<PAGE>
Massachusetts Investors Trust
Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
MFS(R) Capital Growth Fund
MFS(R) Emerging Growth Fund
MFS(R) Gold & Natural Resources Fund
MFS(R) Growth Opportunities Fund
MFS(R) Managed Sectors Fund
MFS(R) OTC Fund
MFS(R) Research Fund
MFS(R) Value Fund
MFS(R) Total Return Fund
MFS(R) Utilities Fund
MFS(R) Bond Fund
MFS(R) Government Mortgage Fund
MFS(R) Government Securities Fund
MFS(R) High Income Fund
MFS(R) Intermediate Income Fund
MFS(R) Strategic Income Fund
MFS(R) Government Limited Maturity Fund
MFS(R) Limited Maturity Fund
MFS(R) World Equity Fund
MFS(R) World Governments Fund
MFS(R) World Growth Fund
MFS(R) World Total Return Fund
MFS(R) World Asset Allocation Fund
MFS(R) Cash Reserve Fund
MFS(R) Government Money Market Fund
MFS(R) Money Market Fund
Supplement to the Current Prospectus
Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at net asset value by retirement
plans whose third party administrators have entered into an agreement with MFS
Fund Distributors, Inc. ("MFD") or one or more of its affiliates to perform
certain administrative services, subject to certain operational requirements
specified from time to time by MFD or its affiliates.
In lieu of the sales commission and service fees normally paid by MFD to
broker-dealers of record as described in the Prospectus, MFD has agreed to pay
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. the following amounts with respect to Class A shares of
the Fund purchased through a special retirement plan program offered by a third
party administrator: (i) an amount equal to 0.05% per annum of the average daily
net assets invested in shares of the Fund pursuant to such program, and (ii) an
amount equal to 0.20% of the net asset value of all net purchases of shares of
the Fund made through such program, subject to a refund in the event that such
shares are redeemed within 36 months.
The date of this Supplement is February 1, 1995.
<PAGE>
MFS(R) CASH RESERVE FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS GROWTH STOCK FUND
MFS(R) TOTAL RETURN FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
MFS(R) EMERGING GROWTH FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND
MFS(R) CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) ALABAMA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) INTERMEDIATE INCOME FUND
MFS(R) ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOLD & NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
MFS(R) CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) MANAGED SECTORS FUND
MFS(R) FLORIDA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) VALUE FUND
MFS(R) GEORGIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) UTILITIES FUND
MFS(R) MARYLAND MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD EQUITY FUND
MFS(R) MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD TOTAL RETURN FUND
MFS(R) MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) BOND FUND
MFS(R) NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) NORTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE FUND
MFS(R) PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) SOUTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
MFS(R) TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS(R) VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
MFS(R) WEST VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD GOVERNMENTS FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) WORLD GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) OTC FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS(R) RESEARCH FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS(R) WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
MFS(R) MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS(R) RESEARCH GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
Supplement to the Current Prospectus
The following information supplements the disclosure found under the
caption "Information Concerning Shares of the Fund - Purchases" in the
Prospectus:
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. ("MFD"), the distributor of each of the
above-named funds (the "Funds"), has entered into a long-term exclusive
marketing agreement with IBAA Financial Services Corporation ("IBFS"),
pursuant to which MFD has agreed to pay IBFS, as additional
compensation for IBFS' marketing and distribution of the Funds, an
annual amount (subject to a minimum) based upon the value of shares of
the Funds for which IBFS acts as broker-dealer of record plus the value
of shares of the Funds sold by IBFS during such year.
The date of this Supplement is February 1, 1997.
<PAGE>
MFS(R) CASH RESERVE FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
MFS(R) TOTAL RETURN FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS GROWTH STOCK FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
MFS(R) EMERGING GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) ALABAMA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) INTERMEDIATE INCOME FUND
MFS(R) CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
MFS(R) FLORIDA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) MANAGED SECTORS FUND
MFS(R) GEORGIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) VALUE FUND
MFS(R) MARYLAND MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) UTILITIES FUND
MFS(R) MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD EQUITY FUND
MFS(R) MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD TOTAL RETURN FUND
MFS(R) NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) BOND FUND
MFS(R) NORTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE FUND
MFS(R) SOUTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
MFS(R) VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS(R) WEST VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS(R) WORLD GOVERNMENTS FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS(R) WORLD GROWTH FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND
MFS(R) OTC FUND
MFS(R) RESEARCH FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND
MFS(R) WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
MFS(R) MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS(R) MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS(R) GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS(R) RESEARCH GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
MFS(R) STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND
Supplement to the Current Prospectus
The following provisions shall apply to any retirement plan (each a "Merrill
Lynch Daily K Plan") whose records are maintained on a daily valuation basis by
either Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"), or
by an independent recordkeeper (an "Independent Recordkeeper") whose services
are provided through a contract or alliance arrangement with Merrill Lynch, and
with respect to which the sponsor of such plan has entered into a recordkeeping
service agreement with Merrill Lynch (a "Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping
Agreement").
The initial sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds,
and the contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") imposed on certain redemptions
of Class A shares of the Funds, is waived in the following circumstances with
respect to a Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan:
(i) if, on the date the Plan sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch
Recordkeeping Agreement, such Plan has $3 million or more in
assets invested in broker-dealer sold funds not advised or
managed by Merrill Lynch Asset Management L.P. ("MLAM") that
are made available pursuant to agreements between Merrill
Lynch and such funds' principal underwriters or
distributors, and in funds advised or managed by MLAM
(collectively, the "Applicable Investments"); or
(ii) if such Plan's records are maintained by an Independent
Recordkeeper and, on the date the Plan sponsor signs the
Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Agreement, such Plan has $3
million or more in assets, excluding money market funds,
invested in Applicable Investments; or
(iii) such Plan has 500 or more eligible employees, as determined by
the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager on the date the Plan
sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Agreement.
<PAGE>
The CDSC imposed on redemptions of Class B shares of the Fund is waived
in the following circumstances with respect to a Merrill Lynch Daily K
Plan:
(i) if, on the date the Plan sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch
Recordkeeping Agreement, such Plan has less than $3 million in
assets invested in Applicable Investments;
(ii) if such Plan's records are maintained by an independent
recordkeeper and, on the date the Plan sponsor signs the
Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Agreement, such Plan has less than
$3 million dollars in assets, excluding money market funds,
invested in Applicable Investments; or
(iii) such Plan has fewer than 500 eligible employees, as determined
by the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager on the date the
Plan sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Agreement.
No front-end commissions are paid with respect to any Class A or Class B shares
of the Fund purchased by any Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan.
The date of this Supplement is June 5, 1997.
<PAGE>
MFS CASH RESERVE FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
MFS TOTAL RETURN FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS GROWTH STOCK FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
MFS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
MFS EMERGING GROWTH FUND
MFS ALABAMA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
MFS ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS INTERMEDIATE INCOME FUND
MFS CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
MFS FLORIDA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS MANAGED SECTORS FUND
MFS GEORGIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS VALUE FUND
MFS MARYLAND MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS UTILITIES FUND
MFS MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS WORLD EQUITY FUND
MFS MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS WORLD TOTAL RETURN FUND
MFS NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS BOND FUND
MFS NORTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE FUND
MFS SOUTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS GOVERNMENT LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
MFS VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS WEST VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
MFS MUNICIPAL LIMITED MATURITY FUND
MFS WORLD GOVERNMENTS FUND
MFS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND
MFS MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND
MFS OTC FUND
MFS RESEARCH FUND
MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND
MFS WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
MFS MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND
MFS GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND
MFS RESEARCH GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
MFS STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND
SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS
This supplement describes certain changes, effective immediately, to each Fund's
Prospectus.
1. DEFINITION OF "DEALER". As used in the Prospectus and any appendices thereto,
the term "dealer" includes any broker, dealer, bank (including bank trust
departments), registered investment adviser, financial planner and any other
financial institutions having a selling agreement or other similar agreement
with MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. ("MFD"). The use of the defined term "dealer"
does not mean or imply that any such financial intermediary necessarily is a
"dealer" for purposes of any federal or state laws, rules or regulations or any
self-regulatory organization's rules.
2. CHANGES TO SALES CHARGE WAIVER CATEGORIES. Appendix A to the
Prospectus, which describes waivers of sales charges, is amended as follows:
Wrap Account and Fund "Supermarket" Investments. The waiver
category entitled "2. Wrap Account Investments" under "II. Waivers
of Class A Sales Charges" is amended to read in its entirety as
follows:
2. Wrap Account and Fund "Supermarket" Investments Shares
acquired by investments through certain dealers (including
registered investment advisers and financial planners)
which have established certain operational arrangements
with MFD which include a requirement that such shares be
sold for the sole benefit of clients participating in a
"wrap" account, mutual fund "supermarket" account or a
similar program under which such clients pay a fee to such
dealer.
The date of this Supplement is August 8, 1997.
<PAGE>
MFS MID CAP GROWTH FUND
(Formerly known as MFS OTC Fund)
Supplement to the September 1, 1997 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 September 1,
1997, 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
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..................................................... 0.75%
Rule 12b-1 Fees..................................................... None
Other Expenses(1)(2)................................................ 0.485%
Total Operating Expenses............................................ 1.235%
.........
(1) "Other Expenses" is based on Class A expenses incurred during the fiscal
year ended August 31, 1996.
(2) 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................ $13
3 years............... 39
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 is unaudited and should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements included in the Fund's Semiannual Report to
shareholders which are incorporated by reference into the SAI.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
Period Ended
February 28, 1997
(Unaudited)*
Class I
Per share data (for a share outstanding throughout each period):
Net asset value - beginning of period $ 8.63
-------
Income from investment operations# -
Net investment income (loss) $ (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and
foreign currency transactions (0.47)
---------
Total from investment operations $ (0.48)
--------
Less distributions declared to shareholders -
From net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency transactions $ --
In excess of net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency transactions --
-------
Total distributions declared to shareholders $ --
-------
Net asset value - end of period $ 8.15
=======
Total return (5.89)%***
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental data:
Expenses## 1.35%**
Net investment loss (1.18)%**
Portfolio turnover 101%
Average commission rate### $0.0317
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $1,494
- --------------------------
* For the period from the commencement of offering of Class I shares,
January 2, 1997.
** Annualized
*** Not Annualized
# Per share data is based upon average shares outstanding.
## For fiscal years ending after September 1, 1995, the fund's expenses are
calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly.
### Average commission rate is calculated for funds with fiscal years
beginning on or after September 1, 1995.
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;
(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; and
(iv) bank trust departments which initially invest, on behalf of their trust
clients, at least $100,000 in Class I shares of the Fund (additional
investments may be made in any amount); provided that MFD may accept
smaller initial purchases if it believes, in its sole discretion, that the
bank trust department will make additional investments, on behalf of its
trust clients, which will cause its total investment to equal or exceed
$100,000 within a reasonable period of time.
<PAGE>
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") upon redemption of 1.00% 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 upon redemption of 1.00% 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 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.
MFS has agreed to bear, for an indefinite period, expenses of Class I
shares of the Fund such that the aggregate expenses of the Fund's Class I shares
do not exceed 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class
I shares on an annualized basis. This arrangement may be terminated or revised
by MFS at any time.
The date of this Supplement is September 1, 1997
