Selected data for each share of the Fund outstanding throughout each period were as follows:
Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds
February 28, 2007 (Unaudited)
Voyageur Mutual Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers five series: Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Delaware Tax-Free California Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Idaho Fund and Delaware Tax-Free New York Fund. Voyageur Insured Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers two series: Delaware Tax-Free Arizona Insured Fund and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund. Voyageur Tax Free Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund. Voyageur Intermediate Tax Free Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and offers the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund. Voyageur Mutual Funds, Voyageur Insured Funds, Voyageur Tax Free Funds and Voyageur Intermediate Tax Free Funds are individually referred to as “Trust” and collectively as the “the Trusts.” These financial statements and the related notes pertain to Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund (each referred to as a “Fund” or collectively as the “Funds”). The above Trusts are open-end investment companies. The Funds are considered non-diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and offer Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4.50% for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund and up to 2.75% for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund. Class A share purchases of $1,000,000 or more will incur a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% if redeemed during the first year and 0.50% during the second year, provided that Delaware Distributors, L. P. (DDLP) paid a financial advisor a commission on the purchase of those shares. Class B shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge that declines from 4% to zero for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund and that declines from 2% to zero for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, depending upon the period of time the shares are held. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A on a quarterly basis approximately eight years after purchase for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund and approximately five years after purchase for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund. Class C shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, if redeemed during the first twelve months.
The investment objective of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and from the Minnesota state personal income tax, as is consistent with preservation of capital.
The investment objective of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund is to seek to provide investors with preservation of capital and, secondarily, current income exempt from federal income tax and from the Minnesota state personal income tax, by maintaining a dollar-weighted average effective portfolio maturity of 10 years or less.
The investment objective of Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and from the Minnesota state personal income tax, primarily through investment in medium- and lower-grade municipal obligations.
1. Significant Accounting Policies
The following accounting policies are in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are consistently followed by the Funds.
Security Valuation — Long-term debt securities are valued by an independent pricing service and such prices are believed to reflect the fair value of such securities. Short-term debt securities having less than 60 days to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are valued at their published net asset value. Other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of each Fund’s Board of Trustees. In determining whether market quotations are readily available or fair valuation will be used, various factors will be taken into consideration, such as market closures, aftermarket trading or significant events after local market trading (e.g., government actions or pronouncements, trading volume or volatility on markets, exchanges among dealers, or news events).
In September 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework, and expands disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. Statement 157 is intended to increase consistency and comparability among fair value estimates used in financial reporting. Statement 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Management does not expect the adoption of Statement 157 to have an impact on the amounts reported in the financial statements.
Federal Income Taxes — Each Fund intends to continue to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company and make the requisite distributions to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been made in the financial statements.
On July 13, 2006, FASB released FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing each Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Adoption of FIN 48 is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. Recent SEC guidance allows implementing FIN 48 in each Fund’s net asset value calculations as late as each Fund’s last net asset value calculation in the first required financial statement reporting period. As a result, each Fund will incorporate FIN 48 in its semiannual report on February 28, 2008. Although each Fund’s tax positions are currently being evaluated, management does not expect the adoption of FIN 48 to have a material impact on each Fund’s financial statements.
36
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Class Accounting — Investment income and common expenses are allocated to the classes of the Funds on the basis of “settled shares” of each class in relation to the net assets of the Funds. Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments are allocated to the various classes of the Funds on the basis of daily net assets of each class. Distribution expenses relating to a specific class are charged directly to that class.
Use of Estimates — 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 at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Interest and Related Expenses — Interest and related expenses include, but are not limited to, interest expense, remarketing fees, liquidity fees, and trustees’ fees from the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund’s, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund’s, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund’s participation in inverse floater programs where the Funds have transferred their own bonds to a trust that issues floating rate securities with an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal of the transferred bonds. In consideration of the conveyance of the bond, the Funds receive the inverse floating rate securities and cash from the trust. As a result of certain rights retained by the Funds, the transfer of the bond is not considered a sale, but rather a form of financing for accounting purposes whereby the cash received is recorded as a liability and interest expense is recorded based on the interest rate of the floating rate securities. Remarketing fees, liquidity fees, and trustees’ fees expenses are recorded on the accrual basis.
For the six months ended February 28, 2007, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund and Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund had an average daily liability from the participation in inverse floater programs of $31,105,000 and $13,275,000, respectively, and recorded interest expense at an average rate of 3.91% and 3.94%, respectively.
For the period September 1, 2006 through October 30, 2006, Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund had an average daily liability from the participation in inverse floater programs of $1,000,000 and recorded interest expense at an average rate of 4.07%.
Other — Expenses directly attributable to a Fund are charged directly to that Fund. Other expenses common to various funds within the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds are generally allocated amongst such funds on the basis of average net assets. Management fees and some other expenses are paid monthly. Security transactions are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold (trade date) for financial reporting purposes. Costs used in calculating realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Discounts and premiums are amortized to interest income over the lives of the respective securities. Each Fund declares dividends daily from net investment income and pays such dividends monthly and declares and pays distributions from net realized gain on investments, if any, annually.
The Funds receive earnings credits from their custodian when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset custody fees. The expense paid under this arrangement is included in custodian fees and on the Statements of Operations with the corresponding expense offset shown as “expense paid indirectly.”
2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements and Other Transactions with Affiliates
In accordance with the terms of its respective investment management agreement, each Fund pays Delaware Management Company (DMC), a series of Delaware Management Business Trust and the investment manager, an annual fee based on each Fund’s average daily net assets as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| On the first $500 million | | | 0.550% | | | | 0.500% | | | | 0.500% | | | | 0.550% | |
| On the next $500 million | | | 0.500% | | | | 0.475% | | | | 0.475% | | | | 0.500% | |
| On the next $1.5 billion | | | 0.450% | | | | 0.450% | | | | 0.450% | | | | 0.450% | |
| In excess of $2.5 billion | | | 0.425% | | | | 0.425% | | | | 0.425% | | | | 0.425% | |
DMC has contractually agreed to waive that portion, if any, of its management fee and reimburse each Fund to the extent necessary to ensure that annual operating expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, 12b-1 plan expense, certain insurance costs and non-routine expenses or costs, do not exceed specified percentages of average daily net assets as shown below:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Operating expense limitation as a | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| percentage of average daily | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| net assets (per annum) | | | 0.68% | | | | 0.64% | | | | 0.60% | | | | 0.64% | |
| Expiration date | | | 12/31/07 | | | | 12/31/07 | | | | 12/31/07 | | | | 12/31/07 | |
(continues) 37
Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds
2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements and Other Transactions with Affiliates (continued)
Delaware Service Company, Inc. (DSC), an affiliate of DMC, provides accounting, administration, dividend disbursing and transfer agent services. Each Fund pays DSC a monthly fee computed at the annual rate of 0.04% of such Fund’s average daily net assets for accounting and administration services. Each Fund pays DSC a monthly fee based on the number of shareholder accounts for dividend disbursing and transfer agent services.
Pursuant to a distribution agreement and distribution plan, each Fund pays DDLP, the distributor and an affiliate of DMC, an annual distribution and service fee not to exceed 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Class B and C shares. DDLP has contracted to waive distribution and services fees through December 31, 2007 in order to prevent distribution and service fees of Class A shares from exceeding 0.15% of average daily net assets for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund.
At February 28, 2007, each Fund had liabilities payable to affiliates as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Investment management fee payable | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| to DMC | | | $173,165 | | | | $83,963 | | | | $15,208 | | | | $51,993 | |
| Dividend disbursing, transfer agent, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| accounting and administration fees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| and expenses payable to DSC | | | 63,448 | | | | 38,238 | | | | 11,159 | | | | 23,286 | |
| Distribution fee payable to DDLP | | | 197,368 | | | | 118,321 | | | | 22,496 | | | | 94,649 | |
| Other expenses payable to | | | 18,874 | | | | 9,474 | | | | 3,376 | | | | 5,219 | |
| DMC and affiliates* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
*DMC, as part of its administrative services, pays operating expenses on behalf of each Fund and is reimbursed on a periodic basis. Such expenses include items such as printing of shareholder reports, fees for audit, legal and tax services, registration fees and trustees’ fees.
As provided in the investment management agreement, each Fund bears the cost of certain legal and tax services, including internal legal and tax services provided to each Fund by DMC and/or its affiliates’ employees. For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the Funds were charged internal legal and tax services provided by DMC and/or its affiliates’ employees as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| | | | $10,925 | | | | $6,176 | | | | $1,459 | | | | $3,280 | |
For the six months ended February 28, 2007, DDLP earned commissions on sales of Class A shares for each Fund as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| | | | $29,363 | | | | $7,179 | | | | $4,521 | | | | $35,942 | |
For the six months ended February 28, 2007, DDLP received gross contingent deferred sales charge commissions on redemption of each Fund’s Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively. These commissions were entirely used to offset up-front commissions previously paid by DDLP to broker-dealers on sales of those shares. The amounts received were as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Class A | | | $11,877 | | | | $ 20 | | | | $ — | | | | $ — | |
| Class B | | | 4,356 | | | | 4,589 | | | | 10 | | | | 4,332 | |
| Class C | | | 157 | | | | 586 | | | | 410 | | | | 2,096 | |
38
2. Investment Management, Administration Agreements and Other Transactions with Affiliates (continued)
Trustees’ fees and benefits include expenses accrued by the Funds for each Trustee’s retainer, per meeting fees and retirement benefits. Independent Trustees with over five years of uninterrupted service were eligible to participate in a retirement plan that provides for the payment of benefits upon retirement. The amount of the retirement benefit was determined based on factors set forth in the plan, including the number of years of service. On November 16, 2006, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to terminate the retirement plan. Payments equal to the net present value of the earned benefits were made in 2007 to those independent trustees so entitled. For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the retirement benefit payouts were as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| | | | $50,888 | | | | $29,233 | | | | $6,902 | | | | $14,909 | |
Certain officers of DMC, DSC and DDLP are officers and/or trustees of the Trust. These officers and trustees are paid no compensation by the Funds.
3. Investments
For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the Funds made purchases and sales of investment securities other than short-term investments as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Purchases | | | $22,678,010 | | | | $5,278,370 | | | | $3,797,229 | | | | $28,950,926 | |
| Sales | | | 16,956,061 | | | | 5,440,025 | | | | 5,552,177 | | | | 5,261,159 | |
At February 28, 2007, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes has been estimated since the final tax characteristics cannot be determined until fiscal year end. At February 28, 2007 the cost of investments and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for each Fund were as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Cost of investments | | | $386,674,594 | | | | $210,184,210 | | | | $52,323,201 | | | | $135,095,477 | |
| Aggregate unrealized appreciation | | | $ 21,389,411 | | | | $ 16,654,244 | | | | $ 2,285,091 | | | | $ 4,799,173 | |
| Aggregate unrealized depreciation | | | (108,381 | ) | | | (2,641 | ) | | | (11,110 | ) | | | (189,761 | ) |
| Net unrealized appreciation | | | $ 21,281,030 | | | | $ 16,651,603 | | | | $ 2,273,981 | | | | $ 4,609,412 | |
4. Dividend and Distribution Information
Income and long-term capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, net short-term gains on sales of investment securities are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the six months ended February 28, 2007 and year ended August 31, 2006 was as follows:
| | | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Six Months Ended 2/28/07* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tax-exempt income | | | $ 8,145,239 | | | | $4,517,120 | | | | $1,076,419 | | | | $2,456,791 | |
| Long-term capital gain | | | 356,139 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Total | | | $ 8,501,378 | | | | $4,517,120 | | | | $1,076,419 | | | | $2,456,791 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended 8/31/06 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tax-exempt income | | | $16,312,106 | | | | $9,369,886 | | | | $2,195,858 | | | | $4,067,083 | |
| Ordinary income | | | 106,715 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Long-term capital gain | | | 627,495 | | | | 476,138 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Total | | | $17,046,316 | | | | $9,846,024 | | | | $2,195,858 | | | | $4,067,083 | |
*Tax information for the period ended February 28, 2007 is an estimate and the tax character of dividends and distributions may be redesignated at fiscal year end.
(continues) 39
Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds
5. Components of Net Assets on a Tax Basis
The components of net assets are estimated since final tax characteristics cannot be determined until fiscal year end. As of February 28, 2007, the estimated components of net assets on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Shares of beneficial interest | | | $ 390,712,670 | | | | $212,843,046 | | | | $54,115,490 | | | | $138,919,482 | |
| Accumulated tax-exempt income | | | (22,418 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Capital loss carryforwards as of 2/28/07 | | | — | | | | — | | | | (1,356,875 | ) | | | (2,432,446 | ) |
| Realized gains (losses) 9/1/06-2/28/07 | | | 12,634 | | | | (126,226 | ) | | | (109,745 | ) | | | (95,949 | ) |
| Post-October losses | | | (23,227 | ) | | | — | | | | (4,167 | ) | | | — | |
| Unrealized appreciation of investments | | | 21,281,030 | | | | 16,651,603 | | | | 2,273,981 | | | | 4,609,412 | |
| Net assets | | | $411,960,689 | | | | $229,368,423 | | | | $54,918,684 | | | | $141,000,499 | |
The differences between book basis and tax basis components of net assets are primarily attributable to tax treatment of market discount on debt instruments and tax treatment of the inverse floater program.
Post-October losses represent losses realized on investment transactions from November 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007 that, in accordance with federal income tax regulations, each Fund has elected to defer and treat as having arisen in the following fiscal year.
For financial reporting purposes, capital accounts are adjusted to reflect the tax character of permanent book/tax differences. Reclassifications are primarily due to tax treatment of market discount on certain debt instruments. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications. For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the Funds recorded an estimate of these differences since the final tax characteristics cannot be determined until fiscal year end.
| | | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Minnesota |
| | Delaware Tax-Free | | Minnesota | | Minnesota | | High-Yield Municipal |
| | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund | | Intermediate Fund | | Bond Fund |
| Undistributed (Accumulated) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| net investment income (loss) | | | $ 16,237 | | | | $ 12,956 | | | | $ — | | | | $(9,703 | ) |
| Accumulated realized gain (loss) | | | (16,237 | ) | | | (12,956 | ) | | | — | | | | 9,703 | |
For federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards may be carried forward and applied against future capital gains. Capital loss carryforwards remaining at August 31, 2006 will expire as follows:
| | | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free |
| | | Minnesota | | Minnesota High-Yield |
| Year of Expiration | | | Intermediate Fund | | Municipal Bond Fund |
| 2008 | | | $ — | | | | $ 179,791 | |
| 2009 | | | 1,024,839 | | | | 1,267,552 | |
| 2010 | | | 4,037 | | | | 57,521 | |
| 2011 | | | 246,659 | | | | 243,334 | |
| 2012 | | | — | | | | 684,248 | |
| 2014 | | | 81,340 | | | | — | |
| Total | | | $1,356,875 | | | | $2,432,446 | |
For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund had capital gains of $12,634, which may reduce capital loss carryforwards. Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund had capital losses of $126,226, $109,745 and $95,949 respectively, which may increase the capital loss carryforwards.
40
6. Capital Shares
Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
| | Delaware Tax-Free | | Delaware Tax-Free |
| | Minnesota Fund | | Insured Fund |
| | Six Months | | | | Six Months | | |
| | Ended | | Year Ended | | Ended | | Year Ended |
| | 2/28/07 | | 8/31/06 | | 2/28/07 | | 8/31/06 |
| Shares sold: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | 1,653,901 | | | 3,740,009 | | | 305,747 | | | 1,066,208 | |
| Class B | 30,853 | | | 64,648 | | | 11,531 | | | 32,933 | |
| Class C | 172,021 | | | 354,758 | | | 24,490 | | | 177,451 | |
| |
| Shares issued upon reinvestments of dividends and distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | 417,044 | | | 824,435 | | | 255,507 | | | 559,513 | |
| Class B | 9,325 | | | 22,000 | | | 10,748 | | | 27,111 | |
| Class C | 17,263 | | | 32,061 | | | 12,571 | | | 27,286 | |
| | 2,300,407 | | | 5,037,911 | | | 620,594 | | | 1,890,502 | |
| |
| Shares repurchased: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | (1,992,111 | ) | | (2,730,163 | ) | | (1,100,358 | ) | | (2,484,487 | ) |
| Class B | (105,102 | ) | | (187,143 | ) | | (118,431 | ) | | (235,722 | ) |
| Class C | (129,556 | ) | | (277,488 | ) | | (86,864 | ) | | (156,558 | ) |
| | (2,226,769 | ) | | (3,194,794 | ) | | (1,305,653 | ) | | (2,876,767 | ) |
| Net increase (decrease) | 73,638 | | | 1,843,117 | | | (685,059 | ) | | (986,265 | ) |
| |
| | Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota | | Delaware Minnesota High-Yield |
| | Intermediate Fund | | Municipal Fund |
| | Six Months | | | | Six Months | | |
| | Ended | | Year Ended | | Ended | | Year Ended |
| | 2/28/07 | | 8/31/06 | | 2/28/07 | | 8/31/06 |
| Shares sold: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | 260,561 | | | 413,224 | | | 1,998,730 | | | 3,175,962 | |
| Class B | 1,884 | | | 1,162 | | | 56,884 | | | 185,827 | |
| Class C | 17,547 | | | 100,419 | | | 546,952 | | | 736,336 | |
| |
| Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | 63,508 | | | 130,882 | | | 116,932 | | | 178,840 | |
| Class B | 2,220 | | | 4,900 | | | 10,043 | | | 21,720 | |
| Class C | 5,602 | | | 10,784 | | | 24,652 | | | 41,851 | |
| | 351,322 | | | 661,371 | | | 2,754,193 | | | 4,340,536 | |
| |
| Shares repurchased: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | (377,075 | ) | | (907,954 | ) | | (425,701 | ) | | (1,059,998 | ) |
| Class B | (16,285 | ) | | (77,656 | ) | | (95,126 | ) | | (288,064 | ) |
| Class C | (30,686 | ) | | (180,541 | ) | | (186,802 | ) | | (321,249 | ) |
| | (424,046 | ) | | (1,166,151 | ) | | (707,629 | ) | | (1,669,311 | ) |
| Net increase (decrease) | (72,724 | ) | | (504,780 | ) | | 2,046,564 | | | 2,671,225 | |
(continues) 41
Notes to financial statements
Delaware Minnesota Municipal Bond Funds
6. Capital Shares (continued)
For the six months ended February 28, 2007 and year ended August 31, 2006, the following shares and values were converted from Class B to Class A shares. The respective amounts are included in Class B redemptions and Class A subscriptions in the tables on the previous page and the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
| | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended |
| | 2/28/07 | | 8/31/06 |
| | Class B | | Class A | | | | Class B | | Class A | | |
| | Shares | | Shares | | Value | | Shares | | Shares | | Value |
| Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund | 55,356 | | 55,398 | | $694,909 | | 66,784 | | 66,836 | | $ 831,110 |
| Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Insured Fund | 53,333 | | 53,284 | | 582,512 | | 80,959 | | 80,882 | | 878,177 |
| Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Intermediate Fund | 8,462 | | 8,479 | | 92,427 | | 18,914 | | 18,958 | | 203,874 |
| Delaware Minnesota High-Yield | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Municipal Bond Fund | 57,202 | | 57,284 | | 606,039 | | 167,328 | | 167,637 | | 1,747,428 |
7. Inverse Floaters
The Funds may participate in inverse floater programs where a fund transfers its own bonds to a trust that issues floating rate securities and inverse floating rate securities (“inverse floaters”) with an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal of the transferred bonds. The inverse floaters received by the Funds are derivative tax-exempt obligations with floating or variable interest rates that move in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates, usually at an accelerated speed. Consequently, the market values of the inverse floaters will generally be more volatile than other tax-exempt investments. The Funds typically use inverse floaters to adjust the duration of its portfolio. Duration measures a portfolio’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. By holding inverse floaters with a different duration than the underlying bonds that the Funds transferred to the trust, the Funds seek to adjust its portfolio’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The Funds may also invest in inverse floaters to add additional income to the Funds or to adjust the Funds’ exposure to a specific segment of the yield curve. Securities held in trust relating to inverse floater programs are identified on the Statements of Net Assets.
Previously, the Funds treated these transactions as a sale of the bonds and as a purchase of the inverse floating rate securities. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (FAS 140), the transfer of the bonds is not considered a sale, but rather a form of financing for accounting purposes.
8. Line of Credit
Each Fund, along with certain other funds in the Delaware Investments® Family of Funds (the “Participants”), participates in a $225,000,000 revolving line of credit facility to be used for temporary or emergency purposes as an additional source of liquidity to fund redemptions of investor shares. The Participants are charged an annual commitment fee, which is allocated across the Participants on the basis of each participant’s allocation of the entire facility. The Participants may borrow up to a maximum of one third of their net assets under the agreement. The Funds had no amounts outstanding as of February 28, 2007 or at any time during the period then ended.
9. Credit and Market Risk
The Funds concentrate their investments in securities issued by municipalities, mainly in Minnesota. The value of these investments may be adversely affected by new legislation within the state, regional or local economic conditions, and differing levels of supply and demand for municipal bonds. Many municipalities insure repayment for their obligations. Although bond insurance reduces the risk of loss due to default by an issuer, such bonds remain subject to the risk that value may fluctuate for other reasons and there is no assurance that the insurance company will meet its obligations. These securities have been identified in the Statements of Net Assets.
The Funds may invest in advanced refunded bonds, escrow secured bonds or defeased bonds. Under current federal tax laws and regulations, state and local government borrowers are permitted to refinance outstanding bonds by issuing new bonds. The issuer refinances the outstanding debt to either reduce interest costs or to remove or alter restrictive covenants imposed by the bonds being refinanced. A refunding transaction where the municipal securities are being refunded within 90 days from the issuance of the refunding issue is known as a “current refunding”. “Advance refunded bonds” are bonds in which the refunded bond issue remains outstanding for more than 90 days following the issuance of the refunding issue. In an advance refunding, the issuer will use the proceeds of a new bond issue to purchase high grade interest bearing debt securities which are then deposited in an irrevocable escrow account held by an escrow agent to secure all future payments of principal and interest and bond premium of the advance refunded bond. Bonds are “escrowed to maturity” when the proceeds of the refunding issue are deposited in an escrow account for investment sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest on the original interest payment and maturity dates. Bonds are considered “pre-refunded” when the refunding issue’s
42
9. Credit and Market Risk (continued)
proceeds are escrowed only until a permitted call date or dates on the refunded issue with the refunded issue being redeemed at the time, including any required premium. Bonds become “defeased” when the rights and interests of the bondholders and of their lien on the pledged revenues or other security under the terms of the bond contract and are substituted with an alternative source of revenues (the escrow securities) sufficient to meet payments of principal and interest to maturity or to the first call dates. Escrowed secured bonds will often receive a rating of AAA from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, and/or Fitch Ratings due to the strong credit quality of the escrow securities and the irrevocable nature of the escrow deposit agreement. The Tax Free Minnesota Insured Funds will purchase escrow secured bonds without additional insurance only where the escrow is invested in securities of the U.S. government or agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in illiquid securities, which may include securities with contractual restrictions on resale, securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and other securities which may not be readily marketable. The relative illiquidity of these securities may impair each Fund from disposing of them in a timely manner and at a fair price when it is necessary or desirable to do so. While maintaining oversight, each Fund’s Board of Trustees has delegated to DMC the day-to-day functions of determining whether individual securities are liquid for purposes of each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid assets. At February 28, 2007, there were no Rule 144A securities. Illiquid securities have been identified on the Statements of Net Assets.
10. Contractual Obligations
The Funds enter into contracts in the normal course of business that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed each Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
11. Fund Reorganization
On August 17, 2006, the Board of Trustees responsible for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund (the “Reorganizing Fund”) approved a proposal to reorganize the Reorganizing Fund with and into the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”) subject to shareholder approval. The Board of Trustees responsible for the Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund also approved the reorganization. On September 1, 2006, the Reorganizing Fund was closed to new investors. On March 30, 2007, the shareholders of the Reorganizing Fund approved the reorganization of their Fund. The reorganization took place on April 13, 2007.
12. Subsequent Event
At a meeting on February 16, 2007, the Board of Trustees of Delaware Investments Family of Funds approved the termination of new sales and most subsequent investments of Class B shares of each fund in the complex (each, a “Fund”). Effective at the close of business on May 31, 2007, no new or subsequent investments, including investments through automatic investment plans and by qualified retirement plans (such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, or 457 plans), will be allowed in Class B shares of a Fund, except through a reinvestment of dividends or capital gains or permitted exchanges. Existing shareholders of Class B shares may continue to hold their Class B shares, reinvest dividends into Class B shares, and exchange their Class B shares of one Fund for Class B shares of another Fund, as permitted by existing exchange privileges. Existing Class B shareholders wishing to make subsequent purchases in a Fund’s shares will be permitted to invest in other classes of the Fund, subject to that class’ pricing structure and eligibility requirements, if any.
For Class B shares outstanding as of May 31, 2007 and Class B shares acquired upon reinvestment of dividends or capital gains, all Class B share attributes, including the contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) schedules, conversion to Class A schedule, and distribution and service (12b-1) fees, will continue in their current form. However, effective at the close of business on May 31, 2007, reinvestment of redeemed shares with respect to Class B shares (which, as described in the prospectus, permits you to reinvest within 12 months of selling your shares and have any CDSC you paid on such shares credited back to your account) will be discontinued. In addition, because a Fund’s or its distributor’s ability to assess certain sales charges and fees is dependent on the sale of new shares, the termination of new purchases of Class B shares could ultimately lead to the elimination and/or reduction of such sales charges and fees. A Fund may not be able to provide shareholders with advance notice of the reduction in these sales charges and fees. You will be notified via a Prospectus Supplement if there are any changes to any attributes, sales charges, or fees.
43
About the organization
This semiannual report is for the information of Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund shareholders, but it may be used with prospective investors when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Insured Fund, Delaware Tax-Free Minnesota Intermediate Fund, and Delaware Minnesota High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund and the Delaware Investments® Performance Update for the most recently completed calendar quarter. The prospectus sets forth details about charges, expenses, investment objectives, and operating policies of the Fund. You should read the prospectus carefully before you invest. The figures in this report represent past results that are not a guarantee of future results. The return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
| Board of trustees Patrick P. Coyne
Chairman, President, and
Chief Executive Officer
Delaware Investments Family of Funds
Philadelphia, PA Thomas L. Bennett
Private Investor
Rosemont, PA John A. Fry
President
Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, PA Anthony D. Knerr
Founder and Managing Director
Anthony Knerr & Associates
New York, NY Lucinda S. Landreth
Former Chief Investment Officer
Assurant, Inc.
Philadelphia, PA Ann R. Leven
Consultant
ARL Associates
New York, NY Thomas F. Madison
President and Chief Executive Officer
MLM Partners, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN Janet L. Yeomans
Vice President and Treasurer
3M Corporation
St. Paul, MN J. Richard Zecher
Founder
Investor Analytics
Scottsdale, AZ | Affiliated officers David F. Connor
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel,
and Secretary
Delaware Investments Family of Funds
Philadelphia, PA David P. O’Connor
Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
and Chief Legal Officer
Delaware Investments Family of Funds
Philadelphia, PA John J. O’Connor
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Delaware Investments Family of Funds
Philadelphia, PA Richard Salus
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Delaware Investments Family of Funds
Philadelphia, PA | Contact information Investment manager
Delaware Management Company, a series
of Delaware Management Business Trust
Philadelphia, PA National distributor
Delaware Distributors, L.P.
Philadelphia, PA Shareholder servicing, dividend
disbursing, and transfer agent
Delaware Service Company, Inc.
2005 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7094 For shareholders
800 523-1918 For securities dealers and financial
institutions representatives only
800 362-7500 Web site
www.delawareinvestments.com |
Delaware Investments is the marketing name of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Each Fund’s Forms N-Q, as well as a description of the policies and procedures that each Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities are available without charge (i) upon request, by calling 800 523-1918; (ii) on each Fund’s Web site at http://www.delawareinvestments.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Each Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800 SEC-0330.
Information (if any) regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recently disclosed 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (i) through each Fund’s Web site at http://www.delawareinvestments.com; and (ii) on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
44
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Register for Account Access today! Please visit us at www.delawareinvestments.com, select Individual Investors, and click Account Access.
Please call our Shareholder Service Center at 800 523-1918 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, for assistance with any questions.
| (1579) | Printed in the USA |
| SA-MNALL [2/07] CGI 4/07 | MF-07-03-147 PO11732 |
Item 2. Code of Ethics
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Included as part of report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of the filing of this report and have concluded that they are effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant in its reports or statements filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Management has made changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, registrant's internal controls over financial reporting. To seek to increase the controls' effectiveness, these changes provide for enhanced review of contracts relating to complex transactions and the applicability of generally accepted accounting principles to such transactions, including enhanced consultation with registrant's independent public accountants in connection with such reviews.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Item 12. Exhibits
| (a) (1) Code of Ethics |
| |
| | | Not applicable. |
| |
| | (2) Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT. |
| |
| | (3) Written solicitations to purchase securities pursuant to Rule 23c-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| |
| | | Not applicable. |
| |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.906CERT. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf, by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Name of Registrant: Voyageur Tax-Free Funds
| PATRICK P. COYNE |
| By: | Patrick P. Coyne |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Date: | May 4, 2007 |
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.
| PATRICK P. COYNE |
| By: | Patrick P. Coyne |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Date: | May 4, 2007 |
| |
| |
| RICHARD SALUS |
| By: | Richard Salus |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: | May 4, 2007 |
