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity, Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology, Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value: 0.85% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth: 0.95% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.93% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.90% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.86% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources: 1.00% of net assets up to $500 million, 0.85% of net assets over $500 million and up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Effective October 1, 2006, and at least through September 30, 2016, the investment management fee rates for certain Portfolios are reduced pursuant to a management fee waiver as follows:

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy and Ivy Funds VIP Value: 0.69% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity: 0.65% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Growth: 0.67% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.65% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.60% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.55% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth: 0.82% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology and Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth: 0.83% of net assets up to $1 billion, 0.83% of net assets over $1 billion and up to $2 billion, 0.80% of net assets over $2 billion and up to $3 billion, and 0.76% of net assets over $3 billion.

WRIMCO uses a portion of the management fees it receives from a Portfolio to pay that Portfolio’s investment subadvisor, as applicable.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, management fees (net of waivers) for each Portfolio as a percent of each such Portfolio’s average net assets are as follows:

 

     Net Management Fees Paid  

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

     0.68%   

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

     0.70%   

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

     0.65%   

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

     1.00%   

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

     0.67%   

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

     0.85%   

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

     0.82%   

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

     0.95%   

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

     0.83%   

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

     0.85%   

Ivy Funds VIP Value

     0.69%   

 

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A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of the renewal of the advisory contract of each of the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Trust has adopted a Service Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, each Portfolio may pay daily a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. (Waddell & Reed), an affiliate of WRIMCO and the Trust’s principal underwriter, in an amount not to exceed 0.25% of the Portfolio’s average annual net assets. The fee is to be paid to compensate Waddell & Reed and unaffiliated third parties for amounts expended in connection with the provision of personal services to Policyowners. These fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, and over time, these fees will increase the cost of the investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Waddell & Reed has voluntarily agreed to waive sufficient 12b-1 fees for Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth to cap the expenses for that Portfolio at 1.10%. Waddell & Reed may amend or terminate this voluntary waiver at any time without prior notice to shareholders.

In addition to commissions, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Nationwide) and Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) each pay Waddell & Reed compensation for providing administrative and marketing services. Nationwide pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a monthly basis in an amount equal to 0.244% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed prior to January 1, 2012, and 0.22% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for Nationwide products distributed by Waddell & Reed after January 1, 2012. Minnesota Life pays compensation to Waddell & Reed on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily account value of all variable annuity assets for products distributed by Waddell & Reed.

Regulatory Matters

On July 24, 2006, WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed and Waddell & Reed Services Company (collectively, W&R) reached a settlement with the SEC to resolve proceedings brought in connection with its investigation of frequent trading and market timing in certain funds within Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds.

Under the terms of the SEC’s cease-and desist order (SEC Order), pursuant to which W&R neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, among other provisions W&R agreed to pay $40 million in disgorgement and $10 million in civil money penalties.

The SEC Order further requires that the $50 million in settlement amounts will be distributed in accordance with a distribution plan developed by an independent distribution consultant, in consultation with W&R, and that is agreed to by the SEC staff and for which the distribution methodology is acceptable to the Funds’ Disinterested Trustees. The SEC Order requires that the independent distribution consultant develop a methodology and distribution plan pursuant to which Fund shareholders shall receive their proportionate share of losses, if any, suffered by the Funds due to market timing. Therefore, it is not currently possible to specify which particular Fund shareholders or groups of Fund shareholders will receive distributions of those settlement monies or in what proportion and amounts.

The foregoing is only a summary of the SEC Order. A copy of the SEC Order is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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Buying and Selling Portfolio Shares

WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Shares of the Portfolios are currently sold to the separate accounts (Variable Accounts) of Participating Insurance Companies to fund benefits payable under the Policies under the Trust’s “Mixed and Shared” Exemptive Order (Order). Permitting both variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in the same Portfolio is known as “mixed funding.” Shares of the Portfolios are not sold to individual investors.

The Variable Accounts purchase shares of a Portfolio in accordance with Variable Account allocation instructions received from Policyowners. A Portfolio then uses the proceeds to buy securities for its portfolio.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of purchases and exchanges, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Please check with your Participating Insurance Company to determine if a Portfolio is available under your Policy. This Prospectus should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Variable Account of your specific Policy.

The Portfolios currently do not foresee any disadvantages to Policyowners arising out of the fact that the Portfolios may offer their shares to the Variable Accounts to fund benefits of their Policies. Nevertheless, as a condition of the Order, the Trust’s Board will monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may arise (such as those arising from tax or other differences) and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were to occur, one or more Variable Accounts might be required to withdraw their investments in one or more of the Portfolios and shares of another fund may be substituted. This might force a Portfolio to sell its securities at disadvantageous prices.

The principal underwriter of the Portfolios is Waddell & Reed.

Purchase Price

The purchase price of each share of a Portfolio is its NAV next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of a Portfolio’s shares; however, your Policy may impose a sales charge. The NAV for a share of a Portfolio is determined by dividing the total market value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio, less the liabilities of the Portfolio, by the total number of outstanding shares of the Portfolio. In general, NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Each Portfolio may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

Net Asset Value

In the calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV:

 

n  

The securities held by the Portfolio that are traded on an exchange are ordinarily valued at the last sale price on each day prior to the time of valuation as reported by the principal securities exchange on which the securities are traded or, if no sale is recorded, the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Stocks that are traded over-the-counter are valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP), as determined by NASDAQ, or, lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sales price as of the time of valuation on NASDAQ or, lacking any current reported sales on NASDAQ, at the time of valuation at the average of the last bid and asked prices.

 

n  

Bonds (including foreign bonds), convertible bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities and swap agreements are ordinarily valued according to prices quoted by an independent pricing service.

 

n  

Short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

n  

Precious metals are valued at the last traded spot price for the appropriate metal immediately prior to the time of valuation.

 

n  

Other investment assets for which market prices are unavailable or are not reflective of current market value are valued at their fair value by or at the direction of the Board, as discussed below.

The NAV per share of each Portfolio is normally computed daily as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, except that an option or futures contract held by a Portfolio may be priced at the close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on which that instrument is traded.

 

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As noted in this Prospectus, certain Portfolios may invest in securities listed on foreign exchanges, or otherwise traded in a foreign market, which may trade on Saturdays or on U.S. national business holidays when the NYSE is closed. Consequently, the NAV of a Portfolio’s shares may be significantly affected on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares and when you are not able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio’s shares.

When a Portfolio believes a reported market price for a security does not reflect the amount the Portfolio would receive on a current sale of that security, the Portfolio may substitute for the market price a fair-value determination made according to procedures approved by the Trust’s Board. A Portfolio also may use these procedures to value certain types of illiquid securities. In addition, fair value pricing generally will be used by a Portfolio if the exchange on which a security is traded closes early or if trading in a particular security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the time the Portfolio’s NAV is calculated.

A Portfolio also may use these methods to value securities that trade in a foreign market if a significant event that appears likely to materially affect the value of foreign investments or foreign currency exchange rates occurs between the time that foreign market closes and the time the NYSE closes. Some Portfolios, such as Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources, Ivy Funds VIP International Growth and Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity, which may invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, also may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which shareholders attempt to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities or derivatives markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. In that case, such securities investments may be valued at their fair values as determined according to the procedures approved by the Board. Significant events include, but are not limited to, (1) events impacting a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region, and (4) significant U.S. or foreign market fluctuations.

The Portfolios have retained a third-party pricing service (the Service) to assist in fair valuing foreign securities and foreign derivatives (collectively, Foreign Securities), if any, held by the Portfolios. The Service conducts a screening process to indicate the degree of confidence, based on historical data, that the closing price in the principal market where a Foreign Security trades is not the current market value as of the close of the NYSE. For foreign securities where Waddell & Reed Services Company, each Portfolio’s transfer agent, doing business as WI Services Company (WISC), in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board, believes, at the approved degree of confidence, that the price is not reflective of current market price, WISC may use the indication of fair value from the Service to determine the fair value of the Foreign Securities. The Service, the methodology or the degree of certainty may change from time to time. The Board regularly reviews, and WISC regularly monitors and reports to the Board, the Service’s pricing of the Portfolio’s Foreign Securities, as applicable.

Fair valuation has the effect of updating security prices to reflect market value based on, among other things, the recognition of a significant event — thus potentially alleviating arbitrage opportunities with respect to Portfolio shares. Another effect of fair valuation on a Portfolio is that the Portfolio’s NAV will be subject, in part, to the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined directly by market prices. When fair value pricing is applied, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities, and therefore, a Portfolio purchasing or redeeming shares on a particular day might pay or receive more or less than would be the case if a security were valued differently. The use of fair value pricing also may affect all shareholders in that if Portfolio assets were paid out differently due to fair value pricing, all shareholders will be impacted incrementally. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the value of a security on a particular day than the market price of such security on that day or that it will prevent or alleviate the impact of market timing activities. For a description of market timing activities, please see “Market Timing Policy.”

SELLING SHARES

Shares of the Portfolios may be sold (redeemed) at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. The redemption price is the NAV per share next determined after the order is received in good order by the Portfolio or its agent. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original purchase price depending upon the market value of a Portfolio’s investments at the time of the redemption.

Because Policies may have different provisions with respect to the timing and method of redemptions, Policyowners should contact their Participating Insurance Company directly for details concerning these transactions.

Redemptions are made at the NAV per share of the Portfolio next determined after receipt of the request to redeem from the Participating Insurance Company. Payment is generally made within seven days after receipt of a proper request to redeem. No fee

 

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is charged to any Participating Insurance Company upon redemption of Portfolio shares. The Trust may suspend the right of redemption of shares of any Portfolio and may postpone payment for any period if any of the following conditions exist:

 

n  

the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or trading on the NYSE is restricted

 

n  

the SEC has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make payment or transfer not reasonably practicable

 

n  

the SEC has permitted suspension of the right of redemption of shares for the protection of the security holders of the Trust

 

n  

applicable laws and regulations otherwise permit the Trust to suspend payment on the redemption of shares

Redemptions are ordinarily made in cash.

Except as otherwise noted, and via the Participating Insurance Company, a Policyowner may indirectly sell shares and buy shares of another Portfolio within the Trust, also known as a transfer or an exchange privilege.

Market Timing Policy

The Portfolios are intended for long-term investment purposes. The Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies will take steps to seek to deter frequent purchases and/or redemptions in Portfolio shares (market timing activities). Market timing activities, especially those involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt Portfolio investment management and may increase expenses and negatively impact investment returns for all Portfolio shareholders, including long-term shareholders. Market timing activities also may increase the expenses of WISC and/or Waddell & Reed, thereby indirectly affecting the Portfolio’s shareholders.

Certain Portfolios may be more attractive to investors seeking to engage in market timing activities. For example, to the extent that a Portfolio, such as Ivy Funds VIP International Growth or Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity, invests a significant portion of its assets in foreign securities, the Portfolio may be susceptible to a time zone arbitrage strategy in which investors seek to take advantage of Portfolio share prices that may not reflect developments in foreign securities markets that occurred after the close of such market but prior to the pricing of Portfolio shares. A Portfolio that invests in securities that are, among other things, thinly traded or traded infrequently is susceptible to the risk that the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. An investor may seek to engage in short-term trading to take advantage of these pricing differences (commonly referred to as price arbitrage). Price arbitrage is more likely to occur in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in small cap companies, such as Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth, Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth or Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value, or in a Portfolio that invests a significant portion of its assets in high-yield fixed income securities.

To discourage market timing activities by investors, the Board has adopted a market timing policy and has approved the procedures of WISC, the Portfolios’ transfer agent, for implementing this policy. WISC’s procedures reflect the criteria that it has developed for purposes of identifying trading activity in Portfolio shares that may be indicative of market timing activities and outline how WISC will monitor transactions in Portfolio shares. In its monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares, on a periodic basis, WISC typically reviews Portfolio share transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds and/or numerical transaction limits within a particular time period. In its attempt to identify market timing activities, WISC considers many factors, including (but not limited to) the frequency, size and/or timing of the investor’s transactions in Portfolio shares. If WISC identifies what it believes to be market timing activities, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed will coordinate with the applicable Participating Insurance Company so that it may notify the investors involved, reject or restrict a purchase or exchange order and/or prohibit those investors from making further purchases allocated to Portfolio shares. The Portfolios also may restrict their exchange privileges in order to protect Policyowners. Transactions placed in violation of a Portfolio’s market timing policy are not deemed accepted by the Portfolio and may be cancelled or revoked by the Portfolio on the next business day following receipt by the Portfolio.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing activities and the volume of shareholder transactions that WISC processes, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios’ and WISC’s policies and procedures will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered market timing activity. WISC may modify its procedures for implementing the Portfolios’ market timing policy and/or its monitoring criteria at any time without prior notice. The Portfolios, WISC and/or Waddell & Reed shall not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders or exchanges.

A Portfolio seeks to apply its market timing policy uniformly to all shareholders and prospective investors. Although the Portfolios, Waddell & Reed and WISC make efforts to monitor for market timing activities and will seek the assistance of the Participating Insurance Companies through which Portfolio shares are purchased or held, the Portfolios cannot always identify or detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by a Participating Insurance Company or made difficult to identify by the use of omnibus accounts by the Participating Insurance Companies, mainly due to the fact that the Participating Insurance Companies maintain the underlying Policyowner account, and the Portfolio must analyze omnibus account level activity and then request additional

 

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shareholder level activity on the underlying investors where omnibus account level activity warrants further review. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to eliminate all market timing activities.

Apart from actions taken by a Portfolio, Policyowners also may be subject to restrictions imposed under their Policies with respect to short-term trading and the trading restrictions imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies that maintain the underlying account(s).

A Portfolio’s market timing policy, in conjunction with the use of fair value pricing, is intended to reduce a Policyowner’s ability to engage in market timing activities, although there can be no assurance that a Portfolio will eliminate market timing activities.

Additional Compensation to Intermediaries

Waddell & Reed and/or its affiliates (collectively, W&R) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services by:

 

n  

Participating Insurance Companies for whose Policies the Portfolios are underlying investment options or

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell Policies that include the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the insurance company, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Portfolios on a recommended or preferred list, access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Revenue sharing payments are paid from W&R’s own profits and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments, if applicable, that are paid by the Portfolios. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by W&R, and not from the Portfolios’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by W&R.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, W&R may offer other incentives to sell Policies for which the Portfolios are investment options in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals.

The recipients of such incentives may include:

 

n  

financial advisors affiliated with W&R;

 

n  

broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries that sell such Policies and

 

n  

insurance companies that include shares of the Portfolios as underlying investment options.

Payments may be based on current or past sales of Policies investing in shares of the Portfolios, current or historical assets, or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for a Participating Insurance Company or intermediary or their employees or associated persons to recommend a particular Policy for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options instead of recommending options offered by competing insurance companies.

In addition, W&R may compensate Participating Insurance Companies for administrative and shareholder services provided to Policyowners.

Notwithstanding the additional compensation described above, WRIMCO and all subadvisers to the Portfolios are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Portfolios’ shares, or the inclusion of the Portfolios in a Policy provided by an insurance affiliate of the broker-dealer, in selecting such broker-dealer for execution of Portfolio transactions.

Portfolio transactions nevertheless may be executed with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Policies for which the Portfolios are underlying investment options, issued by Participating Insurance Companies, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Portfolios or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in WRIMCO’s or a subadvisor’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

The Participating Insurance Company that provides your Policy also may provide similar compensation to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries in order to promote the sale of such Policies. Contact your insurance provider and/or financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may pay or receive.

 

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Distributions and Taxes

Distributions

Each Portfolio distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its shareholders each year. Usually, a Portfolio distributes net investment income at the following times:

Declared and paid annually in May:

Net investment income from all other Portfolios and net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains from all Portfolios.

Dividends are paid by each Portfolio in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

All distributions from net realized long-term and/or short-term capital gains, if any, of each Portfolio, are declared and paid annually in May in additional full and fractional shares of the Portfolio.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC), for Federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified Federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income and distributions. A Portfolio that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity level on the net income and gains it distributes to its shareholders.

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its RIC status (and to satisfy certain other requirements), because the Portfolio shareholders, which are the Variable Accounts, will then be able to use a “look-through” rule in determining whether the Policies indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules that apply to those accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of Policies funded through the Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Policies and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. Accordingly, WISC monitors each Portfolio’s compliance with the applicable RIC qualification and Variable Account diversification rules.

You will find additional information in the SAI about Federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios.

Because the only shareholders of the Portfolios are the Variable Accounts, no further discussion is included here as to the Federal income tax consequences to the Portfolios’ shareholders. For information concerning the Federal tax consequences to Policyowners, see the applicable prospectus for your Policy. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors.

 

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Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios

Financial Highlights

The following information is to help you understand the financial performance of each Portfolio’s shares for the fiscal periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. Total return shows how much your investment would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which is available upon request.

 

 

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IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

      Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Asset Strategy

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

   $ 9.91       $ 0.06 (3)    $ (0.76   $ (0.70   $ (0.10   $      $ (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2010

     9.23         0.09        0.69        0.78        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

     8.27         0.08        1.82        1.90        (0.03     (0.91     (0.94

Year ended 12-31-2008

     12.32         0.10        (3.29     (3.19     (0.05     (0.81     (0.86

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.00         0.09        3.85        3.94        (0.07     (0.55     (0.62

Balanced

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

     9.59         0.14 (3)      0.20        0.34        (0.15     (0.77     (0.92

Year ended 12-31-2010

     8.48         0.15        1.26        1.41        (0.17     (0.13     (0.30

Year ended 12-31-2009

     7.70         0.17        0.82        0.99        (0.16     (0.05     (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2008

     9.76         0.15        (2.20     (2.05     (0.01         (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2007

     8.71         0.14        1.05        1.19        (0.14         (0.14

Core Equity

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

     11.91         0.07 (3)      0.15        0.22        (0.04     (0.39     (0.43

Year ended 12-31-2010

     9.95         0.04        2.02        2.06        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2009

     8.11         0.10        1.83        1.93        (0.09            (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2008

     12.96         0.08        (4.60     (4.52     (0.02     (0.31     (0.33

Year ended 12-31-2007

     12.55         0.10        1.66        1.76        (0.09     (1.26     (1.35

Global Natural Resources

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

     6.73         (0.01 )(3)      (1.43     (1.44                     

Year ended 12-31-2010

     5.75         (0.02     1.00        0.98                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

     3.31         (0.02     2.46        2.44                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

     10.08         0.01        (6.23     (6.22     (0.11     (0.44     (0.55

Year ended 12-31-2007

     7.57         0.01        3.28        3.29            (0.78     (0.78

Growth

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

     10.38         0.01 (3)      0.22        0.23        (0.04     (0.38     (0.42

Year ended 12-31-2010

     9.28         0.04        1.12        1.16        (0.06            (0.06

Year ended 12-31-2009

     7.55         0.06        1.93        1.99        (0.03     (0.23     (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2008

     12.02         0.03        (4.39     (4.36            (0.11     (0.11

Year ended 12-31-2007

     9.78         0.00        2.52        2.52            (0.28     (0.28

International Core Equity

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

     17.29         0.32 (3)      (2.68     (2.36     (0.26            (0.26

Year ended 12-31-2010

     15.38         0.26        1.86        2.12        (0.21            (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2009

     12.46         0.20        4.01        4.21        (0.49     (0.80     (1.29

Year ended 12-31-2008

     22.39         0.51        (9.99     (9.48     (0.09     (0.36     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2007

     22.78         0.44        1.81        2.25        (0.39     (2.25     (2.64

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

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     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income
to Average
Net  Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Asset Strategy

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 9.11         -7.21 %   $ 1,197         0.99 %     0.62 %     1.00 %     0.61 %     57 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.91         8.68       1,295         1.02       1.07       1.03       1.06       104  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.23         25.04       1,095         1.05       1.17       1.06       1.16       113  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.27         -25.79       678         1.04       1.02       1.05       1.01       190  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.32         44.11       913         1.03       0.96       1.04       0.95       98  

Balanced

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.01         3.31       345         1.01       1.46                     32  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    9.59         17.11       375         1.01       1.52                     48  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.48         13.23       361         1.03       1.95                     46  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    7.70         -21.00       378         1.01       1.53                     19  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.76         13.67       559         1.01       1.40                     8  

Core Equity

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

    11.70         1.66       376         0.96       0.57       1.01       0.52       70  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    11.91         20.89       429         0.96       0.33       1.01       0.28       100  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.95         24.02       415         0.98       1.01       1.03       0.96       101  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    8.11         -34.77       402         0.96       0.68       1.01       0.63       105  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.96         14.03       746         0.96       0.68       1.01       0.63       83  

Global Natural Resources

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.29         -21.45       184         1.37       -0.14                     100  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.73         17.06       236         1.37       -0.31                     117  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.75         73.64       192         1.45       -0.56                     101  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    3.31         -61.46       69         1.43       -0.08                     206  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.08         43.50       165         1.38       0.20                     122  

Growth

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

    10.19         2.12       859         0.97       0.07       1.00       0.04       42  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.38         12.58       917         0.97       0.42       1.00       0.39       64  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    9.28         27.07       881         0.99       0.67       1.02       0.64       59  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    7.55         -36.27       757         0.97       0.29       1.00       0.26       53  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    12.02         25.81       1,305         0.97       -0.01       0.99       -0.03       42  

International Core Equity

  

               

Year ended 12-31-2011

    14.67         -13.88       521         1.19       1.96                     100  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    17.29         14.09       580         1.19       1.70                     107  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.38         36.96       513         1.22       1.58                     142  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    12.46         -42.26       379         1.18       3.07                     20  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    22.39         9.88       636         1.18       1.81                     23  

 

  Prospectus   79


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

     Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
    Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

International Growth

  

           

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 8.51      $ 0.14 (3)    $ (0.76   $ (0.62   $ (0.03   $      $ (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2010

    7.49        0.08        1.01        1.09        (0.07            (0.07

Year ended 12-31-2009

    6.01        0.07        1.51        1.58        (0.10            (0.10

Year ended 12-31-2008

    10.75        0.11        (4.64     (4.53     (0.02     (0.19     (0.21

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.14        0.06        1.88        1.94        (0.06     (0.27     (0.33

Micro Cap Growth

  

           

Year ended 12-31-2011

    22.11        (0.26 )(3)      (1.29     (1.55                     

Year ended 12-31-2010

    15.70        (0.21     6.62        6.41                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

    11.11        (0.17     4.76        4.59                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

    21.38        (0.21     (10.06     (10.27                     

Year ended 12-31-2007

    20.08        (0.26     1.56        1.30                        

Mid Cap Growth

  

           

Year ended 12-31-2011

    8.69        (0.03 )(3)      0.01        (0.02         (0.30     (0.30

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.61        0.00        2.08        2.08                  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    4.51        0.00        2.10        2.10                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

    7.21        0.00        (2.61     (2.61         (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2007

    6.56        0.00        0.83        0.83            (0.18     (0.18

Science and Technology

  

           

Year ended 12-31-2011

    16.73        (0.13 )(3)      (0.75     (0.88            (0.60     (0.60

Year ended 12-31-2010

    15.30        (0.08     1.96        1.88               (0.45     (0.45

Year ended 12-31-2009

    11.43        0.01        4.73        4.74               (0.87     (0.87

Year ended 12-31-2008

    17.98        (0.03     (6.08     (6.11            (0.44     (0.44

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.72        (0.07     4.39        4.32               (4.06     (4.06

Small Cap Growth

  

           

Year ended 12-31-2011

    10.53        (0.10 )(3)      (1.00     (1.10            (0.09     (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.17        (0.07     2.43        2.36                        

Year ended 12-31-2009

    6.09        (0.06     2.17        2.11        (0.03            (0.03

Year ended 12-31-2008

    10.24        0.03        (4.05     (4.02            (0.13     (0.13

Year ended 12-31-2007

    9.97        (0.06     1.41        1.35               (1.08     (1.08

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

80   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

 

    

Net Asset
Value, End

of Period

     Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
     Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net  Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net  Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

International Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 7.86         -7.32 %   $ 266         1.15 %     1.67 %     1.18 %     1.64 %     61 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.51         14.79       331         1.17       1.22       1.20       1.19       75  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    7.49         26.89       261         1.19       1.34       1.22       1.31       80  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.01         -42.15       159         1.18       1.27       1.21       1.24       96  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.75         21.29       283         1.17       0.63       1.20       0.60       95  

Micro Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    20.56         -7.01       46         1.34       -1.20                     57  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    22.11         40.85       55         1.35       -1.15                     77  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.70         41.29       38         1.42       -1.34                     70  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.11         -48.04       28         1.36       -1.23                     60  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    21.38         6.49       60         1.32       -1.18                     57  

Mid Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    8.37         -0.56       173         1.16       -0.32       1.18       -0.34       49  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    8.69         31.56       142         1.17       0.01       1.19       -0.01       44  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    6.61         46.66       92         1.21       0.03       1.23       0.01       33  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    4.51         -36.23       49         1.23       -0.06       1.24       -0.07       46  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    7.21         12.62       57         1.21       0.06       1.24       0.03       31  

Science and Technology

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    15.25         -5.77       279         1.16       -0.77       1.18       -0.79       50  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.73         12.75       326         1.16       -0.48       1.18       -0.50       27  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    15.30         43.84       316         1.19       0.06       1.21       0.04       65  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    11.43         -33.89       226         1.16       -0.21       1.18       -0.23       62  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    17.98         24.37       396         1.15       -0.42       1.17       -0.44       73  

Small Cap Growth

                 

Year ended 12-31-2011

    9.34         -10.60       350         1.14       -0.95       1.16       -0.97       80  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    10.53         28.85       419         1.14       -0.83       1.16       -0.85       60  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    8.17         34.72       356         1.17       -0.88       1.19       -0.90       44  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.09         -39.18       290         1.14       0.32       1.16       0.30       82  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    10.24         13.52       544         1.14       -0.61       1.16       -0.63       101  

 

  Prospectus   81


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VIP

FOR A SHARE OF CAPITAL STOCK

OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD

 

     Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
 

Small Cap Value

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 16.78       $ 0.08 (3)    $ (2.21   $ (2.13   $ (0.08   $      $ (0.08

Year ended 12-31-2010

    13.29         0.07        3.43        3.50        (0.01            (0.01

Year ended 12-31-2009

    10.29         0.01        2.99        3.00                        

Year ended 12-31-2008

    14.32         (0.02     (3.74     (3.76     (0.02     (0.25     (0.27

Year ended 12-31-2007

    15.69         0.02        (0.67     (0.65         (0.72     (0.72

Value

  

            

Year ended 12-31-2011

    6.05         0.06 (3)      (0.50     (0.44     (0.04            (0.04

Year ended 12-31-2010

    5.14         0.03        0.93        0.96        (0.05            (0.05

Year ended 12-31-2009

    4.15         0.07        1.01        1.08        (0.09            (0.09

Year ended 12-31-2008

    6.36         0.08        (2.23     (2.15     (0.02     (0.04     (0.06

Year ended 12-31-2007

    6.74         0.08        0.05        0.13        (0.07     (0.44     (0.51

 

* Not shown due to rounding.

 

(1)

Based on net asset value. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(2)

Ratios excluding expense waivers are included only for periods in which the Portfolio had waived or reimbursed expenses.

 

(3)

Based on average weekly shares outstanding.

 

82   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

 

     Net Asset
Value, End
of Period
    Total
Return(1)
    Net Assets,
End of
Period
(in millions)
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net  Assets
Including
Expense
Waiver
    Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
to Average
Net  Assets
Excluding
Expense
Waiver(2)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Small Cap Value

  

             

Year ended 12-31-2011

  $ 14.57        -12.79 %   $ 228        1.17 %     0.50 %             59 %

Year ended 12-31-2010

    16.78        26.41       244        1.17       0.54                     78  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    13.29        29.15       197        1.21       0.05                     100  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    10.29        -26.13       150        1.18       -0.14                     110  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    14.32        -4.13       205        1.18       0.17                     122  

Value

  

             

Year ended 12-31-2011

    5.57        -7.32       287        1.00       1.04       1.01       1.03       60  

Year ended 12-31-2010

    6.05        18.71       316        1.01       0.52       1.02       0.51       51  

Year ended 12-31-2009

    5.14        26.64       277        1.04       1.45       1.05       1.44       73  

Year ended 12-31-2008

    4.15        -33.81       231        1.01       1.52       1.02       1.51       48  

Year ended 12-31-2007

    6.36        1.90       364        1.01       1.12       1.02       1.11       51  

 

  Prospectus   83


Table of Contents

Appendix A: Hypothetical Investment and Expense Information

 

The following charts provide additional hypothetical information about the effect of each Portfolio’s expenses, including investment advisory fees and other Portfolio costs, on the Portfolio’s assumed returns over a ten-year period.

Each chart shows the estimated cumulative expenses that would be incurred in respect of a hypothetical investment of $10,000, assuming a 5% return each year, and no redemption of shares. Each chart also assumes that the Portfolio’s annual expense ratio stays the same throughout the ten-year period and that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested. The annual expense ratio used in each chart is the same as stated in the “Fees and Expenses” table of this Prospectus (and thus may not reflect any fee waiver or expense reimbursement currently in effect). Mutual fund returns, as well as fees and expenses, may fluctuate over time, and your actual investment returns and total expenses may be higher or lower than those shown below. The charts do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through which the Portfolios are offered. If these fees and expenses were reflected, the hypothetical investment returns shown would be lower.

Ivy Funds VIP Asset Strategy

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP Balanced

 

Annual expense ratio        1.01%     
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   103.01        $10,399.00   
2     10,399.00        519.95        10,918.95        107.13        10,813.92   
3     10,813.92        540.70        11,354.62        111.40        11,245.40   
4     11,245.40        562.27        11,807.67        115.84        11,694.09   
5     11,694.09        584.70        12,278.79        120.47        12,160.68   
6     12,160.68        608.03        12,768.71        125.27        12,645.89   
7     12,645.89        632.29        13,278.19        130.27        13,150.46   
8     13,150.46        657.52        13,807.99        135.47        13,675.17   
9     13,675.17        683.76        14,358.92        140.87        14,220.81   
10     14,220.81        711.04        14,931.85        146.50        14,788.22   
Cumulative Total            $1,236.24     

 

84   Prospectus  


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Core Equity

 

Annual expense ratio        1.01%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   103.01        $10,399.00   
2     10,399.00        519.95        10,918.95        107.13        10,813.92   
3     10,813.92        540.70        11,354.62        111.40        11,245.40   
4     11,245.40        562.27        11,807.67        115.84        11,694.09   
5     11,694.09        584.70        12,278.79        120.47        12,160.68   
6     12,160.68        608.03        12,768.71        125.27        12,645.89   
7     12,645.89        632.29        13,278.19        130.27        13,150.46   
8     13,150.46        657.52        13,807.99        135.47        13,675.17   
9     13,675.17        683.76        14,358.92        140.87        14,220.81   
10     14,220.81        711.04        14,931.85        146.50        14,788.22   
Cumulative Total            $1,236.24     

Ivy Funds VIP Global Natural Resources

 

Annual expense ratio        1.37%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   139.49        $10,363.00   
2     10,363.00        518.15        10,881.15        144.55        10,739.18   
3     10,739.18        536.96        11,276.14        149.80        11,129.01   
4     11,129.01        556.45        11,685.46        155.23        11,532.99   
5     11,532.99        576.65        12,109.64        160.87        11,951.64   
6     11,951.64        597.58        12,549.22        166.71        12,385.48   
7     12,385.48        619.27        13,004.76        172.76        12,835.08   
8     12,835.08        641.75        13,476.83        179.03        13,300.99   
9     13,300.99        665.05        13,966.04        185.53        13,783.82   
10     13,783.82        689.19        14,473.01        192.27        14,284.17   
Cumulative Total            $1,646.24     

 

  Prospectus   85


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.00%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   102.00        $10,400.00   
2     10,400.00        520.00        10,920.00        106.08        10,816.00   
3     10,816.00        540.80        11,356.80        110.32        11,248.64   
4     11,248.64        562.43        11,811.07        114.74        11,698.59   
5     11,698.59        584.93        12,283.51        119.33        12,166.53   
6     12,166.53        608.33        12,774.86        124.10        12,653.19   
7     12,653.19        632.66        13,285.85        129.06        13,159.32   
8     13,159.32        657.97        13,817.28        134.23        13,685.69   
9     13,685.69        684.28        14,369.98        139.59        14,233.12   
10     14,233.12        711.66        14,944.77        145.18        14,802.44   
Cumulative Total            $1,224.62     

Ivy Funds VIP International Core Equity

 

Annual expense ratio        1.19%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   121.27        $10,381.00   
2     10,381.00        519.05        10,900.05        125.89        10,776.52   
3     10,776.52        538.83        11,315.34        130.68        11,187.10   
4     11,187.10        559.36        11,746.46        135.66        11,613.33   
5     11,613.33        580.67        12,194.00        140.83        12,055.80   
6     12,055.80        602.79        12,658.59        146.20        12,515.12   
7     12,515.12        625.76        13,140.88        151.77        12,991.95   
8     12,991.95        649.60        13,641.55        157.55        13,486.94   
9     13,486.94        674.35        14,161.29        163.55        14,000.80   
10     14,000.80        700.04        14,700.84        169.78        14,534.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,443.18     

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP International Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

Ivy Funds VIP Micro Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.34%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   136.45        $10,366.00   
2     10,366.00        518.30        10,884.30        141.45        10,745.40   
3     10,745.40        537.27        11,282.67        146.62        11,138.68   
4     11,138.68        556.93        11,695.61        151.99        11,546.35   
5     11,546.35        577.32        12,123.67        157.55        11,968.95   
6     11,968.95        598.45        12,567.40        163.32        12,407.01   
7     12,407.01        620.35        13,027.36        169.30        12,861.11   
8     12,861.11        643.06        13,504.16        175.49        13,331.83   
9     13,331.83        666.59        13,998.42        181.92        13,819.77   
10     13,819.77        690.99        14,510.76        188.57        14,325.57   
Cumulative Total            $1,612.66     

 

  Prospectus   87


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Mid Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

Ivy Funds VIP Science and Technology

 

Annual expense ratio        1.18%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   120.25        $10,382.00   
2     10,382.00        519.10        10,901.10        124.85        10,778.59   
3     10,778.59        538.93        11,317.52        129.62        11,190.33   
4     11,190.33        559.52        11,749.85        134.57        11,617.81   
5     11,617.81        580.89        12,198.70        139.71        12,061.61   
6     12,061.61        603.08        12,664.69        145.05        12,522.36   
7     12,522.36        626.12        13,148.48        150.59        13,000.71   
8     13,000.71        650.04        13,650.75        156.34        13,497.34   
9     13,497.34        674.87        14,172.21        162.31        14,012.94   
10     14,012.94        700.65        14,713.59        168.51        14,548.23   
Cumulative Total            $1,431.79     

 

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Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Growth

 

Annual expense ratio        1.16%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   118.23        $10,384.00   
2     10,384.00        519.20        10,903.20        122.77        10,782.75   
3     10,782.75        539.14        11,321.88        127.48        11,196.80   
4     11,196.80        559.84        11,756.64        132.38        11,626.76   
5     11,626.76        581.34        12,208.10        137.46        12,073.23   
6     12,073.23        603.66        12,676.89        142.74        12,536.84   
7     12,536.84        626.84        13,163.68        148.22        13,018.25   
8     13,018.25        650.91        13,669.17        153.91        13,518.16   
9     13,518.16        675.91        14,194.06        159.82        14,037.25   
10     14,037.25        701.86        14,739.12        165.96        14,576.28   
Cumulative Total            $1,408.96     

Ivy Funds VIP Small Cap Value

 

Annual expense ratio        1.29%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   131.39        $10,371.00   
2     10,371.00        518.55        10,889.55        136.27        10,755.76   
3     10,755.76        537.79        11,293.55        141.32        11,154.80   
4     11,154.80        557.74        11,712.54        146.57        11,568.65   
5     11,568.65        578.43        12,147.08        152.00        11,997.84   
6     11,997.84        599.89        12,597.74        157.64        12,442.96   
7     12,442.96        622.15        13,065.11        163.49        12,904.60   
8     12,904.60        645.23        13,549.83        169.56        13,383.36   
9     13,383.36        669.17        14,052.53        175.85        13,879.88   
10     13,879.88        693.99        14,573.87        182.37        14,394.82   
Cumulative Total            $1,556.47     

 

  Prospectus   89


Table of Contents

Ivy Funds VIP Value

 

Annual expense ratio        1.01%       
Year  

Hypothetical

Investment

   

Hypothetical

Performance

Earnings

   

Investment

After

Returns

   

Hypothetical

Expenses

   

Hypothetical

Ending

Investment

 
1     $10,000.00        $500.00        $10,500.00        $   103.01        $10,399.00   
2     10,399.00        519.95        10,918.95        107.13        10,813.92   
3     10,813.92        540.70        11,354.62        111.40        11,245.40   
4     11,245.40        562.27        11,807.67        115.84        11,694.09   
5     11,694.09        584.70        12,278.79        120.47        12,160.68   
6     12,160.68        608.03        12,768.71        125.27        12,645.89   
7     12,645.89        632.29        13,278.19        130.27        13,150.46   
8     13,150.46        657.52        13,807.99        135.47        13,675.17   
9     13,675.17        683.76        14,358.92        140.87        14,220.81   
10     14,220.81        711.04        14,931.85        146.50        14,788.22   
Cumulative Total            $1,236.24     

 

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Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

 

Custodian

UMB Bank, n. a.

928 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Legal Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 3300

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Investment Manager

Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Underwriter

Waddell & Reed, Inc.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P.O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Transfer Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Accounting Services Agent

WI Services Company

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

Our INTERNET address is:

http://www.waddell.com

 

 

  Prospectus   91


Table of Contents

IVY FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS

You can get more information about the Portfolios in —

 

n  

the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which contains detailed information about each Portfolio, particularly its investment policies and practices. You may not be aware of important information about a Portfolio unless you read both the Prospectus and the SAI. The current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (that is, the SAI is legally part of the Prospectus).

 

n  

the Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which detail each Portfolio’s actual investments and include financial statements as of the close of the particular annual or semiannual period. The annual report also contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios’ performance during the year covered by the report.

To request a copy of the current SAI or copies of the Portfolios’ most recent Annual and Semiannual reports, without charge, or for other inquiries, contact the Trust or Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the address and telephone number below. Copies of the SAI, Annual and/or Semiannual Report also may be requested via email at IMcompliance@waddell.com. Additionally, the Prospectus, SAI and Annual and Semiannual Reports for the Portfolios are available on the Waddell & Reed website at www.waddell.com.

Information about the Trust (including its current SAI and most recent Annual and Semiannual Reports) is available from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov or from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549-1520. You can find out about the operation of the Public Reference Room and applicable copying charges by calling 202.551.8090.

WADDELL & REED, INC.

6300 Lamar Avenue

P. O. Box 29217

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217

913.236.2000

888.WADDELL

 

The Trust’s SEC file number is: 811-5017.

 

92   Prospectus