<PAGE>
MFS(R) RESEARCH FUND
Supplement to the February 1, 1999 (as revised October 1, 1999)
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
The following information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"), dated February 1,
1999, and contains a description of Class I shares.
Class I shares are available for purchase only by certain investors as
described under the caption "Eligible Purchasers" below.
EXPENSE SUMMARY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses: Class I
-------
Maximum Initial Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases of Fund
Shares (as a percentage of offering price)........................................... None
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage
of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable).................... None
Annual Operating Expenses of the Fund (as a percentage of average net assets):
Management Fees........................................................................ 0.43%
Rule 12b-1 Fees........................................................................ None
Other Expenses(1)...................................................................... 0.23%
Total Operating Expenses............................................................... 0.66%
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) The Fund has an expense offset arrangement which reduces the Fund's
custodian fee based upon the amount of cash maintained by the Fund with its
custodian and dividend disbursing agent, and may enter into other such
arrangements and directed brokerage arrangements (which would also have the
effect of reducing the Fund's expenses). Any such fee reductions are not
reflected under "Other Expenses."
Example of Expenses
An investor would pay the following dollar amounts of expenses on a $1,000
investment in Class I shares of the Fund, assuming (a) a 5% annual return and
(b) redemption at the end of each of the time periods indicated:
Period Class I
------ -------
1 year............................. $ 7
3 years............................ 21
5 years............................ 37
10 years........................... 82
The purpose of the expense table above is to assist investors in
understanding the various costs and expenses that a shareholder of the Fund will
bear directly or indirectly. A more complete description of the Fund's
management fee is set forth under the caption "Management of the Fund" in the
Prospectus.
The "Example" set forth above should not be considered a representation of
past or future expenses of the Fund; actual expenses may be greater or less than
those shown.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following information has been audited and should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements included in the Fund's Annual Report
to Shareholders which are incorporated by reference into the SAI in reliance
upon the report of the
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Fund's independent auditors, given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing. The Fund's independent auditors are Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Financial Highlights - Class I Shares
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Year Ended Period Ended
September 30, 1998 September 30, 1997*
------------------ -------------------
Per share data (for a share outstanding throughout each period):
Net asset value - beginning of period $ 22.75 $ 18.34
------- -------
Income from investment operations# -
Net investment income $ 0.13 $ 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments
and foreign currency transactions (0.31) 4.34
-------- -------
Total from investment operations $ (0.18) $ 4.41
-------- -------
Less distributions declared to shareholders
from net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency transactions $ (1.05) $ --
-------- -------
Net asset value - end of period $ 21.52 $ 22.75
------- -------
Total return (0.55)% 24.05%++
Ratios (to average net assets)/
Supplemental data:
Expenses## 0.56% 0.63%+
Net investment income 0.57% 0.51%+
Portfolio turnover 81% 79%
Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted) $17,551 $19,400
</TABLE>
- -----------------
* For the period from the inception of Class I, January 2, 1997, through
September 30, 1997.
+ Annualized.
++ Not annualized.
# Per share data are based on average shares outstanding.
## The Fund's expenses are calculated without reduction for fees paid
indirectly.
ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS
Class I shares are available for purchase only by the following Eligible
Purchasers:
(i) certain retirement plans established for the benefit of employees of
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS"), the Fund's investment
adviser, and employees of MFS' affiliates;
(ii) any fund distributed by MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. ("MFD"), the Fund's
distributor, if the fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by
MFD;
(iii)any retirement plan, endowment or foundation which (a) purchases shares
directly through MFD (rather than through a third party broker or dealer or
other financial intermediary); (b) has, at the time of purchase of Class I
shares, aggregate assets of at least $100 million; and (c) invests at least
$10 million in Class I shares of the Fund either alone or in combination
with investments in Class I shares of other MFS funds distributed by MFD
(additional investments may be made in any amount); provided that MFD may
accept purchases from smaller plans, endowments or foundations or in
smaller amounts if it believes, in its sole discretion, that such entity's
aggregate assets will equal or exceed $100 million,
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<PAGE>
or that such entity will make additional investments which will cause its
total investment to equal or exceed $10 million, within a reasonable period
of time;
(iv) bank trust departments or law firms acting as trustee or manager for trust
accounts which, on behalf of their clients (i) initially invest at least
$100,000 in class I shares of the fund or (ii) have, at the time of
purchase of class I shares, aggregate assets of at least $10 million
invested in class I shares of the fund either alone or in combination with
investments in class I shares of other MFS Funds. MFD may accept purchases
that do not meet these dollar qualification requirements if it believes, in
its sole discretion, that these requirements will be met within a
reasonable period of time. Additional investments may be made in any
amount; and
(v) certain retirement plans offered, administered or sponsored by insurance
companies, provided that these plans and insurance companies meet certain
criteria established by MFD from time to time.
In no event will the Fund, MFS, MFD or any of their affiliates pay any
sales commissions or compensation to any third party in connection with the sale
of Class I shares; the payment of any such sales commission or compensation
would, under the Fund's policies, disqualify the purchaser as an eligible
investor of Class I shares.
SHARE CLASSES OFFERED BY THE FUND
Four classes of shares of the Fund currently are offered for sale, Class A
shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class I shares. Class I shares are
available for purchase only by Eligible Purchasers, as defined above, and are
described in this Supplement. Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares
are described in the Fund's Prospectus and are available for purchase by the
general public.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value plus an initial sales charge
up to a maximum of 5.75% of the offering price (or a contingent deferred sales
charge (a "CDSC") of 1.00% upon redemption during the first year in the case of
purchases of $1 million or more and certain purchases by retirement plans), and
are subject to an annual distribution fee and service fee up to a maximum of
0.35% per annum. Class B shares are offered at net asset value without an
initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC upon redemption (declining from
4.00% during the first year to 0% after six years) and an annual distribution
fee and service fee up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum; Class B shares convert
to Class A shares approximately eight years after purchase. Class C shares are
offered at net asset value without an initial sales charge but are subject to a
CDSC of 1.00% upon redemption during the first year and an annual distribution
fee and service fee up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum. Class I shares are
offered at net asset value without an initial sales charge or CDSC and are not
subject to a distribution or service fee. Class C and Class I shares do not
convert to any other class of shares of the Fund.
OTHER INFORMATION
Eligible Purchasers may purchase Class I shares only directly through MFD.
Eligible Purchasers may exchange Class I shares of the Fund for Class I shares
of any other MFS Fund available for purchase by such Eligible Purchasers at
their net asset value (if available for sale), and may exchange Class I shares
of the Fund for shares of the MFS(R) Money Market Fund (if available for sale),
and may redeem Class I shares of the Fund at net asset value. Distributions paid
by the Fund with respect to Class I shares generally will be greater than those
paid with respect to Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares because
expenses attributable to Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares
generally will be higher.
The date of this Supplement is February 1, 1999 (as revised October 1, 1999).
4
<PAGE>
MFS(R) TOTAL RETURN FUND
Supplement to the February 1, 1999 Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information (as revised February 10, 1999 and October 1, 1999)
The following information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"), dated February 1,
1999, and contains a description of Class I shares.
Class I shares are available for purchase only by certain investors as
described under the caption "Eligible Purchasers" below.
EXPENSE SUMMARY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses: Class I
-------
Maximum Initial Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases of Fund
Shares (as a percentage of offering price)........................................... None
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage
of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable).................... None
Annual Operating Expenses of the Fund (as a percentage of average net assets):
Management Fees........................................................................ 0.34%
Rule 12b-1 Fees........................................................................ None
Other Expenses(1)...................................................................... 0.21%
Total Operating Expenses............................................................... 0.55%
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) The Fund has an expense offset arrangement which reduces the Fund's
custodian fee based upon the amount of cash maintained by the Fund with its
custodian and dividend disbursing agent, and may enter into other such
arrangements and directed brokerage arrangements (which would also have the
effect of reducing the Fund's expenses). Any such fee reductions are not
reflected under "Other Expenses."
Example of Expenses
An investor would pay the following dollar amounts of expenses on a $1,000
investment in Class I shares of the Fund, assuming (a) a 5% annual return and
(b) redemption at the end of each of the time periods indicated:
Period Class I
1 year................................. $ 6
3 years................................ 18
5 years................................ 31
10 years............................... 70
The purpose of the expense table above is to assist investors in
understanding the various costs and expenses that a shareholder of the Fund will
bear directly or indirectly. A more complete description of the Fund's
management fee is set forth under the caption "Management of the Fund" in the
Prospectus.
The "Example" set forth above should not be considered a representation of
past or future expenses of the Fund; actual expenses may be greater or less than
those shown.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following information has been audited and should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements included in the Fund's Annual Report
to Shareholders which are incorporated by reference into the SAI in reliance
upon the report of the
1
<PAGE>
Fund's independent auditors, given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing. The Fund's independent auditors are Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Financial Highlights - Class I Shares
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Year Ended Period Ended
September 30, 1998 September 30, 1997*
------------------ -------------------
Per share data (for a share outstanding throughout the period):
Net asset value - beginning of period $ 16.92 $ 14.70
------- -------
Income from investment operations# -
Net investment income $ 0.63 $ 0.48
Net realized and unrealized gain on
investments and foreign currency transactions 0.53 2.23
------- -------
Total from investment operations $ 1.16 $ 2.71
------- -------
Less distributions declared to shareholders -
From net investment income $ (0.64) $ (0.49)
From net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency transactions (1.37) --
In excess of net investment income (0.01) --
-------- --------
Total distributions declared to shareholders $ 2.02 $ (0.49)
------- --------
Net asset value - end of period $ 16.06 $ 16.92
------- -------
Total return 7.35% 18.69%++
Ratios (to average net assets)/
Supplemental data:
Expenses## 0.55% 0.60%+
Net investment income 3.79% 4.16%+
Portfolio turnover 126% 143%
Net assets at end of period
(000,000 omitted) $17 $16
</TABLE>
- -----------------
* For the period from the inception of Class I, January 2, 1997, through
September 30, 1997.
+ Annualized
++ Not annualized
# Per share data are based on average shares outstanding.
## The Fund's expenses are calculated without reduction for fees paid
indirectly.
ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS
Class I shares are available for purchase only by the following purchasers
("Eligible Purchasers"):
(i) certain retirement plans established for the benefit of employees of
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS"), the Fund's investment
adviser, and employees of MFS' affiliates;
(ii) any fund distributed by MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. ("MFD"), the Fund's
distributor, if the fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by
MFD;
2
<PAGE>
(iii)any retirement plan, endowment or foundation which (a) purchases shares
directly through MFD (rather than through a third party broker or dealer or
other financial intermediary); (b) has, at the time of purchase of Class I
shares, aggregate assets of at least $100 million; and (c) invests at least
$10 million in Class I shares of the Fund either alone or in combination
with investments in Class I shares of other MFS funds distributed by MFD
(additional investments may be made in any amount); provided that MFD may
accept purchases from smaller plans, endowments or foundations or in
smaller amounts if it believes, in its sole discretion, that such entity's
aggregate assets will equal or exceed $100 million, or that such entity
will make additional investments which will cause its total investment to
equal or exceed $10 million, within a reasonable period of time;
(iv) bank trust departments or law firms acting as trustee or manager for trust
accounts which, on behalf of their clients (i) initially invest at least
$100,000 in class I shares of the fund or (ii) have, at the time of
purchase of class I shares, aggregate assets of at least $10 million
invested in class I shares of the fund either alone or in combination with
investments in class I shares of other MFS Funds. MFD may accept purchases
that do not meet these dollar qualification requirements if it believes, in
its sole discretion, that these requirements will be met within a
reasonable period of time. Additional investments may be made in any
amount; and
(v) certain retirement plans offered, administered or sponsored by insurance
companies, provided that these plans and insurance companies meet certain
criteria established by MFD from time to time.
In no event will the Fund, MFS, MFD or any of their affiliates pay any
sales commissions or compensation to any third party in connection with the sale
of Class I shares; the payment of any such sales commission or compensation
would, under the Fund's policies, disqualify the purchaser as an eligible
investor of Class I shares.
SHARE CLASSES OFFERED BY THE FUND
Four classes of shares of the Fund currently are offered for sale, Class A
shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class I shares. Class I shares are
available for purchase only by Eligible Purchasers, as defined above, and are
described in this Supplement. Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares
are described in the Fund's Prospectus and are available for purchase by the
general public.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value plus an initial sales charge
up to a maximum of 4.75% of the offering price (or a contingent deferred sales
charge (a "CDSC") of 1.00% upon redemption during the first year in the case of
purchases of $1 million or more and certain purchases by retirement plans), and
are subject to an annual distribution fee and service fee up to a maximum of
0.35% per annum. Class B shares are offered at net asset value without an
initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC upon redemption (declining from
4.00% during the first year to 0% after six years) and an annual distribution
fee and service fee up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum; Class B shares convert
to Class A shares approximately eight years after purchase. Class C shares are
offered at net asset value without an initial sales charge but are subject to a
CDSC of 1.00% upon redemption during the first year and an annual distribution
fee and service fee up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum. Class I shares are
offered at net asset value without an initial sales charge or CDSC and are not
subject to a distribution or service fee. Class C and Class I shares do not
convert to any other class of shares of the Fund.
OTHER INFORMATION
Eligible Purchasers may purchase Class I shares only directly through MFD.
Eligible Purchasers may exchange Class I shares of the Fund for Class I shares
of any other MFS Fund available for purchase by such Eligible Purchasers at
their net asset value (if available for sale), and may exchange Class I shares
of the Fund for shares of the MFS(R) Money Market Fund (if available for sale),
and may redeem Class I shares of the Fund at net asset value. Distributions paid
by the Fund with respect to Class I shares generally will be greater than those
paid with respect to Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares because
expenses attributable to Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares
generally will be higher.
The date of this Supplement is February 1, 1999
(as revised February 10, 1999 and October 1, 1999).
3
