N-CSR 1 d489735dncsr.htm MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST N-CSR MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST N-CSR
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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 811-04992

MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Christopher R. Bohane

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Name and address of agents for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 954-5000

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

Date of reporting period: November 30, 2017


Table of Contents
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


Table of Contents

ANNUAL REPORT

November 30, 2017

 

LOGO

 

MFS® HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

 

LOGO

 

CMU-ANN

 


Table of Contents

MFS® HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

New York Stock Exchange Symbol: CMU

 

Letter from the Executive Chairman     1  
Portfolio composition     2  
Management review     4  
Performance summary     8  
Portfolio managers’ profiles     10  
Dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan     11  
Portfolio of investments     12  
Statement of assets and liabilities     58  
Statement of operations     59  
Statements of changes in net assets     60  
Statement of cash flows     61  
Financial highlights     62  
Notes to financial statements     64  
Report of independent registered public accounting firm     75  
Results of shareholder meeting     76  
Trustees and officers     77  
Board review of investment advisory agreement     83  
Proxy voting policies and information     87  
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     87  
Further information     87  
Information about fund contracts and legal claims     88  
Federal tax information     88  
MFS® privacy notice     89  
Contact information    back cover  

 

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE



Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

 

Dear Shareholders:

Most markets have proved resilient over the past year, despite uncertainty accompanying a new presidential administration in the United States and unease over

ongoing negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union regarding Brexit. U.S. share prices have reached new highs in recent months although the U.S. Federal Reserve has continued to gradually hike interest rates and has begun to shrink its balance sheet.

Globally, we’ve experienced a synchronized upturn in economic growth for more than a year. Despite the improvement in economic activity, there are few immediate signs of worrisome inflation amid muted wage gains around the world. Emerging market economies have been boosted in part by a weaker

U.S. dollar and are recovering despite lingering concerns over the potential for restrictive U.S. trade policies. Commodity markets have recovered somewhat in response to solid global demand and robust global trade, though not enough to rekindle inflation fears.

At MFS®, we believe having a disciplined, long-term investment approach through a full market cycle is essential to capturing the best opportunities while also managing risk. In our view, such a strategy, along with the professional guidance of a financial advisor, will help you reach your investment objectives.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Executive Chairman

MFS Investment Management

January 16, 2018

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change and may not be relied upon for investment advice. No forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

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PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure at value

LOGO

 

Top ten industries reflecting equivalent exposure of derivative positions (i)  
Healthcare Revenue – Hospitals     28.3%  
Healthcare Revenue – Long Term Care     17.4%  
Tobacco     11.5%  
Universities – Colleges     9.5%  
Water & Sewer Utility Revenue     8.7%  
Universities – Secondary Schools     7.9%  
Miscellaneous Revenue – Other     6.4%  
General Obligations – General Purpose     6.3%  
Toll Roads     4.6%  
U.S. Treasury Securities (j)     (18.1)%  

Portfolio structure reflecting equivalent exposure of derivative positions (i)(j)

LOGO

 

Composition including fixed income credit quality (a)(i)  
AAA     3.5%  
AA     17.1%  
A     35.0%  
BBB     33.6%  
BB     18.0%  
B     10.1%  
CCC     2.6%  
CC     0.3%  
C     1.2%  
D     2.6%  
Not Rated (j)     12.8%  
Cash & Cash Equivalents (Less Liabilities)     (54.9)%  
Other     18.1%  
Portfolio facts (i)  
Average Duration (d)     7.9  
Average Effective Maturity (m)     16.1 yrs.  

 

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Portfolio Composition – continued

 

 

(a) For all securities other than those specifically described below, ratings are assigned to underlying securities utilizing ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies and applying the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Ratings are shown in the S&P and Fitch scale (e.g., AAA). Securities rated BBB or higher are considered investment grade. All ratings are subject to change. Not Rated includes fixed income securities, including fixed income futures contracts, which have not been rated by any rating agency. The fund may or may not have held all of these instruments on this date. The fund is not rated by these agencies.
(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value due to the interest rate move. This calculation is based on net assets applicable to common shares as of November 30, 2017.
(i) For purposes of this presentation, the components include the value of securities, and reflect the impact of the equivalent exposure of derivative positions, if any. These amounts may be negative from time to time. Equivalent exposure is a calculated amount that translates the derivative position into a reasonable approximation of the amount of the underlying asset that the portfolio would have to hold at a given point in time to have the same price sensitivity that results from the portfolio’s ownership of the derivative contract. When dealing with derivatives, equivalent exposure is a more representative measure of the potential impact of a position on portfolio performance than value. The bond component will include any accrued interest amounts.
(j) For the purpose of managing the fund’s duration, the fund holds short treasury futures with a bond equivalent exposure of (18.1)%, which reduce the fund’s interest rate exposure but not its credit exposure.
(m) In determining an instrument’s effective maturity for purposes of calculating the fund’s dollar-weighted average effective maturity, MFS uses the instrument’s stated maturity or, if applicable, an earlier date on which MFS believes it is probable that a maturity-shortening device (such as a put, pre-refunding or prepayment) will cause the instrument to be repaid. Such an earlier date can be substantially shorter than the instrument’s stated maturity. This calculation is based on gross assets, which consists of net assets applicable to common shares plus the value of preferred shares, as of November 30, 2017.

Where the fund holds convertible bonds, they are treated as part of the equity portion of the portfolio.

Cash & Cash Equivalents includes any cash, investments in money market funds, short-term securities, and other assets less liabilities. Please see the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for additional information related to the fund’s cash position and other assets and liabilities.

Cash & Cash Equivalents is negative due to the aggregate liquidation value of variable rate municipal term preferred shares.

Other includes equivalent exposure from currency derivatives and/or any offsets to derivative positions.

Percentages are based on net assets applicable to common shares as of November 30, 2017.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

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MANAGEMENT REVIEW

Summary of Results

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (“fund”) is a closed-end fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income exempt from federal income tax, but may also consider capital appreciation. The fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, including assets attributable to preferred shares and borrowings for investment purposes, in tax-exempt bonds and tax-exempt notes.

For the twelve months ended November 30, 2017, shares of the fund provided a total return of 8.65%, at net asset value and a total return of 14.66%, at market value. This compares with a return of 5.58% for the fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index.

The performance commentary below is based on the net asset value performance of the fund which reflects the performance of the underlying pool of assets held by the fund. The total return at market value represents the return earned by owners of the shares of the fund which are traded publicly on the exchange.

Market Environment

For the first time in many years, the global economy experienced a period of synchronized economic growth over the reporting period. The rebound in emerging markets (“EM”) economies was more pronounced (despite the slight deceleration in Chinese growth at the end of the period), helped by larger economies, such as Brazil and Russia, emerging from recessions. At the same time, developed markets (“DM”) economies continued to grow at or above potential. Market confidence increased in the US during the period fueled, in part, by a more lenient US regulatory backdrop and hopes for a significant cut in corporate tax rates.

Globally, markets benefited from a reflation trade as commodity prices strengthened, activity and growth prospects improved, and inflation moved higher, though within moderate bounds. As a result, there were more tightening signals and actions by DM central banks. The US Federal Reserve (“Fed”) increased interest rates by 25 basis points three times during the period, bringing the total number of quarter-percent hikes in the federal funds rate to four, since December 2015. The European Central Bank announced an extension of its quantitative easing program at the end of the period, but reduced the pace of its monthly asset purchases by half. In addition, the Bank of England hiked its base rate for the first time in a decade, near the end of the period. Markets were comforted, along with central banks, by the decline in fears of a populist surge in Europe after establishment candidates won the Dutch and French elections, though a right-wing populist party gained seats in the German parliament for the first time in the post-World War II era. Additionally, European growth reflected a generally calmer political economic backdrop.

In recent months, the US dollar reversed the sharp rise seen early in the period, easing what had been a substantial headwind to earnings for multinationals. US consumer spending held up well during the second half of the period amid a modest increase in real wages and relatively low gasoline prices. However, demand for autos cooled from the record level logged early in the period, while the housing market improved, albeit constrained by below-average inventory levels. Global trade, which was sluggish early

 

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Management Review – continued

 

in the period, showed signs of improvement in the period’s second half, a positive indicator of global economic activity and prospects. Early in the period, there was a selloff in EM due to fears that President Trump would follow through on various campaign threats and promises that were judged to be detrimental to EM. While President Trump withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and began the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, significant additional policy action was lacking on economic issues involving EM. As a result, EM resumed their upward trajectory, powered by strong inflows throughout 2017.

10-Year US Treasury yields exhibited quite a bit of volatility during the reporting period, reaching as high as 2.62% in March 2017, and as low as 2.05% in September 2017, before finishing the reporting period essentially unchanged from one year ago. The increase in yields was driven by optimism over the potential for stronger US growth in the wake of the US presidential election, as well as signs of improving global growth, and a modest improvement in oil prices, which investors felt could lead to a reflationary environment. However, yields declined subsequent to March 2017 as investors priced in a lower likelihood of fiscal stimulus, and little indication of higher inflation led markets to believe that the Fed would be dovish, or more gradual, in normalizing policy. US Treasury yields then rose during the latter part of the reporting period as the Fed Reserve signaled that it viewed the low inflationary environment as temporary, and that further increases in the Fed Funds rate were likely, and that the Fed would likely begin unwinding its balance sheet in the fall as well.

For the reporting period, the municipal market largely took its cue from the direction of US Treasury rates. Yields rose early in the period, post-election, pushed higher by a combination of negative flows into the asset class and increased issuance in the last quarter of calendar 2016. Yields declined with US Treasury yields beginning in March, before hitting their lowest levels of the year in September 2017. Finally, yields began to rise beginning in September and continued rising through the end of the period as investors appeared to have begun pricing in increasing odds of tax reform passing through Congress. Further pushing municipal rates higher was the expectation of increasing supply through the end of calendar 2017 as issuers raced to beat potential changes in rules pertaining to tax-exempt financing.

Amid the volatile yield environment, the yield curve flattened dramatically. Yields on shorter-dated municipal bonds, maturing inside of 5 years, rose in response to the tightening of monetary policy by the Fed, while yields on longer-dated municipal bonds, maturing beyond 5 years, declined amidst the stagnant growth and lack of inflation. As a result, the broader US investment grade municipal bond market provided modestly positive returns with long-dated bonds dramatically outperforming short-dated bonds. For the period as a whole, the municipal market (as measured by the ratio of yields on high-quality municipal bonds divided by yields on comparable maturity US Treasury bonds) outperformed the US Treasury market. The yield ratio on 10-year bonds began the year at approximately 105%, peaked in December 2016 at 107.5%, and reached a low in July 2017 at 80%, before spiking at the end of the period to 95%. Furthermore, mid-quality and lower-quality municipal bonds outperformed higher-quality municipal bonds. Fundamentals generally remained stable for the majority of municipal issuers, supporting the performance of mid-to-lower tier credits. Slow-but-steady US economic growth should continue to support municipal

 

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Management Review – continued

 

bond credit fundamentals. However, markets remain concerned about underfunded public employee pension systems and other post-retirement benefits promised to public employees, and the political challenges in enacting reforms.

Additionally, during the period, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico. The hurricane had a devastating impact on the island’s residents and the government’s ability to provide basic human services such as water, power and healthcare. The prospects for long-term recovery are still uncertain and the government and many of its agencies and instrumentalities, which were already operating under an oversight board established by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), are in the process of amending their financial plans in light of the recent events. As such, prices of the majority of debt issued from the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico, both insured and uninsured, have declined since late September.

Factors Affecting Performance

During the reporting period, the fund’s greater allocation to the industrial revenue sector was a contributor to performance relative to the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index. The fund’s exposure to “NR”, “B” and “BB” rated (r) bonds, not held within the benchmark, aided relative returns. The fund’s longer-than-benchmark duration (d) stance also contributed to relative results.

The fund employs leverage which has been created through the issuance of variable rate municipal term preferred shares. To the extent that investments are purchased through the use of leverage, the fund’s net asset value will increase or decrease at a greater rate than a comparable unleveraged fund. During the reporting period, the use of leverage had a positive impact on the fund’s performance due to the incremental yield.

Conversely, the combination of the fund’s greater exposure to, and weak bond selection in, Puerto Rico-issued bonds weighed on relative returns. Bond selection within the health care sector was another factor that held back the fund’s relative performance.

Respectfully,

Portfolio Manager(s)

Gary Lasman and Geoffrey Schechter

 

(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value.
(r) Bonds rated “BBB”, “Baa”, or higher are considered investment grade; bonds rated “BB”, “Ba”, or below are considered non-investment grade. The source for bond quality ratings is Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, Inc. and are applied using the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Ratings are shown in the S&P and Fitch scale (e.g., AAA). For securities which are not rated by any of the three agencies, the security is considered Not Rated.

 

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Management Review – continued

 

The views expressed in this report are those of the portfolio manager(s) only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover and do not necessarily reflect the views of MFS or any other person in the MFS organization. These views are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions, and MFS disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice or an indication of trading intent on behalf of any MFS portfolio. References to specific securities are not recommendations of such securities, and may not be representative of any MFS portfolio’s current or future investments.

 

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PERFORMANCE SUMMARY THROUGH 11/30/17

The following chart presents the fund’s historical performance in comparison to its benchmark(s). Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost; current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. The performance shown does not reflect the deduction of taxes, if any, that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Performance data shown represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results.

Price Summary for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

                   Date        Price     

 

Year Ended 11/30/17

     Net Asset Value        11/30/17        $4.80  
              11/30/16        $4.68  
     New York Stock Exchange Price        11/30/17        $4.73  
              10/19/17  (high) (t)       $4.89  
              12/02/16  (low) (t)       $4.30  
                11/30/16        $4.37    

Total Returns vs Benchmark(s)

 

         

 

Year Ended 11/30/17

     MFS High Yield Municipal Trust at       
    

New York Stock Exchange Price (r)

       14.66%    
    

Net Asset Value (r)

       8.65%    
       Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (f)        5.58%      

 

(f) Source: FactSet Research Systems Inc.

 

(r) Includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions.

 

(t) For the period December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.

Benchmark Definition(s)

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index – a market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the tax-exempt bond market.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Notes to Performance Summary

The fund’s shares may trade at a discount or premium to net asset value. When fund shares trade at a premium, buyers pay more than the net asset value underlying fund shares, and shares purchased at a premium would receive less than the amount paid for them in the event of the fund’s concurrent liquidation.

 

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Performance Summary – continued

 

The fund’s monthly distributions may include a return of capital to shareholders to the extent that distributions are in excess of the fund’s net investment income and net capital gains, determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. Distributions that are treated for federal income tax purposes as a return of capital will reduce each shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and, to the extent the return of capital exceeds such basis, will be treated as gain to the shareholder from a sale of shares. Returns of shareholder capital may have the effect of reducing the fund’s assets and increasing the fund’s expense ratio.

Net asset values and performance results based on net asset value per share do not include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and may differ from amounts reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities or the Financial Highlights.

From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.

 

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund hereby gives notice that it may from time to time repurchase common and/or preferred shares of the fund in the open market at the option of the Board of Trustees and on such terms as the Trustees shall determine.

 

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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS’ PROFILES

 

Portfolio Manager   Primary Role   Since   Title and Five Year History
Gary Lasman   Portfolio Manager   2007   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 2002.
Geoffrey Schechter   Portfolio Manager   2007   Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment management area of MFS since 1993.

 

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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND CASH PURCHASE PLAN

The fund offers a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) that allows common shareholders to reinvest either all of the distributions paid by the fund or only the long-term capital gains. Generally, purchases are made at the market price unless that price exceeds the net asset value (the shares are trading at a premium). If the shares are trading at a premium, purchases will be made at a price of either the net asset value or 95% of the market price, whichever is greater. You can also buy shares on a quarterly basis in any amount $100 and over. The Plan Agent will purchase shares under the Cash Purchase Plan on the 15th of January, April, July, and October or shortly thereafter.

If shares are registered in your own name, new shareholders will automatically participate in the Plan, unless you have indicated that you do not wish to participate. If your shares are in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you can ask the firm or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf. If the nominee does not offer the Plan, you may wish to request that your shares be re-registered in your own name so that you can participate. There is no service charge to reinvest distributions, nor are there brokerage charges for shares issued directly by the fund. However, when shares are bought on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise on the open market, each participant pays a pro rata share of the transaction expenses, including commissions. Dividends and capital gains distributions are taxable whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares – the automatic reinvestment of distributions does not relieve you of any income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on the distributions.

If your shares are held directly with the Plan Agent, you may withdraw from the Plan at any time by going to the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, by calling 1-800-637-2304 any business day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time or by writing to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078. Please have available the name of the fund and your account number. For certain types of registrations, such as corporate accounts, instructions must be submitted in writing. Please call for additional details. When you withdraw from the Plan, you can receive the value of the reinvested shares in one of three ways: your full shares will be held in your account, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send the proceeds to you, or you may transfer your full shares to your investment professional who can hold or sell them. Additionally, the Plan Agent will sell your fractional shares and send the proceeds to you.

If you have any questions or for further information or a copy of the Plan, contact the Plan Agent Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Transfer Agent for the fund) at 1-800-637-2304, at the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, or by writing to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078.

 

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PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

11/30/17

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by jurisdiction.

 

Municipal Bonds - 152.5%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Alabama - 1.5%                 
Birmingham, AL, Special Care Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Methodist Home for the Aging), 5.5%, 6/01/2030    $ 85,000     $ 94,816  
Birmingham, AL, Special Care Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Methodist Home for the Aging), 5.75%, 6/01/2035      95,000       105,784  
Birmingham, AL, Special Care Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Methodist Home for the Aging), 5.75%, 6/01/2045      130,000       143,291  
Birmingham, AL, Special Care Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Methodist Home for the Aging), 6%, 6/01/2050      135,000       150,674  
Birmingham, AL, Waterworks Board Water Rev., “A”, 5.125%, 1/01/2034 (Prerefunded 1/01/2019)      220,000       228,279  
Birmingham, AL, Waterworks Board Water Rev., “A”, ASSD GTY, 5.125%, 1/01/2034 (Prerefunded 1/01/2019)      375,000       389,111  
Cullman County, AL, Health Care Authority (Cullman Regional Medical Center), “A”, 6.75%, 2/01/2029      60,000       62,094  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Capital Appreciation, Senior Lien, “B”, AGM, 0%, 10/01/2026      105,000       75,409  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Capital Appreciation, Senior Lien, “B”, AGM, 0%, 10/01/2029      150,000       88,340  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Capital Appreciation, Senior Lien, “B”, AGM, 0%, 10/01/2034      210,000       86,264  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Capital Appreciation, Senior Lien, “B”, AGM, 0%, 10/01/2035      400,000       154,824  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Subordinate Lien, “D”, 5%, 10/01/2018      70,000       71,719  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Subordinate Lien, “D”, 5%, 10/01/2021      75,000       81,141  
Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Rev. Warrants, Subordinate Lien, “D”, 5%, 10/01/2023      115,000       126,621  
Pell City, AL, Special Care Facilities, Financing Authority Rev. (Noland Health Services, Inc.), 5%, 12/01/2039      175,000       191,226  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,049,593  
Arizona - 2.7%                 
Arizona Industrial Development Authority Education Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “D”, 5%, 7/01/2047    $ 30,000     $ 30,990  
Arizona Industrial Development Authority Education Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “D”, 5%, 7/01/2037      25,000       26,181  
Arizona Industrial Development Authority Education Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “D”, 5%, 7/01/2051      85,000       87,540  

 

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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Arizona - continued                 
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035    $ 100,000     $ 104,547  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035      35,000       36,591  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2045      165,000       170,455  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Basis Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2046      90,000       92,917  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Choice Academies, Inc. Project), 5.625%, 9/01/2042      135,000       139,431  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Eagle College Prep Project), 5%, 7/01/2033      65,000       67,005  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Eagle College Prep Project), 5%, 7/01/2043      125,000       125,960  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Great Hearts Academies Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2034      350,000       388,630  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Great Hearts Academies Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2044      220,000       236,419  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Legacy Traditional Schools Project), 6.5%, 7/01/2034      115,000       130,549  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Legacy Traditional Schools Project), 5%, 7/01/2035      155,000       158,326  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Legacy Traditional Schools Project), 6.75%, 7/01/2044      180,000       201,519  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Education Facility Rev. (Legacy Traditional Schools Project), 5%, 7/01/2045      170,000       170,002  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Guam Facilities Foundation, Inc.), 5.125%, 2/01/2034      345,000       328,726  
Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Guam Facilities Foundation, Inc.), 5.375%, 2/01/2041      260,000       251,758  
Surprise, AZ, Municipal Property Corp., 4.9%, 4/01/2032      700,000       704,431  
Tempe, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Friendship Village), “A”, 6%, 12/01/2032      60,000       64,113  
Tempe, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Friendship Village), “A”, 6.25%, 12/01/2042      140,000       149,492  
Tempe, AZ, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Friendship Village), “A”, 6.25%, 12/01/2046      70,000       74,588  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,740,170  
Arkansas - 0.7%                 
Arkansas Development Finance Authority Hospital Rev. (Washington Regional Medical Center), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2035    $ 30,000     $ 33,212  
Arkansas Development Finance Authority Hospital Rev. (Washington Regional Medical Center), “C”, 5%, 2/01/2033      50,000       55,759  

 

13


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Arkansas - continued                 
Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Tobacco Settlement Rev. (Cancer Research Center Project), Capital Appreciation, AMBAC, 0%, 7/01/2046    $ 485,000     $ 143,948  
Pulaski County, AR, Public Facilities Board Healthcare Rev. (Baptist Health), 5%, 12/01/2039      505,000       563,216  
Pulaski County, AR, Public Facilities Board Healthcare Rev. (Baptist Health), 5%, 12/01/2042      125,000       139,161  
    

 

 

 
             $ 935,296  
California - 10.7%                 
Beverly Hills, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, 0%, 8/01/2029    $ 2,195,000     $ 1,565,518  
Beverly Hills, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, 0%, 8/01/2031      275,000       180,903  
Beverly Hills, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, 0%, 8/01/2032      280,000       177,089  
Beverly Hills, CA, Unified School District (Election of 2008), Capital Appreciation, 0%, 8/01/2033      560,000       339,074  
California Department of Water Resources, Center Valley Project Rev., “AJ”, 5%, 12/01/2035 (Prerefunded 12/01/2021)      1,010,000       1,141,856  
California Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Chapman University), 5%, 4/01/2031      145,000       159,069  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (St. Joseph Health System), “A”, 5.75%, 7/01/2039      185,000       197,776  
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Rev. (Sutter Health), “B”, 5.875%, 8/15/2031      660,000       738,283  
California M-S-R Energy Authority Gas Rev., “A”, 7%, 11/01/2034      155,000       221,059  
California M-S-R Energy Authority Gas Rev., “A”, 6.5%, 11/01/2039      275,000       389,367  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Biola University), 5.8%, 10/01/2028 (Prerefunded 10/01/2018)      100,000       103,721  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (Community Medical Centers), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2042      85,000       95,125  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), 5%, 11/01/2035      35,000       38,716  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2036      85,000       96,297  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2041      80,000       89,786  
California Municipal Finance Authority Rev. (NorthBay Healthcare Group), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2047      15,000       16,714  
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (CalPlant I Project), 8%, 7/01/2039      385,000       433,267  
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Water Furnishing Rev. (Poseidon Resources Desalination Project), 5%, 11/21/2045      420,000       453,785  

 

14


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
California - continued                 
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Water Furnishing Rev. (San Diego County Water Desalination Project Pipeline), 5%, 11/21/2045    $ 270,000     $ 271,347  
California Public Works Board Lease Rev., Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Various Correctional Facilities), “A”, 5%, 9/01/2033      1,025,000       1,180,288  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2030      35,000       39,450  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2045      100,000       109,277  
California School Finance Authority, School Facility Rev. (ICEF View Park Elementary and Middle Schools), “A”, 5.875%, 10/01/2044      115,000       125,252  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Environmental Facilities Rev. (Microgy Holdings Project), 9%, 12/01/2038 (a)(d)      50,491       252  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Refunding Rev. (California Baptist University), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2041      100,000       109,223  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (899 Charleston Project), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2044      40,000       42,593  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (899 Charleston Project), “A”, 5.375%, 11/01/2049      55,000       58,974  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (American Baptist Homes of the West), 6.25%, 10/01/2039      215,000       229,328  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (California Baptist University), “A”, 6.125%, 11/01/2033      100,000       116,625  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Lancer Plaza Project), 5.625%, 11/01/2033      110,000       124,190  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University Medical Center), “A”, 5.25%, 12/01/2034      195,000       215,619  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University Medical Center), “A”, 5.25%, 12/01/2044      295,000       322,562  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University Medical Center), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2046      295,000       318,258  
California Statewide Communities Development Authority Rev. (Loma Linda University Medical Center), “A”, 5.25%, 12/01/2056      230,000       250,302  
Chula Vista, CA, Industrial Development Rev. (San Diego Gas & Electric Co.), “E”, 5.875%, 1/01/2034      245,000       260,565  
Jurupa, CA, Public Financing Authority, Special Tax Rev., “A”, 5%, 9/01/2042      170,000       191,823  
La Verne, CA, COP (Brethren Hillcrest Homes), 5%, 5/15/2036      50,000       52,793  
Long Beach, CA, Marina Rev. (Alamitos Bay Marina Project), 5%, 5/15/2035      30,000       33,489  

 

15


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
California - continued                 
Los Angeles County, CA, Regional Financing Authority Rev. (MonteCedro Inc. Project), “A”, CALHF, 5%, 11/15/2034    $ 35,000     $ 39,622  
Los Angeles County, CA, Regional Financing Authority Rev. (MonteCedro Inc. Project), “A”, CALHF, 5%, 11/15/2044      65,000       72,935  
Los Angeles, CA, Unified School District, “D”, 5%, 1/01/2034      165,000       173,610  
Palomar Pomerado Health Care District, CA, COP, 6.75%, 11/01/2039 (Prerefunded 11/01/2019)      890,000       977,211  
San Francisco, CA, City & County Redevelopment Successor Agency, Tax Allocation (Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2043      25,000       28,352  
State of California, 5.25%, 10/01/2028      335,000       378,721  
State of California, 5.25%, 9/01/2030      790,000       890,614  
West Contra Costa, CA, Healthcare District, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2029      105,000       105,122  
Whittier, CA, Health Facility Rev. (PIH Health), 5%, 6/01/2044      335,000       369,743  
Yorba Linda, CA, Redevelopment Agency, Tax Allocation Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 9/01/2024      1,325,000       1,104,374  
    

 

 

 
             $ 14,629,919  
Colorado - 3.4%                 
Colorado Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority Rev. (Peak to Peak Charter School Project), 5%, 8/15/2030    $ 40,000     $ 44,503  
Colorado Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority Rev. (Peak to Peak Charter School Project), 5%, 8/15/2034      35,000       38,190  
Colorado Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority Rev. (The Classical Academy Project), 5%, 12/01/2031      65,000       73,670  
Colorado Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority Rev. (The Classical Academy Project), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2038      75,000       83,100  
Colorado Health Facilities Authority Rev. (American Baptist Homes), 8%, 8/01/2043      375,000       433,961  
Colorado Health Facilities Authority Rev. (Covenant Retirement Communities, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2035      150,000       161,336  
Colorado Health Facilities Authority Rev. (Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society), 5.625%, 6/01/2043      100,000       113,308  
Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise Senior Rev. (C-470 Express Lanes), 5%, 12/31/2056      90,000       97,864  
Colorado Regional Transportation District, Private Activity Rev. (Denver Transportation Partners), 6%, 1/15/2034      630,000       691,148  
Colorado Regional Transportation District, Private Activity Rev. (Denver Transportation Partners), 6%, 1/15/2041      300,000       327,993  
Denver, CO, City & County Special Facilities Airport Refunding Rev. (United Airlines), 5%, 10/01/2032      235,000       254,613  
Denver, CO, Convention Center Hotel Authority Rev., 5%, 12/01/2035      60,000       67,830  
Denver, CO, Convention Center Hotel Authority Rev., 5%, 12/01/2036      40,000       45,154  
Denver, CO, Convention Center Hotel Authority Rev., 5%, 12/01/2040      105,000       117,661  

 

16


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Colorado - continued                 
Denver, CO, Health & Hospital Authority Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 12/01/2045    $ 100,000     $ 108,597  
E-470 Public Highway Authority, CO, Capital Appreciation, “B”, NATL, 0%, 9/01/2018      1,500,000       1,484,235  
Park Creek Metropolitan District, CO, Senior Limited Property Tax Supported Rev., “A”, NATL, 5%, 12/01/2045      370,000       423,369  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,566,532  
Connecticut - 0.9%                 
Hartford County, CT, “C”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2030    $ 185,000     $ 211,246  
Hartford County, CT, “C”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2031      160,000       181,766  
Hartford County, CT, “C”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2029      190,000       218,226  
Mohegan Tribal Finance Authority, CT, Economic Development Bonds, 7%, 2/01/2045 (n)      385,000       406,706  
Mohegan Tribe Indians, CT, Gaming Authority Rev., “C”, 4.75%, 2/01/2020 (n)      260,000       261,682  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,279,626  
Delaware - 0.7%                 
Delaware Economic Development Authority Rev. (Delaware Military Academy, Inc. Project), 4.625%, 9/01/2034    $ 85,000     $ 89,545  
Delaware Economic Development Authority Rev. (Delaware Military Academy, Inc. Project), 5%, 9/01/2044      95,000       102,093  
Delaware Economic Development Authority Rev. (Delaware Military Academy, Inc. Project), 5%, 9/01/2049      110,000       116,403  
Wilmington, DE, Multi-Family Housing Rev. (Electra Arms Senior Associates), 6.25%, 6/01/2028      595,000       595,387  
    

 

 

 
             $ 903,428  
District of Columbia - 1.4%                 
District of Columbia Rev. (Kipp, D.C. Charter School),“A”, 6%, 7/01/2033    $ 45,000     $ 52,057  
District of Columbia Rev. (Kipp, D.C. Charter School),“A”, 6%, 7/01/2043      110,000       125,609  
District of Columbia Rev. (Methodist Home of the District of Columbia Issue), 4.5%, 1/01/2025      60,000       59,070  
District of Columbia Rev. (Methodist Home of the District of Columbia Issue), “A”, 5.125%, 1/01/2035      65,000       63,302  
District of Columbia Rev. (Methodist Home of the District of Columbia Issue), “A”, 5.25%, 1/01/2039      40,000       38,862  
District of Columbia Student Dormitory Rev. (Provident Group - Howard Properties LLC), 5%, 10/01/2030      130,000       133,748  
District of Columbia Student Dormitory Rev. (Provident Group - Howard Properties LLC), 5%, 10/01/2035      670,000       683,179  

 

17


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
District of Columbia - continued                 
District of Columbia Student Dormitory Rev. (Provident Group - Howard Properties LLC), 5%, 10/01/2045    $ 775,000     $ 777,914  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,933,741  
Florida - 9.5%                 
Alachua County, FL, Health Facilities Authority Rev. (East Ridge Retirement Village, Inc.), 6%, 11/15/2034    $ 65,000     $ 71,820  
Alachua County, FL, Health Facilities Authority Rev. (East Ridge Retirement Village, Inc.), 6.25%, 11/15/2044      170,000       188,110  
Alachua County, FL, Health Facilities Authority Rev. (East Ridge Retirement Village, Inc.), 6.375%, 11/15/2049      115,000       127,739  
Bellalago, FL, Educational Facilities Benefit District (Osceola County) Capital Improvement Refunding Rev., 4.375%, 5/01/2030      85,000       90,641  
Bellalago, FL, Educational Facilities Benefit District (Osceola County) Capital Improvement Refunding Rev., 4.5%, 5/01/2033      40,000       42,727  
Bellalago, FL, Educational Facilities Benefit District (Osceola County) Capital Improvement Refunding Rev., 4.6%, 5/01/2034      60,000       64,363  
Brevard County, FL, Industrial Development Rev. (TUFF Florida Tech LLC Project), 6.75%, 11/01/2039      540,000       564,165  
Capital Region Community Development District, FL, Capital Improvement Rev., “A”, 7%, 5/01/2039      200,000       200,292  
Capital Trust Agency, FL, Housing Rev. (Atlantic Housing Foundation), “B”, 7%, 7/15/2032 (d)      600,000       450,000  
Collier County, FL, Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Ave Maria University, Inc. Project), “A”, 6.125%, 6/01/2043      480,000       530,837  
Collier County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Continuing Care Community Rev. (The Arlington of Naples Project), “A”, 8.125%, 5/15/2044      485,000       539,955  
Collier County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Continuing Care Community Rev. (The Arlington of Naples Project), “A”, 6.5%, 5/15/2049      100,000       100,404  
Collier County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Continuing Care Community Rev. (The Arlington of Naples Project), “B”, 5.25%, 5/15/2022      100,000       100,232  
Daytona Beach, FL, Halifax Hospital Medical Center Rev., 5%, 6/01/2035      135,000       149,934  
Daytona Beach, FL, Halifax Hospital Medical Center Rev., 5%, 6/01/2046      185,000       201,620  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Florida Charter Educational Foundation Project), “A”, 6.375%, 6/15/2046      150,000       156,248  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Renaissance Charter School), “A”, 6%, 6/15/2032      115,000       123,150  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Renaissance Charter School), “A”, 7.625%, 6/15/2041      745,000       829,192  

 

18


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Florida - continued                 
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Renaissance Charter School), “A”, 6.125%, 6/15/2043    $ 240,000     $ 253,085  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Renaissance Charter School),“A”, 8.5%, 6/15/2044      445,000       519,902  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Southwest Charter Foundation, Inc. Project), “A”, 6%, 6/15/2037      100,000       101,373  
Florida Development Finance Corp. Educational Facilities Rev. (Southwest Charter Foundation, Inc. Project), “A”, 6.125%, 6/15/2047      155,000       157,060  
Florida State University Board of Governors, System Improvement Rev., 6.25%, 7/01/2030      1,000,000       1,038,240  
Homestead, Community Development District, FL, Special Assessment, “A”, 6%, 5/01/2037      365,000       358,255  
Lakeland, FL, Hospital Rev. (Lakeland Regional Health Systems), 5%, 11/15/2034      150,000       168,518  
Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, FL, Special Assessment Rev. (Lakewood Centre North Project), 4.875%, 5/01/2035      100,000       102,147  
Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, FL, Special Assessment Rev. (Lakewood Centre North Project), 4.875%, 5/01/2045      155,000       156,096  
Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, FL, Special Assessment Rev. (Lakewood National and Polo Run Projects), 5.375%, 5/01/2047      135,000       143,335  
Main Street, FL, Community Development District Rev., “A”, 6.8%, 5/01/2038 (Prerefunded 5/01/2018)      120,000       122,657  
Main Street, FL, Community Development District Rev., “A”, 6.8%, 5/01/2038      150,000       150,455  
Marshall Creek, FL, Community Development District Rev. (St. John’s County), “A”, 5%, 5/01/2032      80,000       79,870  
Miami-Dade County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Pinecrest Academy Project), 5.25%, 9/15/2044      195,000       208,623  
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority, FL, Springing Lien Rev., “A”, 7.25%, 10/01/2040 (Prerefunded 10/01/2021)      445,000       532,781  
Midtown Miami, FL, Community Development District Special Assessment (Infrastructure Project), “B”, 5%, 5/01/2029      175,000       185,505  
North Broward, FL, Hospital District Rev. (Broward Health), “B”, 5%, 1/01/2042      380,000       412,498  
Orlando, FL, Senior Tourist Development Tax Refunding Rev. (6th Cent Contract Payments), “A”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2035      55,000       63,652  
Orlando, FL, Senior Tourist Development Tax Refunding Rev. (6th Cent Contract Payments), “A”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2036      50,000       57,727  
Orlando, FL, Senior Tourist Development Tax Refunding Rev. (6th Cent Contract Payments), “A”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2037      40,000       46,071  
Orlando, FL, Senior Tourist Development Tax Refunding Rev. (6th Cent Contract Payments), “A”, AGM, 5%, 11/01/2038      45,000       51,748  

 

19


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Florida - continued                 
Palm Beach County, FL, Health Facilities Rev. (Sinai Residences of Boca Raton Project), 7.5%, 6/01/2049    $ 115,000     $ 139,258  
Pasco County, FL, Bexley Community Development District, Special Assessment Rev., 4.7%, 5/01/2036      100,000       102,176  
Pasco County, FL, Bexley Community Development District, Special Assessment Rev., 4.875%, 5/01/2047      145,000       148,157  
Pasco County, FL, Estancia At Wiregrass Community Development District, Capital Improvement, 7%, 11/01/2045      105,000       126,833  
Pasco County, FL, Estancia At Wiregrass Community Development District, Capital Improvement, 5.375%, 11/01/2046      100,000       104,680  
South Lake County, FL, Hospital District Rev. (South Lake Hospital), “A”, 6%, 4/01/2029      85,000       89,032  
South Lake County, FL, Hospital District Rev. (South Lake Hospital), “A”, 6.25%, 4/01/2039      125,000       131,200  
St. John’s County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Presbyterian Retirement), “A”, 6%, 8/01/2045 (Prerefunded 8/01/2020)      610,000       677,204  
Sumter County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Hospital Rev. (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2026      20,000       22,778  
Sumter County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Hospital Rev. (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2029      20,000       22,358  
Sumter County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Hospital Rev. (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), “A”, 5.125%, 7/01/2034      40,000       44,066  
Sumter County, FL, Industrial Development Authority Hospital Rev. (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), “A”, 5.25%, 7/01/2044      125,000       137,474  
Tallahassee, FL, Health Facilities Rev. (Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2040      335,000       363,723  
Tallahassee, FL, Health Facilities Rev. (Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2044      130,000       140,793  
Tampa, FL (University of Tampa Project), 5%, 4/01/2040      80,000       89,666  
Trout Creek Community Development District, FL, Capital Improvement Rev., 5.5%, 5/01/2035      170,000       171,472  
Trout Creek Community Development District, FL, Capital Improvement Rev., 5.625%, 5/01/2045      310,000       311,941  
Tuscany Reserve Community Development District, FL, Special Assessment, “B”, 5.25%, 5/01/2021      75,000       75,272  
Westridge, FL, Community Development District, Capital Improvement Rev., 5.8%, 5/01/2037 (a)(d)      960,000       614,400  
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,953,510  
Georgia - 2.1%                 
Americus and Sumter County, GA, Hospital Authority Rev. (Magnolia Manor Obligated Group), “A”, 6.25%, 5/15/2033    $ 95,000     $ 105,074  

 

20


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Georgia - continued                 
Americus and Sumter County, GA, Hospital Authority Rev. (Magnolia Manor Obligated Group), “A”, 6.375%, 5/15/2043    $ 95,000     $ 104,771  
Atlanta, GA, Water & Wastewater Rev., “A”, 6%, 11/01/2022 (Prerefunded 11/01/2019)      370,000       400,473  
Clayton County, GA, Development Authority Special Facilities Rev. (Delta Airlines, Inc.), “A”, 8.75%, 6/01/2029      200,000       229,280  
Cobb County, GA, Development Authority Student Housing Rev. (Kennesaw State University Real Estate Foundations), “C”, 5%, 7/15/2030      45,000       49,255  
Cobb County, GA, Development Authority Student Housing Rev. (Kennesaw State University Real Estate Foundations), “C”, 5%, 7/15/2033      80,000       86,622  
Cobb County, GA, Development Authority Student Housing Rev. (Kennesaw State University Real Estate Foundations), “C”, 5%, 7/15/2038      90,000       96,464  
Georgia Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., Gas Project Rev., “A”, 5%, 3/15/2022      660,000       737,372  
Georgia Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., Gas Project Rev., “A”, 5.5%, 9/15/2028      335,000       400,710  
Glynn-Brunswick, GA, Memorial Hospital Authority Rev., 5.625%, 8/01/2034 (Prerefunded 8/01/2018)      150,000       154,116  
Glynn-Brunswick, GA, Memorial Hospital Authority Rev., Unrefunded Balance, 5.625%, 8/01/2034      20,000       20,472  
Marietta, GA, Development Facilities Authority Rev. (Life University, Inc. Project), 7%, 6/15/2039 (Prerefunded 6/15/2018)      265,000       272,958  
Marietta, GA, Development Facilities Authority Rev. (Life University, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2037      120,000       129,325  
Marietta, GA, Development Facilities Authority Rev. (Life University, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 11/01/2047      100,000       106,093  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,892,985  
Guam - 0.3%                 
Guam Government Department of Education (John F. Kennedy High School), “A”, COP, 6.875%, 12/01/2040    $ 295,000     $ 309,331  
Guam Government, “A”, 7%, 11/15/2039 (Prerefunded 11/15/2019)      90,000       99,152  
    

 

 

 
             $ 408,483  
Hawaii - 0.8%                 
Hawaii Department of Budget & Finance, Special Purpose Rev. (15 Craigside Project), “A”, 9%, 11/15/2044 (Prerefunded 11/15/2019)    $ 140,000     $ 159,345  
Hawaii Department of Budget & Finance, Special Purpose Rev. (Chaminade University), 5%, 1/01/2030      115,000       123,417  

 

21


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Hawaii - continued                 
Hawaii Department of Budget & Finance, Special Purpose Rev. (Chaminade University), 5%, 1/01/2045    $ 110,000     $ 108,813  
Hawaii Department of Budget & Finance, Special Purpose Rev. (Hawaiian Electric Co. & Subsidiary), 6.5%, 7/01/2039      390,000       418,899  
State of Hawaii, “DZ”, 5%, 12/01/2031 (Prerefunded 12/01/2021)      125,000       140,391  
State of Hawaii, “DZ”, 5%, 12/01/2031 (Prerefunded 12/01/2021)      75,000       84,389  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,035,254  
Idaho - 2.4%                 
Idaho Health Facilities Authority Rev. (IHC Hospitals, Inc.), ETM, 6.65%, 2/15/2021    $ 2,750,000     $ 3,175,480  
Idaho Health Facilities Authority Rev. (Madison Memorial Hospital Project), 5%, 9/01/2037      40,000       42,924  
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,218,404  
Illinois - 15.1%                 
Annawan, IL, Tax Increment Rev. (Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC), 5.625%, 1/01/2018    $ 100,000     $ 100,144  
Bolingbrook, IL, Sales Tax Rev., 6.25%, 1/01/2024      415,000       411,983  
Chicago, IL (Modern Schools Across Chicago Program), “G”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2023      55,000       55,189  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 4.625%, 1/01/2031      80,000       80,263  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2022      5,000       5,018  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2022      55,000       55,138  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2023      35,000       35,088  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2025      5,000       5,013  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2027      20,000       20,043  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2028      445,000       468,647  
Chicago, IL, “A”, 5.25%, 1/01/2028      30,000       32,679  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 4.75%, 1/01/2030      55,000       55,188  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2034      295,000       295,649  
Chicago, IL, “A”, 5%, 1/01/2036      105,000       109,459  
Chicago, IL, “A”, AGM, 5%, 1/01/2037      325,000       325,709  
Chicago, IL, “B”, AGM, 4.75%, 1/01/2032      120,000       120,409  
Chicago, IL, “C”, NATL, 5%, 1/01/2023      40,000       40,096  
Chicago, IL, “C”, NATL, 5%, 1/01/2029      10,000       10,022  
Chicago, IL, “D”, 5.5%, 1/01/2033      85,000       92,132  
Chicago, IL, (Modern Schools Across Chicago Program), “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2024      225,000       225,772  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education (School Reform), “A”, NATL, 5.25%, 12/01/2023      495,000       552,519  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education (School Reform), Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 12/01/2019      65,000       61,245  

 

22


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Illinois - continued                 
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, “B”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2021    $ 140,000     $ 140,218  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, “B”, AGM, 5%, 12/01/2035      375,000       375,896  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Dedicated Capital Improvement Tax Bond, 5%, 4/01/2046      100,000       107,763  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Dedicated Capital Improvement Tax Bond, 6%, 4/01/2046      975,000       1,143,714  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “A”, 9%, 3/01/2032      125,000       125,638  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “A”, 7%, 12/01/2046      310,000       372,927  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “B”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2021      430,000       430,671  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “B”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2023      100,000       100,156  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “G”, 5%, 12/01/2034      260,000       266,370  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “H”, 5%, 12/01/2036      255,000       260,840  
Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Unlimited Tax General Obligation Refunding Dedicated Rev., “H”, 5%, 12/01/2046      250,000       254,725  
Chicago, IL, General Obligation, “A”, 6%, 1/01/2038      260,000       297,960  
Chicago, IL, Modern Schools Across Chicago Program, “D”, AMBAC, 5%, 12/01/2022      285,000       285,978  
Chicago, IL, O’Hare International Airport Rev., Customer Facility Charge, AGM, 5.25%, 1/01/2032      80,000       90,709  
Chicago, IL, O’Hare International Airport Rev., Customer Facility Charge, AGM, 5.25%, 1/01/2033      40,000       45,252  
Chicago, IL, O’Hare International Airport Rev., Customer Facility Charge, AGM, 5.5%, 1/01/2043      155,000       176,554  
Chicago, IL, Transit Authority Sales Tax Receipts Rev., 5.25%, 12/01/2029      165,000       179,451  
Chicago, IL, Transit Authority Sales Tax Receipts Rev., 5.25%, 12/01/2030      330,000       358,383  
Chicago, IL, Transit Authority Sales Tax Receipts Rev., 5.25%, 12/01/2031      60,000       65,184  
Cook County, IL, Community College District 508 (City Colleges), BAM, 5%, 12/01/2047      450,000       492,516  
Du Page County, IL, Special Service Area No. 31 Special Tax (Monarch Landing Project), 5.625%, 3/01/2036      239,000       239,275  
Illinois Finance Authority Refunding Rev. (Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.), “C”, 5%, 3/01/2032      10,000       11,490  
Illinois Finance Authority Refunding Rev. (Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.), “C”, 5%, 3/01/2034      5,000       5,685  

 

23


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Illinois - continued                 
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2034    $ 130,000     $ 143,469  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2035      125,000       137,545  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Evangelical Retirement Homes of Greater Chicago, Inc.), 7.25%, 2/15/2045      850,000       887,086  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Franciscan Communities, Inc.), “A”, 4.75%, 5/15/2033      200,000       208,366  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Franciscan Communities, Inc.), “A”, 5.125%, 5/15/2043      215,000       226,621  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Lutheran Home & Services), 5.5%, 5/15/2027      30,000       32,246  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Lutheran Home & Services), 5.625%, 5/15/2042      210,000       221,323  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Presence Health Network), “A”, 7.75%, 8/15/2034 (Prerefunded 8/15/2019)      480,000       528,874  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Presence Health Network), “C”, 5%, 2/15/2036      155,000       170,960  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Presence Health Network), “C”, 4%, 2/15/2041      525,000       533,463  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Presence Health Network), “C”, 5%, 2/15/2041      315,000       346,402  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Provena Health), 7.75%, 8/15/2034 (Prerefunded 8/15/2019)      5,000       5,509  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), “A”, 6%, 7/01/2043      200,000       225,118  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Roosevelt University Project), 6.25%, 4/01/2029      670,000       714,897  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Rosalind Franklin University), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2042      35,000       38,605  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Rosalind Franklin University), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2047      50,000       54,937  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Rosalind Franklin University, Research Building Project), “C”, 5%, 8/01/2046      40,000       43,984  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Rosalind Franklin University, Research Building Project), “C”, 5%, 8/01/2049      55,000       60,431  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Silver Cross Hospital & Medical Centers), 6.875%, 8/15/2038 (Prerefunded 8/15/2019)      485,000       527,311  
Illinois Finance Authority Rev. (Silver Cross Hospital & Medical Centers), “C”, 5%, 8/15/2035      420,000       455,675  
Illinois Finance Authority Student Housing Rev. (Illinois State University), 6.75%, 4/01/2031      240,000       263,398  

 

24


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Illinois - continued                 
Illinois Finance Authority Student Housing Rev. (Northern Illinois University Project), 6.625%, 10/01/2031    $ 615,000     $ 677,416  
Illinois Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority, 6%, 6/01/2028      1,365,000       1,534,492  
Lincolnshire, IL, Special Service Area No. 1 (Sedgebrook Project), 6.25%, 3/01/2034      183,000       183,350  
Romeoville, IL, Rev. (Lewis University Project), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2042      130,000       142,498  
State of Illinois, NATL, 6%, 11/01/2026      325,000       373,331  
State of Illinois, AGM, 5%, 2/01/2027      115,000       128,595  
State of Illinois, 4.125%, 11/01/2031      85,000       84,331  
State of Illinois, 4.5%, 11/01/2039      130,000       129,636  
State of Illinois, “C”, 5%, 11/01/2029      920,000       988,384  
University of Illinois Rev. (Auxiliary Facilities Systems), “A”, 5.125%, 4/01/2029 (Prerefunded 4/01/2019)      1,380,000       1,443,866  
    

 

 

 
             $ 20,496,879  
Indiana - 2.2%                 
Indiana Finance Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System Obligated Group), 5%, 8/15/2051    $ 185,000     $ 200,823  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (BHI Senior Living), “A”, 6%, 11/15/2041      275,000       315,431  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Marquette Project), “A”, 5%, 3/01/2030      40,000       43,169  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Marquette Project), “A”, 5%, 3/01/2039      100,000       105,776  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035      180,000       196,036  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2040      460,000       496,837  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2044      125,000       134,550  
Indiana Finance Authority Rev. (Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2048      85,000       91,226  
University of Southern Indiana Rev. (Student Fee), “J”, ASSD GTY, 5.75%, 10/01/2028 (Prerefunded 10/01/2019)      300,000       322,296  
Valparaiso, IN, Exempt Facilities Rev. (Pratt Paper LLC Project), 6.75%, 1/01/2034      260,000       308,532  
Valparaiso, IN, Exempt Facilities Rev. (Pratt Paper LLC Project), 7%, 1/01/2044      605,000       721,051  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,935,727  
Iowa - 0.4%                 
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-1”, 4.625%, 12/01/2019    $ 115,000     $ 117,953  
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-1”, 4.875%, 12/01/2020      25,000       25,787  
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-2”, 5.5%, 12/01/2025      85,000       90,564  

 

25


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Iowa - continued                 
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-2”, 5.6%, 12/01/2026    $ 90,000     $ 95,975  
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-2”, 5.7%, 12/01/2027      15,000       15,911  
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp. Rev., “A-2”, 5.75%, 12/01/2028      165,000       174,964  
Iowa Tobacco Settlement Authority, Tobacco Settlement Rev., Asset Backed, “C”, 5.625%, 6/01/2046      90,000       90,369  
    

 

 

 
             $ 611,523  
Kansas - 0.8%                 
Coffeyville, KS, Electric Utility System Rev., “B”, NATL, 5%, 6/01/2038    $ 200,000     $ 217,968  
Coffeyville, KS, Electric Utility System Rev., “B”, NATL, 5%, 6/01/2042      100,000       108,779  
Hutchinson, KS, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Inc.), 5%, 12/01/2036      40,000       43,153  
Hutchinson, KS, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Inc.), 5%, 12/01/2041      35,000       37,512  
Wichita, KS, Health Care Facilities Rev. (Kansas Masonic Home), “II-A”, 5%, 12/01/2031      30,000       31,828  
Wichita, KS, Health Care Facilities Rev. (Presbyterian Manors, Inc.), “A”, 6.375%, 5/15/2043      170,000       180,190  
Wichita, KS, Sales Tax Special Obligations Rev. (K-96 Greenwich Star Bond Project), 3%, 9/01/2023      115,000       115,351  
Wichita, KS, Sales Tax Special Obligations Rev. (K-96 Greenwich Star Bond Project), 4.2%, 9/01/2027      150,000       150,440  
Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, Unified Government Utility System Improvement Rev., “A”, 5%, 9/01/2044      200,000       228,968  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,114,189  
Kentucky - 3.2%                 
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Health Care Rev. (Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.), 5.375%, 11/15/2042    $ 180,000     $ 188,944  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Health Care Rev. (Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.), 5.5%, 11/15/2045      80,000       84,272  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Baptist Life Communities Project), “A”, 6.25%, 11/15/2046      285,000       286,536  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Baptist Life Communities Project), “A”, 6.375%, 11/15/2051      270,000       272,827  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Hospital Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System Obligated Group), “B”, 5%, 8/15/2046      160,000       174,358  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Rev. (Masonic Home Independent Living II, Inc. - The Meadow Project and Grove Pointe Project), “A”, 5%, 5/15/2036      120,000       127,379  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Rev. (Masonic Home Independent Living II, Inc. - The Meadow Project and Grove Pointe Project), “A”, 5%, 5/15/2046      325,000       340,028  

 

26


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Kentucky - continued                 
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Rev. (Masonic Home Independent Living II, Inc. - The Meadow Project and Grove Pointe Project), “A”, 5%, 5/15/2051    $ 80,000     $ 83,411  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System), “A”, 5.375%, 8/15/2024      300,000       307,812  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System), “A”, 5.625%, 8/15/2027      100,000       102,678  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System), “B”, 5%, 8/15/2037      30,000       32,947  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Baptist Healthcare System), “B”, 5%, 8/15/2041      250,000       273,705  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Owensboro Medical Health System), “A”, 6.375%, 6/01/2040 (Prerefunded 6/01/2020)      570,000       634,296  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Rev. (Owensboro Medical Health System), “A”, 5%, 6/01/2037      120,000       130,387  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Rev. (Owensboro Medical Health System), “A”, 5%, 6/01/2041      80,000       86,398  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Rev. (Owensboro Medical Health System), “A”, 5.25%, 6/01/2041      65,000       72,341  
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Hospital Rev. (Owensboro Medical Health System), “A”, 5%, 6/01/2045      100,000       107,669  
Louisville & Jefferson County, KY, Metro Government Health Facilities Rev. (Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Healthcare), 6.125%, 2/01/2037 (Prerefunded 2/01/2018)      875,000       881,764  
Owen County, KY, Waterworks System Rev. (American Water Co. Project), “A”, 6.25%, 6/01/2039      205,000       217,179  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,404,931  
Louisiana - 3.4%                 
Beauregard Parish, LA (Boise Cascade Corp.), 6.8%, 2/01/2027    $ 1,000,000     $ 999,920  
Jefferson Parish, LA, Hospital Service District No. 2 (East Jefferson General Hospital), 6.25%, 7/01/2031      300,000       310,932  
Jefferson Parish, LA, Hospital Service District No. 2 (East Jefferson General Hospital), 6.375%, 7/01/2041      185,000       190,482  
Louisiana Local Government, Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority Rev. (CDF Healthcare), “A”, 5.625%, 6/01/2045      420,000       430,433  
Louisiana Local Government, Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority Rev. (St. James Place of Baton Rouge Project), “A”, 6%, 11/15/2035      100,000       110,701  
Louisiana Local Government, Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority Rev. (St. James Place of Baton Rouge Project), “A”, 6.25%, 11/15/2045      315,000       351,036  

 

27


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Louisiana - continued                 
Louisiana Local Government, Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority Rev. (Westside Rehab Center Project), “A”, 6.125%, 2/01/2037    $ 190,000     $ 193,646  
Louisiana Local Government, Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority Rev. (Westside Rehab Center Project), “A”, 6.25%, 2/01/2047      160,000       162,997  
Louisiana Public Facilities Authority Hospital Rev. (Lake Charles Memorial Hospital), 6.375%, 12/01/2034      605,000       639,473  
Louisiana Public Facilities Authority Rev., (Loyola University Project), Convertible Capital Appreciation, 0% to 10/01/2023, 5.25% to 10/01/2046      300,000       251,736  
New Orleans, LA, Sewerage Service Rev., 5%, 12/01/2040      60,000       67,517  
New Orleans, LA, Sewerage Service Rev., 5%, 6/01/2045      165,000       183,831  
New Orleans, LA, Sewerage Service Rev., 5%, 12/01/2045      80,000       89,664  
St. Charles Parish, LA, Gulf Zone Opportunity Zone Rev. (Valero Energy Corp.), 4%, 12/01/2040 (Put Date 6/01/2022)      605,000       645,450  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,627,818  
Maine - 0.2%                 
Maine Finance Authority Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Casella Waste Systems, Inc.), “R-3”, 5.25%, 1/01/2025    $ 300,000     $ 321,564  
Maryland - 1.6%                 
Anne Arundel County, MD, Special Obligation (National Business Park-North Project), 6.1%, 7/01/2040    $ 140,000     $ 143,965  
Baltimore, MD, Convention Center Hotel Rev., 5%, 9/01/2039      90,000       100,821  
Baltimore, MD, Convention Center Hotel Rev., 5%, 9/01/2042      80,000       89,409  
Baltimore, MD, Convention Center Hotel Rev., 5%, 9/01/2046      125,000       139,265  
Howard County, MD, Special Obligation (Downtown Columbia Project), “A”, 4.5%, 2/15/2047      120,000       121,885  
Maryland Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Adventist Healthcare Issue), “A”, 5.5%, 1/01/2036      145,000       167,743  
Maryland Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Anne Arundel Health System, Inc.), “A”, 6.75%, 7/01/2039 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)      735,000       793,749  
Maryland Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Doctors Community Hospital), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2033      85,000       94,346  
Maryland Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Doctors Community Hospital), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2034      55,000       60,812  
Maryland Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Doctors Community Hospital), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2038      245,000       268,407  
Rockville, MD, Mayor & Council Economic Development Refunding Rev. (Ingleside at King Farm Project), “A-1”, 5%, 11/01/2037      40,000       44,075  

 

28


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Maryland - continued                 
Rockville, MD, Mayor & Council Economic Development Refunding Rev. (Ingleside at King Farm Project), “B”, 5%, 11/01/2047    $ 70,000     $ 76,274  
Rockville, MD, Mayor & Council Economic Development Refunding Rev. (Ingleside at King Farm Project), “B”, 5%, 11/01/2042      70,000       76,588  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,177,339  
Massachusetts - 5.2%                 
Boston, MA, Metropolitan Transit Parking Corp., Systemwide Parking Rev., 5.25%, 7/01/2036    $ 300,000     $ 334,131  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Adventcare), “A”, 6.75%, 10/15/2037      695,000       695,966  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Linden Ponds, Inc.), “A”, 4.68%, 11/15/2021      100,000       100,768  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Linden Ponds, Inc.), “A-1”, 6.25%, 11/15/2031      130,267       135,921  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Linden Ponds, Inc.), “A-1”, 6.25%, 11/15/2039      31,732       33,109  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Linden Ponds, Inc.), “A-2”, 5.5%, 11/15/2046      8,656       8,658  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Linden Ponds, Inc.), Capital Appreciation, “B”, 0%, 11/15/2056      43,059       2,708  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (North Hill Communities), “A”, 6.25%, 11/15/2033      100,000       111,914  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (North Hill Communities), “A”, 6.5%, 11/15/2043      100,000       112,382  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Suffolk University), 5%, 7/01/2033      30,000       34,476  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Suffolk University), 5%, 7/01/2034      35,000       40,097  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Suffolk University), 5%, 7/01/2035      20,000       22,901  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (The Broad Institute, Inc.), “A”, 5.25%, 4/01/2037      580,000       646,874  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Tufts Medical Center), “I”, 7.25%, 1/01/2032 (Prerefunded 1/01/2021)      265,000       308,876  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (Tufts Medical Center), “I”, 7.25%, 1/01/2032      180,000       207,693  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Rev. (UMass Memorial Health Care Obligated Group), “I”, 5%, 7/01/2036      110,000       122,734  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Resource Recovery Rev. (Covanta Energy Project), “A”, 4.875%, 11/01/2027      410,000       410,316  
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Resource Recovery Rev. (Covanta Energy Project), “C”, 5.25%, 11/01/2042      705,000       705,451  

 

29


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Massachusetts - continued                 
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Dominion Energy Brayton), 5.75%, 12/01/2042 (Prerefunded 5/01/2019)    $ 85,000     $ 89,855  
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Education Loan Rev, “A”, 4.25%, 1/01/2030      70,000       73,802  
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Education Loan Rev, “A”, 4.25%, 1/01/2031      50,000       52,523  
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Education Loan Rev., “H”, ASSD GTY, 6.35%, 1/01/2030      145,000       150,703  
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Education Loan Rev., “I-A”, 5.5%, 1/01/2022      25,000       26,606  
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Education Loan Rev., “J”, 3.5%, 7/01/2033      770,000       750,989  
Massachusetts Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Bonds Rev. (Suffolk University) , 6.25%, 7/01/2030 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)      465,000       498,564  
Massachusetts Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Bonds Rev. (Suffolk University) , 6.25%, 7/01/2030      260,000       278,473  
Massachusetts Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Bonds Rev. (Suffolk University) , 5.75%, 7/01/2039 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)      300,000       319,332  
Massachusetts Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Bonds Rev. (Suffolk University) , 5.75%, 7/01/2039      155,000       164,512  
Massachusetts Port Authority Special Facilities Rev. (ConRAC Project), “A”, 5.125%, 7/01/2041      40,000       43,655  
Massachusetts Port Authority Special Facilities Rev. (Delta Air Lines Project, Inc.), “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 1/01/2027      185,000       188,165  
Massachusetts School Building Authority, Dedicated Sales Tax Rev., “B”, 5%, 10/15/2032      390,000       435,135  
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,107,289  
Michigan - 3.5%                 
Detroit, MI, Sewage Disposal System Rev., “B”, NATL, 5.5%, 7/01/2022    $ 955,000     $ 1,094,124  
Detroit, MI, Water & Sewerage Department, Senior Lien Sewage Disposal System Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 7/01/2039      580,000       633,314  
Detroit, MI, Water Supply System Rev., Senior Lien, “A”, 5%, 7/01/2036      30,000       31,935  
Detroit, MI, Water Supply System Rev., Senior Lien, “C”, 5%, 7/01/2041      40,000       42,427  
Great Lakes Water Authority, Michigan Sewage Disposal System Rev., “B”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2034      295,000       336,678  

 

30


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Michigan - continued                 
Michigan Finance Authority Hospital Rev. (Beaumont Health Credit Group), “A”, 5%, 8/01/2033    $ 100,000     $ 111,944  
Michigan Finance Authority Local Government Loan Program Rev. (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Sewage Disposal System Rev. Refunding Second Lien Local Project), “C”, 5%, 7/01/2033      60,000       67,213  
Michigan Finance Authority Local Government Loan Program Rev. (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Sewage Disposal System Rev. Refunding Second Lien Local Project), “C”, 5%, 7/01/2034      140,000       155,834  
Michigan Finance Authority Local Government Loan Program Rev. (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Sewage Disposal System Rev. Refunding Second Lien Local Project), “C”, 5%, 7/01/2035      95,000       105,542  
Michigan Finance Authority Local Government Loan Program Rev. (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Water Supply System Rev. Refunding Second Lien Local Project), “D-2”, 5%, 7/01/2034      60,000       66,786  
Michigan Finance Authority Rev. (Trinity Health Corp.), 5%, 12/01/2035      1,000,000       1,100,000  
Michigan Strategic Fund Ltd. (Canterbury Health Care, Inc.), 5%, 7/01/2046      105,000       107,944  
Royal Oak, MI, Hospital Finance Authority Rev. (William Beaumont Hospital), 8.25%, 9/01/2039 (Prerefunded 9/01/2018)      485,000       509,672  
Waterford Township, MI, Economic Development Corp. (Canterbury Health Care, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2046      105,000       107,944  
Waterford Township, MI, Economic Development Corp. (Canterbury Health Care, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2051      105,000       107,570  
Wayne County, MI, Airport Authority Rev. (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), “B”, BAM, 5%, 12/01/2039      40,000       45,173  
Wayne County, MI, Airport Authority Rev. (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), “B”, 5%, 12/01/2044      35,000       39,409  
Wayne County, MI, Airport Authority Rev. (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), “C”, 5%, 12/01/2039      30,000       33,558  
Wayne County, MI, Airport Authority Rev. (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport), “C”, 5%, 12/01/2044      90,000       100,375  
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,797,442  
Minnesota - 0.1%                 
Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN, Housing Authority Rev. (City Living), “A-2”, GNMA, 5%, 12/01/2038    $ 10,138     $ 10,153  
St. Paul, MN, Housing & Redevelopment Authority Charter School Lease Rev. (Great River School Project), “A”, 5.5%, 7/01/2052      100,000       101,632  
    

 

 

 
             $ 111,785  

 

31


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Mississippi - 1.3%                 
Mississippi Business Finance Corp., Pollution Control Rev. (Systems Energy Resources Project), 5.875%, 4/01/2022    $ 925,000     $ 927,673  
Mississippi State University, Educational Building Corp. Rev.(Residence Hall Construction and Refunding Project), 5%, 8/01/2036      440,000       480,955  
University of Southern Mississippi Educational Building Corp. Rev. (Campus Facilities Project), 5.25%, 9/01/2032 (Prerefunded 9/01/2019)      220,000       233,537  
University of Southern Mississippi Educational Building Corp. Rev. (Campus Facilities Project), 5.375%, 9/01/2036 (Prerefunded 9/01/2019)      80,000       85,094  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,727,259  
Missouri - 0.5%                 
Grundy County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Wright Memorial Hospital), 6.125%, 9/01/2025    $ 65,000     $ 67,386  
Missouri Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Senior Living Facilities Rev. (Lutheran Senior Services Project), “A”, 5%, 2/01/2036      35,000       38,488  
St. Louis County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Nazareth Living Center), “A”, 5%, 8/15/2030      40,000       41,709  
St. Louis County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Nazareth Living Center), “A”, 5%, 8/15/2035      25,000       25,673  
St. Louis County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Nazareth Living Center), “A”, 5.125%, 8/15/2045      65,000       66,804  
St. Louis County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Ranken-Jordan Project), 5%, 11/15/2041      55,000       55,429  
St. Louis County, MO, Industrial Development Authority Health Facilities Rev. (Ranken-Jordan Project), 4%, 11/15/2036      55,000       50,075  
St. Louis, MO, Industrial Development Authority Financing Rev. (Ballpark Village Development Project), “A”, 4.375%, 11/15/2035      95,000       96,938  
St. Louis, MO, Industrial Development Authority Financing Rev. (Ballpark Village Development Project), “A”, 3.875%, 11/15/2029      50,000       50,890  
St. Louis, MO, Industrial Development Authority Financing Rev. (Ballpark Village Development Project), “A”, 4.75%, 11/15/2047      205,000       209,951  
    

 

 

 
             $ 703,343  
National - 1.1%                 
Centerline Equity Issue Trust, FHLMC, 6%, 10/31/2052 (n)    $ 1,000,000     $ 1,056,620  
Resolution Trust Corp., Pass-Through Certificates, “1993”, 9.75%, 2/01/2018 (z)      455,481       455,481  
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,512,101  

 

32


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Nevada - 0.2%                 
Director of the State of Nevada, Department of Business and Industry, Charter School Lease Rev. (Somerset Academy), “A”, 5.125%, 12/15/2045    $ 150,000     $ 153,215  
Nevada Department of Business & Industry Charter School Rev. (Doral Academy of Nevada), “A”, 5%, 7/15/2047      100,000       102,153  
    

 

 

 
             $ 255,368  
New Hampshire - 0.7%                 
New Hampshire Business Finance Authority Rev. (Elliot Hospital Obligated Group), “A”, 6%, 10/01/2027 (Prerefunded 10/01/2019)    $ 585,000     $ 630,548  
New Hampshire Business Finance Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Project), 4%, 4/01/2029 (Put Date 10/01/2019)      100,000       99,804  
New Hampshire Health & Education Facilities Authority Rev. (Memorial Hospital), 5.5%, 6/01/2031      105,000       114,665  
New Hampshire Health & Education Facilities Authority Rev. (Memorial Hospital), 5.5%, 6/01/2036      100,000       107,358  
    

 

 

 
             $ 952,375  
New Jersey - 10.3%                 
Atlantic City, NJ, Tax Appeal Refunding Bonds (Qualified Pursuant to the Provisions of the Municipal Qualified Bond Act), “A”, BAM, 5%, 3/01/2032    $ 15,000     $ 17,171  
Atlantic City, NJ, Tax Appeal Refunding Bonds (Qualified Pursuant to the Provisions of the Municipal Qualified Bond Act), “A”, BAM, 5%, 3/01/2037      25,000       28,169  
Atlantic City, NJ, Tax Appeal Refunding Bonds (Qualified Pursuant to the Provisions of the Municipal Qualified Bond Act), “A”, BAM, 5%, 3/01/2042      30,000       33,626  
New Jersey Building Authority Rev., Unrefunded Balance, “A”, BAM, 5%, 6/15/2028      20,000       22,621  
New Jersey Building Authority Rev., Unrefunded Balance, “A”, BAM, 5%, 6/15/2029      25,000       28,098  
New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Luxury Tax Rev., AGM, 5%, 11/01/2031      160,000       176,053  
New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Luxury Tax Rev., AGM, 5%, 11/01/2032      65,000       71,312  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Kapkowski Road Landfill Project), 6.5%, 4/01/2031      950,000       1,094,856  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Lions Gate Project), 5.125%, 1/01/2039      90,000       92,910  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Lions Gate Project), 5%, 1/01/2034      30,000       31,063  

 

33


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
New Jersey - continued                 
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Lions Gate Project), 5.25%, 1/01/2044    $ 225,000     $ 232,306  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Provident Group - Rowan Properties LLC - Rowan University Student Housing Project), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2030      80,000       87,185  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (Provident Group - Rowan Properties LLC - Rowan University Student Housing Project), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2035      95,000       102,012  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project), 5.5%, 1/01/2027      40,000       46,260  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project), 5%, 1/01/2028      40,000       44,884  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project), AGM, 5%, 1/01/2031      125,000       140,634  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev. (The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project), 5.375%, 1/01/2043      255,000       283,756  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev., School Facilities Construction, “DDD”, 5%, 6/15/2034      10,000       10,910  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev., School Facilities Construction, “DDD”, 5%, 6/15/2035      10,000       10,869  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority Rev., School Facilities Construction, “DDD”, 5%, 6/15/2042      55,000       59,322  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Special Facilities Rev. (Continental Airlines, Inc.), 4.875%, 9/15/2019      225,000       232,866  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Special Facilities Rev. (Continental Airlines, Inc.), 5.125%, 9/15/2023      365,000       400,365  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Special Facilities Rev. (Continental Airlines, Inc.), 5.25%, 9/15/2029      515,000       562,874  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Special Facilities Rev. (Continental Airlines, Inc.), “A”, 5.625%, 11/15/2030      105,000       119,158  
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Special Facilities Rev. (Continental Airlines, Inc.), “B”, 5.625%, 11/15/2030      535,000       607,139  
New Jersey Economic Development Motor Vehicle Surcharges Subordinate Refunding Rev., “A”, 3.125%, 7/01/2029      90,000       87,143  
New Jersey Economic Development Motor Vehicle Surcharges Subordinate Refunding Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2033      260,000       284,185  
New Jersey Health Care Facilities, Financing Authority Rev. (University Hospital), “A”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2046      395,000       441,077  
New Jersey Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., “1-A”, 4.5%, 6/01/2023      1,730,000       1,755,864  
New Jersey Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., “1-A”, 4.75%, 6/01/2034      3,405,000       3,262,160  

 

34


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
New Jersey - continued                 
New Jersey Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., “1-A”, 5%, 6/01/2041    $ 3,770,000     $ 3,628,814  
    

 

 

 
             $ 13,995,662  
New Mexico - 0.4%                 
Farmington, NM, Pollution Control Rev. (Public Service New Mexico), “D”, 5.9%, 6/01/2040    $ 500,000     $ 543,345  
New York - 7.0%                 
Brooklyn, NY, Arena Local Development Corp. (Barclays Center Project), 6%, 7/15/2030 (Prerefunded 1/15/2020)    $ 135,000     $ 147,532  
Buffalo & Erie County, NY, Industrial Land Development Corp. Rev. (Buffalo State College), “A”, 5.375%, 10/01/2041      200,000       220,178  
Build NYC Resource Corp. Rev. (Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Inc.), 5.5%, 9/01/2045      405,000       443,552  
Glen Cove, NY, Local Economic Assistance Corp. (Garvies Point Public Improvement Project), Capital Appreciation, “B”, 0%, 1/01/2045      360,000       95,764  
Hudson Yards, NY, Infrastructure Corp. Rev., “A”, 5.75%, 2/15/2047 (Prerefunded 2/15/2021)      225,000       253,384  
Hudson Yards, NY, Infrastructure Corp. Rev., “A”, 5.75%, 2/15/2047      145,000       162,665  
New Rochelle, NY, Corp. for Local Development Rev. (Iona College Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2034      65,000       71,165  
New Rochelle, NY, Corp. for Local Development Rev. (Iona College Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2040      165,000       178,599  
New Rochelle, NY, Corp. for Local Development Rev. (Iona College Project), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2045      80,000       86,156  
New York Dormitory Authority Rev., Non-State Supported Debt (Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center), LOC, 6.5%, 8/15/2030      190,000       200,328  
New York Dormitory Authority Rev., Non-State Supported Debt (Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center), LOC, 6.25%, 2/15/2035      115,000       120,811  
New York Dormitory Authority Rev., Non-State Supported Debt (Orange Regional Medical Center), 5%, 12/01/2040      100,000       107,827  
New York Dormitory Authority Rev., Non-State Supported Debt (Orange Regional Medical Center), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2035      100,000       109,654  
New York Environmental Facilities Corp., Clean Drinking Water Revolving Funds, 5%, 6/15/2041      685,000       753,479  
New York Environmental Facilities Corp., State Revolving Funds Rev., “C”, 5%, 5/15/2041      945,000       1,037,317  
New York Liberty Development Corp., Liberty Rev. (3 World Trade Center Project), “1”, 5%, 11/15/2044      540,000       579,911  
New York Liberty Development Corp., Liberty Rev. (3 World Trade Center Project), “2”, 5.375%, 11/15/2040      395,000       434,690  
New York Liberty Development Corp., Liberty Rev. (3 World Trade Center Project), “3”, 7.25%, 11/15/2044      220,000       263,432  

 

35


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
New York - continued                 
New York Liberty Development Corp., Liberty Rev. (One Bryant Park LLC), 6.375%, 7/15/2049    $ 545,000     $ 579,270  
New York Transportation Development Corp., Special Facility Rev. (American Airlines, Inc. John F. Kennedy International Airport Project), 5%, 8/01/2026      350,000       374,696  
New York Transportation Development Corp., Special Facility Rev. (American Airlines, Inc. John F. Kennedy International Airport Project), 5%, 8/01/2031      210,000       223,392  
New York, NY, City Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Rev., “S-3”, 5.25%, 1/15/2039      440,000       457,503  
Niagara County, NY, Industrial Development Agency, Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Covanta Energy Project), “A”, 5.25%, 11/01/2042      725,000       725,464  
Onondaga, NY, Civic Development Corp. Rev. (St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center), 5%, 7/01/2025 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)      30,000       31,599  
Onondaga, NY, Civic Development Corp. Rev. (St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center), 5.125%, 7/01/2031 (Prerefunded 7/01/2019)      25,000       26,381  
Onondaga, NY, Civic Development Corp. Rev. (St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center), 5%, 7/01/2042 (Prerefunded 7/01/2022)      255,000       291,281  
Port Authority of NY & NJ, Special Obligation Rev. (JFK International Air Terminal LLC), 6%, 12/01/2036      255,000       283,376  
Port Authority of NY & NJ, Special Obligation Rev. (JFK International Air Terminal LLC), 6%, 12/01/2042      290,000       321,828  
Tobacco Settlement Asset Securitization Corp., NY, “A”, 5%, 6/01/2034      50,000       56,791  
Tobacco Settlement Asset Securitization Corp., NY, “A”, 5%, 6/01/2035      25,000       28,287  
Tobacco Settlement Asset Securitization Corp., NY, “A”, 5%, 6/01/2041      185,000       206,140  
Ulster County, NY, Capital Resource Corp Rev. (Health Alliance Senior Living- Woodland Pond at New Paltz), “B”, 7%, 9/15/2044      330,000       343,467  
Ulster County, NY, Industrial Development Agency (Woodland Pond), “A”, 6%, 9/15/2037      250,000       245,435  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,461,354  
North Carolina - 1.9%  
Durham, NC, Durham Housing Authority Rev. (Magnolia Pointe Apartments), 5.65%, 2/01/2038    $ 863,684     $ 880,880  
New Hanover County, NC, Hospital Rev., AGM, 5.125%, 10/01/2031 (Prerefunded 10/01/2019)      895,000       951,501  
North Carolina Medical Care Commission Retirement Facilities First Mortgage Rev. (United Church Homes and Services), “A”, 5%, 9/01/2037      75,000       77,729  

 

36


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
North Carolina - continued                 
North Carolina Medical Care Commission Retirement Facilities First Mortgage Rev. (United Methodist Retirement Homes), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2030    $ 20,000     $ 22,781  
North Carolina Medical Care Commission Retirement Facilities First Mortgage Rev. (United Methodist Retirement Homes), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2031      5,000       5,675  
North Carolina Medical Care Commission, Health Care Facilities Rev. (Pennybyrn at Maryfield), 5%, 10/01/2025      55,000       61,199  
North Carolina Medical Care Commission, Health Care Facilities Rev. (Pennybyrn at Maryfield), 5%, 10/01/2030      70,000       74,787  
North Carolina Medical Care Commission, Health Care Facilities Rev. (Pennybyrn at Maryfield), 5%, 10/01/2035      45,000       47,305  
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Monroe Expressway Toll Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2047      60,000       65,731  
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Monroe Expressway Toll Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2051      130,000       142,017  
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Monroe Expressway Toll Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2054      50,000       54,622  
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Monroe Expressway Toll Rev., “A”, 5%, 7/01/2042      30,000       33,028  
University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Rev., 5%, 4/01/2039      110,000       126,061  
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,543,316  
Ohio - 7.0%                 
Bowling Green, OH, Student Housing Rev. (State University Project), 5.75%, 6/01/2031    $ 175,000     $ 191,860  
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority Rev., “A-2”, 5.125%, 6/01/2024      1,055,000       987,322  
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority Rev., “A-2”, 5.375%, 6/01/2024      690,000       652,961  
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority Rev., “A-2”, 5.875%, 6/01/2030      885,000       840,600  
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority Rev., “A-2”, 6%, 6/01/2042      230,000       219,077  
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority Rev., “A-2”, 6.5%, 6/01/2047      1,800,000       1,784,034  
Butler County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev. (UC Health), 5.5%, 11/01/2040 (Prerefunded 11/01/2020)      200,000       221,172  
Butler County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev. (UC Health), 5.75%, 11/01/2040 (Prerefunded 11/01/2020)      130,000       144,876  
Butler County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev., Unrefunded Balance, (UC Health), 5.5%, 11/01/2040      390,000       426,687  
Cuyahoga County OH, Hospital Rev. (The Metrohealth System), 4.75%, 2/15/2047      285,000       294,861  

 

37


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Ohio - continued                 
Cuyahoga County OH, Hospital Rev. (The Metrohealth System), 5.5%, 2/15/2052    $ 40,000     $ 44,349  
Cuyahoga County OH, Hospital Rev. (The Metrohealth System), 5.5%, 2/15/2057      730,000       805,248  
Cuyahoga County OH, Hospital Rev. (The Metrohealth System), 5%, 2/15/2042      210,000       226,183  
Franklin County, OH, Health Care Facilities Improvement Rev. (Friendship Village of Dublin, OH, Inc.), 5%, 11/15/2034      120,000       129,173  
Franklin County, OH, Health Care Facilities Improvement Rev. (Friendship Village of Dublin, OH, Inc.), 5%, 11/15/2044      195,000       206,965  
Gallia County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Holzer Health Systems), “A”, 8%, 7/01/2042      740,000       860,243  
Lake County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev. (Lake Hospital), “C”, 5.625%, 8/15/2029 (Prerefunded 8/15/2018)      365,000       375,731  
Lake County, OH, Hospital Facilities Rev., Unrefunded Balance, “C”, 5.625%, 8/15/2029      70,000       71,895  
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Facilities Rev. (Pratt Paper LLC Project), 4.25%, 1/15/2038      100,000       102,303  
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Facilities Rev. (Pratt Paper LLC Project), 4.5%, 1/15/2048      125,000       129,716  
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Facilities Rev. (Pratt Paper LLC Project), 3.75%, 1/15/2028      100,000       102,790  
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Hospital Facilities Improvement Rev. (Memorial Health System Obligated Group Project), 5.5%, 12/01/2029      35,000       38,241  
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Hospital Facilities Improvement Rev. (Memorial Health System Obligated Group Project), 5.75%, 12/01/2032      300,000       328,368  
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Hospital Facilities Improvement Rev. (Memorial Health System Obligated Group Project), 5%, 12/01/2035      95,000       99,153  
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Hospital Facilities Improvement Rev. (Memorial Health System Obligated Group Project), 5%, 12/01/2043      120,000       124,219  
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Hospital Facilities Improvement Rev. (Memorial Health System Obligated Group Project), 5.5%, 12/01/2043      140,000       150,577  
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,558,604  
Oklahoma - 0.7%                 
Tulsa, OK, Airport Improvement Trust Rev., “A”, 5%, 6/01/2045    $ 55,000     $ 59,920  
Tulsa, OK, Municipal Airport Trust Rev. (American Airlines, Inc.), 5%, 6/01/2035 (Put Date 6/01/2025)      105,000       114,147  

 

38


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Oklahoma - continued                 
Tulsa, OK, Municipal Airport Trust Rev. (American Airlines, Inc.), “B”, 5.5%, 6/01/2035    $ 290,000     $ 314,079  
Tulsa, OK, Municipal Airport Trust Rev. (American Airlines, Inc.), “B”, 5.5%, 12/01/2035      385,000       416,967  
    

 

 

 
             $ 905,113  
Oregon - 0.2%                 
Forest Grove, OR, Campus Improvement Rev. (Pacific University Project), “A”, 4.5%, 5/01/2029    $ 90,000     $ 97,389  
Forest Grove, OR, Campus Improvement Rev. (Pacific University Project), “A”, 5%, 5/01/2036      90,000       99,046  
Forest Grove, OR, Campus Improvement Rev. (Pacific University Project), “A”, 5%, 5/01/2040      110,000       116,636  
    

 

 

 
             $ 313,071  
Pennsylvania - 9.1%                 
Allegheny County, PA, Higher Education Building Authority Rev. (Robert Morris University), 5%, 10/15/2037    $ 10,000     $ 11,233  
Allegheny County, PA, Higher Education Building Authority Rev. (Robert Morris University), 5%, 10/15/2047      35,000       38,761  
Allegheny County, PA, Hospital Development Authority Rev. (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), “A”, 5.375%, 8/15/2029      440,000       466,730  
Allentown, PA, Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority Tax Rev. (City Center Refunding Project), 5%, 5/01/2042      150,000       160,325  
Allentown, PA, Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority Tax Rev., “A”, 5%, 5/01/2035      100,000       105,074  
Allentown, PA, Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority Tax Rev., “A”, 5%, 5/01/2042      420,000       438,014  
Berks County, PA, Reading School District, AGM, 5%, 3/01/2035      25,000       28,553  
Berks County, PA, Reading School District, AGM, 5%, 3/01/2036      25,000       28,489  
Berks County, PA, Reading School District, AGM, 5%, 3/01/2037      25,000       28,425  
Berks County, PA, Reading School District, AGM, 5%, 3/01/2038      10,000       11,353  
Chester County, PA, Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Simpson Senior Services Project), “A”, 5.25%, 12/01/2045      100,000       103,696  
Chester County, PA, Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Simpson Senior Services Project), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2030      45,000       46,988  
Chester County, PA, Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Simpson Senior Services Project), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2035      40,000       41,114  
Clarion County, PA, Industrial Development Authority, Student Housing Rev. (Clarion University Foundation, Inc.), 5%, 7/01/2034      35,000       37,046  
Cumberland County, PA, Municipal Authority Rev. (Asbury Atlantic, Inc.), 6%, 1/01/2040      135,000       141,033  
Cumberland County, PA, Municipal Authority Rev. (Asbury Atlantic, Inc.), 5.25%, 1/01/2041      290,000       299,422  

 

39


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Pennsylvania - continued  
Cumberland County, PA, Municipal Authority Rev. (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries Project), 6.125%, 1/01/2029 (Prerefunded 1/01/2019)    $ 625,000     $ 654,806  
Cumberland County, PA, Municipal Authority Rev., Unrefunded Balance, (Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries Project), 6.125%, 1/01/2029      70,000       73,093  
East Hempfield Township, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Student Services, Inc., Student Housing Project at Millersville University of Pennsylvania), 5%, 7/01/2030      25,000       27,704  
East Hempfield Township, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Student Services, Inc., Student Housing Project at Millersville University of Pennsylvania), 5%, 7/01/2035      35,000       38,174  
East Hempfield Township, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Student Services, Inc., Student Housing Project at Millersville University of Pennsylvania), 5%, 7/01/2039      40,000       42,864  
East Hempfield Township, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Student Services, Inc., Student Housing Project at Millersville University of Pennsylvania), 5%, 7/01/2046      20,000       21,229  
Lancaster County, PA, Hospital Authority Health System Rev. (Masonic Villages Project), 5%, 11/01/2027      50,000       57,421  
Lancaster County, PA, Hospital Authority Health System Rev. (Masonic Villages Project), 5%, 11/01/2035      15,000       16,684  
Lehigh County, PA, Water and Sewer Authority Rev. (Allentown Concession), “A”, 5%, 12/01/2043      1,135,000       1,265,888  
Lehigh County, PA, Water and Sewer Authority Rev. (Allentown Concession), Capital Appreciation, “B”, 0%, 12/01/2037      955,000       425,920  
Luzerne County, PA, “A”, AGM, 5%, 11/15/2029      180,000       205,285  
Montgomery County, PA, Industrial Development Authority Retirement Community Rev. (ACTS Retirement - Life Communities, Inc.), 5%, 11/15/2028      350,000       383,208  
Montgomery County, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Issue), “A”, 5.25%, 1/15/2036      645,000       701,534  
Montgomery County, PA, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Whitemarsh Continuing Care Retirement Community Project), 5.375%, 1/01/2050      935,000       951,185  
Moon Industrial Development Authority Rev. (Baptist Homes Society), 6.125%, 7/01/2050      260,000       281,307  
Northeastern PA, Hospital & Education Authority Rev. (Wilkes University Project), “A”, 5%, 3/01/2037      40,000       44,534  
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Rev. (The Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project), 5%, 6/30/2026      40,000       47,300  
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Rev. (The Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project), 5%, 12/31/2030      100,000       114,854  

 

40


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Pennsylvania - continued  
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, Sewer Sludge Disposal Rev. (Philadelphia Biosolids Facility), 6.25%, 1/01/2032    $ 335,000     $ 357,432  
Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Edinboro University Foundation), 5.8%, 7/01/2030 (Prerefunded 7/01/2020)      80,000       88,250  
Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Shippensburg University Student Services), 6.25%, 10/01/2043      155,000       172,202  
Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Shippensburg University Student Services), 5%, 10/01/2044      260,000       272,223  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School Project), “A”, 5.25%, 8/01/2046      160,000       163,450  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School Project), “A”, 5.375%, 8/01/2051      120,000       122,531  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School Project), “B”, 5.625%, 8/01/2036      100,000       102,226  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School Project), “B”, 5.75%, 8/01/2046      245,000       250,508  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School Project), “B”, 6%, 8/01/2051      165,000       168,670  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (MaST Charter School), 6%, 8/01/2035 (Prerefunded 8/01/2020)      50,000       55,578  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School Project), 6.5%, 6/15/2033      230,000       245,132  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School Project), 6.75%, 6/15/2043      320,000       341,053  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (Tacony Academy Charter School Project), 6.875%, 6/15/2033      100,000       111,357  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (Tacony Academy Charter School Project), 7.375%, 6/15/2043      110,000       124,468  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development Rev. (Tacony Academy Charter School Project), “A-1”, 7%, 6/15/2043      140,000       155,880  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development, Senior Living Facilities Rev. (Wesley Enhanced Living Obligated Group), ‘A”, 5%, 7/01/2037      100,000       106,575  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development, Senior Living Facilities Rev. (Wesley Enhanced Living Obligated Group), ‘A”, 5%, 7/01/2042      125,000       132,005  
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for Industrial Development, Senior Living Facilities Rev. (Wesley Enhanced Living Obligated Group), ‘A”, 5%, 7/01/2049      175,000       183,545  
Philadelphia, PA, Gas Works Rev. (1998 General Ordinance), “15”, 5%, 8/01/2042      275,000       315,590  

 

41


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Pennsylvania - continued  
Philadelphia, PA, Gas Works Rev. (1998 General Ordinance), “15”, 5%, 8/01/2047    $ 310,000     $ 354,373  
Philadelphia, PA, Municipal Authority Rev., 6.5%, 4/01/2034      135,000       143,671  
Pittsburgh, PA, Urban Redevelopment Authority Rev., “C”, GNMA, 4.8%, 4/01/2028      760,000       762,386  
Scranton, PA, School District, “E”, BAM, 4%, 12/01/2037      20,000       20,889  
Scranton, PA, School District, “E”, BAM, 5%, 12/01/2032      25,000       28,915  
Scranton, PA, School District, “E”, BAM, 5%, 12/01/2034      15,000       17,210  
Scranton-Lackawanna, PA, Health and Welfare Authority, University Rev. (Marywood University Project), 5%, 6/01/2046      155,000       157,249  
West Shore, PA, Area Authority Rev. (Messiah Village Project) “A”, 5%, 7/01/2030      30,000       32,452  
West Shore, PA, Area Authority Rev. (Messiah Village Project) “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035      35,000       37,102  
    

 

 

 
      $ 12,362,168  
Puerto Rico - 9.0%  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority Rev., “A”, ASSD GTY, 5.125%, 7/01/2047    $ 215,000     $ 216,146  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “A”, NATL, 4.75%, 7/01/2038      215,000       181,451  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “BB”, AMBAC, 5.25%, 7/01/2018      80,000       80,765  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “CC”, AGM, 5.5%, 7/01/2029      60,000       67,324  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “CC”, AGM, 5.25%, 7/01/2032      60,000       65,986  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “CC”, AGM, 5.25%, 7/01/2033      170,000       186,563  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “D”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2032      350,000       350,693  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “J”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2029      25,000       23,749  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “L”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2035      535,000       489,049  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “L”, AMBAC, 5.25%, 7/01/2038      955,000       912,178  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, AMBAC, 5.25%, 7/01/2030      260,000       253,679  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, AMBAC, 5.25%, 7/01/2031      165,000       159,704  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 7/01/2034      200,000       218,856  

 

42


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Puerto Rico - continued  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 7/01/2036    $ 465,000     $ 505,985  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority Rev., “N”, ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 7/01/2041      290,000       316,570  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2025      60,000       61,639  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, “A”, NATL, 5.5%, 7/01/2020      140,000       145,155  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, “A”, NATL, 5.5%, 7/01/2021      30,000       31,163  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, “A”, AGM, 5.375%, 7/01/2025      50,000       53,471  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement, “A”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2035      505,000       514,242  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement, “C”, AGM, 5.25%, 7/01/2027      30,000       30,260  
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement, “C-7”, NATL, 6%, 7/01/2027      235,000       236,499  
Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority, Hotel Occupancy Tax Rev., “A”, AMBAC, 5%, 7/01/2031      465,000       441,239  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “NN”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2022      140,000       143,765  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “NN”, NATL, 4.75%, 7/01/2033      25,000       22,026  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “PP”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2024      15,000       14,999  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “PP”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2025      15,000       14,795  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “RR”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2022      35,000       35,056  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “SS”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2019      550,000       551,111  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “SS”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2020      35,000       35,067  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “TT”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2024      65,000       64,997  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “UU”, NATL, 4.5%, 7/01/2018      15,000       15,097  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “UU”, NATL, 5%, 7/01/2019      65,000       66,299  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “UU”, AGM, 5%, 7/01/2022      35,000       35,110  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “V”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2026      50,000       49,658  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “VV”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2030      220,000       210,998  
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Rev., “VV”, NATL, 5.25%, 7/01/2032      25,000       23,495  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority (Cogeneration Facilities - AES Puerto Rico Project), 6.625%, 6/01/2026      420,000       337,575  

 

43


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Puerto Rico - continued  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Educational Facilities Rev. (University Plaza Project), NATL, 5%, 7/01/2033    $ 280,000     $ 260,434  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 4/01/2018      30,000       30,095  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 4%, 4/01/2020      15,000       14,771  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 3/01/2021      5,000       5,013  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 4/01/2021      50,000       50,385  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5.375%, 12/01/2021      35,000       35,091  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 4/01/2022      60,000       60,305  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 3/01/2026      10,000       9,767  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 4/01/2027      190,000       183,800  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5.5%, 12/01/2031      65,000       63,272  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5.125%, 4/01/2032      75,000       69,756  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5%, 3/01/2036      65,000       57,850  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (Ana G. Mendez University System Project), 5.375%, 4/01/2042      55,000       50,021  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (University of Sacred Heart), 4.375%, 10/01/2031      45,000       30,700  

 

44


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Puerto Rico - continued  
Puerto Rico Industrial, Tourist, Educational, Medical & Environmental Control Facilities Financing Authority, Higher Education Rev. (University of Sacred Heart), 5%, 10/01/2042    $ 25,000     $ 16,460  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2018      35,000       35,384  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2023      310,000       321,560  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2024      400,000       413,320  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2027      485,000       491,446  
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority Special Tax Rev., “C”, AMBAC, 5.5%, 7/01/2028      70,000       70,385  
Puerto Rico Municipal Finance Agency, “A”, AGM, 5%, 8/01/2027      20,000       20,055  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Government Facilities Rev., “M-3”, NATL, 6%, 7/01/2027      100,000       100,638  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Government Facilities Rev., “M-3”, NATL, 6%, 7/01/2028      35,000       35,213  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Rev., “M-2”, AMBAC, 10%, 7/01/2035      390,000       409,453  
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority, Government Facilities Rev., “I”, ASSD GTY, 5%, 7/01/2036      45,000       45,057  
Puerto Rico Public Finance Corp., “E”, ETM, 6%, 8/01/2026      80,000       100,893  
Puerto Rico Public Finance Corp., “E”, ETM, 6%, 8/01/2026      820,000       1,034,151  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., “C”, 5%, 8/01/2040 (a)(d)      450,000       178,425  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2040      325,000       78,640  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2041      265,000       60,388  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2043      255,000       51,281  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2044      165,000       31,170  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2042      695,000       148,786  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2045      115,000       20,408  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, NATL, 0%, 8/01/2046      2,370,000       395,103  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, AMBAC, 0%, 8/01/2054      680,000       81,546  

 

45


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Puerto Rico - continued  
University of Puerto Rico Rev., “P”, NATL, 5%, 6/01/2025    $ 40,000     $ 39,460  
    

 

 

 
      $ 12,262,896  
Rhode Island - 0.5%  
Rhode Island Health & Educational Building Corp. Rev., Hospital Financing (Lifespan Obligated Group), “A”, ASSD GTY, 7%, 5/15/2039 (Prerefunded 5/15/2019)    $ 660,000     $ 711,473  
South Carolina - 1.3%                 
Richland County, SC, Environmental Improvement Rev. (International Paper), “A”, 3.875%, 4/01/2023    $ 525,000     $ 564,296  
South Carolina Economic Development Authority, Residential Care Facilities Rev. (South Carolina Episcopal Home at Still Hopes), 5%, 4/01/2047      75,000       77,884  
South Carolina Economic Development Authority, Residential Care Facilities Rev. (South Carolina Episcopal Home at Still Hopes), 5%, 4/01/2052      55,000       56,818  
South Carolina Jobs & Economic Development Authority, Health Facilities Rev. (Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, Inc.), 5.125%, 5/01/2048      40,000       41,264  
South Carolina Public Service Authority Rev., “A”, 5.125%, 12/01/2043      280,000       309,336  
South Carolina Public Service Authority Rev., “B”, 5.125%, 12/01/2043      675,000       745,720  
    

 

 

 
      $ 1,795,318  
Tennessee - 3.3%  
Chattanooga, TN, Health Educational & Housing Facility Board Rev. (Catholic Health Initiatives), “A”, 5.25%, 1/01/2045    $ 1,035,000     $ 1,116,527  
Knox County, TN, Health, Educational & Housing Facility Board Hospital Rev. (Covenant Health), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2047      265,000       296,546  
Knox County, TN, Health, Educational & Housing Facility Board Knox Rev. (University Health System, Inc.), 5%, 4/01/2030      45,000       51,562  
Knox County, TN, Health, Educational & Housing Facility Board Knox Rev. (University Health System, Inc.), 5%, 4/01/2031      50,000       56,945  
Knox County, TN, Health, Educational & Housing Facility Board Knox Rev. (University Health System, Inc.), 5%, 4/01/2036      30,000       33,552  
Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, TN, Health & Educational Facilities Board Rev. (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), “A”, 5%, 7/01/2035      205,000       232,148  
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 9/01/2021      1,710,000       1,912,618  
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 9/01/2022      270,000       308,054  
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Rev., “A”, 5.25%, 9/01/2026      165,000       198,272  

 

46


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Tennessee - continued  
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Rev., “C”, 5%, 2/01/2025    $ 240,000     $ 279,266  
    

 

 

 
      $ 4,485,490  
Texas - 12.6%  
Arlington, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Education Rev. (Newman International Academy), “A”, 5.375%, 8/15/2036    $ 40,000     $ 39,880  
Arlington, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Education Rev. (Newman International Academy), “A”, 5.5%, 8/15/2046      185,000       180,808  
Arlington, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Education Rev. (Wayside Schools), “A”, 4.375%, 8/15/2036      25,000       24,794  
Arlington, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Education Rev. (Wayside Schools), “A”, 4.625%, 8/15/2046      50,000       50,352  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel First Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2029      35,000       41,102  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel First Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2031      50,000       57,720  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel Second Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 1/01/2026      25,000       29,009  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel Second Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 1/01/2028      15,000       17,406  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel Second Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 1/01/2030      25,000       28,711  
Austin, TX, Convention Center Hotel Second Tier Rev. (Convention Enterprises, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 1/01/2034      10,000       11,290  
Brazos River, TX, Harbor Navigation District (Dow Chemical Co.), “B-2”, 4.95%, 5/15/2033      400,000       409,196  
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Senior Lien Rev., “A”, 5%, 1/01/2045      90,000       100,306  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Idea Public Schools), 6%, 8/15/2033      105,000       121,557  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Idea Public Schools), 5.75%, 8/15/2041      75,000       85,664  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Idea Public Schools), 5%, 8/15/2042      410,000       432,407  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Idea Public Schools), 6%, 8/15/2043      165,000       191,253  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Uplift Education), “A”, 6.125%, 12/01/2040 (Prerefunded 12/01/2020)      215,000       242,301  
Clifton, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (Uplift Education), “A”, 6.25%, 12/01/2045 (Prerefunded 12/01/2020)      135,000       152,631  
Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, International Airport Rev., “B”, 5%, 11/01/2044      370,000       410,663  

 

47


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Texas - continued  
Dallas, TX, Civic Center Convention Complex Rev., ASSD GTY, 5.25%, 8/15/2034    $ 845,000     $ 888,982  
Decatur Hospital Authority Rev. (Wise Regional Health System), “A”, 5.25%, 9/01/2044      100,000       108,052  
Gulf Coast, TX, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (CITGO Petroleum Corp.), 4.875%, 5/01/2025      115,000       119,779  
Gulf Coast, TX, Industrial Development Authority Rev. (CITGO Petroleum Corp.), 8%, 4/01/2028      375,000       378,488  
Harris County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Medical Facilities Rev. (Baylor College of Medicine), “D”, 5.625%, 11/15/2032 (Prerefunded 11/15/2018)      540,000       561,757  
Harris County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Financial Corp., Thermal Utilities Rev. (Teco Project), “A”, 5.25%, 11/15/2035      140,000       149,117  
Harris County, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp., Hospital Rev. (Memorial Hermann Healthcare Systems), “B”, 7.25%, 12/01/2035 (Prerefunded 12/01/2018)      205,000       216,812  
Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority Rev., “C”, 5%, 11/15/2031      110,000       124,218  
Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority Rev., “C”, 5%, 11/15/2032      20,000       22,518  
Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority Rev., “C”, 5%, 11/15/2033      40,000       44,876  
Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, AGM, 0%, 11/15/2041      70,000       24,834  
Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority Rev., Capital Appreciation, “A”, AGM, 0%, 11/15/2046      175,000       48,171  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., “B”, 5%, 7/01/2026      175,000       193,407  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Special Facilities (Continental Airlines, Inc.), 6.5%, 7/15/2030      445,000       488,819  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Special Facilities Rev. (United Airlines, Inc. Terminal E Project), 4.5%, 7/01/2020      115,000       120,964  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Special Facilities Rev. (United Airlines, Inc. Terminal E Project), 4.75%, 7/01/2024      310,000       338,105  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Special Facilities Rev. (United Airlines, Inc. Terminal E Project), 5%, 7/01/2029      595,000       653,227  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Special Facilities Rev. (United Airlines, Inc. Terminal Improvement Projects), “B-1”, 5%, 7/15/2030      175,000       192,528  
Houston, TX, Airport System Rev., Subordinate Lien, “A”, 5%, 7/01/2031      150,000       165,636  
Houston, TX, Industrial Development Corp. (United Parcel Service, Inc.), 6%, 3/01/2023      310,000       310,570  
La Vernia, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Rev. (KIPP, Inc.), “A”, 6.25%, 8/15/2039 (Prerefunded 8/15/2019)      195,000       209,639  

 

48


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Texas - continued  
Matagorda County, TX, Pollution Control Rev. (Central Power & Light Co.), “A”, 6.3%, 11/01/2029    $ 275,000     $ 298,207  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (Wesleyan Homes, Inc. Project), 5.5%, 1/01/2035      75,000       80,960  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (Wesleyan Homes, Inc. Project), 5.5%, 1/01/2043      80,000       85,699  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (Carillon Lifecare Community Project), 5%, 7/01/2036      70,000       71,863  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (Carillon Lifecare Community Project), 5%, 7/01/2046      90,000       90,997  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (MRC Senior Living - The Langford Project), “A”, 5%, 11/15/2026      15,000       15,265  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (MRC Senior Living - The Langford Project), “A”, 5.375%, 11/15/2036      20,000       20,148  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (MRC Senior Living - The Langford Project), “A”, 5.5%, 11/15/2046      35,000       35,245  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (MRC Senior Living - The Langford Project), “A”, 5.5%, 11/15/2052      45,000       45,125  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Rev. (Wesleyan Homes, Inc. Project), 5.5%, 1/01/2049      80,000       85,398  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “A-1”, 5%, 7/01/2031      15,000       17,071  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “A-1”, 4%, 7/01/2036      70,000       70,861  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “A-1”, 5%, 7/01/2046      140,000       154,129  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “A-1”, 5%, 7/01/2051      145,000       159,297  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “B”, 4%, 7/01/2031      35,000       35,817  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “B”, 4.25%, 7/01/2036      45,000       45,907  

 

49


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Texas - continued  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “B”, 5%, 7/01/2046    $ 130,000     $ 139,844  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (Cardinal Bay, Inc. - Village on the Park/Carriage Inn Project), “B”, 4.75%, 7/01/2051      115,000       120,270  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (MRC Crestview Project), 5%, 11/15/2031      30,000       32,051  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Senior Living Rev. (MRC Crestview Project), 5%, 11/15/2036      20,000       20,909  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Student Housing Rev. (CHF - Collegiate Housing Stephenville III, L.L.C. - Tarleton State University Project), 5%, 4/01/2030      25,000       27,437  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Student Housing Rev. (CHF - Collegiate Housing Stephenville III, L.L.C. - Tarleton State University Project), 5%, 4/01/2035      30,000       32,242  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Student Housing Rev. (CHF - Collegiate Housing Stephenville III, L.L.C. - Tarleton State University Project), 5%, 4/01/2047      65,000       69,089  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Student Housing Rev. (Collegiate Housing Island Campus LLC - Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Island Campus Project), 5%, 4/01/2037      40,000       43,306  
New Hope, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Student Housing Rev. (Collegiate Housing Island Campus LLC - Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Island Campus Project), 5%, 4/01/2042      45,000       48,465  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (A+ Charter Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5.5%, 8/15/2035      90,000       92,607  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (A+ Charter Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5.75%, 8/15/2045      50,000       51,435  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (Austin Achieve Public Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 6/15/2032      25,000       25,313  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (Austin Achieve Public Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 6/15/2037      25,000       25,161  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (Austin Achieve Public Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 6/15/2042      30,000       30,011  
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp. Authority Rev. (Austin Achieve Public Schools, Inc.), “A”, 5.25%, 6/15/2048      65,000       65,363  
North Texas Education Finance Corp., Education Rev. (Uplift Education), “A”, 5.125%, 12/01/2042      170,000       180,809  
North Texas Tollway Authority Rev., 6%, 1/01/2038      765,000       864,366  
North Texas Tollway Authority Rev. (Special Projects System), “D”, 5%, 9/01/2031      1,200,000       1,337,388  
Red River, TX, Education Finance Corp., Higher Education Rev. (Houston Baptist University Project), 5.5%, 10/01/2046      225,000       250,938  

 

50


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Texas - continued  
Red River, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp., Retirement Facilities Rev. (MRC The Crossings Project), “A”, 7.5%, 11/15/2034    $ 100,000     $ 115,596  
Red River, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp., Retirement Facilities Rev. (MRC The Crossings Project), “A”, 7.75%, 11/15/2044      185,000       214,424  
Red River, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp., Retirement Facilities Rev. (MRC The Crossings Project), “A”, 8%, 11/15/2049      135,000       158,000  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Northwest Senior Housing Corporation Edgemere Project), “B”, 5%, 11/15/2036      290,000       303,734  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Air Force Village Obligated Group Project), 6.125%, 11/15/2029 (Prerefunded 11/15/2019)      550,000       595,309  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Air Force Village Obligated Group Project), 6.375%, 11/15/2044 (Prerefunded 11/15/2019)      415,000       451,163  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Barton Creek Senior Living Center, Inc., Querencia Project), 5%, 11/15/2030      80,000       86,873  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Barton Creek Senior Living Center, Inc., Querencia Project), 5%, 11/15/2035      100,000       106,538  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Barton Creek Senior Living Center, Inc., Querencia Project), 5%, 11/15/2040      110,000       116,043  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc. Project), 3.875%, 11/15/2020      150,000       150,006  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Buckner Senior Living - Ventana Project), “B-3”, 3.875%, 11/15/2022      75,000       75,256  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Northwest Senior Housing Corporation Edgemere Project), “B”, 5%, 11/15/2030      155,000       165,459  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Stayton at Museum Way), 8.25%, 11/15/2044      770,000       692,299  
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp. Retirement Facility Rev. (Trinity Terrace Project), “A-1”, 5%, 10/01/2044      60,000       64,327  
Texas Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp III., Gas Supply Rev., 5%, 12/15/2031      150,000       166,574  
Texas Private Activity Surface Transportation Corp. Senior Lien Rev. (NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC Segments 3A & 3B Facility), 7%, 12/31/2038      170,000       202,938  

 

51


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Texas - continued  
Texas Private Activity Surface Transportation Corp. Senior Lien Rev. (NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC Segments 3A & 3B Facility), 6.75%, 6/30/2043    $ 135,000     $ 158,863  
Texas Transportation Commission, Central Texas Turnpike System Rev., Capital Appreciation, “B”, 0%, 8/15/2036      345,000       156,568  
Travis County, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp. Rev. (Westminster Manor Health), 7%, 11/01/2030 (Prerefunded 11/01/2020)      105,000       120,401  
Travis County, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp. Rev. (Westminster Manor Health), 7.125%, 11/01/2040 (Prerefunded 11/01/2020)      195,000       224,289  
Travis County, TX, Health Facilities Development Corp. Rev., Unrefunded Balance, (Westminster Manor Health), 7%, 11/01/2030      20,000       22,696  
    

 

 

 
      $ 17,103,898  
Utah - 0.2%  
Utah Charter School Finance Authority, Charter School Rev. (Reagan Academy Project), 5%, 2/15/2046    $ 120,000     $ 123,721  
Utah Charter School Finance Authority, Charter School Rev. (Spectrum Academy), 6%, 4/15/2045      130,000       136,310  
    

 

 

 
      $ 260,031  
Vermont - 0.2%  
Burlington, VT, Airport Rev., “A”, 4%, 7/01/2028    $ 90,000     $ 93,545  
Vermont Economic Development Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Rev. (Casella Waste Systems, Inc.), 4.75%, 4/01/2036 (Put Date 4/02/2018)      170,000       170,473  
    

 

 

 
      $ 264,018  
Virginia - 2.0%  
Embrey Mill Community Development Authority, VA, Special Assessment Rev., 7.25%, 3/01/2043    $ 410,000     $ 448,282  
Fairfax County, VA, Industrial Development Authority Health Care Rev. (Inova Health System Project), “A”, 5%, 5/15/2030      180,000       213,995  
Fairfax County, VA, Industrial Development Authority Health Care Rev. (Inova Health System Project), “A”, 5%, 5/15/2031      55,000       65,150  
Norfolk, VA, Redevelopment & Housing Authority Rev. (Fort Norfolk Retirement Community), 5%, 1/01/2046      55,000       56,247  
Norfolk, VA, Redevelopment & Housing Authority Rev. (Fort Norfolk Retirement Community), 5.375%, 1/01/2046      130,000       136,261  
Prince William County, VA, Cherry Hill Community Development Authority Rev. (Potomac Shores Project), 5.4%, 3/01/2045      100,000       102,886  
Virginia College Building Authority, Educational Facilities Rev. (Marymount University), “B”, 5.25%, 7/01/2030      175,000       193,869  

 

52


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued                 
Virginia - continued                 
Virginia College Building Authority, Educational Facilities Rev. (Marymount University), “B”, 5.25%, 7/01/2035    $ 175,000     $ 191,200  
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority Rev. (Elizabeth River Crossings Opco LLC Project), 6%, 1/01/2037      385,000       436,663  
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority Rev. (Elizabeth River Crossings Opco LLC Project), 5.5%, 1/01/2042      755,000       838,178  
    

 

 

 
      $ 2,682,731  
Washington - 4.2%  
King County, WA, Sewer Rev., 5%, 1/01/2040 (Prerefunded 7/01/2020)    $ 945,000     $ 1,023,482  
King County, WA, Sewer Rev., 5%, 1/01/2040      450,000       482,189  
Olympia, WA, Healthcare Facilities Authority Rev. (Catholic Health Initiatives), “D”, 6.375%, 10/01/2036      1,095,000       1,137,990  
Washington Health Care Facilities Authority Rev. (Multicare Health Systems), “B”, ASSD GTY, 6%, 8/15/2039 (Prerefunded 8/15/2019)      440,000       471,970  
Washington Health Care Facilities Authority Rev. (Providence Health & Services), “A”, 5%, 10/01/2033      1,105,000       1,233,876  
Washington Health Care Facilities Authority Rev. (Virginia Mason Medical Center), 5%, 8/15/2035      70,000       78,446  
Washington Health Care Facilities Authority Rev. (Virginia Mason Medical Center), 5%, 8/15/2036      50,000       55,902  
Washington Health Care Facilities Authority Rev. (Virginia Mason Medical Center), 5%, 8/15/2037      50,000       55,772  
Washington Higher Education Facilities Authority Rev. (Whitworth University), 5.875%, 10/01/2034 (Prerefunded 10/01/2019)      280,000       300,910  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest Projects), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2036      100,000       106,604  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest Projects), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2046      105,000       110,310  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest Projects), “A”, 5%, 1/01/2051      105,000       109,909  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Wesley Homes at Lea Hill Project), 5%, 7/01/2041      100,000       102,519  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Wesley Homes at Lea Hill Project), 5%, 7/01/2046      115,000       117,326  
Washington Housing Finance Commission Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Wesley Homes at Lea Hill Project), 5%, 7/01/2051      165,000       167,756  
Washington Housing Finance Community Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Heron’s Key Senior Living), “B-2”, 4.875%, 1/01/2022      115,000       115,045  

 

53


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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Washington - continued  
Washington Housing Finance Community Nonprofit Housing Rev. (Heron’s Key Senior Living), “B-3”, 4.375%, 1/01/2021    $ 100,000     $ 100,037  
    

 

 

 
      $ 5,770,043  
West Virginia - 0.2%  
Monongalia County, WV, Building Commission Improvement Rev. (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5%, 7/01/2029    $ 40,000     $ 45,641  
Monongalia County, WV, Building Commission Improvement Rev. (Monongalia Health System Obligated Group), 5%, 7/01/2030      80,000       90,873  
Monongalia County, WV, Special District Excise Tax Rev., Refunding & Improvement Bonds (University Town Centre Economic Opportunity Development District), “A”, 5.5%, 6/01/2037      110,000       113,588  
    

 

 

 
      $ 250,102  
Wisconsin - 5.8%  
State of Wisconsin, Annual Appropriations Rev., “A”, STAPRP, 5.75%, 5/01/2033 (Prerefunded 5/01/2019)    $ 65,000     $ 68,713  
State of Wisconsin, Annual Appropriations Rev., Unrefunded Balance “A”, NATL, 5.75%, 5/01/2033 (Prerefunded 5/01/2019)      595,000       628,986  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Rev. (American Baptist Homes), 5%, 8/01/2027      115,000       121,955  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Rev. (American Baptist Homes), 5%, 8/01/2032      105,000       108,405  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Rev. (American Baptist Homes), 5%, 8/01/2037      55,000       55,966  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Refunding Rev. (American Baptist Homes), 5%, 8/01/2039      55,000       55,839  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Aurora Health Care, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 7/15/2026      200,000       219,214  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Aurora Health Care, Inc.), “A”, 5%, 7/15/2028      60,000       65,372  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Marshfield Clinic Health System, Inc.), “C”, 5%, 2/15/2047      115,000       127,599  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Meritor Hospital), “A”, 5.5%, 5/01/2031 (Prerefunded 5/01/2021)      725,000       815,074  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (Meritor Hospital), “A”, 6%, 5/01/2041 (Prerefunded 5/01/2021)      490,000       558,953  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (St. John’s Community, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 9/15/2037      20,000       21,246  
Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority Rev. (St. John’s Community, Inc.), “B”, 5%, 9/15/2045      30,000       31,666  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Education Rev. (Mountain Island Charter School), 5%, 7/01/2047      45,000       47,233  

 

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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Wisconsin - continued  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Education Rev. (Mountain Island Charter School), 5%, 7/01/2037    $ 40,000     $ 42,268  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Education Rev. (Pine Lake Preparatory), 4.95%, 3/01/2030      55,000       57,375  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Education Rev. (Pine Lake Preparatory), 5.25%, 3/01/2035      55,000       57,246  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Education Rev. (Pine Lake Preparatory), 5.5%, 3/01/2045      150,000       155,975  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Healthcare Facility (Church Home of Hartford, Inc. Project), “A”, 4%, 9/01/2020      25,000       25,873  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Healthcare Facility (Church Home of Hartford, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 9/01/2025      30,000       32,751  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Healthcare Facility (Church Home of Hartford, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 9/01/2030      75,000       78,891  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Healthcare Facility (Church Home of Hartford, Inc. Project), “A”, 5%, 9/01/2038      60,000       61,865  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Limited Obligation Grant Rev. (American Dream at Meadowlands Project), “A”, 6.25%, 8/01/2027      665,000       710,147  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Limited Obligation PILOT Rev. (American Dream at Meadowlands Project), 6.5%, 12/01/2037      440,000       503,329  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Limited Obligation PILOT Rev. (American Dream at Meadowlands Project), 7%, 12/01/2050      260,000       303,402  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Rev. (Roseman University of Health Sciences Project), 5.75%, 4/01/2035      150,000       164,990  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Refunding Bonds Rev. (Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst Project), “A”, 5.25%, 5/15/2042      30,000       32,597  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Refunding Bonds Rev. (Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst Project), “A”, 5.25%, 5/15/2047      145,000       157,065  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Refunding Bonds Rev. (Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst Project), “A”, 5.25%, 5/15/2052      45,000       48,579  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Refunding Bonds Rev. (Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst Project), “A”, 5.25%, 5/15/2037      45,000       49,078  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Rev. (Rose Villa Project), “A”, 5.125%, 11/15/2029      110,000       117,233  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Rev. (Rose Villa Project), “A”, 5.5%, 11/15/2034      100,000       107,387  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Rev. (Rose Villa Project), “A”, 5.75%, 11/15/2044      95,000       102,544  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Senior Living Rev. (Rose Villa Project), “A”, 6%, 11/15/2049      115,000       125,477  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Student Housing Rev., (Western Carolina University Project), 5.25%, 7/01/2047      190,000       203,587  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority, Airport Facilities Rev. (Transportation Infrastructure Properties LLC), “B”, 5%, 7/01/2022      110,000       118,304  

 

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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
Municipal Bonds - continued  
Wisconsin - continued  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority, Airport Facilities Rev. (Transportation Infrastructure Properties LLC), “B”, 5.25%, 7/01/2028    $ 1,445,000     $ 1,577,174  
Wisconsin Public Finance Authority, Airport Facilities Rev. (Transportation Infrastructure Properties LLC), “B”, 5%, 7/01/2042      75,000       79,816  
    

 

 

 
      $ 7,839,174  
Total Municipal Bonds (Identified Cost, $195,231,142)     $ 207,511,680  
Investment Companies (h) - 1.0%  
Money Market Funds - 1.0%  
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 1.19% (v) (Identified Cost, $1,313,296)      1,313,296     $ 1,313,165  
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 1.6%       2,219,343  
VMTPS, at liquidation value of $75,000,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $32,497 (issued by the fund) - (55.1)%       (74,967,503
Net assets applicable to common shares - 100.0%     $ 136,076,685  

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(d) In default.
(h) An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. At period end, the aggregate values of the fund’s investments in affiliated issuers and in unaffiliated issuers were $1,313,165 and $207,511,680, respectively.
(n) Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At period end, the aggregate value of these securities was $1,725,008, representing 1.3% of net assets applicable to common shares.
(v) Affiliated issuer that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(z) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The fund holds the following restricted securities:

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
  
Cost
     Value  
Resolution Trust Corp., Pass-Through Certificates, “1993”, 9.75%, 2/01/2018    10/17/01      $455,481        $455,481  
% of Net assets applicable to common shares        0.3%  

 

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Portfolio of Investments – continued

 

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

COP   Certificate of Participation
ETM   Escrowed to Maturity
LOC   Letter of Credit
VMTPS   Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares

 

Insurers      
AGM    Assured Guaranty Municipal      
AMBAC    AMBAC Indemnity Corp.      
ASSD GTY    Assured Guaranty Insurance Co.      
BAM    Build America Mutual      
CALHF    California Health Facility Construction Loan Insurance Program      
FHLMC    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.      
GNMA    Government National Mortgage Assn.      
NATL    National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.      

Derivative Contracts at 11/30/17

Futures Contracts

 

Description   Long/
Short
    Currency     Contracts   Notional
Amount
    Expiration
Date
    Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Asset Derivatives          
Interest Rate Futures          
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr     Short       USD     180         $22,328,438       March - 2018       $168,084  
U.S. Treasury Bond 30 yr     Short       USD     15         2,275,781       March - 2018       29,476  
           

 

 

 
              $197,560  
           

 

 

 

At November 30, 2017, the fund had cash collateral of $229,500 to cover any collateral or margin obligations for certain derivative contracts. Restricted cash and deposits with brokers in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are comprised of cash collateral.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 11/30/17

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $195,231,142)

     $207,511,680  

Investments in affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $1,313,296)

     1,313,165  

Deposits with brokers for futures contracts

     229,500  

Receivables for

 

Daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     82,974  

Investments sold

     434,152  

Interest

     3,267,398  

Other assets

     2,234  

Total assets

     $212,841,103  
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Distributions on common shares

     $25,179  

Investments purchased

     1,524,460  

Interest expense

     128,568  

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     7,735  

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     1,287  

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     30  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     109,656  

VMTPS, at liquidation value of $75,000,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $32,497

     74,967,503  

Total liabilities

     $76,764,418  

Net assets applicable to common shares

     $136,076,685  
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital - common shares

     $131,830,369  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     12,477,967  

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

     (8,934,536

Undistributed net investment income

     702,885  

Net assets applicable to common shares

     $136,076,685  

VMTPS, at liquidation value of $75,000,000 net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $32,497 (3,000 shares of Series 2019/3 issued and outstanding at $25,000 per share)

     74,967,503  

Net assets including preferred shares

     $211,044,188  

Common shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding

     28,320,586  

Net asset value per common share (net assets of $136,076,685 / 28,320,586 shares of beneficial interest outstanding)

     $4.80  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year ended 11/30/17

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income (loss)  

Income

 

Interest

     $10,964,971  

Dividends from affiliated issuers

     22,171  

Total investment income

     $10,987,142  

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $1,370,974  

Transfer agent and dividend disbursing costs

     26,922  

Administrative services fee

     43,031  

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     22,312  

Stock exchange fee

     27,607  

Custodian fee

     11,474  

Shareholder communications

     35,188  

Audit and tax fees

     80,858  

Legal fees

     12,142  

Interest expense and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs

     1,508,025  

Miscellaneous

     81,049  

Total expenses

     $3,219,582  

Net investment income (loss)

     $7,767,560  
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)  

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

 

Unaffiliated issuers

     $728,075  

Affiliated issuers

     209  

Futures contracts

     (414,612

Net realized gain (loss)

     $313,672  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 

Unaffiliated issuers

     $2,870,568  

Affiliated issuers

     (131

Futures contracts

     140,024  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     $3,010,461  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     $3,324,133  

Change in net assets from operations

     $11,091,693  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

     Year ended  
     11/30/17      11/30/16  
Change in net assets  
From operations  

Net investment income (loss)

     $7,767,560        $8,146,700  

Net realized gain (loss)

     313,672        1,019,107  

Net unrealized gain (loss)

     3,010,461        (5,867,892

Distributions declared to shareholders of auction rate preferred shares

            (6,569

Change in net assets from operations

     $11,091,693        $3,291,346  
Distributions declared to common shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(7,673,555      $(7,713,321
Share transactions applicable to common and preferred shares                  

Net asset value of shares issued to common shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

     $25,759        $77,677  

Total change in net assets

     $3,443,897        $(4,344,298
Net assets applicable to common shares  

At beginning of period

     132,632,788        136,977,086  

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $702,885 and $873,239, respectively)

     $136,076,685        $132,632,788  

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Year ended 11/30/17

This statement provides a summary of cash flows from investment activity for the fund.

 

Cash flows from operating activities:         

Change in net assets from operations

     $11,091,693  
Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:         

Purchase of investment securities

     (35,046,931

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     33,766,347  

Proceeds from disposition of short-term investments, net

     1,632,904  

Realized gain/loss on investments

     (728,284

Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     (2,870,437

Net amortization/accretion of income

     (410,167

Amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs

     24,404  

Increase in interest receivable

     (14,730

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     13,481  

Decrease in receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     51,151  

Decrease in deposits with brokers

     109,100  

Decrease in other assets

     5,211  

Increase in payable for interest expense

     23,588  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     $7,647,330  
Cash flows from financing activities:         

Cash distributions paid on common shares

     (7,647,330
Cash:         

Beginning of period

     $—  

End of period

     $—  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Non-cash financing activities not included herein consist of reinvestment of dividends and distributions of $25,759.

Cash paid during the year ended November 30, 2017 for interest was $1,460,033.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the past 5 years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

Common Shares   Year ended  
    11/30/17     11/30/16     11/30/15     11/30/14     11/30/13  
                                         

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $4.68       $4.84       $4.85       $4.45       $5.04  
Income (loss) from investment operations                                  

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $0.27       $0.29 (c)      $0.31       $0.30       $0.30  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.12       (0.18     (0.04     0.39       (0.60

Distributions declared to shareholders of
auction rate preferred shares

          (0.00 )(w)      (0.00 )(w)      (0.00 )(w)      (0.00 )(w) 

Total from investment operations

    $0.39       $0.11       $0.27       $0.69       $(0.30
Less distributions declared to common shareholders                          

From net investment income

    $(0.27     $(0.27     $(0.28     $(0.29     $(0.29

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $4.80       $4.68       $4.84       $4.85       $4.45  

Market value, end of period

    $4.73       $4.37       $4.51       $4.41       $4.06  

Total return at market value (%) (p)

    14.66       2.55       9.00       16.03       (17.59

Total return at net asset value (%) (j)(r)(s)(x)

    8.65       2.34 (c)      6.36       16.42       (5.91
Ratios (%) (to average net assets
applicable to common shares)
and Supplemental data:
                                       

Expenses before expense reduction (f)(p)

    2.37       2.10 (c)      1.96       2.01       2.02  

Expenses after expense reductions (f)(p)

    N/A       N/A       N/A       2.01       2.02  

Net investment income (loss) (p)

    5.71       5.81 (c)      6.33       6.29       6.35  

Portfolio turnover

    15       14       17       12       18  

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

    $136,077       $132,633       $136,977       $137,260       $126,038  
Supplemental Ratios (%):                                  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
applicable to common shares after expense
reductions and excluding interest expense
and fees (f)(l)(p)

    1.26       1.24 (c)      1.29       1.31       1.30  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
applicable to common and preferred shares
after expense reductions and excluding
interest expense and fees (f)(l)(p)

    0.81       0.80 (c)      0.83       0.84       0.84  

Net investment income (loss) available to
common shares

    5.71       5.80 (c)      6.32       6.28       6.34  

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

    Year ended  
    11/30/17     11/30/16     11/30/15     11/30/14     11/30/13  
Senior Securities:                                  

Auction Rate Preferred Shares

                156       156       156  

Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares

    3,000       3,000       2,844       2,844       2,844  

Total preferred shares outstanding

    3,000       3,000       3,000       3,000       3,000  

Asset coverage per preferred share (k)

    $70,348       $69,192       $70,659       $70,753       $67,013  

Involuntary liquidation preference per preferred share (m)

    $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000  

Average market value per preferred share (m)(u)

    $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000  

 

(c) Amount reflects a one-time reimbursement of expenses by the custodian (or former custodian) without which net investment income and performance would be lower and expenses would be higher.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(j) Total return at net asset value is calculated using the net asset value of the fund, not the publicly traded price and therefore may be different than the total return at market value.
(k) Calculated by subtracting the fund’s total liabilities (not including liquidation preference of preferred shares) from the fund’s total assets and dividing this number by the total number of preferred shares outstanding.
(l) Interest expense and fees relate to payments made to the holders of the floating rate certificates from trust assets, interest expense paid to shareholders of VMTPS and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs, as applicable. For the year ended November 30, 2016, the expense ratio also excludes fees and expenses related to redemption of the fund’s auction rate preferred shares (“ARPS”). For periods prior to November 30, 2016, the expense ratio includes amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs.
(m) Amount excludes accrued unpaid distributions and/or accrued interest on preferred shares.
(p) Ratio excludes dividend payments on auction rate preferred shares, if applicable.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(u) Average market value represents the approximate fair value of each of the fund’s preferred shares.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values and total returns at net asset value have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Business and Organization

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (the fund) is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified closed-end management investment company.

The fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make 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 amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests primarily in municipal instruments. The value of municipal instruments can be affected by changes in their actual or perceived credit quality. The credit quality of municipal instruments can be affected by, among other things, the financial condition of the issuer or guarantor, the issuer’s future borrowing plans and sources of revenue, the economic feasibility of the revenue bond project or general borrowing purpose, and political or economic developments in the region where the instrument is issued. Municipal instruments generally trade in the over-the-counter market. Municipal instruments backed by current and anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the discontinuance of the taxation supporting the projects or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the Internal Revenue Service determines an issuer of a municipal instrument has not complied with the applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable, the security could decline in value, and distributions made by the fund could be taxable to shareholders. The fund invests in high-yield securities rated below investment grade. Investments in high-yield securities involve greater degrees of credit and market risk than investments in higher-rated securities and tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions.

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its Final Rule on Investment Company Reporting Modernization (the “Rule”). The Rule, which introduced two new regulatory reporting forms for investment companies – Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN – also contained amendments to Regulation S-X which impact financial statement presentation, particularly the presentation of derivative investments, for all reporting periods ending after August 1, 2017. The fund has adopted the Rule’s Regulation S-X amendments and believes that the fund’s financial statements are in compliance with those amendments.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). For entities that have

 

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Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

restricted cash and are required to present a statement of cash flows, ASU 2016-18 changes the cash flow presentation for restricted cash. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2016-18, management expects that the effects of the fund’s adoption will be limited to the reclassification of restricted cash on the fund’s Statement of Cash Flows and the addition of disclosures regarding the nature of the restrictions on restricted cash. ASU 2016-18 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-08, Receivables –Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20) – Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities (“ASU 2017-08”). For entities that hold callable debt securities at a premium, ASU 2017-08 requires that the premium be amortized to the earliest call date. ASU 2017-08 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2017-08 but believes that adoption of ASU 2017-08 will not have a material effect on the fund’s overall financial position or its overall results of operations.

Balance Sheet Offsetting – The fund’s accounting policy with respect to balance sheet offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement, or similar agreement, does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty. The fund’s right to setoff may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or insolvency laws of the particular jurisdiction to which a specific master netting agreement counterparty is subject. Balance sheet offsetting disclosures, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

Investment Valuations – Debt instruments and floating rate loans, including restricted debt instruments, are generally valued at an evaluated or composite bid as provided by a third-party pricing service. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Futures contracts are generally valued at last posted settlement price on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Futures contracts for which there were no trades that day for a particular position are generally valued at the closing bid quotation on their primary exchange as provided by a third-party pricing service. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments

 

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Notes to Financial Statements – continued

 

are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures contracts. The following is a summary of the levels used as of November 30, 2017 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Financial Instruments    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Municipal Bonds      $—        $207,511,680        $—        $207,511,680  
Mutual Funds      1,313,165                      1,313,165  
Total      $1,313,165        $207,511,680        $—        $208,824,845  
Other Financial Instruments                            
Futures Contracts – Assets      $197,560        $—        $—        $197,560  

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

 

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Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives for different purposes, primarily to increase or decrease exposure to a particular market or segment of the market, or security, to increase or decrease interest rate exposure, or as alternatives to direct investments. Derivatives are used for hedging or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. When the fund uses derivatives as an investment to increase market exposure, or for hedging purposes, gains and losses from derivative instruments may be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost.

The derivative instruments used by the fund were futures contracts. Depending on the type of derivative, the fund may exit a derivative position by entering into an offsetting transaction with a counterparty or exchange, negotiating an agreement with the derivative counterparty, or novating the position to a third party. The fund may be unable to promptly close out a futures position in instances where the daily fluctuation in the price for that type of future exceeds the daily limit set by the exchange. The fund’s period end derivatives, as presented in the Portfolio of Investments and the associated Derivative Contract tables, generally are indicative of the volume of its derivative activity during the period.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the fair value, on a gross basis, of the asset and liability components of derivatives held by the fund at November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

           Fair Value (a)  
Risk   Derivative Contracts      Asset Derivatives  
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures        $197,560  

 

(a) The value for futures contracts presented in this table corresponds to the value reported in the fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day net variation margin for futures contracts is separately reported within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the realized gain (loss) on derivatives held by the fund for the year ended November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures Contracts  
Interest Rate      $(414,612

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives held by the fund for the year ended November 30, 2017 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures Contracts  
Interest Rate      $140,024  

Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. On certain, but not all, uncleared derivatives, the fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk whenever possible by entering into an ISDA Master Agreement on a bilateral basis. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. Upon an event of default or a termination of the ISDA

 

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Master Agreement, the non-defaulting party has the right to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each agreement to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the fund’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the fund under the applicable transactions, if any.

Collateral and margin requirements differ by type of derivative. For cleared derivatives (e.g., futures contracts, cleared swaps, and exchange-traded options), margin requirements are set by the clearing broker and the clearing house and collateral, in the form of cash or securities, is posted by the fund directly with the clearing broker. Collateral terms are counterparty agreement specific for uncleared derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, uncleared swap agreements, and uncleared options) and collateral, in the form of cash and securities, is held in segregated accounts with the fund’s custodian in connection with these agreements. For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, which contains a collateral support annex, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such counterparty-specific agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash that has been segregated or delivered to cover the fund’s collateral or margin obligations under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as restricted cash for uncleared derivatives or deposits with brokers for cleared derivatives, respectively. Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the Portfolio of Investments. The fund may be required to make payments of interest on uncovered collateral or margin obligations with the broker. Any such payments are included in interest expense in the Statement of Operations.

Futures Contracts – The fund entered into futures contracts which may be used to hedge against or obtain broad market exposure, interest rate exposure, or to manage duration. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.

Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund is required to deposit with the broker, either in cash or securities, an initial margin in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the notional amount of the contract. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gain or loss by the fund until the contract is closed or expires at which point the gain or loss on futures contracts is realized.

The fund bears the risk of interest rates or securities prices moving unexpectedly, in which case, the fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contracts and may realize a loss. While futures contracts may present less counterparty risk to the fund since the contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse guarantees payments to the broker, there is still counterparty credit risk due to the insolvency of the broker. The fund’s maximum risk of loss due to counterparty credit risk is equal to the margin posted by the fund to the broker plus any gains or minus any losses on the outstanding futures contracts.

 

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Statement of Cash Flows – Information on financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt or disbursement of cash is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is the amount included within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and includes cash on hand at its custodian bank and does not include any short-term investments.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premium and discount is amortized or accreted for financial statement purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date. Debt obligations may be placed on non-accrual status or set to accrue at a rate of interest less than the contractual coupon when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful. Interest income for those debt obligations may be further reduced by the write-off of the related interest receivables when deemed uncollectible.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Legal fees and other related expenses incurred to preserve and protect the value of a security owned are added to the cost of the security; other legal fees are expensed. Capital infusions made directly to the security issuer, which are generally non-recurring, incurred to protect or enhance the value of high-yield debt securities, are reported as additions to the cost basis of the security. Costs that are incurred to negotiate the terms or conditions of capital infusions or that are expected to result in a plan of reorganization are reported as realized losses. Ongoing costs incurred to protect or enhance an investment, or costs incurred to pursue other claims or legal actions, are expensed.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable and tax-exempt income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Management has analyzed the fund’s tax positions taken on federal and state tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

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Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to defaulted bonds, expiration of capital loss carryforwards, amortization and accretion of debt securities, derivative transactions, and non-deductible expenses that result from the treatment of Variable Rate Municipal Term Preferred Shares (“VMTPS”) as equity for tax purposes.

The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last two fiscal years is as follows:

 

     Year ended
11/30/17
     Year ended
11/30/16
 
Ordinary income (including any short-term capital gains)      $132,842        $105,280  
Tax-exempt income      9,023,815        8,761,231  
Total distributions      $9,156,657        $8,866,511  

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 11/30/17       
Cost of investments      $195,855,245  
Gross appreciation      15,006,581  
Gross depreciation      (1,839,421
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $13,167,160  
Undistributed ordinary income      104,975  
Undistributed tax-exempt income      1,244,577  
Capital loss carryforwards      (10,116,649
Other temporary differences      (153,747

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after November 30, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

 

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As of November 30, 2017, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains as follows:

 

Pre-enactment losses which
expire as follows:
      
11/30/18      $(3,454,980
11/30/19      (4,608,836
Total      $(8,063,816
Post-enactment losses which
are characterized as follows:
      
Short-Term      $(1,322,611
Long-Term      (730,222
Total      $(2,052,833

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.65% of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares).

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, excluding interest expense on VMTPS, amortization of debt issuance costs on VMTPS, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs, and investment-related expenses, such that total fund operating expenses do not exceed 0.87% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares). This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until November 30, 2018. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the fund’s actual operating expenses did not exceed the limit and therefore, the investment adviser did not pay any portion of the fund’s expenses related to this agreement.

Transfer Agent – The fund engages Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) as the sole transfer agent for the fund’s common shares. MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC) monitors and supervises the activities of Computershare for an agreed upon fee approved by the Board of Trustees. For the year ended November 30, 2017, these fees paid to MFSC amounted to $7,679.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares). The administrative services fee incurred for the year ended November 30, 2017 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0204% of the fund’s average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares).

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay

 

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compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS and MFSC.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into a service agreement (the ISO Agreement) which provides for payment of fees solely by the funds to Tarantino LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Senior Officer (ISO) for the funds. Frank L. Tarantino serves as the ISO and is an officer of the funds and the sole member of Tarantino LLC. The funds can terminate the ISO Agreement with Tarantino LLC at any time under the terms of the ISO Agreement. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the fee paid by the fund under this agreement was $253 and is included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ISO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

(4) Portfolio Securities

For the year ended November 30, 2017, purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $31,812,329 and $29,919,916, respectively.

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. The fund reserves the right to repurchase shares of beneficial interest of the fund subject to Trustee approval. During the years ended November 30, 2017 and November 30, 2016, the fund did not repurchase any shares. Other transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

    Year ended
11/30/17
    Year ended
11/30/16
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
    5,333       $25,759       15,561       $77,677  

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.25 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Overnight Federal Reserve funds rate or daily one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Overnight Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $943 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

 

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(7) Investments in Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be affiliated issuers:

 

Affiliated Issuers          Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
    Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
      2,946,069       31,712,828       (33,345,601     1,313,296  
Affiliated Issuers   Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Capital Gain
Distributions
    Dividend
Income
    Ending
Value
 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio     $209       $(131     $—       $22,171       $1,313,165  

(8) Preferred Shares

The fund has 3,000 shares issued and outstanding of VMTPS, series 2019/3. The outstanding VMTPS are redeemable at the option of the fund in whole or in part at the liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, but generally solely for the purpose of decreasing the leverage of the fund. The VMTPS are subject to a mandatory term redemption date of March 31, 2019 unless extended through negotiation with the private holders of the VMTPS. There is no assurance that the term of the VMTPS will be extended or that the VMTPS will be replaced with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage upon the redemption of the VMTPS. Six months prior to the term redemption date of the VMTPS, the fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with the fund’s custodian to fund the redemption. Dividends on the VMTPS are cumulative and are reset weekly to a fixed spread against the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal Swap Index. During the year ended November 30, 2017, the VMTPS dividend rates ranged from 1.71% to 2.12%. For the year ended November 30, 2017, the average dividend rate was 1.95%.

In the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, the VMTPS aggregate liquidation preference is shown as a liability since they have a stated mandatory redemption date. Dividends paid to the VMTPS are treated as interest expense and recorded as incurred. For the year ended November 30, 2017, interest expense related to the dividends paid to VMTPS amounted to $1,483,102 and is included in “Interest expense and amortization of VMTPS debt issuance costs” in the Statement of Operations. Costs directly related to the issuance of the VMTPS are considered debt issuance costs. Debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability and are being amortized into interest expense over the life of the VMTPS. The period-end carrying value for the VMTPS in the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities is its liquidation value less any unamortized debt issuance costs, which approximates its fair value. Its fair value would be considered level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.

 

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Under the terms of a purchase agreement between the fund and the investor in the VMTPS, the fund is subject to various investment restrictions. These investment-related requirements are in various respects more restrictive than those to which the fund is otherwise subject in accordance with its investment objectives and policies. In addition, the fund is subject to certain restrictions on its investments imposed by guidelines of the rating agencies that rate the VMTPS, which guidelines may be changed by the applicable rating agency, in its sole discretion, from time to time. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).

The fund is required to maintain certain asset coverage with respect to the VMTPS as defined in the fund’s governing documents and the 1940 Act. One of a number of asset coverage-related requirements is that the fund is not permitted to declare or pay common share dividends unless immediately thereafter the fund has a minimum asset coverage ratio of 200% with respect to the VMTPS after deducting the amount of such common share dividends.

The 1940 Act requires that the preferred shareholders of the fund, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two trustees at all times, and elect a majority of the trustees at any time when dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid for two full years. Unless otherwise required by law or under the terms of the preferred shares, each preferred share is entitled to one vote and preferred shareholders will vote together with common shareholders as a single class.

Leverage involves risks and special considerations for the fund’s common shareholders. To the extent that investments are purchased by the fund with proceeds from the issuance of preferred shares, the fund’s net asset value will increase or decrease at a greater rate than a comparable unleveraged fund. Changes in the value of the fund’s portfolio will be borne entirely by the common shareholders. It is possible that the fund will be required to sell assets at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so in order to redeem preferred shares to comply with asset coverage or other restrictions including those imposed by the 1940 Act and the rating agencies that rate the preferred shares. There is no assurance that the fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (the Fund) as of November 30, 2017, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and others or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. 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 MFS High Yield Municipal Trust at November 30, 2017, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

January 16, 2018

 

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RESULTS OF SHAREHOLDER MEETING

(unaudited)

At the annual meeting of shareholders of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, which was held on October 5, 2017, the following actions were taken:

Item 1: To elect the following individuals as Trustees, elected by the holders of common and preferred shares together:

 

     Number of Shares  

Nominee

   For     

Withheld Authority

 
Steven E. Buller      24,884,604.329        562,689.371  
Michael Hegarty      24,736,356.277        710,937.423  

Item 2: To elect the following individuals as Trustees, elected by the holders of preferred shares only:

 

     Number of Shares  

Nominee

   For     

Withheld Authority

 
John P. Kavanaugh      3,000        0  
Laurie J. Thomsen      3,000        0  

 

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TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS — IDENTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as of January 1, 2018, are listed below, together with their principal occupations during the past five years. (Their titles may have varied during that period.) The address of each Trustee and Officer is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7618.

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

INTERESTED TRUSTEES        
Robert J. Manning (k)
(age 54)
  Trustee   February 2004   2019   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Executive Chairman (since January 2017); Director; Chairman of the Board; Chief Executive Officer (until 2015); Co-Chief Executive Officer (2015-2016)   N/A

Robin A. Stelmach (k)

(age 56)

  Trustee   January 2014   2018   137  

Massachusetts Financial

Services Company, Vice Chair (since January 2017); Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President (until January 2017)

  N/A
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES        

John P. Kavanaugh

(age 63)

  Trustee and Chair of Trustees   January 2009   2018   137   Private investor   N/A

 

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Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

Steven E. Buller

(age 66)

  Trustee   February 2014   2020   137   Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, Chairman (2014-2015); Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing Advisory Group, Member (until 2014); BlackRock, Inc. (investment management), Managing Director (until 2014), BlackRock Finco UK (investment management), Director (until 2014)   N/A

John A. Caroselli

(age 63)

  Trustee   March 2017   2018   137   JC Global Advisors, LLC (management consulting), President (since 2015); First Capital Corporation (commercial finance), Executive Vice President (until 2015)   N/A

Maureen R. Goldfarb

(age 62)

  Trustee   January 2009   2019   137   Private investor   N/A
Michael Hegarty
(age 73)
  Trustee   December 2004   2020   137   Private investor   Rouse Properties Inc., Director (until 2016); Capmark Financial Group Inc., Director (until 2015)

 

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Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/
Officer

Since (h)

  Term
Expiring
  Number of
MFS Funds
overseen
by the
Trustee
 

Principal
Occupations
During

the Past

Five Years

 

Other

Directorships
During the Past
Five Years  (j)

Clarence Otis, Jr.

(age 61)

  Trustee   March 2017   2018   137   Darden Restaurants, Inc., Chief Executive Officer (until 2014)   VF Corporation, Director; Verizon Communications, Inc., Director; The Travelers Companies, Director; Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Director (until 2015)

Maryanne L. Roepke

(age 61)

  Trustee   May 2014   2019   137   American Century Investments (investment management), Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (until 2014)   N/A
Laurie J. Thomsen
(age 60)
  Trustee   March 2005   2018   137   Private investor   The Travelers Companies, Director; Dycom Industries, Inc., Director (since 2015)

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

OFFICERS          
Christopher R. Bohane (k)
(age 43)
  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

Kino Clark (k)

(age 49)

 

Assistant

Treasurer

  January 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President

 

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Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

John W. Clark, Jr. (k)

(age 50)

  Assistant Treasurer   April 2017   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President (since March 2017); Deutsche Bank (financial services), Department Head – Treasurer’s Office (until February 2017)

Thomas H. Connors (k)

(age 58)

 

Assistant

Secretary and Assistant Clerk

  September 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel
Ethan D. Corey (k)
(age 54)
  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel
David L. DiLorenzo (k)
(age 49)
  President   July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President

Heidi W. Hardin (k)

(age 50)

  Secretary and Clerk   April 2017   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Executive Vice President and General Counsel (since March 2017); Harris Associates (investment management), General Counsel (from September 2015 to January 2017); Janus Capital Management LLC (investment management), Senior Vice President and General Counsel (until September 2015)

 

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Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

Brian E. Langenfeld (k)

(age 44)

  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  June 2006   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel
Susan A. Pereira (k)
(age 47)
  Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Clerk
  July 2005   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Senior Counsel

Kasey L. Phillips (k)

(age 47)

  Assistant Treasurer   September 2012   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President

Matthew A. Stowe (k)

(age 43)

  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   October 2014   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel
Frank L. Tarantino
(age 73)
 

Independent

Senior Officer

  June 2004   N/A   137   Tarantino LLC (provider of compliance services), Principal
Richard S. Weitzel (k)
(age 47)
  Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk   October 2007   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel

Martin J. Wolin (k)

(age 50)

  Chief Compliance Officer   July 2015   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since July 2015); Mercer (financial service provider), Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, North America and Latin America (until June 2015)

 

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Trustees and Officers – continued

 

Name, Age

 

Position(s)
Held

with Fund

 

Trustee/Officer

Since (h)

 

Term

Expiring

 

Number of
MFS Funds
for which
the Person is
an Officer

 

Principal
Occupations
During the

Past Five Years

James O. Yost (k)
(age 57)
  Treasurer   September 1990   N/A   137   Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Senior Vice President

 

(h) Date first appointed to serve as Trustee/officer of an MFS Fund. Each Trustee has served continuously since appointment unless indicated otherwise. For the period from December 15, 2004 until February 22, 2005, Mr. Manning served as Advisory Trustee. Prior to January 2012, Messrs. DiLorenzo and Yost served as Assistant Treasurers of the Funds. From January 2012 through December 2016, Messrs. DiLorenzo and Yost served as Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer of the Funds, respectively.
(j) Directorships or trusteeships of companies required to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (i.e., “public companies”).
(k) “Interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (referred to as the 1940 Act), which is the principal federal law governing investment companies like the fund, as a result of a position with MFS. The address of MFS is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7618.

The Trust holds annual shareholder meetings for the purpose of electing Trustees, and Trustees are elected for fixed terms. Two Trustees, each holding a term of one year, are elected annually by holders of the Trust’s preferred shares. The remaining Trustees are currently divided into three classes, each having a term of three years which term expires on the date of the third annual meeting following the election to office of the Trustee’s class. Each year the term of one class expires. Each Trustee and officer will serve until next elected or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal. Under the terms of the Board’s retirement policy, an Independent Trustee shall retire at the end of the calendar year in which he or she reaches the earlier of 75 years of age or 15 years of service on the Board (or, in the case of any Independent Trustee who joined the Board prior to 2015, 20 years of service on the Board).

Messrs. Buller and Otis and Ms. Roepke are members of the Trust’s Audit Committee.

Each of the Interested Trustees and certain Officers hold comparable officer positions with certain affiliates of MFS.

 

 

Investment Adviser   Custodian
Massachusetts Financial Services Company   State Street Bank and Trust Company
111 Huntington Avenue   1 Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02199-7618   Boston, MA 02111-2900
Portfolio Manager(s)   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Gary Lasman   Ernst & Young LLP
Geoffrey Schechter   200 Clarendon Street
  Boston, MA 02116

 

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BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that both the full Board of Trustees and a majority of the non-interested (“independent”) Trustees, voting separately, annually approve the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement with MFS. The Trustees consider matters bearing on the Fund and its advisory arrangements at their meetings throughout the year, including a review of performance data at each regular meeting. In addition, the independent Trustees met several times over the course of three months beginning in May and ending in July, 2017 (“contract review meetings”) for the specific purpose of considering whether to approve the continuation of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund and the other investment companies that the Board oversees (the “MFS Funds”). The independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately from MFS during various contract review meetings. The independent Trustees were also assisted in this process by the MFS Funds’ Independent Senior Officer, a senior officer appointed by and reporting to the independent Trustees.

In connection with their deliberations regarding the continuation of the investment advisory agreement, the Trustees, including the independent Trustees, considered such information and factors as they believed, in light of the legal advice furnished to them and their own business judgment, to be relevant. The investment advisory agreement for the Fund was considered separately, although the Trustees also took into account the common interests of all MFS Funds in their review. As described below, the Trustees considered the nature, quality, and extent of the various investment advisory, administrative, and shareholder services performed by MFS under the existing investment advisory agreement and other arrangements with the Fund.

In connection with their contract review meetings, the Trustees received and relied upon materials that included, among other items: (i) information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent third party, on the investment performance (based on net asset value) of the Fund for various time periods ended December 31, 2016 and the investment performance (based on net asset value) of a group of funds with substantially similar investment classifications/objectives (the “Lipper performance universe”), (ii) information provided by Broadridge on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses and the advisory fees and other expenses of comparable funds identified by Broadridge (the “Broadridge expense group”), (iii) information provided by MFS on the advisory fees of portfolios of other clients of MFS, including institutional separate accounts and other clients, (iv) information as to whether and to what extent applicable expense waivers, reimbursements or fee “breakpoints” are observed for the Fund, (v) information regarding MFS’ financial results and financial condition, including MFS’ and certain of its affiliates’ estimated profitability from services performed for the Fund and the MFS Funds as a whole, and compared to MFS’ institutional business, (vi) MFS’ views regarding the outlook for the mutual fund industry and the strategic business plans of MFS, (vii) descriptions of various functions performed by MFS for the Funds, such as compliance monitoring and portfolio trading practices, and (viii) information regarding the overall organization of MFS, including information about MFS’ senior management and other personnel

 

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Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

providing investment advisory, administrative and other services to the Fund and the other MFS Funds. The comparative performance, fee and expense information prepared and provided by Broadridge. was not independently verified and the independent Trustees did not independently verify any information provided to them by MFS.

The Trustees’ conclusion as to the continuation of the investment advisory agreement was based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the fee arrangements for the Fund and other MFS Funds are the result of years of review and discussion between the independent Trustees and MFS, that certain aspects of such arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than in others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of these same arrangements during the course of the year and in prior years.

Based on information provided by Broadridge and MFS, the Trustees reviewed the Fund’s total return investment performance as well as the performance of peer groups of funds over various time periods. The Trustees placed particular emphasis on the total return performance of the Fund’s common shares in comparison to the performance of funds in its Lipper performance universe over the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, which the Trustees believed was a long enough period to reflect differing market conditions. The total return performance of the Fund’s common shares ranked 4th out of a total of 10 funds in the Lipper performance universe for this three-year period (a ranking of first place out of the total number of funds in the performance universe indicating the best performer and a ranking of last place out of the total number of funds in the performance universe indicating the worst performer). The total return performance of the Fund’s common shares ranked 2nd out of a total of 10 funds for each of the one- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2016. Given the size of the Lipper performance universe and information previously provided by MFS regarding differences between the Fund and the other funds in its Lipper performance universe, the Trustees also reviewed the Fund’s performance in comparison to the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index. The Fund out-performed the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2016 (one-year: 2.1% total return for the Fund versus 0.2% total return for the benchmark; three-year: 8.5% total return for the Fund versus 4.1% total return for the benchmark; five-year: 8.3% total return for the Fund versus 3.3% total return for the benchmark). Because of the passage of time, these performance results may differ from the performance results for more recent periods, including those shown elsewhere in this report.

In the course of their deliberations, the Trustees took into account information provided by MFS in connection with the contract review meetings, as well as during investment review meetings conducted with portfolio management personnel during the course of the year regarding the Fund’s performance. After reviewing these and related factors, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions

 

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Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

regarding the investment advisory agreement, that they were satisfied with MFS’ responses and efforts relating to investment performance.

In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s advisory fee, the Trustees considered, among other information, the Fund’s advisory fee and the total expense ratio of the Fund’s common shares as a percentage of average daily net assets (including the value of preferred shares) and the advisory fee and total expense ratios of peer groups of funds based on information provided by Broadridge. The Trustees considered that MFS currently observes an expense limitation for the Fund, which may not be changed without the Trustees’ approval. The Trustees also considered that, according to the data provided by Broadridge (which takes into account any fee reductions or expense limitations that were in effect during the Fund’s last fiscal year), the Fund’s effective advisory fee rate was approximately at the Broadridge expense group median and the Fund’s total expense ratio was higher than the Broadridge expense group median.

The Trustees also considered the advisory fees charged by MFS to any institutional separate accounts advised by MFS (“separate accounts”) and unaffiliated investment companies for which MFS serves as subadviser (“subadvised funds”) that have comparable investment strategies to the Fund, if any. In comparing these fees, the Trustees considered information provided by MFS as to the generally broader scope of services provided by MFS to the Fund, as well as the more extensive regulatory burdens imposed on MFS in managing the Fund, in comparison to separate accounts and subadvised funds.

The Trustees considered that, as a closed-end fund, the Fund is unlikely to experience meaningful asset growth. As a result, the Trustees did not view the potential for realization of economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow to be a material factor in their deliberations. The Trustees noted that they would consider economies of scale in the future in the event the Fund experiences significant asset growth, such as through a material increase in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities (which is not currently contemplated) or a material increase in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

The Trustees also considered information prepared by MFS relating to MFS’ costs and profits with respect to the Fund, the MFS Funds considered as a group, and other investment companies and accounts advised by MFS, as well as MFS’ methodologies used to determine and allocate its costs to the MFS Funds, the Fund and other accounts and products for purposes of estimating profitability.

After reviewing these and other factors described herein, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions regarding the investment advisory agreement, that the advisory fees charged to the Fund represent reasonable compensation in light of the services being provided by MFS to the Fund.

In addition, the Trustees considered MFS’ resources and related efforts to continue to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Fund. The Trustees also considered current and developing conditions in the financial services industry, including the presence of large and well-capitalized companies which are spending, and appear to be prepared to continue to spend, substantial sums to engage personnel and to provide services to competing investment companies. In this regard, the Trustees also considered the financial resources of MFS and its ultimate parent, Sun Life

 

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Board Review of Investment Advisory Agreement – continued

 

Financial Inc. The Trustees also considered the advantages and possible disadvantages to the Fund of having an adviser that also serves other investment companies as well as other accounts.

The Trustees also considered the nature, quality, cost, and extent of administrative services provided to the Fund by MFS under agreements other than the investment advisory agreement. The Trustees also considered the nature, extent and quality of certain other services MFS performs or arranges for on the Fund’s behalf, which may include securities lending programs, directed expense payment programs, class action recovery programs, and MFS’ interaction with third-party service providers, principally custodians and sub-custodians. The Trustees concluded that the various non-advisory services provided by MFS and its affiliates on behalf of the Fund were satisfactory.

The Trustees also considered benefits to MFS from the use of the Fund’s portfolio brokerage commissions, if applicable, to pay for investment research and various other factors. Additionally, the Trustees considered so-called “fall-out benefits” to MFS such as reputational value derived from serving as investment manager to the Fund.

Based on their evaluation of factors that they deemed to be material, including those factors described above, the Board of Trustees, including the independent Trustees, concluded that the Fund’s investment advisory agreement with MFS should be continued for an additional one-year period, commencing August 1, 2017.

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

MFS votes proxies on behalf of the fund pursuant to proxy voting policies and procedures that are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting mfs.com/proxyvoting, or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available by August 31 of each year without charge by visiting mfs.com/proxyvoting, or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the Fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available at https://www.mfs.com/en-us/what-we-do/announcements.html or at mfs.com/closedendfunds by choosing the fund’s name.

Additional information about the fund (e.g. performance, dividends and the fund’s price history) is also available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Closed-End Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT FUND CONTRACTS AND LEGAL CLAIMS

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, transfer agent, and custodian who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the Trust’s By-Laws, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the MFS Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (unaudited)

The fund will notify shareholders of amounts for use in preparing 2017 income tax forms in January 2018. The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Of the dividends paid from net investment income during the fiscal year, 98.55% is designated as exempt interest dividends for federal income tax purposes. If the fund has earned income on private activity bonds, a portion of the dividends paid may be considered a tax preference item for purposes of computing a shareholder’s alternative minimum tax.

 

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rev. 3/16

 

 

FACTS

 

  WHAT DOES MFS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?   LOGO

 

Why?   Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

What?  

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

 Social Security number and account balances

 Account transactions and transaction history

 Checking account information and wire transfer instructions

 

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

How?   All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons MFS chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your
personal information
  Does MFS
share?
  Can you limit
this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

  No   We don’t share

For joint marketing with other

financial companies

  No   We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

  No   We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

  No   We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you   No   We don’t share

 

Questions?   Call 800-225-2606 or go to mfs.com.

 

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Page 2  

 


 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?   MFS Funds, MFS Investment Management, MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc., and MFS Heritage Trust Company.

 

What we do
How does MFS protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include procedural, electronic, and physical safeguards for the protection of the personal information we collect about you.
How does MFS collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

 open an account or provide account information

 direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

 make a wire transfer

 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

 sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

 affiliates from using your information to market to you

 sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

Definitions
Affiliates  

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

 MFS does not share personal information with affiliates, except for everyday business purposes as described on page one of this notice.

Nonaffiliates  

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

 MFS does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing  

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

 MFS doesnt jointly market.

 

 

Other important information
If you own an MFS product or receive an MFS service in the name of a third party such as a bank or broker-dealer, their privacy policy may apply to you instead of ours.

 

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LOGO

 

CONTACT US

TRANSFER AGENT, REGISTRAR, AND

DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

CALL

1-800-637-2304

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time

WRITE

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, RI 02940-3078

 

New York Stock Exchange Symbol: CMU


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ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and as defined in Form N-CSR that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. Effective January 1, 2017, the Code was amended to (i) clarify that the term “for profit” company as used in Section II.B of the Code excludes the investment adviser and its subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles sponsored by the investment adviser or its subsidiaries, (ii) align the Code’s provisions regarding receipt of gifts and entertainment in Section II.B of the Code with the gifts and entertainment policy of the Funds’ investment adviser, and (iii) make other administrative changes. During the period covered by the report, the Registrant has not granted a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from any provision of the Code.

A copy of the Code effective as of January 1, 2017 is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Messrs. Steven E. Buller and Clarence Otis, Jr. and Ms. Maryanne L. Roepke, members of the Audit Committee, have been determined by the Board of Trustees in their reasonable business judgment to meet the definition of “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Form N-CSR. In addition, Messrs. Buller and Otis and Ms. Roepke are “independent” members of the Audit Committee (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). The Securities and Exchange Commission has stated that the designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 on the Form N-CSR does not impose on such a person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Items 4(a) through 4(d) and 4(g):

The Board of Trustees has appointed Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) to serve as independent accountants to the Registrant (hereinafter the “Registrant” or the “Fund”). The tables below set forth the audit fees billed to the Fund as well as fees for non-audit services provided to the Fund and/or to the Fund’s investment adviser, Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”), and to various entities either controlling, controlled by, or under common control with MFS that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“MFS Related Entities”).


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For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, audit fees billed to the Fund by E&Y were as follows:

 

     Audit Fees  
     2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

     

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

     58,340        56,664  

For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, fees billed by E&Y for audit-related, tax and other services provided to the Fund and for audit-related, tax and other services provided to MFS and MFS Related Entities were as follows:

 

     Audit-Related  Fees1      Tax Fees2      All Other Fees3  
     2017      2016      2017      2016      2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

                 

To MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

     11,358        11,027        10,102        9,953        1,047        1,078  
     Audit-Related Fees1      Tax Fees2      All Other Fees3  
     2017      2016      2017      2016      2017      2016  

Fees billed by E&Y:

                 

To MFS and MFS Related Entities of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust*

     1,603,983        1,412,499        0        0        101,450        116,023  

 

     Aggregate Fees for Non-audit
Services
 
     2017      2016  

Fees Billed by E&Y:

     

To MFS High Yield Municipal Trust, MFS and MFS Related Entities#

     1,859,940        1,676,180  

 

* 

This amount reflects the fees billed to MFS and MFS Related Entities for non-audit services relating directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund (portions of which services also related to the operations and financial reporting of other funds within the MFS Funds complex).

# This amount reflects the aggregate fees billed by E&Y for non-audit services rendered to the Fund and for non-audit services rendered to MFS and the MFS Related Entities.
1 

The fees included under “Audit-Related Fees” are fees related to assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements, but not reported under ‘‘Audit Fees,’’ including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters and internal control reviews.

2 

The fees included under “Tax Fees” are fees associated with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including services relating to the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, regulated investment company qualification reviews and tax distribution and analysis.

3 

The fees included under “All Other Fees” are fees for products and services provided by E&Y other than those reported under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees,” including fees for services related to review of internal controls and review of Rule 38a-1 compliance program.


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Item 4(e)(1):

Set forth below are the policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees relating to the pre-approval of audit and non-audit related services:

To the extent required by applicable law, pre-approval by the Audit Committee of the Board is needed for all audit and permissible non-audit services rendered to the Fund and all permissible non-audit services rendered to MFS or MFS Related Entities if the services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. Pre-approval is currently on an engagement-by-engagement basis. In the event pre-approval of such services is necessary between regular meetings of the Audit Committee and it is not practical to wait to seek pre-approval at the next regular meeting of the Audit Committee, pre-approval of such services may be referred to the Chair of the Audit Committee for approval; provided that the Chair may not pre-approve any individual engagement for such services exceeding $50,000 or multiple engagements for such services in the aggregate exceeding $100,000 in each period between regular meetings of the Audit Committee. Any engagement pre-approved by the Chair between regular meetings of the Audit Committee shall be presented for ratification by the entire Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Item 4(e)(2):

None, or 0%, of the services relating to the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees paid by the Fund and MFS and MFS Related Entities relating directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant disclosed above were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraphs (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (which permits audit committee approval after the start of the engagement with respect to services other than audit, review or attest services, if certain conditions are satisfied).

Item 4(f):

Not applicable.

Item 4(h):

The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by a Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm of non-audit services to MFS and MFS Related Entities that were not pre-approved by the Committee (because such services did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant) was compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm as the Registrant’s principal auditors.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The Registrant has an Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Steven E. Buller and Clarence Otis, Jr. and Ms. Maryanne L. Roepke.

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments of the Registrant is included as part of the report to shareholders of the Registrant under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.


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ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

February 1, 2017

Massachusetts Financial Services Company, MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc., MFS International (UK) Limited, MFS Heritage Trust Company, MFS Investment Management (Canada) Limited, MFS Investment Management Company (Lux) S.à r.l., MFS International Singapore Pte. Ltd., MFS Investment Management K.K., MFS International Australia Pty. Ltd.; and MFS’ other subsidiaries that perform discretionary investment management activities (collectively, “MFS”) have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures, as set forth below (“MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures”), with respect to securities owned by the clients for which MFS serves as investment adviser and has the power to vote proxies, including the pooled investment vehicles sponsored by MFS (the “MFS Funds”). References to “clients” in these policies and procedures include the MFS Funds and other clients of MFS, such as funds organized offshore, sub-advised funds and separate account clients, to the extent these clients have delegated to MFS the responsibility to vote proxies on their behalf under the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

The MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures include:

 

  A. Voting Guidelines;

 

  B. Administrative Procedures;

 

  C Records Retention; and

 

  D. Reports.

 

A. VOTING GUIDELINES

 

  1. General Policy; Potential Conflicts of Interest

MFS’ policy is that proxy voting decisions are made in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in the interests of any other party or in MFS’ corporate interests, including interests such as the distribution of MFS Fund shares and institutional client relationships.


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MFS reviews corporate governance issues and proxy voting matters that are presented for shareholder vote by either management or shareholders of public companies. Based on the overall principle that all votes cast by MFS on behalf of its clients must be in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of such clients, MFS has adopted proxy voting guidelines, set forth below, that govern how MFS generally will vote on specific matters presented for shareholder vote.

As a general matter, MFS votes consistently on similar proxy proposals across all shareholder meetings. However, some proxy proposals, such as certain excessive executive compensation, environmental, social and governance matters, are analyzed on a case-by-case basis in light of all the relevant facts and circumstances of the proposal. Therefore, MFS may vote similar proposals differently at different shareholder meetings based on the specific facts and circumstances of the issuer or the terms of the proposal. In addition, MFS also reserves the right to override the guidelines with respect to a particular proxy proposal when such an override is, in MFS’ best judgment, consistent with the overall principle of voting proxies in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients.

MFS also generally votes consistently on the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by multiple client accounts, unless MFS has received explicit voting instructions to vote differently from a client for its own account. From time to time, MFS may also receive comments on the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures from its clients. These comments are carefully considered by MFS when it reviews these guidelines and revises them as appropriate.

These policies and procedures are intended to address any potential material conflicts of interest on the part of MFS or its subsidiaries that are likely to arise in connection with the voting of proxies on behalf of MFS’ clients. If such potential material conflicts of interest do arise, MFS will analyze, document and report on such potential material conflicts of interest (see Sections B.2 and D below), and shall ultimately vote the relevant proxies in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of its clients. The MFS Proxy Voting Committee is responsible for monitoring and reporting with respect to such potential material conflicts of interest.

MFS is also a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. In developing these guidelines, MFS considered environmental, social and corporate governance issues in light of MFS’ fiduciary obligation to vote proxies in the best long-term economic interest of its clients.


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2. MFS’ Policy on Specific Issues

Election of Directors

MFS believes that good governance should be based on a board with at least a simple majority of directors who are “independent” of management, and whose key committees (e.g., compensation, nominating, and audit committees) consist entirely of “independent” directors. While MFS generally supports the board’s nominees in uncontested or non-contentious elections, we will not support a nominee to a board of a U.S. issuer (or issuer listed on a U.S. exchange) if, as a result of such nominee being elected to the board, the board would consist of a simple majority of members who are not “independent” or, alternatively, the compensation, nominating (including instances in which the full board serves as the compensation or nominating committee) or audit committees would include members who are not “independent.”

MFS will also not support a nominee to a board if we can determine that he or she attended less than 75% of the board and/or relevant committee meetings in the previous year without a valid reason stated in the proxy materials or other company communications. In addition, MFS may not support some or all nominees standing for re-election to a board if we can determine: (1) the board or its compensation committee has re-priced or exchanged underwater stock options since the last annual meeting of shareholders and without shareholder approval; (2) the board or relevant committee has not taken adequately responsive action to an issue that received majority support or opposition from shareholders; (3) the board has implemented a poison pill without shareholder approval since the last annual meeting and such poison pill is not on the subsequent shareholder meeting’s agenda, (including those related to net-operating loss carry-forwards); (4) the board or relevant committee has failed to adequately oversee risk by allowing the hedging and/or significant pledging of company shares by executives; or (5) there are governance concerns with a director or issuer.

For directors who are not a CEO of a public company, MFS will vote against a nominee who serves on more than five (5) public company boards in total. MFS may consider exceptions to this policy if (i) the director is either retired or listed as “professional director” in the proxy statement; (ii) the company has disclosed the director’s plans to step down from the number of public company boards exceeding five (5) within a reasonable time; or (iii) the director exceeds the permitted number of public company board seats solely due to either his/her board service on an affiliated company (e.g., a subsidiary), or service on more than one investment company within the same investment company complex.

For directors who are also a CEO of a public company, MFS will vote against a nominee who serves on more than three (3) public-company boards in total. However, we will support his or her re-election to the board of the company for which he or she serves as CEO).

MFS may not support certain board nominees of U.S. issuers under certain circumstances where MFS deems compensation to be egregious due to pay-for-performance issues and/or poor pay practices. Please see the section below titled “MFS’ Policy on Specific Issues - Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation” for further details.


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MFS evaluates a contested or contentious election of directors on a case-by-case basis considering the long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry, management’s track record, the qualifications of all nominees, and an evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders.

Majority Voting and Director Elections

MFS votes for reasonably crafted proposals calling for directors to be elected with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the elimination of the plurality standard for electing directors (including binding resolutions requesting that the board amend the company’s bylaws), provided the proposal includes a carve-out for a plurality voting standard when there are more director nominees than board seats (e.g., contested elections) (“Majority Vote Proposals”).

Classified Boards

MFS generally supports proposals to declassify a board (i.e.; a board in which only one-third of board members is elected each year) for all issuers other than for certain closed-end investment companies. MFS generally opposes proposals to classify a board for issuers other than for certain closed-end investment companies.

Proxy Access

MFS believes that the ability of qualifying shareholders to nominate a certain number of directors on the company’s proxy statement (“Proxy Access”) may have corporate governance benefits. However, such potential benefits must be balanced by its potential misuse by shareholders. Therefore, we support Proxy Access proposals at U.S. issuers that establish an ownership criteria of 3% of the company held continuously for a period of 3 years. In our view, such qualifying shareholders should have the ability to nominate at least 2 directors. Companies should be mindful of imposing any undue impediments within its bylaws that may render Proxy Access impractical, including re-submission thresholds for director nominees via Proxy Access.

MFS analyzes all other proposals seeking Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. In its analysis, MFS will consider the proposed ownership criteria for qualifying shareholders (such as ownership threshold and holding period) as well as the proponent’s rationale for seeking Proxy Access.


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Stock Plans

MFS opposes stock option programs and restricted stock plans that provide unduly generous compensation for officers, directors or employees, or that could result in excessive dilution to other shareholders. As a general guideline, MFS votes against restricted stock, stock option, non-employee director, omnibus stock plans and any other stock plan if all such plans for a particular company involve potential dilution, in the aggregate, of more than 15%. However, MFS will also vote against stock plans that involve potential dilution, in aggregate, of more than 10% at U.S. issuers that are listed in the Standard and Poor’s 100 index as of December 31 of the previous year. In the cases where a stock plan amendment is seeking qualitative changes and not additional shares, MFS will vote its shares on a case-by-case basis.

MFS also opposes stock option programs that allow the board or the compensation committee to re-price underwater options or to automatically replenish shares without shareholder approval. MFS also votes against stock option programs for officers, employees or non-employee directors that do not require an investment by the optionee, that give “free rides” on the stock price, or that permit grants of stock options with an exercise price below fair market value on the date the options are granted. MFS will consider proposals to exchange existing options for newly issued options, restricted stock or cash on a case-by-case basis, taking into account certain factors, including, but not limited to, whether there is a reasonable value-for-value exchange and whether senior executives are excluded from participating in the exchange.

MFS supports the use of a broad-based employee stock purchase plans to increase company stock ownership by employees, provided that shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value and do not result in excessive dilution.

Shareholder Proposals on Executive Compensation

MFS believes that competitive compensation packages are necessary to attract, motivate and retain executives. However, MFS also recognizes that certain executive compensation practices can be “excessive” and not in the best, long-term economic interest of a company’s shareholders. We believe that the election of an issuer’s board of directors (as outlined above), votes on stock plans (as outlined above) and advisory votes on pay (as outlined below) are typically the most effective mechanisms to express our view on a company’s compensation practices.

MFS generally opposes shareholder proposals that seek to set rigid restrictions on executive compensation as MFS believes that compensation committees should retain some flexibility to determine the appropriate pay package for executives. Although we support linking executive stock option grants to a company’s performance, MFS also opposes shareholder proposals that mandate a link of performance-based pay to a specific metric. MFS generally supports reasonably crafted shareholder proposals that (i) require the issuer to adopt a policy


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to recover the portion of performance-based bonuses and awards paid to senior executives that were not earned based upon a significant negative restatement of earnings unless the company already has adopted a satisfactory policy on the matter, (ii) expressly prohibit the backdating of stock options, and (iii) prohibit the acceleration of vesting of equity awards upon a broad definition of a “change-in-control” (e.g.; single or modified single-trigger).

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

MFS will analyze advisory votes on executive compensation on a case-by-case basis. MFS will vote against an advisory vote on executive compensation if MFS determines that the issuer has adopted excessive executive compensation practices and will vote in favor of an advisory vote on executive compensation if MFS has not determined that the issuer has adopted excessive executive compensation practices. Examples of excessive executive compensation practices may include, but are not limited to, a pay-for-performance disconnect, employment contract terms such as guaranteed bonus provisions, unwarranted pension payouts, backdated stock options, overly generous hiring bonuses for chief executive officers, unnecessary perquisites, or the potential reimbursement of excise taxes to an executive in regards to a severance package. In cases where MFS (i) votes against consecutive advisory pay votes, or (ii) determines that a particularly egregious excessive executive compensation practice has occurred, then MFS may also vote against certain or all board nominees. MFS may also vote against certain or all board nominees if an advisory pay vote for a U.S. issuer is not on the agenda, or the company has not implemented the advisory vote frequency supported by a plurality/ majority of shareholders.

MFS generally supports proposals to include an advisory shareholder vote on an issuer’s executive compensation practices on an annual basis.

“Golden Parachutes”

From time to time, MFS may evaluate a separate, advisory vote on severance packages or “golden parachutes” to certain executives at the same time as a vote on a proposed merger or acquisition. MFS will support an advisory vote on a severance package on a on a case-by-case basis, and MFS may vote against the severance package regardless of whether MFS supports the proposed merger or acquisition.

Shareholders of companies may also submit proxy proposals that would require shareholder approval of severance packages for executive officers that exceed certain predetermined thresholds. MFS votes in favor of such shareholder proposals when they would require shareholder approval of any severance package for an executive officer that exceeds a certain multiple of such officer’s annual compensation that is not determined in MFS’ judgment to be excessive.


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Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, MFS votes against any measure that inhibits capital appreciation in a stock, including proposals that protect management from action by shareholders. These types of proposals take many forms, ranging from “poison pills” and “shark repellents” to super-majority requirements.

MFS generally votes for proposals to rescind existing “poison pills” and proposals that would require shareholder approval to adopt prospective “poison pills,” unless the company already has adopted a clearly satisfactory policy on the matter. MFS may consider the adoption of a prospective “poison pill” or the continuation of an existing “poison pill” if we can determine that the following two conditions are met: (1) the “poison pill” allows MFS clients to hold an aggregate position of up to 15% of a company’s total voting securities (and of any class of voting securities); and (2) either (a) the “poison pill” has a term of not longer than five years, provided that MFS will consider voting in favor of the “poison pill” if the term does not exceed seven years and the “poison pill” is linked to a business strategy or purpose that MFS believes is likely to result in greater value for shareholders; or (b) the terms of the “poison pill” allow MFS clients the opportunity to accept a fairly structured and attractively priced tender offer (e.g. a “chewable poison pill” that automatically dissolves in the event of an all cash, all shares tender offer at a premium price). MFS will also consider on a case-by-case basis proposals designed to prevent tenders which are disadvantageous to shareholders such as tenders at below market prices and tenders for substantially less than all shares of an issuer.

MFS will consider any poison pills designed to protect a company’s net-operating loss carryforwards on a case-by-case basis, weighing the accounting and tax benefits of such a pill against the risk of deterring future acquisition candidates.

Proxy Contests

From time to time, a shareholder may express alternative points of view in terms of a company’s strategy, capital allocation, or other issues. Such shareholder may also propose a slate of director nominees different than the slate of director nominees proposed by the company (a “Proxy Contest”). MFS will analyze Proxy Contests on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the track record and current recommended initiatives of both company management and the dissident shareholder(s). Like all of our proxy votes, MFS will support the slate of director nominees that we believe is in the best, long-term economic interest of our clients.


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Reincorporation and Reorganization Proposals

When presented with a proposal to reincorporate a company under the laws of a different state, or to effect some other type of corporate reorganization, MFS considers the underlying purpose and ultimate effect of such a proposal in determining whether or not to support such a measure. MFS generally votes with management in regards to these types of proposals, however, if MFS believes the proposal is in the best long-term economic interests of its clients, then MFS may vote against management (e.g. the intent or effect would be to create additional inappropriate impediments to possible acquisitions or takeovers).

Issuance of Stock

There are many legitimate reasons for the issuance of stock. Nevertheless, as noted above under “Stock Plans,” when a stock option plan (either individually or when aggregated with other plans of the same company) would substantially dilute the existing equity (e.g. by approximately 10-15% as described above), MFS generally votes against the plan. In addition, MFS typically votes against proposals where management is asking for authorization to issue common or preferred stock with no reason stated (a “blank check”) because the unexplained authorization could work as a potential anti-takeover device. MFS may also vote against the authorization or issuance of common or preferred stock if MFS determines that the requested authorization is excessive or not warranted.

Repurchase Programs

MFS supports proposals to institute share repurchase plans in which all shareholders have the opportunity to participate on an equal basis. Such plans may include a company acquiring its own shares on the open market, or a company making a tender offer to its own shareholders.

Cumulative Voting

MFS opposes proposals that seek to introduce cumulative voting and for proposals that seek to eliminate cumulative voting. In either case, MFS will consider whether cumulative voting is likely to enhance the interests of MFS’ clients as minority shareholders.

Written Consent and Special Meetings

The right to call a special meeting or act by written consent can be a powerful tool for shareholders. As such, MFS supports proposals requesting the right for shareholders who hold at least 10% of the issuer’s outstanding stock to call a special meeting. MFS also supports proposals requesting the right for shareholders to act by written consent.


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Independent Auditors

MFS believes that the appointment of auditors for U.S. issuers is best left to the board of directors of the company and therefore supports the ratification of the board’s selection of an auditor for the company. Some shareholder groups have submitted proposals to limit the non-audit activities of a company’s audit firm or prohibit any non-audit services by a company’s auditors to that company. MFS opposes proposals recommending the prohibition or limitation of the performance of non-audit services by an auditor, and proposals recommending the removal of a company’s auditor due to the performance of non-audit work for the company by its auditor. MFS believes that the board, or its audit committee, should have the discretion to hire the company’s auditor for specific pieces of non-audit work in the limited situations permitted under current law.

Other Business

MFS generally votes against “other business” proposals as the content of any such matter is not known at the time of our vote.

Adjourn Shareholder Meeting

MFS generally supports proposals to adjourn a shareholder meeting if we support the other ballot items on the meeting’s agenda. MFS generally votes against proposals to adjourn a meeting if we do not support the other ballot items on the meeting’s agenda.

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Issues

MFS believes that a company’s ESG practices may have an impact on the company’s long-term economic financial performance and will generally support proposals relating to ESG issues that MFS believes are in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders. For those ESG proposals for which a specific policy has not been adopted, MFS considers such ESG proposals on a case-by-case basis. As a result, it may vote similar proposals differently at various shareholder meetings based on the specific facts and circumstances of such proposal.

MFS generally supports proposals that seek to remove governance structures that insulate management from shareholders (i.e., anti-takeover measures) or that seek to enhance shareholder rights. Many of these governance-related issues, including compensation issues, are outlined within the context of the above guidelines. In addition, MFS typically supports proposals that require an issuer to reimburse successful dissident shareholders (who are not seeking control of the company) for reasonable expenses that such dissident incurred in soliciting an alternative slate of director candidates. MFS also generally supports reasonably crafted shareholder proposals requesting increased disclosure around the company’s use of collateral in derivatives trading. MFS typically supports proposals for an independent board chairperson. However, we may not support such proposals if we determine there to be an appropriate and effective counter-balancing leadership structure in place (e.g.; a strong, independent lead


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director with an appropriate level of powers and duties). For any governance-related proposal for which an explicit guideline is not provided above, MFS will consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis and will support such proposals if MFS believes that it is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders.

MFS generally supports proposals that request disclosure on the impact of environmental issues on the company’s operations, sales, and capital investments. However, MFS may not support such proposals based on the facts and circumstances surrounding a specific proposal, including, but not limited to, whether (i) the proposal is unduly costly, restrictive, or burdensome, (ii) the company already provides publicly-available information that is sufficient to enable shareholders to evaluate the potential opportunities and risks that environmental matters pose to the company’s operations, sales and capital investments, or (iii) the proposal seeks a level of disclosure that exceeds that provided by the company’s industry peers. MFS will analyze all other environmental proposals on a case-by-case basis and will support such proposals if MFS believes such proposal is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders.

MFS will analyze social proposals on a case-by-case basis. MFS will support such proposals if MFS believes that such proposal is in the best long-term economic interest of the company’s shareholders. Generally, MFS will support shareholder proposals that (i) seek to amend a company’s equal employment opportunity policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and (ii) request additional disclosure regarding a company’s political contributions (including trade organizations and lobbying activity) (unless the company already provides publicly-available information that is sufficient to enable shareholders to evaluate the potential opportunities and risks that such contributions pose to the company’s operations, sales and capital investments).

The laws of various states or countries may regulate how the interests of certain clients subject to those laws (e.g. state pension plans) are voted with respect to social issues. Thus, it may be necessary to cast ballots differently for certain clients than MFS might normally do for other clients.

Foreign Issuers

MFS generally supports the election of a director nominee standing for re-election in uncontested or non-contentious elections unless it can be determined that (1) he or she failed to attend at least 75% of the board and/or relevant committee meetings in the previous year without a valid reason given in the proxy materials; (2) since the last annual meeting of shareholders and without shareholder approval, the board or its compensation committee has re-priced underwater stock options; or (3) since the last annual meeting, the board has either implemented a poison pill without shareholder approval or has not taken responsive action to a


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majority shareholder approved resolution recommending that the “poison pill” be rescinded. In such circumstances, we will vote against director nominee(s). Also, certain markets outside of the U.S. have adopted best practice guidelines relating to corporate governance matters (e.g. the United Kingdom’s and Japan Corporate Governance Codes). Many of these guidelines operate on a “comply or explain” basis. As such, MFS will evaluate any explanations by companies relating to their compliance with a particular corporate governance guideline on a case-by-case basis and may vote against the board nominees or other relevant ballot item if such explanation is not satisfactory. In some circumstances, MFS may submit a vote to abstain from certain director nominees or the relevant ballot items if we have concerns with the nominee or ballot item, but do not believe these concerns rise to the level where a vote against is warranted.

MFS generally supports the election of auditors, but may determine to vote against the election of a statutory auditor in certain markets if MFS reasonably believes that the statutory auditor is not truly independent.

Some international markets have also adopted mandatory requirements for all companies to hold shareholder votes on executive compensation. MFS will vote against such proposals if MFS determines that a company’s executive compensation practices are excessive, considering such factors as the specific market’s best practices that seek to maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment and to create long-term shareholder value. We may alternatively submit an abstention vote on such proposals in circumstances where our executive compensation concerns are not as severe.

Many other items on foreign proxies involve repetitive, non-controversial matters that are mandated by local law. Accordingly, the items that are generally deemed routine and which do not require the exercise of judgment under these guidelines (and therefore voted with management) for foreign issuers include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) receiving financial statements or other reports from the board; (ii) approval of declarations of dividends; (iii) appointment of shareholders to sign board meeting minutes; (iv) discharge of management and supervisory boards; and (v) approval of share repurchase programs (absent any anti-takeover or other concerns). MFS will evaluate all other items on proxies for foreign companies in the context of the guidelines described above, but will generally vote against an item if there is not sufficient information disclosed in order to make an informed voting decision. For any ballot item where MFS wishes to express a more moderate level of concern than a vote of against, we will cast a vote to abstain.

In accordance with local law or business practices, some foreign companies or custodians prevent the sale of shares that have been voted for a certain period beginning prior to the shareholder meeting and ending on the day following the meeting (“share blocking”). Depending on the country in which a company is domiciled, the blocking period may begin a stated number of days prior or


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subsequent to the meeting (e.g. one, three or five days) or on a date established by the company. While practices vary, in many countries the block period can be continued for a longer period if the shareholder meeting is adjourned and postponed to a later date. Similarly, practices vary widely as to the ability of a shareholder to have the “block” restriction lifted early (e.g. in some countries shares generally can be “unblocked” up to two days prior to the meeting whereas in other countries the removal of the block appears to be discretionary with the issuer’s transfer agent). Due to these restrictions, MFS must balance the benefits to its clients of voting proxies against the potentially serious portfolio management consequences of a reduced flexibility to sell the underlying shares at the most advantageous time. For companies in countries with share blocking periods or in markets where some custodians may block shares, the disadvantage of being unable to sell the stock regardless of changing conditions generally outweighs the advantages of voting at the shareholder meeting for routine items. Accordingly, MFS will not vote those proxies in the absence of an unusual, significant vote that outweighs the disadvantage of being unable to sell the stock.

From time to time, governments may impose economic sanctions which may prohibit us from transacting business with certain companies or individuals. These sanctions may also prohibit the voting of proxies at certain companies or on certain individuals. In such instances, MFS will not vote at certain companies or on certain individuals if it determines that doing so is in violation of the sanctions.

In limited circumstances, other market specific impediments to voting shares may limit our ability to cast votes, including, but not limited to, late delivery of proxy materials, untimely vote cut-off dates, power of attorney and share re-registration requirements, or any other unusual voting requirements. In these limited instances, MFS votes securities on a best efforts basis in the context of the guidelines described above.

 

B. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

 

  1. MFS Proxy Voting Committee

The administration of these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is overseen by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, which includes senior personnel from the MFS Legal and Global Investment Support Departments. The Proxy Voting Committee does not include individuals whose primary duties relate to client relationship management, marketing, or sales. The MFS Proxy Voting Committee:

 

  a. Reviews these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures at least annually and recommends any amendments considered to be necessary or advisable;


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  b. Determines whether any potential material conflict of interest exists with respect to instances in which MFS (i) seeks to override these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures; (ii) votes on ballot items not governed by these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures; (iii) evaluates an excessive executive compensation issue in relation to the election of directors; or (iv) requests a vote recommendation from an MFS portfolio manager or investment analyst (e.g. mergers and acquisitions); and

 

  c. Considers special proxy issues as they may arise from time to time.

 

  2. Potential Conflicts of Interest

The MFS Proxy Voting Committee is responsible for monitoring potential material conflicts of interest on the part of MFS or its subsidiaries that could arise in connection with the voting of proxies on behalf of MFS’ clients. Due to the client focus of our investment management business, we believe that the potential for actual material conflict of interest issues is small. Nonetheless, we have developed precautions to assure that all proxy votes are cast in the best long-term economic interest of shareholders.1 Other MFS internal policies require all MFS employees to avoid actual and potential conflicts of interests between personal activities and MFS’ client activities. If an employee (including investment professionals) identifies an actual or potential conflict of interest with respect to any voting decision (including the ownership of securities in their individual portfolio), then that employee must recuse himself/herself from participating in the voting process. Any significant attempt by an employee of MFS or its subsidiaries to unduly influence MFS’ voting on a particular proxy matter should also be reported to the MFS Proxy Voting Committee.

In cases where proxies are voted in accordance with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, no material conflict of interest will be deemed to exist. In cases where (i) MFS is considering overriding these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, (ii) matters presented for vote are not governed by these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, (iii) MFS evaluates a potentially excessive executive compensation issue in relation to the election of directors or advisory pay or severance package vote, or (iv) a vote recommendation is requested from an MFS portfolio manager or investment analyst (e.g. mergers and acquisitions); (collectively, “Non-Standard Votes”); the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will follow these procedures:

 

  a. Compare the name of the issuer of such proxy against a list of significant current (i) distributors of MFS Fund shares, and (ii) MFS institutional clients (the “MFS Significant Distributor and Client List”);

 

1  For clarification purposes, note that MFS votes in what we believe to be the best, long-term economic interest of our clients entitled to vote at the shareholder meeting, regardless of whether other MFS clients hold “short” positions in the same issuer.


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  b. If the name of the issuer does not appear on the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, then no material conflict of interest will be deemed to exist, and the proxy will be voted as otherwise determined by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee;

 

  c. If the name of the issuer appears on the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, then the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will be apprised of that fact and each member of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will carefully evaluate the proposed vote in order to ensure that the proxy ultimately is voted in what MFS believes to be the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in MFS’ corporate interests; and

 

  d. For all potential material conflicts of interest identified under clause (c) above, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will document: the name of the issuer, the issuer’s relationship to MFS, the analysis of the matters submitted for proxy vote, the votes as to be cast and the reasons why the MFS Proxy Voting Committee determined that the votes were cast in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients, and not in MFS’ corporate interests. A copy of the foregoing documentation will be provided to MFS’ Conflicts Officer.

The members of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee are responsible for creating and maintaining the MFS Significant Distributor and Client List, in consultation with MFS’ distribution and institutional business units. The MFS Significant Distributor and Client List will be reviewed and updated periodically, as appropriate.

For instances where MFS is evaluating a director nominee who also serves as a director of the MFS Funds, then the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will adhere to the procedures described in section (d) above regardless of whether the portfolio company appears on our Significant Distributor and Client List.

If an MFS client has the right to vote on a matter submitted to shareholders by Sun Life Financial, Inc. or any of its affiliates (collectively “Sun Life”), MFS will cast a vote on behalf of such MFS client pursuant to the recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.’s (“ISS”) benchmark policy, or as required by law.

Except as described in the MFS Fund’s prospectus, from time to time, certain MFS Funds (the “top tier fund”) may own shares of other MFS Funds (the “underlying fund”). If an underlying fund submits a matter to a shareholder vote, the top tier fund will generally vote its shares in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the underlying fund. If there are no other shareholders in the underlying fund, the top tier fund will vote in what MFS believes to be in the top


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tier fund’s best long-term economic interest. If an MFS client has the right to vote on a matter submitted to shareholders by a pooled investment vehicle advised by MFS, MFS will cast a vote on behalf of such MFS client in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the pooled investment vehicle.

 

  3. Gathering Proxies

Most proxies received by MFS and its clients originate at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge and other service providers, on behalf of custodians, send proxy related material to the record holders of the shares beneficially owned by MFS’ clients, usually to the client’s proxy voting administrator or, less commonly, to the client itself. This material will include proxy ballots reflecting the shareholdings of Funds and of clients on the record dates for such shareholder meetings, as well as proxy materials with the issuer’s explanation of the items to be voted upon.

MFS, on behalf of itself and certain of its clients (including the MFS Funds) has entered into an agreement with an independent proxy administration firm pursuant to which the proxy administration firm performs various proxy vote related administrative services such as vote processing and recordkeeping functions. Except as noted below, the proxy administration firm for MFS and its clients, including the MFS Funds, is ISS. The proxy administration firm for MFS Development Funds, LLC is Glass, Lewis & Co., Inc. (“Glass Lewis”; Glass Lewis and ISS are each hereinafter referred to as the “Proxy Administrator”).

The Proxy Administrator receives proxy statements and proxy ballots directly or indirectly from various custodians, logs these materials into its database and matches upcoming meetings with MFS Fund and client portfolio holdings, which are input into the Proxy Administrator’s system by an MFS holdings data-feed. Through the use of the Proxy Administrator system, ballots and proxy material summaries for all upcoming shareholders’ meetings are available on-line to certain MFS employees and members of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee.

It is the responsibility of the Proxy Administrator and MFS to monitor the receipt of ballots. When proxy ballots and materials for clients are received by the Proxy Administrator, they are input into the Proxy Administrator’s on-line system. The Proxy Administrator then reconciles a list of all MFS accounts that hold shares of a company’s stock and the number of shares held on the record date by these accounts with the Proxy Administrator’s list of any upcoming shareholder’s meeting of that company. If a proxy ballot has not been received, the Proxy Administrator contacts the custodian requesting the reason as to why a ballot has not been received.


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  4. Analyzing Proxies

Proxies are voted in accordance with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. The Proxy Administrator, at the prior direction of MFS, automatically votes all proxy matters that do not require the particular exercise of discretion or judgment with respect to these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures as determined by MFS. With respect to proxy matters that require the particular exercise of discretion or judgment, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee or its representatives considers and votes on those proxy matters. MFS also receives research and recommendations from the Proxy Administrator which it may take into account in deciding how to vote. MFS uses the research of Proxy Administrators and/or other 3rd party vendors to identify (i) circumstances in which a board may have approved excessive executive compensation, (ii) environmental and social proposals that warrant further consideration or (iii) circumstances in which a non-U.S. company is not in compliance with local governance or compensation best practices. In those situations where the only MFS fund that is eligible to vote at a shareholder meeting has Glass Lewis as its Proxy Administrator, then we will utilize research from Glass Lewis to identify such issues. MFS analyzes such issues independently and does not necessarily vote with the ISS or Glass Lewis recommendations on these issues. MFS may also use other research tools in order to identify the circumstances described above. Representatives of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee review, as appropriate, votes cast to ensure conformity with these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

As a general matter, portfolio managers and investment analysts have little involvement in most votes taken by MFS. This is designed to promote consistency in the application of MFS’ voting guidelines, to promote consistency in voting on the same or similar issues (for the same or for multiple issuers) across all client accounts, and to minimize the potential that proxy solicitors, issuers, or third parties might attempt to exert inappropriate influence on the vote. For votes that require a case-by-case analysis per the MFS Proxy Policies (e.g. proxy contests, potentially excessive executive compensation issues, or certain shareholder proposals), a representative of MFS Proxy Voting Committee will consult with or seek recommendations from MFS investment analysts and/or portfolio managers.2 However, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee will ultimately determine the manner in which such proxies are voted.

As noted above, MFS reserves the right to override the guidelines when such an override is, in MFS’ best judgment, consistent with the overall principle of voting proxies in the best long-term economic interests of MFS’ clients. Any such override of the guidelines shall be analyzed, documented and reported in accordance with the procedures set forth in these policies.

 

2  From time to time, due to travel schedules and other commitments, an appropriate portfolio manager or research analyst may not be available to provide a vote recommendation. If such a recommendation cannot be obtained within a reasonable time prior to the cut-off date of the shareholder meeting, the MFS Proxy Voting Committee may determine to abstain from voting.


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  5. Voting Proxies

In accordance with its contract with MFS, the Proxy Administrator also generates a variety of reports for the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, and makes available on-line various other types of information so that the MFS Proxy Voting Committee or proxy team may review and monitor the votes cast by the Proxy Administrator on behalf of MFS’ clients.

For those markets that utilize a “record date” to determine which shareholders are eligible to vote, MFS generally will vote all eligible shares pursuant to these guidelines regardless of whether all (or a portion of) the shares held by our clients have been sold prior to the meeting date.

 

  6. Securities Lending

From time to time, the MFS Funds or other pooled investment vehicles sponsored by MFS may participate in a securities lending program. In the event MFS or its agent receives timely notice of a shareholder meeting for a U.S. security, MFS and its agent will attempt to recall any securities on loan before the meeting’s record date so that MFS will be entitled to vote these shares. However, there may be instances in which MFS is unable to timely recall securities on loan for a U.S. security, in which cases MFS will not be able to vote these shares. MFS will report to the appropriate board of the MFS Funds those instances in which MFS is not able to timely recall the loaned securities. MFS generally does not recall non-U.S. securities on loan because there may be insufficient advance notice of proxy materials, record dates, or vote cut-off dates to allow MFS to timely recall the shares in certain markets on an automated basis. As a result, non-U.S. securities that are on loan will not generally be voted. If MFS receives timely notice of what MFS determines to be an unusual, significant vote for a non-U.S. security whereas MFS shares are on loan, and determines that voting is in the best long-term economic interest of shareholders, then MFS will attempt to timely recall the loaned shares.

 

  7. Engagement

The MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are available on www.mfs.com and may be accessed by both MFS’ clients and the companies in which MFS’ clients invest. From time to time, MFS may determine that it is appropriate and beneficial for representatives from the MFS Proxy Voting Committee to engage in a dialogue or written communication with a company or other shareholders regarding certain matters on the company’s proxy statement that are of concern to shareholders, including environmental, social and governance matters. A company or shareholder may also seek to engage with representatives of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee in advance of the company’s formal proxy solicitation to review issues more generally or gauge support for certain contemplated proposals. For further information on requesting engagement with MFS on proxy voting issues, please visit www.mfs.com and refer to our most recent Annual Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Report for contact information.


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C. RECORDS RETENTION

MFS will retain copies of these MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures in effect from time to time and will retain all proxy voting reports submitted to the Board of Trustees of the MFS Funds for the period required by applicable law. Proxy solicitation materials, including electronic versions of the proxy ballots completed by representatives of the MFS Proxy Voting Committee, together with their respective notes and comments, are maintained in an electronic format by the Proxy Administrator and are accessible on-line by the MFS Proxy Voting Committee. All proxy voting materials and supporting documentation, including records generated by the Proxy Administrator’s system as to proxies processed, including the dates when proxy ballots were received and submitted, and the votes on each company’s proxy issues, are retained as required by applicable law.

 

D. REPORTS

U.S. Registered MFS Funds

MFS publicly discloses the proxy voting records of the U.S. registered MFS Funds on a quarterly basis. MFS will also report the results of its voting to the Board of Trustees of the U.S. registered MFS Funds. These reports will include: (i) a summary of how votes were cast (including advisory votes on pay and “golden parachutes”) ; (ii) a summary of votes against management’s recommendation; (iii) a review of situations where MFS did not vote in accordance with the guidelines and the rationale therefore; (iv) a review of the procedures used by MFS to identify material conflicts of interest and any matters identified as a material conflict of interest; (v) a review of these policies and the guidelines; (vi) a review of our proxy engagement activity; (vii) a report and impact assessment of instances in which the recall of loaned securities of a U.S. issuer was unsuccessful; and (viii) as necessary or appropriate, any proposed modifications thereto to reflect new developments in corporate governance and other issues. Based on these reviews, the Trustees of the U.S. registered MFS Funds will consider possible modifications to these policies to the extent necessary or advisable.

Other MFS Clients

MFS may publicly disclose the proxy voting records of certain other clients (including certain MFS Funds) or the votes it casts with respect to certain matters as required by law. A report can also be printed by MFS for each client who has requested that MFS furnish a record of votes cast. The report specifies the proxy issues which have been voted for the client during the year and the position taken with respect to each issue and, upon request, may identify situations where MFS did not vote in accordance with the MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.


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Except as described above, MFS generally will not divulge actual voting practices to any party other than the client or its representatives because we consider that information to be confidential and proprietary to the client. However, as noted above, MFS may determine that it is appropriate and beneficial to engage in a dialogue with a company regarding certain matters. During such dialogue with the company, MFS may disclose the vote it intends to cast in order to potentially effect positive change at a company in regards to environmental, social or governance issues.


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ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Portfolio Manager(s)

Information regarding the portfolio manager(s) of the MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (the “Fund”) is set forth below. Each portfolio manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Primary Role

  

Since

  

Title and Five Year History

Gary Lasman    Portfolio Manager    2007    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 2002.
Geoffrey Schechter    Portfolio Manager    2007    Investment Officer of MFS; employed in the investment area of MFS since 1993.

Compensation

Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually. As of December 31, 2016, portfolio manager total cash compensation is a combination of base salary and performance bonus:

Base Salary – Base salary represents a smaller percentage of portfolio manager total cash compensation than performance bonus.

Performance Bonus – Generally, the performance bonus represents more than a majority of portfolio manager total cash compensation.

The performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter.

The quantitative portion is primarily based on the pre-tax performance of assets managed by the portfolio manager over three- and five-year periods relative to peer group universes and/or indices (“benchmarks”). As of December 31, 2016, the following benchmarks were used to measure the following portfolio manager’s performance for the Fund:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Manager

  

Benchmark(s)

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

   Gary Lasman    Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index
   Geoffrey Schechter    Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index

Additional or different benchmarks, including versions and components of indices, custom indices, and linked indices that combine performance of different indices for different portions of the time period, may also be used. Consideration is primarily given to portfolio performance over three and five years with consideration given to other periods, if available. For portfolio managers who have served for more than five years, additional, longer-term performance periods, including the ten-year and since inception periods, are also considered. For portfolio managers who have served for less than three years, additional, shorter-term performance periods, including the one-year period, may also be considered. Emphasis is generally placed on longer performance periods when multiple performance periods are available.

The qualitative portion is based on the results of an annual internal peer review process (conducted by other portfolio managers, analysts, and traders) and management’s assessment of overall portfolio manager contributions to investor relations and the investment process (distinct from fund and other account performance). This performance bonus may be in the form of cash and/or a deferred cash award, at the discretion of management. A deferred cash award is issued for a cash value and becomes payable over a


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three-year vesting period if the portfolio manager remains in the continuous employ of MFS or its affiliates. During the vesting period, the value of the unfunded deferred cash award will fluctuate as though the portfolio manager had invested the cash value of the award in an MFS Fund(s) selected by the portfolio manager. A selected fund may be, but is not required to be, a fund that is managed by the portfolio manager.

Portfolio managers also typically benefit from the opportunity to participate in the MFS Equity Plan. Equity interests are awarded by management, on a discretionary basis, taking into account tenure at MFS, contribution to the investment process, and other factors.

Finally, portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans (including a defined contribution plan and health and other insurance plans) and programs available generally to other employees of MFS. The percentage such benefits represent of any portfolio manager’s compensation depends upon the length of the individual’s tenure at MFS and salary level, as well as other factors.

Ownership of Fund Shares

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by the Fund’s portfolio manager(s) as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2017. The following dollar ranges apply:

N. None

A. $1 – $10,000

B. $10,001 – $50,000

C. $50,001 – $100,000

D. $100,001 – $500,000

E. $500,001 – $1,000,000

F. Over $1,000,000

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Fund

Gary Lasman

   N

Geoffrey Schechter

   N

Other Accounts

In addition to the Fund, each portfolio manager of the Fund is named as a portfolio manager of certain other accounts managed or subadvised by MFS or an affiliate. The number and assets of these accounts were as follows as of the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2017:

 

     Registered Investment Companies*      Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
     Other Accounts  

Name

   Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets      Number of
Accounts
     TotalAssets      Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets  

Gary Lasman

     4      $ 5.0 billion        0        N/A        0        N/A  

Geoffrey Schechter

     15      $ 18.9 billion        3      $ 650.4 million        0        N/A  

 

* Includes the Fund.

Advisory fees are not based upon performance of any of the accounts identified in the table above.


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Potential Conflicts of Interest

MFS seeks to identify potential conflicts of interest resulting from a portfolio manager’s management of both the Fund and other accounts, and has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such potential conflicts.

The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) gives rise to conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives and strategies, benchmarks, time horizons and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In certain instances, there are securities which are suitable for the Fund’s portfolio as well as for accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries with similar investment objectives. The Fund’s trade allocation policies may give rise to conflicts of interest if the Fund’s orders do not get fully executed or are delayed in getting executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Investments selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform investments selected for the Fund.

When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed by MFS to be fair and equitable to each. Allocations may be based on many factors and may not always be pro rata based on assets managed. The allocation methodology could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned.

MFS and/or a portfolio manager may have a financial incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor accounts other than the Fund, for instance, those that pay a higher advisory fee and/or have a performance adjustment and/or include an investment by the portfolio manager.


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ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

MFS High Yield Municipal Trust

 

Period

   (a)
Total number
of Shares
Purchased
     (b)
Average
Price
Paid per
Share
     (c)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     (d)
Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
under the Plans
or Programs
 

12/01/16-12/31/16

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

1/01/17-1/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

2/01/17-2/28/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

3/01/17-3/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

4/01/17-4/30/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

5/01/17-5/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

6/01/17-6/30/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

7/01/17-7/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

8/01/17-8/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

9/1/17-9/30/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,010  

10/1/17-10/31/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,525  

11/1/17-11/30/17

     0        N/A        0        2,831,525  
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     0           0     
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Note: The Board approved procedures to repurchase shares and reviews the results periodically. The notification to shareholders of the program is part of the semi-annual and annual reports sent to shareholders. These annual programs begin on October 1st of each year. The programs conform to the conditions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and limit the aggregate number of shares that may be purchased in each annual period (October 1 through the following September 30) to 10% of the Registrant’s outstanding shares as of the first day of the plan year (October 1). The aggregate number of shares available for purchase for the October 1, 2017 plan year is 2,831,525.

 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may send recommendations to the Board for nominees to the Registrant’s Board since the Registrant last provided disclosure as to such procedures in response to the requirements of Item 407 (c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K or this Item.


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ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant’s principal financial officer and principal executive officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter covered by the report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017, there were no fees or income related to securities lending activities of the Registrant.


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ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.

 

(a) File the exhibits listed below as part of this form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

  (1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Code of Ethics attached hereto.

 

  (2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2): Attached hereto.

 

  (3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the Registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable.

 

(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference: Attached hereto.


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Notice

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, of the Registrant is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective constituent series of the Registrant.


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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.

Registrant MFS HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST

 

By (Signature and Title)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
  David L. DiLorenzo, President

Date: January 16, 2018

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)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
  David L. DiLorenzo, President (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: January 16, 2018

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JAMES O. YOST
  James O. Yost, Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)

Date: January 16, 2018

 

* Print name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.