N-CSR 1 d351231dncsr.htm SIT MUTUAL FUNDS II, INC. SIT Mutual Funds II, Inc.

 

 

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: 811-04033

Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

3300 IDS Center

80 South Eighth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(Address of principal executive offices)

Paul E. Rasmussen, VP Treasurer

Sit Mutual Funds, Inc.

3300 IDS Center

80 South Eighth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(Name and address of agent for service)

Copy to:

Mike Radmer, Esq.

Dorsey & Whitney

Suite 1500

50 South Sixth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402-1498

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (612) 332-3223

Date of fiscal year end: March 31, 2012

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2012

 

 

 


Item 1: Reports to Stockholders


LOGO


 

Sit Mutual Funds

BOND FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

     Page

Chairman’s Letter

     2      

Fund Reviews and Schedules of Investments

     

U.S. Government Securities Fund

     4      

Tax-Free Income Fund

     10      

Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

     24      

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     34      

Statements of Operations

     35      

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     36      

Financial Highlights

     38      

Notes to Financial Statements

     42      

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     48      

Expense Example

     49      

Federal Tax Information

     50      

Information About Directors and Officers

     52      

Additional Information

     54      

 

This document must be preceded or accompanied by a Prospectus.


  

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

May 7, 2012

Dear fellow shareholders:

 

    U.S. fixed income markets generally performed well over the preceding 12-month period. The year was marked with a variety of significant events. We began the year with a sense of hope as expectations for an economic recovery were high and bond yields had been rising. However, these expectations did not materialize and bond yields declined throughout the year as events unfolded. The economic disruptions began with the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The impact on economic activity was felt throughout the world. European fiscal concerns continued to dominate the markets as a series of central bank plans were announced and quickly discounted. The deterioration in Greece and lack of a meaningful response sent Treasury yields lower throughout the year. Domestic fiscal issues ensued with political brinkmanship regarding the debt ceiling debate and the ultimate downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by Standard and Poor’s. The Federal Reserve announced a new accommodative policy program and pledged to keep interest rates at historically low levels until late 2014. Recent economic data has been relatively strong, which has tempered some of the pessimism of the second half of 2011. However, we continue to expect subpar economic growth, modest employment gains and moderate inflation in 2012.

    U.S. Treasury bond yields with maturities over 5 years declined by over 100 basis points. Specifically, the 30 year U.S. Treasury bond yield declined 118 basis points, from 4.50% to 3.32% over the 12-month period. Improvement in economic indicators in the first quarter of 2012 has lifted treasury yields off of the lows witnessed in the latter half of 2011, with the 30-year Treasury yield rising by 35 basis points. The municipal funds posted strong double-digit returns for the year, primarily driven by their longer duration.

Europe

    European Union countries came up with increasingly innovative ideas during the year for how to address the fiscal problems of its weaker members. The Greek tragedy took center stage during the second half of the year. By the fourth quarter of 2011, there was acceptance of a de facto Greek default, and in February 2012 the default was made official through a debt swap agreement. Interestingly, the actual default seemed to assuage markets which had grown weary of repeated failed bailout attempts. The recent Long Term Refinancing Operation (LTRO) is a relatively inexpensive loan scheme for European banks from the European Central Bank (ECB) that has boosted liquidity to avoid a collapse of the banking system. Ultimately, we believe this just kicked the can down the road. All of the major issues contributing to the difficulties in Europe persist: the sovereign debt outstanding among the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ire-land, Greece and Spain); banks’ large, cross-border exposure to the euro area; countries’ large government budget deficits; and elevated yield spreads. With confidence eroding and austerity measures impacting many regions in Europe, our expectation is that a modest recession is likely in Euroland in 2012.

Domestic

    In addition to the aforementioned global fiscal issues, we had our own fiscal problems here in the U.S. In April 2011, Standard and Poor’s put the U.S. Credit rating on negative watch. Many hoped this would be an impetus for a bi-partisan solution to the unsustainable debt trajectory. The budget ceiling debate continued throughout the summer, but the much hoped for fiscal responsibility did not materialize. Politics and brinkmanship ensued with a 12th hour debt ceiling agreement and a “Super Committee” being charged with finding an additional $1.5 trillion in funds before a November deadline. Standard & Poor’s subsequently downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+, citing the high level of debt-to-GDP and the partisan political climate as the ultimate reasons. The “Super Committee” failed to reach a consensus, the consequences of which were to be a combination of cuts in Medicare and defense spending (designed to be unpalatable to both parties). Fitch, Moody’s and S&P all have a negative outlook on the United States debt rating now. The debt limit was raised to a total of $16.4 trillion, a number thought to be high enough to get us through the November elections. However, there may need to be another minor increase to get us through 2012, as the extension of the payroll tax cut and long term benefits resulting from a prolonged below trend economy likely means another year with deficits firmly over $1 trillion.

    Recent economic data has been supportive of stable, albeit modest, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth over the near term. Importantly, data has pointed to improvement in the jobs market and modest gains in consumer spending. Home prices will likely turn a corner and begin to rise slowly later this year. Both the number of homes for sale and the pipeline of seriously delinquent mortgages of homes in foreclosure has been steadily declining for nearly 2 years now. The total volume of inventory is down about 25%, and last spring was the first time in four years that home prices experienced a normal seasonal bounce without the aid of tax credits. A precursor to a better housing market is reduced rental vacancy, and vacancies have declined to a 10-year low. So at the very least, the housing market will cease to be a drag on economic growth in 2012 and should add to growth in 2013.

Federal Reserve

    In July, the Federal Reserve announced yet another new program dubbed “Operation Twist.” The intent is to flatten the yield curve and keep mortgage rates low as a form of economic stimulus. To achieve this goal, the Fed sells short-term U.S. Treasury notes and buys longer bonds in an effort to force down longer term yields. Additionally, the Fed reinvests paydowns from its mortgage security holdings into more mortgage securities. Operation Twist is expected to conclude in June of 2012.

 

 

2

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

    In January 2012, the Federal Reserve announced it would likely not raise interest rates until late 2014, adding yet another layer of monetary easing. Additionally, we have begun to hear the comments about a possible third round of asset purchases (QE3). In contrast, the March release of the FOMC minutes noted “a couple” of committee members favoring additional asset price inflation initiatives down from “a few” in the January meeting minutes. The Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke, has reiterated that the Federal Reserve will continue to monitor the fragile economy and act accordingly.

Strategy Summary

    2012 has begun with a landscape eerily similar to 2011. Once again, we are enjoying relative economic strength. Job creation and consumer spending have been positive signs, which may have been influenced by the warm weather. The recent FOMC minutes reveal more Fed Governors are favoring less asset purchase initiatives. We expect markets to remain susceptible to active cross currents of improving domestic growth and deteriorating domestic and European fiscal health. European governments have made some progress in dealing with their budget and economic difficulties; however the problems are a long way from being solved. Notwithstanding these concerns, we believe the U.S. economy will continue its slow but steady improvement.

    We continue to position the U.S. Government Fund defensively against rising interest rates, as we expect existing accommodative monetary policy to drive inflation modestly higher in the intermediate term. A lack of bi-partisanship in congress has left little chance for an improvement in the federal budget situation. We continue to see risks to the market surrounding the debt ceiling as the current political interests lack the fortitude to institute meaningful reforms necessary to obtain a sustainable fiscal future. In the short term, we expect longer maturity U.S. Treasury yields to be fairly range bound as the Federal Reserve acquires securities as part of its “Operation Twist” program. We believe opportunities to execute trades on a tactical basis will exist in the Treasury sector until this

program comes to a conclusion later in the second quarter. Importantly, we continue to emphasize older vintage, high-coupon agency mortgage pass thru securities that provide high levels of income at stable price levels.

    The tax-exempt yield-curve remains historically steep. Accordingly, we continue to position municipal bond fund portfolios modestly longer than their associated benchmarks. Furthermore, tax-exempts remain cheap when their yields are expressed as a percentage of comparable maturity Treasuries, particularly for longer maturities. We believe these yield ratios relative to Treasuries continue to offer tax-exempt bonds a cushion if and when Treasury rates begin a sustained increase. Credit spreads remain attractive, particularly for A-rated tax-exempts, which continue to yield over 100 basis points more than AAA-rated general obligation bonds. We continue to look for opportunities to increase credit quality and may begin shortening duration. We believe municipal bond issuance may increase later in 2012, which could present opportunities depending on the composition and timing of issuance. Our investment strategy remains focused on income, which we believe is the primary source of return over longer periods of time. As always, diversification remains a key tenet in our strategy to help manage credit risk, particularly as state and local issuers continue to adjust to fiscal challenges.

    We appreciate your continued interest in the Sit family of funds.

With best wishes,

 

LOGO

Roger J. Sit

Chairman and President

Sit Mutual Funds

 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   3


 

    Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the U.S. Government Securities Fund is to provide high current income and safety of principal, which it seeks to attain by investing solely in debt obligations issued, guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or its agencies or its instrumentalities.

Agency mortgage securities and U.S. Treasury securities are the principal holdings in the Fund. The mortgage securities that the Fund purchases consist of pass-through securities including those issued by Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal National Mortgage Asociation (FNMA), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC).

 

 

 

The Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund provided a return of +2.98% during the twelve month period ended March 31, 2012, compared to the return of the Barclays Intermediate Government Bond Index of +5.66%. The Fund’s 30-day SEC yield was 2.49% and its 12-month distribution rate was 2.77%.

During the twelve month period, the Fund benefited from the income advantage produced by its holdings in older, high coupon government agency mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. While the Fund’s holdings of U.S. Government bonds provided meaningful return on an absolute basis, an underweight position in the U.S. Treasury sector, relative to the benchmark, negatively impacted the Fund’s performance. Prices of U.S. Treasury bonds rose as global economic uncertainty produced higher demand for U.S. government obligations, which are typically considered the safest investment option. The Federal Reserve continued to provide economic stimulus through accommodative policy initiatives. In the third quarter of 2011 the Federal Reserve announced it would sell short-term U.S. Treasury notes and buy long-term Treasury bonds (commonly referred to as “Operation Twist”). Prices of longer dated Treasury bonds rose in response.

The government continues to engineer a myriad of mortgage modification and refinancing programs for homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. Due to their seasoned nature and positive equity, we expect refinancing on the mortgages the Fund holds to remain relatively stable and any impact on the Fund to be modest. Concerns regarding the expansion of refinancing programs caused the prices of the Fund’s mortgages to generally underperform relative to comparable maturity U.S. Treasuries.

Market expectations for additional accommodative policy initiatives from the Federal Reserve have diminished commensurate with improving signs of domestic growth in recent months. While we are concerned that recent warm weather conditions may have pulled forward some economic activity, we expect sustained, albeit slow, growth going forward. Continued uncertainty surrounding the government budget problems both in Europe and domestically combined with typical election year related uncertainty is likely to encourage the Fed to maintain low interest rates. We expect longer-maturity U.S. Treasury yields to rise modestly as Operation Twist comes to a close at the end of June. As such, we are maintaining our underweight position to the U.S.

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years (or for the life of the Fund if shorter) as compared to the performance of the Barclays Intermediate Government Bond Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 The Barclays Intermediate Government Bond Index is a sub-index of the Barclays Government Bond Index covering issues with remaining maturities of between three and five years. The Barclays Government Bond Index is an index that measures the performance of all public U.S. government obligations with remaining maturities of one year or more. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

Treasury sector. We continue to focus on older, high-coupon, government-agency, mortgage pass-through securities, as they provide high levels of income with relatively stable prices. This high level of income and stability of principal has been and continues to be the Fund’s focus, as has consistently been the case since the Fund’s inception.

Michael C. Brilley

Bryce A. Doty, CFA

Senior Portfolio Managers

Mark H. Book, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

 

4

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of March 31, 2012

 

      Sit U.S.
Government
Securities
Fund
  Barclays
Inter.
Gov’t  Bond
Index1
  Lipper
U.S.
Gov’t  Fund
Index2

One Year

   2.98%   5.66%     8.55%

Five Years

      5.34      5.46     5.74

Ten Years

      4.46      4.87     5.10

Since Inception (6/2/87)

      6.36      6.50     6.23

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains and all fee waivers. Without the fee waivers total return and yield figures would have been lower. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 The Barclays Intermediate Government Bond Index is a sub-index of the Barclays Government Bond Index covering issues with remaining maturities of between three and five years. The Barclays Government Bond Index is an index that measures the performance of all public U.S. government obligations with remaining maturities of one year or more. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 The Lipper returns are obtained from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., a large independent evaluator of mutual funds.

FUND DIVERSIFICATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of March 31, 2012. Subject to change.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

Net Asset Value 3/31/12:

  

$11.31 Per Share

Net Asset Value 3/31/11:

  

$11.29 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

  

$1,504.2 Million

30-day SEC Yield 3:

  

2.49%

12-month Distribution Rate 3:

  

2.77%

Effective Duration 4:

  

1.9 Years

3 The SEC Yield reflects the rate at which the Fund is earning income on its current portfolio of securities, while the distribution rate reflects the Fund’s past dividends paid to shareholders based on the net investment income distributed and the average NAV during the past 12 months. Accordingly, the Fund’s SEC yield and distribution rate may differ.

4 Duration is a measure of estimated price sensitivity relative to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer durations are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the market value of a security with an effective duration of 5 years would decrease by 5%, with all other factors being constant. The correlation between duration and price sensitivity is greater for securities rated investment-grade than it is for securities rated below investment-grade. Duration estimates are based on assumptions by the Adviser and are subject to a number of limitations. Effective duration is calculated based on historical price changes of securities held by the Fund, and therefore is a more accurate estimate of price sensitivity provided interest rates remain within their historical range.

 

ESTIMATED AVERAGE LIFE   

 

0-1 Year

     3.2

1-5 Years

     96.4

5-10 Years

     0.4

10-20 Years

     0.0

20+ Years

     0.0

The Adviser’s estimates of the dollar weighted average life of the portfolio’s securities, which differ from their stated maturities. The Fund’s average stated maturity was 22.5 years as of March 31, 2012.

 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   5


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund

 

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

  
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
  
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   

 

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities - 43.7%

  

 

  Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - 11.5%

  

  212,491         5.50           8/1/17-3/1/33          232,402   
  250,368         6.38           12/1/26-12/1/27          286,274   
  11,426,629         6.50           11/1/27-9/1/39          12,911,106   
  926,226         6.88           2/17/31          1,094,575   
  24,809         7.00           2/1/16          24,968   
  84,256,317         7.00           8/1/27-1/1/39          96,560,776   
  124,307         7.38           12/17/24          139,514   
  36,913,504         7.50           9/1/26-10/1/38          43,557,820   
  153,962         7.95           10/1/25-11/1/25          174,173   
  2,375,266         8.00           5/1/17-1/1/37          2,781,859   
  29,559         8.25           12/1/17          30,895   
  147,257         8.50           5/1/16-3/1/17          159,342   
  4,277,354         8.50           4/1/17-8/1/36          5,075,431   
  66,678         9.00           11/1/15-1/1/17          69,384   
  5,363,197         9.00           11/1/25-11/1/36          6,355,015   
  17,505         9.25           6/1/16-3/1/17          18,144   
  85,254         9.25           2/1/18-3/1/19          89,888   
  8,965         9.50           10/1/16          10,248   
  593,399         9.50           4/1/18-12/17/21          690,937   
  25,087         9.75           12/1/16          28,307   
  45,265         9.75           12/1/17          49,432   
  2,200,183         10.00           9/1/20-7/1/30          2,549,026   
  12,682         10.25           2/1/17          12,721   
  110,052         10.50           10/1/13-6/1/19          129,436   
  623,775         11.00           9/17/16-8/25/20          700,523   
  4,315         13.00           5/1/17          4,923   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

173,737,119

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association - 25.7%

  

  13,361,250         3.00           4/1/27          13,859,639   
  8,204         4.99           3/1/19  1      8,578   
  69,714         5.76           3/1/33          77,272   
  1,529,926         6.00           9/1/28-9/1/37          1,695,718   
  1,074,628         6.15           6/1/33-8/1/36  1      1,121,835   
  169,822         6.20           11/1/27          194,731   
  118,895         6.35           10/1/30          136,937   
  75,676         6.49           2/1/32          86,160   
  22,016,184         6.50           1/1/22-8/1/37          24,930,701   
  1,345,645         6.74           12/1/15          1,484,961   
  185,605         6.91           11/1/26-8/1/27          215,273   
  175,947         6.95           8/1/21  1      184,554   
  194,811,525         7.00           6/1/17-1/1/40          225,364,875   
  205,974         7.20           3/1/18          230,516   
  114,861         7.32           6/1/16          115,229   
  173,607         7.50           11/1/12          175,633   
  60,685,378         7.50           6/1/22-4/1/38          70,703,174   
  146,100         7.62           12/1/16          148,663   
  341,129         7.95           9/15/20          390,917   
  25,997         8.00           4/1/16          26,461   

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

  
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
  
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   
  13,012,233         8.00           10/1/23-3/1/38          15,401,012   
  463,146         8.14           11/15/31          553,338   
  11,303         8.25           4/1/22          11,563   
  205,949         8.33           7/15/20          240,966   
  1,082,430         8.47           3/15/32          1,306,648   
  181,067         8.48           7/20/30          213,870   
  100,590         8.49           9/15/30          118,000   
  183,859         8.50           9/1/12-2/1/16          198,412   
  11,167,135         8.50           9/1/17-12/1/37          13,579,484   
  137,530         8.56           7/20/28          158,478   
  40,697         8.93           12/15/25          47,732   
  5,917,570         9.00           10/1/19-2/1/38          7,126,466   
  96,256         9.25           10/1/16-2/1/17          104,972   
  107,447         9.36           5/15/28          128,892   
  3,406,108         9.50           11/1/18-8/1/31          3,964,348   
  308,453         9.72           8/20/25          357,472   
  2,876         9.75           1/15/13          2,953   
  124,745         9.75           10/1/21-4/1/25          146,634   
  236,405         10.00           7/1/13-11/1/16          255,902   
  654,761         10.00           9/1/19-6/1/30          794,106   
  111,067         10.01           7/15/20          124,158   
  82,160         10.18           7/1/20          89,831   
  3,601         10.25           8/15/13          3,730   
  60,366         10.50           5/1/15-6/1/15          64,816   
  167,687         10.50           12/1/17-6/1/28          197,913   
  58,910         10.76           8/15/20          66,825   
  23,362         11.05           12/15/26          27,060   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

386,437,408

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Government National Mortgage Association - 6.5%

  

  1,204,983         5.45           7/15/27          1,312,523   
  284,882         5.50           9/15/25          317,808   
  3,741,142         5.67           4/15/42          3,973,941   
  301,480         5.76           3/20/33-5/20/33          337,382   
  7,915,715         5.85           12/15/30          8,395,482   
  2,111,404         5.95           3/15/37          2,110,610   
  3,124,265         6.00           9/15/18-11/20/34          3,549,219   
  75,022         6.05           3/20/33          84,843   
  8,803,521         6.09           3/15/41-7/15/41          9,353,614   
  909,013         6.20           3/15/32          1,032,793   
  26,092         6.25           5/15/13          27,259   
  2,992,084         6.25           12/15/23-4/15/29          3,477,746   
  2,090,658         6.35           4/20/30-11/20/31          2,364,340   
  471,139         6.38           8/15/26-4/15/28          533,735   
  329,032         6.49           11/20/31-6/20/32          372,380   
  24,260,788         6.50           11/15/23-7/20/38          27,662,018   
  109,677         6.57           9/20/32-3/20/33          129,848   
  81,163         6.58           2/20/28          95,161   
  33,521         6.75           9/15/15          36,232   
  764,261         6.75           8/15/28-6/15/29          837,443   
  791,151         6.91           7/20/26-2/20/27          930,252   
  51,144         6.93           2/20/25          59,597   
  10,739,023         7.00           5/15/24-2/20/39          12,415,011   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

6

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

 
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
  
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   
  155,086         7.02           4/20/26          178,850   
  170,521         7.05           2/15/23-4/20/27          196,849   
  584,471         7.10           5/20/25          671,468   
  276,998         7.15           3/20/27-4/20/27          320,146   
  148,080         7.25           5/15/29-6/15/29          171,295   
  48,238         7.27           7/20/22          55,019   
  54,347         7.38           1/15/29          63,016   
  4,859,911         7.50           12/15/23-3/15/39          5,712,518   
  20,507         7.55           10/20/22          23,078   
  2,622,526         7.60           12/15/33          2,767,437   
  92,615         7.63           12/15/29          107,345   
  59,118         7.65           7/20/22          66,943   
  347,765         7.75           6/15/20-11/15/20          395,514   
  37,712         7.90           1/20/21          38,104   
  679,468         7.95           2/15/20-3/20/27          735,076   
  423,088         7.99           2/20/21-6/20/22          481,689   
  128,738         8.00           10/15/14-9/15/16          142,102   
  3,626,830         8.00           4/15/31-8/20/33          4,272,191   
  302,929         8.10           5/20/19-1/20/20          330,493   
  10,317         8.25           8/15/15          10,352   
  252,217         8.25           4/15/19-2/15/20          286,936   
  150,379         8.40           2/15/19-2/15/20          160,489   
  68,259         8.50           4/15/15-1/15/17          74,676   
  209,303         8.50           10/20/22-12/20/26          252,397   
  30,441         8.60           6/15/18          30,555   
  22,222         8.63           10/15/18          25,267   
  8,798         9.00           1/15/17          8,833   
  112,244         9.00           7/15/17-12/15/20          131,330   
  15,434         9.10           5/15/18          17,731   
  24,289         9.50           11/20/16          24,388   
  107,061         9.50           6/20/18-8/20/19          124,016   
  26         9.75           11/15/12          26   
  195,684         10.00           11/15/17-6/15/21          229,189   
  296,550         10.50           2/15/20-8/15/21          338,777   
  8,421         11.50           8/15/18          8,667   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

97,861,999

 

  

        

 

 

 

 
 

Total Mortgage Pass-Through Securities
(cost: $635,473,148)

     658,036,526   
        

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury / Federal Agency Securities - 0.4%

  

 

New Valley Generation II:

  

     
      1,326,761         5.57           5/1/20          1,533,736   

 

Treasury Note:

  

     
  5,500,000         2.00           2/15/22          5,394,296   
        

 

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Treasury / Federal Agency Securities
(cost: $7,033,757)

     6,928,032   
        

 

 

 

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations - 50.9%

  

 

  Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - 16.8%

  

  76,648         5.50           2/15/34          77,765   
  166,204         6.00           9/15/21-6/15/28          170,901   
  15,991,607         6.50           9/15/23-10/25/43          18,259,771   

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

 
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
  
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   
  1,241,382         6.50           9/25/43  1      1,402,829   
  135,171         6.70           9/15/23          154,009   
  6,038,488         6.84           10/25/42  1      7,002,949   
  295,387         6.95           3/15/28          346,348   
  165,623,127         7.00           12/15/20-9/25/43          188,518,651   
  21,465,124         7.50           6/15/17-9/25/43          25,752,538   
  4,971,284         8.00           3/15/21-1/15/30          5,811,862   
  75,993         8.25           6/15/22          88,345   
  393,376         8.30           11/15/20          452,799   
  828,776         8.50           10/15/22-3/15/32          969,018   
  456,322         9.00           12/15/19          519,003   
  10,450         9.15           10/15/20          11,539   
  2,036,743         9.50           2/15/20-2/25/42          2,373,237   
  105,359         10.00           6/15/20          122,725   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

252,034,289

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association - 26.7%

  

  10,039,730         4.00           10/25/22          10,705,765   
  15,100,922         4.50           6/25/21          16,551,398   
  80,754         5.17           3/25/44  1      82,463   
  633,652         5.50           1/25/37          709,118   
  292,787         6.45           3/25/29  1      333,460   
  12,771,390         6.50           12/25/23-12/25/42          14,588,179   
  1,414,095         6.65           6/25/42  1      1,600,179   
  25,781,685         6.75           6/25/32-4/25/37          29,495,518   
  34,124         6.85           12/18/27          39,771   
  4,737,773         6.98           8/25/37  1      5,188,230   
  118,809,474         7.00           1/25/21-3/25/45          134,752,239   
  630,796         7.08           12/25/42  1      734,218   
  5,348,011         7.09           2/25/42  1      6,209,069   
  1,933,949         7.12           6/25/42  1      2,227,778   
  4,640,675         7.28           10/25/42  1      5,392,808   
  86,769,125         7.50           8/20/27-1/25/48          99,970,592   
  1,415,296         7.50           6/19/30  1      1,688,383   
  1,124,283         7.52           6/17/40  1      1,167,155   
  41,981         7.70           3/25/23          48,874   
  9,345,957         7.89           7/25/37  1      10,742,967   
  8,884,288         8.00           7/25/22-7/25/44          10,508,935   
  19,568,954         8.50           1/25/21-10/25/30          23,446,238   
  1,502,541         8.56           11/25/37  1      1,789,020   
  1,465,677         8.69           11/25/37  1      1,705,774   
  19,614         8.70           12/25/19          22,490   
  27,793         8.75           9/25/20          30,549   
  111,258         8.95           10/25/20          128,480   
  3,376,946         9.00           7/25/19-10/25/30          3,998,187   
  54,336         9.05           12/25/18          60,883   
  2,540,125         9.23           2/25/44  1      3,171,982   
  67,788         9.25           1/25/20          78,460   
  82,860         9.40           10/25/42  1      100,633   
  1,238,546         9.44           6/25/32  1      1,442,644   
  3,847,514         9.50           12/25/18-12/25/41          4,785,044   
  142,618         9.60           3/25/20          166,459   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

MARCH 31, 2012

   7


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund (Continued)

 

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

 
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
 
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   
  416,505         9.79           3/25/39  1      501,766   
  3,441,388         10.39           9/25/42  1      4,308,478   
  1,822,272         11.29           6/25/44  1      2,271,513   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

400,745,699

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Government National Mortgage Association - 3.4%

  
  1,023,852         6.50           9/20/28-3/20/31          1,192,120   
  38,989,843         7.00           9/16/23-6/20/40          43,458,538   
  418,613         7.50           6/20/26-5/16/27          494,544   
  3,833,176         8.00           10/16/29-3/16/30          4,519,233   
  1,788,220         8.50           9/20/30-2/20/32          2,099,809   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

51,764,244

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Vendee Mortgage Trust - 4.0%

  
  9,804,930         3.75           12/15/33          10,279,896   
  825,275         6.00           2/15/30          869,360   
  21,418,538         6.50           1/15/29-8/15/31          25,129,171   
  3,472,915         6.75           6/15/26          4,052,243   
  3,202,215         7.00           3/15/28          3,731,244   
  406,360         7.02           7/15/30  1      469,477   
  2,060,696         7.25           9/15/22-9/15/25          2,348,327   
  1,027,139         7.50           6/15/30          1,173,152   
  3,349,430         7.75           5/15/22-9/15/24          3,852,486   
  600,143         8.00           2/15/25          700,066   
  6,100,435         8.01           3/15/25  1      7,691,314   
  223,504         8.29           12/15/26          262,902   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

60,559,638

 

  

        

 

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
(cost: $757,363,334)

     765,103,870   
        

 

 

 

 

Asset-Backed Securities - 1.9%

  

 

  Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - 0.6%

  
  53,172         6.09           9/25/29  1      55,716   
  250,000         6.28           10/27/31  1      281,438   
  411,551         7.00           11/25/30  1      427,317   
  3,936,124         7.15           9/25/28  1      4,402,309   
  3,098,820         7.16           7/25/29          3,284,069   

 

 
 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

 
  

    
 
Coupon Rate
(%)
 
  
   Maturity Date      Fair Value ($)   
  1,173,712         7.27           8/25/28  1      1,250,590   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

9,701,439

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association - 0.3%

  
  90,081         0.55           11/25/32  1      83,182   
  520,379         4.69           10/25/33  1      520,309   
  422,275         5.41           9/26/33  1      445,748   
  156,776         5.75           2/25/33  1      162,961   
  342,501         6.47           10/25/31  1      358,440   
  680,186         6.52           5/25/32  1      687,640   
  1,613,371         6.59           10/25/31  1      1,806,976   
  178,729         6.83           7/25/31  1      185,743   
  73,535         7.80           6/25/26  1      73,505   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

4,324,504

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Small Business Administration - 1.0%

  
  5,981,952         7.13           10/1/20          6,653,750   
  6,778,905         7.33           8/1/20          7,590,328   
        

 

 

 
        

 

 

 

14,244,078

 

  

        

 

 

 

 
 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(cost: $28,082,808)

     28,270,021   
        

 

 

 

 

Put Options Purchased 10 - 0.0%

  
  250        
 
U.S. Treasury 5 Year Future Put Options:
$121.50 strike May 2012 expiration
  

 
 

Total Put Options Purchased
(cost: $126,082)

     27,344   
        

 

 

 

 
 

Total Investments in Securities - 96.9%
(cost: $1,428,079,129)

     1,458,365,793   
        

 

 

 

 

Call Options Written 10 - 0.0%

  
  (800)        
 
U.S. Treasury 2 Year Future Call Options:
$110.00 strike May 2012 expiration
  

 
 

Total Call Options Written
(premiums received: $96,536)

     (187,501
        

 

 

 

 

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 3.1%

  

 

 

 

45,975,911

 

  

        

 

 

 

 

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

  

 

$

 

1,504,154,203

 

  

        

 

 

 
      

 

1 

Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of March 31, 2012.

10 

The amount of $1,500,000 in cash was segregated with the broker to cover put options purchased and call options written as of March 31, 2012.

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

8

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund (Continued)

 

For a detailed list of security holdings refer to our company website at www.sitfunds.com.

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2012 is as follows (See Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
    

Level 1
Quoted

Price ($)

    Level 2
Other significant
observable inputs ($)
     Level 3
Significant
unobservable inputs  ($)
     Total ($)  

Assets

          

Collateralized Mortgage

          

Obligations

            765,103,870                 765,103,870   

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities

            658,036,526                 658,036,526   

U.S. Treasury / Federal Agency

          

Securities

            6,928,032                 6,928,032   

Asset-Backed Securities

            28,270,021                 28,270,021   

Put Options Purchased

     27,344                        27,344   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     27,344        1,458,338,449                 1,458,365,793   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

          

Call Options Written

     (187,501                     (187,501
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the reporting period, there were no transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

MARCH 31, 2012

   9


 

    Sit Tax-Free Income Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Tax-Free Income Fund is to provide a high level of current income that is exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of capital, by investing primarily in investment-grade municipal securities.

Such municipal securities generate interest income that is exempt from both federal regular income tax and federal alternative minimum tax. During normal market conditions, the Fund invests 100% of its net assets in such tax-exempt municipal securities.

 

 

 

The Sit Tax-Free Income Fund provided a total return of +13.41% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, compared with a total return of +6.90% for the Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index. As of March 31, 2012, the Fund’s 30-day SEC yield was 4.70% and its 12-month distribution rate was 4.60%.

Tax-exempt municipal bond yields declined markedly during the fiscal year, resulting in historically strong returns for the asset class. The yield curve flattened as long-term bond yields declined substantially while intermediate and short yields decreased to a lesser extent. Credit spreads between lower investment grade credits and high-grade municipal bonds also decreased during the period.

The Fund’s outperformance during this period was due to several factors including duration, quality, and industry positioning. The Fund benefited from its longer duration versus the benchmark. From a quality perspective, the Fund benefited by having considerable exposure to bonds rated A or below and non-rated bonds. Noteworthy, however, is that the Fund’s average credit quality improved to A-from BBB+ during the year. Nearly all of the industry segments of the portfolio outperformed the benchmark return. The largest industry segments in the portfolio were other revenue, education/student loan revenue, single-family mortgage revenue, multi-family mortgage revenue, and health care. In total, these five industries comprised roughly two-thirds of the portfolio and each outperformed the benchmark return. In addition, the Fund’s investment in closed-end mutual funds produced an impressive total return during the fiscal year.

The Fund maintains its duration longer than its benchmark, with significant weightings in intermediate and longer-term bonds. The Fund will likely shorten its duration over the course of the next year. Although the tax-exempt yield curve did flatten during the period, it remains steep on a historical basis. We believe that credit spreads for bonds rated A and below remain attractive. Therefore, despite the strong returns provided by the Fund over the past year and the low level of absolute yields at present, we believe the Fund’s duration, credit quality, and industry weightings have it well-positioned for the current environment. As always, our strategy continues to emphasize

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years (or for the life of the Fund if shorter) as compared to the performance of the Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 The Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index is the 5 year (4-6) component of the Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged, rules-based, market-value-weighted index for the long-term tax-exempt bond market. The index includes bonds with a minimum credit rating of BBB. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

income, which we believe is the primary driver of return over the long run. Diversification remains a key factor in managing risk.

Michael C. Brilley

Debra A. Sit, CFA

Paul J. Jungquist, CFA

Senior Portfolio Managers

 

 

10

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of March 31, 2012

 

      Sit
Tax-Free
Income
Fund
  Barclays
5-Year Muni
Bond  Index1
  Lipper
General
Muni. Bond
Fund Index2

One Year

   13.41%     6.90%   14.27%

Five Years

      3.63     5.65      4.63

Ten Years

      3.78     4.88      4.99

Since Inception (9/29/88)

      5.38     5.75      6.01

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains and all fee waivers. Without the fee waivers total return and yield figures would have been lower. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 The Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index is the 5 year (4-6) component of the Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged, rules-based, market-value-weighted index for the long-term tax-exempt bond market. The index includes bonds with a minimum credit rating of BBB. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 The Lipper returns are obtained from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., a large independent evaluator of mutual funds.

 

FUND DIVERSIFICATION

  

Other Revenue

     14.9

Education/Student Loan

     13.7

Single Family Mortgage

     12.9

Multifamily Mortgage

     12.1

Hospital/Health Care

     10.9

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     7.6

Insured

     6.4

General Obligation

     5.9

Sectors less than 5%

     11.8

Cash & Other Net Assets

     3.8

Based on total net assets as of March 31, 2012. Subject to change.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Net Asset Value 3/31/12:

  

$9.23 Per Share

Net Asset Value 3/31/11:

  

$8.52 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

  

$154.7 Million

30-day SEC Yield 3:

  

4.70%

Tax Equivalent Yield 4:

  

7.23%

12-month Distribution Rate 3:

  

4.60%

Average Maturity:

  

16.4 Years

Effective Duration 5:

  

6.2 Years

3 The SEC Yield reflects the rate at which the Fund is earning income on its current portfolio of securities, while the distribution rate reflects the Fund’s past dividends paid to shareholders based on the net investment income distributed and the average NAV during the past 12 months. Accordingly, the Fund’s SEC yield and distribution rate may differ.

4 The tax-equivalent yield is based on an assumed tax rate of 35.0%.

5 Duration is a measure of estimated price sensitivity relative to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer durations are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the market value of a security with an effective duration of 5 years would decrease by 5%, with all other factors being constant. The correlation between duration and price sensitivity is greater for securities rated investment-grade than it is for securities rated below investment-grade. Duration estimates are based on assumptions by the Adviser and are subject to a number of limitations. Effective duration is calculated based on historical price changes of securities held by the Fund, and therefore is a more accurate estimate of price sensitivity provided interest rates remain within their historical range.

QUALITY RATINGS (% of Total Net Assets)

 

 

LOGO

Lower of Moody’s, S&P, Fitch or Duff & Phelps ratings used.

 

Adviser’s Assessment of Non-Rated Securities:

AAA              0.0  
AA      1.7     
A      0.5     
BBB      5.3     
BB      8.8     
<BB      5.8     
  

 

 

   
Total      22.1  
 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   11


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
   Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 

 

Municipal Bonds - 88.6%

        

 

    Alabama - 0.5%

        
  270,000       Fairfield Warrants G.O. (NATL-RE Insured)    5.15      6/1/22         270,008   
  500,000       Pell City Special Care Facs. Finance Rev.    5.00      12/1/39         506,470   
           

 

 

 
           

 

 

 

776,478

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

    Alaska - 0.8%

        
  500,000       AK Hsg. Finance Corp. Mtg. Rev. (GO of Corp. Insured)    4.50      12/1/35         504,820   
  250,000       AK Industrial Dev. & Export Auth. Rev. (Boys & Girls Home)    5.50      12/1/12         132,488   
  500,000       Koyukuk Health Facility Rev. (Tanana Chief’s Conf. Health Care)    7.00      10/1/23         523,710   
           

 

 

 
           

 

 

 

1,161,018

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

    Arizona - 3.2%

        
  250,000       AZ Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (Beatitudes Campus Proj.)    5.10      10/1/22         223,832   
  1,008,166       AZ Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (New Arizona Family Proj.)    5.25      7/1/27         978,616   
  250,000       Festival Ranch Community Facs. District G.O.    6.25      7/15/24         266,425   
  225,000       Flagstaff Industrial Dev. Auth. Rev. (Sr. Living Community Proj.)    5.50      7/1/22         216,288   
  300,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (AZ Charter Schools Proj.)    6.70      7/1/21         300,354   
  495,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (AZ Charter Schools Proj.)    5.00      7/1/26         428,284   
  250,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (AZ Charter Schools Proj.)    6.75      7/1/31         250,015   
  420,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (Choice Education & Dev. Corp. Proj.)    6.00      6/1/16         429,572   
  500,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (Coral Academy Science Proj.)    6.38      12/1/18         502,770   
  400,000       Pima Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Education Rev. (Tucson Country Day School Proj.)    5.00      6/1/22         382,748   
  500,000       Quail Creek Community Facs. District G.O.    5.15      7/15/16         506,990   
  500,000       Quechan Indian Tribe of Fort Yuma Rev. (Tribal Economic Dev.)    9.75      5/1/25         499,990   
           

 

 

 
           

 

 

 

4,985,884

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

    Arkansas - 0.3%

        
  460,000       Rogers Rev. (Sales & Use Tax)    4.13      11/1/31         478,285   
           

 

 

 

 

  California - 12.8%

        
  250,000       Abag Finance Authority for Nonprofit Corps. Rev. (Jackson Lab)    5.75      7/1/37         262,888   
  350,000       Acalanes Union High School District G.O. 6    3.02      8/1/39         197,036   
  500,000       Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Rev. 4    6.00      7/1/18         480,870   
  250,000       Alameda Corridor Transportation Auth. Rev. Capital Appreciation (AMBAC Insured) 6    6.71      10/1/24         245,040   
  250,000       Alameda Corridor Transportation Auth. Rev. Sr. Lien (NATL-RE Insured)    5.25      10/1/21         250,212   
  400,000       Brea Redevelopment Agency Capital Appreciation Tax Allocation 6    7.03      8/1/29         131,780   
  315,000       CA Co. Tobacco Securitization Agy. Rev. (Golden Gate Tobacco Proj.)    4.50      6/1/21         286,379   
  500,000       CA Co. Tobacco Securitization Agy. Rev. (Golden Gate Tobacco Proj.)    5.00      6/1/36         384,655   
  350,000       CA Community Hsg. Fin. Agy. Lease Rev. Pass Thru Obligation 2, 5    4.85      11/1/12         174,982   
  600,000       CA Finance Auth. Education Rev. (American Heritage Education Foundation Proj.)    5.25      6/1/26         556,860   
  350,000       CA Finance Auth. Rev. (Emerson College Proj.)    5.75      1/1/33         386,530   
  250,000       CA Finance Auth. Rev. (Kern Regional Center Proj.) 9    6.88      5/1/25         280,900   
  350,000       CA Finance Auth. Rev. (Literacy First Proj.)    5.50      9/1/22         350,217   
  495,000       CA Govt. Finance Auth. Lease Rev. (Placer Co. Transportation Proj.)    6.00      12/1/28         505,979   
  285,000       CA Hsg. Finance Agy. Home Mtg. Rev.    5.20      8/1/28         287,505   
  230,000       CA Hsg. Finance Agy. Home Mtg. Rev.    5.50      8/1/38         230,892   
  500,000       CA Infrastructure & Economic Dev. Bank Rev.    6.00      2/1/30         549,050   
  500,000       CA School Facs. Finance Auth. Rev. (Azusa Unified School District) (AGM Insured) 6    6.00      8/1/29         436,620   
  60,000       CA State Department of Veterans Affairs Single Family Mtg. Rev.    5.20      12/1/28         60,008   
  250,000       CA Statewide Communities Dev. Auth. Multifamily Rev. (Bel Mar Apts. Proj.)(FNMA Collateral)    4.70      7/15/32         262,228   
  300,000       CA Statewide Communities Dev. Auth. Rev.    6.75      7/1/31         317,838   
  250,000       CA Statewide Communities Dev. Auth. Rev. (Kaiser Permanente Proj.)    5.50      11/1/32         254,832   
  245,000       CA Statewide Communities Dev. Auth. Rev. (Sunedison Huntington Beach Solar Proj.)    6.00      1/1/21         256,740   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

12

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

  

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  500,000      

CA Statewide Communities Dev. Auth. Rev. (Sunedison Irvine School District)

   5.25      1/1/16         505,040   
  400,000      

Carlsbad Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   6.13      8/1/31         276,376   
  1,000,000      

Colton Joint Unified School District G.O. (AGM Insured) 6

   5.80      8/1/35         632,860   
  250,000      

Eden Township Hospital District C.O.P.

   6.00      6/1/25         267,252   
  500,000      

Encinitas Union School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   6.75      8/1/35         330,480   
  1,000,000      

Glendale Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   6.22      9/1/27         428,140   
  500,000      

Hartnell Community College G.O. 6

   7.00      8/1/34         323,125   
  500,000      

Hawthorne School District C.O.P. (AGM Insured) 6

   6.00      12/1/29         466,730   
  300,000      

Hayward Unified School District G.O (AGM-CR Insured)

   5.00      8/1/26         315,858   
  250,000      

Imperial Community College District G.O. Capital Appreciation (AGM Insured) 6

   0.97      8/1/40         234,610   
  215,000      

Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District C.O.P. 9

   4.50      8/1/30         222,392   
  560,000      

Manteca Unified School District Capital Appreciation C.O.P. (NATL-RE Insured) 6

   7.55      9/15/25         262,360   
  250,000      

Marina Coast Water District Rev.

   5.00      6/1/20         278,275   
  250,000      

Martinez Unified School District G.O. 6

   6.13      8/1/35         245,170   
  500,000      

Northern CA Gas Auth. No. 1 Rev. 1

   1.11      7/1/27         369,210   
  1,000,000      

Oak Grove School District G.O. 6

   6.96      6/1/41         144,490   
  2,100,000      

Pittsburg CA Unified School District Rev. Capital Appreciation (AGM GO of District Insured) 6

   7.12      9/1/29         695,142   
  500,000      

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District C.O.P. Capital Appreciation (AGM Insured) 6

   6.25      10/1/28         429,600   
  600,000      

Redondo Beach School District G.O. 6

   6.38      8/1/34         525,678   
  500,000      

Richmond Community Redev. Agy. Tax Allocation

   6.00      9/1/30         538,980   
  250,000      

Richmond Joint Powers Fin. Auth. Rev. (Point Potrero)

   6.25      7/1/24         276,325   
  1,000,000      

Robla School District G.O. (AGM Insured) 6

   6.51      8/1/36         254,080   
  500,000      

Sacramento Co. Water Financing Auth. Rev. (NATL-RE FGIC Insured) 1

   0.90      6/1/39         306,735   
  1,000,000      

San Bernardino City Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation (NATL-RE Insured) 6

   4.72      8/1/29         383,730   
  250,000      

San Joaquin Hills Toll Road Rev. Ref. (NATL-RE Insured)

   5.25      1/15/30         226,598   
  250,000      

South Bayside Waste Management Auth. Rev. (Shoreway Environmental)

   6.25      9/1/29         275,505   
  350,000      

Southwest Community Finance Auth. Rev. (Riverside Co. Proj.) 9

   6.00      5/1/24         393,498   
  350,000      

Sulphur Springs Union School District C.O.P. Capital Appreciation (AGM Insured) 6

   1.31      12/1/37         318,304   
  755,000      

Sutter Union High School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   7.25      8/1/33         201,706   
  600,000      

Tracy Joint Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   3.07      8/1/41         262,686   
  500,000      

Tustin Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation 6

   6.05      8/1/28         357,800   
  400,000      

Upland C.O.P. (San Antonio Community Hospital Proj.)

   6.38      1/1/32         457,780   
  500,000      

Val Verde Unified School District G.O. Capital Appreciation (AGM Insured) 6

   6.13      8/1/34         311,275   
  550,000      

Vernon Electric System Rev.

   5.13      8/1/33         549,604   
  300,000      

West Contra Costa Healthcare District C.O.P.

   6.00      7/1/32         328,023   
  500,000      

Westminster School District G.O. 6

   5.37      8/1/24         289,505   
           

 

 

 
           

 

 

 

19,834,963

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

  Colorado - 2.3%

        
  250,000       CO Education & Cultural Facs. Auth. Rev. (CO Springs Charter Academy Proj.)    5.60      7/1/34         255,105   
  500,000       CO Education & Cultural Facs. Auth. Rev. Ref. (Vail Mountain School Proj.)    6.00      5/1/30         513,815   
  400,000       CO Hsg. Finance Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev.    5.50      11/1/29         414,676   
  625,000       CO Hsg. Finance Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (FHA Insured)    5.00      11/1/34         627,900   
  955,000       Denver Health & Hospital Auth. Healthcare Rev. 1    1.43      12/1/33         671,231   
  557,749       Lyons Rev. (Longmont Humane Society Proj.)    4.75      11/30/16         551,815   
  500,000       Regional Transportation District Private Activity Rev. (Denver Trans. Partners)    6.00      1/15/34         533,905   
           

 

 

 
           

 

 

 

3,568,447

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

  Connecticut - 1.1%

        
  300,000       CT Hsg. Finance Auth. Rev.    5.15      11/15/34         312,612   
  500,000       CT Hsg. Finance Auth. Rev. (GO of Auth.)    4.75      11/15/35         518,090   
  425,000       CT Hsg. Finance Auth. Rev. (GO of Auth.)    4.90      11/15/36         444,843   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.   

MARCH 31, 2012

   13


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  310,000       Hamden Facs. Rev. (Whitney Center Proj.)      6.13         1/1/14         310,288   
  300,000       Mashantucket Western Pequot Tribe Sub. Special Rev. 2, 4, 5      5.75         9/1/18         117,741   
           

 

 

 
              1,703,574   
           

 

 

 

 

  Delaware - 0.2%

        
  410,000       Millsboro Special Obligation Rev. (Plantation Lakes Dev. District)      5.45         7/1/36         318,554   
           

 

 

 

 

  Florida - 7.3%

        
  375,000       Alachua County Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (Terraces Bonita Springs District)      7.13         11/15/16         374,738   
  500,000       Bay Co. Educational Facs. Rev. (Bay Haven Charter)      5.25         9/1/30         489,580   
  335,000       Capital Trust Agy. Rev. (Golf Villas, Rivermill, and Village Square Apartments Proj.) 2, 5      4.75         6/1/13         190,950   
  1,000,000       Capital Trust Agy. Rev. (Golf Villas, Rivermill, and Village Square Apartments Proj.) 2, 5      5.88         6/1/38         570,000   
  415,000       Collier Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Rev. (NCH Healthcare System Proj.)      6.25         10/1/39         456,977   
  400,000       Connerton West Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. (Pasco Co.) 2, 5      5.13         5/1/16         140,000   
  100,000       Fiddlers Creek Community Dev. District No. 2 Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      5.75         5/1/13         52,503   
  150,000       FL Hsg. Finance Corp. (FHLMC Collateralized)      5.05         1/1/27         162,108   
  250,000       FL Hsg. Finance Corp. (GNMA/FNMA Collateralized)      5.00         7/1/26         273,290   
  330,000       FL Hsg. Finance Corp. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.00         7/1/39         341,329   
  250,000       FL Mid-Bay Bridge Authority 6      6.95         10/1/21         128,120   
  25,000       Forest Creek Community Dev. District Capital Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      7.00         11/1/13         24,506   
  135,000       Gramercy Farms Community Dev. District Special Assessment 2, 5      5.10         5/1/14         1   
  535,000       Gramercy Farms Community Dev. District Special Assessment 6      3.24         5/1/39         71,685   
  500,000       Highlands Co. Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (Adventist Health) 1      5.00         11/15/31         521,325   
  400,000       Jacksonville Economic Dev. Commission Health Care Facs. Rev. Ref.      6.00         9/1/17         430,944   
  500,000       Lake Ashton Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      5.00         11/1/11         170,870   
  500,000       Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District Cap. Improvement Special Assesment Rev. (Lakewood Center)      7.40         5/1/30         532,415   
  1,000,000       Lee Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Health Care Facs. Rev. (Lee Charter Foundation)      5.25         6/15/27         940,020   
  250,000       Lee Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Health Care Facs. Rev. (Shell Point Alliance)      6.13         11/15/26         260,778   
  250,000       Lexington Oaks Community Dev. District Special Assessment Rev.      5.65         5/1/33         258,532   
  250,000       Magnolia Creek Community Dev. District Rev. 2, 5      5.60         5/1/14         100,035   
  500,000       Martin County Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (Martin Memorial Medical Center)      5.50         11/15/32         529,465   
  265,000       Miami-Dade Co. Special Obligation (NATL-RE Insured) 6      5.44         10/1/33         75,112   
  230,000       New River Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      5.00         5/1/13         2   
  135,000       New River Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 6      1.96         5/1/15         115,611   
  275,000       New River Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 6      1.85         5/1/18         125,169   
  140,000       New River Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 6      0.40         5/1/38         87,791   
  350,000       New River Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 6      0.80         5/1/38         139,486   
  265,000       Pinellas Co. Educational Facilities Auth. Rev.      6.13         9/15/21         274,903   
  750,000       Sarasota Co. Health Facs. Auth. Retirement Rev. Ref. (Village on the Isle)      5.50         1/1/27         767,355   
  500,000       Seminole Tribe Special Obligation Rev. 4      5.50         10/1/24         516,995   
  250,000       Seven Oaks Community Dev. District Special Assessment Rev.      5.50         5/1/33         253,465   
  600,000       Tallahassee Health Facs. Rev. (Memorial Health Care Proj.)      6.38         12/1/30         600,708   
  650,000       Tolomato Community Dev. District Special Assessment 2, 5      6.38         5/1/17         278,148   
  500,000       Viera East Community Dev. District Special Assessment Rev. Ref.      5.00         5/1/26         476,160   
  650,000       Waters Edge Community Dev. District Cap. Improvement Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      5.00         11/1/12         286,676   
  50,000       West Villages Improvement District Special Assessment Rev. (Unit of Dev. No. 3) 2, 5      5.50         5/1/37         22,342   
  450,000       Zephyr Ridge Community Dev. District Special Assessment Rev. 2, 5      5.25         5/1/13         179,118   
           

 

 

 
              11,219,212   
           

 

 

 

 

  Georgia - 2.2%

        
  375,000       Alpharetta Development Authority Rev. (Fulton Science Academy Proj.)      6.25         7/1/31         366,349   
  250,000       Atlanta Water and Wastewater Rev. (NATL-RE Insured)      5.00         11/1/39         250,298   
  1,320,000       East Point Tax Allocation      8.00         2/1/26         1,326,455   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

14

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  300,000       GA State Environmental Loan Acquisition Corp. Rev.      5.13         2/15/31         327,804   
  750,000       GA State Environmental Loan Acquisition Corp. Rev.      5.13         3/15/31         829,568   
  250,000       Private Colleges & Universities Auth. Rev. (Mercer University)      5.00         10/1/32         251,692   
           

 

 

 
              3,352,166   
           

 

 

 

 

  Guam - 0.2%

        
  435,000       Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth G.O.      5.00         10/1/22         380,703   
           

 

 

 

 

  Hawaii - 0.2%

        
  350,000       HI State Dept. of Budget & Fin. Rev. (Kahala Nui Proj.)      8.00         11/15/33         364,847   
           

 

 

 

 

  Idaho - 0.4%

        
  570,000       ID Hsg. & Fin. Assoc. Nonprofit Facs. Rev. (Compass Public Charter School Proj.)      5.50         7/1/30         537,385   
           

 

 

 

 

  Illinois - 6.4%

        
  375,000       Chicago Board of Education G.O.      5.50         12/1/39         418,762   
  250,000       Cook County School District No. 122 Ridgeland G.O. Ref.      4.00         12/1/27         250,428   
  1,000,000       Dekalb, Kane & Lasalle Counties Comm. College Dist. No. 523 G.O. Capital Appreciation 6      6.58         2/1/30         371,040   
  500,000       Harvey Ref. & Improvement G.O.      5.50         12/1/27         449,900   
  265,000       IL C.O.P. (NATL-RE Insured)      5.80         7/1/17         265,252   
  250,000       IL Fin. Auth. Rev.      6.00         10/1/24         270,102   
  250,000       IL Fin. Auth. Rev. (Noble Network Charter Schools) (ACA Insured)      5.00         9/1/27         211,862   
  395,000       IL Fin. Auth. Rev. (TEMPS-50-The Admiral at the Lake Proj.)      6.00         5/15/17         395,055   
  250,000       IL Fin. Auth. Rev. (UNO Charter School Network)      6.88         10/1/31         266,172   
  1,000,000       IL Fin. Auth. Sports Facs. Rev. (North Shore Ice Arena Proj.)      6.25         12/1/38         561,140   
  500,000       IL Fin. Auth. Sports Facs. Rev. (United Sports Organizations of Barrington Proj.) 2, 4, 5      6.13         10/1/27         50,385   
  500,000       IL Fin. Auth. Sports Facs. Rev. (United Sports Organizations of Barrington Proj.) 2, 4, 5      6.25         10/1/37         50,390   
  160,000       IL Health Facs. Auth. Rev. (Ingalls Health System Proj.) (NATL-RE Insured)      6.25         5/15/14         160,525   
  315,000       IL Housing Dev. Auth. (AMBAC GO of Authority Insured)      4.50         7/1/47         290,515   
  250,000       Lake Co. Community Consolidated School District No. 50 Woodland G.O.      5.63         1/1/26         292,720   
  115,000       Lombard Public Facs. Corp. Rev. First Tier (Conference Center & Hotel Proj.)      6.38         1/1/15         81,854   
  1,925,000       Lombard Public Facs. Corp. Rev. First Tier (Conference Center & Hotel Proj.)      5.25         1/1/36         1,257,910   
  550,000       Lombard Public Facs. Corp. Rev. First Tier (Conference Center & Hotel Proj.) (ACA Insured)      5.50         1/1/25         362,412   
  250,000       Macon County School District No. 61 Decatur G.O. (AGM Insured)      5.25         1/1/37         271,140   
  1,945,000       Malta Tax Allocation Rev.      5.75         12/30/25         1,181,219   
  818,000       Manhattan Special Service Area Special Tax No. 07-6 (Groebe Farm-Stonegate) 2, 5      5.75         3/1/22         224,950   
  310,000       Northern Illinios University Rev. (Auxiliary Facs.) (AGM Insured)      5.50         4/1/26         340,420   
  500,000       Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Auth. Rev.      6.25         6/1/24         559,055   
  420,000       Southwestern IL Dev. Auth. Rev. (Village of Sauget Proj.)      5.63         11/1/26         314,324   
  620,000       Southwestern IL Dev. Auth. Tax Allocation Ref. (Local Govt. Program)      7.00         10/1/22         629,678   
  280,000       St. Clair Co. Township High School District No. 203 O’Fallon G.O. (AMBAC Insured)      5.75         12/1/26         305,850   
           

 

 

 
              9,833,060   
           

 

 

 

 

  Indiana - 2.2%

        
  300,000       Damon Run Conservancy Dist. G.O. (St Intercept Insured)      6.10         7/1/25         323,244   
  370,000       East Chicago Redev. Commission Tax Allocation (Harborside Redev. Proj.)      5.50         1/15/16         370,403   
  100,000       Elkhart Co. Hospital Auth. Rev. (Elkhart General Hospital Proj.) (AMBAC-TCRS Insured)      5.25         8/15/28         100,053   
  400,000       Hammond Local Public Improvement Bond Bank      6.50         8/15/25         414,500   
  250,000       Hammond Local Public Improvement Bond Bank      6.50         8/15/30         257,275   
  525,000       IN Finance Auth. Educational Facs. Rev. (Marian University Proj.)      6.50         9/15/30         561,703   
  300,000       IN Finance Auth. Rev. (BHI Senior Living)      5.50         11/15/26         320,382   
  295,000       IN Finance Auth. Rev. (Parkview Health System)      5.75         5/1/31         324,279   
  350,000       IN Health & Educational Fac. Fin. Auth. Rev. (Schneck Memorial Hospital Proj.)      5.25         2/15/30         358,718   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.   

MARCH 31, 2012

   15


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  305,000       IN Health Facs. Fin. Auth. Hospital Rev. (Community Hospital of Anderson Proj.)      6.00         1/1/23         305,540   
  347,064       St. Joseph Co. Hospital Auth. Health Facs. Rev. (Madison Center) 2, 5      5.25         2/15/28         49,595   
           

 

 

 
              3,385,692   
           

 

 

 

 

  Iowa - 1.1%

        
  410,000       IA Finance Auth. Sr. Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Walnut Ridge Proj.)      5.00         12/1/14         361,333   
  500,000       IA Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev.      5.25         12/1/24         517,025   
  250,000       IA Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev.      5.80         12/1/31         264,712   
  225,000       Mason City Community School District Rev.      5.00         7/1/29         234,994   
  250,000       Waterloo Community School District Rev.      5.00         7/1/29         261,900   
           

 

 

 
              1,639,964   
           

 

 

 

 

  Kansas - 0.3%

        
  500,000       Wyandotte Co./Kansas City Board of Public Utility Rev. (Office Building Complex) (NATL-RE Insured)      5.00         5/1/21         501,590   
           

 

 

 

 

  Kentucky - 0.3%

        
  425,000       Pikeville Hospital Rev. Ref. (Pikeville Medical Center)      6.50         3/1/41         487,199   
           

 

 

 

 

  Louisiana - 2.9%

        
  229,527       Denham Springs/Livingston Hsg. & Mtg. Finance Auth. Rev.      5.00         11/1/40         236,631   
  955,000       Jefferson Parish Finance Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      5.00         6/1/38         1,009,273   
  175,000       LA Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (Home Ownership Program)      6.00         12/1/28         187,185   
  1,370,000       LA Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (Home Ownership Program)      5.70         12/1/38         1,431,924   
  400,000       LA Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (Mtg. Backed Securities Program)      4.60         6/1/29         422,024   
  250,000       LA Public Facs. Auth. Rev. (Belle-Chase Educational Foundation Proj.) (NATL-RE Insured)      6.50         5/1/31         274,612   
  750,000       LA Public Facs. Auth. Rev. (Tulane Univ. Proj.) (NATL-RE Insured) 1      1.04         2/15/36         655,875   
  205,000       LA University & Agricultural & Mechanical College Rev. (Health Sciences Center Proj.) (NATL-RE Insured)      6.20         5/1/20         205,826   
  103,000       Lafayette Public Finance Auth. Single Family Mortgage-Backed Rev.      5.35         1/1/41         104,838   
           

 

 

 
              4,528,188   
           

 

 

 

 

  Maine - 0.6%

        
  355,000       ME Education Auth. Student Loan Rev. (Assured Guaranty)      5.63         12/1/27         389,517   
  500,000       ME Health & Higher Educational Facs. Auth. Rev. (ME General Medical Center)      7.50         7/1/32         575,225   
           

 

 

 
              964,742   
           

 

 

 

 

  Maryland - 0.7%

        
  235,000       MD Community Dev. Administration Rev.      5.13         9/1/30         253,565   
  575,000       MD Health & Higher Educational Facs. Auth. Rev. (Adventist Healthcare)      6.25         1/1/31         647,392   
  500,000       Montgomery County Housing Opportunites Commission Single Family Mtg. Rev. 6      5.62         7/1/28         202,360   
           

 

 

 
              1,103,317   
           

 

 

 

 

  Massachusetts - 1.9%

        
  350,000       MA Dev. Fin. Agy. Rev. (Foxborough Regional Charter School)      6.38         7/1/30         380,334   
  70,000       MA Development Finance Agency Facs. Rev.      6.25         6/1/14         70,000   
  430,000       MA Education Finance Auth. Education Rev.      5.15         1/1/26         471,667   
  240,000       MA Education Finance Auth. Education Rev.      5.25         1/1/28         258,984   
  250,000       MA Health & Educational Facilities Auth. Rev.      6.00         7/1/22         252,888   
  400,000       MA Housing Finance Agy. Rev.      4.05         12/1/32         400,936   
  250,000       MA Housing Finance Agy. Rev.      4.75         6/1/35         257,100   
  500,000       MA Housing Finance Agy. Rev.      5.40         12/1/37         526,725   
  250,000       MA Housing Finance Agy. Rev. (FHA Insured)      5.30         12/1/38         264,932   
           

 

 

 
              2,883,566   
           

 

 

 

 

  Michigan - 2.7%

        
  335,000       Advanced Technology Academy Rev.      6.00         11/1/28         320,089   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

16

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  500,000       Detroit City School Dist. G.O. (School Building & Site Improvement) (FGIC-Q SBLF Insured)      5.00         5/1/28         525,390   
  250,000       MI Finance Auth. Ltd. Obligation Rev. (Public School Academy-University Learning Proj.)      6.25         11/1/20         259,562   
  250,000       MI Hospital Finance Auth. Rev. (Mid-Michigan Obligation Group Proj.)      6.13         6/1/34         278,365   
  250,000       MI Hospital Finance Auth. Rev. (Oakwood Obligation Group)      5.75         4/1/32         254,332   
  850,000       MI Hospital Finance Auth. Rev. Ref. (Presbyterian Village)      5.25         11/15/25         784,839   
  250,000       MI Hsg. Dev. Auth. (GO of Authority Insured)      4.63         10/1/41         250,100   
  500,000       MI Public Education Facs. Auth. Ltd. Rev. Ref. (Nataki Talibah Proj.) (Q-SBLF Insured)      6.25         10/1/23         462,900   
  560,000       MI Public Education Facs. Auth. Rev. Ref. (Bradford Proj.) 4      6.00         9/1/16         505,254   
  345,000       MI Tobacco Settlement Finance Auth. Sr. Rev.      5.13         6/1/22         292,857   
  300,000       Oakland County Economic Development Corp. Rev. (Roman Catholic Archdiocese Proj.)      6.50         12/1/20         301,938   
           

 

 

 
              4,235,626   
           

 

 

 

 

  Minnesota - 2.2%

        
  2,001,992       Intermediate School District 287 Lease Rev.      5.30         11/1/32         2,062,191   
  500,000       Minneapolis Mulitfamily Hsg. Rev. (Riverside Plaza)      6.00         11/1/13         496,715   
  300,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Mtg. Rev. (Mtg. Backed Securities Program)(GNMA/FNMA Collateralized)      4.40         7/1/32         300,726   
  570,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev.      5.10         1/1/40         595,086   
           

 

 

 
              3,454,718   
           

 

 

 

 

  Mississippi - 0.5%

        
  300,000       MS Development Bank Rev. (Magnolia Reg. Health Center Proj.)      6.50         10/1/31         338,064   
  155,000       MS Home Corp. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.60         6/1/38         164,280   
  240,000       MS Home Corp. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      6.75         6/1/39         256,706   
           

 

 

 
              759,050   
           

 

 

 

 

  Missouri - 1.9%

        
  500,000       Chillicothe Tax Increment Rev. (South U.S. 65 Proj.)      5.63         4/1/27         462,980   
  480,000       Community Memorial Hospital District Rev.      6.68         12/1/34         519,778   
  250,000       Independence 39th St. Transportation District Rev. Ref. & Improvement      6.88         9/1/32         252,882   
  500,000       Kansas City Industrial Dev. Auth. Rev. (Kansas City Pkg. LLC)      5.45         9/1/23         517,020   
  500,000       Kirkwood Industrial Dev. Auth. Retirement Community Rev. (Aberdeen Heights)      7.00         11/15/15         500,905   
  750,000       Lakeside 370 Levee District Improvement Special Tax      7.00         4/1/28         596,288   
  500,000       Moberly Industrial Dev. Auth. (Annual Appropriation Proj.) 2, 5      6.00         9/1/24         150,000   
           

 

 

 
              2,999,853   
           

 

 

 

 

  Montana - 0.8%

        
  175,000       MT Board of Housing Single Family Rev. (GO of BRD Insured)      4.70         12/1/26         187,467   
  245,000       MT Board of Housing Single Family Rev. (GO of BRD Insured)      4.85         6/1/28         263,762   
  716,885       MT Facs. Finance Auth. Rev. (Great Falls Pre-Release Services Proj.)      5.08         4/1/21         769,612   
           

 

 

 
              1,220,841   
           

 

 

 

 

  Nebraska - 0.5%

        
  410,000       Mead Village Tax Allocation Rev. (E3 Biofuels - Mead LLC Proj.) 2, 5      5.13         7/1/12         246,000   
  500,000       NE Investment Fin. Auth. Single Family Hsg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.90         9/1/36         559,285   
           

 

 

 
              805,285   
           

 

 

 

 

  Nevada - 2.4%

        
  250,000       Clark Co. Economic Dev. Rev. (Alexander Dawson School Proj.)      5.38         5/15/33         253,430   
  415,000       Clark Co. Improvement Special Assessment (Summerlin Proj.)      4.85         2/1/17         408,588   
  600,000       Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Rev. (ACA Insured)      6.63         11/1/17         488,340   
  750,000       Las Vegas Redev. Agy. Tax Allocation Rev.      7.50         6/15/23         805,890   
  425,000       NV Hsg. Dev. Single Family Mtg. Program Mezzanine (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.10         10/1/40         442,918   
  500,000       Sparks Redev. Agy. Tax Increment Rev. (Redev. Area No. 1 Proj.)      5.00         1/15/22         508,875   
  460,000       Sparks Redev. Agy. Tax Increment Rev. (Redev. Area No. 2 Proj.)      6.40         6/1/20         480,879   

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.   

MARCH 31, 2012

   17


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

    Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  250,000      Sparks Tourism Improvement District No. 1 Sr. Sales Tax Rev. 4      6.50         6/15/20         250,980   
          

 

 

 
             3,639,900   
          

 

 

 
 

  New Hampshire - 0.8%

        
  890,000      Manchester Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (ACA Insured)      6.75         1/1/15         860,514   
  400,000      NH Health & Educ. Facs. Auth. Rev. (Wentworth Douglas Hosipital)      6.00         1/1/34         444,204   
          

 

 

 
             1,304,718   
          

 

 

 
 

  New Jersey - 1.7%

        
  250,000      NJ Economic Dev. Auth. Rev. Ref. (Harrogate Inc.)      5.75         12/1/16         249,972   
  425,000      NJ Higher Education Assistance Auth. Student Loan Rev.      5.00         6/1/27         438,205   
  250,000      NJ Higher Education Assistance Auth. Student Loan Rev.      5.00         12/1/28         265,328   
  100,000      NJ Higher Education Assistance Auth. Student Loan Rev.      4.75         12/1/29         101,429   
  780,000      NJ Hsg. & Mtg. Finance Agy. Rev.      5.05         10/1/39         809,601   
  400,000      NJ Hsg. & Mtg. Finance Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.50         10/1/30         412,804   
  275,000      NJ Transportation Trust Fund Authority      5.25         6/15/36         304,147   
          

 

 

 
             2,581,486   
          

 

 

 
 

  New Mexico - 1.1%

        
  430,000      NM Mtg. Fin. Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      4.80         9/1/29         451,040   
  400,000      NM Mtg. Fin. Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.35         9/1/30         429,796   
  830,000      NM Mtg. Fin. Auth. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.25         9/1/34         879,792   
          

 

 

 
             1,760,628   
          

 

 

 
 

  New York - 1.6%

        
  250,000      Albany Capital Resource Corp. Rev. (The College of Saint Rose)      5.63         7/1/31         264,288   
  250,000      Chautauqua County Capital Resource Corp. Rev. (Women’s Christian Assn. Proj.)      6.75         11/15/16         267,475   
  250,000      New York City Housing Development Corp. Multifamily Mtg. Rev.      4.60         11/1/36         255,018   
  500,000      NY Mortgage Agency Rev.      4.13         10/1/40         500,780   
  500,000      NY Mortgage Agency Rev.      4.75         10/1/42         509,170   
  400,000      NY State Housing Finance Agency Rev. (Affordable Hsg. Proj.)      4.88         11/1/42         411,560   
  300,000      Onondaga Civic Development Corp. Rev. (Upstate Properties Dev. Inc. Proj.)      5.25         12/1/41         316,743   
          

 

 

 
             2,525,034   
          

 

 

 
 

  North Dakota - 0.3%

        
  410,000      North Dakota Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rev. (GO of Agency Insured)      4.75         7/1/30         436,154   
          

 

 

 
 

  Ohio - 2.0%

        
  425,000      Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Finance Auth. Asset-Backed Sr. Rev.      5.13         6/1/24         338,351   
  250,000      Butler Co. Hospital Facs. Rev. (Kettering Health Network)      6.38         4/1/36         291,230   
  730,000      Cleveland-Cuyahoga Co. Port Auth. Dev. Rev. (St. Clarence Proj.)      6.00         5/1/21         693,682   
  711,800      Cuyahoga Co. Hsg. Mtg. Sr. Rev. (R H Myers Apts. Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized)      5.70         3/20/42         764,174   
  250,000      Lucas Co. Health Facs. Rev. (Sunset Retirement Communities)      5.00         8/15/21         258,090   
  550,000      Lucas Co. Hospital Rev. (Promedica Health Care Proj.)      6.50         11/15/37         664,301   
  135,000      OH Hsg. Finance Agy. Residential Mtg. Rev. (GNMA/FNMA/FHLMC Collateralized)      5.45         9/1/33         141,340   
          

 

 

 
             3,151,168   
          

 

 

 
 

  Oklahoma - 0.6%

        
  500,000      Citizen Potawatomi Nation Sr. Obligation Tax Rev.      6.50         9/1/16         488,050   
  400,000      Fort Sill Apache Tribe Economic Dev. Auth.      8.50         8/25/26         411,660   
          

 

 

 
             899,710   
          

 

 

 
 

  Oregon - 0.5%

        
  430,000      Western Generation Agy. Rev. (Wauna Cogeneration Proj.)      5.00         1/1/21         411,759   

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

18

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  300,000       Western Generation Agy. Rev. (Wauna Cogeneration)      5.00         1/1/21         287,274   
           

 

 

 
              699,033   
           

 

 

 

 

  Pennsylvania - 4.0%

  

  
  245,000       Allegheny Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Charter School Rev. (Propel Charter-McKeesport)      5.90         8/15/26         249,187   
  250,000       Berks Co. Municipal Auth. Rev. (Health Care-Pooled Financing Proj.)      5.00         3/1/28         250,238   
  485,000       Butler Co. General Authority Rev. (School District Proj.) (AGM GO of District) 1      1.09         10/1/34         305,371   
  250,000       Central Bradford Progress Auth. Rev. (Guthrie Healthcare System)      5.50         12/1/31         285,632   
  250,000       Erie Co. Hospital Auth. Rev. (St. Vincent Health Center Proj.)      7.00         7/1/27         257,778   
  600,000       Geisinger Auth. Health System Rev. (Geisinger Health System Proj.) 1      1.14         5/1/37         399,978   
  250,000       Lehigh Co. General Purpose Auth. Rev. (Saint Luke’s Bethlehem) 1      1.36         8/15/42         153,498   
  500,000       Luzerne Co. G.O. (FSA Insured)      7.00         11/1/26         586,505   
  500,000       PA Housing Finance Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.85         10/1/37         512,095   
  300,000       PA Hsg. Finance Agy. Rev.      5.00         10/1/25         323,688   
  500,000       PA Hsg. Finance Agy. Rev. (GO of Agency Insured)      4.63         10/1/29         517,995   
  500,000       PA Hsg. Finance Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.75         10/1/28         526,085   
  240,000       PA Hsg. Finance Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.75         10/1/39         246,398   
  500,000       PA Turnpike Commission Rev. Capital Appreciation 6      5.13         12/1/35         437,135   
  500,000       PA Turnpike Commission Rev. Capital Appreciation 6      5.73         12/1/38         438,535   
  500,000       PA Turnpike Commission Rev. Capital Appreciation (AGM Insured) 6      6.25         6/1/33         478,340   
  160,000       Philadelphia Hospital & Higher Education Facs. Auth. Hospital Rev. (Temple Univ. Hospital)      6.63         11/15/23         160,067   
           

 

 

 
              6,128,525   
           

 

 

 

 

  Puerto Rico - 2.7%

  

  
  500,000       Puerto Rico Electric Power Auth. Rev. 1      1.07         7/1/25         388,820   
  450,000       Puerto Rico Public Finance Corp. Commonwealth Appropriation Rev. 9      5.50         8/1/31         464,895   
  1,775,000       Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O.      5.50         7/1/39         1,799,832   
  250,000       Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. (AGM Insured)      5.50         7/1/27         273,685   
  350,000       Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. (AGM Insured)      5.00         7/1/35         356,156   
  300,000       Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev.      6.00         8/1/39         341,703   
  250,000       Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev.      5.25         8/1/40         270,690   
  500,000       Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev. 1      1.30         8/1/57         286,090   
           

 

 

 
              4,181,871   
           

 

 

 

 

  Rhode Island - 0.4%

  

  
  500,000       RI Student Loan Auth. Sr. Rev.      5.75         12/1/27         539,855   
           

 

 

 

 

  South Carolina - 0.4%

  

  
  410,000       SC Education Assistance Auth. Student Loan Rev.      5.10         10/1/29         442,566   
  76,190       SC Jobs Economic Dev. Auth. Health Care Facs. Rev. (Woodlands at Furman Proj.) 6      0.04         11/15/47         379   
  177,778       SC Jobs Economic Dev. Auth. Health Care Facs. Rev. (Woodlands at Furman Proj.)      6.00         11/15/47         124,244   
           

 

 

 
              567,189   
           

 

 

 

 

  Tennessee - 0.8%

  

  
  495,000       Metro Govt. Nashville & Davidson Co. Health & Education Facs. Rev. (Prestige Proj.) 2, 5      7.50         12/20/40         287,590   
  1,850,000       Shelby Co. Health, Education & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (CME Memphis Apts. Proj.) 2, 5      5.35         1/1/19         224,904   
  7,875,000       Shelby Co. Health, Education & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (CME Memphis Apts. Proj.) 2, 5      5.55         1/1/29         786,082   
  1,630,000       Shelby Co. Health, Education & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (CME Memphis Apts. Proj.) 2, 5      6.00         1/1/29         16   
  1,000,000       Shelby Co. Health, Education & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (Eastwood Park Apts. Proj.) 2, 5      6.40         9/1/25         4,950   
  405,000       Shelby Co. Health, Education & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (Eastwood Park Apts. Proj.) 2, 5      7.50         9/1/25         4   
           

 

 

 
              1,303,546   
           

 

 

 

 

  Texas - 7.1%

  

  
  1,000,000       Arlington Higher Education Finance Corp., Education Rev. (Arlington Classics Academy)      7.00         8/15/28         1,024,670   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.   

MARCH 31, 2012

   19


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  250,000       Austin Convention Enterprises, Inc. Rev.      5.25         1/1/16         259,538   
  65,000       Bexar Co. Hsg. Fin. Corp. Rev. (Dublin Kingswood & Waterford Apts.)      7.50         12/1/14         61,390   
  250,000       Bexar Co. Hsg. Fin. Corp. Rev. (Dymaxion & Marbach Park Apts. Proj.) (NATL-RE Insured)      6.10         8/1/30         240,048   
  540,000       Bexar Co. Hsg. Fin. Corp. Rev. (Honey Creek Apartments Proj.) 2, 5      8.00         4/1/30         237,616   
  440,000       Bexar Co. Hsg. Fin. Corp. Rev. (Waterford Proj.)      6.50         12/1/21         409,776   
  1,864,000       Dallas Hsg. Finance Corp. Multifamily Mtg. Rev. (Towne Center Apts.) (GNMA Collateralized)      6.75         10/20/32         1,886,051   
  174,746       El Paso Hsg. Finance Corp. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA Collateralized)      6.18         4/1/33         181,596   
  1,465,450       Galveston Co. Municipal Utility      6.01         2/27/13         1,172,360   
  625,000       Harris Co. Cultural Education Facs. Finance Corp. Rev. (Space Center Houston Proj.) 4      6.75         8/15/21         674,538   
  240,000       Houston Hotel Occupancy Rev. Ref.      5.25         9/1/29         254,443   
  360,000       La Vernia Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Friends Life Proj.)      6.00         2/15/18         362,812   
  250,000       Tarrant Co. Cultural Education Facs. Fin. Rev. (Mirador Proj.)      7.75         11/15/19         259,485   
  460,000       Tarrant Co. Cultural Education Facs. Fin. Rev. (Sr. Living Center Proj.)      6.50         11/15/14         460,143   
  550,000       Travis Co. Health Facs. Dev. Corp. Rev. (First Mortgage - Longhorn Village Proj.)      5.50         1/1/17         539,160   
  500,000       Travis Co. Health Facs. Dev. Corp. Rev. (First Mortgage - Longhorn Village Proj.)      6.00         1/1/22         497,035   
  250,000       Travis Co. Health Facs. Dev. Corp. Rev. (Westminster Manor)      6.25         11/1/16         257,580   
  500,000       TX Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. I Sr. Lien Rev. 1      1.77         12/15/26         369,260   
  300,000       TX Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. II Rev. 1      1.19         9/15/27         230,418   
  750,000       TX Private Activity Surface Transportation Corp. Rev. (LBJ Infrastructure)      7.50         6/30/33         899,842   
  250,000       TX Public Finance Auth. Charter School Finance Corp. Rev. (Cosmos Foundation, Inc.)      6.00         2/15/30         269,975   
  500,000       TX Public Finance Auth. Charter School Finance Corp. Rev. (Idea Public School) (ACA Insured)      5.00         8/15/30         503,720   
           

 

 

 
              11,051,456   
           

 

 

 

 

  Utah - 1.4%

  

  
  250,000       Provo Charter School Rev. (Freedom Academy Foundation)      5.50         6/15/37         207,132   
  857,000       UT Assoc. Municipal Power System Rev.      5.00         5/1/27         830,484   
  300,000       UT Hsg. Corp. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      5.75         1/1/33         324,828   
  500,000       UT Hsg. Corp. Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.60         7/1/34         517,680   
  300,000       UT Infrastructure Agy. Rev. (AGM Insured)      5.50         10/15/30         337,680   
           

 

 

 
              2,217,804   
           

 

 

 

 

  Virginia - 1.1%

  

  
  500,000       Farms New Kent Community Dev. Auth. Special Assessment      5.13         3/1/36         306,025   
  275,000       Loudoun Co. Industrial Dev. Auth. Rev. (Falcons Landing)      6.00         8/1/28         277,580   
  250,000       VA Hsg. Dev. Auth. Rev. (GO of Authority Insured)      6.25         7/1/31         279,362   
  250,000       VA Hsg. Dev. Auth. Rev. (Rental Hsg. Proj.)      4.60         12/1/38         255,368   
  500,000       VA Hsg. Dev. Auth. Rev. (Rental Hsg. Proj.)      5.00         12/1/39         520,775   
           

 

 

 
              1,639,110   
           

 

 

 

 

  Washington - 1.5%

  

  
  500,000       Eastern WA University Hsg. & Dining Sys. Rev.      4.13         4/1/42         493,630   
  500,000       Grant Co. Public Hospital District No. 1      5.25         9/1/13         501,035   
  480,000       Kalispel Tribe Indians Priority District Rev.      6.20         1/1/16         459,898   
  500,000       WA Health Care Facs. Auth. Rev. (Swedish Health Services Proj.)      6.50         11/15/27         544,755   
  300,000       WA Hsg. Finance Commission Single Family Mtg. Rev.      4.60         10/1/33         310,101   
           

 

 

 
              2,309,419   
           

 

 

 

 

  Wisconsin - 1.7%

  

  
  250,000       WI General Fund Rev. Appropriation Rev.      6.00         5/1/27         301,035   
  250,000       WI Health & Education Facs. Auth. Rev. (Aurora Health Care Proj.)      6.40         4/15/33         256,058   
  500,000       WI Health & Education Facs. Auth. Rev. (Beaver Dam Community Hospital, Inc.)      6.75         8/15/34         508,695   
  325,000       WI Health & Education Facs. Auth. Rev. (Mercy Health Sys. Corp. Proj.)(NATL-RE-IBC AMBAC Ins.)      5.50         8/15/25         325,302   
  200,000       WI Health & Education Facs. Auth. Rev. (Synergy Health, Inc. Proj.)      6.00         11/15/23         206,752   

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

20

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount ($)/
Quantity

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

    

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  250,000       WI Health & Education Facs. Auth. Rev. (Synergy Health, Inc. Proj.)      6.00         11/15/32         256,888   
  200,000       WI Public Finance Auth. Rev. (Glenridge Palmer Ranch Proj.)      7.00         6/1/20         206,364   
  500,000       WI Public Finance Auth. Rev. (Glenridge Palmer Ranch Proj.)      8.25         6/1/46         535,380   
           

 

 

 
              2,596,474   
           

 

 

 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds
(cost: $155,550,713)

           137,017,287   
           

 

 

 

 

Closed-End Mutual Funds - 7.6%

        
  20,800       AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (AFB)            308,048   
  45,400       BlackRock Long-Term Municipal Advantage Trust (BTA)            562,506   
  33,800       BlackRock MuniHoldings Florida Insured Fund (MFL)            493,142   
  54,500       BlackRock MuniYield Florida Fund (MYF)            838,210   
  73,100       BlackRock MuniYield Insured Fund (MYI)            1,038,751   
  23,700       BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Insured Fund (MIY)            349,575   
  23,000       BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Insured Fund II (MYM)            317,630   
  208,600       DWS Municipal Income Trust (KTF)            2,882,852   
  12,390       Eaton Vance National Municipal Income Trust (FEV)            168,876   
  31,200       Invesco PA Value Muni Income Trust (VPV)            454,584   
  7,900       Invesco Quality Muni (IQT)            110,521   
  43,300       Invesco Van Kampen Advantage Muni Income Trust (VKI)            560,735   
  32,389       Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade Municipals (VGM)            490,693   
  25,923       Managed Duration Investment Grade (MZF)            397,140   
  5,000       Nuveen Michigan Premium Income Municipal Fund (NMP)            74,050   
  21,500       Nuveen Premier Municipal Income Fund (NPF)            313,685   
  99,332       Nuveen Premium Income Fund (NPM)            1,489,980   
  77,011       Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust (PMO)            966,488   
           

 

 

 

 
 

Total Closed-End Mutual Funds
(cost: $10,348,135)

           11,817,466   
           

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities - 4.4%

        
  6,783,493      

Dreyfus Tax-Exempt Cash Management Fund, 0.004%

        

 
 

Total Short-Term Securities
(cost: $6,783,493)

           6,783,493   
           

 

 

 

 
 

Total Investments in Securities - 100.6%
(cost: $172,682,341)

           155,618,246   

 

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - (0.6%)

           (958,858
           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

         $ 154,659,388   
           

 

 

 

 

 

1 

Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of March 31, 2012.

2 

Securities considered illiquid by the Investment Adviser. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $4,620,356 and represented 3.0% of net assets.

4 

144A Restricted Security. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $2,647,153 and represented 1.7% of net assets. These securities been determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

5 

The issuer is in default of certain debt covenants. Income is not being accrued. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $4,620,356 and represented 3.0% of net assets.

6 

Zero coupon security. Rate disclosed is the effective yield on purchase date.

9 

Municipal Lease Security. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $1,361,685 and represented 0.9% of net assets. These securities have been determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.   

MARCH 31, 2012

   21


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2012 is as follows (See Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
     Level 1
Quoted
Price ($)
     Level 2
Other significant
observable inputs ($)
     Level 3
Significant
unobservable inputs ($)
   Total ($)  

Short-Term Securities

     6,783,493                    6,783,493     

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     11,817,466                    11,817,466     

Municipal Bonds

             137,017,287            137,017,287     

Total:

     18,600,959         137,017,287            155,618,246     

For the reporting period, there were no transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

22

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

[This page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   23


 

    Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The investment objective of the Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund is to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal regular income tax and Minnesota regular personal income tax as is consistent with the preservation of capital.

During normal market conditions, the Fund invests 100% of its net assets in municipal securities that generate interest income that is exempt from federal regular income tax and Minnesota regular personal income tax. The Fund anticipates that substantially all of its distributions to its shareholders will be exempt as such. For investors subject to the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”), up to 20% of the Fund’s income may be alternative minimum taxable income.

 

 

 

The Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund provided a total return of +12.48% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, compared with a total return of +6.90% for the Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index. As of March 31, 2012, the Fund’s 30-day SEC yield was 3.96% and its 12-month distribution rate was 4.30%.

Tax-exempt municipal bond yields declined markedly during the fiscal year, resulting in historically strong returns for the asset class. The yield curve flattened as long-term bond yields declined substantially while intermediate and short yields decreased to a lesser extent. The fiscal situation in Minnesota improved during the year and employment in Minnesota continues to be stronger than the nation. The credit spread between high-grade Minnesota bonds and comparable national issues increased slightly during the year. Credit spreads between lower investment grade credits and high-grade municipal bonds decreased during the period.

The Fund’s outperformance during this period was due to several factors including duration, quality, and industry positioning. The Fund benefited from its longer duration versus the Index. From a quality perspective, the Fund maintained its average credit quality at A, and it benefited from its considerable exposure to A-rated bonds and below in addition to non-rated securities. All of the industry segments in the portfolio outperformed the benchmark return and produced double-digit total returns. The largest industry weightings as of March 31, 2012 were hospital/healthcare revenue, multi-family mortgage revenue, and single-family mortgage revenue.

The Fund maintains its duration longer than its benchmark, with significant weightings in intermediate and longer-term bonds. The Fund will likely shorten its duration over the course of the next year. Although the tax-exempt yield curve did flatten during the period, it remains steep on a historical basis. We believe that credit spreads for bonds rated A and below remain attractive. Therefore, despite the strong returns provided by the

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years (or for the life of the Fund if shorter) as compared to the performance of the Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 The Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index is the 5 year (4-6) component of the Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged, rules-based, market-value-weighted index for the long-term tax-exempt bond market. The index includes bonds with a minimum credit rating of BBB. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

Fund over the past year and the low level of absolute yields at present, we believe the Fund’s duration, credit quality, and industry weightings position it well for the current environment. As always, our strategy continues to emphasize income, which we believe is the primary driver of return over the long run.

Michael C. Brilley

Debra A. Sit, CFA

Paul J. Jungquist, CFA

Senior Portfolio Managers

 

 

24

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of March 31, 2012

 

      Sit
Minnesota
Tax-Free
Income Fund
   Barclays
5-Year
Muni.  Bond
Index1
   Lipper
MN
Muni. Bond
Fund  Index2

One Year

   12.48%    6.90%    12.01%

Five Years

     4.95    5.65      4.86

Ten Years

     4.91    4.88      4.91

Since Inception (12/1/93)

     5.11    5.01      4.87

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 The Barclays 5-Year Municipal Bond Index is the 5 year (4-6) component of the Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged, rules-based, market-value-weighted index made for the long-term tax-exempt bond market. The index includes bonds with a minimum credit rating of BBB. The returns include the reinvestment of income and do not include any transaction costs, management fees or other costs. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 The Lipper returns are obtained from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., a large independent evaluator of mutual funds.

 

FUND DIVERSIFICATION   

Hospital/Health Care

     17.8

Single Family Mortgage

     17.1

Multifamily Mortgage

     16.0

Education/Student Loan

     10.8

Other Revenue

     9.3

Utility

     5.4

Sectors less than 5.0%

     14.8

Cash & Other Net Assets

     8.8

Based on total net assets as of March 31, 2012. Subject to change.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

   

Net Asset Value 3/31/12:

   $10.42 Per Share

Net Asset Value 3/31/11:

   $9.67 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

   $343.8 Million

30-day SEC Yield 3:

   3.96%

Tax Equivalent Yield 4:

   6.61%

12-month Distribution Rate 3:

   4.30%

Average Maturity:

   15.1 Years

Effective Duration 5:

   4.8 Years

3 The SEC Yield reflects the rate at which the Fund is earning income on its current portfolio of securities, while the distribution rate reflects the Fund’s past dividends paid to shareholders based on the net investment income distributed and the average NAV during the past 12 months. Accordingly, the Fund’s SEC yield and distribution rate may differ.

4 The tax-equivalent yield is based on an assumed federal tax rate of 35.0% and a Minnesota tax rate of 7.85%, for an effective combined tax rate of 40.1%.

5 Duration is a measure of estimated price sensitivity relative to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer durations are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the market value of a security with an effective duration of 5 years would decrease by 5%, with all other factors being constant. The correlation between duration and price sensitivity is greater for securities rated investment-grade than it is for securities rated below investment-grade. Duration estimates are based on assumptions by the Adviser and are subject to a number of limitations. Effective duration is calculated based on historical price changes of securities held by the Fund, and therefore is a more accurate estimate of price sensitivity provided interest rates remain within their historical range.

QUALITY RATINGS (% of Total Net Assets)

 

 

 

LOGO

Lower of Moody’s, S&P, Fitch or Duff & Phelps ratings used.

Adviser’s Assessment of Non-Rated Securities:

AAA

       0.0  

AA

       2.4     

A

       2.7     

BBB

     13.2     

BB

     11.8     

<BB

       0.5     
  

 

 

   

Total

     30.6  
 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   25


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
   Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 

 

Municipal Bonds - 90.5%

        

 

    Education/Student Loan - 10.8%

        
      1,070,000      

Brooklyn Park Lease Rev. (Prairie Seeds Academy Proj.)

   8.00      3/1/20         1,181,708   
  2,500,000      

Duluth Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (Public Schools Academy)

   5.00      11/1/21         2,506,825   
  6,706,672      

Intermediate School District 287 Lease Rev.

   5.30      11/1/32         6,908,341   
  545,000      

Minneapolis Educational Fac. Lease Rev. (Seed/Harvest Preparatory Proj.) (LOC-U.S. Bank)

   5.13      1/1/16         416,167   
  875,000      

Minneapolis Educational Fac. Lease Rev. (Seed/Harvest Preparatory Proj.) (LOC-U.S. Bank)

   6.25      1/1/21         638,374   
  910,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Bethel Univ.)

   5.50      5/1/14         935,926   
  600,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Bethel Univ.)

   5.50      5/1/22         619,002   
  160,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Bethel Univ.)

   5.50      5/1/23         164,269   
  1,000,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Bethel Univ.)

   5.50      5/1/37         1,011,870   
  1,813,199      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (College of St. Benedict)

   4.49      10/1/16         1,852,291   
  250,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (College of St. Benedict)

   5.13      3/1/36         257,115   
  1,751,958      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (College of St. Catherine)

   4.75      4/26/27         1,781,987   
  750,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Hamline Univ.)

   6.00      10/1/32         861,218   
  1,000,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Hamline Univ.)

   6.00      10/1/40         1,121,520   
  750,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Macalester College-Seven-I)

   5.00      6/1/35         838,342   
  1,400,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (St. Scholastica College)

   5.00      12/1/27         1,447,334   
  1,800,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (St. Scholastica College)

   6.30      12/1/40         2,020,446   
  500,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (St. Scholastica College-H)

   5.25      12/1/35         525,055   
  1,250,000      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. (Univ. of St. Thomas)

   6.00      10/1/25         1,378,600   
  156,119      

MN Higher Education Fac. Auth. Rev. Lease Rev. (Concordia Univ.)

   5.25      4/25/14         158,217   
  2,500,000      

MN Office of Higher Education Rev. (Suppl. Student Loan Prog.)

   5.00      11/1/29         2,693,275   
  718,374      

Olmsted Co. Hsg. & Redev. Auth. (Schaeffer Academy Proj.)

   4.98      4/25/27         594,397   
  440,000      

Pine City Lease Rev. (Lakes International Language Academy Proj.)

   5.75      5/1/16         449,918   
  830,000      

Pine City Lease Rev. (Lakes International Language Academy Proj.)

   6.00      5/1/26         810,694   
  215,000      

Ramsey Lease Rev. (Pact Charter School Proj.)

   5.65      12/1/13         219,446   
  1,650,000      

Ramsey Lease Rev. (Pact Charter School Proj.)

   6.50      12/1/22         1,693,296   
  250,000      

St. Cloud Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (State University Foundation Proj.)

   4.25      5/1/13         250,842   
  350,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (Community of Peace Academy Proj.)

   4.35      12/1/12         351,362   
  1,500,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (Community of Peace Academy Proj.)

   5.00      12/1/18         1,520,970   
  605,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (Hmong Academy Proj.)

   5.50      9/1/18         612,532   
  130,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (New Spirit Charter School Proj.)

   6.50      12/1/12         131,815   
  600,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Lease Rev. (Nova Classical Academy Proj.)

   5.70      9/1/21         624,354   
  500,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. Ref. (St. Paul Academy & Summit School)

   5.00      10/1/24         545,870   
           

 

 

 
              37,123,378   
           

 

 

 

 

    General Obligation - 2.7%

        
      1,000,000      

Bemidji Sales Tax G.O.

   5.00      2/1/34         1,130,970   
  1,350,000      

Bemidji Sales Tax G.O.

   6.00      2/1/41         1,635,404   
  650,000      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Sr. Hsg. Facs. G.O.

   5.00      1/1/26         709,742   
  495,000      

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth G.O. 11

   5.00      10/1/22         433,214   
  1,500,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. 11

   5.50      7/1/39         1,520,985   
  1,000,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. 11

   5.75      7/1/36         1,036,930   
  1,000,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. 11

   6.00      7/1/28         1,080,190   
  1,500,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. 11

   6.50      7/1/40         1,702,980   
           

 

 

 
              9,250,415   
           

 

 

 

 

    Hospital/Health Care - 17.8%

        
  1,500,000      

Bemidji Health Care Facs. Rev. (North Country Health Services Proj.) (Radian Insured)

   5.00      9/1/24         1,504,590   
  290,000      

Bemidji Health Care Facs. Rev. (North Country Health Services Proj.) (Radian Insured)

   5.00      9/1/31         290,061   
  4,025,000      

Breckenridge Rev. (Catholic Health Initiatives Proj.)

   5.00      5/1/30         4,135,526   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

26

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
     Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 
  400,000       Carlton Health Care & Hsg. Fac. Rev. Ref. (Faith Care Center Proj.)          5.20         4/1/16         404,428   
  365,000       Cold Spring Health Care Facs. Rev. (Assumption Home, Inc. Proj.)          7.25         3/1/23         388,229   
  1,000,000       Cuyuna Range Hosp. Dist. Health Facs. Rev.      5.20         6/1/25         1,013,620   
  400,000       Detroit Lakes Hsg. & Health Facs. Rev. Ref. (CDL Homes Proj.)      2.14         8/1/34         400,400   
  1,500,000       Detroit Lakes Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Mankato Lutheran Proj.)      2.39         8/1/34         1,463,895   
  1,500,000       Douglas Co. Gross Health Care Facs. Rev. (Douglas Co. Hospital Proj.)      6.00         7/1/28         1,624,725   
  70,000       Duluth Economic Dev. Auth. Health Care Fac. Rev. (St. Luke’s Hospital Proj.)      6.00         6/15/12         70,144   
  892,375       Duluth Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Sr. Hsg. (Lakeshore Proj.)      4.00         8/20/24         887,806   
  240,000       Elk River Rev. (Care Choice Member Proj.)      5.60         8/1/13         240,089   
  1,925,000       Glencoe Health Care Fac. Rev. (Glencoe Regional Health Services Proj.)      5.00         4/1/25         1,951,642   
  135,000       Hastings Health Care Fac. Rev. (Augustana Home of Hastings Proj.)      5.40         11/1/12         134,999   
  970,000       Hastings Health Care Fac. Rev. (Regina Medical Center) (ACA Insured)      5.25         9/15/18         971,116   
  705,000       Hastings Health Care Fac. Rev. (Regina Medical Center) (ACA Insured)      5.30         9/15/28         704,958   
  780,000       Maple Grove Health Care Fac. Rev. (North Memorial Health Care Proj.)      5.00         9/1/29         784,836   
  1,200,000       Maple Grove Health Care System Rev. (Maple Grove Hospital Corp.)      5.25         5/1/25         1,238,484   
  1,500,000       Maple Grove Health Care System Rev. (Maple Grove Hospital Corp.)      5.25         5/1/28         1,555,410   
  600,000       Minneapolis & St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Health Partners)      5.88         12/1/29         617,856   
  255,000       Minneapolis Health Care Fac. Rev. (Augustana Chapel View Homes Proj.)      5.00         6/1/15         255,056   
  270,000       Minneapolis Health Care Fac. Rev. (Augustana Chapel View Homes Proj.)      5.10         6/1/16         270,057   
  1,470,000       Minneapolis Health Care Fac. Rev. (Jones-Harrison Residence Proj.)      5.40         10/1/25         1,426,973   
  995,000       Minneapolis Hsg. & Health Care Facs. Rev. Ref. (Providence Proj.)      5.50         10/1/14         1,019,965   
  200,000       Minneapolis Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Augustana Chapel View Homes Proj.)      5.50         6/1/27         188,216   
  500,000       Minneapolis Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Augustana Chapel View Homes Proj.)      5.75         1/1/19         500,195   
  530,000       Minneapolis Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Augustana Chapel View Homes Proj.)      5.80         1/1/24         530,069   
  180,000       Minneapolis Pooled Rev. (Care Choice Member Proj.)      5.75         4/1/19         175,306   
  1,330,000       MN Agricultural & Economic Dev. Board Rev. (Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Proj.)      6.63         8/1/25         1,341,172   
  10,000       MN Agricultural & Economic Dev. Board Rev. (Fairview Health Care System Proj.)      6.38         11/15/22         10,020   
  130,000       MN Agricultural & Economic Dev. Board Rev. (Fairview Health Care System Proj.)      6.38         11/15/29         130,211   
  1,185,000       New Hope Health Care Facs. Rev. (MN Masonic Home North Ridge Proj.)      5.88         3/1/29         1,151,808   
  1,175,000       New Hope Health Care Facs. Rev. (MN Masonic Home North Ridge Proj.)      5.90         3/1/19         1,175,247   
  1,500,000       Rochester Health Care Facs. Rev. (Olmsted Medical Center Proj.)      5.88         7/1/30         1,585,650   
  1,270,000       Sartell Health Care & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (Foundation for Healthcare Proj.)      6.63         9/1/29         1,270,800   
  1,000,000       Sauk Rapids Health Care & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (Good Shepherd Lutheran Home Proj.)      6.75         1/1/24         1,038,670   
  1,000,000       Sauk Rapids Health Care & Hsg. Facs. Rev. (Good Shepherd Lutheran Home Proj.)      7.25         1/1/29         1,045,070   
  3,475,000       Shakopee Health Care Facs. Rev. (St. Francis Regional Medical Center Proj.)      5.25         9/1/34         3,515,727   
  4,000,000       St. Cloud Health Care Rev. (CentraCare Health System)      5.00         5/1/25         4,143,600   
  2,000,000       St. Louis Park Health Care Facs. Rev. (Park Nicollet Health Proj.)      5.50         7/1/29         2,172,700   
  350,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Gillette Childrens Specialty Proj.)      5.00         2/1/20         361,714   
  500,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Gillette Childrens Specialty Proj.)      5.00         2/1/21         515,010   
  4,200,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (HealthPartners Oblig. Group Proj.)      5.25         5/15/36         4,280,808   
  1,365,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Regions Hospital Proj.)      5.20         5/15/13         1,368,972   
  2,120,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Regions Hospital Proj.)      5.25         5/15/18         2,123,986   
  2,421,009       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Nursing Home NTS-Episcopal)      5.63         10/1/33         2,319,230   
  50,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Regions Hospital Proj.)      5.30         5/15/28         50,030   
  1,210,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. Ref. (Franciscan Health Community)      7.00         7/1/21         1,211,150   
  2,500,000       Stillwater Health Care Rev. (Health System Obligation Proj.)      5.00         6/1/25         2,563,775   
  525,000       West St. Paul Health Care (Walker Thompson Hill)      6.75         9/1/31         546,992   
  1,300,000       Winsted Health Care Rev. (St. Mary’s Care Center Proj.)      6.00         9/1/25         1,319,409   
  1,250,000       Winsted Health Care Rev. (St. Mary’s Care Center Proj.)      6.50         9/1/34         1,267,812   
           

 

 

 
              61,258,214   
           

 

 

 

 

    Industrial/Pollution Control - 2.0%

        
  2,250,000       Moorhead Rev. (Amer. Crystal Sugar Co. Recovery Zone Fac.)      5.65         6/1/27         2,406,060   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   27


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

    

Name of Issuer

  

Coupon

Rate (%)

  

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  505,000      

Owatonna Industrial Dev. Rev. (Slidell, Inc. Proj.) 2, 5, 8

   7.38      5/1/17         176,750   
  1,980,000      

St. Paul Port Auth. Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Ecullet Proj.)

   6.25      11/1/15         2,080,762   
  2,000,000      

Tobacco Securitization Auth. (Tobacco Settlement Proj.)

   5.25      3/1/31         2,163,800   
           

 

 

 
              6,827,372   
           

 

 

 

 

    Insured - 3.6%

        
      500,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Rev. (Children’s Hospital) (AGM Insured)

   5.00      8/15/34         530,150   
  2,010,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Metro Airport Commission Rev. Ref. (NATL-RE FGIC Insured)

   5.00      1/1/22         2,104,510   
  1,750,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Metro Airport Commission Rev. Ref. (NATL-RE FGIC Insured)

   5.00      1/1/25         1,857,625   
  1,000,000      

Minneapolis Health Care Facs. Rev. (Fairview Health Svcs.) (Assured Guaranty)

   6.50      11/15/38         1,165,050   
  350,000      

Plymouth Health Facs. Rev. (West Health Proj.) (AGM Insured)

   6.13      6/1/24         350,784   
  1,000,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. (AGM Insured) 11

   5.13      7/1/30         1,000,350   
  1,000,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. (AGM Insured) 11

   5.25      7/1/20         1,122,540   
  1,000,000      

Puerto Rico Public Improvement G.O. (Assured Guaranty) 1, 11

   4.18      7/1/20         946,950   
  1,000,000      

St. Cloud Health Care Rev. (CentraCare Health System Proj.) (Assured Guaranty)

   5.50      5/1/39         1,079,370   
  1,910,000      

St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Sales Tax Rev. Ref. (Civic Center) (AGM Insured)

   7.10      11/1/23         2,291,580   
           

 

 

 
              12,448,909   
           

 

 

 

 

    Multifamily Mortgage - 16.0%

        
      785,000      

Anoka Co. Hsg. & Redev. Rev. (Recovery Zone Fac.-Park River Estates)

   6.50      11/1/25         823,033   
  250,000      

Bloomington Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Gideon Pond Commons LLC)

   5.25      6/1/21         261,105   
  300,000      

Bloomington Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Gideon Pond Commons LLC)

   5.25      12/1/21         312,486   
  375,000      

Bloomington Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Gideon Pond Commons LLC)

   5.38      6/1/22         392,648   
  385,000      

Bloomington Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Gideon Pond Commons LLC)

   5.38      12/1/22         402,040   
  1,000,000      

Bloomington Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Gideon Pond Commons LLC)

   6.00      12/1/30         1,047,750   
  1,000,000      

Cambridge Hsg. & Health Care Facs. Rev. (Grandview West Proj.)

   6.00      10/1/28         999,940   
  980,000      

Champlin Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (Champlin Drive Apts.)

   6.00      1/1/27         1,010,488   
  260,000      

Chaska Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (West Suburban Hsg. Partners Proj.) 8

   5.38      9/1/14         257,813   
  500,000      

Cloquet Hsg. Fac. Rev. Ref. (HADC Cloquet LLC Proj.)

   5.50      8/1/25         475,030   
  250,000      

Columbia Heights Multifamily & Health Care Fac. Rev. (Crest View Corp Proj.)

   5.30      7/1/17         230,112   
  1,200,000      

Coon Rapids Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Margaret Place Apartments)

   6.50      5/1/25         1,200,036   
  450,000      

Coon Rapids Senior Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Epiphany Sr. Citizens Hsg. Corp. Proj.)

   5.80      11/1/15         449,986   
  2,565,000      

Cottage Grove Sr. Hsg. Rev. (PHS, Inc. Proj.)

   5.00      12/1/31         2,403,046   
  2,325,000      

Cottage Grove Sr. Hsg. Rev. (PHS, Inc. Proj.)

   6.00      12/1/46         2,327,604   
  470,000      

Eden Prairie Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Rolling Hills Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized)

   6.00      8/20/21         494,501   
  675,000      

Eden Prairie Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Rolling Hills Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized)

   6.15      8/20/31         709,715   
  1,635,000      

Eden Prairie Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Rolling Hills Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized)

   6.20      2/20/43         1,718,663   
  155,000      

Eveleth Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Manor House Woodland Proj.)

   5.10      10/1/12         154,518   
  165,000      

Eveleth Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Sr. (Manor House Woodland Proj.)

   5.15      10/1/13         163,165   
  300,000      

Fairmont Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Goldfinch Estates-GEAC Proj.)

   5.75      10/1/17         299,928   
  290,000      

Fairmont Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Goldfinch Estates-GEAC Proj.)

   6.00      10/1/21         290,078   
  295,000      

Fairmont Hsg. Fac. Rev. (Homestead-GEAC Proj.)

   6.88      10/1/14         295,180   
  695,000      

Golden Valley Rev. (Covenant Retirement Communities Proj.)

   5.50      12/1/25         695,195   
  1,750,000      

Golden Valley Rev. (Covenant Retirement Communities Proj.)

   5.50      12/1/29         1,750,158   
  1,660,000      

Grand Rapids Hsg. & Redev. Auth. (Lakeshore Place & Forest Park West Apartments Proj.)

   5.30      10/1/29         1,646,919   
  245,000      

Inver Grove Heights Nursing Home Rev. Ref. (Presbyterian Homes)

   5.50      10/1/33         239,267   
  1,400,000      

Maplewood Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (Park Edge Apartments Proj.) 8

   6.50      5/1/29         1,374,450   
  2,765,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (GNMA Collateralized) 8

   4.75      1/20/42         2,771,304   
  4,000,000      

Minneapolis Mulitfamily Hsg. Rev. (Riverside Plaza)

   6.00      11/1/13         3,973,720   
  695,000      

Minneapolis Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (Blaisdell Apartments Proj.) 8

   5.10      4/1/17         677,187   
  295,000      

Minneapolis Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (Garr Scott Loft Proj.) (LOC U.S. Bank) 8

   5.95      5/1/30         295,605   
  215,000      

Minnetonka Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Archer Heights Apartments Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized) 8

   5.10      7/20/13         215,494   

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

28

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer   

Coupon

Rate (%)

  

Maturity

Date

    

Fair

Value ($)

 
  975,000       Minnetonka Multifamily Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Archer Heights Apartments Proj.) (GNMA Collateralized) 8    5.20      1/20/18         976,355   
  1,750,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rental Hsg. 8    5.10      8/1/47         1,764,490   
  85,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rental Hsg. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8    4.88      8/1/24         85,638   
  250,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rental Hsg. (GO of AGY. Insured)    5.05      8/1/31         270,190   
  2,560,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rental Hsg. (GO of AGY. Insured)    5.25      8/1/40         2,690,253   
  1,660,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rental Hsg. (GO of AGY. Insured)    5.45      8/1/41         1,788,218   
  1,240,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8    5.00      7/1/21         1,292,402   
  500,000       North Oaks Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Presbyterian Homes North Oaks Proj.)    5.25      10/1/13         504,090   
  1,565,000       North Oaks Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Presbyterian Homes North Oaks Proj.)    5.63      10/1/17         1,609,274   
  650,000       North Oaks Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Presbyterian Homes North Oaks Proj.)    5.75      10/1/22         663,806   
  1,000,000       North Oaks Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Presbyterian Homes North Oaks Proj.)    6.00      10/1/33         1,011,180   
  70,000       Norwood Young America Economic Dev. Auth. Govt. Rev. (Harbor at Peace Village)    5.35      8/1/15         70,461   
  200,000       Norwood Young America Economic Dev. Auth. Govt. Rev. (Harbor at Peace Village)    5.63      8/1/20         200,444   
  550,000       Norwood Young America Economic Dev. Auth. Govt. Rev. (Harbor at Peace Village)    5.75      8/1/25         549,444   
  425,000       Norwood Young America Economic Dev. Auth. Govt. Rev. (Harbor at Peace Village)    6.00      8/1/31         425,166   
  1,000,000       Oak Park Heights Hsg. Rev. (Oakgreen Commons Proj.)    6.00      8/1/25         1,007,720   
  160,000       Oakdale Multifamily Sr. Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Oak Meadows Proj.)    5.00      4/1/12         160,002   
  420,000       Richfield Sr. Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Richfield Sr. Hsg., Inc. Proj.)    5.00      12/1/15         417,333   
  430,000       Rochester Health Care & Hsg. Rev. (Samaritan Bethany, Inc. Proj.)    5.25      12/1/17         436,493   
  455,000       Rochester Health Care & Hsg. Rev. (Samaritan Bethany, Inc. Proj.)    5.50      12/1/18         466,179   
  475,000       Rochester Health Care & Hsg. Rev. (Samaritan Bethany, Inc. Proj.)    5.75      12/1/19         491,160   
  250,000       Rochester Health Care & Hsg. Rev. (Samaritan Bethany, Inc. Proj.) (Gty. Agmt. Samaritan Bethany)    7.38      12/1/41         269,708   
  240,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    5.13      2/1/22         246,926   
  275,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    5.13      8/1/22         282,216   
  175,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    5.38      2/1/24         179,319   
  150,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    5.38      8/1/24         153,597   
  150,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    5.50      2/1/25         154,029   
  3,000,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Rev. (Carondelet Village Proj.)    6.25      8/1/30         3,170,610   
  115,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Multifamily Ref. Rev. (Sun Cliffe Apts. Proj.) (GNMA Collat. FHA Insd.)    5.88      7/1/15         115,375   
  1,000,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Multifamily Ref. Rev. Ref. (Series Center Proj.)    5.20      11/1/22         969,880   
  400,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Rossy & Richard Schaller Proj.)    5.15      10/1/42         359,336   
  445,000       Stillwater Multifamily Hsg. Rev. (Orleans Homes LP Proj.) 8    5.00      2/1/17         442,143   
  120,000       Victoria Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Chanhassen, Inc. Proj.)    5.50      8/1/18         118,980   
  695,000       Washington Co. Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Govt. Hsg. Rev. Ref. (Woodland Park Apartments Proj.) (CNTY Gty.)    4.70      10/1/26         698,496   
  395,000       Willmar Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Multifamily Rev. (Copperleaf)    8.00      3/15/41         396,153   
  250,000       Woodbury Economic Dev. Auth. Sr. Hsg. Rev. (Summerhouse)    5.75      6/1/41         247,880   
           

 

 

 
              55,043,110   
           

 

 

 

 

  Municipal Lease 9 - 2.7%

        
  500,000       Anoka Co. Hsg. & Redev. Rev.    5.63      5/1/22         522,920   
  500,000       Anoka Co. Hsg. & Redev. Rev.    6.63      5/1/30         522,035   
  500,000       Anoka Co. Hsg. & Redev. Rev.    6.88      5/1/40         521,820   
  1,490,608       Carver Scott Co. Lease Purchase Agreement    5.00      8/4/20         1,508,630   
  27,000       Hennepin Co. Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev.    5.70      8/1/13         27,106   
  148,080       Intermediate School District 287 Lease Rev.    4.78      3/15/13         148,885   
  2,000,000       MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Non-Profit Hsg. Rev. (St. Appropriation)    5.00      8/1/31         2,173,940   
  500,000       Puerto Rico Public Finance Corp. (Commonwealth Appropriation) 11    5.50      8/1/31         516,550   
  1,250,000       Virginia Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Fac. Lease Rev.    5.13      10/1/20         1,309,062   
  400,000       Virginia Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Fac. Lease Rev.    5.25      10/1/25         410,692   
  245,000       Virginia Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Health Care Fac. Lease Rev.    5.38      10/1/30         254,286   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

MARCH 31, 2012

   29


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
   Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 
  1,278,119       Winona School District 861 Lease Purchase    6.04      8/1/24         1,279,333   
           

 

 

 
              9,195,259   
           

 

 

 

 

  Other Revenue Bonds - 9.3%

        
  1,030,000       Bloomington Port Auth. Recovery Zone Fac. Rev. (Radisson Blu MOA LLC)    6.25      12/1/16         1,062,836   
  510,000       Columbia Heights Economic Dev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Huset Park Area Redev.)    5.20      2/15/22         463,508   
  667,766       Crystal Governmental Fac. Rev.    5.10      12/15/26         714,817   
  1,000,000       Guam Govt. Hotel Occupancy Tax Rev. 11    6.00      11/1/26         1,122,550   
  230,000       McLeod Co. Commercial Dev. Rev. (Southwest MN Foundation)    5.13      12/1/31         236,286   
  475,000       Minneapolis Community Dev. Agy. Limited Tax Common Bond Fund (Discount Steel) 8    5.25      6/1/19         476,411   
  1,500,000       Minneapolis National Marrow Donor Program Rev.    4.88      8/1/25         1,515,045   
  325,000       Minneapolis Tax Increment Rev. (Grant Park Proj.)    5.00      2/1/16         330,450   
  245,000       Minneapolis Tax Increment Rev. Ref. (East River/Unocal Site Proj.)    5.10      2/1/17         249,471   
  240,000       Minneapolis Tax Increment Rev. Ref. (East River/Unocal Site Proj.)    5.20      2/1/21         238,440   
  165,000       Minneapolis Tax Increment Rev. Ref. (St. Anthony Falls Proj.)    4.50      2/1/13         165,840   
  125,000       Minneapolis Tax Increment Rev. Ref. (St. Anthony Falls Proj.)    4.80      2/1/13         125,990   
  1,000,000       MN Development Rev. Limited Tax Supported Comm. Board    6.00      12/1/40         1,099,840   
  2,000,000       MN Development Rev. Limited Tax Supported Comm. Board    6.25      12/1/30         2,284,280   
  1,185,000       Mound Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. Ref. (Metroplain Proj.)    5.00      2/15/27         1,141,570   
  280,000       Puerto Rico Infrastucture Financing Auth. Special Tax Rev. Ref. (AMBAC Insured) 6, 11    8.40      7/1/28         113,837   
  500,000       St. Anthony Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Silver Lake Village Hsg.)    4.75      2/1/17         504,345   
  500,000       St. Anthony Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Silver Lake Village Hsg.)    4.90      2/1/22         484,565   
  1,000,000       St. Louis Park Economic Dev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Hoigaard Vlg.)    5.00      2/1/23         1,019,800   
  500,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Jimmy Lee Recreation Center Proj.)    4.75      12/1/26         537,215   
  500,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Rev. (Jimmy Lee Recreation Center Proj.)    5.00      12/1/32         527,705   
  1,195,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (9th St. Lofts Proj.)    6.38      2/15/28         1,113,166   
  1,009,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Drake Marble Proj.)    6.75      3/1/28         1,010,090   
  370,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Emerald Gardens Proj.)    5.00      3/1/15         378,492   
  765,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Emerald Gardens Proj.)    6.50      3/1/29         793,167   
  1,064,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (North Quadrant Owner Occupied Proj.)    7.00      2/15/28         1,053,839   
  930,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (North Quadrant Owner Occupied Proj.)    7.50      2/15/28         930,112   
  2,841,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Upper Landing Proj.)    6.80      3/1/29         2,845,716   
  1,782,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Tax Increment Rev. (Upper Landing Proj.)    6.90      3/1/29         1,785,671   
  805,000       St. Paul Port Auth. Lease Rev. (Regions Hospital Parking Ramp Proj.)    5.00      8/1/21         832,531   
  2,525,000       St. Paul Port Auth. Lease Rev. (Regions Hospital Parking Ramp Proj.)    5.00      8/1/36         2,469,198   
  2,000,000       St. Paul Port Auth. Rev. (Amherst H. Wilder Fndtn.-3)    5.00      12/1/36         2,140,660   
  715,000       St. Paul Recreational Facs. Gross Rev. (Highland National Proj.)    5.00      10/1/25         762,383   
  300,000       Steele Co. Health Care Fac. Gross Rev. Ref. Crossover    5.00      6/1/30         303,669   
  1,000,000       Virgin Islands Public Finance Auth. Rev. (Diago Proj.) 11    6.63      10/1/29         1,140,870   
           

 

 

 
              31,974,365   
           

 

 

 

 

  Public Facilities - 0.4%

  

  
  255,000       Spring Grove Economic Dev. Auth. Public Proj. Rev.    5.00      2/1/16         255,413   
  125,000       Spring Grove Economic Dev. Auth. Public Proj. Rev.    5.10      2/1/18         125,169   
  1,075,000       St. Paul Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Parking Rev. (Smith Ave. Proj.)    5.00      8/1/35         1,119,322   
           

 

 

 
              1,499,904   
           

 

 

 

 

  Sales Tax Revenue - 0.8%

  

  
  1,000,000       Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev. 11    5.25      8/1/40         1,082,760   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

30

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

 

Principal
Amount ($)

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
   Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 
  500,000      

Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev.11

   6.00      8/1/39         569,505   
  1,500,000      

Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. Rev. 6, 11

   6.25      8/1/33         1,213,515   
           

 

 

 
              2,865,780   
           

 

 

 

 

    Single Family Mortgage - 17.1%

        
      1,900,000      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA)

   4.45      12/1/32         1,975,962   
  1,000,000      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   4.63      12/1/30         1,038,190   
  1,484,813      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   4.88      12/1/33         1,558,148   
  1,162,344      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC) 8

   5.13      12/1/40         1,233,119   
  482,627      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC) 8

   5.15      12/1/38         498,882   
  1,482,135      

Dakota Co. Community Dev. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC) 8

   5.30      12/1/39         1,581,319   
  1,000,000      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA)

   4.45      12/1/27         1,058,950   
  204,068      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA) 8

   5.00      12/1/38         206,862   
  193,776      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA)

   5.70      4/1/27         202,190   
  471,041      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   5.10      4/1/27         493,561   
  2,265,966      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC) 8

   5.25      12/1/40         2,421,796   
  995,773      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   5.45      4/1/27         1,055,480   
  465,000      

Minneapolis St. Paul Hsg. Fin. Board Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC) 8

   5.52      3/1/41         498,643   
  6,000,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Homeownership Fin. (GNMA-FNMA)

   4.40      7/1/32         6,014,520   
  5,800,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Homeownership Fin. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   4.45      7/1/31         6,040,874   
  3,125,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Homeownership Fin. (GNMA-FNMA-FHLMC)

   4.70      1/1/31         3,327,438   
  200,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev. 8

   5.10      7/1/38         203,102   
  5,825,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev.

   5.10      1/1/40         6,081,358   
  500,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   3.85      1/1/29         499,485   
  3,900,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Residential Hsg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   3.90      7/1/30         3,899,805   
  750,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Rev. (GNMA-FNMA Collateralized)

   5.00      1/1/31         813,525   
  220,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   4.90      7/1/29         231,920   
  1,260,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.00      7/1/38         1,332,236   
  1,870,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.05      7/1/34         1,960,508   
  260,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. 8

   5.10      7/1/20         260,874   
  310,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.20      1/1/23         325,388   
  60,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.45      1/1/17         60,559   
  25,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.70      1/1/17         25,239   
  285,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. 8

   5.85      7/1/19         285,493   
  1,175,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev.

   5.90      7/1/28         1,225,384   
  1,400,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. 8

   6.00      7/1/22         1,420,020   
  965,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   4.75      7/1/27         980,527   
  1,950,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   4.80      7/1/26         1,992,822   
  575,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   5.00      1/1/20         575,932   
  730,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.00      1/1/37         759,222   
  1,760,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.15      7/1/28         1,814,947   
  1,775,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.25      7/1/33         1,826,493   
  1,120,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.50      7/1/28         1,174,398   
  105,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   5.60      7/1/13         105,406   
  1,190,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.65      7/1/33         1,249,131   
  165,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   5.90      7/1/25         165,252   
  15,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured) 8

   5.90      7/1/29         15,059   
  15,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (GO of AGY. Insured)

   6.00      1/1/16         15,045   
  285,000      

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy. Single Family Mtg. Rev. (NATL-RE Insured)

   5.35      7/1/17         297,130   
           

 

 

 
              58,802,194   
           

 

 

 

 

    Transportation - 1.9%

        
  2,500,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Metro Airport Commission Rev. Ref. 8

   5.00      1/1/22         2,774,425   

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   31


  

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

March 31, 2012

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund (Continued)

 

    

 

Principal
Amount ($)/
Quantity

     Name of Issuer    Coupon
Rate (%)
     Maturity
Date
     Fair
Value ($)
 
    3,500,000      

Minneapolis & St. Paul Metro Airport Commission Sub. Rev. (AMBAC Insured) 8

     5.00         1/1/25         3,592,015   
             

 

 

 
                6,366,440   
             

 

 

 
 

 

    Utility - 5.4%

  

     
    1,000,000       Chaska Electric Rev. Ref. (Generating Facs. Proj.)      5.25         10/1/25         1,069,130   
    2,000,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.00         10/1/25         2,234,580   
    1,000,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.00         10/1/30         1,080,460   
    1,465,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.00         10/1/35         1,525,563   
    2,000,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.25         10/1/24         2,157,800   
    700,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.25         10/1/27         760,648   
    1,000,000       MN Municipal Power Agy. Electric Rev.      5.25         10/1/35         1,081,860   
    500,000       North Branch Electric System Rev.      5.75         8/1/28         540,065   
    500,000       Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Auth. Rev. Sr. Lien 11      5.13         7/1/37         487,855   
    1,250,000       Puerto Rico Electric Power Auth. Rev. Ref. 1, 11      1.07         7/1/25         972,050   
    2,000,000       Southern MN Power Agy. Power Supply System Rev.      5.25         1/1/30         2,203,700   
    3,450,000       Southern MN Power Agy. Power Supply System Rev. (NATL-RE Insured) 1      4.08         1/1/13         3,462,868   
    780,000       Virgin Islands Water & Power Auth. Water System Rev. Ref. 11      5.50         7/1/17         781,544   
             

 

 

 
                18,358,123   
             

 

 

 
 

 
 

Total Municipal Bonds
(cost: $300,083,346)

 
  

        311,013,463   
             

 

 

 
    Short-Term Securities - 2.0%         
      1,975,000       Minneapolis Hsg. Dev. Rev. (One Ten Grant Proj.) (FNMA) 1      0.20         9/1/26         1,975,000   
      5,000,000       Rochester Health Care Facs. Rev. (Mayo Foundation) 1      0.16         8/15/32         5,000,000   
             

 

 

 
 

 
 

Total Short-Term Securities
(cost: $6,975,000)

 
  

        6,975,000   
             

 

 

 
    Closed-End Mutual Funds - 0.7%         
    37,696       First American Minnesota Municipal Income Fund II (MXN)            602,759   
    111,197       MN Municipal Income Portfolio (MXA)            1,750,241   
             

 

 

 
 

 
 

Total Closed-End Mutual Funds
(cost: $1,980,890)

 
  

        2,353,000   
             

 

 

 
 

 
 

Total Investments in Securities - 93.2%
(cost: $309,039,236)

 
  

        320,341,463   
    Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 6.8%            23,458,130   
             

 

 

 
    Total Net Assets - 100.0%          $ 343,799,593   
             

 

 

 

 

 

1 

Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of March 31, 2012.

2 

Security considered illiquid by the Investment Adviser. The total value of such security as of March 31, 2012 was $176,750 and represented 0.1% of net assets.

5 

The issuer is in default of certain debt covenants. Income is not being accrued. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $176,750 and represented 0.1% of net assets.

6 

Zero coupon security. Rate disclosed is the effective yield on purchase date.

8 

Securities the income from which is treated as a tax preference that is included in alternative minimum taxable income for purposes of computing federal alternative minimum tax (AMT). At March 31, 2012, 10.4% of net assets in the Fund was invested in such securities.

9 

Municipal Lease Security. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $9,195,259 and represented 2.7% of net assets. These securities have been determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

11 

The Fund may invest in obligations issued by U.S. territories, for example Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. The total value of such securities as of March 31, 2012 was $16,845,175 and represented 4.9% of net assets.

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

32

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2012 is as follows (See Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
     Level 1
Quoted
Price ($)
     Level 2
Other significant
observable inputs ($)
     Level 3
Significant
unobservable inputs ($)
   Total ($)  

Short-Term Securities

             6,975,000            6,975,000   

Closed-End Mutual Funds

     2,353,000                    2,353,000   

Municipal Bonds

             311,013,463            311,013,463   

Total:

     2,353,000      

 

 

 

317,988,463

 

  

        320,341,463   

For the reporting period, there were no transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

MARCH 31, 2012

   33


  

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

March 31, 2012

 

     Sit U.S.
Government
Securities
Fund
    Sit Tax-Free
Income
Fund
    Sit Minnesota
Tax-Free
Income
Fund
 

ASSETS

      

Investments in securities, at identified cost

     $1,428,079,129        $172,682,341        $309,039,236   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in securities, at fair value - see accompanying schedule for detail

     $1,458,365,793        $155,618,246        $320,341,463   

Cash in bank on demand deposit

     39,919,463        53,649        23,676,971   

Restricted cash

     1,500,000                 

Accrued interest and dividends receivable.

     7,724,047        1,943,217        4,582,453   

Receivable for principal paydowns

     25,911                 

Other receivables

            16,750        22,500   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     4,096,339        26,001        2,090,361   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,511,631,553        157,657,863        350,713,748   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

      

Payable for investment securities purchased

            2,653,278        5,929,280   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     6,160,024        97,913        480,621   

Cash portion of dividends payable to shareholders

     95,030        142,470        273,528   

Accrued investment management fees

     1,034,795        104,814        230,726   

Outstanding options written, at fair value (premiums received $96,536)

     187,501                 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     7,477,350        2,998,475        6,914,155   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock

     $1,504,154,203        $154,659,388        $343,799,593   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

      

Capital (par value and paid-in surplus)

     $1,476,897,317        $198,425,945        $340,508,979   

Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income

     (95,030     6,429        (19,904

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) from security transactions and written options

     (2,843,783     (26,708,891     (7,991,709

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and written options

     30,195,699        (17,064,095     11,302,227   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     $1,504,154,203     

 

 

 

 

 

$154,659,388

 

 

  

    $343,799,593   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    Outstanding shares

     132,998,618        16,747,860        33,001,613   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value per share of outstanding capital stock

     $11.31        $9.23        $10.42   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements

   

34

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended March 31, 2012

 

     Sit U.S.
Government
Securities
Fund
    Sit Tax-Free
Income
Fund
    Sit Minnesota
Tax-Free
Income
Fund
 

Investment income:

      

Income:

      

Dividends

            $700,828        $125,074   

Interest

   $ 47,494,125        7,261,140        15,720,580   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total income

     47,494,125        7,961,968        15,845,654   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses (note 4):

      

Investment management fee

     10,771,522        1,174,579        2,474,594   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total expenses

     10,771,522        1,174,579        2,474,594   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     36,722,603        6,787,389        13,371,060   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gain (loss):

      

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     (109,075     (2,069,714     (217,285

Net realized gain (loss) on written options

     (1,849,604              

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     2,737,520        13,745,427        22,570,734   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written options

     (286,448              
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss)

     492,393        11,675,713        22,353,449   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 37,214,996      $ 18,463,102      $ 35,724,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

MARCH 31, 2012

   35


  

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

       Sit U.S. Government
  Securities Fund
     
     Year
Ended
March 31,
2012
       Year
   Ended
  March 31,
  2011
     

Operations:

           

Net investment income

     $36,722,603             $26,983,552     

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and written options

     (1,958,679          985,223     

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and written options

     2,451,072             12,593,764     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     37,214,996             40,562,539     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Distributions from:

           

Net investment income.

     (36,820,960          (26,943,488  

Net realized gains on investments

     —              (327,896  
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Total distributions

     (36,820,960          (27,271,384  
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Capital share transactions:

           

Proceeds from shares sold

     1,318,167,314             777,577,419     

Reinvested distributions

     35,123,932             27,608,283     

Payments for shares redeemed

     (906,684,901          (530,043,200  
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     446,606,345             275,142,502     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     447,000,381             288,433,657     

Net assets:

           

Beginning of period

     1,057,153,822             768,720,165     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

End of period *

     $1,504,154,203             $1,057,153,822     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Capital transactions in shares:

           

Sold

     116,325,137             69,266,689     

Reinvested distributions

     3,102,575             2,451,775     

Redeemed

     (80,092,613          (47,134,441  
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

Net increase (decrease)

     39,335,099             24,584,023     
  

 

 

   

 

    

 

 

   

* Includes undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income

     ($95,030          —      

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

36

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

 

 

    Sit Tax-Free
Income Fund
       Sit Minnesota Tax-Free
Income Fund
        
    Year
Ended
March 31,
2012
       Year
Ended
March 31,
2011
       Year
Ended
March 31,
2012
       Year
Ended
March 31,
2011
      
 

 

 

 

$6,787,389

 

  

       $7,083,545           $13,371,060           $12,842,277        
    (2,069,714        (2,343,339        (217,285        687,582        
 

 

 

 

13,745,427

 

  

       (4,402,244)           22,570,734           (7,031,522     
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

18,463,102

 

  

       337,962           35,724,509           6,498,337        
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

(6,775,942

 

       (7,083,545        (13,341,328        (12,842,277     
                                         
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

(6,775,942

 

       (7,083,545        (13,341,328        (12,842,277     
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

21,411,960

 

  

       21,999,747           90,943,436           76,051,309        
    5,261,111           5,952,935           10,364,131           10,917,966        
    (24,071,890        (34,330,959        (68,996,376        (82,326,152     
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

2,601,181

 

  

       (6,378,277        32,311,191           4,643,123        
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
    14,288,341           (13,123,860        54,694,372           (1,700,817     
    140,371,047           153,494,907           289,105,221           290,806,038        
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
    $154,659,388           $140,371,047           $343,799,593           $289,105,221        
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

2,401,193

 

  

       2,463,769           8,935,602           7,686,681        
    587,524           672,009           1,020,103           1,100,769        
    (2,709,838        (3,915,103        (6,837,473        (8,338,982     
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
 

 

 

 

278,879

 

  

       (779,325        3,118,232           448,468        
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
    $6,429           ($11,447        ($19,904        ($64,122     

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   37


  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund

 

       Years Ended March 31,   
       2012        2011        2010        2009        2008   

Net Asset Value:

          

Beginning of period

     $11.29        $11.13        $10.84        $10.92        $10.56   
  

 

 

 

Operations:

          

Net investment income 1

     0.31        0.32        0.44        0.52        0.50   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and written options

     0.02        0.16        0.29        (0.08     0.36   
  

 

 

 

Total from operations

     0.33        0.48        0.73        0.44        0.86   
  

 

 

 

Distributions from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.31     (0.32     (0.44     (0.52     (0.50

Net realized gains

            ( — )2                      
  

 

 

 

Total Distributions

     (0.31     (0.32     (0.44     (0.52     (0.50
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

          

End of period

     $11.31        $11.29        $11.13        $10.84        $10.92   

Total investment return 3

     2.98%        4.37%        6.88%        4.18%        8.37%   

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

     $1,504,154        $1,057,154        $768,720        $390,630        $254,677   

Ratios: 4

          

Expenses (without waiver) 5

     0.80%        0.81%        0.82%        0.83%        0.85%   

Expenses (with waiver) 5

     0.80%        0.75%        0.80%        0.80%        0.80%   

Net investment income (with waiver)

     2.73%        2.88%        3.85%        4.87%        4.66%   

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

     33.82%        45.80%        66.89%        59.63%        67.42%   

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

4 

The ratio information is calculated based on average daily net assets. Effective November 1, 2010, total Fund expenses are calculated at 0.80% of average daily net assets. Prior to this date, expenses were calculated at a higher rate and the investment adviser voluntarily waived expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

5 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

38

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund

 

       Years Ended March 31,   
       2012        2011        2010        2009        2008   

Net Asset Value:

          

Beginning of period

     $8.52        $8.90        $7.93        $9.16        $9.72   
  

 

 

 

Operations:

          

Net investment income 1

     0.41        0.41        0.41        0.41        0.40   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

     0.71        (0.38     0.97        (1.23     (0.56
  

 

 

 

Total from operations

     1.12        0.03        1.38        (0.82     (0.16
  

 

 

 

Distributions from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.41     (0.41     (0.41     (0.41     (0.40

Net Asset Value:

          

End of period

     $9.23        $8.52        $8.90        $7.93        $9.16   

Total investment return 2

     13.41%        0.26%        17.71%        (9.14%     (1.72%

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

     $154,659        $140,371        $153,495        $138,781        $322,590   

Ratios: 3

          

Expenses (without waiver) 4

     0.80%        0.80%        0.80%        0.80%        0.80%   

Expenses (with waiver) 4

     0.80%        0.80%        0.80%        0.79%        0.77%   

Net investment income (without waiver)

     4.62%        4.63%        4.79%        4.63%        4.18%   

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

     37.18%        30.23%        27.30%        18.51%        42.93%   

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

3 

The ratio information is calculated based on average daily net assets. Total Fund expenses are limited to 0.80% of average daily net assets. However, during the periods above, the investment adviser voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   39


  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

 

      Years Ended March 31,  
       2012        2011        2010        2009        2008   

Net Asset Value:

          

Beginning of period.

     $9.67        $9.88        $8.97        $9.76        $10.21   

Operations:

          

Net investment income 1

     0.44        0.43        0.43        0.43        0.43   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

     0.75        (0.21     0.91        (0.79     (0.45

Total from operations

     1.19        0.22        1.34        (0.36     (0.02

Distributions from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.44     (0.43     (0.43     (0.43     (0.43

Net Asset Value:

          

End of period

     $10.42        $9.67        $9.88        $8.97        $9.76   

Total investment return 2

     12.48%        2.22%        15.22%        (3.67%     (0.25%

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

     $343,800        $289,105        $290,806        $244,123        $307,738   

Ratios: 3

          

Expenses 4

     0.80%        0.80%        0.80%        0.80%        0.80%   

Net investment income

     4.32%        4.35%        4.52%        4.65%        4.25%   

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

     15.06%        24.48%        11.46%        15.68%        37.48%   

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

3 

The ratio information is calculated based on average daily net assets.

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

40

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

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MARCH 31, 2012

   41


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012

 

(1)

Organization

The Sit Mutual Funds (the Funds) are no-load funds, and are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended) as diversified (except Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund which is non-diversified), open-end management investment companies, or series thereof. The Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund and the Sit Tax-Free Income Fund are series funds of Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc. Each fund has 10 billion authorized shares of capital stock. Shares in the U.S. Government Securities Fund have a par value of $0.01, and shares in other funds have a par value of $0.001. This report covers the bond funds of the Sit Mutual Funds.

The investment objective for each of these Funds is as follows:

 

Fund    Investment Objective

U.S. Government Securities

   High level of current income and safety of principal.

Tax-Free Income

   High level of current income that is exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

   High level of current income that is exempt from federal regular income tax and Minnesota regular personal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.

 

(2)

Significant Accounting Policies

Investments in Securities

Investment securities are carried at fair value based upon closing market quotations on the last business day of the period. Investments in securities traded on national or international securities exchanges are valued at the last reported sales price prior to the time when assets are valued. Securities traded on the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or if the last sales price is not available, at the last reported bid price. Consistent with the Funds’ valuation policies and procedures, the current fair value of certain fixed income securities is provided by an independent pricing service. Fixed income securities for which prices are not available from an independent pricing service but where an active market exists are valued using market quotations obtained from broker-dealers or quotation systems. Securities for which market quotations are not available, such as private placement securities, are valued at fair value according to methods selected in good faith by Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (the “Adviser”) and may include dealer-supplied valuations. Short-term investments of sufficient credit quality with maturities of 60 days or less when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Option and future contracts entered into and held by the Funds are valued at the close of the securities and commodities exchange on which they are traded.

Security transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Gains and losses are calculated on the identified-cost basis. Interest, including level-yield amortization of long-term bond premium and discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received from closed-end fund holdings are included in Dividend Income and distributions from capital gains, if any, are included in Net Realized Gain (Loss).

Delivery and payment for securities which have been purchased by the Funds on a forward commitment or when-issued basis can take place two weeks or more after the transaction date. During this period, such securities are subject to market fluctuations and may increase or decrease in value prior to delivery.

The Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund concentrates its investments in Minnesota, and therefore may have more credit risk related to the economic conditions in the state of Minnesota than a portfolio with broader geographical diversification.

Derivative Instruments

The Funds apply derivative instrument disclosure standards in order to enable investors to understand how and why the Funds use derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect the Funds’ financial statements.

 

42

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Continued)

 

To hedge interest rate risk, the U.S. Government Securities Fund purchased put option and wrote call option contracts traded on a U.S. exchange. Risks of purchasing and writing options include the possibility of an illiquid market and that a change in the value of the option may not correlate with changes in the value of the underlying securities.

The premiums paid for the options represent the cost of the investment and the options are valued daily at their closing price. The Funds recognize a realized gain or loss when the option is sold or expired. Option holdings within the Funds, which may include put options and call options, are subject to loss of value with the passage of time, and may experience a total loss of value upon expiration. With options, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Funds since they are exchange traded. During the year ended March 31, 2012, the average cost for purchased options and premium received in the U.S. Government Securities Fund for written options were $486,355 and $287,668, respectively. The number of open option contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and the amounts of realized gain (loss) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation), as disclosed below, also serve as indicators of the volume of activity for the Fund throughout the year.

Balance Sheet – Values of derivatives as of March 31, 2012

U.S. Government Securities Fund

 

     Asset Derivatives Value  1        Liability Derivatives  Value 2   
  

 

 

 

Interest rate risk:

    

Purchased put options

   $ 27,344          

Written call options

          $ 187,501   

1Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Investments in securities, at fair value.

2Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Outstanding options written, at fair value.

The effect of derivative instruments on the statement of operations for the year ended March 31, 2012:

U.S. Government Securities Fund

 

   Amount of Realized
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives 3
  Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives 4
  

 

Interest rate risk:

    

Purchased put options

   ($4,975,985)   ($117,196)

Written call options

     (1,849,604)     (286,448)

3Statement of Operations location: Net realized gain (loss) on investments and net realized gain (loss) on written options, respectively.

4Statement of Operations location: Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written options, respectively.

Transactions in written options for the year ended March 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

   Number of
Contracts
    Premium   

Outstanding, March 31, 2011

          750     $     300,953   

Call options written

     11,100       3,573,041   

Call options expired

          (200)             (58,510

Call options closed

     (10,850)        (3,718,948

Outstanding, March 31, 2012

          800     $       96,536   

Fair Value Measurements

The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Funds’ net assets are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   43


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Continued)

 

   

Level 1 – quoted prices for active markets for identical securities. An active market for the security is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. A quoted price in an active market provides the most reliable evidence of fair value.

 

   

Level 2 – debt securities are valued based on evaluated prices received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. For corporate bonds, U.S. government and government agency obligations, and municipal securities the pricing services utilize matrix pricing which considers yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type as well as dealer supplied prices. For asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, the pricing services utilize matrix pricing which considers prepayment speed assumptions, attributes of the collateral, yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type as well as dealer supplied prices. All of these inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. An adjustment to any observable input that is significant to the fair value may render the measurement a Level 3 measurement.

 

   

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs, including the Adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The fair value of the Funds’ bonds are generally based on quotes received from brokers or independent pricing services. Bonds with quotes that are based on actual trades with a sufficient level of activity on or near the measurement date are classified as Level 2 assets.

At the end of each calendar quarter, management evaluates the Level 2 and 3 assets and liabilities for changes in liquidity, including but not limited to: whether a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from third party services, and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the Level 1 and 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities.

A summary of the levels for the Funds’ investments as of March 31, 2012 is included with the Funds’ schedules of investments.

Federal Taxes

The Funds’ policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to shareholders. The Funds have recorded in their financial statements the full benefit of their tax positions taken in connection with the RIC qualification and distribution requirements of the RIC. Therefore, no income tax provision is required. Also, in order to avoid the payment of any federal excise taxes, the Funds will distribute substantially all of their net investment income and net realized gains on a calendar year basis.

Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken in federal tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of March 31, 2012, no provision for income tax would be required in the Funds’ financial statements. The Funds’ federal and state income and federal excise returns for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

 

44

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Continued)

At March 31, 2012, the gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and cost of securities on a tax basis for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation)
   Cost of Securities
on a Tax Basis
 

U.S. Government Securities

     $39,134,373         ($8,755,241)       $30,379,132      $1,427,986,661       

Tax-Free Income

     7,085,804         (24,127,375)         (17,041,571)      172,659,817       

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

     13,374,722         (1,955,286)       11,419,436      308,922,027       

Net investment income and net realized gains may differ for financial statement and tax purposes. The character of distributions made during the year for net investment income or net realized gains may also differ from its ultimate characterization for tax purposes. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

 

Year Ended March 31, 2012:

  

        
     Ordinary Income      Tax-Exempt
Income
     Long Term
Capital Gain
   Total  

U.S. Government Securities

     $36,820,960                    $36,820,960   

Tax-Free Income*

     83,152         $6,692,790            6,775,942   

Minnesota Tax-Free Income*

     83,224         13,258,104            13,341,328   

*  98.8% and 99.4% of dividends were derived from interest on tax-exempt securities, on the Tax-Free Income and Minnesota Tax-Free Income Funds, respectively.

      

 

Year Ended March 31, 2011:

  

     
     Ordinary Income      Tax-Exempt
Income
     Long Term
Capital Gain
   Total  

U.S. Government Securities

     $26,999,851               $271,533      $27,271,384       

Tax-Free Income*

     49,497         $7,034,048                —      7,083,545       

Minnesota Tax-Free Income*

     29,469         12,812,808                —      12,842,277       

*  99.3% and 99.8% of dividends were derived from interest on tax-exempt securities, on the Tax-Free Income and Minnesota Tax-Free Income Funds, respectively.

      

As of March 31, 2012 the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

     Undistributed
Ordinary Income
   Undistributed
Tax-Exempt Income
     Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
   Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

U.S. Government Securities

              ($3,027,216)    $30,379,132

Tax-Free Income

        $148,899       (26,731,415)      (17,041,571)

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

        253,624       (8,108,918)      11,419,436

On the statement of assets and liabilities, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, reclassification adjustments were made to the following capital accounts:

 

     Undistributed
Net Investment
Income
     Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Additional
Paid-in Capital
 

U.S. Government Securities

     $3,327         —             ($3,327)       

Tax-Free Income

     6,429         $1,454,748             (1,461,177)       

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

     14,486         388,529             (403,015)       

These differences were primarily attributable to market discount accretion adjustments and capital loss carryforwards expiring.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   45


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Continued)

Net capital loss carryovers and late year losses, if any, as of March 31, 2012, are available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“Act”), the Funds’ are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses, and will not be considered exclusively short-term as under previous law. The Funds’ first fiscal year end subject to the Modernization Act is March 31, 2012. The net capital loss carryovers and the expiration dates for capital losses carryover from pre-enactment taxable years and the late year losses deferred as of March 31, 2012, were as follows:

 

   

Pre-Enactment

Net Capital Loss
Carryover Expiring in:

   

Post-Enactment

Unlimited Period of Net
Capital Loss Carryover

   

Late Year

Losses

   

Accumulated

Capital and

 
    2013     2014-2019     Short-Term     Long-Term     Deferred     Other Losses  

U.S. Government Securities

                $ 1,791,533      $ 1,235,683               $ 3,027,216     

Tax-Free Income

  $ 3,741,370      $ 19,109,911               3,801,560        $ 78,574        26,731,415     

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

    396,122        7,508,570               204,134          92        8,108,918     

For the year ended March 31, 2012, the Funds’ utilized capital losses and expired capital losses as follows:

 

     Utilized    Expiring In      Expired  

Tax-Free Income

        2012       $ 1,461,177   

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

        2012         403,028   

Distributions

Distributions to shareholders are recorded as of the close of business on the record date. Such distributions are payable in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Funds’ capital stock. Distributions from net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly for the Funds. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, will be made annually for each of the Funds.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported results for the respective periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

Under each Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to each Fund. In addition, certain of each Fund’s contracts with its service providers contain general indemnification clauses. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown since the amount of any future claims that may be made against each Fund cannot be determined and each Fund has no historical basis for predicting the likelihood of any such claims.

 

(3)

Investment Security Transactions

The cost of purchases of and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, other than short-term securities, for the year ended March 31, 2012, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Proceeds  
     U.S. Government      Other      U.S. Government      Other  

U.S. Government Securities

   $ 965,110,704               $ 436,917,194           

Tax-Free Income

           $ 52,856,089               $ 53,575,963   

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

             61,498,145                 44,785,017   

 

46

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Continued)

 

 

 

(4)   Affiliated Fees and Transactions

Investment Adviser

The Funds each have entered into an investment management agreement with Sit Investment Associates Inc. (SIA), under which SIA manages the Funds’ assets and provides research, statistical and advisory services, and pays related office rental, executive expenses and executive salaries. SIA also is obligated to pay all of the Funds’ expenses (excluding extraordinary expenses, stock transfer taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, and other transaction charges relating to investing activities). The fee for investment management and advisory services is based on the average daily net assets of the Funds at the annual rate of:

 

             Average Daily Net Assets         

U.S. Government Securities

   0.80%

Tax-Free Income

   0.80%*

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

   0.80%

* For the period October 1, 1993, through December 31, 2011, the Adviser had voluntarily agreed to limit the flat monthly fee (and, thereby, all Fund expenses, except extraordinary expenses, interest, brokerage commissions and other transaction charges not payable by the Adviser) of the Tax-Free Income Fund to an annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $250 million and 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $500 million. As of December 31, 2011, this voluntary fee waiver was discontinued by the Adviser.

Transactions with affiliates

The investment adviser, affiliates of the investment adviser, directors and officers of the Funds as a whole owned the following shares as of March 31, 2012:

 

     Shares      % Shares Outstanding        

U.S. Government Securities

     2,986,058       2.2

Tax-Free Income

     1,502,052       9.0

Minnesota Tax-Free Income

     3,095,950       9.4

(5)   Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events that would require disclosure in or adjustments to the financial statements.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   47


  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders:

        Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, Inc.

        Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, Inc., Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (a series of Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.), and Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund (a series of Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.) (the “Funds”), as of March 31, 2012, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits 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 and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2012, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by performing other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, Sit Tax-Free Income Fund, and Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund as of March 31, 2012, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and their financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

KPMG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

May 21, 2012

 

48

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

EXPENSE EXAMPLE (Unaudited)

 

 

As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, 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 line 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 line of the table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s 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 Fund 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 table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the 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 (redemption fees) were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

      Beginning
Account
Value
(10/1/11)
   Ending
Account
Value
(3/31/12)
     Expenses
Paid During
Period*
(10/1/11-
3/31/12)

U.S. Government Securities Fund

Actual

   $1,000    $ 1,010.20       $4.03

Hypothetical

   $1,000    $ 1,021.06       $4.05

Tax-Free Income Fund

Actual

   $1,000    $ 1,050.00       $4.11

Hypothetical

   $1,000    $ 1,021.06       $4.05

Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

Actual

   $1,000    $ 1,041.90       $4.09

Hypothetical

   $1,000    $ 1,021.06       $4.05

*Expenses are equal to the Funds’ annualized expense ratio of 0.80% multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period.)

 

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   49


  

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Sit Bond Funds

For corporate shareholders, the percentage of investment income (dividend income and short-term gains, if any), for each of the Funds that qualify for the dividends-received deductions for the period of April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012 is as follows:

 

Fund    Percentage

U.S. Government Securities Fund

   0.0%

Tax-Free Income Fund

   0.0    

Minnseota Tax-Free Income Fund

   0.0    

For the year ended March 31, 2012, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Of the distributions made by the following Funds, the corresponding percentages represent the amount of each distribution which may qualify for the 15% dividend income tax rate.

 

Fund    Percentage

U.S. Government Securities Fund

   0.0%

Tax-Free Income Fund

   0.0    

Minnseota Tax-Free Income Fund

   0.0    

The following Funds designated the listed amounts as long-term capital gain dividends during the year ended March 31, 2012. Distributable long-term gains are based on net realized long term gains determined on a tax basis and may differ from such amounts for financial reporting purposes.

 

Fund    Amount

U.S. Government Securities Fund

   $—

Tax-Free Income Fund

     —

Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund

     —

For the year ended March 31, 2012, 98.8% and 99.4% of dividends were derived from interest on tax-exempt securities for the Tax-Free Income Fund and Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund, respectively. This portion of exempt-interest dividends is exempt from federal taxes and should not be included in shareholders’ gross income. Exempt-interest dividends may be subject to state and local taxes. Each shareholder should consult a tax adviser about reporting this income for state and local tax purposes.

 

 

50

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


 

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MARCH 31, 2012

   51


  

INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)

The Sit Mutual Funds are a family of no-load mutual funds. The bond funds described in this Annual Report are the Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, Sit Tax-Free Income Fund, and Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund (the “Funds” or individually, a “Fund”). The Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, and the corporate issuer of the Sit Tax-Free Income Fund and the Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund have a Board of Directors and officers. Pursuant to Minnesota law, the Boards of Directors are responsible for the management of the Funds and the establishment of the Funds’ policies. The officers of the Funds manage the day-to-day operation of the Funds. Information pertaining to the directors and officers of the Funds is set forth below. The business address, unless otherwise noted below, is that of the Funds’ investment adviser – 3300 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. The Boards have a separate Audit Committee. The Bond Funds’ SAI has additional information about the Fund’s directors and is available without charge upon request by calling the Sit Funds at 800-332-5580.

 

Name, Age, and
Position with
the Fund
   Term of
Office (1)
and Length of  Time
Served
  

Principal Occupation(s) During 

Past Five Years

  

Number of Funds 

in Fund Complex 

Overseen by
Director

   Other Directorships
Held by Director (3)

INTERESTED DIRECTORS:

              

Roger J. Sit (2)

Age: 50

Chairman and President

   Chairman since 10/08; Officer since 1998.    Chairman, President, CEO and Global CIO of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (the “Adviser”); Chairman and CEO of Sit Investment Fixed Income Advisors, Inc. (“SF”); Chairman of SIA Securities Corp. (the “Distributor”).    11    None.

William E. Frenzel (2)

Age: 83

Director

   Director since 1991 or the Fund’s inception if later.    Guest Scholar at The Brookings Institution and member of several government policy committees, foundations and organizations; Director of the Adviser; Director of SF.    11    None.

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS:

              

Edward M. Giles

Age: 76

Director

   Director since 2012.    Senior Vice President of Peter B. Cannell & Co., 7/11 to present; Managing Member of GME Capital, 2005 to 2011; Advisory Director of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. 1/08 to 12/11.    11    Metabolix, Inc. (1993 - present); Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (1992 - 2008).

Sidney L. Jones

Age: 78

Director

   Director since 1993 or the Fund’s inception, if later: Director from 1988 to 1989.    Lecturer, Washington Campus
Consortium of 17 Universities.
   11    None.

Bruce C. Lueck

Age: 71

Director

   Director since 2004 or the Fund’s inception, if later.    Consultant for Zephyr Management, L.P. (investment management) and
committee member of several
investment funds and foundations.
   11    None.

Donald W. Phillips

Age: 63

Director

   Director of the International Fund since1993, and since 1990 or the Fund’s inception if later for all other Funds.    Chairman and CEO of WP Global
Partners Inc.,7/05 to present.
   11    None.

Barry N. Winslow

Age: 64

Director

   Director since 2010.    Vice-Chairman of TCF Financial
Corporation, 7/08 to present; COO 2006
to 2007.
   11    TCF Financial Corporation.

 

52

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

 

Name, Age, and
Position with
the Fund
   Term of
Office (1)
and Length of Time 
Served
 

Principal Occupation(s) During 

Past Five Years

 

Number of Funds 

in Fund Complex 

Overseen by
Director

  Other Directorships
Held by Director (3)

OFFICERS:

                

Mark H. Book

Age: 48

Vice President -

Investments of U.S.

Govt. Fund only.

   Officer since 2002; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of SF.   N/A   N/A

Kelly K. Boston

Age: 43

Assistant Secretary &

Assistant Treasurer

   Officer since 2000; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Staff Attorney of the Adviser; Secretary of the Distributor.   N/A   N/A

Michael C. Brilley

Age: 66

Senior Vice President

   Officer since 1985; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Senior Vice President and Senior Fixed Income Officer of the Adviser; Director and President and Chief Fixed-Income Officer of SF.   N/A   N/A

Bryce A. Doty

Age: 45

Vice President -

Investments of

U.S. Govt. Fund only.

   Officer since 1996; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of SF.   N/A   N/A

Paul J. Junquist

Age: 50

Vice President -

Investments of

Tax-Free &

MN Tax-Free

Funds only.

   Officer since 1996; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of SF.   N/A   N/A

Michael J. Radmer

50 S. 6th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Age: 66

Secretary

   Officer since 1984; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Partner of the Funds’ general counsel, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP.   N/A   N/A

Paul E. Rasmussen

Age: 51

Vice President,

Treasurer & Chief

Compliance Officer

   Officer since 1994; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Vice President, Secretary, Controller and Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser; Vice President, Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer of SF; President and Treasurer of the Distributor.   N/A   N/A

Carla J. Rose

Age: 45

Vice President, Assistant

Secretary & Assistant

Treasurer

   Officer since 2000; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Vice President, Administration & Deputy Controller of the Adviser; Vice President, Controller, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary of SF; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Distributor.   N/A   N/A

Debra A. Sit

Age: 51

Vice President -

Investments

   Officer since 1994; Re-Elected by the Boards annually.   Vice President – Bond Investments of the Adviser; Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager of SF.   N/A   N/A

 

1 

Directors serve until their death, resignation, removal or the next shareholder meeting at which election of directors is an agenda item and a successor is duly elected and qualified.

2 

Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Funds as that term is defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940. Mr. Sit is considered an “interested person” because he is a director and shareholder of Sit Investment Associates, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser. Mr. Frenzel is deemed to be an interested person because he is a director and shareholder of the Fund’s investment adviser.

3 

Includes only directorships of companies required to report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e., public companies) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   53


  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

PROXY VOTING

Each fund follows certain policies and procedures for voting proxies for securities held in each portfolio. A description of the Funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge upon request by calling the Funds at 1-800-332-5580.

Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge upon request by calling the Funds at 1-800-332-5580, and is available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

AVAILABILITY OF QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULES

The Funds’ file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Form N-Qs are available without charge upon request by calling the Funds at 1-800-332-5580 and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Funds’ Form N-Qs may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-202-551-8090.

RE-APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

At their joint meeting held on October 24, 2011 the Boards of Directors of the Sit Mutual Funds unanimously approved the continuation for another one year period the investment management agreements entered into by and between Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (“SIA”) and Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc. dated November 1, 1992; and Sit U.S. Government Securities Fund, Inc. dated November 1, 1992 (the “Agreements”).

The Boards approved the Agreements after a lengthy discussion and consideration of various factors relating to both the Boards’ selection of SIA as the investment adviser and the Boards’ approval of the fees to be paid under the Agreements.

Investment Adviser Criteria. The Directors began their analysis by discussing their criteria for determining the quality of an investment adviser. The Directors’ noted that their analysis is similar to that used by institutional investors in evaluating and selecting investment advisers. The Directors discussed several factors used to determine the overall quality of an investment adviser and the nature, extent and quality of the services performed by SIA, including the following:

Investment Philosophy and Process. The Directors considered SIA’s philosophy of managing assets. With respect to fixed income securities, SIA stresses the consistent attainment of superior risk-adjusted returns using a conservative investment management approach that identifies pricing anomalies in the market and management of portfolio duration.

With respect to fixed income securities, SIA seeks investment grade securities with a special emphasis on interest income and significant stability of principal value. SIA’s style seeks to avoid excessive return volatility and generate consistent results over an economic cycle. The Directors noted that the Bond Funds’ objectives are to seek high current income. The Directors reviewed the Bond Funds’ characteristics, and noted that SIA has consistently managed the Bond Funds in this style. The Directors noted that since the Bond Funds emphasize income, they may at times not rank highly in total return comparisons with other funds during certain periods.

The Directors discussed SIA’s consistent and well-defined investment process. With respect to fixed income securities, the portfolio managers are responsible for implementing the strategy set forth in the Chief Fixed Income Officer’s duration targets and the Chief Investment Officer’s interest rate projections.

Investment Professionals. The Directors discussed the experience, knowledge and organizational stability of SIA and its investment professionals. The Directors noted that SIA’s senior professionals are actively involved in the investment process and have significant investment industry experience.

 

54

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


  

The Directors discussed the depth of SIA’s investment staff. The Directors noted that SIA has over 30 investment professionals. Given the investment products offered by SIA and the assets under management, the Directors determined that SIA’s investment staff is well positioned to meet the current needs of its clients, including the Funds, and to accommodate growth in the number of clients and assets under management for the near future. The Directors concluded that the depth of the investment staff, and in particular senior management and investment analysts, is actually greater than the Funds currently require at their present asset size. The Directors noted that SIA has the resources of a $10.8 billion investment firm working for the benefit of the Fund shareholders.

Investment Performance. The Directors reviewed and discussed the Funds’ investment performance on an absolute and comparable basis for various periods as discussed below. The Directors noted that the investment performance of the Funds has generally been competitive with indices and other funds with similar investment styles as the Funds, such as fixed income funds seeking to maximize income.

Corporate Culture. The Directors discussed SIA’s corporate values to operate under the highest ethical and professional standards. SIA’s culture is set and practiced by senior management who insist that all professionals exhibit honesty and integrity. The Board noted that the firm’s values are evident in all of the services provided to the Funds.

Review of Specific Factors. The Directors continued their analysis by reviewing specific information on SIA and the Funds and specific terms of the Agreements, including the following.

Investment Performance. The Directors reviewed investment performance of each Fund for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, year-to-date, 1 year, 5 years (as applicable), 10 years (as applicable) and since inception, both on an absolute basis and on a comparative basis to indices and mutual funds within the same investment categories. As noted above, the Directors concluded that the investment performance of the Funds has been competitive in relation to their stated objectives and strategies on a comparable basis with funds with similar objectives and strategies.

Fees and Expenses. The Directors noted that the Funds pay SIA a monthly fee and SIA is responsible for all of the Funds’ expenses except interest, brokerage commissions and transaction charges and certain extraordinary expenses. The Directors reviewed fees paid in prior years and the fees to be paid under the Agreements.

The Directors reviewed the average and median expense ratios of mutual funds within the same investment category for each Fund. The Directors noted that each Fund’s total expense ratio compares favorably to the total expense ratios of other no-load funds within the Fund’s Morningstar category, and are lower than the average total expense ratio for the full Morningstar category. The Directors concluded that the fees paid by the Funds are reasonable and appropriate.

The Directors reviewed the extent to which the fees to be paid under the Agreements by each Fund may be affected by an increase in the Fund’s assets, which included reviewing each Fund’s current and historical assets and the likelihood and magnitude of future increases in the Fund’s assets. The Directors agreed that it is appropriate that the Funds benefit from improved economies of scale as the Funds’ assets increase. However, the Directors concluded that given the limited size of the Funds, negotiating a graduated fee structure is unnecessary since it is unlikely that the size of the Funds will increase enough to justify a graduated fee schedule within the near future.

The Directors reviewed the expenses paid by SIA relating to the operations of the Funds, and SIA’s income with respect to the management of the Funds for the past two calendar years. The Directors concluded that the expenses paid were appropriate.

The Directors reviewed SIA’s investment advisory fee schedule for investment management services provided to other clients. The Directors compared the services provided to the Funds and other clients of SIA, and recognized that the Funds’ expenses are borne by SIA. The Directors concluded that the fees paid by the Funds in relation to the fees paid by other SIA clients were appropriate and reasonable. The Directors also concluded that SIA’s profit margin with respect to the management of the Funds was appropriate.

The Directors discussed the extent to which SIA receives benefits from the relationship with the Funds such as soft dollar arrangements by which brokers provide research services to SIA as a result of brokerage generated by the Funds. The Board concluded that any benefits SIA receives from its relationship with the Funds are well within industry norms and are reflected in the amount of the fees paid by the Funds to SIA and are appropriate and reasonable.

 

MARCH 31, 2012

   55


  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued)

Non-Advisory Services. The Directors considered the quality of non-advisory services which SIA provides to the Funds (and their shareholders) and the quality and depth of SIA’s non-investment personnel who provide such services. Directors concluded that the level of such services and the quality and depth of such personnel are consistent with industry standards.

Finally, the Directors considered the compliance staff and the regulatory history of SIA and the Funds, and concluded that both are consistent with industry standards.

Based on these conclusions, without any single conclusion being dispositive, the Directors determined that renewal of the Agreements was in the interest of each Fund and its shareholders.

 

56

   SIT MUTUAL FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT


LOGO


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, and persons performing similar functions. The registrant has not made any amendment to its code of ethics during the period covered by this report which must be described herein pursuant to Item 2. The registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report.

A copy of the registrant’s code of ethics is available without charge upon request by calling the registrant at 612-332-3223 or 1-800-332-5580, or by mail at Sit Mutual Funds, 3300 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

Item 3:     Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Edward M. Giles, Mr. Sidney L. Jones, Mr. Bruce C. Lueck, Mr. Donald W. Phillips, and Mr. Barry N. Winslow are audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee. Mr. Giles, Mr. Jones, Mr. Lueck, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Winslow are independent for purposes of this item.

Item 4:     Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a) – (d) Aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the registrant’s principal accountant were as follows:

 

     2012      2011  
     Audit
Fees
     Audit
Related
     Tax
Fees
     Other
Fees
     Audit
Fees
     Audit
Related
     Tax
Fees
     Other
Fees
 

Fiscal year ended March 31

                       

Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.

                       

Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (series A)

     26,700         0         3,950         0         25,700         0         3,825         0   

Sit Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund
(series B)

     21,400         0         3,950         0         20,400         0         3,825         0   

Sit High Income Municipal Bond Fund
(series D)

     0         0         0         0         15,400         0         3,825         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds II, Inc.

     48,100         0         7,900         0         61,500         0         11,475         0   

Audit fees include amounts related to the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and services normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Audit-related fees include amounts reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements, and/or are traditionally performed by the auditor. Tax fees include amounts related to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.

(e) (1) The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve audit and non-audit services performed for the registrant by the independent auditor in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s independence. The audit committee also is required to pre-approve certain non-audit services performed by the registrant’s independent auditor for the registrant’s investment adviser and certain of the adviser’s affiliates if the services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. Services to be provided by the auditor must receive general pre-approval or specific pre-approval by the audit committee. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels will require separate pre-approval by the audit committee.

The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to the audit committee chairman. The chairman shall report any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting. The audit committee does not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor to management.

 

(2) No services included in (b) – (d) were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.


(f) Not applicable.

(g) The aggregate fees billed for the most recent fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant, its investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $4,000 and $4,000 respectively.

(h) The registrant’s audit committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is considered compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5:     Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 6:     Schedule of Investments.

The schedule of investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

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

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 8:     Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investments Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

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

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

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

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.

Item 11:     Controls and Procedures -

(a) Based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the Filing Date, the Registrant’s Chairman and Treasurer have determined that the Disclosure Controls and Procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Act) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by the filing Date, and that information required to be disclosed in the report is communicated to the Registrant’s management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) There were no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, and there were no corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Item 12:     Exhibits:


(a) The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:

(2) A separate certification for each principal executive and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2) (certification required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

(b) Certification required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (certification required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).


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.

 

Sit Mutual Funds II, Inc.    
By (Signature and Title)*       /s/ Paul E. Rasmussen
      Paul E. Rasmussen
      Vice President, Treasurer

Date May 30, 2012

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.

 

By (Signature and Title)       /s/ Paul E. Rasmussen
      Paul E. Rasmussen
      Vice President, Treasurer

Date May 30, 2012

 

By (Signature and Title)       /s/ Roger J. Sit
      Roger J. Sit
      Chairman

Date May 30, 2012