N-CSR 1 voytaxfre3308496-ncsr.htm CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number:        811-03910
 
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Voyageur Tax Free Funds
 
Address of principal executive offices: 2005 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
 
Name and address of agent for service: David F. Connor, Esq.
2005 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (800) 523-1918
 
Date of fiscal year end: August 31
 
Date of reporting period: August 31, 2017


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

Table of Contents

LOGO

Fixed income mutual funds

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

August 31, 2017

 

Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds’ prospectus and their summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting delawarefunds.com/literature or calling 800 523-1918. Investors should read the prospectus and the summary prospectus carefully before investing.

You can obtain shareholder reports and prospectuses online instead of in the mail.

Visit delawarefunds.com/edelivery.

 

LOGO


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Experience Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie

Macquarie Investment Management (MIM) is a global asset manager with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. We are active managers who prioritize autonomy and accountability at the investment team level in pursuit of opportunities that matter for our clients. Delaware Funds is one of the longest-standing mutual fund families, with more than 75 years in existence.

If you are interested in learning more about creating an investment plan, contact your financial advisor.

You can learn more about Delaware Funds or obtain a prospectus for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund at delawarefunds.com/literature.

 

Manage your account online

 

  Check your account balance and transactions
  View statements and tax forms
  Make purchases and redemptions

Visit delawarefunds.com/account-access.

MIM is the marketing name for the registered investment advisers including Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT) (formerly, Delaware Management Business Trust), Macquarie Funds Management Hong Kong Limited, Macquarie Investment Management Austria Kapitalanlage AG, Macquarie Investment Management Global Limited, Macquarie Bank International Limited, Macquarie Investment Management Europe Limited, Macquarie Investment Management Limited, and Macquarie Capital Investment Management, Inc.

The Funds are distributed by Delaware Distributors, L.P., an affiliate of MIMBT and Macquarie Group Limited. MIM, a member of Macquarie Group, refers to the companies comprising the asset management division of Macquarie Group Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.

Other than Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL), none of the entities noted are authorized deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of MBL. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise. The Funds are governed by US laws and regulations.

Table of contents   

Portfolio management review

     1  

Performance summaries

     6  

Disclosure of Fund expenses

     18  

Security type / sector / territory allocations

     21  

Schedules of investments

     24  

Statements of assets and liabilities

     56  

Statements of operations

     58  

Statements of changes in net assets

     60  

Financial highlights

     66  

Notes to financial statements

     84  

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

     99  

Other Fund information

     100  

Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum

     106  

About the organization

     112  

Unless otherwise noted, views expressed herein are current as of Aug. 31, 2017, and subject to change for events occurring after such date.

The Funds are not FDIC insured and are not guaranteed. It is possible to lose the principal amount invested.

Advisory services provided by Delaware Management Company, a series of MIMBT, a US registered investment advisor.

All third-party marks cited are the property of their respective owners.

© 2017 Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. (formerly, Delaware Management Holdings, Inc.)

 


Table of Contents
Portfolio management review
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds    September 12, 2017

 

Performance preview (for the year ended August 31, 2017)

                   
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund (Institutional Class shares)        1-year return        +0.75%    
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund (Class A shares)        1-year return        +0.49%    
Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (benchmark)        1-year return        +0.88%    
Lipper Minnesota Municipal Debt Funds Average        1-year return        +0.24%    

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

For complete, annualized performance for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, please see the table on page 6.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts. The performance of Class A shares excludes the applicable sales charge. Both Institutional Class shares and Class A shares reflect the reinvestment of all distributions.

The Lipper Minnesota Municipal Debt Funds Average compares funds that limit assets to those securities that are exempt from taxation in Minnesota (double tax-exempt) or a city in Minnesota (triple tax-exempt).

Please see page 9 for a description of the index. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund (Institutional Class shares)

       1-year return        +0.61%    

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund (Class A shares)

       1-year return        +0.55%    

Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index (benchmark)

       1-year return        +1.09%    

Lipper Other States Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average

       1-year return        +0.10%    

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

For complete, annualized performance for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, please see the table on page 10.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts. The performance of Class A shares excludes the applicable sales charge. Both Institutional Class shares and Class A shares reflect the reinvestment of all distributions.

The Lipper Other States Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average compares funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of 5 to 10 years and are exempt from taxation on a specified city or state basis.

Please see page 13 for a description of the index. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (Institutional Class shares)

     1-year return        +1.09%    

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (Class A shares)

     1-year return        +0.84%    

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (benchmark)

     1-year return        +0.88%    

Lipper Minnesota Municipal Debt Funds Average

     1-year return        +0.24%    

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

For complete, annualized performance for Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, please see the table on page 14.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts. The performance of Class A shares excludes the applicable sales charge. Both Institutional Class shares and Class A shares reflect the reinvestment of all distributions.

The Lipper Minnesota Municipal Debt Funds Average compares funds that limit assets to those securities that are exempt from taxation in Minnesota (double tax-exempt) or a city in Minnesota (triple tax-exempt).

Please see page 17 for a description of the index. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index.

 

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Portfolio management review

Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds

 

 

Economic backdrop

The US economy continued its slow but steady expansion throughout the Funds’ fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2017. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – a measure of national economic output – grew by an annualized 2.8% in the third quarter of 2016 and 1.8% in the fourth quarter. In the first two quarters of 2017, US GDP increased by 1.2% and 3.0%, respectively. Meanwhile, the employment picture continued to improve, with the national unemployment rate falling to 4.4% at the end of the fiscal year, down a half percentage point from September 2016. (Source: US Commerce Department.)

This combination of consistent economic growth, an improving employment picture and manageable inflation led the US Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark short-term interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on three separate occasions – in December, March, and June – bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 1.00%–1.25%, up from 0.25%–0.50% to start the fiscal year.

Municipal bond market conditions

In the first half of the Funds’ fiscal year, conditions were generally challenging for municipal bond investors. Initially, an increase in supply relative to demand for municipal securities tended to push down the prices of bonds and lift their yields (a bond’s price and yield move in opposite directions). In the fourth quarter of 2016, conditions dramatically worsened, especially following the US elections in November 2016. With the presidential victory of Donald Trump, expectations grew that Republicans would be able to swiftly execute their priority of cutting taxes, thus making tax-exempt bonds less compelling for residents of high-tax states.

Market conditions began to stabilize several weeks after the election, however. This stabilization continued throughout the rest of the Funds’ fiscal year, as the likelihood of a rapid,

transformative change in tax policy appeared to diminish. Coupled with tighter supply, the tax-exempt bond market generally strengthened through August 2017.

Against this backdrop, the municipal bond yield curve steepened, meaning that yields on long-term municipal bonds rose more quickly than those on short-dated municipal bonds, while longer-dated bonds tended to underperform shorter-dated issues.

The following table shows municipal bond returns by maturity for the 12 months ended Aug. 31, 2017:

Returns by maturity

 

5 years

     1.44

10 years

     1.06

22+ years

     0.42

Source: Bloomberg

Meanwhile, in continuation of a trend now in place for several years, lower-rated bonds generally outperformed their higher-quality counterparts. This trend is evident in the following table, which indicates municipal bond performance by credit quality rating for the Funds’ fiscal year:

Returns by credit rating

 

AAA

     0.58

AA

     0.75

A

     1.06

BBB

     1.91

BB and below

     2.25

Source: Bloomberg

Among the market’s strong-performing sectors, tobacco bonds led the way, as their credit spreads continued to narrow, and investors seemed increasingly comfortable assuming the credit risk inherent in these often lower-rated securities. Meanwhile, bonds issued by Puerto Rico, which, like tobacco bonds, tended to be found in the high yield municipal bond universe, struggled during the fiscal year as concerns mounted about the US territory’s credit quality.

 

 

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Focused on credit research

For the three Funds profiled in this report, we maintained a consistent management strategy. We do this regardless of underlying market conditions. We have a bottom-up investment approach, meaning we evaluate potential bond holdings one at a time. Working closely with our team’s municipal analysts, we conduct thorough research to find securities offering what we see as a desirable trade-off between income and credit risk.

Following this approach, to the extent possible in the Minnesota municipal bond marketplace, we are often led to bonds rated lower investment grade or below investment grade, where we look to find value for shareholders. During the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2017, roughly 24% of the net assets of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund were invested in bonds rated A and BBB, the two lowest rating tiers of the investment grade bond universe. Approximately 28% of the net assets of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund were invested in these credit tiers during the same time period.

In addition, both Funds had allocations to high yield municipal bonds, specifically those with credit ratings below BBB. By prospectus, both Funds are able to invest in these credit tiers, and we pay close attention to credit risk when selecting securities, focusing on those providing what we see as sufficiently high yields for the risk.

Meanwhile, the mandate of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund allows us to focus on high yield securities to a greater degree. Accordingly, as of Aug. 31, 2017, more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets were invested in bonds rated below investment grade.

Portfolio positioning

Throughout the fiscal year, we maintained a roughly neutral duration – or sensitivity to changes in interest rates – relative to the Funds’

 

respective benchmarks, seeking to add value through bond selection rather than by managing interest rate exposure.

When the municipal bond market sold off in the fourth quarter of 2016, we believed that the decline in bond prices was significantly greater than justified. Accordingly, we took advantage of opportunities to invest in bonds at prices we saw as undeservedly low relative to their credit risk. As the fiscal period progressed and the market became less concerned about the near-term likelihood of federal tax reform, many of these securities regained a portion of their lost value, adding to the Funds’ results.

Since the market recovered, we found it somewhat more challenging to find similarly attractively priced bonds. Accordingly, we became increasingly selective in our purchases, as we searched for bonds that offered yields sufficiently high to compensate us for their credit risk.

Particularly in calendar year 2017, we positioned the Funds’ portfolios for a flattening yield curve, because we anticipated that longer-duration bonds would outperform shorter-dated bonds. This view reflected our expectation for continued solid economic growth and subdued inflation – factors that we believed could put a ceiling on long-term interest rates and support the Funds’ positioning.

Proceeds for our purchases primarily came from a combination of new shareholder investments and bond calls. In addition, because of a significant amount of bond refinancing activity within the Minnesota marketplace, we saw a number of older, higher yielding bonds in the Funds get refunded, leaving the Funds with more cash than usual. A primary focus during the fiscal year was to reinvest these assets.

Because the Minnesota municipal bond market is relatively small and tends to be higher quality, we sometimes found it challenging to replace these credits with similarly high yielding bonds, given

 

 

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Portfolio management review

Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds

 

 

historically low interest rates. We responded to this situation by investing in a variety of Minnesota issues, often of higher quality, that would allow the Funds to remain fully invested as we continued to search for compelling lower-rated bonds with higher income streams.

Notable performance factors

During the fiscal year, many of the Funds’ strongest individual contributors were bonds refunded by their issuers during the period, leading to significant price appreciation. For example, all three Funds benefited from an investment in nonrated bonds for The Homestead at Anoka, a senior living facility. Similarly, both Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund benefited from owning lower-investment-grade bonds for HealthEast Care System, a network of healthcare facilities in and around St. Paul. In Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, bonds for Nova Classical Academy, a St. Paul charter school, added value, as these issues, refunded during the fiscal period, returned more than 10%.

On the negative side, Guam Waterworks Authority bonds hampered all three Funds. As concern mounted about the credit quality of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, bonds issued by another US territory, Guam, declined in sympathy. We had more confidence in Guam’s underlying credit quality, however, and liked that the Guam Waterworks bonds were backed by a strong covenant.

In Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, the largest individual detractors were bonds for Stride Academy Charter School in St. Cloud, Minn. These securities struggled as the school experienced management challenges and its certifying organization put it on probation. This caused the bonds’ credit spreads to widen. Late in

 

the Funds’ fiscal year, the school, under new management, received a one-year reprieve as it sought to work out its difficulties, causing the bonds’ performance to stabilize. As of fiscal year end, we were closely monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, an investment in bonds for Cologne Academy, a charter school in Cologne, Minn., also hampered Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund as the price of these securities declined during the fiscal year. Despite its negative return, at period end we continued to see this credit as fundamentally sound.

Minnesota economic backdrop

Minnesota has a fundamentally sound economy and is not dependent on any one sector. Employment is diverse, with a mix of manufacturing, services, and trade similar to the United States. Other relevant notes:

 

  August 2017 non-farm employment of 2.95 million was up 1.5% from a year earlier.

 

  The state’s unemployment rate of 3.8% in August 2017 was well below the national average of 4.4%.

 

  Over the past five years, per capita personal income levels for Minnesota have consistently been above the national average ranging between 105%-108%, with the most recent measurement period continuing this trend at 106% of the national average.

 

  Minnesota operates on a biennial basis. Fiscal year 2017 General Fund revenues are estimated to total $20.95 billion, 0.5% below projections but 0.3% greater than fiscal 2016 revenues.

 

  Weak income taxes that were 2.3% less than budget more than offset sales and corporate taxes which exceeded estimates by 0.2% and 5.2%, respectively.
 

 

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  The state approved a biennial budget for fiscal 2018 and 2019 totaling $45.56 billion, an 8.9% increase over the prior biennial budget. Although the General Fund budgetary balance is expected to decline to $163 million, the state still maintains a $1.6 billion reserve.

Data: bls.gov, bea.gov, ncsl.org, Minnesota Management and Budget.

    

 

 

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Performance summaries   
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund    August 31, 2017

The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 800 523-1918 or visiting delawarefunds.com/performance.

 

Fund and benchmark performance1, 2   Average annual total returns through August 31, 2017  
     1 year     5 years     10 years     Lifetime  

Class A (Est. Feb. 27, 1984)

       

Excluding sales charge

    +0.49%       +2.85%       +4.34%       +6.33%  

Including sales charge

    -4.05%       +1.92%       +3.86%       +6.19%  

Class C (Est. May 4, 1994)

       

Excluding sales charge

    -0.25%       +2.09%       +3.56%       +4.15%  

Including sales charge

    -1.22%       +2.09%       +3.56%       +4.15%  

Institutional Class (Est. Dec. 31, 2013)

       

Excluding sales charge

    +0.75%       n/a       n/a       +4.78%  

Including sales charge

    +0.75%       n/a       n/a       +4.78%  

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

    +0.88%       +3.23%       +4.73%       +4.81%*  

*The benchmark lifetime return is for Institutional Class share comparison only and is calculated using the last business day in the month of the Fund’s Institutional Class inception date.

 

1 Returns reflect the reinvestment of all distributions and are presented both with and without the applicable sales charges described below. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares.

Expense limitations were in effect for certain classes during some or all of the periods shown in the “Fund and benchmark performance” table. Expenses for each class are listed on the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 7. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts.

Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.50%, and have an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. Performance for Class A shares,

excluding sales charges, assumes that no front-end sales charge applied.

Class C shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed during the first 12 months. They are also subject to an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets. Performance for Class C shares, excluding sales charges, assumes either that contingent deferred sales charges did not apply or that the investment was not redeemed.

Fixed income securities and bond funds can lose value, and investors can lose principal, as interest rates rise. They also may be affected by economic conditions that hinder an issuer’s ability to make interest and principal payments on its debt.

The Fund may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity, at the time when interest rates are lower than what the bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

 

 

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Funds that invest primarily in one state may be more susceptible to the economic, regulatory, regional, and other factors of that state than geographically diversified funds.

Substantially all dividend income derived from tax-free funds is exempt from federal income tax. Some income may be subject to state or local and/or the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT) that applies to certain investors. Capital gains, if any, are taxable.

Duration number will change as market conditions change. Therefore, duration should not be solely relied upon to indicate a municipal bond fund’s potential volatility.

This document may mention bond ratings published by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) Standard & Poor’s,

Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch, Inc. For securities rated by an NRSRO other than S&P, the rating is converted to the equivalent S&P credit rating. Bonds rated AAA are rated as having the highest quality and are generally considered to have the lowest degree of investment risk. Bonds rated AA are considered to be of high quality, but with a slightly higher degree of risk than bonds rated AAA. Bonds rated A are considered to have many favorable investment qualities, though they are somewhat more susceptible to adverse economic conditions. Bonds rated BBB are believed to be of medium-grade quality and generally riskier over the long term. Bonds rated BB, B, and CCC are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, with BB indicating the least degree of speculation of the three.

 

 

2 The Fund’s expense ratios, as described in the most recent prospectus, are disclosed in the following “Fund expense ratios” table. Delaware Management Company has agreed to reimburse certain expenses and/or waive certain fees in order to prevent total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations (collectively, nonroutine expenses)) from exceeding 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets during the period from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017.* Please see the most recent prospectus and any applicable supplement(s) for additional information on these fee waivers and/or reimbursements. Please see the “Financial highlights” section in this report for the most recent expense ratios.

 

Fund expense ratios    Class A                          Class C                      Institutional Class      

 

Total annual operating expenses

  

 

0.95%            

     

 

1.70%          

     

 

0.70%    

(without fee waivers)

              

Net expenses

   0.85%                   1.60%                 0.60%    

(including fee waivers, if any)

              

Type of waiver

   Contractual                     Contractual                   Contractual    

*The aggregate contractual waiver period covering this report is from Dec. 29, 2015 through Dec. 29, 2017.

 

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Performance summaries

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

Performance of a $10,000 investment1

Class A shares

Average annual total returns from Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017

 

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  

LOGO Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

     $10,000        $15,870  

LOGO Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund — Class A shares

     $9,550        $14,603  

Institutional Class shares

Average annual total returns from Dec. 31, 2013 (inception date) through Aug. 31, 2017

 

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Dec. 31, 2013, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  

LOGO Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

     $10,000        $11,882  

LOGO Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund — Institutional Class shares

     $10,000        $11,868  

 

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1 The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Class A shares assumes $10,000 invested in Class A shares of the Fund on Aug. 31, 2007, and includes the effect of a 4.50% front-end sales charge and the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index as of Aug. 31, 2007.

The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Institutional Class shares assumes $10,000 invested in Institutional Class shares of the Fund on Dec. 31, 2013, and includes the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index as of Dec. 31, 2013.

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholders would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares. Expense

limitations were in effect for some or all of the periods shown. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect. Expenses are listed in the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 7. Please note additional details on pages 6 through 9.

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index measures the total return performance of the long-term, investment grade tax-exempt bond market.

Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Performance of other Fund classes will vary due to different charges and expenses.

 

 

     

 

    Nasdaq symbols    

   CUSIPs      

Class A

   DEFFX    928918101   

Class C

     DMOCX    928918408   

Institutional Class

   DMNIX    928918705   

 

 

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Performance summaries   
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund    August 31, 2017

The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 800 523-1918 or visiting delawarefunds.com/performance.

 

Fund and benchmark performance1, 2    Average annual total returns through August 31, 2017  
      1 year     5 years     10 years     Lifetime  

Class A (Est. Oct. 27, 1985)

        

Excluding sales charge

     +0.55%       +2.40%       +3.83%       +4.81%  

Including sales charge

     -2.19%       +1.82%       +3.54%       +4.72%  

Class C (Est. May 4, 1994)

        

Excluding sales charge

     -0.39%       +1.52%       +2.95%       +3.37%  

Including sales charge

     -1.36%       +1.52%       +2.95%       +3.37%  

Institutional Class (Est. Dec. 31, 2013)

        

Excluding sales charge

     +0.61%       n/a       n/a       +3.76%  

Including sales charge

     +0.61%       n/a       n/a       +3.76%  
Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index      +1.09%       +2.93%       +4.60%       +4.07*  

*The benchmark lifetime return is for Institutional Class share comparison only and is calculated using the last business day in the month of the Fund’s Institutional Class inception date.

1 Returns reflect the reinvestment of all distributions and are presented both with and without the applicable sales charges described below. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares.

Expense limitations were in effect for certain classes during some or all of the periods shown in the “Fund and benchmark performance” table. Expenses for each class are listed on the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 11. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts.

Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 2.75%, and have an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. This fee has been contractually limited to 0.15% of average daily net assets from Sept. 1, 2016, through Aug. 31, 2017.** Performance for Class A shares, excluding sales charges, assumes that no front-end sales charge applied.

Class C shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed during the first 12 months. They are also subject to an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets. Performance for Class C shares, excluding sales charges, assumes either that contingent deferred sales charges did not apply or that the investment was not redeemed.

 

 

** The aggregate contractual waiver period covering this report is from Dec. 29, 2015 through Dec. 29, 2017.
 

 

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Fixed income securities and bond funds can lose value, and investors can lose principal, as interest rates rise. They also may be affected by economic conditions that hinder an issuer’s ability to make interest and principal payments on its debt.

The Fund may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity, at the time when interest rates are lower than what the bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

Funds that invest primarily in one state may be more susceptible to the economic, regulatory, regional, and other factors of that state than geographically diversified funds.

Substantially all dividend income derived from tax-free funds is exempt from federal income tax. Some income may be subject to state or local and/or the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT) that applies to certain investors. Capital gains, if any, are taxable.

Duration number will change as market conditions

change. Therefore, duration should not be solely relied upon to indicate a municipal bond fund’s potential volatility.

This document may mention bond ratings published by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch, Inc. For securities rated by an NRSRO other than S&P, the rating is converted to the equivalent S&P credit rating. Bonds rated AAA are rated as having the highest quality and are generally considered to have the lowest degree of investment risk. Bonds rated AA are considered to be of high quality, but with a slightly higher degree of risk than bonds rated AAA. Bonds rated A are considered to have many favorable investment qualities, though they are somewhat more susceptible to adverse economic conditions. Bonds rated BBB are believed to be of medium-grade quality and generally riskier over the long term. Bonds rated BB, B, and CCC are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, with BB indicating the least degree of speculation of the three.

 

 

2 The Fund’s expense ratios, as described in the most recent prospectus, are disclosed in the following “Fund expense ratios” table. Delaware Management Company has agreed to reimburse certain expenses and/or waive certain fees in order to prevent total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations (collectively, nonroutine expenses)) from exceeding 0.69% of the Fund’s average daily net assets during the period from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017.* Please see the most recent prospectus and any applicable supplement(s) for additional information on these fee waivers and/or reimbursements. Please see the “Financial highlights” section in this report for the most recent expense ratios.

 

Fund expense ratios   Class A        Class C            Institutional Class    

 

Total annual operating expenses

(without fee waivers)

 

 

0.97%

   

 

1.72%

   

 

0.72%

Net expenses

(including fee waivers, if any)

  0.84%     1.69%     0.69%

Type of waiver

      Contractual               Contractual               Contractual    

*The aggregate contractual waiver period covering this report is from Dec. 29, 2015 through Dec. 29, 2017.

 

11


Table of Contents

Performance summaries

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

Performance of a $10,000 investment1

Class A shares

Average annual total returns from Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  
LOGO Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index      $10,000        $15,674  
LOGO Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund — Class A shares      $9,725        $14,162  

Institutional Class shares

Average annual total returns from Dec. 31, 2013 (inception date) through Aug. 31, 2017

 

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Dec. 31, 2013, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  
LOGO Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index      $10,000        $11,576  
LOGO  Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund — Institutional Class shares      $10,000        $11,449  

 

12


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1 The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Class A shares assumes $10,000 invested in Class A shares of the Fund on Aug. 31, 2007, and includes the effect of a 2.75% front-end sales charge and the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index as of Aug. 31, 2007.

The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Institutional Class shares assumes $10,000 invested in Institutional Class shares of the Fund on Dec. 31, 2013, and includes the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index as of Dec. 31, 2013.

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholders would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares. Expense

limitations were in effect for some or all of the periods shown. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect. Expenses are listed in the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 11. Please note additional details on pages 10 through 13.

The Bloomberg Barclays 3–15 Year Blend Municipal Bond Index measures the total return performance of investment grade, US tax-exempt bonds with maturities from 2 to 17 years.

Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Performance of other Fund classes will vary due to different charges and expenses.

 

 

    

 

Nasdaq symbols

  CUSIPs     

Class A

  DXCCX   928930106  

Class C

  DVSCX   928930205  

Institutional Class

 

  DMIIX     92910U109    

 

13


Table of Contents
Performance summaries   
Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund    August 31, 2017

The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 800 523-1918 or visiting delawarefunds.com/performance.

 

Fund and benchmark performance1, 2    Average annual total returns through August 31, 2017  
      1 year     5 years     10 years     Lifetime  

Class A (Est. June 4, 1996)

        

Excluding sales charge

     +0.84%       +3.16%       +4.57%       +5.15%  

Including sales charge

     -3.66%       +2.21%       +4.09%       +4.92%  

Class C (Est. June 7, 1996)

        

Excluding sales charge

     +0.09%       +2.39%       +3.78%       +4.37%  

Including sales charge

     -0.89%       +2.39%       +3.78%       +4.37%  

Institutional Class (Est. Dec. 31, 2013)

        

Excluding sales charge

     +1.09%       n/a       n/a       +5.17%  

Including sales charge

     +1.09%       n/a       n/a       +5.17%  

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

     +0.88%       +3.23%       +4.73%       +4.81%*  

*The benchmark lifetime return is for Institutional Class share comparison only and is calculated using the last business day in the month of the Fund’s Institutional Class inception date.

 

1 Returns reflect the reinvestment of all distributions and are presented both with and without the applicable sales charges described below. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares.

Expense limitations were in effect for certain classes during some or all of the periods shown in the “Fund and benchmark performance” table. Expenses for each class are listed on the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 15. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect.

Institutional Class shares are available without sales or asset-based distribution charges only to certain eligible accounts.

Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.50%, and have an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. Performance for Class A shares,

excluding sales charges, assumes that no front-end sales charge applied.

Class C shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed during the first 12 months. They are also subject to an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets. Performance for Class C shares, excluding sales charges, assumes either that contingent deferred sales charges did not apply or that the investment was not redeemed.

Fixed income securities and bond funds can lose value, and investors can lose principal, as interest rates rise. They also may be affected by economic conditions that hinder an issuer’s ability to make interest and principal payments on its debt.

The Fund may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a bond that is held by a portfolio will be prepaid prior to maturity at the time when interest rates are lower than what the bond was paying. A portfolio may then have to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.

 

 

14


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High yielding, non-investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve higher risk than investment grade

bonds. The high yield secondary market is particularly susceptible to liquidity problems when institutional investors, such as mutual funds and certain other financial institutions, temporarily stop buying bonds for regulatory, financial, or other reasons. In addition, a less liquid secondary market makes it more difficult for the Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.

Funds that invest primarily in one state may be more susceptible to the economic, regulatory, regional, and other factors of that state than geographically diversified funds.

Substantially all dividend income derived from tax-free funds is exempt from federal income tax. Some income may be subject to state or local and/or the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT) that applies to certain investors. Capital gains, if any, are taxable.

Duration number will change as market conditions

change. Therefore, duration should not be solely relied upon to indicate a municipal bond fund’s potential volatility.

This document may mention bond ratings published by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch, Inc. For securities rated by an NRSRO other than S&P, the rating is converted to the equivalent S&P credit rating. Bonds rated AAA are rated as having the highest quality and are generally considered to have the lowest degree of investment risk. Bonds rated AA are considered to be of high quality, but with a slightly higher degree of risk than bonds rated AAA. Bonds rated A are considered to have many favorable investment qualities, though they are somewhat more susceptible to adverse economic conditions. Bonds rated BBB are believed to be of medium-grade quality and generally riskier over the long term. Bonds rated BB, B, and CCC are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, with BB indicating the least degree of speculation of the three.

 

 

2 The Fund’s expense ratios, as described in the most recent prospectus, are disclosed in the following “Fund expense ratios” table. Delaware Management Company has agreed to reimburse certain expenses and/or waive certain fees in order to prevent total annual fund operating expenses (excluding any 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations (collectively, nonroutine expenses)) from exceeding 0.64% of the Fund’s average daily net assets during the period from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017.* Please see the most recent prospectus and any applicable supplement(s) for additional information on these fee waivers and/or reimbursements. Please see the “Financial highlights” section in this report for the most recent expense ratios.

 

Fund expense ratios   Class A        Class C            Institutional Class    

 

Total annual operating expenses

(without fee waivers)

 

 

0.98%

   

 

1.73%

   

 

0.73%

Net expenses

(including fee waivers, if any)

  0.89%     1.64%     0.64%

Type of waiver

      Contractual               Contractual               Contractual    

*The aggregate contractual waiver period covering this report is from Dec. 29, 2015 through Dec. 29, 2017.

 

15


Table of Contents

Performance summaries

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

Performance of a $10,000 investment1

Class A shares

Average annual total returns from Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017

 

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Aug. 31, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  

LOGO Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

     $10,000        $15,870  

LOGO Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund — Class A shares

     $9,550        $14,926  

Institutional Class shares

Average annual total returns from Dec. 31, 2013 (inception date) through Aug. 31, 2017

 

LOGO

 

For period beginning Dec. 31, 2013, through Aug. 31, 2017    Starting value      Ending value  

LOGO  Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund — Institutional Class shares

     $10,000        $12,027  

LOGO Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

     $10,000        $11,882  

 

16


Table of Contents

    

 

 

 

1 The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Class A shares assumes $10,000 invested in Class A shares of the Fund on Aug. 31, 2007, and includes the effect of a 4.50% front-end sales charge and the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index as of Aug. 31, 2007.

The “Performance of a $10,000 investment” graph for Institutional Class shares assumes $10,000 invested in Institutional Class shares of the Fund on Dec. 31, 2013, and includes the reinvestment of all distributions. The graph also assumes $10,000 invested in the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index as of Dec. 31, 2013.

The graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholders would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares. Expense

limitations were in effect for some or all of the periods shown. Performance would have been lower had expense limitations not been in effect. Expenses are listed in the “Fund expense ratios” table on page 15. Please note additional details on pages 14 through 17.

The Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index measures the total return performance of the long-term, investment grade tax-exempt bond market.

Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Indices are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Performance of other Fund classes will vary due to different charges and expenses.

 

 

    

 

Nasdaq symbols

  CUSIPs     

Class A

  DVMHX   928928316  

Class C

  DVMMX   928928282  

Institutional Class

 

  DMHIX     928928175    

 

17


Table of Contents

Disclosure of Fund expenses

For the six-month period from March 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. These following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period from March 1, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2017.

Actual expenses

The first section of the tables shown, “Actual Fund return,” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section of the table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The second section of the tables shown, “Hypothetical 5% return,” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second section of each table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher. The Funds’ expenses shown in the tables reflect fee waivers in effect. The expenses shown in each table assume reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.

 

18


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Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

Expense analysis of an investment of $1,000

 

      Beginning
Account Value
3/1/17
   Ending
Account Value
8/31/17
   Annualized
Expense Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During Period
3/1/17 to 8/31/17*
 

Actual Fund return

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,031.90    0.85%     $4.35  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,027.90    1.60%       8.18  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,033.20    0.60%       3.07  

Hypothetical 5% return (5% return before expenses)

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,020.92    0.85%     $4.33  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,017.14    1.60%       8.13  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,022.18    0.60%       3.06  

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

Expense analysis of an investment of $1,000

 

      Beginning
Account Value
3/1/17
   Ending
Account Value
8/31/17
   Annualized
Expense Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During Period
3/1/17 to 8/31/17*
 

Actual Fund return

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,031.40    0.84%     $4.30  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,026.10    1.69%       8.63  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,031.20    0.69%       3.53  

Hypothetical 5% return (5% return before expenses)

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,020.97    0.84%     $4.28  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,016.69    1.69%       8.59  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,021.73    0.69%       3.52  

 

19


Table of Contents

Disclosure of Fund expenses

For the six-month period from March 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Expense analysis of an investment of $1,000

 

      Beginning
Account Value
3/1/17
   Ending
Account Value
8/31/17
   Annualized
Expense Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During Period
3/1/17 to 8/31/17*
 

Actual Fund return

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,038.70    0.89%     $4.57  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,033.80    1.64%       8.41  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,039.00    0.64%       3.29  

Hypothetical 5% return (5% return before expenses)

 

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,020.72    0.89%     $4.53  

Class C

     1,000.00      1,016.94    1.64%       8.34  

Institutional Class

     1,000.00      1,021.98    0.64%       3.26  

 

* “Expenses Paid During Period” are equal to the relevant Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Because actual returns reflect only the most recent six-month period, the returns shown may differ significantly from fiscal year returns.

 

20


Table of Contents
Security type / sector / territory allocations
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund    As of August 31, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector designations may be different than the sector designations presented in other fund materials.

 

Security type / sector    Percentage of net assets     

Municipal Bonds*

       98.48 %  

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bonds

       1.70 %  

Education Revenue Bonds

       14.63 %  

Electric Revenue Bonds

       6.56 %  

Healthcare Revenue Bonds

       25.09 %  

Housing Revenue Bonds

       0.50 %  

Lease Revenue Bonds

       2.97 %  

Local General Obligation Bonds

       10.90 %  

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds

       17.16 %  

Special Tax Revenue Bonds

       1.68 %  

State General Obligation Bonds

       10.78 %  

Transportation Revenue Bonds

       4.35 %  

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds

       2.16 %    

Short-Term Investments

       1.43 %    

Total Value of Securities

       99.91 %    

Receivables and Other Assets Net of Liabilities

       0.09 %    

Total Net Assets

       100.00 %    

* As of the date of this report, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund held bonds issued by or on behalf of territories and the states of the US as follows:

 

State / territory    Percentage of net assets     

Guam

       0.32 %  

Minnesota

       99.21 %  

US Virgin Islands

       0.38 %    

Total Value of Securities

           99.91 %    

 

21


Table of Contents
Security type / sector / territory allocations
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund    As of August 31, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector designations may be different than the sector designations presented in other fund materials.

 

Security type / sector    Percentage of net assets     

Municipal Bonds*

       98.59 %  

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bond

       0.75 %  

Education Revenue Bonds

       16.32 %  

Electric Revenue Bonds

       8.68 %  

Healthcare Revenue Bonds

       24.47 %  

Housing Revenue Bonds

       0.31 %  

Lease Revenue Bonds

       6.41 %  

Local General Obligation Bonds

       7.08 %  

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds

       14.82 %  

Special Tax Revenue Bonds

       0.58 %  

State General Obligation Bonds

       13.84 %  

Transportation Revenue Bonds

       3.81 %  

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds

       1.52 %    

Short-Term Investment

       0.75 %    

Total Value of Securities

       99.34 %    

Receivables and Other Assets Net of Liabilities

       0.66 %    

Total Net Assets

       100.00 %    

* As of the date of this report, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund held bonds issued by or on behalf of territories and the states of the US as follows:

 

State / territory    Percentage of net assets     

Guam

       0.33 %  

Minnesota

       99.01 %    

Total Value of Securities

           99.34 %    

 

22


Table of Contents
Security type / sector / territory allocations
Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund    As of August 31, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector designations may be different than the sector designations presented in other fund materials.

 

Security type / sector    Percentage of net assets     

Municipal Bonds*

       98.99 %  

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bonds

       3.02 %  

Education Revenue Bonds

       20.82 %  

Electric Revenue Bonds

       8.28 %  

Healthcare Revenue Bonds

       27.24 %  

Housing Revenue Bonds

       1.56 %  

Lease Revenue Bonds

       2.88 %  

Local General Obligation Bonds

       11.88 %  

Pre-Refunded Bonds

       9.64 %  

Special Tax Revenue Bonds

       3.03 %  

State General Obligation Bonds

       5.96 %  

Transportation Revenue Bonds

       3.35 %  

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds

       1.33 %    

Short-Term Investments

       0.29 %    

Total Value of Securities

       99.28 %    

Receivables and Other Assets Net of Liabilities

       0.72 %    

Total Net Assets

       100.00 %    

* As of the date of this report, Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund held bonds issued by or on behalf of territories and the states of the US as follows:

 

State / territory    Percentage of net assets     

Guam

       0.32 %  

Minnesota

       98.96 %    

Total Value of Securities

           99.28 %    

 

23


Table of Contents
Schedules of investments
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund    August 31, 2017

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds – 98.48%

     

 

 

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bonds – 1.70%

     

Laurentian Energy Authority I Cogeneration Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/21

     8,000,000      $ 7,987,280  

St. Paul Port Authority Solid Waste Disposal Revenue

     

(Gerdau St. Paul Steel Mill Project)

     

Series 7 144A 4.50% 10/1/37 (AMT)#

     1,790,000        1,608,512  
     

 

 

 
                9,595,792  
     

 

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds – 14.63%

     

Brooklyn Park Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Prairie Seeds Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 3/1/34

     2,260,000        2,360,502  

Series A 5.00% 3/1/39

     385,000        398,625  

Cologne Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Cologne Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/34

     250,000        259,503  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/45

     1,390,000        1,427,113  

Deephaven Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Eagle Ridge Academy Project) Series A 5.50% 7/1/50

     2,000,000        2,132,040  

Duluth Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(Public Schools Academy) Series A 5.875% 11/1/40

     3,500,000        3,617,250  

Forest Lake Charter School Lease Revenue Fund

     

(Lakes International Language Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.50% 8/1/36

     580,000        624,498  

Series A 5.75% 8/1/44

     1,190,000        1,288,306  

Ham Lake Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Davinci Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/36

     765,000        779,726  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/47

     2,290,000        2,311,022  

Hugo Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Noble Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/34

     580,000        596,861  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/44

     1,770,000        1,800,621  

Minneapolis Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Hiawatha Academies Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/31

     885,000        926,108  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/47

     2,300,000        2,337,214  

Minneapolis Student Housing Revenue

     

(Riverton Community Housing Project)

     

5.25% 8/1/39

     470,000        484,255  

5.50% 8/1/49

     2,260,000        2,340,953  

Minnesota Colleges & Universities Revenue Fund

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/26

     4,990,000        6,237,101  

 

24


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Bethel University)

     

5.00% 5/1/32

     1,375,000      $         1,570,731  

5.00% 5/1/37

     1,250,000        1,406,963  

5.00% 5/1/47

     250,000        278,133  

(Carleton College)

     

4.00% 3/1/35

     1,000,000        1,089,900  

4.00% 3/1/36

     415,000        450,516  

5.00% 3/1/34

     225,000        271,669  

5.00% 3/1/44

     2,085,000        2,461,488  

(College of St. Benedict) Series 8-K 4.00% 3/1/43

     1,000,000        1,032,770  

(Gustavus Adolphus College) 5.00% 10/1/47

     4,850,000        5,593,796  

(St. Catherine University)

     

Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/23

     350,000        402,469  

Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/24

     475,000        544,777  

Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/27

     200,000        224,614  

(St. John’s University)

     

Series 8-I 5.00% 10/1/32

     500,000        583,000  

Series 8-I 5.00% 10/1/33

     250,000        290,123  

(St. Olaf College)

     

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/31

     670,000        785,421  

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/32

     670,000        783,257  

Series 8-N 4.00% 10/1/35

     500,000        543,635  

(St. Scholastica College) Series 7-J 6.30% 12/1/40

     1,800,000        1,937,178  

(University of St. Thomas)

     

Series 7-A 5.00% 10/1/39

     2,000,000        2,142,700  

Series 7-U 5.00% 4/1/23

     550,000        652,333  

Series 8-L 5.00% 4/1/35

     750,000        870,135  

Otsego Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Kaleidoscope Charter School)

     

Series A 5.00% 9/1/34

     520,000        541,804  

Series A 5.00% 9/1/44

     1,165,000        1,199,647  

Rice County Educational Facilities Revenue

     

(Shattuck-St. Mary’s School) Series A 144A

5.00% 8/1/22  #

     2,855,000        3,034,865  

St. Cloud Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Stride Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 4/1/46

     875,000        621,180  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Academia Cesar Chavez School Project) Series A

5.25% 7/1/50

     1,945,000        1,989,988  

 

25


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter

     

School Lease Revenue

     

(Great River School Project)

     

Series A 144A 4.75% 7/1/29  #

     150,000      $ 152,706  

Series A 144A 5.50% 7/1/52  #

     735,000        739,373  

(Nova Classical Academy Project) Series A

4.125% 9/1/47

     1,750,000        1,750,647  

(Twin Cities Academy Project) Series A 5.30% 7/1/45

     1,440,000        1,486,642  

University of Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 4/1/34

     925,000        1,108,159  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/35

     3,175,000        3,790,093  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/36

     2,650,000        3,156,627  

Series A 5.25% 12/1/28

     1,000,000        1,134,640  

Series A 5.25% 12/1/29

     1,850,000        2,099,084  

Series D 5.00% 12/1/27

     1,000,000        1,155,090  

(State Supported Stadium Debt) Series A 5.00% 8/1/26

     3,760,000        4,631,568  
     

 

 

 
                82,429,419  
     

 

 

 

Electric Revenue Bonds – 6.56%

     

Chaska Electric Revenue

     

(Generating Facilities) Series A 5.00% 10/1/30

     1,150,000        1,349,341  

Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Electric Revenue

     

4.00% 10/1/41

     1,000,000        1,069,120  

5.00% 10/1/29

     395,000        467,099  

5.00% 10/1/30

     500,000        587,855  

5.00% 10/1/33

     1,205,000        1,404,524  

Series A 5.00% 10/1/30

     1,060,000        1,246,253  

Series A 5.00% 10/1/34

     750,000        871,013  

Series A 5.00% 10/1/35

     1,525,000        1,767,841  

Northern Municipal Power Agency Electric System Revenue

     

5.00% 1/1/27

     540,000        652,709  

5.00% 1/1/30

     520,000        614,229  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/25

     125,000        146,153  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/26

     425,000        493,153  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/31

     520,000        585,900  

Rochester Electric Utility Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/42

     1,395,000        1,642,278  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/47

     2,265,000        2,654,399  

Series B 5.00% 12/1/27

     295,000        352,549  

Series B 5.00% 12/1/28

     275,000        327,717  

Series B 5.00% 12/1/31

     1,365,000        1,607,929  

Series B 5.00% 12/1/33

     300,000        350,892  

 

26


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Electric Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/41

     1,310,000      $ 1,498,745  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/46

     2,000,000        2,277,100  

Capital Appreciation Series A

     

6.70% 1/1/25 (NATL)^

     5,000,000        4,317,900  

Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/33

     1,000,000        1,165,300  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/34

     4,000,000        4,648,360  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/40

     1,250,000        1,439,063  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/46

     3,000,000        3,436,680  
     

 

 

 
                36,974,102  
     

 

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds – 25.09%

     

Alexandria Senior Housing Revenue

     

(Knute Nelson Senior Living Campus)

     

6.00% 7/1/35

     1,500,000        1,517,520  

6.20% 7/1/45

     2,000,000        2,023,720  

Anoka Healthcare & Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Anoka Project)

     

5.125% 11/1/49

     1,100,000        1,119,162  

5.375% 11/1/34

     320,000        335,274  

Apple Valley Senior Living Revenue

     

(Senior Living LLC Project)

     

2nd Tier Series B 5.00% 1/1/47

     1,725,000        1,768,746  

4th Tier Series D 7.00% 1/1/37

     1,665,000        1,646,901  

4th Tier Series D 7.25% 1/1/52

     2,500,000        2,480,875  

Breckenridge Catholic Health Initiatives

     

Series A 5.00% 5/1/30

     2,250,000        2,257,290  

Center City Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Project)

     

5.00% 11/1/26

     500,000        584,745  

Dakota County Community Development Agency Senior

     

Housing Revenue

     

(Walker Highview Hills Project)

     

Series A 144A 5.00% 8/1/36  #

     280,000        287,221  

Series A 144A 5.00% 8/1/46  #

     2,380,000        2,425,577  

Deephaven Housing & Healthcare Revenue

     

(St. Therese Senior Living Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 4/1/38

     730,000        744,563  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/40

     705,000        717,676  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/48

     315,000        317,696  

 

27


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Duluth Economic Development Authority

     

(St. Luke’s Hospital Authority Obligation Group)

     

5.75% 6/15/32

     1,850,000      $         2,014,077  

6.00% 6/15/39

     3,570,000        3,909,043  

Fergus Falls Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Lake Region Health Care)

     

5.15% 8/1/35

     1,250,000        1,251,275  

5.40% 8/1/40

     1,000,000        1,001,250  

Glencoe Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Glencoe Regional Health Services Project)

     

4.00% 4/1/24

     500,000        536,655  

4.00% 4/1/25

     660,000        708,101  

4.00% 4/1/31

     60,000        62,996  

Hayward Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(American Baptist Homes Midwest Obligated Group)

     

5.375% 8/1/34

     660,000        681,694  

5.75% 2/1/44

     500,000        519,900  

(St. John’s Lutheran Home of Albert Lea)

     

5.375% 10/1/44

     1,570,000        1,592,059  

Maple Grove Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Maple Grove Hospital Corporation)

     

4.00% 5/1/37

     2,000,000        2,084,680  

5.00% 5/1/27

     1,400,000        1,699,796  

5.00% 5/1/29

     1,000,000        1,184,860  

5.00% 5/1/30

     850,000        1,001,351  

5.00% 5/1/31

     500,000        585,185  

5.00% 5/1/32

     500,000        582,895  

(North Memorial Health Care)

     

5.00% 9/1/31

     1,000,000        1,140,550  

5.00% 9/1/32

     1,000,000        1,134,470  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/33

     500,000        581,320  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/34

     500,000        579,725  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/44

     1,000,000        1,136,680  

Series B Unrefunded Balance 6.50% 11/15/38 (AGC)

     1,730,000        1,835,253  

Minneapolis Senior Housing & Healthcare Revenue

     

(Ecumen-Abiitan Mill City Project)

     

5.00% 11/1/35

     500,000        517,660  

5.25% 11/1/45

     1,950,000        2,017,392  

5.375% 11/1/50

     455,000        470,666  

 

28


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A 5.00% 11/15/28

     1,550,000      $ 1,899,851  

(Children’s Health Care) Series A 5.25% 8/15/35

     2,085,000        2,281,657  

Minnesota Agricultural & Economic Development Board Revenue

     

(Essenthia Remarketing)

     

Series C-1 5.00% 2/15/30 (AGC)

     5,725,000        6,120,827  

Series C-1 5.25% 2/15/23 (AGC)

     5,000,000        5,490,450  

Series C-1 5.50% 2/15/25 (AGC)

     5,120,000        5,609,626  

Red Wing Senior Housing

     

(Deer Crest Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/1/27

     430,000        451,487  

Series A 5.00% 11/1/32

     330,000        343,217  

Series A 5.00% 11/1/42

     1,250,000                1,291,375  

Rochester Health Care & Housing Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Rochester Project) Series A

     

6.875% 12/1/48

     2,980,000        3,325,233  

Rochester Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Mayo Clinic)

     

4.00% 11/15/41

     4,515,000        4,681,468  

Series D Remarketing 5.00% 11/15/38

     6,405,000        6,934,886  

(Olmsted Medical Center Project)

     

5.00% 7/1/24

     295,000        348,303  

5.00% 7/1/33

     650,000        730,912  

5.875% 7/1/30

     1,850,000        2,046,193  

Sartell Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Country Manor Campus Project)

     

Series A 5.25% 9/1/27

     1,280,000        1,353,933  

Series A 5.30% 9/1/37

     1,200,000        1,257,180  

Series A 6.375% 9/1/42

     2,435,000        2,439,286  

Sauk Rapids Health Care Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(Good Shepherd Lutheran Home) 5.125% 1/1/39

     1,350,000        1,362,811  

Shakopee Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(St. Francis Regional Medical Center)

     

4.00% 9/1/31

     915,000        982,554  

5.00% 9/1/24

     575,000        691,587  

5.00% 9/1/25

     750,000        893,407  

5.00% 9/1/26

     575,000        679,328  

5.00% 9/1/27

     405,000        473,425  

5.00% 9/1/28

     425,000        492,345  

5.00% 9/1/29

     425,000        488,231  

 

29


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Shakopee Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(St. Francis Regional Medical Center)

     

5.00% 9/1/34

     730,000      $ 825,009  

St. Cloud Health Care Revenue

     

(Centracare Health System Project)

     

Series A 4.00% 5/1/37

     965,000        1,032,801  

Series A 5.00% 5/1/46

     7,715,000        8,808,678  

Unrefunded Balance 5.125% 5/1/30

     740,000        804,040  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A-1 Unrefunded Balance

     

5.25% 11/15/29

     2,825,000        3,086,793  

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 4.00% 11/15/43

     2,080,000        2,186,766  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/47

     1,560,000        1,814,576  

(Health Partners Obligation Group Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/29

     2,200,000        2,586,474  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/32

     2,500,000        2,891,975  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/33

     1,260,000        1,452,755  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Housing & Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Senior Episcopal Homes Project) 5.125% 5/1/48

     3,100,000        3,138,781  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Multifamily Housing Revenue

     

(Marian Center Project)

     

Series A 5.30% 11/1/30

     500,000        500,390  

Series A 5.375% 5/1/43

     500,000        500,290  

Wayzata Senior Housing Revenue

     

(Folkestone Senior Living Community)

     

Series A 5.50% 11/1/32

     1,050,000        1,117,998  

Series A 5.75% 11/1/39

     2,365,000        2,519,671  

Series A 6.00% 5/1/47

     3,685,000        3,918,997  

Winona Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Winona Health Obligation Group)

     

4.50% 7/1/25

     850,000        909,185  

4.65% 7/1/26

     540,000        577,784  

Woodbury Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(St. Therese of Woodbury)

     

5.00% 12/1/34

     500,000        515,285  

5.125% 12/1/44

     1,605,000        1,651,850  

5.25% 12/1/49

     750,000        771,367  
     

 

 

 
                141,337,536  
     

 

 

 

 

30


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Housing Revenue Bonds – 0.50%

     

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Homeownership

     

Finance (Mortgage-Backed Securities Program)
Series D 4.70% 1/1/31 (GNMA) (FNMA) (FHLMC)

     1,375,000      $ 1,463,385  

Northwest Multi-County Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

(Pooled Housing Program) 5.50% 7/1/45

     1,330,000        1,346,412  
     

 

 

 
                2,809,797  
     

 

 

 

Lease Revenue Bonds – 2.97%

     

Minnesota General Fund Revenue Appropriations

     

Series A 5.00% 6/1/38

     1,250,000        1,435,113  

Series A 5.00% 6/1/43

     3,835,000        4,376,272  

Series B 5.00% 3/1/28

     2,500,000        2,892,425  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

     

(State Appropriation – Housing Infrastructure)

     

Series C 5.00% 8/1/34

     1,565,000        1,791,737  

Series C 5.00% 8/1/35

     1,645,000        1,904,499  

University of Minnesota Special Purpose Revenue

     

(State Supported Biomed Science Research Facilities Funding Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/35

     3,960,000        4,349,466  
     

 

 

 
        16,749,512  
     

 

 

 

Local General Obligation Bonds – 10.90%

     

Anoka County Capital Improvement

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/22

     500,000        528,880  

Brainerd Independent School District No. 181

     

(School Building) Series A 4.00% 2/1/23

     5,990,000        6,245,773  

Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Independent School District No. 191

     

(Alternative Facilities)

     

Series A 4.00% 2/1/28

     920,000        1,039,729  

Series A 4.00% 2/1/29

     1,800,000        2,015,874  

Chaska Independent School District No. 112

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/27

     1,905,000        2,357,685  

Duluth

     

(DECC Improvement)

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/32

     1,000,000        1,191,180  

Series A 5.00% 2/1/33

     3,585,000        4,252,419  

Duluth Independent School District No. 709

     

Series A 4.00% 2/1/27

     160,000        181,651  

Series A 4.00% 2/1/28

     1,250,000        1,401,987  

Edina Independent School District No. 273

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/27

     5,660,000        6,917,595  

 

 

31


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Local General Obligation Bonds (continued)

     

Farmington Independent School District No. 192

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/25

     3,775,000      $ 4,539,135  

Hennepin County

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/26

     1,885,000        2,404,317  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/36

     3,065,000        3,697,003  

Series B 5.00% 12/1/30

     1,000,000        1,237,320  

Series C 5.00% 12/1/28

     1,500,000        1,954,050  

Series C 5.00% 12/1/30

     2,745,000        3,396,443  

Metropolitan Council General Obligation Wastewater

     

Revenue (Minneapolis-St.Paul Metropolitan Area)

     

Series C 4.00% 3/1/31

     3,120,000        3,556,020  

Series C 4.00% 3/1/32

     3,225,000        3,643,476  

South Washington County Independent School District No. 833

     

(School Building)

     

Series A 4.75% 2/1/25

     2,500,000        2,539,575  

Series A 4.75% 2/1/26

     3,600,000        3,656,988  

Series A 4.75% 2/1/27

     2,300,000        2,336,409  

St Michael-Albertville Independent School District No. 885

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/27

     1,865,000        2,301,652  
     

 

 

 
                61,395,161  
     

 

 

 

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds – 17.16%

     

Anoka Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Anoka Project)

     

Series A 7.00% 11/1/40-19§

     1,000,000        1,136,100  

Series A 7.00% 11/1/46-19§

     1,220,000        1,386,042  

Anoka Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(Senior Homestead Anoka Project)

     

Series B 6.875% 11/1/34-19§

     2,015,000        2,291,619  

Dakota & Washington Counties Housing & Redevelopment

     

Authority Single Family Residential Mortgage Revenue

     

(City of Anoka) 8.45% 9/1/19 (GNMA) (AMT)

     9,000,000        10,207,440  

(City of Bloomington)

     

Series B 8.375% 9/1/21 (GNMA) (AMT)

     14,115,000        17,879,188  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 6.625% 11/15/28-18§

     3,000,000        3,208,170  

Series B 6.50% 11/15/38-18 (AGC)§

     175,000        186,891  

Minneapolis Revenue

     

(National Marrow Donor Program Project)

     

4.875% 8/1/25-18§

     6,430,000        6,667,267  

Minnesota Colleges & Universities Revenue Fund

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/28-18§

     6,000,000        6,276,600  

 

 

32


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds (continued)

     

Rochester Healthcare & Housing Revenue

     

(Samaritan Bethany Project) Series A

     

7.375% 12/1/41-19§

     5,220,000      $ 5,587,488  

St. Cloud Health Care Revenue

     

(Centracare Health System Project)

     

5.375% 5/1/31-19 (AGC)§

     1,000,000        1,074,430  

5.50% 5/1/39-19 (AGC)§

     6,000,000        6,458,940  

St. Louis Park Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Park Nicollet Health Services)

     

5.75% 7/1/39-19§

     12,025,000        13,089,814  

Series C 5.75% 7/1/30-18§

     2,035,000        2,119,859  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A-1 5.25% 11/15/29-19§

     2,780,000        3,042,349  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Hospital Facility Revenue

     

(Healtheast Care System Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/29-25§

     910,000        1,140,758  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/30-25§

     670,000        839,899  

University of Minnesota

     

Series A 5.50% 7/1/21

     12,500,000        14,071,500  
     

 

 

 
                96,664,354  
     

 

 

 

Special Tax Revenue Bonds – 1.68%

     

Hennepin County Sales Tax Revenue

     

(Second Lien-Ballpark Project) Series B 5.00% 12/15/24

     1,150,000        1,164,214  

Minneapolis Development Revenue

     

(Limited Tax Supported Common Bond Fund)

     

Series 2-A 6.00% 12/1/40

     3,000,000        3,408,990  

Minneapolis Revenue

     

(YMCA Greater Twin Cities Project) 4.00% 6/1/30

     250,000        270,007  

St. Paul Sales Tax Revenue

     

Series G 5.00% 11/1/30

     655,000        759,865  

Series G 5.00% 11/1/31

     1,500,000        1,735,020  

Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority

     

(Matching Fund Senior Lien) 5.00% 10/1/29 (AGM)

     2,000,000        2,124,200  
     

 

 

 
        9,462,296  
     

 

 

 

State General Obligation Bonds – 10.78%

     

Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/27

     7,590,000        9,354,068  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/29

     1,500,000        1,824,165  

Series A Unrefunded Balance 5.00% 10/1/24

     4,555,000        5,280,156  

 

33


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

State General Obligation Bonds (continued)

     

Minnesota

     

Series A Unrefunded Balance 5.00% 10/1/27

     5,200,000      $ 6,021,080  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/24

     4,500,000        5,557,095  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/26

     6,000,000        7,611,420  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/27

     2,500,000        3,141,650  

(State Trunk Highway) Series B 5.00% 10/1/29

     5,000,000        5,780,800  

(Various Purposes)

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/25

     5,545,000        6,774,105  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/30

     4,200,000        5,049,408  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/32

     2,755,000        3,290,297  

Series A Unrefunded Balance 4.00% 8/1/27

     955,000        1,058,054  
     

 

 

 
                60,742,298  
     

 

 

 

Transportation Revenue Bonds – 4.35%

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission Revenue

     

Senior

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/28

     1,250,000        1,363,800  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/29

     350,000        433,269  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/33

     850,000        1,025,109  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/36

     600,000        715,890  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/41

     600,000        706,116  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/46

     1,595,000        1,867,107  

Subordinate

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/35

     1,000,000        1,150,620  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/26

     575,000        660,945  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/27

     1,160,000        1,332,330  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/28

     2,750,000        3,156,037  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/29

     120,000        137,609  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/30

     1,675,000        1,881,795  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/31

     1,750,000        1,961,417  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(Parking Facilities Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/30

     1,870,000        1,973,467  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/35

     1,145,000        1,148,584  

(Smith Avenue Project) Series B 5.00% 8/1/35

     1,500,000        1,581,165  

St. Paul Port Authority Revenue

     

(Amherst H. Wilder Foundation) Series 3 5.00% 12/1/36

     3,200,000        3,378,336  
     

 

 

 
        24,473,596  
     

 

 

 

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds – 2.16%

     

Guam Government Waterworks Authority

     

5.00% 1/1/46

     1,670,000        1,802,181  

 

34


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Metropolitan Council Waste Water Treatment Revenue

     

Series B 4.00% 9/1/27

     2,400,000      $ 2,662,296  

Series B 5.00% 9/1/25

     2,000,000        2,371,660  

Series E 5.00% 9/1/23

     2,000,000        2,361,700  

Minnesota Public Facilities Authority

     

Series B 4.00% 3/1/26

     2,500,000        2,957,400  
     

 

 

 
        12,155,237  
     

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds (cost $527,951,022)

                554,789,100  
     

 

 

 
     

 

 

Short-Term Investments – 1.43%

     

 

 

Variable Rate Demand Notes – 1.43%¤

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Revenue

     

(Allina Health System)

     

Series B-1 0.79% 11/15/35

     

(LOC – JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.)

     1,000,000        1,000,000  

Series B-2 0.79% 11/15/35

     

(LOC – JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.)

     1,350,000        1,350,000  

(Children’s Hospitals & Clinics)

     

Series A-II 0.75% 8/15/37 (AGM) (SPA – US Bank N.A.)

     775,000        775,000  

Series B 0.75% 8/15/25 (AGM) (SPA – US Bank N.A.)

     4,950,000        4,950,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $8,075,000)

        8,075,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities – 99.91%
    (cost $536,026,022)

      $ 562,864,100  
     

 

 

 

 

# Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. At Aug. 31, 2017, the aggregate value of Rule 144A securities was $8,248,254, which represents 1.46% of the Fund’s net assets. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

¤ Tax-exempt obligations that contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and an unconditional right of demand to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period (generally up to 30 days) prior to specified dates either from the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit, a guarantee, or insurance issued with respect to such instrument. Each rate shown is as of Aug. 31, 2017.

 

§ Pre-refunded bonds. Municipal bonds that are generally backed or secured by US Treasury bonds. For pre-refunded bonds, the stated maturity is followed by the year in which the bond is pre-refunded. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

° Principal amount shown is stated in US dollars unless noted that the security is denominated in another currency.

 

^ Zero coupon security. The rate shown is the yield at the time of purchase.

 

35


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

 

Summary of abbreviations:

AGC – Insured by Assured Guaranty Corporation

AGM – Insured by Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation

AMT – Subject to Alternative Minimum Tax

FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation collateral

FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association collateral

GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association collateral

LOC – Letter of Credit

N.A. – National Association

NATL – Insured by National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation

SPA – Stand-by Purchase Agreement

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

36


Table of Contents
Schedules of investments
Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund    August 31, 2017

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds – 98.59%

     

 

 

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bond – 0.75%

     

Laurentian Energy Authority I Cogeneration Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/21

     750,000      $ 748,807  
     

 

 

 
        748,807  
     

 

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds – 16.32%

     

Brooklyn Park Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Prairie Seeds Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 3/1/34

     485,000        506,568  

Cologne Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Cologne Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 7/1/29

     305,000        321,943  

Forest Lake Charter School Lease Revenue Fund

     

(Lakes International Language Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.50% 8/1/36

     420,000        452,222  

Hugo Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Noble Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 7/1/29

     530,000        555,573  

Independence Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Beacon Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 7/1/46

     320,000        313,869  

Minneapolis Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Hiawatha Academies Project) Series A 5.00% 7/1/31

     500,000        523,225  

Minneapolis Student Housing Revenue

     

(Riverton Community Housing Project) 5.25% 8/1/39

     525,000        540,923  

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Bethel University) 5.00% 5/1/32

     525,000        599,734  

(Carleton College) 5.00% 3/1/34

     275,000        332,041  

(Gustavus Adolphus College)

     

5.00% 10/1/34

     435,000        513,831  

5.00% 10/1/35

     555,000        652,930  

(St. Catherine University) Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/22

     425,000        491,725  

(St. Johns University)

     

Series 6-U 4.40% 10/1/21

     325,000        336,889  

Series 6-U 4.50% 10/1/23

     265,000        274,967  

Series 8-I 5.00% 10/1/31

     130,000        151,992  

(St. Olaf College)

     

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/31

     125,000        146,534  

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/32

     125,000        146,130  

(St. Scholastica College) Series H 5.125% 12/1/30

     1,000,000        1,045,930  

(University of St. Thomas) Series 7-U 4.00% 4/1/26

     1,400,000        1,546,258  

Rice County Educational Facilities Revenue

     

(Shattuck-St. Mary’s School) Series A 144A

     

5.00% 8/1/22  #

     325,000                345,475  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Academia Cesar Chavez School Project) Series A

     

5.25% 7/1/50

     340,000        347,864  

 

37


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Great River School Project) Series A 144A

     

5.25% 7/1/33  #

     140,000      $ 142,432  

(Twin Cities Academy Project) Series A 5.30% 7/1/45

     260,000        268,421  

University of Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/23

     1,000,000        1,128,720  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/37

     1,125,000        1,337,209  

Series A 5.25% 12/1/28

     750,000        850,980  

Series D 5.00% 12/1/26

     1,000,000        1,156,440  

(State Supported Stadium Debt) Series A 5.00% 8/1/26

     1,000,000        1,231,800  
     

 

 

 
                16,262,625  
     

 

 

 

Electric Revenue Bonds – 8.68%

     

Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency

     

(Brookings Twin Cities Transmission Project)

     

Series E 5.00% 1/1/21

     1,095,000        1,219,129  

Series E 5.00% 1/1/23

     1,000,000        1,132,800  

Chaska Electric Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/28

     250,000        296,840  

Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Electric Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/29

     500,000        591,265  

Series A 5.00% 10/1/30

     240,000        282,170  

Northern Municipal Power Agency Electric System Revenue

     

5.00% 1/1/29

     150,000        178,296  

5.00% 1/1/31

     350,000        410,841  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/25

     200,000        233,844  

Rochester Electric Utility Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/28

     300,000        369,264  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/29

     500,000        611,225  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/31

     575,000        696,210  

Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/33

     2,250,000        2,621,925  
     

 

 

 
        8,643,809  
     

 

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds – 24.47%

     

Anoka Healthcare & Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Anoka Project) 5.375% 11/1/34

     270,000        282,887  

Apple Valley Senior Living Revenue

     

(Senior Living LLC Project)

     

3rd Tier Series C 4.25% 1/1/27

     500,000        504,905  

3rd Tier Series C 5.00% 1/1/32

     420,000        422,570  

 

38


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Center City Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Project)

     

5.00% 11/1/24

     600,000      $ 717,972  

Dakota County Community Development Agency Senior Housing Revenue

     

(Walker Highview Hills Project) Series A 144A

     

5.00% 8/1/36 #

     480,000        492,379  

Duluth Economic Development Authority

     

(St. Luke’s Hospital Authority Obligation Group)

     

5.75% 6/15/32

     750,000        816,517  

Fergus Falls Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Lake Region Health Care) 4.75% 8/1/25

     500,000        500,660  

Glencoe Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Glencoe Regional Health Services Project)

     

4.00% 4/1/26

     270,000        287,917  

Hayward Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(American Baptist Homes Midwest Obligated Group)

     

4.25% 8/1/24

     725,000        730,126  

(St. John’s Lutheran Home of Albert Lea)

     

5.375% 10/1/44

     300,000        304,215  

Maple Grove Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Maple Grove Hospital Corporation)

     

4.00% 5/1/37

     500,000        521,170  

5.00% 5/1/28

     1,000,000                1,202,690  

(North Memorial Health Care) 5.00% 9/1/31

     320,000        364,976  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/33

     500,000        581,320  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/34

     500,000        579,725  

Series B Unrefunded Balance 6.50% 11/15/38 (AGC)

     700,000        742,588  

Minneapolis Senior Housing & Healthcare Revenue

     

(Ecumen-Abiitan Mill City Project) 5.00% 11/1/35

     530,000        548,720  

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A 5.00% 11/15/27

     1,205,000        1,489,055  

(Children’s Health Care) Series A 5.25% 8/15/25

     1,000,000        1,105,350  

Minnesota Agricultural & Economic Development Board Revenue

     

(Essenthia Remarketing) Series C-1

     

5.50% 2/15/25 (AGC)

     2,500,000        2,739,075  

Rochester Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Mayo Clinic) Series C 4.50% 11/15/38  

     925,000        1,051,549  

(Olmsted Medical Center Project) 5.125% 7/1/20

     630,000        679,493  

 

39


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Sartell Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Country Manor Campus Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 9/1/21

     1,050,000      $ 1,132,435  

Series A 6.125% 9/1/30

     845,000        846,318  

Sauk Rapids Health Care Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(Good Shepherd Lutheran Home) 5.125% 1/1/39

     575,000        580,457  

St. Cloud Health Care Revenue

     

(Centracare Health System Project) Unrefunded Balance

     

5.125% 5/1/30

     360,000        391,154  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A-2 5.25% 11/15/28

     975,000        1,065,353  

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 4.00% 11/15/43

     370,000        388,992  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/47

     275,000        319,877  

(Health Partners Obligation Group Project)

     

5.00% 7/1/32

     1,500,000        1,735,185  

5.00% 7/1/33

     200,000        230,596  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Housing & Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Senior Episcopal Homes Project) 5.00% 5/1/33

     500,000        509,345  

Woodbury Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(St. Therese of Woodbury) 5.00% 12/1/34

     500,000        515,285  
     

 

 

 
                24,380,856  
     

 

 

 

Housing Revenue Bonds – 0.31%

     

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

     

(Residential Housing) Series I 5.10% 7/1/20 (AMT)

     20,000        20,052  

Northwest Multi-County Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

(Pooled Housing Program) 5.50% 7/1/45

     285,000        288,517  
     

 

 

 
        308,569  
     

 

 

 

Lease Revenue Bonds – 6.41%

     

Minnesota General Fund Revenue Appropriations

     

Series A 5.00% 6/1/38

     1,100,000        1,262,899  

Series A 5.00% 6/1/43

     715,000        815,915  

Series B 5.00% 3/1/27

     1,000,000        1,158,870  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

     

(Housing Infrastructure) Series C 5.00% 8/1/36

     1,000,000        1,157,750  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

(Minnesota Public Radio) 5.00% 12/1/25

     1,000,000        1,104,970  

 

 

40


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Lease Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Virginia Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facility Lease Revenue

     

5.25% 10/1/25

     880,000      $ 882,235  
     

 

 

 
        6,382,639  
     

 

 

 

Local General Obligation Bonds – 7.08%

     

Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Independent School District No. 191

     

(Alternative Facilities) Series A 4.00% 2/1/27

     445,000        507,122  

Duluth Independent School District No. 709

     

Series A 4.00% 2/1/28

     250,000        280,397  

Hennepin County

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/26

     1,000,000        1,275,500  

Metropolitan Council General Obligation Wastewater Revenue

     

(Minneapolis – St. Paul Metropolitan Area)

     

Series C 4.00% 3/1/31

     565,000        643,959  

Series C 4.00% 3/1/32

     585,000        660,909  

Robbinsdale Independent School District No. 281

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/20

     1,850,000        2,036,591  

St. Michael-Albertville Independent School District No. 885

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/27

     500,000        617,065  

White Bear Lake Independent School District No. 624

     

(Alternative Facilities) Series B 4.75% 2/1/22

     1,000,000        1,035,560  
     

 

 

 
                7,057,103  
     

 

 

 

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds – 14.82%

     

Anoka County Capital Improvement

     

Series C 5.00% 2/1/27-18§

     500,000        507,985  

Anoka Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(Senior Homestead Anoka Project) Series B

     

6.875% 11/1/34-19§

     750,000        852,960  

Duluth Independent School District No. 709

     

Series A 4.25% 2/1/20-18 (AGM)§

     500,000        507,130  

Mankato Independent School District No. 77

     

(School Building) Series A 4.125% 2/1/22-19§

     1,000,000        1,044,030  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services) Series A

     

6.625% 11/15/28-18§

     1,500,000        1,604,085  

Minnesota

     

(Various Purposes) Series A 5.00% 12/1/21-19§

     500,000        545,650  

Minnesota 911 Services Revenue

     

(Public Safety Radio Communication System Project)

     

4.25% 6/1/18 (AGC)

     1,170,000        1,200,046  

 

41


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Pre-Refunded/Escrowed to Maturity Bonds (continued)

     

Minnesota 911 Services Revenue

     

(Public Safety Radio Communication System Project)

     

4.50% 6/1/25-19 (AGC)§

     1,000,000      $ 1,063,920  

Minnesota Colleges & Universities Revenue Fund

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/28-18§

     1,000,000        1,046,100  

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Carleton College) Series 6-T 4.75% 1/1/23-18§

     1,000,000        1,013,280  

Rochester Healthcare & Housing Revenue

     

(Samaritan Bethany Project) Series A

     

6.875% 12/1/29-19§

     950,000        1,014,087  

South Washington County Independent School District No. 833 (School Building)

     

Series A 4.00% 2/1/22-18§

     750,000        759,533  

St. Louis Park Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Park Nicollet Health Services) 5.50% 7/1/29-19§

     1,000,000        1,084,020  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A-2 5.25% 11/15/28-19§

     1,025,000        1,121,729  

(Gillette Children’s Specialty Project) 5.00% 2/1/27-19§

     1,000,000        1,042,220  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Hospital Revenue

     

(Healtheast Care System Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/29-25§

     165,000        206,841  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/30-25§

     120,000        150,430  
     

 

 

 
        14,764,046  
     

 

 

 

Special Tax Revenue Bonds – 0.58%

     

Minneapolis Revenue

     

(YMCA Greater Twin Cities Project) 4.00% 6/1/27

     100,000        109,810  

St. Paul Sales Tax Revenue

     

Series G 5.00% 11/1/28

     400,000        468,420  
     

 

 

 
        578,230  
     

 

 

 

State General Obligation Bonds – 13.84%

     

Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/27

     1,610,000        1,984,196  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/29

     1,000,000        1,216,110  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/26

     4,500,000        5,708,565  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/27

     1,500,000        1,884,990  

(State Trunk Highway) Series B 5.00% 10/1/22

     400,000        463,856  

(Various Purposes)

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/32

     1,120,000        1,337,616  

Series F 5.00% 10/1/22

     1,000,000        1,189,290  
     

 

 

 
                13,784,623  
     

 

 

 

 

42


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Transportation Revenue Bonds – 3.81%

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission Revenue

     

Senior Series B 5.00% 1/1/22 (AMT)

     1,000,000      $ 1,054,210  

Subordinate

     

Series B 5.00% 1/1/26

     710,000        816,124  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/31

     750,000        840,607  

Series D 5.00% 1/1/22 (AMT)

     1,000,000        1,080,180  
     

 

 

 
        3,791,121  
     

 

 

 

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds – 1.52%

     

Guam Government Waterworks Authority

     

5.00% 1/1/46

     305,000        329,141  

Minnesota Public Facilities Authority

     

Series B 4.00% 3/1/26

     1,000,000        1,182,960  
     

 

 

 
        1,512,101  
     

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds (cost $93,955,449)

        98,214,529  
     

 

 

 
     

 

 

Short-Term Investment – 0.75%

     

 

 

Variable Rate Demand Note - 0.75%¤

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series B-2

     

0.79% 11/15/35 (LOC- JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.)

     750,000        750,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment (cost $750,000)

        750,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities – 99.34%
    (cost $94,705,449)

      $         98,964,529  
     

 

 

 

 

# Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. At Aug. 31, 2017, the aggregate value of Rule 144A securities was $980,286, which represents 0.98% of the Fund’s net assets. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

¤ Tax-exempt obligations that contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and an unconditional right of demand to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period (generally up to 30 days) prior to specified dates either from the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit, a guarantee, or insurance issued with respect to such instrument. Each rate shown is as of Aug. 31, 2017.

 

§ Pre-refunded bonds. Municipal bonds that are generally backed or secured by US Treasury bonds. For pre-refunded bonds, the stated maturity is followed by the year in which the bond is pre-refunded. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

° Principal amount shown is stated in US dollars unless noted that the security is denominated in another currency.

 

43


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

 

Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at Aug. 31, 2017. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in their description above. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

Summary of abbreviations:

AGC – Insured by Assured Guaranty Corporation

AGM – Insured by Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation

AMT – Subject to Alternative Minimum Tax

LOC – Letter of Credit

N.A. – National Association

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

44


Table of Contents
Schedules of investments
Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund    August 31, 2017

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds – 98.99%

     

 

 

Corporate-Backed Revenue Bonds – 3.02%

     

Laurentian Energy Authority I Cogeneration Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/21

     1,750,000      $ 1,747,217  

St. Paul Port Authority Solid Waste Disposal Revenue

     

(Gerdau St. Paul Steel Mill Project)

     

Series 7 144A 4.50% 10/1/37 (AMT)#

     3,950,000        3,549,509  
     

 

 

 
                5,296,726  
     

 

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds – 20.82%

     

Brooklyn Park Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Prairie Seeds Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 3/1/39

     1,270,000        1,314,945  

Cologne Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Cologne Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/34

     250,000        259,503  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/45

     230,000        236,141  

Deephaven Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Eagle Ridge Academy Project) Series A 5.50% 7/1/50

     1,000,000        1,066,020  

Duluth Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(Public Schools Academy) Series A 5.875% 11/1/40

     1,000,000        1,033,500  

Forest Lake Charter School Lease Revenue Fund

     

(Lakes International Language Academy)

     

Series A 5.75% 8/1/44

     585,000        633,327  

Ham Lake Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Davinci Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/36

     235,000        239,524  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/47

     710,000        716,518  

(Parnassus Preparatory School Project) Series A

     

5.00% 11/1/47

     650,000        660,913  

Hugo Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Noble Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/34

     165,000        169,797  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/44

     495,000        503,563  

Independence Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Beacon Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 7/1/46

     625,000        613,025  

Minneapolis Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Hiawatha Academies Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 7/1/36

     1,000,000        1,030,170  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/47

     800,000        812,944  

Minneapolis Student Housing Revenue

     

(Riverton Community Housing Project) 5.25% 8/1/39

     800,000        824,264  

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Bethel University) 5.00% 5/1/47

     1,500,000        1,668,795  

(Carleton College) 4.00% 3/1/37

     635,000        687,699  

(Gustavus Adolphus College) 5.00% 10/1/47

     750,000        865,020  

 

45


Table of Contents
Schedules of investments
Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund   

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Minneapolis College of Art & Design)

     

4.00% 5/1/24

     250,000      $ 272,687  

4.00% 5/1/25

     200,000        215,614  

4.00% 5/1/26

     100,000        106,787  

(St. Catherine University)

     

Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/25

     325,000        368,618  

Series 7-Q 5.00% 10/1/26

     280,000        316,103  

(St. John’s University)

     

Series 6-U 4.75% 10/1/33

     825,000        854,395  

Series 8-I 5.00% 10/1/34

     215,000        248,495  

(St. Olaf College)

     

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/31

     205,000        240,315  

Series 8-G 5.00% 12/1/32

     205,000        239,653  

Series 8-N 4.00% 10/1/34

     800,000        873,824  

Series 8-N 4.00% 10/1/35

     590,000        641,489  

(St. Scholastica College) Series H 5.125% 12/1/40

     750,000        783,727  

(University of St. Thomas) Series 7-A 5.00% 10/1/39

     1,000,000                1,071,350  

Otsego Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Kaleidoscope Charter School) Series A 5.00% 9/1/44

     1,435,000        1,477,677  

Rice County Educational Facilities Revenue

     

(Shattuck-St. Mary’s School) Series A 144A

     

5.00% 8/1/22  #

     870,000        924,810  

St. Cloud Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Stride Academy Project) Series A 5.00% 4/1/46

     750,000        532,440  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Academia Cesar Chavez School Project) Series A

     

5.25% 7/1/50

     1,750,000        1,790,478  

(Great River School Project) Series A 144A

     

5.50% 7/1/52  #

     265,000        266,577  

(Hmong College Preparatory Academy Project)

     

Series A 5.75% 9/1/46

     500,000        523,590  

Series A 6.00% 9/1/51

     500,000        528,830  

(Nova Classical Academy Project)

     

Series A 4.00% 9/1/36

     1,270,000        1,274,775  

Series A 4.125% 9/1/47

     500,000        500,185  

(St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists) Series A

     

4.625% 3/1/43

     445,000        451,582  

(Twin Cities Academy Project) Series A 5.375% 7/1/50

     1,500,000        1,551,705  

University of Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 4/1/34

     2,115,000        2,533,791  

Series A 5.125% 4/1/34

     1,000,000        1,064,590  

 

46


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Education Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

University of Minnesota

     

Series A 5.25% 12/1/28

     1,500,000      $ 1,701,960  

(State Supported Stadium Debt) Series A 5.00% 8/1/26

     1,500,000        1,847,700  
     

 

 

 
        36,539,415  
     

 

 

 

Electric Revenue Bonds – 8.28%

     

Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency

     

(Brookings Twin Cities Transmission Project)

     

5.00% 1/1/42

     1,500,000        1,646,580  

Chaska Electric Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 10/1/28

     350,000        415,576  

Hutchinson Utilities Commission Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/22

     490,000        575,696  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/26

     360,000        415,696  

Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Electric Revenue

     

5.00% 10/1/27

     165,000        197,147  

5.00% 10/1/47

     745,000        860,117  

Series A 5.00% 10/1/28

     500,000        594,510  

Northern Municipal Power Agency Electric System Revenue

     

5.00% 1/1/26

     500,000        618,925  

5.00% 1/1/28

     500,000        598,475  

5.00% 1/1/29

     470,000        558,661  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/24

     335,000        394,499  

Rochester Electric Utility Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/34

     450,000        537,453  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/35

     500,000        595,360  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/36

     520,000        617,765  

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/41

     400,000        457,632  

Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/30

     500,000        588,475  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/33

     1,750,000        2,039,275  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/34

     450,000        522,941  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/40

     2,000,000        2,302,500  
     

 

 

 
                14,537,283  
     

 

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds – 27.24%

     

Anoka Healthcare & Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Anoka Project) 5.125% 11/1/49

     400,000        406,968  

Anoka Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(Fridley Medical Center Project) Series A 6.875% 5/1/40

     1,000,000        1,045,310  

 

47


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Apple Valley Senior Living Revenue

     

(Senior Living LLC Project)

     

2nd Tier Series B 5.00% 1/1/47

     525,000      $ 538,314  

4th Tier Series D 7.00% 1/1/37

     515,000        509,402  

4th Tier Series D 7.25% 1/1/52

     1,500,000        1,488,525  

Breckenridge Catholic Health Initiatives

     

Series A 5.00% 5/1/30

     1,775,000        1,780,751  

Brooklyn Center Multifamily Housing Revenue

     

(Sanctuary at Brooklyn Center Project) Series A

     

5.50% 11/1/35

     750,000        755,827  

Cloquet Housing Facilities

     

(HADC Cloquet Project) Series A 5.00% 8/1/48

     850,000        862,461  

Dakota County Community Development Agency Senior Housing Revenue

     

(Walker Highview Hills Project) Series A 144A

     

5.00% 8/1/51 #

     870,000        883,589  

Deephaven Housing & Healthcare Revenue

     

(St. Therese Senior Living Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 4/1/38

     335,000        341,683  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/40

     315,000        320,664  

Series A 5.00% 4/1/48

     185,000        186,584  

Duluth Economic Development Authority

     

(St. Luke’s Hospital Authority Obligation Group)

     

5.75% 6/15/32

     750,000        816,517  

6.00% 6/15/39

     1,000,000                1,094,970  

Glencoe Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Glencoe Regional Health Services Project)

     

4.00% 4/1/31

     185,000        194,239  

Hayward Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(American Baptist Homes Midwest Obligated Group)

     

5.375% 8/1/34

     750,000        774,653  

(St. John’s Lutheran Home of Albert Lea)

     

5.375% 10/1/44

     450,000        456,323  

Maple Grove Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Maple Grove Hospital Corporation)

     

4.00% 5/1/37

     1,155,000        1,203,903  

5.00% 5/1/26

     1,300,000        1,568,710  

5.00% 5/1/29

     500,000        592,430  

(North Memorial Health Care) 5.00% 9/1/30

     610,000        701,189  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/33

     500,000        581,320  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/34

     500,000        579,725  

 

48


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/44

     1,000,000      $         1,136,680  

Series B Unrefunded Balance 6.50% 11/15/38 (AGC)

     210,000        222,776  

Minneapolis Senior Housing & Healthcare Revenue

     

(Ecumen-Abiitan Mill City Project) 5.375% 11/1/50

     1,700,000        1,758,531  

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Allina Health System) Series A 5.00% 11/15/29

     415,000        505,458  

Oak Park Heights Housing Revenue

     

(Oakgreen Commons Project) 7.00% 8/1/45

     1,500,000        1,593,345  

Oakdale Senior Housing

     

(Oak Meadows Project) 5.00% 4/1/34

     500,000        514,000  

Rochester Health Care & Housing Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Rochester Project)

     

Series A 5.25% 12/1/23

     175,000        192,789  

Series A 6.875% 12/1/48

     800,000        892,680  

Rochester Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Mayo Clinic) 4.00% 11/15/41

     1,790,000        1,855,997  

(Olmsted Medical Center Project)

     

5.00% 7/1/22

     350,000        407,351  

5.00% 7/1/27

     245,000        283,521  

5.00% 7/1/28

     225,000        258,975  

Sartell Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Country Manor Campus Project)

     

Series A 5.25% 9/1/22

     1,080,000        1,188,367  

Series A 6.25% 9/1/36

     925,000        926,647  

Sauk Rapids Health Care Housing Facilities Revenue

     

(Good Shepherd Lutheran Home) 5.125% 1/1/39

     825,000        832,829  

Shakopee Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(St. Francis Regional Medical Center)

     

4.00% 9/1/31

     130,000        139,598  

5.00% 9/1/34

     105,000        118,666  

St. Cloud Health Care Revenue

     

(Centracare Health System Project)

     

Series A 4.00% 5/1/37

     1,440,000        1,541,174  

Unrefunded Balance 5.125% 5/1/30

     15,000        16,298  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 4.00% 11/15/43

     645,000        678,108  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/47

     485,000        564,147  

 

49


Table of Contents

Schedules of investments

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Healthcare Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Health Partners Obligation Group Project)

     

Series A 4.00% 7/1/33

     1,320,000      $ 1,404,850  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/32

     900,000        1,041,111  

Series A 5.00% 7/1/33

     1,540,000        1,775,589  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Housing & Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Senior Episcopal Homes Project)

     

5.125% 5/1/48

     1,700,000        1,721,267  

Series A 5.15% 11/1/42

     775,000        782,510  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Multifamily Housing Revenue

     

(Marian Center Project) Series A 5.375% 5/1/43

     1,000,000        1,000,580  

Twin Valley Congregate Housing Revenue

     

(Living Options Project) 5.95% 11/1/28

     1,825,000        1,825,894  

Victoria Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Augustana Emerald Care Project) 5.00% 8/1/39

     1,500,000        1,545,060  

Wayzata Senior Housing Revenue

     

(Folkestone Senior Living Community)

     

Series A 5.50% 11/1/32

     260,000        276,838  

Series A 5.75% 11/1/39

     590,000        628,586  

Series A 6.00% 5/1/47

     920,000        978,420  

Winona Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Winona Health Obligation Group) 5.15% 7/1/31

     230,000        230,736  

Woodbury Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue

     

(St. Therese of Woodbury) 5.25% 12/1/49

     1,250,000        1,285,613  
     

 

 

 
                47,809,048  
     

 

 

 

Housing Revenue Bonds – 1.56%

     

Minneapolis Multifamily Housing Revenue

     

(Olson Townhomes Project) 6.00% 12/1/19 (AMT)

     565,000        565,350  

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing Finance Board Single Family Mortgage-Backed Securities Program

     

(City Living Project) Series A-2

     

5.00% 12/1/38 (GNMA) (FNMA) (FHLMC) (AMT)

     13,197        13,216  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency State Appropriation

     

(Housing Infrastructure) Series C 5.00% 8/1/33

     100,000        114,624  

Northwest Multi-County Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

(Pooled Housing Program) 5.50% 7/1/45

     1,275,000        1,290,733  

 

50


Table of Contents

    

    

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Housing Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Stillwater Multifamily Housing Revenue

     

(Orleans Homes Project) 5.50% 2/1/42 (AMT)

     750,000      $ 750,225  
     

 

 

 
        2,734,148  
     

 

 

 

Lease Revenue Bonds – 2.88%

     

Minnesota General Fund Revenue Appropriations

     

Series A 5.00% 6/1/38

     1,750,000        2,009,157  

Series A 5.00% 6/1/43

     1,000,000        1,141,140  

Series B 5.00% 3/1/21

     250,000        284,375  

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency State Appropriation

     

(Housing Infrastructure) Series C 5.00% 8/1/32

     1,415,000        1,625,793  
     

 

 

 
        5,060,465  
     

 

 

 

Local General Obligation Bonds – 11.88%

     

Chaska Independent School District No. 112

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/28

     2,240,000        2,747,248  

Duluth

     

(DECC Improvement) Series A 5.00% 2/1/34

     1,000,000        1,181,190  

Duluth Independent School District No. 709

     

Series A 4.00% 2/1/27

     440,000        499,541  

Edina Independent School District No. 273

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/27

     1,355,000        1,656,067  

Foley Independent School District No. 51

     

(School Building) Series A 5.00% 2/1/21

     1,105,000        1,108,867  

Hennepin County

     

Series A 5.00% 12/1/26

     750,000        956,625  

Series A 5.00% 12/1/36

     1,500,000        1,809,300  

Series C 5.00% 12/1/37

     2,500,000        3,008,625  

Mahtomedi Independent School District No. 832

     

(School Building)

     

Series A 5.00% 2/1/28

     1,000,000        1,201,540  

Series A 5.00% 2/1/29

     1,000,000        1,192,440  

Series A 5.00% 2/1/30

     445,000        527,040  

Series A 5.00% 2/1/31

     1,000,000        1,176,410  

Metropolitan Council General Obligation Wastewater Revenue

     

(Minneapolis – St. Paul Metropolitan Area)

     

Series C 4.00% 3/1/31

     965,000        1,099,859  

Series C 4.00% 3/1/32

     1,000,000        1,129,760  

White Bear Lake Independent School District No. 624

     

(Alternative Facilities) Series B 4.75% 2/1/22

     1,500,000        1,553,340  
     

 

 

 
                20,847,852  
     

 

 

 

 

51


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Schedules of investments

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Pre-Refunded Bonds – 9.64%

     

Anoka Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(The Homestead at Anoka Project) Series A

     

7.00% 11/1/46-19§

     1,650,000      $ 1,874,565  

Deephaven Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Eagle Ridge Academy Project) Series A

     

5.50% 7/1/43-23§

     500,000        606,945  

Hennepin County Sales Tax Revenue

     

(First Lien-Ballpark Project) Series A

     

5.00% 12/15/24-17§

     1,000,000        1,012,540  

Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue

     

(Fairview Health Services)

     

Series A 6.625% 11/15/28-18§

     1,900,000        2,031,841  

Series B 6.50% 11/15/38-18 (AGC)§

     40,000        42,718  

Minnesota 911 Services Revenue

     

(Public Safety Radio Communication System Project)

     

5.00% 6/1/24-18 (AGC)§

     1,000,000        1,031,740  

Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority Revenue

     

(Carleton College) Series 7-D 5.00% 3/1/40-19§

     1,055,000        1,120,231  

Rochester Healthcare & Housing Revenue

     

(Samaritan Bethany Project)

     

Series A 6.875% 12/1/29-19§

     1,000,000        1,067,460  

Series A 7.375% 12/1/41-19§

     375,000        401,400  

South Washington County Independent School District No. 833

     

(School Building) Series A 4.75% 2/1/27-18§

     1,500,000        1,523,745  

St. Cloud Health Care Revenue

     

(Centracare Health System Project)

     

5.50% 5/1/39-19 (AGC)§

     1,500,000        1,614,735  

St. Louis Park Health Care Facilities Revenue

     

(Park Nicollet Health Services) 5.75% 7/1/39-19§

     2,005,000        2,182,543  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Revenue

     

(Nova Classical Academy Project) Series A

     

6.625% 9/1/42-21§

     1,500,000        1,816,320  

St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Hospital Facility Revenue

     

(Healtheast Care System Project)

     

Series A 5.00% 11/15/29-25§

     275,000        344,735  

Series A 5.00% 11/15/30-25§

     205,000        256,984  
     

 

 

 
                16,928,502  
     

 

 

 

 

52


Table of Contents

    

    

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Special Tax Revenue Bonds – 3.03%

     

Hennepin County Sales Tax Revenue

     

(Second Lien-Ballpark Project)

     

Series B 5.00% 12/15/20

     1,500,000      $ 1,518,900  

Series B 5.00% 12/15/24

     1,000,000        1,012,360  

Minneapolis Revenue

     

(YMCA Greater Twin Cities Project) 4.00% 6/1/31

     250,000        268,110  

Minneapolis Tax Increment Revenue

     

(Giant Park Project)

     

4.00% 3/1/27

     200,000        204,420  

4.00% 3/1/30

     260,000        260,562  

(Village of St. Anthony Falls Project)

     

4.00% 3/1/24

     700,000        705,677  

4.00% 3/1/27

     650,000        650,130  

St. Paul Sales Tax Revenue

     

Series G 5.00% 11/1/28

     600,000        702,630  
     

 

 

 
        5,322,789  
     

 

 

 

State General Obligation Bonds – 5.96%

     

Minnesota

     

Series A 5.00% 8/1/24

     500,000        617,455  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/27

     2,175,000        2,680,513  

Series A 5.00% 8/1/29

     1,000,000        1,216,110  

Series A Unrefunded Balance 5.00% 10/1/24

     985,000        1,141,812  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/26

     1,000,000        1,268,570  

Series D 5.00% 8/1/27

     1,000,000        1,256,660  

(Various Purposes) Series A 5.00% 8/1/32

     1,915,000        2,287,085  
     

 

 

 
                10,468,205  
     

 

 

 

Transportation Revenue Bonds – 3.35%

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission Revenue

     

Senior

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/32

     1,245,000        1,508,392  

Series C 5.00% 1/1/46

     185,000        216,561  

Subordinate

     

Series A 5.00% 1/1/22

     1,000,000        1,125,190  

Series A 5.00% 1/1/32

     500,000        580,725  

Series B 5.00% 1/1/29

     2,130,000        2,442,556  
     

 

 

 
        5,873,424  
     

 

 

 

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds – 1.33%

     

Guam Government Waterworks Authority

     

5.00% 1/1/46

     515,000        555,762  

 

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Schedules of investments

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

     Principal amount°      Value (US $)  

 

 

Municipal Bonds (continued)

     

 

 

Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds (continued)

     

Minnesota Public Facilities Authority

     

Series B 4.00% 3/1/26

     1,500,000      $ 1,774,440  
     

 

 

 
        2,330,202  
     

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds (cost $168,147,707)

        173,748,059  
     

 

 

 
     

 

 

Short-Term Investments – 0.29%

     

 

 

Variable Rate Demand Notes - 0.29%¤

     

Minneapolis – St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority

     

Health Care Revenue

     

(Children’s Hospitals & Clinics)

     

Series A-II

     

0.75% 8/15/37 (AGM) (SPA - US Bank N.A.)

     400,000        400,000  

Series B

     

0.75% 8/15/25 (AGM) (SPA - US Bank N.A.)

     100,000        100,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $500,000)

        500,000  
     

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities – 99.28%
    (cost $168,647,707)

      $         174,248,059  
     

 

 

 

 

# Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. At Aug. 31, 2017, the aggregate value of Rule 144A securities was $5,624,485, which represents 3.20% of the Fund’s net assets. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

¤ Tax-exempt obligations that contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and an unconditional right of demand to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period (generally up to 30 days) prior to specified dates either from the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit, a guarantee, or insurance issued with respect to such instrument. Each rate shown is as of Aug. 31, 2017.

 

§ Pre-refunded bonds. Municipal bonds that are generally backed or secured by US Treasury bonds. For pre-refunded bonds, the stated maturity is followed by the year in which the bond is pre-refunded. See Note 8 in “Notes to financial statements.”

 

° Principal amount shown is stated in US dollars unless noted that the security is denominated in another currency.

Summary of abbreviations:

AGC – Insured by Assured Guaranty Corporation

AGM – Insured by Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation

AMT – Subject to Alternative Minimum Tax

FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation collateral

FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association collateral

GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association collateral

N.A. – National Association

 

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Summary of abbreviations (continued):

 

SPA – Stand-by Purchase Agreement

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

55


Table of Contents
Statements of assets and liabilities
   August 31, 2017

 

 

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free
Minnesota

Fund

    

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota
Intermediate

Fund

    

Delaware
Minnesota

High-Yield

Municipal

Bond Fund

 

Assets:

        

Investments, at value1

   $ 554,789,100      $ 98,214,529      $ 173,748,059  

Short-term investments, at value2

     8,075,000        750,000        500,000  

Cash

     3,901,492        919,192        597,957  

Interest receivable

     6,492,890        954,108        1,985,131  

Receivable for securities sold

     3,991,456        700,877        1,237,486  

Receivable for fund shares sold

     821,715        223,725        78,058  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     578,071,653        101,762,431        178,146,691  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Payable for securities purchased

     12,928,121        1,857,748        2,093,418  

Payable for fund shares redeemed

     893,528        132,256        266,325  

Distribution payable

     398,885        62,336        99,222  

Investment management fees payable to affiliates

     214,998        37,864        68,444  

Distribution fees payable to affiliates

     133,439        18,885        48,392  

Other accrued expenses

     113,825        26,906        41,931  

Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses payable to affiliates

     9,448        1,670        2,939  

Audit and tax fees payable

     4,584        4,584        4,584  

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable to affiliates

     3,192        565        992  

Accounting and administration expenses payable to affiliates

     2,199        389        684  

Reports and statements to shareholders expenses payable to affiliates

     1,077        79        140  

Legal fees payable to affiliates

     450        191        333  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     14,703,746        2,143,473        2,627,404  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Net Assets

   $ 563,367,907      $ 99,618,958      $ 175,519,287  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

        

Paid-in capital

   $ 534,694,948      $ 95,167,497      $ 173,691,574  

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (215,430      (786       

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments

     2,050,311        193,167        (3,772,639

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     26,838,078        4,259,080        5,600,352  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Net Assets

   $ 563,367,907      $ 99,618,958      $ 175,519,287  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Delaware

Tax-Free
Minnesota

Fund

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate
Fund

   

Delaware
Minnesota

High-Yield

Municipal

Bond Fund

 

Net Asset Value

      

Class A:

      

Net assets

   $ 423,496,606     $ 68,933,845     $ 98,491,104  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding, unlimited authorization, no par

     33,759,895       6,172,145       9,054,603  

Net asset value per share

   $ 12.54     $ 11.17     $ 10.88  

Sales charge

     4.50     2.75     4.50

Offering price per share, equal to net asset value per share/(1 – sales charge)

   $ 13.13     $ 11.49     $ 11.39  

Class C:

      

Net assets

   $ 51,044,989     $ 11,884,864     $ 32,223,376  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding, unlimited authorization, no par

     4,056,194       1,061,925       2,956,573  

Net asset value per share

   $ 12.58     $ 11.19     $ 10.90  

Institutional Class:

      

Net assets

   $ 88,826,312     $ 18,800,249     $ 44,804,807  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding, unlimited authorization, no par

     7,082,312       1,682,684       4,120,300  

Net asset value per share

   $ 12.54     $ 11.17     $ 10.87  

 

1 Investments, at cost

   $ 527,951,022     $ 93,955,449     $ 168,147,707  

2 Short-term investments, at cost

     8,075,000       750,000       500,000  

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Statements of operations
   Year ended August 31, 2017

 

 

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free
Minnesota

Fund

   

Delaware

Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate
Fund

    Delaware
Minnesota
High-Yield
Municipal
Bond Fund
 

Investment Income:

      

Interest

   $ 22,074,512     $ 3,651,039     $ 7,008,870  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

      

Management fees

     3,060,654       502,946       970,954  

Distribution expenses — Class A

     1,109,574       179,533       272,165  

Distribution expenses — Class C

     519,400       124,205       336,287  

Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses

     391,534       79,256       140,976  

Accounting and administration expenses

     166,993       33,399       55,414  

Registration fees

     65,292       24,586       16,102  

Legal fees

     57,238       11,130       18,262  

Reports and statements to shareholders

     48,394       17,402       17,621  

Audit and tax fees

     43,096       43,826       43,860  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     27,255       4,887       8,568  

Custodian fees

     22,786       4,470       8,567  

Other

     42,566       18,928       25,701  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     5,554,782       1,044,568       1,914,477  

Less expenses waived

     (549,537     (46,069     (173,787

Less waived distribution expenses — Class A

           (71,813      

Less expenses paid indirectly

     (2,074     (330     (1,752
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     5,003,171       926,356       1,738,938  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     17,071,341       2,724,683       5,269,932  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

      

Net realized gain on investments

     3,679,670       272,027       809,652  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

     (18,824,613     (2,617,465     (5,379,286
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss

     (15,144,943     (2,345,438     (4,569,634
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 1,926,398     $ 379,245     $ 700,298  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

 

     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 17,071,341     $ 18,283,681  

Net realized gain

     3,679,670       1,245,728  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (18,824,613     11,243,374  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     1,926,398       30,772,783  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income:

    

Class A

     (13,728,190     (15,753,186

Class C

     (1,216,526     (1,219,395

Institutional Class

     (2,215,895     (1,374,763
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (17,160,611     (18,347,344
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

    

Proceeds from shares sold:

    

Class A

     34,147,763       37,364,611  

Class C

     6,466,911       10,427,741  

Institutional Class

     59,311,879       24,205,727  

Net asset value of shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions:

    

Class A

     11,416,767       13,061,531  

Class C

     1,104,881       1,099,622  

Institutional Class

     1,976,859       1,261,298  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
             114,425,060               87,420,530  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Capital Share Transactions (continued):

    

Cost of shares redeemed:

    

Class A

   $ (90,242,074   $ (59,159,857

Class C

     (8,627,762     (4,470,992

Institutional Class

     (24,653,789     (5,266,453
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (123,523,625     (68,897,302
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

     (9,098,565     18,523,228  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     (24,332,778     30,948,667  

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of year

     587,700,685       556,752,018  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $         563,367,907     $         587,700,685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions in excess of net investment income

   $ (215,430   $ (215,430
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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Statements of changes in net assets

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

 

 

     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 2,724,683     $ 2,922,746  

Net realized gain

     272,027       210,669  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (2,617,465     1,840,780  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     379,245       4,974,195  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income:

    

Class A

     (2,003,337     (2,419,983

Class C

     (241,177     (259,127

Institutional Class

     (480,415     (243,028

Net realized gain:

    

Class A

     (106,466      

Class C

     (18,615      

Institutional Class

     (18,418      
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (2,868,428     (2,922,138
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

    

Proceeds from shares sold:

    

Class A

     2,977,155       6,598,977  

Class C

     1,326,646       2,151,769  

Institutional Class

     11,040,900       9,193,108  

Net asset value of shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions:

    

Class A

     1,808,316       2,121,972  

Class C

     247,603       245,356  

Institutional Class

     468,456       229,586  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
             17,869,076               20,540,768  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

62


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     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Capital Share Transactions (continued):

    

Cost of shares redeemed:

    

Class A

   $ (13,609,683   $ (15,293,224

Class C

     (2,669,175     (1,070,105

Institutional Class

     (5,221,186     (1,295,683
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (21,500,044     (17,659,012
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

     (3,630,968     2,881,756  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     (6,120,151     4,933,813  

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of year

             105,739,109               100,805,296  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 99,618,958     $ 105,739,109  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions in excess of net investment income

   $ (786   $ (785
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

63


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 5,269,932     $ 5,487,957  

Net realized gain

     809,652       293,830  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (5,379,286     4,356,386  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     700,298       10,138,173  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income:

    

Class A

     (3,365,896     (3,958,434

Class C

     (788,348     (853,841

Institutional Class

     (1,142,511     (786,400
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (5,296,755     (5,598,675
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

    

Proceeds from shares sold:

    

Class A

     11,398,520       15,179,207  

Class C

     2,597,707       4,655,746  

Institutional Class

     32,544,758       17,825,598  

Net asset value of shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions:

    

Class A

     2,697,626       3,147,387  

Class C

     681,425       726,911  

Institutional Class

     1,029,137       725,923  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
             50,949,173               42,260,772  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

64


Table of Contents

    

    

 

 

     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Capital Share Transactions (continued):

    

Cost of shares redeemed:

    

Class A

   $ (33,747,538   $ (22,859,653

Class C

     (5,963,054     (2,667,925

Institutional Class

     (19,247,512     (2,781,029
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (58,958,104     (28,308,607
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

     (8,008,931     13,952,165  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     (12,605,388     18,491,663  

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of year

     188,124,675       169,633,012  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year (there was no undistributed net investment income at either year end)

   $         175,519,287     $         188,124,675  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

65


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund Class A

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

  
  

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

Total from investment operations

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Net realized gain

Total dividends and distributions

Net asset value, end of period

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

3  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

66


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

     Year ended  
  

 

 

 
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 12.87        $ 12.60        $ 12.67        $ 11.97        $ 13.03  
                               
     0.38          0.41          0.44          0.45          0.44  
     (0.32        0.28          (0.06        0.73          (0.97
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.06          0.69          0.38          1.18          (0.53
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                               
     (0.39        (0.42        (0.45        (0.44        (0.44
                                (0.04        (0.09
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.39        (0.42        (0.45        (0.48        (0.53
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 12.54        $ 12.87        $ 12.60        $ 12.67        $ 11.97  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.49%          5.52%          3.02%          10.03%          (4.24%
                               
   $ 423,497        $ 481,066        $ 479,275        $ 503,072        $ 540,533  
     0.85%          0.85%          0.87%          0.90%          0.90%  
     0.95%          0.95%          0.96%          0.95%          0.95%  
     3.08%          3.25%          3.51%          3.61%          3.47%  
     2.98%          3.15%          3.42%          3.56%          3.42%  
     17%          15%          11%          10%          16%  
                      

 

 

 

67


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund Class C

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

  
  

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

Total from investment operations

 

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Net realized gain

 

Total dividends and distributions

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

3  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

68


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

 

     Year ended  
  

 

 

 
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 12.91        $ 12.64        $ 12.71        $ 12.01        $ 13.07  
                               
     0.29          0.32          0.35          0.35          0.35  
     (0.33        0.27          (0.07        0.74          (0.97
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.04        0.59          0.28          1.09          (0.62
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                               
     (0.29        (0.32        (0.35        (0.35        (0.35
                                (0.04        (0.09
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.29        (0.32        (0.35        (0.39        (0.44
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 12.58        $ 12.91        $ 12.64        $ 12.71        $ 12.01  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.25%        4.73%          2.25%          9.19%          (4.93%
                               
   $ 51,045        $ 53,502        $ 45,393        $ 41,612        $ 42,985  
     1.60%          1.60%          1.62%          1.65%          1.65%  
     1.70%          1.70%          1.71%          1.70%          1.70%  
     2.33%          2.50%          2.76%          2.86%          2.72%  
     2.23%          2.40%          2.67%          2.81%          2.67%  
     17%          15%          11%          10%          16%  
                               

 

 

 

69


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund Institutional Class

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

    
    

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

Total from investment operations

 

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

 

Total dividends and distributions

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

Total return3

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Portfolio turnover

  

 

 

1  Date of commencement of operations; ratios have been annualized and total return has not been annualized.

 

2  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

3  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

4  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

 

5  Portfolio turnover is representative of the Fund for the entire year.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

70


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

 

     Year ended     

12/31/131
to

8/31/14

 
 

 

  

 

 

  
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15       

 

 
   $ 12.87        $ 12.59        $ 12.66        $ 12.07  
                 
     0.41          0.45          0.48          0.34  
     (0.32        0.28          (0.07        0.59  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.09          0.73          0.41          0.93  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                 
     (0.42        (0.45        (0.48        (0.34
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.42        (0.45        (0.48        (0.34
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 12.54        $ 12.87        $ 12.59        $ 12.66  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.75%          5.87%          3.27%          7.74%  
                 
   $ 88,826        $ 53,133        $ 32,084        $ 17,533  
     0.60%          0.60%          0.62%          0.65%  
     0.70%          0.70%          0.71%          0.70%  
     3.33%          3.50%          3.76%          3.84%  
     3.23%          3.40%          3.67%          3.79%  
     17%          15%          11%          10% 5 
                 

 

 

 

71


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Class A

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

  
  

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

Total from investment operations

 

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Net realized gain

 

Total dividends and distributions

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

 

 

1  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects waivers by the manager and/or distributor. Performance would have been lower had the waivers not been in effect.

 

3  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

72


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

 

     Year ended  
  

 

 

 
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 11.44        $ 11.22        $ 11.32        $ 10.84        $ 11.53  
                               
     0.31          0.33          0.34          0.34          0.33  
     (0.25        0.22          (0.10        0.49          (0.67
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.06          0.55          0.24          0.83          (0.34
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                               
     (0.31        (0.33        (0.34        (0.34        (0.33
     (0.02                          (0.01        (0.02
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.33        (0.33        (0.34        (0.35        (0.35
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 11.17        $ 11.44        $ 11.22        $ 11.32        $ 10.84  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.55%          4.98%          2.12%          7.79%          (3.09%
                               
   $ 68,934        $ 79,730        $ 84,663        $ 90,571        $ 90,110  
     0.84%          0.84%          0.85%          0.84%          0.84%  
     0.99%          0.97%          0.98%          0.98%          0.97%  
     2.79%          2.92%          2.98%          3.08%          2.89%  
     2.64%          2.79%          2.85%          2.94%          2.76%  
     22%          14%          14%          14%          17%  
                             

 

 

 

73


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Class C

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

 

  
  

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

Total from investment operations

 

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Net realized gain

 

Total dividends and distributions

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

3  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

74


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

 

     Year ended  
  

 

 

 
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 11.47        $ 11.24        $ 11.35        $ 10.86        $ 11.56  
                                    
     0.22          0.24          0.24          0.25          0.23  
     (0.26        0.23          (0.11        0.50          (0.68
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.04        0.47          0.13          0.75          (0.45
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                               
     (0.22        (0.24        (0.24        (0.25        (0.23
     (0.02                          (0.01        (0.02
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.24        (0.24        (0.24        (0.26        (0.25
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 11.19        $ 11.47        $ 11.24        $ 11.35        $ 10.86  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.39%        4.17%          1.16%          6.96%          (3.99%
                               
   $ 11,885        $ 13,315        $ 11,740        $ 12,651        $ 14,538  
     1.69%          1.69%          1.70%          1.69%          1.69%  
     1.74%          1.72%          1.73%          1.73%          1.72%  
     1.94%          2.07%          2.13%          2.23%          2.04%  
     1.89%          2.04%          2.10%          2.19%          2.01%  
     22%          14%          14%          14%          17%  
                               

 

 

 

75


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Institutional Class

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

 

  
  

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

Total from investment operations

 

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Net realized gain

 

Total dividends and distributions

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

Total return3

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  Date of commencement of operations; ratios have been annualized and total return has not been annualized.

 

2  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

3  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

4  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

 

5  Portfolio turnover is representative of the Fund for the entire year.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

76


Table of Contents

    

 

    

 

    

 

     Year ended         

12/31/131

to

8/31/14

 

 

 

  

 

 

      
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15       

 

 
   $ 11.45        $ 11.22        $ 11.33        $ 10.95  
                      
     0.33          0.35          0.35          0.26  
     (0.26        0.23          (0.11        0.38  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.07          0.58          0.24          0.64  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                      
     (0.33        (0.35        (0.35        (0.26
     (0.02                           
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.35        (0.35        (0.35        (0.26
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 11.17        $ 11.45        $ 11.22        $ 11.33  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.61%          5.22%          2.18%          5.85%  
                      
   $ 18,800        $ 12,694        $ 4,402        $ 2,376  
     0.69%          0.69%          0.70%          0.69%  
     0.74%          0.72%          0.73%          0.73%  
     2.94%          3.07%          3.13%          3.21%  
     2.89%          3.04%          3.10%          3.17%  
     22%          14%          14%          14% 5 
                      

 

 

 

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Financial highlights

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund Class A

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

 

    
    

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

Total from investment operations

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Total dividends and distributions

Net asset value, end of period

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1 The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2 Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

3 Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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     Year ended  
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 11.13        $ 10.84        $ 10.88        $ 10.25        $ 11.08  
                      
     0.33          0.36          0.38          0.40          0.40  
     (0.25        0.29          (0.04        0.63          (0.83
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.08          0.65          0.34          1.03          (0.43
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                      
     (0.33        (0.36        (0.38        (0.40        (0.40
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.33        (0.36        (0.38        (0.40        (0.40
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 10.88        $ 11.13        $ 10.84        $ 10.88        $ 10.25  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.84%          6.12%          3.20%          10.25%          (4.06%
   $ 98,491        $ 121,168        $ 122,618        $ 119,044        $ 121,232  
     0.89%          0.89%          0.91%          0.89%          0.89%  
     0.99%          0.98%          1.01%          0.99%          0.99%  
     3.08%          3.23%          3.52%          3.82%          3.64%  
     2.98%          3.14%          3.42%          3.72%          3.54%  
     19%          15%          16%          15%          14%  
                      

 

 

 

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Financial highlights

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund Class C

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

 

    
    

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income1

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

Total from investment operations

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Total dividends and distributions

Net asset value, end of period

Total return2

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived3

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

2  Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of a sales charge. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

3  Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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     Year ended  
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14          8/31/13  

 

 
   $ 11.15        $ 10.87        $ 10.90        $ 10.27        $ 11.10  
                      
     0.25          0.27          0.30          0.33          0.32  
     (0.25        0.29          (0.03        0.62          (0.83
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
              0.56          0.27          0.95          (0.51
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                      
     (0.25        (0.28        (0.30        (0.32        (0.32
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.25        (0.28        (0.30        (0.32        (0.32
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 10.90        $ 11.15        $ 10.87        $ 10.90        $ 10.27  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.09%          5.22%          2.53%          9.41%          (4.77%
                      
   $ 32,223        $ 35,751        $ 32,174        $ 32,279        $ 33,140  
     1.64%          1.64%          1.66%          1.64%          1.64%  
     1.74%          1.73%          1.76%          1.74%          1.74%  
     2.33%          2.48%          2.77%          3.07%          2.89%  
     2.23%          2.39%          2.67%          2.97%          2.79%  
     19%          15%          16%          15%          14%  
                      

 

 

 

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Financial highlights

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund Institutional Class

Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:

 

    
    

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

Total from investment operations

Less dividends and distributions from:

Net investment income

Total dividends and distributions

Net asset value, end of period

Total return3

Ratios and supplemental data:

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

Ratio of expenses to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets prior to fees waived4

Portfolio turnover

    

 

 

1  Date of commencement of operations; ratios have been annualized and total return has not been annualized.

 

2  The average shares outstanding have been applied for per share information.

 

3 Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value. Total investment return during all of the periods shown reflects a waiver by the manager. Performance would have been lower had the waiver not been in effect.

 

4 Expenses paid indirectly were not material, as reflected in the “Statements of operations”, and had no impact on the ratios disclosed.

 

5  Portfolio turnover is representative of the Fund for the entire year.

See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

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     Year ended          12/31/131
to
 
     8/31/17          8/31/16          8/31/15          8/31/14  

 

 
   $ 11.12        $ 10.84        $ 10.88        $ 10.35  
                 
     0.36          0.38          0.41          0.31  
     (0.25        0.29          (0.04        0.53  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     0.11          0.67          0.37          0.84  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                 
     (0.36        (0.39        (0.41        (0.31
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     (0.36        (0.39        (0.41        (0.31
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 10.87        $ 11.12        $ 10.84        $ 10.88  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     1.09%          6.28%          3.46%          8.21%  
                 
   $ 44,805        $ 31,206        $ 14,841        $ 6,470  
     0.64%          0.64%          0.66%          0.64%  
     0.74%          0.73%          0.76%          0.74%  
     3.33%          3.48%          3.77%          4.04%  
     3.23%          3.39%          3.67%          3.94%  
     19%          15%          16%          15% 5 
                 

 

 

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds    August 31, 2017

 

 

Voyageur Mutual Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers five series: Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware Tax-Free California Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Idaho Fund, and Delaware Tax-Free New York Fund. Voyageur Tax-Free Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund. Voyageur Intermediate Tax-Free Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund. Voyageur Mutual Funds, Voyageur Tax-Free Funds, and Voyageur Intermediate Tax-Free Funds are each referred to as a Trust, or collectively, as the Trusts. These financial statements and the related notes pertain to Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (each referred to as a Fund, or collectively, as the Funds). The above Trusts are open-end investment companies. The Funds are considered diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), and offer Class A, Class C, and Institutional Class shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.50% for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, and 2.75% for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund. Class A share purchases of $1,000,000 or more will incur a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) instead of a front-end sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed during the first year, and 0.50% during the second year for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, and 0.75% for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, if redeemed within the first year, provided that Delaware Distributors, L.P. (DDLP) paid a financial advisor a commission on the purchase of those shares. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1.00%, if redeemed during the first 12 months. Institutional Class shares are not subject to a sales charge and are offered for sale exclusively to certain eligible investors.

The investment objective of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and from Minnesota state personal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of capital.

The investment objective of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund is to seek to provide investors with preservation of capital and, secondarily, current income exempt from federal income tax and Minnesota state personal income taxes, by maintaining a dollar-weighted average effective portfolio maturity of 10 years or less.

The investment objective of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund is to seek a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax and from Minnesota state personal income taxes, primarily through investment in medium- and lower-grade municipal obligations.

1. Significant Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies are in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and are consistently followed by the Funds.

Security Valuation Debt securities are valued based upon valuations provided by an independent pricing service or broker and reviewed by management. To the extent current market prices are not available, the pricing service may take into account developments related to the specific security, as well as transactions in comparable securities. Valuations for fixed income securities utilize matrix systems, which reflect such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, and ratings, and are supplemented by

 

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dealer and exchange quotations. Generally, other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of each Trust’s Board of Trustees (each, a Board, or collectively, the Boards). In determining whether market quotations are readily available or fair valuation will be used, various factors will be taken into consideration, such as market closures or suspension of trading in a security. The foregoing valuation policies apply to restricted and unrestricted securities.

Federal Income Taxes No provision for federal income taxes has been made as each Fund intends to continue to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to shareholders. Each Fund evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing each Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold are recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Management has analyzed each Fund’s tax positions taken or to be taken on the Fund’s federal income tax returns through the year ended Aug. 31, 2017 and for all open tax years (years ended Aug. 31, 2014–Aug. 31, 2016), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in each Fund’s financial statements. If applicable, each Fund recognizes interest accrued on unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in other expenses on the “Statements of operations.” During the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, the Funds did not incur any interest or tax penalties.

Class Accounting Investment income and common expenses are allocated to the various classes of each Fund on the basis of “settled shares” of each class in relation to the net assets of each Fund. Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments are allocated to the various classes of each Fund on the basis of daily net assets of each class. Distribution expenses relating to a specific class are charged directly to that class.

Use of Estimates Each Fund is an investment company, whose financial statements are prepared in conformity with US GAAP. Therefore, each Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidelines for investment companies. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the fair value of investments, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and the differences could be material.

Other Expenses directly attributable to a Fund are charged directly to that Fund. Other expenses common to various funds within the Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie (Delaware Funds) are generally allocated among such funds on the basis of average net assets. Management fees and certain other expenses are paid monthly. Security transactions are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold (trade date) for financial reporting purposes. Costs used in calculating realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on debt securities are accreted or amortized to interest income, respectively, over the lives of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Each Fund declares dividends daily from net investment income and pays the dividends monthly and declares and pays distributions from net realized gain on investments, if any, annually. Each Fund may distribute

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

more frequently, if necessary for tax purposes. Dividends and distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Each Fund may receive earnings credits from its custodian when positive cash balances are maintained, which may be used to offset custody fees. The expense paid under this arrangement is included on the “Statements of operations” under “Custodian fees” with the corresponding expense offset shown under “Less expenses paid indirectly.” For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund earned the following amounts under this agreement:

 

   

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $1,632    $254    $1,613

Each Fund receives earnings credits from its transfer agent when positive cash balances are maintained, which may be used to offset transfer agent fees. If the amount earned is greater than $1, the expense paid under this arrangement is included on the “Statements of operations” under “Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses” with the corresponding expense offset shown under “Less expenses paid indirectly.” For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund earned the following amounts under this agreement:

 

   

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $442    $76    $139

2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements, and Other Transactions with Affiliates

In accordance with the terms of its respective investment management agreement, each Fund pays Delaware Management Company (DMC), a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (formerly, Delaware Management Business Trust) and the investment manager, an annual fee which is calculated daily and paid monthly based on each Fund’s average daily net assets as follows:

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

On the first $500 million

   0.550%    0.500%    0.550%

On the next $500 million

   0.500%    0.475%    0.500%

On the next $1.5 billion

   0.450%    0.450%    0.450%

In excess of $2.5 billion

   0.425%    0.425%    0.425%

DMC has contractually agreed to waive that portion, if any, of its investment advisory fees and/or pay/reimburse each Fund to the extent necessary to ensure that total annual operating expenses (excluding any distribution and service (12b-1) fees, taxes, interest, acquired fund fees and expenses, inverse floater program expenses, short sale and dividend interest expenses, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and nonroutine expenses or costs, including, but not limited to, those relating to reorganizations, litigation, conducting shareholder meetings, and liquidations (collectively, nonroutine

 

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expenses)), do not exceed the following percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017.* For purposes of these waivers and reimbursements, nonroutine expenses may also include such additional costs and expenses, as may be agreed upon from time to time by each Board and DMC. These waivers and reimbursements apply only to expenses paid directly by each Fund and may only be terminated by agreement of DMC and each Fund.

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

Operating expense limitation as a percentage of average daily net assets (per annum)

   0.60%    0.69%    0.64%

Delaware Investments Fund Services Company (DIFSC), an affiliate of DMC, provides fund accounting and financial administration oversight services to each Fund. For these services, DIFSC’s fees are calculated daily and paid monthly based on the aggregate daily net asset of the Delaware Funds at the following annual rate: 0.0050% of the first $30 billion; 0.0045% of the next $10 billion; 0.0040% of the next $10 billion; and 0.0025% of aggregate average daily net assets in excess of $50 billion. The fees payable to DIFSC under the service agreement described above are allocated among all funds in the Delaware Funds on a relative net asset value (NAV) basis. These amounts are included on the “Statements of operations” under “Accounting and administration expenses.” For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund was charged for these services as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $26,158    $4,681    $8,216

DIFSC is also the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of the Funds. For these services, DIFSC’s fees are calculated daily and paid monthly based on the aggregate daily net assets of the retail funds within the Delaware Funds at the following annual rate: 0.025% of the first $20 billion; 0.020% of the next $5 billion; 0.015% of the next $5 billion; and 0.013% of average daily net assets in excess of $30 billion. The fees payable to DIFSC under the service agreement described above are allocated among all retail funds in the Delaware Funds on a relative NAV basis. These amounts are included on the “Statements of operations” under “Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses.” For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund was charged for these services as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $112,336    $20,102    $35,283

Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DIFSC and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (BNYMIS), BNYMIS provides certain sub-transfer agency services to each Fund. Sub-transfer agency fees are paid by each Fund and are also included on the “Statements of operations” under “Dividend disbursing and transfer agent fees and expenses.”

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements, and Other Transactions with Affiliates (continued)

 

Pursuant to a distribution agreement and distribution plan, each Fund pays DDLP, the distributor and an affiliate of DMC, an annual 12b-1 fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares. DDLP has contracted to waive Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund’s Class A shares 12b-1 fee to 0.15% of average daily net assets from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017.* Each Fund pays 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares. The fees are calculated daily and paid monthly. Institutional Class shares pay no 12b-1 fees.

As provided in the investment management agreement, each Fund bears a portion of the cost of certain resources shared with DMC, including the cost of internal personnel of DMC and/or its affiliates that provide legal, tax, and regulatory reporting services to each Fund. These amounts are included on the “Statements of operations” under “Legal fees.” For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund was charged for internal legal, tax, and regulatory reporting services provided by DMC and/or its affiliates’ employees as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $11,121    $2,103    $3,516

For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, DDLP earned commissions on sales of each Fund’s Class A shares as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

  $32,258    $4,019    $12,487

For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, DDLP received gross CDSC commissions on redemption of each Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, respectively, and these commissions were entirely used to offset upfront commissions previously paid by DDLP to broker/dealers on sales of those shares. The amounts received were as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

Class A   $10,279    $ —    $  —
Class C       4,830      911    1,594

Trustees’ fees include expenses accrued by each Fund for each Trustee’s retainer and meeting fees. Certain officers of DMC, DIFSC, and DDLP are officers and/or Trustees of the Trusts. These officers and Trustees are paid no compensation by the Funds.

Cross trades for the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, were executed by each Fund pursuant to procedures adopted by the Boards designed to ensure compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds of investment companies, or between a fund of an investment company and another entity, that are or could be considered affiliates by virtue of having a common investment advisor (or affiliated investment advisors), common

 

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directors/trustees and/or common officers. At their regularly scheduled meetings, the Boards review such transactions for compliance with the procedures adopted by the Boards. Pursuant to these procedures, for the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund engaged in securities purchases and securities sales, which resulted in net realized gains (losses) as follows:

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

Purchases      $ 33,188,637      $ 9,777,504      $ 13,589,828
Sales        38,545,978        14,477,526        16,623,868
Net realized losses        (202,720 )        (190,477 )       

 

* The aggregate contractual waiver period covering this report is from Dec. 29, 2015 through Dec. 29, 2017.

3. Investments

For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund made purchases and sales of investment securities other than short-term investments as follows:

 

   

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

  

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

  

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

Purchases   $ 93,205,462     $21,742,640      $32,499,685  
Sales   103,407,159    25,571,517    38,672,124

At Aug. 31, 2017, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments for federal income tax purposes for each Fund were as follows:

 

      

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

      

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

      

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

 
Cost of investments      $ 536,298,212           $94,705,711            $168,611,583      
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
Aggregate unrealized appreciation of investments      $ 27,535,360           $  4,288,412            $    6,266,642      
Aggregate unrealized depreciation of investments        (969,472)          (29,594)           (630,166)     
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
Net unrealized appreciation of investments      $ 26,565,888           $  4,258,818            $    5,636,476      
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

3. Investments (continued)

US GAAP defines fair value as the price that each Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. A three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements has been established based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available under the circumstances. Each Fund’s investment in its entirety is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below and on the next page.

 

Level 1 –   Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. (Examples: equity securities, open-end investment companies, futures contracts, exchange-traded options contracts)
Level 2 –   Other observable inputs, including, but not limited to: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates), or other market-corroborated inputs. (Examples: debt securities, government securities, swap contracts, foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign securities utilizing international fair value pricing, broker-quoted securities, fair valued securities)
Level 3 –   Significant unobservable inputs, including each Fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments. (Examples: broker-quoted securities, fair valued securities)

Level 3 investments are valued using significant unobservable inputs. Each Fund may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Valuations may also be based upon current market prices of securities that are comparable in coupon, rating, maturity, and industry. The derived value of a Level 3 investment may not represent the value which is received upon disposition and this could impact the results of operations.

 

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The following tables summarize the valuation of each Fund’s investments by fair value hierarchy levels as of Aug. 31, 2017:

 

    

Delaware

Tax-Free

Minnesota Fund

Securities

  

Level 2

Assets:

    

Municipal Bonds

     $ 554,789,100

Short-Term Investments

       8,075,000
    

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities

     $ 562,864,100
    

 

 

 
    

Delaware Tax-Free

Minnesota

Intermediate Fund

Securities

  

Level 2

Assets:

    

Municipal Bonds

     $ 98,214,529

Short-Term Investment

       750,000
    

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities

     $ 98,964,529
    

 

 

 
    

Delaware Minnesota

High-Yield Municipal

Bond Fund

Securities

  

Level 2

Assets:

    

Municipal Bonds

     $ 173,748,059

Short-Term Investments

       500,000
    

 

 

 

Total Value of Securities

     $ 174,248,059
    

 

 

 

During the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, there were no transfers between Level 1 investments, Level 2 investments, or Level 3 investments that had a significant impact to each Fund. Each Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels based on fair value at the beginning of the reporting period.

A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when each Fund has a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning, interim, or end of the period in relation to net assets. During the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, there were no Level 3 investments.

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

4. Dividend and Distribution Information

Income and long-term capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from US GAAP. Additionally, distributions from net short-term gains on sales of investment securities are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the years ended Aug. 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:

 

     Delaware
Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
   Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate Fund
   Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund

Year ended 8/31/17

              

Ordinary income

     $ 86,993      $      $ 29,439

Tax-exempt income

       17,073,618        2,724,929        5,267,316

Long-term capital gains

              143,499       
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 17,160,611      $ 2,868,428      $ 5,296,755
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Year ended 8/31/16

              

Ordinary income

     $ 62,813      $      $ 56,800

Tax-exempt income

       18,284,531        2,922,138        5,541,875
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 18,347,344      $ 2,922,138      $ 5,598,675
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

5. Components of Net Assets on a Tax Basis

As of Aug. 31, 2017, the components of net assets on a tax basis were as follows:

 

     Delaware
Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
  Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate Fund
  Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund

Shares of beneficial interest

     $ 534,694,948     $ 95,167,497     $ 173,691,574

Undistributed tax-exempt income

       183,455       61,550       99,222

Undistributed long-term capital gain

       2,322,501       193,429      

Capital loss carryforwards

                   (3,808,763 )

Distributions payable

       (398,885 )       (62,336 )       (99,222 )

Unrealized appreciation of investments

       26,565,888       4,258,818       5,636,476
    

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net assets

     $ 563,367,907     $ 99,618,958     $ 175,519,287
    

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

The differences between book basis and tax basis components of net assets are primarily attributable to tax treatment of market discount and premium on debt instruments and tax deferral of losses due to wash sales, if applicable.

For financial reporting purposes, capital accounts are adjusted to reflect the tax character of permanent book/tax differences. Reclassifications are primarily due to tax treatment of market discount and

 

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premium on certain debt instruments and expiration of capital loss carryforwards. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications.

For the year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund recorded the following reclassifications:

 

     Delaware
Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
   Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate Fund
   Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     $ 89,270      $ 245      $ 26,823

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

       (89,270 )        (245 )        57,138

Paid-in capital

                     (83,961 )

For federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards may be carried forward and applied against future capital gains. At Aug. 31, 2017, $83,961 of capital loss carryforwards expired for Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund. At Aug. 31, 2017, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards as follows:

 

     Delaware
Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
   Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund

Capital loss carryforwards utilized

     $ 1,535,859      $ 752,519

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (Act), net capital losses recognized for tax years beginning after Dec. 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses. At Aug. 31, 2017, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

At Aug. 31, 2017, capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains for Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund were as follows:

 

           

Pre-enactment capital loss

Expiration date

    

No expiration

Post-enactment capital loss character

    
           

2018

    

Short-term

    

Long-term

  

Total

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

      $2,974,512      $834,251      $—    $3,808,763

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

6. Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
    Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate Fund
    Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund
 
     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended  
     8/31/17     8/31/16     8/31/17     8/31/16     8/31/17     8/31/16  

Shares sold:

            

Class A

     2,747,811       2,932,737       269,504       581,319       1,060,326       1,381,534  

Class C

     517,770       814,808       119,496       189,236       241,813       422,381  

Institutional Class

     4,787,117       1,894,217       1,004,436       809,883       3,027,526       1,623,503  

Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions:

 

   

Class A

     917,146       1,025,969       163,261       187,219       250,746       286,859  

Class C

     88,474       86,077       22,320       21,589       63,226       66,112  

Institutional Class

     158,787       98,996       42,296       20,187       95,656       66,056  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     9,217,105       6,852,804       1,621,313       1,809,433       4,739,293       3,846,445  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares redeemed:

            

Class A

     (7,273,577     (4,636,674     (1,227,248     (1,347,933     (3,146,683     (2,085,479

Class C

     (692,757     (350,128     (240,858     (94,024     (555,354     (242,730

Institutional Class

     (1,991,890     (412,513     (472,778     (113,588     (1,808,540     (252,972
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (9,958,224     (5,399,315     (1,940,884     (1,555,545     (5,510,577     (2,581,181
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (741,119     1,453,489       (319,571     253,888       (771,284     1,265,264  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Certain shareholders may exchange shares of one class for shares of another class in the same Fund. These exchange transactions are included as subscriptions and redemptions in the tables above and the “Statements of changes in net assets.” For the years ended Aug. 31, 2017 and 2016, the Funds had the following exchange transactions:

 

            Year ended            
              8/31/17               
    Exchange Redemptions   Exchange Subscriptions    
    Class A
Shares
  Class C
Shares
  Institutional
Class
Shares
  Class A
Shares
  Institutional
Class
Shares
  Value

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

      1,100,450       32,124       3,022       6,248       1,131,525     $ 14,020,023

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

      181,773       2,496                   184,436       2,027,196

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

      723,695       16,753                   742,303       7,897,713

 

           Year ended 8/31/16           
     Exchange
Redemptions

 

Class A
Shares

   Exchange
Subscriptions
Institutional
Class
Shares
   Value    

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

       40,302        40,367      $ 518,917  

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

       7,520        7,529        86,357  

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

       96,773        96,971        1,076,549  

7. Line of Credit

Each Fund, along with certain other funds in the Delaware Funds (Participants), was a participant in a $155,000,000 revolving line of credit intended to be used for temporary or emergency purposes as an additional source of liquidity to fund redemptions of investor shares. Under the agreement, the Participants were charged an annual commitment fee of 0.10%, which was allocated across the Participants on the basis of relative net assets of each Participant’s allocation of the entire facility. The Participants were permitted to borrow up to a maximum of one-third of their net assets under the agreement. Each Participant was individually, and not jointly, liable for its particular advances, if any, under the line of credit. The line of credit available under the agreement expired on Nov. 7, 2016.

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

7. Line of Credit (continued)

On Nov. 7, 2016, each Fund, along with the other Participants, entered into an amendment to the agreement for a $155,000,000 revolving line of credit. The line of credit is to be used as described above and operates in substantially the same manner as the original agreement, with the exception of the annual commitment fee. Under the amendment to the agreement, the Participants are charged an annual commitment fee of 0.15%, which is allocated across the Participants on the basis of relative net assets of each Participant’s allocation of the entire facility. The line of credit available under the agreement expires on Nov. 6, 2017.

The Funds had no amounts outstanding as of Aug. 31, 2017, or at any time during the year then ended.

8. Geographic, Credit, and Market Risks

The Funds concentrate their investments in securities issued by municipalities, mainly in Minnesota, and may be subject to geographic concentration risk. In addition, the Funds have the flexibility to invest in issuers in US territories and possessions such as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam whose bonds are also free of federal and individual state income taxes.

The value of the Funds’ investments may be adversely affected by new legislation within the state or US territories, regional or local economic conditions, and differing levels of supply and demand for municipal bonds. Many municipalities insure repayment for their obligations. Although bond insurance reduces the risk of loss due to default by an issuer, such bonds remain subject to the risk that value may fluctuate for other reasons, and there is no certainty that the insurance company will meet its obligations. A real or perceived decline in creditworthiness of a bond insurer can have an adverse impact on the value of insured bonds held in each Fund. At Aug. 31, 2017, the percentages of each Fund’s net assets insured by bond insurers are listed below, and these securities have been identified in the “Schedules of investments.”

 

     Delaware
Tax-Free
Minnesota Fund
   Delaware Tax-Free
Minnesota
Intermediate Fund
   Delaware Minnesota
High-Yield Municipal
Bond Fund

Assured Guaranty Corporation

       4.75%             5.77%             1.66%     

Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation

       1.39%             0.51%             0.28%     

National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation

               0.77%             —                 —         
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
       6.91%                     6.28%                     1.94%     
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Each Fund invests a portion of its assets in high yield fixed income securities, which are securities rated lower than BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P), lower than Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (Moody’s), or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Investments in these higher yielding securities are generally accompanied by a greater degree of credit risk than higher-rated securities. Additionally, lower-rated securities may be more susceptible to adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities.

 

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Each Fund invests in certain obligations that may have liquidity protection designed to ensure that the receipt of payments due on the underlying security is timely. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies, or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor through third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. Each Fund will not pay any additional fees for such credit support, although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.

Each Fund may invest in advance refunded bonds, escrow secured bonds, or defeased bonds. Under current federal tax laws and regulations, state and local government borrowers are permitted to refinance outstanding bonds by issuing new bonds. The issuer refinances the outstanding debt to either reduce interest costs or to remove or alter restrictive covenants imposed by the bonds being refinanced. A refunding transaction where the municipal securities are being refunded within 90 days from the issuance of the refunding issue is known as a “current refunding.” Advance refunded bonds are bonds in which the refunded bond issue remains outstanding for more than 90 days following the issuance of the refunding issue. In an advance refunding, the issuer will use the proceeds of a new bond issue to purchase high grade interest bearing debt securities, which are then deposited in an irrevocable escrow account held by an escrow agent to secure all future payments of principal and interest and bond premium of the advance refunded bond. Bonds are “escrowed to maturity” when the proceeds of the refunding issue are deposited in an escrow account for investment sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest on the original interest payment and maturity dates.

Bonds are considered “pre-refunded” when the refunding issue’s proceeds are escrowed only until a permitted call date or dates on the refunded issue with the refunded issue being redeemed at the time, including any required premium. Bonds become “defeased” when the rights and interests of the bondholders and of their lien on the pledged revenues or other security under the terms of the bond contract are substituted with an alternative source of revenues (the escrow securities) sufficient to meet payments of principal and interest to maturity or to the first call dates. Escrowed secured bonds will often receive a rating of AAA from Moody’s, S&P, and/or Fitch Ratings due to the strong credit quality of the escrow securities and the irrevocable nature of the escrow deposit agreement.

Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, which may include securities with contractual restrictions on resale, securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and other securities which may not be readily marketable. The relative illiquidity of these securities may impair each Fund from disposing of them in a timely manner and at a fair price when it is necessary or desirable to do so. While maintaining oversight, the Boards have delegated to DMC, the day-to-day functions of determining whether individual securities are liquid for purposes of each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, which are determined to be liquid, are not subject to each Fund’s 15% limit on investments in illiquid securities. Rule 144A securities have been identified on the “Schedules of investments.”

9. Contractual Obligations

Each Fund enters into contracts in the normal course of business that contain a variety of indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However,

 

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Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

9. Contractual Obligations (continued)

each Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed each Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission released its Final Rule on Investment Company Reporting Modernization (the “Rule”). The Rule contains amendments to Regulation S-X which impact financial statement presentation, particularly the presentation of derivative investments. The financial statements presented are in compliance with the most recent Regulations S-X amendments.

11. Subsequent Events

Effective Sept. 1, 2017, the Funds entered into an amendment to the DIFSC agreement. Under the amendment to the DIFSC agreement, DIFSC’s fees are calculated daily and paid monthly based on the aggregate daily net assets of the Delaware Funds at the following annual rate: 0.00475% of the first $35 billion; 0.0040% of the next $10 billion; and 0.0025% of aggregate average daily net assets in excess of $45 billion (Total Fee). Each Fund in the Delaware Funds pays a minimum of $4,000, which, in aggregate, is subtracted from the Total Fee. Each Fund in the Delaware Funds then pays its relative portion of the remainder of the Total Fee on a relative NAV basis.

Management has determined that no other material events or transactions occurred subsequent to Aug. 31, 2017, that would require recognition or disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements.

 

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Report of independent registered

public accounting firm

To the Board of Trustees of Voyageur Tax-Free Funds, Voyageur Intermediate Tax-Free Funds and Voyageur Mutual Funds and the Shareholders of the Funds, as defined

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund (constituting Voyageur Tax-Free Funds), Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund (constituting Voyageur Intermediate Tax-Free Funds) and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (one of the series constituting Voyageur Mutual Funds) (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of August 31, 2017, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities as of August 31, 2017 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 16, 2017

 

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Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

Tax Information

The information set forth below is for each Fund’s fiscal year as required by federal income tax laws. Shareholders, however, must report distributions on a calendar year basis for income tax purposes, which may include distributions for portions of two fiscal years of the Funds. Accordingly, the information needed by shareholders for income tax purposes will be sent to them in January of each year. Please consult your tax advisor for proper treatment of this information.

All disclosures are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly are subject to change. For any and all items requiring reporting, it is the intention of the Funds to report the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

For the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2017, each Fund reports distributions paid during the year as follows:

 

     (A)
Ordinary
Income
Distributions
      (Tax Basis)      
  (B)
Tax-Exempt
Income
Distributions
      (Tax Basis)      
  (C)
Long-Term
Capital Gain
Distributions
      (Tax Basis)      
  Total
Distributions
      (Tax Basis)      

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund

       0.51 %       99.49 %             100.00 %

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund

             95.00 %       5.00 %       100.00 %

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund

       0.56 %       99.44 %             100.00 %

(A), (B) and (C) are based on a percentage of each Fund’s total distributions.

Board consideration of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Investment Management Agreements

At a meeting held on Aug. 16–17, 2017 (the “Annual Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of disinterested or independent Trustees, approved the renewal of the Investment Advisory Agreements for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”). In making its decision, the Board considered information furnished at regular quarterly Board meetings, including reports detailing Fund performance, investment strategies and expenses, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with the renewal of the investment advisory and sub-advisory contracts. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal of the Investment Management Agreements with Delaware Management Company (“DMC”), a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (formerly, Delaware Management Business Trust), included materials provided by DMC and its affiliates concerning, among other things, the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the Funds; the costs of such services to the Funds;

 

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economies of scale; and the investment manager’s financial condition and profitability. In addition, in connection with the Annual Meeting, reports were provided to the Trustees in May 2017 and included reports provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions (formerly Lipper) (“Broadridge” or “Lipper”). The Broadridge reports compared each Fund’s investment performance and expenses with those of other comparable mutual funds. The Independent Trustees reviewed and discussed the Broadridge reports with independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees. In addition to the information noted above, the Board also requested and received information regarding DMC’s policy with respect to advisory fee levels and its breakpoint philosophy; the structure of portfolio manager compensation; comparative client fee information; and any constraints or limitations on the availability of securities for certain investment styles, which had in the past year inhibited, or which were likely in the future to inhibit, the investment manager’s ability to invest fully in accordance with Fund policies.

In considering information relating to the approval of each Fund’s advisory agreement, the Independent Trustees received assistance and advice from and met separately with independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees. Although the Board gave attention to all information furnished, the following discussion identifies, under separate headings, the primary factors taken into account by the Board during its contract renewal considerations.

Nature, extent, and quality of service. The Board considered the services provided by DMC to the Funds and their shareholders. In reviewing the nature, extent, and quality of services, the Board considered reports furnished to it throughout the year, which covered matters such as the relative performance of the Funds; compliance of portfolio managers with the investment policies, strategies, and restrictions for the Funds; compliance by DMC and Delaware Distributors, L.P. (together, “Management”) personnel with the Code of Ethics adopted throughout the Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie (“Delaware Funds”); and adherence to fair value pricing procedures as established by the Board. The Board was pleased with the current staffing of the Funds’ investment advisor and the emphasis placed on research in the investment process. The Board recognized DMC’s receipt of several industry distinctions during the past several years. The Board gave favorable consideration to DMC’s efforts to control expenditures while maintaining service levels committed to Fund matters. The Board also noted the benefits provided to Fund shareholders through each shareholder’s ability to exchange an investment in one Delaware Fund for the same class of shares in another Delaware Fund without a sales charge, to reinvest Fund dividends into additional shares of the Fund or into additional shares of other Delaware Funds, and the privilege to combine holdings in other Delaware Funds to obtain a reduced sales charge. The Board was satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of the overall services provided by DMC.

Investment performance. The Board placed significant emphasis on the investment performance of the Funds in view of the importance of investment performance to shareholders. Although the Board considered performance reports and discussions with portfolio managers at Investment Committee meetings throughout the year, the Board gave particular weight to the Broadridge reports furnished for the Annual Meeting. The Broadridge reports prepared for each Fund showed the investment performance of its Class A shares in comparison to a group of similar funds as selected by Broadridge (the “Performance Universe”). A fund with the best performance ranked first, and a fund with the poorest performance ranked last. The highest/best performing 25% of funds in the Performance Universe make up the first quartile; the next 25%, the second quartile; the next 25%, the third quartile; and the

 

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Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

Board consideration of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Investment Management Agreements (continued)

poorest/worst performing 25% of funds in the Performance Universe make up the fourth quartile. Comparative annualized performance for each Fund was shown for the past 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods, to the extent applicable, ended Jan. 31, 2017. The Board’s objective is that each Fund’s performance for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods be at or above the median of its Performance Universe.

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund – Lipper currently classifies the Fund as a Minnesota municipal debt fund. However, Management believes that it would be more appropriate to include the Fund in the high yield municipal debt funds category, which would provide a comparison to a representative peer group based on credit quality instead of a peer group based on state of issuance. Accordingly, the Broadridge report prepared for the Fund compares the Fund’s performance to two separate Performance Universes – one consisting of the Fund and all retail and institutional Minnesota municipal debt funds and the other consisting of the Fund and all retail and institutional high yield municipal debt funds. When compared to other Minnesota municipal debt funds, the Broadridge report comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1- and 3-year periods was in the second quartile of its Performance Universe and its total return for the 5-year period was in the first quartile of its Performance Universe. When compared to other high yield municipal debt funds, the Broadridge report comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods was in the fourth quartile of its Performance Universe. The Board observed that, when compared to other Minnesota municipal debt funds, the Fund’s performance was in line with the Board’s objective; however, when compared to other high yield municipal debt funds, the Fund’s performance results were not in line with the Board’s objective. In evaluating the Fund’s performance, the Board considered the numerous investment and performance reports and other information delivered by Management personnel to the Board’s Investments Committee. The Board was satisfied that Management was taking action to improve Fund performance and to meet the Board’s performance objective.

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund – The Performance Universe for the Fund consisted of the Fund and all retail and institutional Minnesota municipal debt funds as selected by Broadridge. The Broadridge report comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods was in the second quartile of its Performance Universe. The Board was satisfied with performance.

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund – The Performance Universe for the Fund consisted of the Fund and all retail and institutional “other states” intermediate municipal debt funds as selected by Broadridge. The Broadridge report comparison showed that the Fund’s total return for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods was in the first quartile of its Performance Universe. The Board was satisfied with performance.

Comparative expenses. The Board considered expense comparison data for the Delaware Funds. Management provided the Board with information on pricing levels and fee structures for each Fund as of its most recently completed fiscal year. The Board also focused on the comparative analysis of effective management fees and total expense ratios of each Fund versus effective management fees and expense ratios of a group of similar funds as selected by Broadridge (the “Expense Group”). In reviewing comparative costs, each Fund’s contractual management fee and the actual management fee incurred

 

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by the Fund were compared with the contractual management fees (assuming all funds in the Expense Group were similar in size to the Fund) and actual management fees (as reported by each fund) within the Expense Group, taking into account any applicable breakpoints and fee waivers. Each Fund’s total expenses were also compared with those of its Expense Group. The Broadridge total expenses, for comparative consistency, were shown by Broadridge for Class A shares and comparative total expenses including 12b-1 and non-12b-1 service fees. The Board’s objective is to limit each Fund’s total expense ratio to be competitive with that of the Expense Group.

Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund – When compared to other Minnesota municipal debt funds, the expense comparisons for the Fund showed that its actual management fee was in the quartile with the second highest expenses in its Expense Group and its total expenses were in the quartile with the highest expenses of the Expense Group. When compared to other high yield municipal debt funds, the expense comparisons for the Fund showed that its actual management fee was in the quartile with the lowest expenses of its Expense Group and its total expenses were in the quartile with the second lowest expenses of the Expense. The Board noted that, when compared to other Minnesota municipal debt funds, the Fund’s total expenses were not in line with the Board’s objective. In evaluating the total expenses, the Board considered fee waivers in place through Dec. 29, 2017 and various initiatives implemented by Management, such as the negotiation of lower fees for fund accounting, fund accounting oversight services, and custody, which had created an opportunity for a further reduction in expenses. The Board was satisfied with Management’s efforts to improve the Fund’s total expense ratio and to bring it in line with the Board’s objective.

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund – The expense comparisons for the Fund showed that its actual management fee was in the quartile with the second lowest expenses of its Expense Group and its total expenses were in the quartile with the second highest expenses of its Expense Group. The Board gave favorable consideration to the Fund’s management fee, but noted that the Fund’s total expenses were not in line with the Board’s objective. In evaluating the total expenses, the Board considered waivers in place through Dec. 29, 2017 and various initiatives implemented by Management, such as the negotiation of lower fees for fund accounting, fund accounting oversight services, and custody, which had created an opportunity for a further reduction in expenses. The Board was satisfied with Management’s efforts to improve the Fund’s total expense ratio and to bring it in line with the Board’s objective.

Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund – The expense comparisons for the Fund showed that its actual management fee and total expenses were in the quartile with the second highest expenses of its Expense Group. The Board noted that the Fund’s management fee and total expenses were not in line with the Board’s objective. In evaluating the total expenses, the Board considered waivers in place through Dec. 29, 2017 and various initiatives implemented by Management, such as the negotiation of lower fees for fund accounting, fund accounting oversight services, and custody, which had created an opportunity for a further reduction in expenses. The Board was satisfied with Management’s efforts to improve the Fund’s total expense ratio and to bring it in line with the Board’s objective.

Management profitability. The Board considered the level of profits realized by DMC in connection with the operation of the Funds. In this respect, the Board reviewed the Investment Management Profitability Analysis that addressed the overall profitability of DMC’s business in providing management and other

 

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Table of Contents
Other Fund information (Unaudited)
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds   

 

 

Board consideration of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund Investment Management Agreements (continued)

services to each of the individual funds and the Delaware Funds as a whole. Specific attention was given to the methodology followed in allocating costs for the purpose of determining profitability. Management stated that the level of profits of DMC, to a certain extent, reflects recent operational cost savings and efficiencies initiated by DMC. The Board considered DMC’s efforts to improve services provided to fund shareholders and to meet additional regulatory and compliance requirements resulting from recent industry-wide Securities and Exchange Commission initiatives. The Board also considered the extent to which DMC might derive ancillary benefits from fund operations, including the potential for procuring additional business as a result of the prestige and visibility associated with its role as service provider to the Delaware Funds and the benefits from allocation of fund brokerage to improve trading efficiencies. The Board found that the management fees were reasonable in light of the services rendered and the level of profitability of DMC.

Economies of scale. The Trustees considered whether economies of scale are realized by DMC as each Fund’s assets increase and the extent to which any economies of scale are reflected in the level of management fees charged. The Trustees reviewed the standardized advisory fee pricing and structure, approved by the Board and shareholders, which includes breakpoints, and which applies to most funds in the Delaware Funds complex. Breakpoints in the advisory fee occur when the advisory fee rate is reduced on assets in excess of specified levels. Breakpoints result in a lower advisory fee than would otherwise be the case in the absence of breakpoints, when the asset levels specified in the breakpoints are exceeded. The Board noted that the fee under the Fund’s management contract fell within the standardized fee pricing structure. The Board also noted that, as of Feb. 28, 2017, the assets of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund exceeded the first breakpoint level. The Board believed that, given the extent to which economies of scale might be realized by the advisor and its affiliates, the schedule of fees under the Investment Management Agreement provides a sharing of benefits with the Fund and its shareholders. Although, as of Feb. 28, 2017, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund had not reached a size at which they can take advantage of any breakpoints in the applicable fee schedule, the Board recognized that the fee was structured so that if the Funds grow, economies of scale may be shared.

 

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Table of Contents
Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum
Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie   

 

 

A mutual fund is governed by a Board of Trustees/Directors (“Trustees”), which has oversight responsibility for the management of a fund’s business affairs. Trustees establish procedures and oversee and review the performance of the investment manager, the distributor, and others who perform services for the fund. The independent fund trustees, in particular, are advocates

 

Name, Address,

and Birth Date

  

Position(s)

Held with Fund(s)

  

Length of

Time Served

    

 

Interested Trustee

 

     

Shawn K. Lytle1, 2

   President,    Trustee since   

2005 Market Street

   Chief Executive Officer,    September 2015   

Philadelphia, PA 19103

   and Trustee      

February 1970

     

President and

  
     

Chief Executive Officer

  
     

since August 2015

  
        
        
        

 

Independent Trustees

 

     

Thomas L. Bennett

  

Chairman and Trustee

  

Trustee since

  

2005 Market Street

     

March 2005

  

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

October 1947

     

Chairman since

  
         

March 2015

 

    

Ann D. Borowiec

  

Trustee

  

Since March 2015

  

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

November 1958

        
        
        
                

Joseph W. Chow

   Trustee    Since January 2013   

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

January 1953

        
        
                

 

1  Shawn K. Lytle is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he is an executive officer of the Fund’s(s’) investment advisor.
2  Shawn K. Lytle, David F. Connor, Daniel V. Geatens, and Richard Salus serve in similar capacities for the six portfolios of the Optimum Fund Trust, which have the same investment advisor, principal underwriter, and transfer agent as registrant.

 

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for shareholder interests. Each trustee has served in that capacity since he or she was elected to or appointed to the Board of Trustees, and will continue to serve until his or her retirement or the election of a new trustee in his or her place. The following is a list of the Trustees and Officers with certain background and related information.

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past Five Years

  

Number of Portfolios in

Fund Complex Overseen

by Trustee or Officer

  

Other Directorships

Held by Trustee or Officer

     

Shawn K. Lytle has served as

   62    Trustee — UBS

President of

      Relationship Funds,

Macquarie Investment

      SMA Relationship

Management3

      Trust, and UBS Funds

since June 2015 and was the

      (May 2010–April 2015)

Regional Head of Americas for

     

UBS Global Asset

     

Management from

     

2010 through 2015.

     
     

Private Investor

   62    None

(March 2004–Present)

     
     
     
           

Chief Executive Officer,

   62    Director —

Private Wealth Management

      Banco Santander International

(2011–2013) and

     

Market Manager,

      Director —

New Jersey Private

      Santander Bank, N.A.
Bank (2005–2011) —      

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

 

         

Executive Vice President

   62    Director and Audit Committee

(Emerging Economies

      Member — Hercules

Strategies, Risks, and

      Technology Growth

Corporate Administration)

      Capital, Inc.

State Street Corporation

      (2004–2014)

(July 2004–March 2011)

         

 

3  Macquarie Investment Management (formerly known as Delaware Investments) is the marketing name for Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Delaware Management Holdings, Inc.) and its subsidiaries, including the Fund’s(s’) investment advisor, principal underwriter, and its transfer agent.

 

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Table of Contents

Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum

Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie

 

 

Name, Address,

and Birth Date

 

  

Position(s)

Held with Fund(s)

  

Length of

Time Served

    

Independent Trustees (continued)

 

     

John A. Fry

   Trustee    Since January 2001   

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

May 1960

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
                

Lucinda S. Landreth

   Trustee    Since March 2005   

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

June 1947

 

              

Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa

   Trustee    Since September 2011   

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

January 1956

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
                

 

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Table of Contents

    

    

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years
  

Number of Portfolios in

Fund Complex Overseen

by Trustee or Officer

   Other Directorships
Held by Trustee or Officer
     

President —

   62    Director, Audit Committee,

Drexel University

      and Governance Committee

(August 2010–Present)

      Member — Community
      Health Systems

President —

     

Franklin & Marshall College

      Director — Drexel

(July 2002–July 2010)

      Morgan & Co.
     
      Director, Audit Committee
      Member — vTv
      Therapeutics LLC
     
      Director — FS Credit Real
          Estate Income Trust, Inc.
Private Investor    62    None
(2004–Present)      
     
           

Chief Executive Officer —

   62    Trust Manager and

Banco Itaú

      Audit Committee

International

      Member — Camden

(April 2012–December 2016)

      Property Trust

Executive Advisor to Dean

     

(August 2011–March 2012) and Interim Dean

     

(January 2011–July 2011) —

     

University of Miami School of

     

Business Administration

     

President — U.S. Trust,

     

Bank of America Private

     

Wealth Management

     

(Private Banking)

     

(July 2007–December 2008)

         

 

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Table of Contents

Board of trustees / directors and officers addendum

Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie

 

 

 

Name, Address,
and Birth Date
  

Position(s)

Held with Fund(s)

   Length of
Time Served
      

 

Independent Trustees (continued)

 

     

Thomas K. Whitford

   Trustee    Since January 2013   

2005 Market Street

        

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

March 1956

        
        
                    
Janet L. Yeomans    Trustee    Since April 1999   
2005 Market Street         
Philadelphia, PA 19103         
July 1948         
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

Officers

 

     

David F. Connor

   Senior Vice President,    Senior Vice President   

2005 Market Street

   General Counsel,    since May 2013;   

Philadelphia, PA 19103

   and Secretary    General Counsel   

December 1963

      since May 2015;   
      Secretary since   
          October 2005         

Daniel V. Geatens

   Vice President    Treasurer since October 2007   

2005 Market Street

   and Treasurer      

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

October 1972

        
        
                    

Richard Salus

   Senior Vice President    Chief Financial Officer   

2005 Market Street

   and Chief Financial Officer    since November 2006   

Philadelphia, PA 19103

        

October 1963

        
        
                    

The Statement of Additional Information for the Fund(s) includes additional information about the Trustees and Officers and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 800 523-1918.

 

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Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years
  

Number of Portfolios in

Fund Complex Overseen

by Trustee or Officer

   Other Directorships
Held by Trustee or Officer
     

Vice Chairman

   62    Director — HSBC Finance

(2010–April 2013) —

      Corporation and HSBC

PNC Financial

      North America Holdings Inc.

Services Group

     
      Director —
      HSBC USA Inc.
           
Vice President and Treasurer    62    Director, Personnel and
(January 2006–July 2012),       Compensation Committee
Vice President —       Chair, and Member of
Mergers & Acquisitions       Nominating, Investments, and
(January 2003–January 2006),       Audit Committees —
and Vice President       Okabena Company
and Treasurer       (2009–2014)
(July 1995–January 2003) —
3M Company
     
     
     
David F. Connor has served    62    None2
in various capacities at
different times at
     
Macquarie Investment      
Management.      
     
           
Daniel V. Geatens has served    62    None2
in various capacities at
different times at
     
Macquarie Investment      
Management.      
           
Richard Salus has served    62    None2
in various executive capacities
at different times at
     
Macquarie Investment      
Management.      
           

 

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Table of Contents

About the organization

 

Board of trustees

 

 

        

Shawn K. Lytle

President and

Chief Executive Officer

Delaware FundsSM

by Macquarie

Philadelphia, PA

 

Thomas L. Bennett

Chairman of the Board

Delaware Funds

by Macquarie

Private Investor

Rosemont, PA

  

Ann D. Borowiec

Former Chief Executive

Officer

Private Wealth Management

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

New York, NY

 

Joseph W. Chow

Former Executive Vice

President

State Street Corporation

Boston, MA

  

John A. Fry

President

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

 

Lucinda S. Landreth

Former Chief Investment

Officer

Assurant, Inc.

New York, NY

  

Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa

Former Chief Executive

Officer

Banco Itaú International

Miami, FL

 

Thomas K. Whitford

Former Vice Chairman

PNC Financial Services Group

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Janet L. Yeomans

Former Vice President and

Treasurer

3M Company

St. Paul, MN

Affiliated officers

 

        

David F. Connor

Senior Vice President,

General Counsel,

and Secretary

Delaware Funds

by Macquarie

Philadelphia, PA

  

Daniel V. Geatens

Vice President and

Treasurer

Delaware Funds

by Macquarie

Philadelphia, PA

  

Richard Salus

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Delaware Funds

by Macquarie

Philadelphia, PA

  

This annual report is for the information of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund shareholders, but it may be used with prospective investors when preceded or accompanied by the Delaware Fund fact sheet for the most recently completed calendar quarter. These documents are available at delawarefunds.com/literature.

 

 

Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Each Fund’s Forms N-Q, as well as a description of the policies and procedures that each Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities are available without charge (i) upon request, by calling 800 523-1918; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. In addition, a description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities and the Schedules of Investments included in the Funds’ most recent Forms N-Q are available without charge on the Funds’ website at delawarefunds.com/literature. Each Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800 SEC-0330.

Information (if any) regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recently disclosed 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (i) through the Funds’ website at delawarefunds.com/proxy; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

 

 

112


Item 2. Code of Ethics

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. A copy of the registrant’s Code of Business Ethics has been posted on the Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie Internet Web site at www.delawarefunds.com. Any amendments to the Code of Business Ethics, and information on any waiver from its provisions granted by the registrant, will also be posted on this Web site within five business days of such amendment or waiver and will remain on the Web site for at least 12 months.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The registrant’s Board of Trustees/Directors has determined that certain members of the registrant’s Audit Committee are audit committee financial experts, as defined below. For purposes of this item, an “audit committee financial expert” is a person who has the following attributes:

a. An understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements;

b. The ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals, and reserves;

c. Experience preparing, auditing, analyzing, or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the registrant’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities;

d. An understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and

e. An understanding of audit committee functions.

An “audit committee financial expert” shall have acquired such attributes through:

a. Education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, or auditor or experience in one or more positions that involve the performance of similar functions;

b. Experience actively supervising a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor, or person performing similar functions;

c. Experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing, or evaluation of financial statements; or

d. Other relevant experience.

The registrant’s Board of Trustees/Directors has also determined that each member of the registrant’s Audit Committee is independent. In order to be “independent” for purposes of this item, the Audit Committee member may not: (i) other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees/Directors or any committee thereof, accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the issuer; or (ii) be an “interested person” of the registrant as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.


The names of the audit committee financial experts on the registrant’s Audit Committee are set forth below:

Joseph W. Chow
John A. Fry
Lucinda S. Landreth
Thomas K. Whitford

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

(a) Audit fees.

The aggregate fees billed for services provided to the registrant by its independent auditors for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and for services normally provided by the independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $38,500 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

The aggregate fees billed for services provided to the registrant by its independent auditors for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and for services normally provided by the independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $38,500 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016.

(b) Audit-related fees.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for services relating to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for services relating to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the registrant’s investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $640,000 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%. These audit-related services were as follows: year end audit procedures, group reporting and subsidiary statutory audits.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for services relating to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for services relating to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the registrant’s investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $667,000 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%. These audit-related services were as follows: year end audit procedures, group reporting and subsidiary statutory audits.


(c) Tax fees.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for tax-related services provided to the registrant were $4,727 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%. These tax-related services were as follows: review of income tax returns and review of annual excise distribution calculations.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for tax-related services provided to the registrant’s investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $0 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for tax-related services provided to the registrant were $4,584 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%. These tax-related services were as follows: review of income tax returns and review of annual excise distribution calculations.

The aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for tax-related services provided to the registrant’s investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $0 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%.

(d) All other fees.

The aggregate fees billed for all services provided by the independent auditors to the registrant other than those set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

The aggregate fees billed for all services other than those set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Item provided by the registrant’s independent auditors to the registrant’s adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $0 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%.

The aggregate fees billed for all services provided by the independent auditors to the registrant other than those set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016.


The aggregate fees billed for all services other than those set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Item provided by the registrant’s independent auditors to the registrant’s adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser and that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant were $0 for the registrant’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The percentage of these fees relating to services approved by the registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception from the pre-approval requirement in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X was 0%.

(e) The registrant’s Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures as permitted by Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(B) of Regulation S-X (the “Pre-Approval Policy”) with respect to services provided by the registrant’s independent auditors. Pursuant to the Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the services set forth in the table below with respect to the registrant up to the specified fee limits. Certain fee limits are based on aggregate fees to the registrant and other registrants within the Delaware FundsSM by Macquarie.

Service Range of Fees
Audit Services
Statutory audits or financial audits for new Funds up to $40,000 per Fund
Services associated with SEC registration statements (e.g., Form N-1A, Form N-14, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings (e.g., comfort letters for closed-end Fund offerings, consents), and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters up to $10,000 per Fund
Consultations by Fund management as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, FASB, or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies (Note: Under SEC rules, some consultations may be considered “audit-related services” rather than “audit services”) up to $25,000 in the aggregate
Audit-Related Services
Consultations by Fund management as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and /or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, FASB, or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies (Note: Under SEC rules, some consultations may be considered “audit services” rather than “audit-related services”) up to $25,000 in the aggregate
Tax Services
U.S. federal, state and local and international tax planning and advice (e.g., consulting on statutory, regulatory or administrative developments, evaluation of Funds’ tax compliance function, etc.) up to $25,000 in the aggregate
U.S. federal, state and local tax compliance (e.g., excise distribution reviews, etc.) up to $5,000 per Fund
Review of federal, state, local and international income, franchise and other tax returns up to $5,000 per Fund


Under the Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee has also pre-approved the services set forth in the table below with respect to the registrant’s investment adviser and other entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provide ongoing services to the registrant (the “Control Affiliates”) up to the specified fee limit. This fee limit is based on aggregate fees to the investment adviser and its Control Affiliates.

Service Range of Fees
Non-Audit Services
Services associated with periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters up to $10,000 in the aggregate

The Pre-Approval Policy requires the registrant’s independent auditors to report to the Audit Committee at each of its regular meetings regarding all services initiated since the last such report was rendered, including those services authorized by the Pre-Approval Policy.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s independent auditors for services rendered to the registrant and to its investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser were $11,180,000 and $10,036,000 for the registrant’s fiscal years ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, respectively.

(h) In connection with its selection of the independent auditors, the registrant’s Audit Committee has considered the independent auditors’ provision of non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and other service providers under common control with the adviser that were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. The Audit Committee has determined that the independent auditors’ provision of these services is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments

(a) Included as part of report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

(b) Divestment of securities in accordance with Section 13(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

Not applicable.


Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of the filing of this report and have concluded that they are effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant in its reports or statements filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by the report to stockholders included herein (i.e., the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits

(a) (1) Code of Ethics

Not applicable.

(2) Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(3) Written solicitations to purchase securities pursuant to Rule 23c-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Not applicable.

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.906CERT.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf, by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

VOYAGEUR TAX FREE FUNDS

SHAWN K. LYTLE
By: Shawn K. Lytle
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:   November 6, 2017

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SHAWN K. LYTLE
By: Shawn K. Lytle
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:   November 6, 2017
 
RICHARD SALUS
By: Richard Salus
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Date:   November 6, 2017