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MFS(R) Core Growth Fund
MFS(R) Convertible Securities Fund
MFS(R) Blue Chip Fund
MFS(R) Science and Technology Fund
MFS(R) Special Opportunities Fund
MFS(R) International Opportunities Fund
MFS(R) International Strategic Growth Fund
MFS(R) International Value Fund
MFS(R) Strategic Value Fund
MFS(R) Small Cap Value Fund
MFS(R) Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Supplement to Current Prospectus
The following changes to the Fund's Prospectus take effect on November 15, 1998:
1. The third paragraph under the heading "Information Concerning Shares of the
Fund - Purchases - Class A Shares - Purchases Subject to a CDSC" is revised in
its entirety as follows:
on investments in Class A shares by certain retirement plans subject to
ERISA, if
the retirement plan and/or sponsoring organization participates in the
MFS Fundamental 401(k) Program or any similar recordkeeping system
made available by MFSC (referred to as the MFS Participant
Recordkeeping System);
the plan establishes an account with MFSC on or after July 1, 1996;
the total purchases by the retirement plan of class A shares of the
MFS Funds will be in the amount of at least $500,000 within a
reasonable period of time, as determined by MFD in its sole
discretion;
and the plan has not redeemed its class B shares in the MFS funds in
order to purchase class A shares under this category.
2. The fourth paragraph under the heading "Information Concerning Shares
of the Fund - Purchases - Class B Shares" is revised in its entirety
and a fifth and sixth paragraph is added, as follows:
Class B shares purchased by a retirement plan whose sponsoring
organization subscribes to the MFS Participant Recordkeeping System and
which established its account with the Shareholder Servicing Agent
between July 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998 will be subject to the CDSC
described above, only under limited circumstances, as explained below
under "Waivers of CDSC." With respect to such purchases, MFD pays an
amount to dealers equal to 3.00% of the amount purchased through such
dealers (rather than the 4.00% payment described above), which is
comprised of a commission of 2.75% plus the advancement of the first
year service fee equal to 0.25% of the purchase price payable under the
Fund's Distribution Plan.
For purchases of Class B shares by a retirement plan whose sponsoring
organization subscribes to the MFS Recordkeeper Plus product and which
establishes its account with MFSC on or after January 1, 1999 (provided
that the plan establishment paperwork is received by MFSC in good order
on or after November 15, 1998), MFD pays no up front commissions to
dealers, but instead
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pays an amount to dealers equal to 1% per annum of the average daily
net assets of the Fund attributable to plan assets, payable at the
rate of 0.25% at the end of each calendar quarter, in arrears. This
commission structure is not available with respect to a plan with a
pre-existing account(s) with any MFS Fund which seeks to switch to the
MFS Recordkeeper Plus Product.
Certain retirement plans are eligible to purchase Class A shares of the
Fund at net asset value without an initial sales charge but subject to
a 1% CDSC if the plan has, at the time of purchase, a market value of
$500,000 or more invested in shares of any class or classes of the MFS
Funds. In this event, the plan or its sponsoring organization should
inform the Shareholder Servicing Agent that the plan is eligible to
purchase Class A shares under this category; the Shareholder Servicing
Agent has no obligation independently to determine whether such a plan
qualifies under this category for the purchase of Class A shares.
3. The paragraph under the heading "Information Concerning Shares of the
Fund - Purchases - Class B Shares-Waivers of CDSC" is revised in its
entirety and a new paragraph is added, as follows:
In certain circumstances, the CDSC imposed upon redemption of Class B
shares is waived. These circumstances are described in Appendix A to
this Prospectus. In addition to these circumstances, the CDSC imposed
upon the redemption of Class B shares is waived with respect to shares
held by a retirement plan whose sponsoring organization subscribed to
the MFS Participant Recordkeeping System and which established an
account with the Shareholder Servicing Agent between July 1, 1996 and
December 31, 1998; provided, however, that the CDSC will not be waived
(i.e., it will be imposed) in the event that there is a change in law
or regulations which results in a material adverse change to the tax
advantaged nature of the plan, or in the event that the plan and/or
sponsoring organization: (i) becomes insolvent or bankrupt; (ii) is
terminated under ERISA or is liquidated or dissolved; or (iii) is
acquired by, merged into, or consolidated with, any other entity.
In addition to these circumstances, the CDSC imposed upon the
redemption of Class B shares is waived with respect to shared held by a
retirement plan whose sponsoring organization subscribes to the MFS
Recordkeeper Plus product and which establishes its account with MFSC
on or after January 1, 1999 (proved that the plan establishment
paperwork is received by MFSC in good order on or after November 15,
1998). A plan with a pre-existing account(s) with any MFS Fund which
switches to the MFS Recordkeeper Plus product will not become eligible
for this waiver category.
4. Appendix A to the Prospectus is revised to add a new waiver category
under the heading "Waivers of All Applicable Sales Charges - 5.
Retirement Plans (CDSC waiver only) - Section 401(a) Plans ("401(a)
Plans") and Section 403(b) Employer Sponsored Plans ("ESP Plans")" as
follows:
Shares purchased by certain retirement plans or trust accounts
if: (i) the plan is currently a party to a retirement plan
recordkeeping or administrative services agreement with MFD or
one if its affiliates and (ii) the shares purchased or redeemed
represent transfers from or transfers to plan investments other
than the MFS Funds of
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which retirement plan recordkeeping services are provided under
the terms of such agreement.
5. A new paragraph is added under the caption "Management of the Fund -
Investment Adviser" as follows:
YEAR 2000 ISSUES
The Fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems used by
MFS, the Fund's other service providers or the companies in which the
Fund invests do not properly process date-related information from and
after January 1, 2000 (the "Year 2000 Issue"). MFS recognized the
importance of the Year 2000 Issue and, to address Year 2000 compliance,
created a year 2000 Program Management Office in 1996, which is
separately funded, has a specialized staff and reports directly to MFS
Senior Management The Office, with the help of external consultants, is
responsible for ascertaining that all internal systems, data feeds and
third party applications are year 2000 compliant. While MFS is
confident that all MFS systems will be Year 2000 compliant before the
turn of the century, there are significant systems interdependencies in
the domestic and foreign markets for securities, the business
environments in which companies held by the Fund operate and in MFS'
own business environment. MFS has been actively working with the Fund's
other service providers to identify and respond to potential problems
in an effort to ensure Year 2000 compliance or develop contingency
plans. Year 2000 compliance is also one the factors considered by MFS
in its ongoing assessment of companies in which the Fund invests. There
can be no assurance, however, that these steps will be sufficient to
avoid any adverse impact on the Fund.
The date of this Supplement is November 15, 1998.
