MFS WORLD EQUITY FUND
Supplement to the Prospectus dated March 1, 1995
The section of the Prospectus entitled, "Expense Summary" is hereby
revised as follows:
1. EXPENSE SUMMARY
Shareholder Transaction Expenses: Class A Class B Class C
Maximum Initial Sales Charge Imposed
on Purchases of Fund Shares (as a
percentage of offering price).......... 5.75% 0.00% 0.00%
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge (as a percentage of original
purchase price or redemption proceeds,
as applicable)......................... See Below1 4.00% 0.00%
Annual Operating Expenses of the Fund (as a percentage of average daily net
assets):
Management Fees.......................... 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Rule 12b-1 Fees (after applicable fee
reduction)............................. 0.25%2 1.00%3 1.00%3
Other Expenses........................... 0.50% 0.57% 0.50%4
Total Operating Expenses (after
applicable fee reduction).............. 1.75%5 2.57% 2.50%
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1. Purchases of $1 million or more are not subject to an initial sales charge;
however, a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1% will be imposed
on such purchases in the event of certain redemption transactions within 12
months following such purchases (see "Purchases").
2. The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan for its Class A shares in
accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), which provides that it will pay
distribution/service fees aggregating up to (but not necessarily all of)
0.35% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A
shares (see "Distribution Plans"). Distribution fees under this Plan, equal
to 0.10% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A
shares, are currently being waived. Distribution expenses paid under this
Plan, together with the initial sales charge, may cause long-term
shareholders to pay more than the maximum sales charge that would have been
permissible if imposed entirely as an initial sales charge.
3. The Fund has adopted separate Distribution Plans for its Class B and Class C
shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which provide that
it will pay distribution/service fees aggregating up to (but not necessarily
all of) 1.00% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to
Class B shares under the Class B Distribution Plan and Class C shares under
the Class C Distribution Plan (see "Distribution Plans"). Distribution
expenses paid under these Plans, together with any CDSC payable upon
redemption of Class B shares, may cause long-term shareholders to pay more
than the maximum sales charge that would have been permissible if imposed
entirely as an initial sales charge.
4. Except for the shareholder servicing agent fee component, "Other Expenses"
is based on Class A expenses incurred during the fiscal year ended October
31, 1994. The shareholder servicing agent fee component of "Other Expenses"
is a predetermined percentage based upon the Fund's net assets attributable
to each class.
5. Absent any expense waivers, Class A "Total Operating Expenses" would be
1.85%.
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Example of Expenses
An investor would pay the following dollar amounts of expenses on a
$1,000 investment in the Fund, assuming (a) a 5% annual return and (b)
redemption at the end of each of the time periods indicated (unless otherwise
noted):
Period Class A Class B Class C
(1)
1 year......................... $ 74 $ 66 $ 26 $ 25
3 years........................ 109 110 80 78
5 years........................ 147 157 137 133
10 years........................ 252 270(2) 270(2) 284(2)
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1. Assumes no redemption.
2. Class B shares convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after
purchase; therefore, years nine and ten reflect Class A expenses.
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.
* * *
Page 23 of the Prospectus is revised to delete the sentence stating
that payments under the Class A Distribution Plan will commence on the date that
the Fund's net assets attributable to Class A shares first equals or exceeds $40
million because such assets have now exceeded this amount. This sentence is
replaced in its entirety as follows: "MFD is currently waiving the 0.10% per
annum distribution fee provided for under the Plan."
The date of this Supplement is October 27, 1995.
