<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 5)*
SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
87183910
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this | | statement. (A fee
is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
(Continued on following page(s))
Page 1 of 5 Pages
SEC 1745 (10-85)
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 87183910 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS")
I.R.S. Identification No.: 04-2747644
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / / (b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 2,423,663 shares of common stock
BENEFICIALLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 2,423,663 shares of common stock
WITH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,423,663 shares of common stock, of which 2,367,251 shares are also
beneficially owned by MFS Series Trust II - MFS Emerging Growth Fund as
well as MFS (see page 3) and 56,412 shares are beneficially owned by
certain other non-reporting entities as well as MFS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
5.7%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 87183910 13G PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
MFS Series Trust II - MFS Emerging Growth Fund ("MEG")
I.R.S. Identification No.: 04-6551722
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / / (b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Massachusetts
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,367,251 shares of common stock which are also beneficially owned by MFS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
5.5%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IV
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 4 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 1: (a) NAME OF ISSUER:
System Software Associates, Inc.
(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
500 West Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60661
ITEM 2: (a) NAME OF PERSON FILING:
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS")*
(b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE:
For MFS and MEG:
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(c) CITIZENSHIP:
For MFS, see Item 4 on page 2; for MEG, see Item 4 on page 3
(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock
(e) CUSIP NUMBER:
87183910
ITEM 3: For MFS, see Item 12 on page 2; for MEG, see Item 12 on page 3
ITEM 4: (a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:
For MFS, see Item 9 on page 2; for MEG, see Item 9 on page 3
(b) PERCENT OF CLASS:
For MFS, see Item 11 on page 2; for MEG, see Item 11 on page 3
(c) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS VOTING AND
DISPOSITIVE POWERS:
For MFS, see Items 5 and 7 on page 2
- --------------------------
* This Schedule 13G is also filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(f) on behalf of MFS
Series Trust II - MFS Emerging Growth Fund ("MEG") (see page 3 and Exhibit
1 attached hereto).
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 5: OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:
Inapplicable
ITEM 6: OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
PERSON:
Inapplicable
ITEM 7: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY:
Inapplicable
ITEM 8: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:
Inapplicable
ITEM 9: NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:
Inapplicable
ITEM 10: CERTIFICATION:
By signing below I certify that to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of
business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of
changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were
not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
such purposes or effect.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: February 12, 1998
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
By: ARNOLD D. SCOTT
Arnold D. Scott
Senior Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Director
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 1
MFS EMERGING GROWTH FUND, a series of
MFS SERIES TRUST II
500 BOYLSTON STREET o BOSTON o MASSACHUSETTS 02116
617 o 954-5000
February 8, 1994
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Re: Rule 13d-1
Gentlemen:
This letter is to memorialize our agreement that you shall file all
statements on Schedule 13G required to be filed on behalf of MFS Emerging Growth
Fund, a series of MFS Series Trust II, pursuant to Rule 13d-1 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please
sign and return to us the enclosed copy of this letter.
Very truly yours,
W. THOMAS LONDON
W. Thomas London
Treasurer
The foregoing is acceptable.
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By: ARNOLD D. SCOTT
Arnold D. Scott
Senior Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Director