MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
485APOS, 1999-10-29
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<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 1999
                                                       1933 Act File No. 2-11401
                                                       1940 Act File No. 811-203


================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 77


                                       AND

                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                       THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

                                AMENDMENT NO. 28


                          MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                500 Boylston, Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

        Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 617-954-5000
             Stephen E. Cavan, Massachusetts Financial Services Co.,
                500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                  Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
 It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):


|_| immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
|_| on [date] pursuant to paragraph (b)
|X| 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
|_| on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
|_| 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
|_| on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of rule 485.


If appropriate, check the following box:
|_| this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
    previously filed post-effective amendment

================================================================================
<PAGE>
                          MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST

           Supplement dated January 1, 2000 to the Current Prospectus


This Supplement  describes the fund's Class J Shares, and it supplements certain
information in the fund's  Prospectus  dated May 1, 1999.  The caption  headings
used in  this  Supplement  correspond  with  the  caption  headings  used in the
Prospectus.

Class J shares are available for purchase  only by Japanese  investors.  Class J
shares may only be offered or sold outside the United States and this supplement
does not  constitute an offer of class J shares to any person who resides within
the United States.

1.   EXPENSE SUMMARY

     Expense Table. The "Expense Table" describes the fees and expenses that you
may pay  when  you buy,  redeem  and  hold  shares  of the  fund.  The  table is
supplemented as follows:

     Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

                                                                       Class J
     Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchase
         (as a percentage of offering price)........................    2.00%

     Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage
         of original purchase price or redemption proceeds,
         whichever is less).........................................    None


  Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)


      Management Fees...............................................    0.33%
      Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees.........................    1.00%
      Other Expenses(1)(2)..........................................    0.20%
      Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses..........................    1.53%

- -----------------------


(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.  The fund may enter  into other
    similar arrangements and directed brokerage  arrangements,  which would also
    have the effect of reducing  the fund's  expenses.  "Other  Expenses" do not
    take into account these expense  reductions,  and therefore do not represent
    the actual  expenses of the fund. Had these fee  reductions  been taken into
    account,  "Total  Annual  Operating  Expenses"  for Class J shares  would be
    lower, and would be estimated to be 1.52%.


(2) "Other Expenses" are estimated.


                                       1
<PAGE>


     Example of Expenses.  The  "Example of Expenses"  table is intended to help
you  compare the cost of  investing  in the fund with the cost of  investing  in
other mutual funds. Class J expenses are as follows:

     The example assumes that:

          o    You invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and
               you redeem your shares at the end of the time periods;

          o    Your investment has a 5% return each year and dividends and other
               distributions are reinvested; and

          o    The fund's operating expenses remain the same.

     Although your actual costs may be higher or lower,  under these assumptions
your costs would be:

          Share Class          Year 1          Year 3
          -----------          ------          ------


         Class J shares         $353            $674


2.   DESCRIPTIONS OF SHARE CLASSES

     Five classes of shares of the fund currently are offered for sale,  class A
shares, class B shares, class C shares, class I shares and class J shares. Class
A shares, class B shares, class C shares and class I shares are described in the
fund's  prospectus  and are available  for purchase by the general  public or by
certain institutional investors. Class J shares are described below.

     Class  J  Shares.  Class J  shares  are  offered  exclusively  to  Japanese
investors through financial institutions in Japan. Class J shares are offered at
net asset value plus an initial sales charge as follows:

                                          Sales Charge as
                                           Percentage of:

       Amount of Purchase       Offering Price        Net Amount Invested


       All amounts                   2.00%                     2.04%

     Distribution and Service Fees. The fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1
that  permits  it to pay  marketing  and  other  fees to  support  the  sale and
distribution  of  class  J  shares  and  the  services  provided  to you by your
financial adviser. The class J annual distribution and service fees are equal to
1.00% (0.25%  service fee and 0.75%  distribution  fee), and are paid out of the
assets of class J  shares.  These  fees are paid to MFD by the fund,  and MFD in
turns pays a portion of these fees to dealers.


                                       2
<PAGE>

3.       HOW TO PURCHASE AND REDEEM SHARES

The discussion of "How to Purchase,  Exchange and Redeem Shares" is supplemented
as follows:


     How to  Purchase  Shares.  You can  establish  an  account  by having  your
financial adviser process your purchase.  The minimum initial  investment is one
share and there is no minimum investment with respect to subsequent purchases.


     How to Redeem  Shares.  You may withdraw all or any portion of the value of
your account on any date the fund is open for business by selling your shares to
the fund through a dealer, who may charge you a fee. If the dealer receives your
order prior to the close of regular  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange and
communicates  it to MFS before the close of the  business  on the same day,  you
will receive the net asset value calculated on that day, reduced by an amount of
any income tax required to be withheld.

4.   INVESTOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

     The shareholder services,  as described in the Prospectus,  do not apply to
class J shares,  except that shareholders will receive  confirmation  statements
and tax information and will receive all dividend and capital gain distributions
in cash.



























                 The date of this Supplement is January 1, 2000.

                                       3
<PAGE>


The Prospectus dated May 1, 1999 of  Massachusetts  Investors Trust (the "Fund")
is  incorporated  in this  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 77 by reference to the
Prospectus  of the Fund filed by the  Registrant  pursuant to Rule 497 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission
via EDGAR on May 3, 1999.

<PAGE>


The Statement of Additional  Information Part I and Part II dated May 1, 1999 of
Massachusetts   Investors   Trust   (the   "Fund")  is   incorporated   in  this
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 77 by  reference to the  Statement of  Additional
Information of the Fund filed by the  Registrant  pursuant to Rule 497 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission
via EDGAR on May 3, 1999.



<PAGE>


                          MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST

                                     PART C


Item 23.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

           (a) Financial Statements Included in Part A:
                  For the five years ended December 31, 1998:
                      Financial Highlights

               Financial Statements Included in Part B:
                  At December 31, 1998:
                      Portfolio of Investments*
                      Statement of Assets and Liabilities*

                  For the two years ended December 31, 1998:
                      Statement of Changes in Net Assets*

                  For the year ended December 31, 1998:
                      Statement of Operations*
- ---------------------

*    Incorporated   herein  by  reference  to  the  Trust's  Annual  Report  to
     shareholders  dated  December  31,  1998,  filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
     March 2, 1999.


           (b) Exhibits

                1 (a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated March 21, 1924,
                      as amended through September 29, 1994.  (3)

                  (b) Certification of Amendment to the Agreement and
                      Declaration of Trust dated May 15, 1996.  (8)

                  (c) Certification of Amendment to the Agreement and
                      Declaration of Trust, dated June 20, 1996. (10).

                  (d) Certification of Amendment to the Agreement and
                      Declaration of Trust, dated December 19, 1996.  (16)


                  (e) Form of Certification of Amendment to Declaration of
                      Trust - Establishment and Designation of Class; filed
                      herewith.


                2     Not Applicable.
<PAGE>

                3     Share Certificate for Classes of Shares.  (9)


                4     Investment Advisory Agreement.  (19)


                5 (a) Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 1995.  (3)

                  (b) Dealer Agreement between MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
                      ("MFD") and a dealer and The Mutual Fund Agreement between
                      MFD and a bank or NASD affiliate, as amended on
                      April 11, 1997.  (15)


                6     Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Person Trustees, as
                      amended and restated February 17, 1999.  (21)


                7 (a) Custodian Agreement, dated December 6, 1934.  (6)

                  (b) Amendment to Custodian Agreement, dated February 22,
                      1978.  (6)

                  (c) Amendment to Custodian Agreement, dated February 29,
                      1988.  (6)

                  (d) Amendment to Custodian Agreement, dated October 1,
                      1989.  (6)

                  (e) Amendment to Custodian Agreement, dated October 21,
                      1993.  (6)

                  (f) Amendment to Custodian Agreement, dated December 15,
                      1993.  (3)

                8 (a) Shareholder Servicing Agent Agreement, dated August 1,
                      1985.  (6)


                  (b) Amendment to Shareholder Servicing Agreement, dated April
                      1,  1999 to amend fee schedule; filed herewith.


                  (c) Exchange Privilege Agreement, dated July 30, 1997.  (7)


                  (d) Dividend Disbursing Agency Agreement, dated February 1,
                      1986. (4)

                  (e) Master Administrative Services Agreement, dated
                      March 1, 1997 as amended and restated April 1, 1999. (20)
<PAGE>

                9 (a) Legal Opinion Consent, dated October 27, 1999; filed
                      herewith.

                  (b) Opinion and Consent of Counsel.  (19)

               10     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.  (19)


               11     Not Applicable.

               12     Not Applicable.

               13 (a) Master Distribution Plan pursuant to 12b-1 under the
                      Investment Company Act of 1940, effective January 1,
                      1997. (12)


                  (b) Exhibits as revised August 1, 1999, to Master Distribution
                      Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
                      Act of 1940 to replace those exhibits to the Master
                      Distribution Plan contained in Exhibit 13(a) above. (1)

               14     Financial Data Schedules.  (19)


               15     Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the Investment
                      Company Act of 1940 effective September 30, 1996, as
                      amended and restated (Exhibit A dated May 27, 1998). (17)

               Power of Attorney, dated September 21, 1994. (3)
               Power of Attorney, dated February 19, 1998. (18)
- -----------------------------

(1)  Incorporated  by reference  to MFS Series Trust X (File Nos.  33-1657 and
     811-4492)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 21, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on September 29, 1999.

(2)  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Amendment  No.  8 on  Form  N-2  for MFS
     Municipal  Income Trust (File No.  811-4841) filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on February 28, 1995.
(3)  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to the Trust's
     Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
     April 28, 1995.
(4)  Incorporated  by  reference  to MFS  Municipal  Series  Trust  (File Nos.
     2-92915 and 811-4096) Post-Effective Amendment No. 28, filed with the SEC
     via EDGAR on July 28, 1995.
(5)  Incorporated  by reference to MFS Series Trust IX (File Nos.  2-50409 and
     811-2464)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 32, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on August 28, 1995.
(6)  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Trust's
     Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
     October 13, 1995.
(7)  Incorporated by reference to  Massachusetts  Investors  Growth Stock Fund
     (File Nos.  2-14677 and 811-859)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 64, filed
     with the SEC via EDGAR on October 29, 1997.
(8)  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Trust's
     Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
     May 28, 1996.
(9)  Incorporated  by reference  to MFS Series Trust I (File Nos.  33-7638 and
     811-4777)  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 25 to the Trust's  Registration
     Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 27, 1996.
(10) Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Trust's
     Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
     August 29, 1996.
(11) Incorporated  by  reference to MFS Growth  Opportunities  Fund (File Nos.
     2-36431 and 811-2032) Post-Effective Amendment No. 39, filed with the SEC
     via EDGAR on February 26, 1999.
<PAGE>

(12) Incorporated  by reference to MFS Series Trust IV (File Nos.  2-54607 and
     811-2594)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 30, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on December 27, 1996.
(13) Incorporated  by reference  to MFS Series Trust VIII (File Nos.  33-37972
     and  811-5262)  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 14, filed with the SEC via
     EDGAR on February 26, 1998.
(14) Incorporated  by reference  to MFS Series Trust I (File Nos.  33-7638 and
     811-4777)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 28, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on June 26, 1997.
(15) Incorporated by reference to MFS Series Trust III (File Nos.  2-60491 and
     811-2794)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on June 26, 1997.
(16) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 74,
     filed with the SEC via EDGAR on April 30, 1997.
(17) Incorporated  by reference to MFS Series Trust II (File Nos.  33-7637 and
     811-4775)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 27, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on May 29, 1998.
(18) Incorporated by reference to the  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment
     No. 75, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on April 30, 1998.

(19) Incorporated by reference to the  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment
     No. 76, filed with the SEC via EDGAR on February 26, 1999.
(20) Incorporated by reference to MFS Series Trust III (File Nos.  2-60491 and
     811-2794)  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 28, filed with the SEC via EDGAR
     on March 31, 1999.
(21) Incorporated  by  reference to MFS Growth  Opportunities  Fund (File Nos.
     2-36431 and 811-2032) Post-Effective Amendment No. 39, filed with the SEC
     via EDGAR on February 26, 1999.


Item 24.   Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

           Not applicable.

Item 25.   Indemnification

           Reference  is hereby made to (a) Section VI of the Trust's
Declaration   of  Trust,   incorporated   by  reference   to  the   Registrant's
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 68,  filed with the SEC on April 28, 1995 and (b)
Section  9  of  the  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent  Agreement,  incorporated  by
reference to  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 69, filed with the SEC
via EDGAR on October 13, 1995.

           The Trustees and officers of the  Registrant and the personnel of the
Registrant's  investment adviser and distributor are insured under an errors and
omissions  liability  insurance policy. The Registrant and its officers are also
insured  under the  fidelity  bond  required by Rule 17g-1 under the  Investment
Company Act of 1940.

Item 26.   Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser


           MFS serves as  investment  adviser to the  following  open-end  Funds
comprising  the MFS Family of Funds (except the Vertex Funds  mentioned  below):
Massachusetts  Investors Trust,  Massachusetts  Investors Growth Stock Fund, MFS
Growth  Opportunities  Fund,  MFS  Government  Securities  Fund,  MFS Government
Limited Maturity Fund, MFS Series Trust I (which has twelve series:  MFS Managed
Sectors  Fund,  MFS Cash Reserve Fund,  MFS Global Asset  Allocation  Fund,  MFS
Strategic  Growth  Fund,  MFS Research  Growth and Income Fund,  MFS Core Growth
Fund, MFS Equity Income Fund,  MFS  Convertible  Securities  Fund, MFS Blue Chip
Fund,

<PAGE>


MFS New  Discovery  Fund,  MFS  Science  and  Technology  Fund and MFS  Research
International  Fund),  MFS Series Trust II (which has four series:  MFS Emerging
Growth Fund,  MFS Large Cap Growth Fund,  MFS  Intermediate  Income Fund and MFS
Charter  Income Fund),  MFS Series Trust III (which has three  series:  MFS High
Income Fund,  MFS  Municipal  High Income Fund and MFS High Yield  Opportunities
Fund),  MFS Series Trust IV (which has four series:  MFS Money Market Fund,  MFS
Government  Money Market Fund,  MFS  Municipal  Bond Fund and MFS Mid Cap Growth
Fund),  MFS Series  Trust V (which has five series:  MFS Total Return Fund,  MFS
Research Fund, MFS International Opportunities Fund, MFS International Strategic
Growth Fund and MFS  International  Value Fund),  MFS Series Trust VI (which has
three series:  MFS Global Total Return Fund,  MFS Utilities  Fund and MFS Global
Equity Fund), MFS Series Trust VII (which has two series: MFS Global Governments
Fund and MFS Capital  Opportunities  Fund), MFS Series Trust VIII (which has two
series:  MFS Strategic Income Fund and MFS Global Growth Fund), MFS Series Trust
IX (which has eight  series:  MFS Bond Fund,  MFS  Limited  Maturity  Fund,  MFS
Municipal  Limited  Maturity  Fund,  MFS Research  Bond Fund,  MFS  Intermediate
Investment Grade Bond Fund, MFS Mid Cap Value Fund, MFS Large Cap Value Fund and
MFS High Quality Bond Fund),  MFS Series Trust X (which has eleven  series:  MFS
Government  Mortgage Fund,  MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging Markets Equity Fund,
MFS  International  Growth Fund, MFS  International  Growth and Income Fund, MFS
Strategic Value Fund, MFS Small Cap Value Fund, MFS Emerging  Markets Debt Fund,
MFS  Income  Fund,  MFS  European  Equity  Fund,  MFS  High  Yield  Fund and MFS
Concentrated Growth Fund), MFS Series Trust XI (which has four series: MFS Union
Standard Equity Fund,  Vertex All Cap Fund,  Vertex U.S. All Cap Fund and Vertex
Contrarian  Fund),  and MFS  Municipal  Series Trust  (which has 18 series:  MFS
Alabama  Municipal Bond Fund,  MFS Arkansas  Municipal Bond Fund, MFS California
Municipal Bond Fund, MFS Florida Municipal Bond Fund, MFS Georgia Municipal Bond
Fund, MFS Maryland  Municipal Bond Fund, MFS Massachusetts  Municipal Bond Fund,
MFS Mississippi Municipal Bond Fund, MFS New York Municipal Bond Fund, MFS North
Carolina  Municipal Bond Fund, MFS  Pennsylvania  Municipal Bond Fund, MFS South
Carolina  Municipal Bond Fund,  MFS Tennessee  Municipal Bond Fund, MFS Virginia
Municipal Bond Fund, MFS West Virginia Municipal Bond Fund, MFS Municipal Income
Fund, MFS New York High Income Tax Free Fund and MFS  Massachusetts  High Income
Tax Free Fund) (the "MFS Funds").  The principal business address of each of the
MFS Funds is 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

           MFS also  serves as  investment  adviser  of the  following  open-end
Funds: MFS Institutional Trust ("MFSIT") (which has ten series) and MFS Variable
Insurance  Trust ("MVI")  (which has fifteen  series).  The  principal  business
address of each of the  aforementioned  funds is 500  Boylston  Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02116.

           In  addition,  MFS  serves as  investment  adviser  to the  following
closed-end funds: MFS Municipal Income Trust, MFS Multimarket  Income Trust, MFS
Government  Markets Income Trust,  MFS  Intermediate  Income Trust,  MFS Charter
Income  Trust and MFS Special  Value  Trust (the "MFS  Closed-End  Funds").  The


<PAGE>


principal  business  address of each of the MFS Closed-End Funds is 500 Boylston
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

           Lastly, MFS serves as investment adviser to MFS/Sun Life Series Trust
("MFS/SL")  (which has 26 series),  Money Market  Variable  Account,  High Yield
Variable Account,  Capital Appreciation Variable Account,  Government Securities
Variable Account,  Global  Governments  Variable Account,  Total Return Variable
Account and Managed Sectors Variable Account (collectively, the "Accounts"). The
principal   business  address  of  MFS/SL  is  500  Boylston   Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts   02116.   The   principal   business   address  of  each  of  the
aforementioned  Accounts  is One  Sun  Life  Executive  Park,  Wellesley  Hills,
Massachusetts 02181.

           Vertex  Investment  Management,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  and a
wholly owned subsidiary of MFS, whose principal business address is 500 Boylston
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 ("Vertex"),  serves as investment adviser to
Vertex All Cap Fund, Vertex U.S. All Cap Fund and Vertex Contrarian Fund, each a
series  of  MFS  Series  Trust  XI.  The  principal   business  address  of  the
aforementioned Funds is 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

           MFS International Ltd. ("MIL"), a limited liability company organized
under the laws of Bermuda and a  subsidiary  of MFS,  whose  principal  business
address is Cedar  House,  41 Cedar  Avenue,  Hamilton  HM12  Bermuda,  serves as
investment  adviser to and  distributor  for MFS American Funds known as the MFS
Funds after  January 1999 (which will have 11  portfolios  as of January  1999):
U.S.  Equity Fund,  U.S.  Emerging  Growth Fund, U.S. High Yield Bond Fund, U.S.
Dollar Reserve Fund,  Charter Income Fund, U.S.  Research Fund,  U.S.  Strategic
Growth Fund,  Global Equity Fund,  European  Equity Fund and European  Corporate
Bond Fund) (the "MIL  Funds").  The MIL Funds are  organized in  Luxembourg  and
qualify as an undertaking for collective investments in transferable  securities
(UCITS). The principal business address of the MIL Funds is 47, Boulevard Royal,
L-2449 Luxembourg.  MIL also serves as investment adviser to and distributor for
MFS Meridian U.S.  Government  Bond Fund, MFS Meridian  Charter Income Fund, MFS
Meridian Global  Governments  Fund, MFS Meridian U.S.  Emerging Growth Fund, MFS
Meridian  Global Equity Fund, MFS Meridian  Limited  Maturity Fund, MFS Meridian
Global Growth Fund, MFS Meridian Money Market Fund, MFS Meridian Global Balanced
Fund, MFS Meridian U.S.  Equity Fund,  MFS Meridian  Research Fund, MFS Meridian
U.S.  High Yield Fund,  MFS Meridian  Emerging  Markets Debt Fund,  MFS Meridian
Strategic  Growth Fund and MFS Meridian Global Asset Allocation Fund and the MFS
Meridian Research  International  Fund  (collectively the "MFS Meridian Funds").
Each of the MFS Meridian  Funds is organized as an exempt company under the laws
of the  Cayman  Islands.  The  principal  business  address  of  each of the MFS
Meridian  Funds is P.O. Box 309,  Grand  Cayman,  Cayman  Islands,  British West
Indies.

           MFS International (U.K.) Ltd.  ("MIL-UK"),  a private limited company
registered  with the  Registrar of Companies for England and Wales whose current


<PAGE>


address is Eversheds,  Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street,  London, England
EC4V 4JL, is involved primarily in marketing and investment  research activities
with respect to private clients and the MIL Funds and the MFS Meridian Funds.

           MFS Institutional  Advisors  (Australia) Ltd.  ("MFSI-Australia"),  a
private limited company organized under the Corporations Law of New South Wales,
Australia  whose  current  address  is Level 27,  Australia  Square,  264 George
Street,  Sydney,  NSW2000,   Australia,  is  involved  primarily  in  investment
management and distribution of Australian superannuation unit trusts and acts as
an investment adviser to institutional accounts.

           MFS Holdings Australia Pty Ltd. ("MFS Holdings Australia"), a private
limited company  organized  pursuant to the Corporations Law of New South Wales,
Australia  whose  current  address  is Level 27,  Australia  Square,  264 George
Street, Sydney, NSW2000 Australia, and whose function is to serve primarily as a
holding company.

           MFS Fund  Distributors,  Inc.  ("MFD"),  a wholly owned subsidiary of
MFS, serves as distributor for the MFS Funds, MVI and MFSIT.

           MFS Service Center, Inc. ("MFSC"),  a wholly owned subsidiary of MFS,
serves as  shareholder  servicing  agent to the MFS  Funds,  the MFS  Closed-End
Funds, MFSIT and MVI.

           MFS Institutional  Advisors, Inc. ("MFSI"), a wholly owned subsidiary
of MFS, provides investment advice to substantial private clients.

           MFS Retirement  Services,  Inc. ("RSI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
MFS,  markets MFS products to retirement plans and provides  administrative  and
record keeping services for retirement plans.

           Massachusetts  Investment  Management Co., Ltd.  ("MIMCO"),  a wholly
owned subsidiary of MFS, is a corporation  incorporated in Japan.  MIMCO,  whose
address is Kamiyacho-Mori  Building, 3-20, Tranomon 4-chome,  Minato-ku,  Tokyo,
Japan, is involved in investment management activities.

           MFS Heritage Trust Company ("MFS Trust"),  a New  Hampshire-chartered
limited-purpose  trust company whose  current  address is 650 Elm Street,  Suite
404,  Manchester,  NH 03101,  provides  directed  trustee services to retirement
plans.

           United Funds Management LTD. ("UFM"), an Australian Company organized
under the Corporations  Law of New South Wales,  Australia whose current address
is Level 27,  Australia  Square  264-278,  George St.,  Sydney,  NSW2000,  is an
investment manager and distributor of Australian superannuation unit trusts.


<PAGE>


           MFS

           The Directors of MFS are Jeffrey L. Shames,  Arnold D. Scott, John W.
Ballen,  Kevin R. Parke, Thomas J. Cashman,  Jr., Joseph W. Dello Russo, William
W. Scott, Donald A. Stewart,  James Prieur and William W. Stinson. Mr. Shames is
the Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer,  Mr.  Ballen is President  and Chief
Investment  Officer,  Mr. Arnold Scott is a Senior  Executive Vice President and
Secretary,  Mr. William Scott,  Mr.  Cashman,  Mr. Dello Russo and Mr. Parke are
Executive Vice Presidents  (Mr. Dello Russo is also Chief Financial  Officer and
Chief  Administrative  Officer  and Mr.  Parke is also  Chief  Equity  Officer),
Stephen E. Cavan is a Senior Vice  President,  General  Counsel and an Assistant
Secretary, Robert T. Burns is a Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel
and an Assistant  Secretary of MFS, and Thomas B.  Hastings is a Vice  President
and Treasurer of MFS.

           Massachusetts Investors Trust
           Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
           MFS Growth Opportunities Fund
           MFS Government Securities Fund
           MFS Series Trust I
           MFS Series Trust V
           MFS Series Trust VI
           MFS Series Trust X
           MFS Government Limited Maturity Fund

           Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary,  W. Thomas  London,  a Senior Vice
President of MFS, is the Treasurer, James O. Yost, Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E.
Bradley,  Vice  Presidents  of  MFS,  are the  Assistant  Treasurers,  James  R.
Bordewick,  Jr., Senior Vice President and Associate  General Counsel of MFS, is
the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Series Trust II

           Leslie J. Nanberg,  Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of MFS,
is a Vice President,  Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary, W. Thomas London is the
Treasurer,  James  O.  Yost,  Ellen M.  Moynihan  and  Mark E.  Bradley  are the
Assistant Treasurers, and James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Government Markets Income Trust
           MFS Intermediate Income Trust

           Leslie J. Nanberg, Senior Vice President of MFS, is a Vice President,
Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O.
Yost,  Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E. Bradley are the Assistant  Treasurers,  and
James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.


<PAGE>


           MFS Series Trust III

           James T. Swanson,  Robert J. Manning and Joan S.  Batchelder,  Senior
Vice  Presidents of MFS (Mr.  Manning is also Director of Fixed Income  Research
and Chief of Fixed Income Strategy and Ms. Batchelder is also Chief Fixed Income
Officer),  and Bernard  Scozzafava,  Vice President of MFS, are Vice Presidents,
Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O.
Yost,  Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E. Bradley are the Assistant  Treasurers,  and
James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Series Trust IV
           MFS Series Trust IX

           Robert A. Dennis and Geoffrey L. Kurinsky,  Senior Vice Presidents of
MFS, are Vice Presidents, Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary, W. Thomas London is
the  Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M.  Moynihan  and Mark E. Bradley are the
Assistant Treasurers and James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Series Trust VII

           Leslie J. Nanberg and Stephen C. Bryant,  Senior Vice  Presidents  of
MFS, are Vice Presidents, Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary, W. Thomas London is
the  Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M.  Moynihan  and Mark E. Bradley are the
Assistant Treasurers and James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Series Trust VIII

           Jeffrey L. Shames, Leslie J. Nanberg and James T. Swanson and John D.
Laupheimer, Jr., a Senior Vice President of MFS, are Vice Presidents, Stephen E.
Cavan is the Secretary, W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O. Yost, Ellen
M.  Moynihan  and Mark E.  Bradley  are the  Assistant  Treasurers  and James R.
Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Municipal Series Trust

           Robert A.  Dennis is Vice  President,  Geoffrey  L.  Schechter,  Vice
President  of MFS,  is Vice  President,  Stephen E. Cavan is the  Secretary,  W.
Thomas  London is the  Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E.
Bradley  are the  Assistant  Treasurers  and  James  R.  Bordewick,  Jr.  is the
Assistant Secretary.

<PAGE>


           MFS Variable Insurance Trust
           MFS Series Trust XI
           MFS Institutional Trust

           Jeffrey L. Shames is the President and Chairman,  Stephen E. Cavan is
the  Secretary,  W.  Thomas  London is the  Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M.
Moynihan  and  Mark E.  Bradley  are  the  Assistant  Treasurers  and  James  R.
Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Municipal Income Trust

           Robert  J.  Manning  is  Vice  President,  Stephen  E.  Cavan  is the
Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O. Yost, Ellen M. Moynihan
and Mark E. Bradley are the Assistant Treasurers and James R. Bordewick,  Jr. is
the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Multimarket Income Trust
           MFS Charter Income Trust

           Leslie J. Nanberg and James T. Swanson are Vice  Presidents,  Stephen
E. Cavan is the  Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the  Treasurer,  James O. Yost,
Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E. Bradley are the Assistant  Treasurers and James R.
Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Special Value Trust

           Robert  J.  Manning  is  Vice  President,  Stephen  E.  Cavan  is the
Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O. Yost, Ellen M. Moynihan
and Mark E. Bradley are the Assistant Treasurers and James R. Bordewick,  Jr. is
the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS/Sun Life Series Trust

           John D. McNeil,  Chairman and Director of Sun Life Assurance  Company
of Canada, is the Chairman,  Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary, W. Thomas London
is the Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E. Bradley are the
Assistant Treasurers and James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.


<PAGE>


           Money Market Variable Account
           High Yield Variable Account
           Capital Appreciation Variable Account
           Government Securities Variable Account
           Total Return Variable Account
           World Governments Variable Account
           Managed Sectors Variable Account

           John D. McNeil is the  Chairman,  Stephen E. Cavan is the  Secretary,
and James R. Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MIL Funds

           Richard B. Bailey,  John A. Brindle,  Richard W. S. Baker,  Arnold D.
Scott,  Jeffrey L. Shames and William F. Waters are Directors,  Stephen E. Cavan
is the  Secretary,  W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James O. Yost,  Ellen M.
Moynihan  and  Mark E.  Bradley  are  the  Assistant  Treasurers  and  James  R.
Bordewick, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Meridian Funds

           Richard B. Bailey,  John A. Brindle,  Richard W. S. Baker,  Arnold D.
Scott,  Jeffrey L. Shames and William F. Waters are Directors,  Stephen E. Cavan
is the Secretary, W. Thomas London is the Treasurer,  James R. Bordewick, Jr. is
the Assistant Secretary and James O. Yost, Ellen M. Moynihan and Mark E. Bradley
are the Assistant Treasurers.

           Vertex

           Jeffrey L. Shames and Arnold D. Scott are the  Directors,  Jeffrey L.
Shames is the  President,  Kevin R. Parke and John W. Ballen are Executive  Vice
Presidents,  John D. Laupheimer is a Senior Vice President,  Brian E. Stack is a
Vice  President,  Joseph W. Dello Russo is the Treasurer,  Thomas B. Hastings is
the Assistant  Treasurer,  Stephen E. Cavan is the Secretary and Robert T. Burns
is the Assistant Secretary.

           MIL

           Peter D. Laird is President and a Director,  Arnold D. Scott, Jeffrey
L.  Shames  and Thomas J.  Cashman,  Jr.  are  Directors,  Stephen E. Cavan is a
Director,  Senior Vice President and the Clerk,  Robert T. Burns is an Assistant
Clerk,  Joseph W. Dello Russo,  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief  Financial
Officer  of MFS,  is the  Treasurer  and  Thomas B.  Hastings  is the  Assistant
Treasurer.


<PAGE>


           MIL-UK

           Peter D. Laird is President and a Director, Thomas J. Cashman, Arnold
D. Scott and Jeffrey L. Shames are Directors, Stephen E. Cavan is a Director and
the Secretary, Joseph W. Dello Russo is the Treasurer, Thomas B. Hastings is the
Assistant Treasurer and Robert T. Burns is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFSI - Australia

           Thomas J. Cashman, Jr. is President and a Director, Graham E. Lenzer,
John  A.  Gee and  David  Adiseshan  are  Directors,  Stephen  E.  Cavan  is the
Secretary,  Joseph W. Dello Russo is the  Treasurer,  Thomas B.  Hastings is the
Assistant Treasurer, and Robert T. Burns is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFS Holdings - Australia

           Jeffrey L. Shames is the President  and a Director,  Arnold D. Scott,
Thomas J. Cashman, Jr., and Graham E. Lenzer are Directors,  Stephen E. Cavan is
the Secretary, Joseph W. Dello Russo is the Treasurer, Thomas B. Hastings is the
Assistant Treasurer, and Robert T. Burns is the Assistant Secretary.

           MFD

           Arnold D. Scott and  Jeffrey  L.  Shames  are  Directors,  William W.
Scott,  Jr., an Executive Vice  President of MFS, is the  President,  Stephen E.
Cavan is the Secretary,  Robert T. Burns is the Assistant  Secretary,  Joseph W.
Dello Russo is the Treasurer, and Thomas B. Hastings is the Assistant Treasurer.

           MFSC

           Arnold D.  Scott and  Jeffrey  L.  Shames  are  Directors,  Joseph A.
Recomendes,  a Senior Vice  President and Chief  Information  Officer of MFS, is
Vice  Chairman and a Director,  Janet A.  Clifford is the  President,  Joseph W.
Dello Russo is the  Treasurer,  Thomas B. Hastings is the  Assistant  Treasurer,
Stephen  E.  Cavan is the  Secretary,  and  Robert  T.  Burns  is the  Assistant
Secretary.

           MFSI

           Thomas J. Cashman, Jr. is Chairman and a Director, Jeffrey L. Shames,
and Arnold D. Scott are  Directors,  Joseph J.  Trainor is the  President  and a
Director,  Leslie J. Nanberg is a Senior Vice President, a Managing Director and
a  Director,  Kevin R.  Parke is the  Executive  Vice  President  and a Managing
Director,  George  F.  Bennett,  Jr.,  John A.  Gee,  Brianne  Grady,  Joseph A.
Kosciuszek  and  Joseph J.  Trainor  are Senior  Vice  Presidents  and  Managing
Directors,  Joseph W. Dello Russo is the


<PAGE>


Treasurer,  Thomas B. Hastings is the Assistant Treasurer and Robert T. Burns is
the Secretary.

           RSI

           Arnold D. Scott is the Chairman and a Director, Martin E. Beaulieu is
the President, William W. Scott, Jr. is a Director, Joseph W. Dello Russo is the
Treasurer,  Thomas B. Hastings is the Assistant  Treasurer,  Stephen E. Cavan is
the Secretary and Robert T. Burns is the Assistant Secretary.

           MIMCO

           Jeffrey L. Shames,  Arnold D. Scott and Mamoru  Ogata are  Directors,
Shaun  Moran  is the  Representative  Director,  Joseph  W.  Dello  Russo is the
Statutory Auditor, Robert DiBella is the President and Thomas B. Hastings is the
Assistant Statutory Auditor.

           MFS Trust

           The Directors of MFS Trust are Martin E. Beaulieu,  Stephen E. Cavan,
Janet A. Clifford, Joseph W. Dello Russo and Joseph A. Kosciuszek.  Mr. Cavan is
President,  Mr.  Dello Russo is  Treasurer,  and Robert T. Burns is Clerk of MFS
Trust.

           UFM

           The  Directors of UFM are Thomas J. Cashman,  Jr. and Susan  Gosling.
Graham Lenzner is the Chairman and Thomas J. Murray is Chief Financial  Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary.

           In addition,  the  following  persons,  Directors or officers of MFS,
have the affiliations indicated:

           Donald A. Stewart       Chairman, Sun Life Assurance Company of
                                   Canada, Sun Life Centre, 150 King Street
                                   West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Mr. Stewart
                                   is also an officer and/or Director of various
                                   subsidiaries and affiliates of Sun Life)

           C. James Prieur         President and a Director, Sun Life Assurance
                                   Company of Canada, Sun Life Centre, 150 King
                                   Street West, Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada (Mr.
                                   Prieur is also an officer and/or Director of
                                   various  subsidiaries  and affiliates of Sun
                                   Life)


<PAGE>


           William W. Stinson      Director, Sun Life Assurance Company of
                                   Canada,  Sun Life  Centre,  150 King  Street
                                   West, Toronto,  Ontario, Canada; Chairman of
                                   the Executive  Committee of United  Dominion
                                   Industries Limited


Item 27.   Distributors

           (a) Reference is hereby made to Item 26 above.

           (b) Reference is hereby made to Item 26 above;  the principal
business  address  of each of these  persons  is 500  Boylston  Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02116.

           (c) Not applicable.

Item 28.   Location of Accounts and Records

           The accounts and records of the Registrant  are located,  in whole or
in part, at the office of the Registrant at the following locations:

                 NAME                                 ADDRESS

           Massachusetts Financial Services       500 Boylston Street
             Company (investment adviser)         Boston, MA 02116

           MFS Funds Distributors, Inc.           500 Boylston Street
             (principal underwriter)              Boston, MA 02116

           State Street Bank and Trust Company    State Street South
             (custodian)                          5 - West
                                                  North Quincy, MA 02171


           MFS Service Center, Inc.               2 Avenue de Lafayette
             (transfer agent)                     Boston, MA 02111


Item 29.   Management Services

           Not Applicable.

Item 30.   Undertakings

           Not applicable.
<PAGE>

                              SIGNATURES


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the
Investment   Company  Act  of  1940,   the   Registrant  has  duly  caused  this
Post-Effective  Amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  to be  signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereto duly  authorized,  in the City of Boston and
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27th day of October, 1999.

                                        MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST


                                        By:     JAMES R. BORDEWICK, JR.
                                        Name:   James R. Bordewick, Jr.
                                        Title:  Assistant Secretary

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Post-Effective  Amendment to its Registration Statement has been signed below by
the following persons in the capacities indicated on October 27, 1999.

         SIGNATURE                           TITLE


JEFFREY L. SHAMES*              Chairman, President (Principal
Jeffrey L. Shames                    Executive Officer) and Trustee


W. THOMAS LONDON*               Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer
W. Thomas London                     and Principal Accounting Officer)


RICHARD B. BAILEY*              Trustee
Richard B. Bailey


J. ATWOOD IVES*                 Trustee
J. Atwood Ives


LAWRENCE T. PERERA*      Trustee
Lawrence T. Perera


WILLIAM J. POORVU*              Trustee
William J. Poorvu


CHARLES W. SCHMIDT*      Trustee
Charles W. Schmidt


ARNOLD D. SCOTT*                Trustee
Arnold D. Scott


ELAINE R. SMITH*                Trustee
Elaine R. Smith


DAVID B. STONE*                 Trustee
David B. Stone


                                        *By:    /s/ JAMES R. BORDEWICK, JR.
                                        Name:   James R. Bordewick, Jr.
                                                   as Attorney-in-fact

                                        Executed by James R. Bordewick, Jr. on
                                        behalf of those  indicated  pursuant to
                                        (i) a Power of Attorney dated  September
                                        21, 1994, incorporated by reference to
                                        the Registrant's Post-Effective
                                        Amendment No. 68 filed with the
                                        Securities  and  Exchange  Commission on
                                        April 28, 1995 and (ii) a Power of
                                        Attorney dated February 19, 1998,
                                        incorporated by reference to the
                                        Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
                                        No. 75 filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                                        April 30, 1998.


<PAGE>
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NO.                           DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

   1 (e)              Form  of  Certification  of  Amendment  to Declaration of
                      Trust - Establishment and Designation of Class.

   8 (b)              Amendment to Shareholder Servicing Agreement,  dated April
                      1, 1999 to amend fee schedule.

   9 (a)              Legal Opinion Consent, dated October 27, 1999.
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
                                                             EXHIBIT NO. 99.1(e)


                                     FORM OF

                          MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST

                           CERTIFICATION OF AMENDMENT
                           TO THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

                          ESTABLISHMENT AND DESIGNATION
                                    OF CLASS


         The  undersigned,  being a majority of the  Trustees  of  Massachusetts
Investors  Trust (the "Trust"),  a common law trust  organized under the laws of
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated March
21,  1924,  as amended (the  "Declaration"),  acting  pursuant to Article  VIII,
Section  1A of the  Declaration,  do hereby  divide  the  shares of the Trust to
create an  additional  class of  shares,  within the  meaning  of Article  VIII,
Section 1A, as follows:

          1.   The additional class of shares is designated "Class J Shares";

          2.   Class  J  Shares   shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and
               preferences accorded to shares under the Declaration;

          3.   The purchase price of Class J Shares, the method of determination
               of the net asset  value of Class J Shares,  the price,  terms and
               manner of redemption of Class J Shares, and the relative dividend
               rights of holders of Class J Shares shall be  established  by the
               Trustees  of the Trust in  accordance  with the  Declaration  and
               shall be set forth in the current  prospectus  and  statement  of
               additional  information  of the Trust or any series  thereof,  as
               amended from time to time,  contained in the Trust's registration
               statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

          4.   Class J Shares shall vote  together as a single class except that
               Shares of a class may vote  separately on matters  affecting only
               that class and Shares of a class not  affected  by a matter  will
               not vote on that matter; and
<PAGE>

          5.   A class of Shares of any series of the Trust may be terminated by
               the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of the class.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  a majority of the Trustees of the Trust have executed
this  amendment,  in  one  or  more  counterparts,  all  constituting  a  single
instrument, as an instrument under seal in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as
of this ____ day of ____________, 1999.



Richard B. Bailey                        Charles W. Schmidt
63 Atlantic Avenue                       63 Claypit Hill Road
Boston, MA  02110                        Wayland, MA  01778



J. Atwood Ives                           Arnold D. Scott
17 West Cedar Street                     20 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA  02108                        Boston, MA 02110



Lawrence T. Perera                       Jeffrey L. Shames
18 Marlborough Street                    38 Lake Avenue
Boston, MA 02116                         Newton, MA  02159



William J. Poorvu                        Elaine R. Smith
975 Memorial Drive                       75 Scotch Pine Road
Cambridge, MA  02138                     Weston, MA  02193



                                         David B. Stone
                                         282 Beacon Street
                                         Boston, MA  02116
<PAGE>


<PAGE>
                                                             EXHIBIT NO. 99.8(b)


                          MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST
              500 Boylston Street o Boston o Massachusetts o 02116
                                (617) o 954-5000



                                        April 1, 1999




MFS Service Center, Inc.
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Sir/Madam:

     This will  confirm  our  understanding  that  Exhibit B to the  Shareholder
Servicing  Agent  Agreement  between us,  dated August 1, 1985,  as amended,  is
hereby amended,  effective immediately,  to read in its entirety as set forth on
Attachment 1 hereto.

     Please indicate your acceptance of the foregoing by signing below.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST




                                        By:  W. THOMAS LONDON
                                             W. Thomas London
                                             Treasurer


Accepted and Agreed:

MFS SERVICE CENTER, INC.



By:      JOSEPH W. DELLO RUSSO
         Joseph W. Dello Russo
         Treasurer

<PAGE>
                                                                  ATTACHMENT 1
                                                                  April 1, 1999


                          EXHIBIT B TO THE SHAREHOLDER
                        SERVICING AGENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
                        MFS SERVICE CENTER, INC. ("MFSC")
                 AND MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST (the "Fund")


The fees to be paid by the Fund on  behalf of its  series  with  respect  to all
shares of each series of the Fund to MFSC,  for MFSC's  services as  shareholder
servicing  agent,  shall be 0.1000% of the average daily net assets of the Fund,
subject to applicable performance-related adjustments.

<PAGE>

<PAGE>
                                                             EXHIBIT NO. 99.9(a)


                              LEGAL OPINION CONSENT



I consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No.
77  to  the  Registration   Statement  (File  Nos.  2-11401  and  811-203)  (the
"Registration  Statement") of Massachusetts Investors Trust (the "Trust"), of my
opinion dated February 22, 1999, appearing in Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to
the Trust's  Registration  Statement,  which was filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission on February 26, 1999.




                                        JAMES R. BORDEWICK, JR.
                                        James R. Bordewick, Jr.
                                        Assistant Secretary

Boston, Massachusetts
October 27, 1999
<PAGE>


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