UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
Investment Company Act file number: 811-07938
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Delaware Investments
Minnesota Municipal
Income Fund III, Inc.
Address of principal executive offices: 2005 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Name and address of agent for service: Richelle S. Maestro, Esq.
2005 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (800) 523-1918
Date of fiscal year end: March 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2004
ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
DELAWARE INVESTMENTS MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III, INC.
December 31, 2004
PRINCIPAL MARKET
AMOUNT VALUE
MUNICIPAL BONDS- 154.70%
Airport Revenue Bonds - 9.44%
Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission Revenue Series A
5.00% 1/1/28 (MBIA) $ 750,000 $ 775,725
5.00% 1/1/30 (AMBAC) 750,000 763,598
5.125% 1/1/25 (FGIC) 900,000 935,622
----------
2,474,945
----------
City General Obligation Bonds - 4.92%
Moorhead Series B 5.00% 2/1/33 (MBIA) 1,250,000 1,290,950
----------
1,290,950
----------
Continuing Care/Retirement Revenue Bonds - 2.30%
Minnesota Agriculture & Economic Development Board Revenue (Benedictine Health
Systems) 5.75% 2/1/29 600,000 601,950
----------
601,950
----------
Corporate Backed Revenue Bonds - 7.39%
Cloquet Pollution Control Revenue (Potlatch Corporation Project) 5.90% 10/1/26 1,000,000 1,008,910
Minneapolis Community Development Agency Supported Development Revenue (Pajor
Graphics) Series 1 (LOC US Bank NA) 6.75% 12/1/25 (AMT) 865,000 929,858
----------
1,938,768
----------
Escrowed to Maturity Bonds - 12.22%
University of Minnesota Hospital & Clinics 6.75% 12/1/16 2,580,000 3,205,779
----------
3,205,779
----------
Higher Education Revenue Bonds - 5.19%
Minnesota State Higher Education Facilities Authority
(College of St. Benedict) Series 5-W 5.25% 3/1/24 300,000 313,650
(St.Thomas University) Series 4-A1 5.625% 10/1/21 1,010,000 1,048,774
----------
1,362,424
----------
Hospital Revenue Bonds - 28.03%
Bemidji Hospital Facilities Revenue (North County Health Services) 5.00% 9/1/24 (RADIAN) 500,000 519,645
Duluth Economic Development Authority Health Care Facilities Revenue (Benedictine
Health System - St. Mary's Hospital) 5.25% 2/15/33 1,000,000 1,014,050
Minneapolis Health Care System Revenue (Allina Health Systems) Series A 5.75% 11/15/32 1,100,000 1,165,989
Minnesota Agricultural & Economic Development Health Care System (Fairview
Hospital) Series A 6.375% 11/15/29 1,250,000 1,370,838
Rochester Health Care Facilities Revenue (Mayo Foundation) Series B 5.50% 11/15/27 1,000,000 1,073,600
Shakopee Health Care Facilities Revenue (St. Francis Regional Medical Center) 5.25% 9/1/34 310,000 313,019
St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Revenue (Franciscan Health Project)
5.40% 11/20/42 (GNMA) (FHA) 1,820,000 1,896,475
----------
7,353,616
----------
Miscellaneous Revenue Bonds - 1.01%
Minneapolis Art Center Facilities Revenue (Walker Art Center Project) 5.125% 7/1/21 250,000 263,733
----------
263,733
----------
Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds - 15.02%
Burnsville Multifamily Housing Mortgage Revenue SCA Tax Exempt Trust Series A
7.10% 1/1/30 (FSA) 1,910,000 1,952,058
Minneapolis Multifamily Housing Revenue
(Gaar Scott Loft Project) 5.95% 5/1/30 (AMT) 975,000 1,039,038
(Olson Townhomes Project) 6.00% 12/1/19 (AMT) 965,000 949,550
----------
3,940,646
----------
Municipal Lease Revenue Bonds - 10.00%
Andover Economic Development Authority Public Facilities Lease Revenue (Andover
Community Center) 5.125% 2/1/24 500,000 513,870
St. Paul Port Authority Lease Revenue
(Cedar Street Office Building Project)
5.125% 12/1/27 500,000 526,065
5.25% 12/1/27 1,000,000 1,062,720
(Robert Street Office Building Project) 5.00% 12/1/27 500,000 520,565
----------
2,623,220
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Parking Revenue Bonds - 5.93%
St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority Parking Revenue (Block 19 Ramp Project)
Series A 5.35% 8/1/29 (FSA) 1,450,000 1,554,777
-----------
1,554,777
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Political Subdivision General Obligation Bonds - 9.62%
Metropolitan Council Waste Water Treatment Series B 5.00% 12/1/21 750,000 806,108
Minneapolis Sports Arena Project 5.125% 10/1/20 750,000 795,383
Washington County Housing & Redevelopment Authority Series B 5.50% 2/1/22 (MBIA) 850,000 920,583
-----------
2,522,074
-----------
*Pre-Refunded Bonds - 6.33%
Esko Independent School District #99 5.75% 4/1/17-05 (FSA) 1,645,000 1,659,871
-----------
1,659,871
-----------
Public Power Revenue Bonds - 21.99%
Minnesota State Municipal Power Agency Series A
5.00% 10/1/34 750,000 762,278
5.25% 10/1/19 500,000 542,450
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Series A
5.00% 1/1/13 (MBIA) 500,000 554,700
5.25% 1/1/15 (AMBAC) 700,000 794,073
5.25% 1/1/16 (AMBAC) 500,000 566,855
**Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Inverse Floater ROLs Series II-R-189-3
8.398% 1/1/14 (AMBAC) 1,500,000 1,883,819
Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Series B 5.00% 1/1/15 (MBIA) 600,000 666,030
-----------
5,770,205
-----------
Single Family Housing Revenue Bonds - 2.51%
Minnesota State Housing Finance Agency Series B 5.35% 1/1/33 (AMT) 645,000 657,507
-----------
657,507
-----------
Territorial General Obligation Bonds - 1.98%
University Virgin Islands Series A 5.375% 6/1/34 500,000 518,020
-----------
518,020
-----------
Territorial Revenue Bonds - 2.12%
Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Revenue (Unrefunded Balance) 5.25% 7/1/27 530,000 556,442
-----------
556,442
-----------
Water & Sewer Revenue Bonds - 8.70%
Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Water Pollution Control Revenue Series B 5.40% 3/1/15 2,200,000 2,281,400
-----------
2,281,400
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TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (COST $38,345,507) 40,576,327
-----------
TOTAL MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES - 154.70%
(cost $38,345,507) 40,576,327
RECEIVABLES AND OTHER ASSETS NET OF LIABILITIES (SEE NOTES) - 2.49% 652,192
LIQUIDATION VALUE OF PREFERRED STOCK - (57.19%) (15,000,000)
-----------
NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO 1,837,200 SHARES OUTSTANDING - 100.00% $26,228,519
-----------
*Pre-Refunded Bonds are municipals that are generally backed or secured by U.S.
Treasury Bonds. For Pre-Refunded Bonds, the stated maturity is followed by the
year in which the bond is pre-refunded.
**An inverse floater bond is a type of bond with variable or floating interest
rates that move in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. Interest
rate disclosed is in effect as of December 31, 2004.
SUMMARY OF ABBREVIATIONS:
AMBAC - Insured by the AMBAC Assurance Corporation
AMT - Subject to Alternative Minimum Tax
FGIC - Insured by the Financial Guaranty Insurance Company
FHA - Insured by the Federal Housing Administration
FSA - Insured by Financial Security Assurance
GNMA - Insured by Government National Mortgage Association
LOC - Letter of Credit
MBIA - Insured by the Municipal Bond Insurance Association
RADIAN - Insured by Radian Asset Assurance
ROLs - Residual Option Longs
NOTES
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following accounting policies are in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles and are consistently followed by Delaware Investments
Minnesota Municipal Income Fund III, Inc. (the "Fund").
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. 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 the Fund's Board of
Directors. In determining whether market quotations are readily available or
fair valuation will be used, various factors will be taken into consideration,
such as market closures, or with respect to foreign securities, aftermarket
trading or significant events after local market trading (e.g., government
actions or pronouncements, trading volume or volatility on markets, exchanges or
among dealers, news events).
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES - The 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.
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.
OTHER - Expenses common to all funds within the Delaware Investments Family of
Funds are allocated amongst the 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).
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. The Fund declares and pays
dividends from net investment income or other applicable sources monthly and
distributions from net realized gain on investments, if any, annually.
In addition, in order to satisfy certain distribution requirements of the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, the Fund may declare special year-end dividend and capital
gains distributions during November or December to shareholders of record on a
date in such month. Such distributions, if received by shareholders by January
31, are deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on the
earlier of the date paid for December 31 of the prior year.
2. INVESTMENTS
At December 31, 2004, 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 December 31, 2004, the aggregate cost of investments
and gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the Fund for federal income
tax purposes was as follows:
Aggregate cost of investments $38,345,507
-----------
Aggregate unrealized appreciation 2,252,951
Aggregate unrealized depreciation (22,131)
-----------
Net unrealized appreciation $ 2,230,820
-----------
For federal income tax purposes, at March 31, 2004 capital loss carryforwards of
$672,369 may be carried forward and applied against future capital gains. Such
capital loss carryforwards expire as follows: $455,666 expires in 2005, $6,539
expires in 2006, $56,856 expires in 2008 and $153,308 expires in 2009.
3. CREDIT AND MARKET RISK
The Fund concentrates its investments in securities issued by municipalities.
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 market 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
Schedule of Investments.
The Funds may invest in inverse floating rate securities ("inverse floaters"), a
type of derivative tax-exempt obligation 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 inverse floaters
will generally be more volatile than other tax-exempt investments. Such
securities are denoted on the Statements of Net Assets.
ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial
officer have evaluated the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures
within 90 days of the filing of this report and have concluded that they are
effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be
disclosed by the registrant in its reports or statements filed under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
There were no significant changes in the registrant's internal control
over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal
quarter (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual
report) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.
File as exhibits as part of this Form 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(a)), exactly as set
forth below:
CERTIFICATION
-------------
I, Jude T. Driscoll, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of Delaware Investments Minnesota
Municipal Income Fund III, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report
fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant
as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused
such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date
within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such
evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
JUDE T. DRISCOLL
-----------------------
By: Jude T. Driscoll
Title: Chairman
Date: 2/24/05
----------------
CERTIFICATION
-------------
I, Michael P. Bishof, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of Delaware Investments Minnesota
Municipal Income Fund III, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report
fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant
as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused
such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date
within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such
evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting.
MICHAEL P. BISHOF
------------------------------
By: Michael P. Bishof
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: 2/24/05
-----------------------
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.
DELAWARE INVESTMENTS MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III, INC.
JUDE T. DRISCOLL
------------------------------
By: Jude T. Driscoll
Title: Chairman
Date: 2/24/05
-----------------------
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.
JUDE T. DRISCOLL
------------------------------
By: Jude T. Driscoll
Title: Chairman
Date: 2/24/05
-----------------------
MICHAEL P. BISHOF
------------------------------
By: Michael P. Bishof
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: 2/24/05
-----------------------